NUR 254 Exam 3 – Study Guide, Notes & Practice Questions (2026
Updated)
1. The nurse would call the primary care provider immediately for which laboratory result?
1. Hgb = 16 g/dL for a male client
2. Hct = 22% for a female client
3. WBC = 9 × 103 /mL3
4. Platelets = 300 × 103 /mL3 - ANS ✔✔Answer: 2. Rationale: Option 2 is very low and can lead
to death. The client's red blood cells participate in oxygenation. Options 1, 3, and 4 are within
normal range and should not be reported to the primary care provider.
2. A 78-year-old male client needs to complete a 24-hour urine specimen. In planning his care,
the nurse realizes that which measure is most important? 1. Instruct the client to empty his
bladder and save this voiding to start the collection.
2. Instruct the client to use sterile individual containers to collect the urine.
3. Post a sign stating "Save All Urine" in the bathroom.
4. Keep the urine specimen in the refrigerator. - ANS ✔✔Answer: 3. Rationale: Option 3 is the
most important nursing measure. This will inform the staff that the client is on a 24-hour urine
collection. Option 1 is not appropriate since the first voided specimen is to be discarded. Option
2 is not an appropriate nursing measure since the specimen container is clean not sterile, and
one container is needed—not individual containers. Option 4 is inappropriate because some 24-
hour urine collections do not require refrigeration.
3. The client has a urinary health problem. Which procedure is performed using indirect
visualization? 1. Intravenous pyelography (IVP)
2. Kidneys, ureter, bladder (KUB)
3. Retrograde pyelography
4. Cystoscopy - ANS ✔✔Answer: 2. Rationale: A KUB is an x-ray of the kidneys, ureters, and
bladder. This does not require direct visualization. Option 1 is an IVP, an intravenous pyelogram,
which requires the injection of a contrast media. Option 3 is a retrograde pyelography, which
, requires the injection of a contrast media. Option 4 is a cystoscopy, which uses a lighted
instrument (cystoscope) inserted through the urethra, resulting in direct visualization.
4. Which noninvasive procedure provides information about the physiology or function of an
organ?
1. Angiography
2. Computerized tomography (CT)
3. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
4. Positron emission tomography (PET) - ANS ✔✔Answer: 4. Rationale: This type of nuclear scan
demonstrates the ability of tissues to absorb the chemical to indicate the physiology and
function of an organ. Option 1 is an invasive procedure that focuses on blood flow through an
organ. Options 2 and 3 provide information about density of tissue to help distinguish between
normal and abnormal tissue of an organ.
5. When assisting with a bone marrow biopsy, the nurse should take which action?
1. Assist the client to a right side-lying position after the procedure.
2. Observe for signs of dyspnea, pallor, and coughing.
3. Assess for bleeding and hematoma formation for several days after the procedure.
4. Stand in front of the client and support the back of the neck and knees. - ANS ✔✔Answer: 3.
Rationale: Bone marrow aspiration includes deep penetration into soft tissue and large bones
such as the sternum and iliac crest. This penetration can result in bleeding. The client should be
observed for bleeding in the days following the procedure. Option 1 is a nursing action during a
liver biopsy. Option 2 is a nursing action for a thoracentesis, and Option 4 is a nursing action for
a lumbar puncture.
6. During an assessment, the nurse learns that the client has a history of liver disease. Which
diagnostic tests might be indicated for this client? Select all that apply.
1. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT)
2. Myoglobin
3. Cholesterol
Updated)
1. The nurse would call the primary care provider immediately for which laboratory result?
1. Hgb = 16 g/dL for a male client
2. Hct = 22% for a female client
3. WBC = 9 × 103 /mL3
4. Platelets = 300 × 103 /mL3 - ANS ✔✔Answer: 2. Rationale: Option 2 is very low and can lead
to death. The client's red blood cells participate in oxygenation. Options 1, 3, and 4 are within
normal range and should not be reported to the primary care provider.
2. A 78-year-old male client needs to complete a 24-hour urine specimen. In planning his care,
the nurse realizes that which measure is most important? 1. Instruct the client to empty his
bladder and save this voiding to start the collection.
2. Instruct the client to use sterile individual containers to collect the urine.
3. Post a sign stating "Save All Urine" in the bathroom.
4. Keep the urine specimen in the refrigerator. - ANS ✔✔Answer: 3. Rationale: Option 3 is the
most important nursing measure. This will inform the staff that the client is on a 24-hour urine
collection. Option 1 is not appropriate since the first voided specimen is to be discarded. Option
2 is not an appropriate nursing measure since the specimen container is clean not sterile, and
one container is needed—not individual containers. Option 4 is inappropriate because some 24-
hour urine collections do not require refrigeration.
3. The client has a urinary health problem. Which procedure is performed using indirect
visualization? 1. Intravenous pyelography (IVP)
2. Kidneys, ureter, bladder (KUB)
3. Retrograde pyelography
4. Cystoscopy - ANS ✔✔Answer: 2. Rationale: A KUB is an x-ray of the kidneys, ureters, and
bladder. This does not require direct visualization. Option 1 is an IVP, an intravenous pyelogram,
which requires the injection of a contrast media. Option 3 is a retrograde pyelography, which
, requires the injection of a contrast media. Option 4 is a cystoscopy, which uses a lighted
instrument (cystoscope) inserted through the urethra, resulting in direct visualization.
4. Which noninvasive procedure provides information about the physiology or function of an
organ?
1. Angiography
2. Computerized tomography (CT)
3. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
4. Positron emission tomography (PET) - ANS ✔✔Answer: 4. Rationale: This type of nuclear scan
demonstrates the ability of tissues to absorb the chemical to indicate the physiology and
function of an organ. Option 1 is an invasive procedure that focuses on blood flow through an
organ. Options 2 and 3 provide information about density of tissue to help distinguish between
normal and abnormal tissue of an organ.
5. When assisting with a bone marrow biopsy, the nurse should take which action?
1. Assist the client to a right side-lying position after the procedure.
2. Observe for signs of dyspnea, pallor, and coughing.
3. Assess for bleeding and hematoma formation for several days after the procedure.
4. Stand in front of the client and support the back of the neck and knees. - ANS ✔✔Answer: 3.
Rationale: Bone marrow aspiration includes deep penetration into soft tissue and large bones
such as the sternum and iliac crest. This penetration can result in bleeding. The client should be
observed for bleeding in the days following the procedure. Option 1 is a nursing action during a
liver biopsy. Option 2 is a nursing action for a thoracentesis, and Option 4 is a nursing action for
a lumbar puncture.
6. During an assessment, the nurse learns that the client has a history of liver disease. Which
diagnostic tests might be indicated for this client? Select all that apply.
1. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT)
2. Myoglobin
3. Cholesterol
