,NUR283/NUR 283 COMP 1 Exam | RN Transition
Practice | Galen College | Q & A | 2026 Edition (PDF)
**1. The nurse working on a pediatric unit has received the hand-off report and is reviewing client data
and orders. Which of the following clients should the nurse plan to see FIRST?**
A) A toddler with bronchiolitis on room air and mild wheezing
B) An infant with a diagnosis of pertussis who is receiving oxygen via nasal cannula
C) A preschooler with otitis media awaiting discharge
D) A school-age child with a simple fracture in a cast
Correct Answer: B) An infant with a diagnosis of pertussis who is receiving oxygen via nasal cannula
Rationale: Infants with pertussis are at high risk for apnea and severe respiratory compromise. Any child
on supplemental O₂ with a respiratory diagnosis is a higher priority than stable conditions. Early
recognition and intervention are essential in pediatric safety.
**2. The nurse is prioritizing patient care after a change-of-shift report. The nurse should FIRST plan to
see the patient who:**
A) Had an ERCP 30 minutes ago and is reporting difficulty swallowing
B) Is scheduled for discharge later today and needs final medication teaching
C) Had a knee arthroscopy yesterday and reports pain at 4/10
D) Is NPO for an abdominal ultrasound this morning
Correct Answer: A) Had an ERCP 30 minutes ago and is reporting difficulty swallowing
Rationale: Using the ABC framework, difficulty swallowing (airway compromise) is the priority. After
ERCP, the gag reflex may still be absent, placing the patient at risk for aspiration. This requires
immediate assessment before the gag reflex returns.
**3. The nurse in the emergency department is triaging four clients. Which client should the nurse see
FIRST?**
,A) Client with multiple compound fractures reporting chest pain
B) Client with asthma who suddenly stops wheezing
C) Client with pancreatitis reporting pain upon inspiration
D) Client with cystic fibrosis who has black, tarry stool
Correct Answer: B) Client with asthma who suddenly stops wheezing
Rationale: Sudden cessation of wheezing in an asthma patient may indicate complete airway obstruction
and impending respiratory failure—a life-threatening emergency. This is a higher priority than chest pain
(though serious), pancreatitis pain, or GI bleeding.
**4. The nurse is caring for a client who is 6 hours post-operative from abdominal surgery. Which
assessment finding requires immediate intervention?**
A) Serosanguineous drainage on the dressing
B) Temperature of 100.2°F (37.9°C)
C) Complaint of nausea
D) Respiratory rate of 28 breaths/min with shallow breathing
Correct Answer: D) Respiratory rate of 28 breaths/min with shallow breathing
Rationale: Tachypnea with shallow breathing may indicate atelectasis, pneumonia, or pulmonary
embolism—all respiratory complications requiring immediate attention. Mild fever, serosanguineous
drainage, and nausea are expected postoperative findings.
**5. The nurse receives report on four clients. Which client should the nurse assess FIRST?**
A) A client with heart failure who has gained 2.2 kg (4.8 lb) in 2 days
B) A client with pneumonia who has a temperature of 101°F
C) A client post-appendectomy with a blood pressure of 90/60 mmHg
D) A client with a hip fracture who reports pain 6/10
, Correct Answer: C) A client post-appendectomy with a blood pressure of 90/60 mmHg
Rationale: Hypotension may indicate hemorrhage or sepsis, both life-threatening conditions. The client
with heart failure and weight gain indicates fluid overload (serious but not immediate), fever is a
concern but not immediately life-threatening, and pain should be addressed but is not the priority.
**6. The nurse is assessing a client with a head injury. Which finding indicates a need for immediate
intervention?**
A) GCS score of 14
B) GCS score of 10
C) GCS score of 6
D) GCS score of 15
Correct Answer: C) GCS score of 6
Rationale: A GCS score of 8 or less indicates severe brain injury and requires immediate intervention. A
score of 6 is critically low and indicates significant brain injury requiring urgent neurological assessment.
**7. The nurse is caring for a client with a chest tube. Which finding requires immediate intervention?**
A) Continuous bubbling in the suction control chamber
B) Intermittent bubbling in the water seal chamber
C) Tidaling in the water seal chamber
D) Sudden cessation of tidaling with increased respiratory distress
Correct Answer: D) Sudden cessation of tidaling with increased respiratory distress
Rationale: Sudden cessation of tidaling in the water seal chamber with increased respiratory distress
may indicate tube obstruction, displacement, or tension pneumothorax, requiring immediate
intervention.
Practice | Galen College | Q & A | 2026 Edition (PDF)
**1. The nurse working on a pediatric unit has received the hand-off report and is reviewing client data
and orders. Which of the following clients should the nurse plan to see FIRST?**
A) A toddler with bronchiolitis on room air and mild wheezing
B) An infant with a diagnosis of pertussis who is receiving oxygen via nasal cannula
C) A preschooler with otitis media awaiting discharge
D) A school-age child with a simple fracture in a cast
Correct Answer: B) An infant with a diagnosis of pertussis who is receiving oxygen via nasal cannula
Rationale: Infants with pertussis are at high risk for apnea and severe respiratory compromise. Any child
on supplemental O₂ with a respiratory diagnosis is a higher priority than stable conditions. Early
recognition and intervention are essential in pediatric safety.
**2. The nurse is prioritizing patient care after a change-of-shift report. The nurse should FIRST plan to
see the patient who:**
A) Had an ERCP 30 minutes ago and is reporting difficulty swallowing
B) Is scheduled for discharge later today and needs final medication teaching
C) Had a knee arthroscopy yesterday and reports pain at 4/10
D) Is NPO for an abdominal ultrasound this morning
Correct Answer: A) Had an ERCP 30 minutes ago and is reporting difficulty swallowing
Rationale: Using the ABC framework, difficulty swallowing (airway compromise) is the priority. After
ERCP, the gag reflex may still be absent, placing the patient at risk for aspiration. This requires
immediate assessment before the gag reflex returns.
**3. The nurse in the emergency department is triaging four clients. Which client should the nurse see
FIRST?**
,A) Client with multiple compound fractures reporting chest pain
B) Client with asthma who suddenly stops wheezing
C) Client with pancreatitis reporting pain upon inspiration
D) Client with cystic fibrosis who has black, tarry stool
Correct Answer: B) Client with asthma who suddenly stops wheezing
Rationale: Sudden cessation of wheezing in an asthma patient may indicate complete airway obstruction
and impending respiratory failure—a life-threatening emergency. This is a higher priority than chest pain
(though serious), pancreatitis pain, or GI bleeding.
**4. The nurse is caring for a client who is 6 hours post-operative from abdominal surgery. Which
assessment finding requires immediate intervention?**
A) Serosanguineous drainage on the dressing
B) Temperature of 100.2°F (37.9°C)
C) Complaint of nausea
D) Respiratory rate of 28 breaths/min with shallow breathing
Correct Answer: D) Respiratory rate of 28 breaths/min with shallow breathing
Rationale: Tachypnea with shallow breathing may indicate atelectasis, pneumonia, or pulmonary
embolism—all respiratory complications requiring immediate attention. Mild fever, serosanguineous
drainage, and nausea are expected postoperative findings.
**5. The nurse receives report on four clients. Which client should the nurse assess FIRST?**
A) A client with heart failure who has gained 2.2 kg (4.8 lb) in 2 days
B) A client with pneumonia who has a temperature of 101°F
C) A client post-appendectomy with a blood pressure of 90/60 mmHg
D) A client with a hip fracture who reports pain 6/10
, Correct Answer: C) A client post-appendectomy with a blood pressure of 90/60 mmHg
Rationale: Hypotension may indicate hemorrhage or sepsis, both life-threatening conditions. The client
with heart failure and weight gain indicates fluid overload (serious but not immediate), fever is a
concern but not immediately life-threatening, and pain should be addressed but is not the priority.
**6. The nurse is assessing a client with a head injury. Which finding indicates a need for immediate
intervention?**
A) GCS score of 14
B) GCS score of 10
C) GCS score of 6
D) GCS score of 15
Correct Answer: C) GCS score of 6
Rationale: A GCS score of 8 or less indicates severe brain injury and requires immediate intervention. A
score of 6 is critically low and indicates significant brain injury requiring urgent neurological assessment.
**7. The nurse is caring for a client with a chest tube. Which finding requires immediate intervention?**
A) Continuous bubbling in the suction control chamber
B) Intermittent bubbling in the water seal chamber
C) Tidaling in the water seal chamber
D) Sudden cessation of tidaling with increased respiratory distress
Correct Answer: D) Sudden cessation of tidaling with increased respiratory distress
Rationale: Sudden cessation of tidaling in the water seal chamber with increased respiratory distress
may indicate tube obstruction, displacement, or tension pneumothorax, requiring immediate
intervention.
