NUR 352 EXAM 2 REVIEW QUESTIONS | COMPREHENSIVE NURSING STUDY
GUIDE, PRACTICE QUESTIONS & ANSWERS 2026/2027
Which term describes the fine, downy hair of a newborn infant?
a. Sebum
b. Lanugo
c. Vernix caseosa
d. Secretions - correct answer ✔✔B
You have just aided in the delivery of a newborn. The new mother asks you why there are little white
dots on their baby's face and nose. What is the best response?
a. "This is called vernix caseosa and can be harmful to your newborn."
b. "I'm not sure, let me go get your doctor."
c. "Those little white dots are called sebum, they are not dangerous and they will go away."
d. "Those are harmless, you have nothing to worry about." - correct answer ✔✔C
The nurse is assessing a patient who has been admitted for liver failure. What finding would the nurse
expect?
a. Cyanosis
b. Flushing
c. Rubor
d. Jaundice - correct answer ✔✔D
(Jaundice is a common hallmark of cirrhosis, which is one complication of liver failure. The rest of the
answers haven o common connection to liver failure)
A pregnant woman comes in for her routine check up and you are her nurse. You are assessing her belly
and notice a black line that radiates from her belly button to her pubis symphysis. What do you do about
this finding?
a. You tell the mother that a linea nigra is completely normal with being pregnant.
b. You go tell the doctor immediately because this is a dangerous pigmentation.
c. You don't say anything.
d. Educate the mother about taking her prenatal vitamins because a linea nigra is a result of doing this. -
correct answer ✔✔A
What is the correct term for stretch marks that appear during pregnancy?
a. Linea nigra
b. Striae gravidarum
c. Chloasma
d. Vernix caseosa - correct answer ✔✔B
,You are assessing a 72-year-old female client and she says that she has been bruising very easily lately
and is worried it may be serious. What is your best response to this patient?
a. "This can be dangerous. I'm going to get your doctor so they can speak with you about this."
b. "Don't worry about it, it's nothing."
c. "This is called senile purpura and it is normal in an adult your age. It occurs due to increased capillary
fragility."
d. "This bruising occurs naturally at your age because your skin has lost elasticity, causing it to be bruised
easily but it is nothing to worry about." - correct answer ✔✔C
Which of the following ethnicities is LEAST likely to develop skin cancer?
a. Caucasian
b. African American
c. Hispanic
d. Canadian - correct answer ✔✔B
Which of the following is an inappropriate health history question for an aging adult?
a. Are you having any delays in wound healing?
b. Do you have any skin problems such as pimples or blackheads?
c. What changes have you noticed in your skin in the past few years?
d. Do you have a history of diabetes or peripheral vascular disease? - correct answer ✔✔B
A nurse is examining a patient's skin and notices a nevi on their right shoulder blade. The nurse
measures the size of the mole with a measuring tape and documents the size of it in centimeters. Which
step of the ABCDE rule does this situation represent?
a. asymmetry
b. border
c. color
d. diameter - correct answer ✔✔D
Risk factors that may lead to skin disease and breakdown include:
a. loss of protective cushioning of the dermal skin layer.
b. decreased vascular fragility.
c. a lifetime of environmental trauma.
d. increased thickness of the skin. - correct answer ✔✔C
To determine if a dark-skinned patient is pale, the nurse should assess the color of the:
a. conjunctivae.
b. earlobes.
c. palms of the hands.
d. skin in the antecubital space. - correct answer ✔✔A (To detect pallor in a dark-skinned patient, the
nurse should assess an area with the least pigmentation, such as the conjunctivae or mucous
membranes.)
,When taking the health history, the patient complains of pruritus. What is a common cause of this
symptom?
a. Excessive bruising
b. Hyperpigmentation
c. Melasma
d. Drug reactions - correct answer ✔✔D (Drug reactions can lead to pruritus, or itching)
A student nurse has been assigned to teach fourth graders about hygiene. While preparing, the student
nurse adds information about the sweat glands. Which of the following should be included while
discussing this topic?
a. There are two types of sweat glands: eccrine glands and sebaceous glands.
b. The evaporation of sweat, a dilute saline solution, increases body temperature.
c. Eccrine glands produce sweat and are mainly located in the axillae, anogenital area, and navel.
d. Newborn infants do not sweat and use compensatory mechanisms to control body temperature. -
correct answer ✔✔D (Newborn infants' eccrine glands do not secrete sweat in response to heat until the
first few months of life; newborn temperature regulation is ineffective. There are two types of sweat
glands: eccrine glands and apocrine glands. The evaporation of sweat reduces body temperature. The
apocrine glands produce a thick, milky secretion and open into the hair follicles; they are located mainly
in the axillae, anogenital area, nipples, and navel)
Functions of the skin include:
a. production of vitamin C.
b. temperature regulation.
c. production of new cells by melanocytes.
d. secretion of a drying substance called sebum. - correct answer ✔✔B (Functions of the skin include
protection, prevention of penetration, perception (of touch, pain, temperature, and pressure),
temperature regulation, identification, communication, wound repair, absorption and excretion, and
production of vitamin D. The skin produces vitamin D, not vitamin C. The basal cell layer of the epidermis
forms new skin cells. Melanocytes produce melanin, which gives brown tones to the skin and hair.
Sebum is produced by the sebaceous glands to lubricate the skin and hair)
The components of a nail examination include:
a. contour, consistency, and color.
b. shape, surface, and circulation.
c. clubbing, pitting, and grooving.
d. texture, toughness, and translucency. - correct answer ✔✔a. (The nails should be assessed for shape
and contour, consistency, and color.)
A nurse is collecting data from an older adult client as part of a comprehensive physical examination.
Which of the following findings should the nurse expect as associated with aging? (Select all that apply)
a. Skin thickening
b. Decreased height
, c. Increased saliva production
d. Nail thickening
e. Decreased bladder capacity - correct answer ✔✔B, D, E (A is incorrect because physiological changes
that occur with acing include decreased skin turgor, subcutaneous fat, and connective tissue which can
cause wrinkles and dry, thin transparent skin. B is correct because aging can cause the thinning of
intervertebral disks. C is incorrect because decreased saliva production is associated with aging, making
a dry mouth a common problem. D is correct because this is a physiological change that occurs with
aging. E is correct because aging adults tend to have a reduced bladder capacity of about 250mL but the
average bladder capacity is about 500 to 600 mL in young adults)
Muscles account for what percentage of the body's weight?
a. 10-20%
b. 20-30%
c. 30-40%
d. 40-50% - correct answer ✔✔D
A nurse in a provider's office is preparing to assess a young adult male client's musculoskeletal system as
part of a comprehensive physical examination. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?
(Select all that apply)
a. Concave thoracic spine posteriorly
b. Exaggerated lumbar curvature
c. Concave lumbar spine posteriorly
d. Exaggerated thoracic curvature
e. Muscles slightly larger on his dominant side - correct answer ✔✔C and E
A nurse is caring for a client who reports pain with internal rotation of her right shoulder. The nurse
should identify that this discomfort can affect the client's ability to perform which of the following
activities?
a. Mopping her floors
b. Brushing the back of her hair
c. Fastening her bra behind her back
d. Reaching into a cabinet above her sink - correct answer ✔✔C
When testing for muscle strength, the examiner should:
a. observe muscles for the degree of contraction when the individual lifts a heavy object.
b. apply an opposing force when the individual puts a joint in flexion or extension.
c. measure the degree of force that it takes to overcome joint flexion or extension.
d. estimate the degree of flexion and extension in each joint. - correct answer ✔✔B
Which of the following ethnic groups has the lowest incidence of osteoporosis?
a. African Americans
b. Whites
c. Asians
GUIDE, PRACTICE QUESTIONS & ANSWERS 2026/2027
Which term describes the fine, downy hair of a newborn infant?
a. Sebum
b. Lanugo
c. Vernix caseosa
d. Secretions - correct answer ✔✔B
You have just aided in the delivery of a newborn. The new mother asks you why there are little white
dots on their baby's face and nose. What is the best response?
a. "This is called vernix caseosa and can be harmful to your newborn."
b. "I'm not sure, let me go get your doctor."
c. "Those little white dots are called sebum, they are not dangerous and they will go away."
d. "Those are harmless, you have nothing to worry about." - correct answer ✔✔C
The nurse is assessing a patient who has been admitted for liver failure. What finding would the nurse
expect?
a. Cyanosis
b. Flushing
c. Rubor
d. Jaundice - correct answer ✔✔D
(Jaundice is a common hallmark of cirrhosis, which is one complication of liver failure. The rest of the
answers haven o common connection to liver failure)
A pregnant woman comes in for her routine check up and you are her nurse. You are assessing her belly
and notice a black line that radiates from her belly button to her pubis symphysis. What do you do about
this finding?
a. You tell the mother that a linea nigra is completely normal with being pregnant.
b. You go tell the doctor immediately because this is a dangerous pigmentation.
c. You don't say anything.
d. Educate the mother about taking her prenatal vitamins because a linea nigra is a result of doing this. -
correct answer ✔✔A
What is the correct term for stretch marks that appear during pregnancy?
a. Linea nigra
b. Striae gravidarum
c. Chloasma
d. Vernix caseosa - correct answer ✔✔B
,You are assessing a 72-year-old female client and she says that she has been bruising very easily lately
and is worried it may be serious. What is your best response to this patient?
a. "This can be dangerous. I'm going to get your doctor so they can speak with you about this."
b. "Don't worry about it, it's nothing."
c. "This is called senile purpura and it is normal in an adult your age. It occurs due to increased capillary
fragility."
d. "This bruising occurs naturally at your age because your skin has lost elasticity, causing it to be bruised
easily but it is nothing to worry about." - correct answer ✔✔C
Which of the following ethnicities is LEAST likely to develop skin cancer?
a. Caucasian
b. African American
c. Hispanic
d. Canadian - correct answer ✔✔B
Which of the following is an inappropriate health history question for an aging adult?
a. Are you having any delays in wound healing?
b. Do you have any skin problems such as pimples or blackheads?
c. What changes have you noticed in your skin in the past few years?
d. Do you have a history of diabetes or peripheral vascular disease? - correct answer ✔✔B
A nurse is examining a patient's skin and notices a nevi on their right shoulder blade. The nurse
measures the size of the mole with a measuring tape and documents the size of it in centimeters. Which
step of the ABCDE rule does this situation represent?
a. asymmetry
b. border
c. color
d. diameter - correct answer ✔✔D
Risk factors that may lead to skin disease and breakdown include:
a. loss of protective cushioning of the dermal skin layer.
b. decreased vascular fragility.
c. a lifetime of environmental trauma.
d. increased thickness of the skin. - correct answer ✔✔C
To determine if a dark-skinned patient is pale, the nurse should assess the color of the:
a. conjunctivae.
b. earlobes.
c. palms of the hands.
d. skin in the antecubital space. - correct answer ✔✔A (To detect pallor in a dark-skinned patient, the
nurse should assess an area with the least pigmentation, such as the conjunctivae or mucous
membranes.)
,When taking the health history, the patient complains of pruritus. What is a common cause of this
symptom?
a. Excessive bruising
b. Hyperpigmentation
c. Melasma
d. Drug reactions - correct answer ✔✔D (Drug reactions can lead to pruritus, or itching)
A student nurse has been assigned to teach fourth graders about hygiene. While preparing, the student
nurse adds information about the sweat glands. Which of the following should be included while
discussing this topic?
a. There are two types of sweat glands: eccrine glands and sebaceous glands.
b. The evaporation of sweat, a dilute saline solution, increases body temperature.
c. Eccrine glands produce sweat and are mainly located in the axillae, anogenital area, and navel.
d. Newborn infants do not sweat and use compensatory mechanisms to control body temperature. -
correct answer ✔✔D (Newborn infants' eccrine glands do not secrete sweat in response to heat until the
first few months of life; newborn temperature regulation is ineffective. There are two types of sweat
glands: eccrine glands and apocrine glands. The evaporation of sweat reduces body temperature. The
apocrine glands produce a thick, milky secretion and open into the hair follicles; they are located mainly
in the axillae, anogenital area, nipples, and navel)
Functions of the skin include:
a. production of vitamin C.
b. temperature regulation.
c. production of new cells by melanocytes.
d. secretion of a drying substance called sebum. - correct answer ✔✔B (Functions of the skin include
protection, prevention of penetration, perception (of touch, pain, temperature, and pressure),
temperature regulation, identification, communication, wound repair, absorption and excretion, and
production of vitamin D. The skin produces vitamin D, not vitamin C. The basal cell layer of the epidermis
forms new skin cells. Melanocytes produce melanin, which gives brown tones to the skin and hair.
Sebum is produced by the sebaceous glands to lubricate the skin and hair)
The components of a nail examination include:
a. contour, consistency, and color.
b. shape, surface, and circulation.
c. clubbing, pitting, and grooving.
d. texture, toughness, and translucency. - correct answer ✔✔a. (The nails should be assessed for shape
and contour, consistency, and color.)
A nurse is collecting data from an older adult client as part of a comprehensive physical examination.
Which of the following findings should the nurse expect as associated with aging? (Select all that apply)
a. Skin thickening
b. Decreased height
, c. Increased saliva production
d. Nail thickening
e. Decreased bladder capacity - correct answer ✔✔B, D, E (A is incorrect because physiological changes
that occur with acing include decreased skin turgor, subcutaneous fat, and connective tissue which can
cause wrinkles and dry, thin transparent skin. B is correct because aging can cause the thinning of
intervertebral disks. C is incorrect because decreased saliva production is associated with aging, making
a dry mouth a common problem. D is correct because this is a physiological change that occurs with
aging. E is correct because aging adults tend to have a reduced bladder capacity of about 250mL but the
average bladder capacity is about 500 to 600 mL in young adults)
Muscles account for what percentage of the body's weight?
a. 10-20%
b. 20-30%
c. 30-40%
d. 40-50% - correct answer ✔✔D
A nurse in a provider's office is preparing to assess a young adult male client's musculoskeletal system as
part of a comprehensive physical examination. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?
(Select all that apply)
a. Concave thoracic spine posteriorly
b. Exaggerated lumbar curvature
c. Concave lumbar spine posteriorly
d. Exaggerated thoracic curvature
e. Muscles slightly larger on his dominant side - correct answer ✔✔C and E
A nurse is caring for a client who reports pain with internal rotation of her right shoulder. The nurse
should identify that this discomfort can affect the client's ability to perform which of the following
activities?
a. Mopping her floors
b. Brushing the back of her hair
c. Fastening her bra behind her back
d. Reaching into a cabinet above her sink - correct answer ✔✔C
When testing for muscle strength, the examiner should:
a. observe muscles for the degree of contraction when the individual lifts a heavy object.
b. apply an opposing force when the individual puts a joint in flexion or extension.
c. measure the degree of force that it takes to overcome joint flexion or extension.
d. estimate the degree of flexion and extension in each joint. - correct answer ✔✔B
Which of the following ethnic groups has the lowest incidence of osteoporosis?
a. African Americans
b. Whites
c. Asians
