NUR 352 EXAM 3 | COMPREHENSIVE NURSING STUDY GUIDE, PRACTICE
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS 2026/2027
A patient has just been admitted to the clinic you work at with hyperglycemia and a history of Type II
diabetes. You ask your patient if they inject their insulin daily, and they say that they usually forget to
take it. Which scope of adherence does this situation represent?
a. Non-adherence
b. Total adherence
c. Partial adherence-intentional
d. Partial adherence-non intentional - ANS ✔✔D (Partial adherence non-intentional includes patients
who non-purposefully forgets/misses/neglects to take their medication. Intentional would include a
patient that purposefully does not take their medication or takes too much of it knowingly.)
Which older adult populations should have a comprehensive assessment of functional ability? Select all
that apply.
a. Those with multiple coexistent health problems
b. Those older than age 75
c. Those with a change in mental status
d. Those with a demonstrated loss of ability to perform one or more instrumental activities of daily living
e. Those who live alone - ANS ✔✔A C D (Comprehensive functional assessment, which is a time-
intensive, interprofessional effort requiring use of multiple assessment tools, is indicated under specific
circumstances. In older adults it is indicated when an individual has demonstrated a loss of functional
ability, has experienced a change in mental status, has multiple health conditions, or is frail.)
On which basis is an alteration in functional ability categorized as a primary problem?
a. Age at onset
b. Sudden versus gradual onset
c. Duration of the problem
d. Absence as opposed to loss of function - ANS ✔✔D (Alterations in functional ability are categorized as
a primary problem when the ability to perform a particular function never developed. They are
categorized as secondary problems when the functional ability developed and was subsequently lost.)
Which of the following interventions are priorities in a plan of care for a patient who had a stroke 30
days ago and is now in home care rehabilitation? (Select all that apply.)
a. Promoting rest and sleep
b. Promoting a diet rich in protein
c. Promoting exercise and ambulation
d. Assisting the patient with ADLs
e. Limiting visitors and social contacts - ANS ✔✔A C (It is important to promote independence in ADLs
early in the plan of care to increase independence in general. Promoting rest and sleep will promote
well-being. Ambulation and exercise promote well-being and increase healing by circulating oxygen to
the brain. Protein promotes healing in postsurgical patients but is not a main focus in stroke patients.
,Assisting the patient does not promote independence. Limiting visitors will isolate the patient, which can
lead to depression.)
The nurse is caring for an 85-year-old woman 6 weeks following a hysterectomy secondary to ovarian
cancer. The patient will need chemotherapy and irradiation on an outpatient basis. The nurse should
identify and address which barriers to healing? (Select all that apply.)
a. Can feed herself and prepare meals but cannot drive to the store
b. Lives on a fixed income and can balance her checkbook
c. Experiences stress incontinence
d. Cannot participate in activities at the senior center
e. Lives alone and has no nearby relatives
f. Has no transportation to the oncology clinic - ANS ✔✔C E F (The patient will not be able to get
treatment if she has no transportation or no relatives that live nearby who can help her with recovery.
Stress incontinence increases the risk of falls because of urgency and rushing to get to the bathroom.
Income and social abilities are lower priorities during this phase of recovery.)
You receive a doctor's order to administer a medication to your patient at 0900. You become very busy
because of the overload of patients in the unit and forget to administer the medication to your patient
within the allowed time. Which consequence of non adherence does this situation most closely relate
to?
a. Patient related
b. Health professional-related
c. Health care system-related
d. Family orientated-related - ANS ✔✔B (This is an example of a health professional-related
consequence because YOU, the HCP, forgot to give your patient the medication at the correct time,
which violates the 'Right Time' medication rule.)
You have administered a high blood pressure medication to your patient who has a BP of 190/100. A half
an hour later, you check on your patient and find that their blood pressure is still 190/100. You are too
busy to seek an alternate plan based on evaluation and to call the health care provider for assistance, so
you continue to administer the medication that is failing to reduce the patient's blood pressure. Which
consequence of health professional non adherence does this situation represent?
a. Avoidance
b. Ambivalence
c. Misinterpretation
d. Empathy - ANS ✔✔A (Avoidance occurs when a nurse fails to seek/make alternate plans based on
evaluation. Ambivalence is when the nurse feels that he/she did all they could for the patient.
Misinterpretation occurs when the nurse does not fully assess/understand the client rationales. Empathy
occurs when the nurse understand the clients financial constraints.)
The patient tells the nurse that he knows the dose of his antidepressant is 20 mg daily, but he has
decided that he only needs to take 10 mg daily because he says he no longer feels depressed. The nurse
knows that this type of behavior is described as:
a. Nonadherence
,b. Total adherence
c. Partial adherence: nonintentional
d. Partial adherence: intentional - ANS ✔✔D (The scope of adherence ranges from a total lack of
adherence to complete adherence. The patient in this scenario is displaying partial adherence:
intentional, because he has decided to adjust his medication dose on his own. He is partially adhering to
treatment, yet intentionally changing his medication dose. Option A is incorrect; nonadherence is
complete omission from any adherence. The patient is choosing to partially adhere to his medication
dose. Option B is incorrect; total adherence is complete adherence to a medication dose or regimen.
Option C is incorrect; this would imply that the patient nonpurposefully neglects or misses a dose.)
A nurse is teaching a group of patients about the concepts of compliance versus adherence. The nurse
knows that the patients understand the meaning of compliance as opposed to adherence when one of
the patients states:
a."My doctor and I have decided on the best dose for my blood pressure medicine. We have worked out
an every-other-day dosing regimen because of my schedule."
b. "I will continue taking my blood pressure medication on a regular schedule because I felt like the
nurse was upset with me when said I missed multiple doses of my medication this week."
c. "I've decided my blood pressure medication is no longer working for me. I'm just going to stop taking
it and hope for the best."
d. "I want to become healthier. I'm going to research the best food choices for me and start a fitness
regimen three times per week." - ANS ✔✔B (The concept of compliance has underlying tones of
obedience expected of the patient and blame toward the patient when the behavior does not meet with
the health professionals' expectations. Option A is incorrect; this is an example of concordance.
Concordance suggests the patient's agreement to a prescribed regimen as a mutual agreement with the
health care provider, rather than a passive compliance. Option C is incorrect; this is an example of
noncompliance or behavior that fails to coincide with the therapeutic plan of care. Option D is incorrect;
this statement is an example of a health-seeking behavior, in which the patient is stable and seeking an
active way to achieve better health.)
The nurse is creating a care plan for a patient newly diagnosed with diabetes mellitus. The nurse knows
that the best nursing diagnosis to promote the concept of adherence as an anticipated outcome is:
a. Individual Management of Therapeutic Regimen, Ineffective
b. Noncompliance
c. Individual Management of Therapeutic Regimen, Effective
d. Obedience management of Therapeutic Regimen - ANS ✔✔C (The diagnosis that best promotes the
concept of adherence is based on the concept of integrating treatment into a daily regimen in which the
outcome is the meeting of specific health goals. Adherence behavior is the outcome of this nursing
diagnosis. Option A is incorrect. An ineffective outcome related to individual management of a
therapeutic regimen does not promote the concept of adherence. Option B is incorrect. Although
Noncompliance could be used as a nursing diagnosis with an outcome of adherence, it is not the best
choice because the term imposes a paternalistic obligation to follow orders. Option C is incorrect; this is
not a nursing diagnosis.)
A patient is being treated for tuberculosis (TB) with a standard four-drug regimen but continues to have
positive sputum smears for acid-fast bacilli. Which actions should the nurse implement? (Select all that
apply.)
, a. Assist the patient with short-term goals and plan teaching according to these goals.
b. Provide the patient with all the educational materials about drug-resistant TB.
c. Refer the patient to a pulmonary specialist, who can assist the patient with the treatment regimen.
d. Ask the patient about any barriers to obtaining medications.
e. Ask the patient whether medications have been taken as directed. - ANS ✔✔A B D E (The first action
should be to determine whether the patient has been compliant or encountered any barriers with
completing the drug therapy regimen; because negative sputum smears would be expected if the TB
bacillus is susceptible to the medications and if the medications have been taken correctly. Obtaining
medications may be a factor in whether the client is taking medications as prescribed. Depending on
whether the patient has been compliant or not, goals should be established and different medications or
directly observed therapy may be indicated. The nurse is responsible and capable of provided education
to patients regarding medication regimens and illness pathology. Referring the patient will not help with
determining compliance.)
The nurse assesses that a patient has not been taking anti hypertension medication as prescribed. How
should the nurse proceed? (Select all that apply.)
a. Evaluate the teaching plan to determine if there is a need to reeducate the patient.
b. Assess the patient's perception and attitude towards the risks associated with missing doses of
medication.
c. Review and reinforce the need to take the medication as prescribed.
d. Ask the provider to prescribe a different medication because the patient does not want to take this
medication.
e Emphasize the risk of stroke or heart attack if the patient does not adhere to the treatment plan. - ANS
✔✔A B C (The patient may need additional information. Assessing what the patient's perceptions are
will provide the nurse with insight on how to proceed next. Reviewing and reinforcing will reaffirm the
importance of taking the medication which leads to adherence. The nurse should first explore why the
patient is not taking the medication before requesting a different medication order from the provider.
Scare tactics may cause the patient to become defensive and may lead to non adherence.)
A patient is admitted to the long term care setting. The nurse notes that the patient does not read or
write well. Which nursing actions are priority while developing a teaching plan to increase adherence?
(Select all that apply.)
a. Determine the patient's motivation and readiness to learn.
b. Assess what the patient knows about their health issues.
c. Include the family in the orientation to the unit and include them in the teaching process.
d. Assess what grade level the patient can read and write and tailor teaching strategies accordingly.
e. Give the patient brochures with more pictures and explanations with short sentences. - ANS ✔✔A B C
D (It is most important to determine the level at which the patient will understand then the nurse can
avoid teaching over the patient's level of understanding. Motivation is an important component to
learning new information. Assessing what the patient does know will help determine what areas still
need to be addressed. Including the family will aid in the teaching process. The patient may not be able
to read even short sentences. The priority is to assess the patient's reading level first, then choose
appropriate teaching tools.)
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS 2026/2027
A patient has just been admitted to the clinic you work at with hyperglycemia and a history of Type II
diabetes. You ask your patient if they inject their insulin daily, and they say that they usually forget to
take it. Which scope of adherence does this situation represent?
a. Non-adherence
b. Total adherence
c. Partial adherence-intentional
d. Partial adherence-non intentional - ANS ✔✔D (Partial adherence non-intentional includes patients
who non-purposefully forgets/misses/neglects to take their medication. Intentional would include a
patient that purposefully does not take their medication or takes too much of it knowingly.)
Which older adult populations should have a comprehensive assessment of functional ability? Select all
that apply.
a. Those with multiple coexistent health problems
b. Those older than age 75
c. Those with a change in mental status
d. Those with a demonstrated loss of ability to perform one or more instrumental activities of daily living
e. Those who live alone - ANS ✔✔A C D (Comprehensive functional assessment, which is a time-
intensive, interprofessional effort requiring use of multiple assessment tools, is indicated under specific
circumstances. In older adults it is indicated when an individual has demonstrated a loss of functional
ability, has experienced a change in mental status, has multiple health conditions, or is frail.)
On which basis is an alteration in functional ability categorized as a primary problem?
a. Age at onset
b. Sudden versus gradual onset
c. Duration of the problem
d. Absence as opposed to loss of function - ANS ✔✔D (Alterations in functional ability are categorized as
a primary problem when the ability to perform a particular function never developed. They are
categorized as secondary problems when the functional ability developed and was subsequently lost.)
Which of the following interventions are priorities in a plan of care for a patient who had a stroke 30
days ago and is now in home care rehabilitation? (Select all that apply.)
a. Promoting rest and sleep
b. Promoting a diet rich in protein
c. Promoting exercise and ambulation
d. Assisting the patient with ADLs
e. Limiting visitors and social contacts - ANS ✔✔A C (It is important to promote independence in ADLs
early in the plan of care to increase independence in general. Promoting rest and sleep will promote
well-being. Ambulation and exercise promote well-being and increase healing by circulating oxygen to
the brain. Protein promotes healing in postsurgical patients but is not a main focus in stroke patients.
,Assisting the patient does not promote independence. Limiting visitors will isolate the patient, which can
lead to depression.)
The nurse is caring for an 85-year-old woman 6 weeks following a hysterectomy secondary to ovarian
cancer. The patient will need chemotherapy and irradiation on an outpatient basis. The nurse should
identify and address which barriers to healing? (Select all that apply.)
a. Can feed herself and prepare meals but cannot drive to the store
b. Lives on a fixed income and can balance her checkbook
c. Experiences stress incontinence
d. Cannot participate in activities at the senior center
e. Lives alone and has no nearby relatives
f. Has no transportation to the oncology clinic - ANS ✔✔C E F (The patient will not be able to get
treatment if she has no transportation or no relatives that live nearby who can help her with recovery.
Stress incontinence increases the risk of falls because of urgency and rushing to get to the bathroom.
Income and social abilities are lower priorities during this phase of recovery.)
You receive a doctor's order to administer a medication to your patient at 0900. You become very busy
because of the overload of patients in the unit and forget to administer the medication to your patient
within the allowed time. Which consequence of non adherence does this situation most closely relate
to?
a. Patient related
b. Health professional-related
c. Health care system-related
d. Family orientated-related - ANS ✔✔B (This is an example of a health professional-related
consequence because YOU, the HCP, forgot to give your patient the medication at the correct time,
which violates the 'Right Time' medication rule.)
You have administered a high blood pressure medication to your patient who has a BP of 190/100. A half
an hour later, you check on your patient and find that their blood pressure is still 190/100. You are too
busy to seek an alternate plan based on evaluation and to call the health care provider for assistance, so
you continue to administer the medication that is failing to reduce the patient's blood pressure. Which
consequence of health professional non adherence does this situation represent?
a. Avoidance
b. Ambivalence
c. Misinterpretation
d. Empathy - ANS ✔✔A (Avoidance occurs when a nurse fails to seek/make alternate plans based on
evaluation. Ambivalence is when the nurse feels that he/she did all they could for the patient.
Misinterpretation occurs when the nurse does not fully assess/understand the client rationales. Empathy
occurs when the nurse understand the clients financial constraints.)
The patient tells the nurse that he knows the dose of his antidepressant is 20 mg daily, but he has
decided that he only needs to take 10 mg daily because he says he no longer feels depressed. The nurse
knows that this type of behavior is described as:
a. Nonadherence
,b. Total adherence
c. Partial adherence: nonintentional
d. Partial adherence: intentional - ANS ✔✔D (The scope of adherence ranges from a total lack of
adherence to complete adherence. The patient in this scenario is displaying partial adherence:
intentional, because he has decided to adjust his medication dose on his own. He is partially adhering to
treatment, yet intentionally changing his medication dose. Option A is incorrect; nonadherence is
complete omission from any adherence. The patient is choosing to partially adhere to his medication
dose. Option B is incorrect; total adherence is complete adherence to a medication dose or regimen.
Option C is incorrect; this would imply that the patient nonpurposefully neglects or misses a dose.)
A nurse is teaching a group of patients about the concepts of compliance versus adherence. The nurse
knows that the patients understand the meaning of compliance as opposed to adherence when one of
the patients states:
a."My doctor and I have decided on the best dose for my blood pressure medicine. We have worked out
an every-other-day dosing regimen because of my schedule."
b. "I will continue taking my blood pressure medication on a regular schedule because I felt like the
nurse was upset with me when said I missed multiple doses of my medication this week."
c. "I've decided my blood pressure medication is no longer working for me. I'm just going to stop taking
it and hope for the best."
d. "I want to become healthier. I'm going to research the best food choices for me and start a fitness
regimen three times per week." - ANS ✔✔B (The concept of compliance has underlying tones of
obedience expected of the patient and blame toward the patient when the behavior does not meet with
the health professionals' expectations. Option A is incorrect; this is an example of concordance.
Concordance suggests the patient's agreement to a prescribed regimen as a mutual agreement with the
health care provider, rather than a passive compliance. Option C is incorrect; this is an example of
noncompliance or behavior that fails to coincide with the therapeutic plan of care. Option D is incorrect;
this statement is an example of a health-seeking behavior, in which the patient is stable and seeking an
active way to achieve better health.)
The nurse is creating a care plan for a patient newly diagnosed with diabetes mellitus. The nurse knows
that the best nursing diagnosis to promote the concept of adherence as an anticipated outcome is:
a. Individual Management of Therapeutic Regimen, Ineffective
b. Noncompliance
c. Individual Management of Therapeutic Regimen, Effective
d. Obedience management of Therapeutic Regimen - ANS ✔✔C (The diagnosis that best promotes the
concept of adherence is based on the concept of integrating treatment into a daily regimen in which the
outcome is the meeting of specific health goals. Adherence behavior is the outcome of this nursing
diagnosis. Option A is incorrect. An ineffective outcome related to individual management of a
therapeutic regimen does not promote the concept of adherence. Option B is incorrect. Although
Noncompliance could be used as a nursing diagnosis with an outcome of adherence, it is not the best
choice because the term imposes a paternalistic obligation to follow orders. Option C is incorrect; this is
not a nursing diagnosis.)
A patient is being treated for tuberculosis (TB) with a standard four-drug regimen but continues to have
positive sputum smears for acid-fast bacilli. Which actions should the nurse implement? (Select all that
apply.)
, a. Assist the patient with short-term goals and plan teaching according to these goals.
b. Provide the patient with all the educational materials about drug-resistant TB.
c. Refer the patient to a pulmonary specialist, who can assist the patient with the treatment regimen.
d. Ask the patient about any barriers to obtaining medications.
e. Ask the patient whether medications have been taken as directed. - ANS ✔✔A B D E (The first action
should be to determine whether the patient has been compliant or encountered any barriers with
completing the drug therapy regimen; because negative sputum smears would be expected if the TB
bacillus is susceptible to the medications and if the medications have been taken correctly. Obtaining
medications may be a factor in whether the client is taking medications as prescribed. Depending on
whether the patient has been compliant or not, goals should be established and different medications or
directly observed therapy may be indicated. The nurse is responsible and capable of provided education
to patients regarding medication regimens and illness pathology. Referring the patient will not help with
determining compliance.)
The nurse assesses that a patient has not been taking anti hypertension medication as prescribed. How
should the nurse proceed? (Select all that apply.)
a. Evaluate the teaching plan to determine if there is a need to reeducate the patient.
b. Assess the patient's perception and attitude towards the risks associated with missing doses of
medication.
c. Review and reinforce the need to take the medication as prescribed.
d. Ask the provider to prescribe a different medication because the patient does not want to take this
medication.
e Emphasize the risk of stroke or heart attack if the patient does not adhere to the treatment plan. - ANS
✔✔A B C (The patient may need additional information. Assessing what the patient's perceptions are
will provide the nurse with insight on how to proceed next. Reviewing and reinforcing will reaffirm the
importance of taking the medication which leads to adherence. The nurse should first explore why the
patient is not taking the medication before requesting a different medication order from the provider.
Scare tactics may cause the patient to become defensive and may lead to non adherence.)
A patient is admitted to the long term care setting. The nurse notes that the patient does not read or
write well. Which nursing actions are priority while developing a teaching plan to increase adherence?
(Select all that apply.)
a. Determine the patient's motivation and readiness to learn.
b. Assess what the patient knows about their health issues.
c. Include the family in the orientation to the unit and include them in the teaching process.
d. Assess what grade level the patient can read and write and tailor teaching strategies accordingly.
e. Give the patient brochures with more pictures and explanations with short sentences. - ANS ✔✔A B C
D (It is most important to determine the level at which the patient will understand then the nurse can
avoid teaching over the patient's level of understanding. Motivation is an important component to
learning new information. Assessing what the patient does know will help determine what areas still
need to be addressed. Including the family will aid in the teaching process. The patient may not be able
to read even short sentences. The priority is to assess the patient's reading level first, then choose
appropriate teaching tools.)
