HONDROS COLLEGE OF NURSING
NUR 200 FINAL EXAM
(HONDROS) 2026/2027 Official Exam A+
Critical Thinking for the Registered Nurse
A+ QUESTIONS 5 SECTIONS 100% RATIONALES
VERIFIED COMPLETE INCLUDED
CATEGORIES
Section 1: Clinical Judgment Models & Noticing
Section 2: Interpreting Data & Prioritizing Hypotheses
Section 3: Responding, Prioritization & Delegation
Section 4: Reflecting, Evaluation & Professional Identity
Section 5: Safety, Ethics & Systems Thinking
STUVIAACTUALEXAM
Original practice content aligned to public course competencies • For educational use
, Section 1: Clinical Judgment Models & Noticing
Q1. A nurse enters a patient’s room and notices the patient is diaphoretic, clutching the chest, and has a heart
rate of 120. Using Tanner’s Clinical Judgment Model, which cognitive process is the nurse primarily using in
this moment?
A. Noticing a change in the patient’s condition that requires attention
B. Reflecting on previous similar cases after the event
C. Evaluating the effectiveness of a completed intervention
D. Delegating vital-sign measurement to the unlicensed assistant
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
Noticing is the first phase of Tanner’s model and involves recognizing meaningful patterns or changes in the clinical situation.
The nurse’s immediate recognition of distress cues constitutes noticing.
Q2. A nurse is reviewing the electronic health record before shift change and identifies that a postoperative
patient’s urine output has been 20 mL/hr for the past three hours. Which action best demonstrates skilled
noticing?
A. Assuming the low output is normal after surgery
B. Documenting the values without further analysis
C. Waiting until the next scheduled assessment to recheck output
D. Recognizing the trend as a potential early sign of hypovolemia or renal compromise and investigating further
Correct Answer: D
Rationale:
Skilled noticing includes recognizing patterns and trends that deviate from expected trajectories. Persistently low urine output is
a cue that demands further assessment rather than passive documentation.
Q3. During bedside handoff the off-going nurse states that a patient “just doesn’t look right.” The oncoming nurse
performs a focused assessment and finds new confusion and cool extremities. Which aspect of noticing is
illustrated by the off-going nurse’s statement?
A. Reliance solely on quantitative data
B. Delegation of assessment to another nurse
C. Use of intuitive knowing or pattern recognition based on experience
D. Complete absence of clinical judgment
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Experienced nurses often notice subtle, hard-to-quantify changes (“doesn’t look right”) through intuitive pattern recognition
developed over time. This is a valid form of noticing that should prompt further investigation.
, NUR 200 FINAL EXAM (HONDROS) — 2026/2027 Page 3
Q4. A nurse is caring for four patients. Which patient situation should the nurse notice as the highest priority for
immediate assessment?
A. A patient asking about discharge instructions
B. A patient with a new oxygen saturation of 88% on room air who was previously stable
C. A patient requesting a pillow adjustment
D. A patient due for routine medication in 30 minutes
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
A sudden drop in oxygen saturation represents an acute physiologic change that can rapidly progress. Noticing and acting on
this cue takes priority over comfort or routine requests.
Q5. A nursing student reports to the instructor that a patient’s blood pressure is 90/50 mm Hg. The instructor
asks what else the student noticed. Which additional observation best supports comprehensive noticing?
A. The brand of the blood-pressure cuff
B. The patient’s level of consciousness, skin color, and capillary refill
C. The time the last visitor left
D. The room temperature
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Blood pressure is only one data point. Comprehensive noticing integrates related cues such as mentation, perfusion, and skin
findings to form a more complete clinical picture.
Q6. A nurse compares Tanner’s Clinical Judgment Model with the traditional nursing process. Which statement
correctly maps the models?
A. Noticing corresponds only to the evaluation phase
B. Responding has no equivalent in the nursing process
C. Reflecting occurs before any patient contact
D. Noticing aligns with assessment; interpreting aligns with diagnosis and analysis
Correct Answer: D
Rationale:
Tanner’s noticing roughly corresponds to assessment, interpreting to analysis/diagnosis, responding to planning and
implementation, and reflecting to evaluation. Understanding both frameworks strengthens clinical judgment.
NUR 200 FINAL EXAM
(HONDROS) 2026/2027 Official Exam A+
Critical Thinking for the Registered Nurse
A+ QUESTIONS 5 SECTIONS 100% RATIONALES
VERIFIED COMPLETE INCLUDED
CATEGORIES
Section 1: Clinical Judgment Models & Noticing
Section 2: Interpreting Data & Prioritizing Hypotheses
Section 3: Responding, Prioritization & Delegation
Section 4: Reflecting, Evaluation & Professional Identity
Section 5: Safety, Ethics & Systems Thinking
STUVIAACTUALEXAM
Original practice content aligned to public course competencies • For educational use
, Section 1: Clinical Judgment Models & Noticing
Q1. A nurse enters a patient’s room and notices the patient is diaphoretic, clutching the chest, and has a heart
rate of 120. Using Tanner’s Clinical Judgment Model, which cognitive process is the nurse primarily using in
this moment?
A. Noticing a change in the patient’s condition that requires attention
B. Reflecting on previous similar cases after the event
C. Evaluating the effectiveness of a completed intervention
D. Delegating vital-sign measurement to the unlicensed assistant
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
Noticing is the first phase of Tanner’s model and involves recognizing meaningful patterns or changes in the clinical situation.
The nurse’s immediate recognition of distress cues constitutes noticing.
Q2. A nurse is reviewing the electronic health record before shift change and identifies that a postoperative
patient’s urine output has been 20 mL/hr for the past three hours. Which action best demonstrates skilled
noticing?
A. Assuming the low output is normal after surgery
B. Documenting the values without further analysis
C. Waiting until the next scheduled assessment to recheck output
D. Recognizing the trend as a potential early sign of hypovolemia or renal compromise and investigating further
Correct Answer: D
Rationale:
Skilled noticing includes recognizing patterns and trends that deviate from expected trajectories. Persistently low urine output is
a cue that demands further assessment rather than passive documentation.
Q3. During bedside handoff the off-going nurse states that a patient “just doesn’t look right.” The oncoming nurse
performs a focused assessment and finds new confusion and cool extremities. Which aspect of noticing is
illustrated by the off-going nurse’s statement?
A. Reliance solely on quantitative data
B. Delegation of assessment to another nurse
C. Use of intuitive knowing or pattern recognition based on experience
D. Complete absence of clinical judgment
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Experienced nurses often notice subtle, hard-to-quantify changes (“doesn’t look right”) through intuitive pattern recognition
developed over time. This is a valid form of noticing that should prompt further investigation.
, NUR 200 FINAL EXAM (HONDROS) — 2026/2027 Page 3
Q4. A nurse is caring for four patients. Which patient situation should the nurse notice as the highest priority for
immediate assessment?
A. A patient asking about discharge instructions
B. A patient with a new oxygen saturation of 88% on room air who was previously stable
C. A patient requesting a pillow adjustment
D. A patient due for routine medication in 30 minutes
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
A sudden drop in oxygen saturation represents an acute physiologic change that can rapidly progress. Noticing and acting on
this cue takes priority over comfort or routine requests.
Q5. A nursing student reports to the instructor that a patient’s blood pressure is 90/50 mm Hg. The instructor
asks what else the student noticed. Which additional observation best supports comprehensive noticing?
A. The brand of the blood-pressure cuff
B. The patient’s level of consciousness, skin color, and capillary refill
C. The time the last visitor left
D. The room temperature
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Blood pressure is only one data point. Comprehensive noticing integrates related cues such as mentation, perfusion, and skin
findings to form a more complete clinical picture.
Q6. A nurse compares Tanner’s Clinical Judgment Model with the traditional nursing process. Which statement
correctly maps the models?
A. Noticing corresponds only to the evaluation phase
B. Responding has no equivalent in the nursing process
C. Reflecting occurs before any patient contact
D. Noticing aligns with assessment; interpreting aligns with diagnosis and analysis
Correct Answer: D
Rationale:
Tanner’s noticing roughly corresponds to assessment, interpreting to analysis/diagnosis, responding to planning and
implementation, and reflecting to evaluation. Understanding both frameworks strengthens clinical judgment.
