NUR 324 ADULT HEALTH ASSESMENT
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT VERIFIED
ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE
2026/2027
NUR 324 Adult Health I
Practice Questions — Answers & Rationales
1.
A client with heart failure reports increasing shortness of breath and suddenly develops pink,
frothy sputum. Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Encourage oral fluids
B. Place the client in high-Fowler's position
C. Obtain a dietary history
D. Assist the client to ambulate
Answer: B
Rationale: Pink, frothy sputum with acute dyspnea suggests pulmonary edema. High-Fowler's
positioning improves lung expansion and decreases venous return while emergency treatment is
initiated.
2.
Which assessment finding is most concerning in a client with chest pain?
A. Pain rated 2/10 after eating
B. Chest pressure radiating to the left arm with diaphoresis
C. Mild tenderness over the ribs
D. Pain relieved by changing position
Answer: B
Rationale: Pressure-like chest pain radiating to the arm with diaphoresis is concerning for acute
coronary syndrome and requires prompt evaluation.
,3.
A client taking furosemide is at greatest risk for which electrolyte abnormality?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hypermagnesemia
D. Hypernatremia
Answer: B
Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that increases urinary potassium loss.
4.
Which finding is most characteristic of left-sided heart failure?
A. Pulmonary crackles
B. Dependent peripheral edema only
C. Enlarged liver
D. Ascites
Answer: A
Rationale: Left-sided heart failure causes pulmonary congestion, commonly producing dyspnea
and crackles.
5.
A client with COPD is receiving oxygen. Which nursing principle is important?
A. Apply unlimited oxygen without reassessment
B. Titrate oxygen according to the prescribed target and clinical response
C. Discontinue oxygen whenever the client becomes dyspneic
D. Encourage prolonged breath-holding
Answer: B
Rationale: Oxygen should be administered as prescribed and adjusted according to the patient's
oxygenation and clinical condition.
6.
Which breathing technique should the nurse teach a client with COPD?
A. Rapid shallow breathing
B. Pursed-lip breathing
,C. Breath-holding after inspiration
D. Mouth breathing only
Answer: B
Rationale: Pursed-lip breathing slows exhalation and can help reduce air trapping and improve
ventilation.
7.
A client with asthma develops severe wheezing followed by markedly diminished breath sounds.
What does this finding suggest?
A. Improvement
B. Severe airflow limitation
C. Normal response
D. Resolution of bronchospasm
Answer: B
Rationale: A "silent chest" or markedly decreased air movement in a severely symptomatic
asthmatic client can indicate critical airflow obstruction.
8.
Which finding is most suggestive of a pneumothorax?
A. Bilateral crackles
B. Sudden unilateral absent breath sounds
C. Productive cough
D. Bilateral dependent edema
Answer: B
Rationale: Sudden respiratory distress with unilateral absent or markedly decreased breath
sounds is characteristic of pneumothorax.
9.
A client with pneumonia has an oxygen saturation of 86% and increasing respiratory distress.
What is the priority?
A. Offer a meal
B. Assess and support oxygenation
C. Obtain a dietary history
D. Encourage ambulation
Answer: B
, Rationale: Hypoxemia and respiratory distress require immediate attention to airway and
breathing.
10.
Which finding is expected with pneumonia?
A. Crackles and productive cough
B. Bradycardia with clear lungs
C. Absent bowel sounds
D. Painless hematuria
Answer: A
Rationale: Pneumonia commonly produces cough, sputum, fever, crackles, and other respiratory
findings.
11.
A client with suspected pulmonary embolism suddenly develops dyspnea and pleuritic chest
pain. What is the priority?
A. Encourage ambulation
B. Assess oxygenation and initiate prescribed emergency interventions
C. Offer a high-fat meal
D. Place the client flat
Answer: B
Rationale: Pulmonary embolism can rapidly compromise oxygenation and circulation and
requires urgent intervention.
12.
Which symptom is most characteristic of hypoxemia?
A. Cyanosis
B. Increased appetite
C. Warm dry skin only
D. Increased urine output
Answer: A
Rationale: Cyanosis can occur with significant hypoxemia, although oxygen saturation
measurement is more reliable for assessing oxygenation.
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT VERIFIED
ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE
2026/2027
NUR 324 Adult Health I
Practice Questions — Answers & Rationales
1.
A client with heart failure reports increasing shortness of breath and suddenly develops pink,
frothy sputum. Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Encourage oral fluids
B. Place the client in high-Fowler's position
C. Obtain a dietary history
D. Assist the client to ambulate
Answer: B
Rationale: Pink, frothy sputum with acute dyspnea suggests pulmonary edema. High-Fowler's
positioning improves lung expansion and decreases venous return while emergency treatment is
initiated.
2.
Which assessment finding is most concerning in a client with chest pain?
A. Pain rated 2/10 after eating
B. Chest pressure radiating to the left arm with diaphoresis
C. Mild tenderness over the ribs
D. Pain relieved by changing position
Answer: B
Rationale: Pressure-like chest pain radiating to the arm with diaphoresis is concerning for acute
coronary syndrome and requires prompt evaluation.
,3.
A client taking furosemide is at greatest risk for which electrolyte abnormality?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hypermagnesemia
D. Hypernatremia
Answer: B
Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that increases urinary potassium loss.
4.
Which finding is most characteristic of left-sided heart failure?
A. Pulmonary crackles
B. Dependent peripheral edema only
C. Enlarged liver
D. Ascites
Answer: A
Rationale: Left-sided heart failure causes pulmonary congestion, commonly producing dyspnea
and crackles.
5.
A client with COPD is receiving oxygen. Which nursing principle is important?
A. Apply unlimited oxygen without reassessment
B. Titrate oxygen according to the prescribed target and clinical response
C. Discontinue oxygen whenever the client becomes dyspneic
D. Encourage prolonged breath-holding
Answer: B
Rationale: Oxygen should be administered as prescribed and adjusted according to the patient's
oxygenation and clinical condition.
6.
Which breathing technique should the nurse teach a client with COPD?
A. Rapid shallow breathing
B. Pursed-lip breathing
,C. Breath-holding after inspiration
D. Mouth breathing only
Answer: B
Rationale: Pursed-lip breathing slows exhalation and can help reduce air trapping and improve
ventilation.
7.
A client with asthma develops severe wheezing followed by markedly diminished breath sounds.
What does this finding suggest?
A. Improvement
B. Severe airflow limitation
C. Normal response
D. Resolution of bronchospasm
Answer: B
Rationale: A "silent chest" or markedly decreased air movement in a severely symptomatic
asthmatic client can indicate critical airflow obstruction.
8.
Which finding is most suggestive of a pneumothorax?
A. Bilateral crackles
B. Sudden unilateral absent breath sounds
C. Productive cough
D. Bilateral dependent edema
Answer: B
Rationale: Sudden respiratory distress with unilateral absent or markedly decreased breath
sounds is characteristic of pneumothorax.
9.
A client with pneumonia has an oxygen saturation of 86% and increasing respiratory distress.
What is the priority?
A. Offer a meal
B. Assess and support oxygenation
C. Obtain a dietary history
D. Encourage ambulation
Answer: B
, Rationale: Hypoxemia and respiratory distress require immediate attention to airway and
breathing.
10.
Which finding is expected with pneumonia?
A. Crackles and productive cough
B. Bradycardia with clear lungs
C. Absent bowel sounds
D. Painless hematuria
Answer: A
Rationale: Pneumonia commonly produces cough, sputum, fever, crackles, and other respiratory
findings.
11.
A client with suspected pulmonary embolism suddenly develops dyspnea and pleuritic chest
pain. What is the priority?
A. Encourage ambulation
B. Assess oxygenation and initiate prescribed emergency interventions
C. Offer a high-fat meal
D. Place the client flat
Answer: B
Rationale: Pulmonary embolism can rapidly compromise oxygenation and circulation and
requires urgent intervention.
12.
Which symptom is most characteristic of hypoxemia?
A. Cyanosis
B. Increased appetite
C. Warm dry skin only
D. Increased urine output
Answer: A
Rationale: Cyanosis can occur with significant hypoxemia, although oxygen saturation
measurement is more reliable for assessing oxygenation.
