NUR 272 Final Exam Review Questions and Correct
Answers plus Rationale | New 2026-2027 Update
1. A nursing manager has just hired several new graduates on an inpatient unit.
Having heard of the "honeymoon phase" of transitioning into nursing, which
action by the manager would be most helpful?
A. Educate the graduates on phases of reality shock.
B. Help the graduates concentrate on principles of safe care.
C. Offer social events for new and seasoned nursing staff.
D. Remind the graduates that they should keep their positive attitudes.
Correct Answer: A. Educate the graduates on phases of reality shock.
Rationale: Understanding the phases of reality shock helps new graduates
anticipate and normalize their emotional responses, reducing surprise and stress.
2. A nurse with 15 years' experience has been working in the intensive care unit
(ICU) for two months. The nurse's preceptor is expressing frustration to the unit
manager because the new nurse follows all the rules "to the letter" and is
inflexible. Which action by the manager is most helpful?
A. Encourage the preceptor to be patient and give the new nurse easier
assignments.
B. Explain that as a nurse new to the ICU setting, this rule-bound practice is
expected.
C. Discuss the situation with the new nurse and emphasize the nurse's years of
experience.
D. Mediate a conversation with the nurses where performance expectations are
reviewed.
Correct Answer: B. Explain that as a nurse new to the ICU setting, this rule-
bound practice is expected.
Rationale: According to Benner, a nurse new to a specialty is an advanced
beginner in that area, regardless of overall experience. Rule-bound behavior is
typical until competence develops.
,3. A nurse is preparing to give a performance review to a new graduate who has
worked on the unit for one year. Which action by the nurse leads the manager
to conclude that a successful professional transition is occurring for the new
nurse?
A. Staff members relay that the nurse is easy to work with and is cooperative.
B. Has not called in sick or been late during the entire time of employment.
C. Picks up extra shifts and frequently works overtime to care for "my patients."
D. Able to adjust to workload without compromising safety or quality care.
Correct Answer: D. Able to adjust to workload without compromising safety or
quality care.
Rationale: Successful transition is demonstrated by effective prioritization,
flexibility, and safe practice, not just punctuality or extra shifts.
4. A nurse manager is teaching a seminar for managers on reality shock
experienced by new graduates. What information does the nurse manager
provide? (Select all that apply.)
A. Honeymoon phase: seems energetic and fascinated with nursing.
B. Shock and rejection phase: blames everyone else for any mistakes.
C. Shock and rejection phase: nurses may complain of minor illnesses.
D. Shock and rejection phase: uses black humor to cope with work.
E. Recovery phase: no longer catches contagious illnesses to which he or she is
exposed.
Correct Answer: A, C, D.
Rationale: The honeymoon phase is marked by excitement. The shock/rejection
phase includes frustration, minor illness complaints, and black humor. Blaming
everyone is too absolute, and recovery does not confer immunity.
5. A nursing manager wants to plan a program to help decrease new graduates'
stress. Which activities should the nurse manager include in this program?
(Select all that apply.)
A. Creating a master plan for increasing responsibilities of new staff.
,B. Ensuring that new staff understand the unit's formal chain of command.
C. Including formal skills practice and competency testing in a skills or scenario
lab.
D. Providing an orientation to facility benefits and time-off policies.
E. Reviewing proper communication techniques for calling physicians.
Correct Answer: A, C, D.
Rationale: Gradual increases in responsibility, skills practice, and understanding
benefits reduce stress. Chain of command and communication are also helpful but
the core program focuses on role transition and competency.
6. What could be the consequences if a new graduate RN does not appropriately
work through the phases of reality shock?
A. The new graduate may not pass the NCLEX RN.
B. The new graduate may become aggressive.
C. The new graduate may leave the profession.
D. The new graduate may adjust to their position as a nurse.
Correct Answer: C. The new graduate may leave the profession.
Rationale: Failure to resolve reality shock can lead to burnout, disillusionment,
and departure from nursing.
7. Which statement best reflects reality shock?
A. I didn't expect nursing to be quite like this.
B. I don't want to be a pediatric nurse.
C. I think I was to stay in school forever.
D. I know nursing is the perfect career for me.
Correct Answer: A. I didn't expect nursing to be quite like this.
Rationale: Reality shock occurs when the idealistic expectations of nursing school
clash with the realities of practice.
8. A student in the last semester of nursing school has established a goal of
making a successful role transition to graduate nurse. What activity will most
, effectively promote attainment of this goal?
A. Caring for increased numbers of patients to enhance work organization skills.
B. Spending hours a day in the OR observing the OR team.
C. Practicing IV starts in the nursing school laboratory.
D. Reviewing sample NCLEX questions every day.
Correct Answer: A. Caring for increased numbers of patients to enhance work
organization skills.
Rationale: Managing a larger patient load helps develop prioritization and time
management, key skills for transition to practice.
9. A new graduate has worked on a busy unit for 6 months since graduating from
nursing school. He tells a friend "I've never been so upset in all my life! The care
that some of the staff give our patients is outrageously bad. There's practically
no attention to the principles of asepsis the way I learned them! The staff tell me
that we have to cut corners if we're going to get all the work done! I can't stand
it" What phase of reality shock is this graduate experiencing?
A. Honeymoon
B. Shock and rejection
C. Recovery
D. Role transformation
Correct Answer: B. Shock and rejection
Rationale: This phase is characterized by anger, frustration, and disillusionment
with the gap between school ideals and practice realities.
10. A graduate nurse has been out of school for 3 months and working in a staff
nurse position for the last 2 months. What type of transition is the nurse
experiencing?
A. A growth transition
B. An organizational transition
C. A health-oriented transition
D. A situational transition
Answers plus Rationale | New 2026-2027 Update
1. A nursing manager has just hired several new graduates on an inpatient unit.
Having heard of the "honeymoon phase" of transitioning into nursing, which
action by the manager would be most helpful?
A. Educate the graduates on phases of reality shock.
B. Help the graduates concentrate on principles of safe care.
C. Offer social events for new and seasoned nursing staff.
D. Remind the graduates that they should keep their positive attitudes.
Correct Answer: A. Educate the graduates on phases of reality shock.
Rationale: Understanding the phases of reality shock helps new graduates
anticipate and normalize their emotional responses, reducing surprise and stress.
2. A nurse with 15 years' experience has been working in the intensive care unit
(ICU) for two months. The nurse's preceptor is expressing frustration to the unit
manager because the new nurse follows all the rules "to the letter" and is
inflexible. Which action by the manager is most helpful?
A. Encourage the preceptor to be patient and give the new nurse easier
assignments.
B. Explain that as a nurse new to the ICU setting, this rule-bound practice is
expected.
C. Discuss the situation with the new nurse and emphasize the nurse's years of
experience.
D. Mediate a conversation with the nurses where performance expectations are
reviewed.
Correct Answer: B. Explain that as a nurse new to the ICU setting, this rule-
bound practice is expected.
Rationale: According to Benner, a nurse new to a specialty is an advanced
beginner in that area, regardless of overall experience. Rule-bound behavior is
typical until competence develops.
,3. A nurse is preparing to give a performance review to a new graduate who has
worked on the unit for one year. Which action by the nurse leads the manager
to conclude that a successful professional transition is occurring for the new
nurse?
A. Staff members relay that the nurse is easy to work with and is cooperative.
B. Has not called in sick or been late during the entire time of employment.
C. Picks up extra shifts and frequently works overtime to care for "my patients."
D. Able to adjust to workload without compromising safety or quality care.
Correct Answer: D. Able to adjust to workload without compromising safety or
quality care.
Rationale: Successful transition is demonstrated by effective prioritization,
flexibility, and safe practice, not just punctuality or extra shifts.
4. A nurse manager is teaching a seminar for managers on reality shock
experienced by new graduates. What information does the nurse manager
provide? (Select all that apply.)
A. Honeymoon phase: seems energetic and fascinated with nursing.
B. Shock and rejection phase: blames everyone else for any mistakes.
C. Shock and rejection phase: nurses may complain of minor illnesses.
D. Shock and rejection phase: uses black humor to cope with work.
E. Recovery phase: no longer catches contagious illnesses to which he or she is
exposed.
Correct Answer: A, C, D.
Rationale: The honeymoon phase is marked by excitement. The shock/rejection
phase includes frustration, minor illness complaints, and black humor. Blaming
everyone is too absolute, and recovery does not confer immunity.
5. A nursing manager wants to plan a program to help decrease new graduates'
stress. Which activities should the nurse manager include in this program?
(Select all that apply.)
A. Creating a master plan for increasing responsibilities of new staff.
,B. Ensuring that new staff understand the unit's formal chain of command.
C. Including formal skills practice and competency testing in a skills or scenario
lab.
D. Providing an orientation to facility benefits and time-off policies.
E. Reviewing proper communication techniques for calling physicians.
Correct Answer: A, C, D.
Rationale: Gradual increases in responsibility, skills practice, and understanding
benefits reduce stress. Chain of command and communication are also helpful but
the core program focuses on role transition and competency.
6. What could be the consequences if a new graduate RN does not appropriately
work through the phases of reality shock?
A. The new graduate may not pass the NCLEX RN.
B. The new graduate may become aggressive.
C. The new graduate may leave the profession.
D. The new graduate may adjust to their position as a nurse.
Correct Answer: C. The new graduate may leave the profession.
Rationale: Failure to resolve reality shock can lead to burnout, disillusionment,
and departure from nursing.
7. Which statement best reflects reality shock?
A. I didn't expect nursing to be quite like this.
B. I don't want to be a pediatric nurse.
C. I think I was to stay in school forever.
D. I know nursing is the perfect career for me.
Correct Answer: A. I didn't expect nursing to be quite like this.
Rationale: Reality shock occurs when the idealistic expectations of nursing school
clash with the realities of practice.
8. A student in the last semester of nursing school has established a goal of
making a successful role transition to graduate nurse. What activity will most
, effectively promote attainment of this goal?
A. Caring for increased numbers of patients to enhance work organization skills.
B. Spending hours a day in the OR observing the OR team.
C. Practicing IV starts in the nursing school laboratory.
D. Reviewing sample NCLEX questions every day.
Correct Answer: A. Caring for increased numbers of patients to enhance work
organization skills.
Rationale: Managing a larger patient load helps develop prioritization and time
management, key skills for transition to practice.
9. A new graduate has worked on a busy unit for 6 months since graduating from
nursing school. He tells a friend "I've never been so upset in all my life! The care
that some of the staff give our patients is outrageously bad. There's practically
no attention to the principles of asepsis the way I learned them! The staff tell me
that we have to cut corners if we're going to get all the work done! I can't stand
it" What phase of reality shock is this graduate experiencing?
A. Honeymoon
B. Shock and rejection
C. Recovery
D. Role transformation
Correct Answer: B. Shock and rejection
Rationale: This phase is characterized by anger, frustration, and disillusionment
with the gap between school ideals and practice realities.
10. A graduate nurse has been out of school for 3 months and working in a staff
nurse position for the last 2 months. What type of transition is the nurse
experiencing?
A. A growth transition
B. An organizational transition
C. A health-oriented transition
D. A situational transition
