NUR 272 Exam 2 NCLEX Style Review Questions and
Correct Answers plus Rationale | New 2026-2027 Update
Diabetes Mellitus & Endocrine Disorders
1. A 54-year-old patient admitted with type 2 diabetes asks the nurse what
"type 2" means. What is the most appropriate response by the nurse?
A. "With type 2 diabetes, the body of the pancreas becomes inflamed."
B. "With type 2 diabetes, insulin secretion is decreased, and insulin resistance is
increased."
C. "With type 2 diabetes, the patient is totally dependent on an outside source of
insulin."
D. "With type 2 diabetes, the body produces autoantibodies that destroy β-cells in
the pancreas."
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Type 2 diabetes involves decreased insulin secretion and increased
insulin resistance. Type 1 is characterized by autoimmune destruction of β-cells.
Pancreatitis causes pancreatic inflammation.
2. The nurse caring for a patient hospitalized with diabetes mellitus would look
for which laboratory test result to obtain information on the patient's past
glucose control?
A. Prealbumin level
B. Urine ketone level
C. Fasting glucose level
D. Glycosylated hemoglobin level
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: HbA1c reflects average glucose over 2–3 months. Fasting glucose and
urine ketones reflect current status. Prealbumin assesses nutrition.
,3. The nurse has been teaching a patient with diabetes mellitus how to perform
self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG). During evaluation of the patient's
technique, the nurse identifies a need for additional teaching when the patient
does what?
A. Chooses a puncture site in the center of the finger pad.
B. Washes hands with soap and water to cleanse the site to be used.
C. Warms the finger before puncturing the finger to obtain a drop of blood.
D. Tells the nurse that the result of 110 mg/dL indicates good control of diabetes.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Puncture should be on the side of the fingertip, not the center, which
has more nerve endings and is more painful.
4. The nurse is assigned to the care of a 64-year-old patient diagnosed with type
2 diabetes. In formulating a teaching plan that encourages the patient to actively
participate in management of the diabetes, what should be the nurse's initial
intervention?
A. Assess patient's perception of what it means to have diabetes.
B. Ask the patient to write down current knowledge about diabetes.
C. Set goals for the patient to actively participate in managing his diabetes.
D. Assume responsibility for all of the patient's care to decrease stress level.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Assessment of the patient’s perception and beliefs is the first step
before individualized teaching.
5. The nurse is beginning to teach a diabetic patient about vascular
complications of diabetes. What information is appropriate for the nurse to
include?
A. Macroangiopathy does not occur in type 1 diabetes but rather in type 2
diabetics who have severe disease.
B. Microangiopathy is specific to diabetes and most commonly affects the capillary
membranes of the eyes, kidneys, and skin.
C. Renal damage resulting from changes in large- and medium-sized blood vessels
,can be prevented by careful glucose control.
D. Macroangiopathy causes slowed gastric emptying and the sexual impotency
experienced by a majority of patients with diabetes.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Microangiopathy affects small vessels, especially eyes (retinopathy),
kidneys (nephropathy), and skin. Macroangiopathy can occur in both types.
6. The nurse is evaluating a 45-year-old patient diagnosed with type 2 diabetes
mellitus. Which symptom reported by the patient is considered one of the
classic clinical manifestations of diabetes?
A. Excessive thirst
B. Gradual weight gain
C. Overwhelming fatigue
D. Recurrent blurred vision
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Classic symptoms are polydipsia (excessive thirst), polyuria, and
polyphagia.
7. A 51-year-old patient with diabetes mellitus is scheduled for a fasting blood
glucose level at 8:00 AM. The nurse instructs the patient to only drink water
after what time?
A. 6:00 PM on the evening before the test
B. Midnight before the test
C. 4:00 AM on the day of the test
D. 7:00 AM on the day of the test
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: NPO after midnight for an 8-hour fasting glucose draw.
8. A patient, who is admitted with diabetes mellitus, has a glucose level of 380
mg/dL and a moderate level of ketones in the urine. As the nurse assesses for
signs of ketoacidosis, which respiratory pattern would the nurse expect to find?
, A. Central apnea
B. Hypoventilation
C. Kussmaul respirations
D. Cheyne-Stokes respirations
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Kussmaul respirations are deep, rapid breaths that blow off CO₂ to
compensate for metabolic acidosis in DKA.
9. The nurse is assisting a patient with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes to learn
dietary planning as part of the initial management of diabetes. The nurse would
encourage the patient to limit intake of which foods to help reduce the percent
of fat in the diet?
A. Cheese
B. Broccoli
C. Chicken
D. Oranges
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Cheese is high in saturated fat and calories. Vegetables, fruit, and
poultry are lower in fat.
10. Laboratory results have been obtained for a 50-year-old patient with a 15-
year history of type 2 diabetes. Which result reflects the expected pattern
accompanying macrovascular disease as a complication of diabetes?
A. Increased triglyceride levels
B. Increased high-density lipoproteins (HDL)
C. Decreased low-density lipoproteins (LDL)
D. Decreased very-low-density lipoproteins (VLDL)
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Macrovascular disease is associated with dyslipidemia, including
increased triglycerides. HDL is often low, LDL and VLDL elevated.
Correct Answers plus Rationale | New 2026-2027 Update
Diabetes Mellitus & Endocrine Disorders
1. A 54-year-old patient admitted with type 2 diabetes asks the nurse what
"type 2" means. What is the most appropriate response by the nurse?
A. "With type 2 diabetes, the body of the pancreas becomes inflamed."
B. "With type 2 diabetes, insulin secretion is decreased, and insulin resistance is
increased."
C. "With type 2 diabetes, the patient is totally dependent on an outside source of
insulin."
D. "With type 2 diabetes, the body produces autoantibodies that destroy β-cells in
the pancreas."
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Type 2 diabetes involves decreased insulin secretion and increased
insulin resistance. Type 1 is characterized by autoimmune destruction of β-cells.
Pancreatitis causes pancreatic inflammation.
2. The nurse caring for a patient hospitalized with diabetes mellitus would look
for which laboratory test result to obtain information on the patient's past
glucose control?
A. Prealbumin level
B. Urine ketone level
C. Fasting glucose level
D. Glycosylated hemoglobin level
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: HbA1c reflects average glucose over 2–3 months. Fasting glucose and
urine ketones reflect current status. Prealbumin assesses nutrition.
,3. The nurse has been teaching a patient with diabetes mellitus how to perform
self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG). During evaluation of the patient's
technique, the nurse identifies a need for additional teaching when the patient
does what?
A. Chooses a puncture site in the center of the finger pad.
B. Washes hands with soap and water to cleanse the site to be used.
C. Warms the finger before puncturing the finger to obtain a drop of blood.
D. Tells the nurse that the result of 110 mg/dL indicates good control of diabetes.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Puncture should be on the side of the fingertip, not the center, which
has more nerve endings and is more painful.
4. The nurse is assigned to the care of a 64-year-old patient diagnosed with type
2 diabetes. In formulating a teaching plan that encourages the patient to actively
participate in management of the diabetes, what should be the nurse's initial
intervention?
A. Assess patient's perception of what it means to have diabetes.
B. Ask the patient to write down current knowledge about diabetes.
C. Set goals for the patient to actively participate in managing his diabetes.
D. Assume responsibility for all of the patient's care to decrease stress level.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Assessment of the patient’s perception and beliefs is the first step
before individualized teaching.
5. The nurse is beginning to teach a diabetic patient about vascular
complications of diabetes. What information is appropriate for the nurse to
include?
A. Macroangiopathy does not occur in type 1 diabetes but rather in type 2
diabetics who have severe disease.
B. Microangiopathy is specific to diabetes and most commonly affects the capillary
membranes of the eyes, kidneys, and skin.
C. Renal damage resulting from changes in large- and medium-sized blood vessels
,can be prevented by careful glucose control.
D. Macroangiopathy causes slowed gastric emptying and the sexual impotency
experienced by a majority of patients with diabetes.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Microangiopathy affects small vessels, especially eyes (retinopathy),
kidneys (nephropathy), and skin. Macroangiopathy can occur in both types.
6. The nurse is evaluating a 45-year-old patient diagnosed with type 2 diabetes
mellitus. Which symptom reported by the patient is considered one of the
classic clinical manifestations of diabetes?
A. Excessive thirst
B. Gradual weight gain
C. Overwhelming fatigue
D. Recurrent blurred vision
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Classic symptoms are polydipsia (excessive thirst), polyuria, and
polyphagia.
7. A 51-year-old patient with diabetes mellitus is scheduled for a fasting blood
glucose level at 8:00 AM. The nurse instructs the patient to only drink water
after what time?
A. 6:00 PM on the evening before the test
B. Midnight before the test
C. 4:00 AM on the day of the test
D. 7:00 AM on the day of the test
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: NPO after midnight for an 8-hour fasting glucose draw.
8. A patient, who is admitted with diabetes mellitus, has a glucose level of 380
mg/dL and a moderate level of ketones in the urine. As the nurse assesses for
signs of ketoacidosis, which respiratory pattern would the nurse expect to find?
, A. Central apnea
B. Hypoventilation
C. Kussmaul respirations
D. Cheyne-Stokes respirations
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Kussmaul respirations are deep, rapid breaths that blow off CO₂ to
compensate for metabolic acidosis in DKA.
9. The nurse is assisting a patient with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes to learn
dietary planning as part of the initial management of diabetes. The nurse would
encourage the patient to limit intake of which foods to help reduce the percent
of fat in the diet?
A. Cheese
B. Broccoli
C. Chicken
D. Oranges
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Cheese is high in saturated fat and calories. Vegetables, fruit, and
poultry are lower in fat.
10. Laboratory results have been obtained for a 50-year-old patient with a 15-
year history of type 2 diabetes. Which result reflects the expected pattern
accompanying macrovascular disease as a complication of diabetes?
A. Increased triglyceride levels
B. Increased high-density lipoproteins (HDL)
C. Decreased low-density lipoproteins (LDL)
D. Decreased very-low-density lipoproteins (VLDL)
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Macrovascular disease is associated with dyslipidemia, including
increased triglycerides. HDL is often low, LDL and VLDL elevated.
