NURS 143 MIDTERM/FINAL QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT ANSWERS 2026/2027
LATEST EXAM STUDY GUIDE
49 QUESTIONS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
# TOPIC
1 Apply the nursing process to prioritize care for patients with complex, multisystem health alterations
2 Analyze the mechanisms of action, adverse effects, and nursing implications of major drug classes
3 Demonstrate clinical decision-making using evidence-based guidelines, quality improvement, and safety
principles
4 NURS 143 MIDTERM
5 FINAL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS 2026
6 2027 LATEST EXAM STUDY GUIDE
7 Foundations of Nursing Fundamentals, Medical-Surgical Nursing, Pharmacology, and Clinical Judgment
8 Applied Nursing Fundamentals, Medical-Surgical Nursing, Pharmacology, and Clinical Judgment
9 Advanced Nursing Fundamentals, Medical-Surgical Nursing, Pharmacology, and Clinical Judgment
10 Nursing Fundamentals, Medical-Surgical Nursing, Pharmacology, and Clinical Judgment Review
ABSTRACT
This study document brings together 49 carefully worded exam questions drawn from NURS 143
MIDTERM/FINAL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS 2026/2027 LATEST EXAM STUDY
GUIDE, with the strongest emphasis placed on Apply the nursing process to prioritize care for
patients with complex, multisystem health alterations, Analyze the mechanisms of action, adverse
effects, and nursing implications of major drug classes, Demonstrate clinical decision-making using
evidence-based guidelines, quality improvement and and safety principles. Every item follows the
wording style and level of reasoning you meet in the real paper, and each one is paired with a clear
rationale so the correct choice is never a guess. Work through the set at your own pace, mark the
questions that slow you down, then come back to them until the reasoning feels automatic.
Learners who revise this way walk into the exam room recognising the pattern behind the
questions instead of meeting them for the first time. Keep going - steady, honest practice is what
turns a difficult paper into a comfortable pass.
Page 1
,Q1 APPLY THE NURSING PROCESS TO PRIORITIZE CARE FOR PATIENTS WITH COMPLEX,
MULTISYSTEM HEALTH ALTERATIONS
A patient with acute decompensated heart failure is prescribed IV furosemide.
Which assessment finding indicates the most immediate risk requiring
intervention?
A. Serum potassium of 3.1 mEq/L CORRECT
B. Urine output of 50 mL/hr
C. Blood pressure of 108/68 mm Hg
D. Respiratory rate of 22 breaths/min
RATIONALE: Loop diuretics like furosemide cause significant potassium loss, and hypokalemia
increases the risk of fatal dysrhythmias. The other findings are either expected or not
immediately life-threatening. Urine output and blood pressure are acceptable, and mild
tachypnea is common in heart failure.
Q2 APPLY THE NURSING PROCESS TO PRIORITIZE CARE FOR PATIENTS WITH COMPLEX,
MULTISYSTEM HEALTH ALTERATIONS
Which instruction should the nurse include when teaching a patient about newly
prescribed warfarin?
A. Increase intake of leafy green vegetables to stabilize INR.
B. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and electric razor. CORRECT
C. Take ibuprofen for headaches instead of acetaminophen.
D. Double the dose if a dose is missed.
RATIONALE: Warfarin increases bleeding risk, so measures to prevent trauma-induced bleeding
are essential. Leafy greens contain vitamin K, which antagonizes warfarin and should be kept
consistent, not increased. Ibuprofen increases bleeding risk and should be avoided; missed
doses should not be doubled.
Page 2
, Q3 APPLY THE NURSING PROCESS TO PRIORITIZE CARE FOR PATIENTS WITH COMPLEX,
MULTISYSTEM HEALTH ALTERATIONS
A nurse is caring for a patient with a new colostomy. Which statement by the
patient indicates a need for further teaching?
A. I will avoid eating foods that cause gas, like broccoli.
B. I should empty the pouch when it is one-third full.
C. I can use a pouch deodorant to reduce odor.
D. I will change the pouch every 7 days. CORRECT
RATIONALE: Colostomy pouches typically need to be changed every 3 to 7 days, but the skin
barrier should be changed every 1 to 3 days or when it leaks. Waiting 7 days may lead to skin
breakdown and leakage. The other statements are correct: avoiding gas-forming foods, emptying
at one-third full, and using deodorants are appropriate.
Q4 APPLY THE NURSING PROCESS TO PRIORITIZE CARE FOR PATIENTS WITH COMPLEX,
MULTISYSTEM HEALTH ALTERATIONS
The nurse is reviewing laboratory results for a patient receiving heparin infusion.
Which finding requires immediate notification of the provider?
A. aPTT of 45 seconds CORRECT
B. Platelet count of 150,000/mm³
C. Hemoglobin of 14 g/dL
D. INR of 1.0
RATIONALE: The therapeutic range for aPTT during heparin therapy is typically 1.5 to 2.5 times
the control value (approximately 45-70 seconds). An aPTT of 45 seconds may be subtherapeutic,
but the question asks for immediate notification; however, aPTT of 45 is at the low end and may
require dose adjustment. Actually, aPTT of 45 seconds is within normal range (control ~30-40),
so it indicates subtherapeutic anticoagulation and risk of clot. The other values are normal.
Platelet count of 150,000 is low-normal but not critical; hemoglobin and INR are normal.
Page 3
AND CORRECT ANSWERS 2026/2027
LATEST EXAM STUDY GUIDE
49 QUESTIONS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
# TOPIC
1 Apply the nursing process to prioritize care for patients with complex, multisystem health alterations
2 Analyze the mechanisms of action, adverse effects, and nursing implications of major drug classes
3 Demonstrate clinical decision-making using evidence-based guidelines, quality improvement, and safety
principles
4 NURS 143 MIDTERM
5 FINAL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS 2026
6 2027 LATEST EXAM STUDY GUIDE
7 Foundations of Nursing Fundamentals, Medical-Surgical Nursing, Pharmacology, and Clinical Judgment
8 Applied Nursing Fundamentals, Medical-Surgical Nursing, Pharmacology, and Clinical Judgment
9 Advanced Nursing Fundamentals, Medical-Surgical Nursing, Pharmacology, and Clinical Judgment
10 Nursing Fundamentals, Medical-Surgical Nursing, Pharmacology, and Clinical Judgment Review
ABSTRACT
This study document brings together 49 carefully worded exam questions drawn from NURS 143
MIDTERM/FINAL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS 2026/2027 LATEST EXAM STUDY
GUIDE, with the strongest emphasis placed on Apply the nursing process to prioritize care for
patients with complex, multisystem health alterations, Analyze the mechanisms of action, adverse
effects, and nursing implications of major drug classes, Demonstrate clinical decision-making using
evidence-based guidelines, quality improvement and and safety principles. Every item follows the
wording style and level of reasoning you meet in the real paper, and each one is paired with a clear
rationale so the correct choice is never a guess. Work through the set at your own pace, mark the
questions that slow you down, then come back to them until the reasoning feels automatic.
Learners who revise this way walk into the exam room recognising the pattern behind the
questions instead of meeting them for the first time. Keep going - steady, honest practice is what
turns a difficult paper into a comfortable pass.
Page 1
,Q1 APPLY THE NURSING PROCESS TO PRIORITIZE CARE FOR PATIENTS WITH COMPLEX,
MULTISYSTEM HEALTH ALTERATIONS
A patient with acute decompensated heart failure is prescribed IV furosemide.
Which assessment finding indicates the most immediate risk requiring
intervention?
A. Serum potassium of 3.1 mEq/L CORRECT
B. Urine output of 50 mL/hr
C. Blood pressure of 108/68 mm Hg
D. Respiratory rate of 22 breaths/min
RATIONALE: Loop diuretics like furosemide cause significant potassium loss, and hypokalemia
increases the risk of fatal dysrhythmias. The other findings are either expected or not
immediately life-threatening. Urine output and blood pressure are acceptable, and mild
tachypnea is common in heart failure.
Q2 APPLY THE NURSING PROCESS TO PRIORITIZE CARE FOR PATIENTS WITH COMPLEX,
MULTISYSTEM HEALTH ALTERATIONS
Which instruction should the nurse include when teaching a patient about newly
prescribed warfarin?
A. Increase intake of leafy green vegetables to stabilize INR.
B. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and electric razor. CORRECT
C. Take ibuprofen for headaches instead of acetaminophen.
D. Double the dose if a dose is missed.
RATIONALE: Warfarin increases bleeding risk, so measures to prevent trauma-induced bleeding
are essential. Leafy greens contain vitamin K, which antagonizes warfarin and should be kept
consistent, not increased. Ibuprofen increases bleeding risk and should be avoided; missed
doses should not be doubled.
Page 2
, Q3 APPLY THE NURSING PROCESS TO PRIORITIZE CARE FOR PATIENTS WITH COMPLEX,
MULTISYSTEM HEALTH ALTERATIONS
A nurse is caring for a patient with a new colostomy. Which statement by the
patient indicates a need for further teaching?
A. I will avoid eating foods that cause gas, like broccoli.
B. I should empty the pouch when it is one-third full.
C. I can use a pouch deodorant to reduce odor.
D. I will change the pouch every 7 days. CORRECT
RATIONALE: Colostomy pouches typically need to be changed every 3 to 7 days, but the skin
barrier should be changed every 1 to 3 days or when it leaks. Waiting 7 days may lead to skin
breakdown and leakage. The other statements are correct: avoiding gas-forming foods, emptying
at one-third full, and using deodorants are appropriate.
Q4 APPLY THE NURSING PROCESS TO PRIORITIZE CARE FOR PATIENTS WITH COMPLEX,
MULTISYSTEM HEALTH ALTERATIONS
The nurse is reviewing laboratory results for a patient receiving heparin infusion.
Which finding requires immediate notification of the provider?
A. aPTT of 45 seconds CORRECT
B. Platelet count of 150,000/mm³
C. Hemoglobin of 14 g/dL
D. INR of 1.0
RATIONALE: The therapeutic range for aPTT during heparin therapy is typically 1.5 to 2.5 times
the control value (approximately 45-70 seconds). An aPTT of 45 seconds may be subtherapeutic,
but the question asks for immediate notification; however, aPTT of 45 is at the low end and may
require dose adjustment. Actually, aPTT of 45 seconds is within normal range (control ~30-40),
so it indicates subtherapeutic anticoagulation and risk of clot. The other values are normal.
Platelet count of 150,000 is low-normal but not critical; hemoglobin and INR are normal.
Page 3
