NURS 272 EXAM QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS PLUS RATIONALE
NEW 2026-2027 UPDATE
97 QUESTIONS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
# TOPIC
1 Analyze complex clinical data to prioritize safe, evidence-based nursing interventions
2 Apply principles of pathophysiology and pharmacology to predict patient outcomes and medication effects
3 Evaluate nursing actions using current national safety standards and quality indicators
4 NURS 272 Exam Questions and Correct Answers plus Rationale New 2026
5 2027 Update
6 Foundations of Medical-Surgical Nursing / Nursing Fundamentals
7 Applied Medical-Surgical Nursing / Nursing Fundamentals
8 Advanced Medical-Surgical Nursing / Nursing Fundamentals
9 Medical-Surgical Nursing / Nursing Fundamentals Review
ABSTRACT
This study document brings together 97 carefully worded exam questions drawn from NURS 272
Exam Questions and Correct Answers plus Rationale New 2026-2027 Update, with the strongest
emphasis placed on Analyze complex clinical data to prioritize safe, evidence-based nursing
interventions, Apply principles of pathophysiology and pharmacology to predict patient outcomes
and medication effects and Evaluate nursing actions using current national safety standards and
quality indicators. 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 ANALYZE COMPLEX CLINICAL DATA TO PRIORITIZE SAFE, EVIDENCE-BASED NURSING
INTERVENTIONS
A patient with severe vomiting has an arterial blood gas: pH 7.48, PaCO2 40 mm
Hg, HCO3- 30 mEq/L. Which compensatory mechanism is most likely occurring?
A. Renal excretion of bicarbonate CORRECT
B. Hyperventilation to blow off CO2
C. Renal retention of hydrogen ions
D. Increased lactic acid production
RATIONALE: The ABG indicates metabolic alkalosis (elevated pH, elevated HCO3- with normal
PaCO2). Renal compensation for metabolic alkalosis involves excreting excess bicarbonate and
retaining hydrogen ions. Hyperventilation would lower PaCO2, which is not present here.
Q2 ANALYZE COMPLEX CLINICAL DATA TO PRIORITIZE SAFE, EVIDENCE-BASED NURSING
INTERVENTIONS
Which assessment finding is the earliest and most sensitive indicator of increased
intracranial pressure in a patient with a traumatic brain injury?
A. Decreased level of consciousness CORRECT
B. Pupillary dilation
C. Cushing's triad
D. Decerebrate posturing
RATIONALE: A change in level of consciousness is the earliest and most reliable indicator of
rising ICP. Pupillary changes, Cushing's triad, and posturing occur later as herniation progresses.
Early recognition allows timely intervention.
Page 2
,Q3 ANALYZE COMPLEX CLINICAL DATA TO PRIORITIZE SAFE, EVIDENCE-BASED NURSING
INTERVENTIONS
A patient receiving intravenous heparin has an aPTT of 110 seconds (therapeutic
range 60-80 seconds). Which action should the nurse anticipate?
A. Administer protamine sulfate
B. Hold the heparin infusion and recheck aPTT CORRECT
C. Increase the heparin infusion rate
D. Administer vitamin K
RATIONALE: An aPTT of 110 seconds is supratherapeutic, increasing bleeding risk. The nurse
should hold the infusion and recheck aPTT, then anticipate dose adjustment. Protamine sulfate is
the antidote but is typically reserved for serious bleeding; vitamin K reverses warfarin, not
heparin.
Q4 ANALYZE COMPLEX CLINICAL DATA TO PRIORITIZE SAFE, EVIDENCE-BASED NURSING
INTERVENTIONS
Which nursing action best prevents ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in an
intubated patient?
A. Maintaining the head of the bed at 30-45 degrees CORRECT
B. Suctioning the airway every 2 hours
C. Changing the ventilator circuit daily
D. Administering prophylactic antibiotics
RATIONALE: Elevating the head of the bed to 30-45 degrees reduces aspiration of
oropharyngeal secretions, a key VAP prevention strategy. Routine suctioning, daily circuit
changes, and prophylactic antibiotics are not recommended and may increase risk.
Page 3
, Q5 ANALYZE COMPLEX CLINICAL DATA TO PRIORITIZE SAFE, EVIDENCE-BASED NURSING
INTERVENTIONS
A patient is prescribed digoxin and furosemide. Which assessment finding
requires immediate intervention?
A. Heart rate of 58 beats/min
B. Serum potassium of 3.1 mEq/L CORRECT
C. Blood pressure of 110/70 mm Hg
D. Urine output of 50 mL/hr
RATIONALE: Furosemide causes potassium loss, and hypokalemia increases the risk of digoxin
toxicity. A potassium level of 3.1 mEq/L is dangerously low and requires immediate correction.
The other findings are within acceptable ranges.
Q6 ANALYZE COMPLEX CLINICAL DATA TO PRIORITIZE SAFE, EVIDENCE-BASED NURSING
INTERVENTIONS
Which instruction is most important for a patient starting rifampin for
tuberculosis?
A. Expect orange-red discoloration of body fluids CORRECT
B. Take the medication with meals to reduce nausea
C. Avoid direct sunlight
D. Increase intake of vitamin K-rich foods
RATIONALE: Rifampin commonly causes orange-red discoloration of urine, sweat, and tears,
which is harmless but should be expected. Taking with meals can reduce absorption; sunlight
avoidance and vitamin K are not primary concerns.
Page 4
CORRECT ANSWERS PLUS RATIONALE
NEW 2026-2027 UPDATE
97 QUESTIONS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
# TOPIC
1 Analyze complex clinical data to prioritize safe, evidence-based nursing interventions
2 Apply principles of pathophysiology and pharmacology to predict patient outcomes and medication effects
3 Evaluate nursing actions using current national safety standards and quality indicators
4 NURS 272 Exam Questions and Correct Answers plus Rationale New 2026
5 2027 Update
6 Foundations of Medical-Surgical Nursing / Nursing Fundamentals
7 Applied Medical-Surgical Nursing / Nursing Fundamentals
8 Advanced Medical-Surgical Nursing / Nursing Fundamentals
9 Medical-Surgical Nursing / Nursing Fundamentals Review
ABSTRACT
This study document brings together 97 carefully worded exam questions drawn from NURS 272
Exam Questions and Correct Answers plus Rationale New 2026-2027 Update, with the strongest
emphasis placed on Analyze complex clinical data to prioritize safe, evidence-based nursing
interventions, Apply principles of pathophysiology and pharmacology to predict patient outcomes
and medication effects and Evaluate nursing actions using current national safety standards and
quality indicators. 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 ANALYZE COMPLEX CLINICAL DATA TO PRIORITIZE SAFE, EVIDENCE-BASED NURSING
INTERVENTIONS
A patient with severe vomiting has an arterial blood gas: pH 7.48, PaCO2 40 mm
Hg, HCO3- 30 mEq/L. Which compensatory mechanism is most likely occurring?
A. Renal excretion of bicarbonate CORRECT
B. Hyperventilation to blow off CO2
C. Renal retention of hydrogen ions
D. Increased lactic acid production
RATIONALE: The ABG indicates metabolic alkalosis (elevated pH, elevated HCO3- with normal
PaCO2). Renal compensation for metabolic alkalosis involves excreting excess bicarbonate and
retaining hydrogen ions. Hyperventilation would lower PaCO2, which is not present here.
Q2 ANALYZE COMPLEX CLINICAL DATA TO PRIORITIZE SAFE, EVIDENCE-BASED NURSING
INTERVENTIONS
Which assessment finding is the earliest and most sensitive indicator of increased
intracranial pressure in a patient with a traumatic brain injury?
A. Decreased level of consciousness CORRECT
B. Pupillary dilation
C. Cushing's triad
D. Decerebrate posturing
RATIONALE: A change in level of consciousness is the earliest and most reliable indicator of
rising ICP. Pupillary changes, Cushing's triad, and posturing occur later as herniation progresses.
Early recognition allows timely intervention.
Page 2
,Q3 ANALYZE COMPLEX CLINICAL DATA TO PRIORITIZE SAFE, EVIDENCE-BASED NURSING
INTERVENTIONS
A patient receiving intravenous heparin has an aPTT of 110 seconds (therapeutic
range 60-80 seconds). Which action should the nurse anticipate?
A. Administer protamine sulfate
B. Hold the heparin infusion and recheck aPTT CORRECT
C. Increase the heparin infusion rate
D. Administer vitamin K
RATIONALE: An aPTT of 110 seconds is supratherapeutic, increasing bleeding risk. The nurse
should hold the infusion and recheck aPTT, then anticipate dose adjustment. Protamine sulfate is
the antidote but is typically reserved for serious bleeding; vitamin K reverses warfarin, not
heparin.
Q4 ANALYZE COMPLEX CLINICAL DATA TO PRIORITIZE SAFE, EVIDENCE-BASED NURSING
INTERVENTIONS
Which nursing action best prevents ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in an
intubated patient?
A. Maintaining the head of the bed at 30-45 degrees CORRECT
B. Suctioning the airway every 2 hours
C. Changing the ventilator circuit daily
D. Administering prophylactic antibiotics
RATIONALE: Elevating the head of the bed to 30-45 degrees reduces aspiration of
oropharyngeal secretions, a key VAP prevention strategy. Routine suctioning, daily circuit
changes, and prophylactic antibiotics are not recommended and may increase risk.
Page 3
, Q5 ANALYZE COMPLEX CLINICAL DATA TO PRIORITIZE SAFE, EVIDENCE-BASED NURSING
INTERVENTIONS
A patient is prescribed digoxin and furosemide. Which assessment finding
requires immediate intervention?
A. Heart rate of 58 beats/min
B. Serum potassium of 3.1 mEq/L CORRECT
C. Blood pressure of 110/70 mm Hg
D. Urine output of 50 mL/hr
RATIONALE: Furosemide causes potassium loss, and hypokalemia increases the risk of digoxin
toxicity. A potassium level of 3.1 mEq/L is dangerously low and requires immediate correction.
The other findings are within acceptable ranges.
Q6 ANALYZE COMPLEX CLINICAL DATA TO PRIORITIZE SAFE, EVIDENCE-BASED NURSING
INTERVENTIONS
Which instruction is most important for a patient starting rifampin for
tuberculosis?
A. Expect orange-red discoloration of body fluids CORRECT
B. Take the medication with meals to reduce nausea
C. Avoid direct sunlight
D. Increase intake of vitamin K-rich foods
RATIONALE: Rifampin commonly causes orange-red discoloration of urine, sweat, and tears,
which is harmless but should be expected. Taking with meals can reduce absorption; sunlight
avoidance and vitamin K are not primary concerns.
Page 4
