NURS 1202 EXAM & CORRECT ANSWERS
WITH RATIONALES NEW 2026-2027 UPDATE
99 QUESTIONS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
# TOPIC
1 Apply the nursing process to prioritize care for patients with complex, multi-system health alterations
2 Demonstrate safe medication administration and calculation of dosages using dimensional analysis
3 Integrate infection prevention, standard precautions, and isolation protocols into patient care
4 Analyze legal and ethical dilemmas in nursing practice using ANA Code of Ethics and state nurse practice
acts
5 Evaluate patient responses to fluid, electrolyte, and acid-base imbalances and implement appropriate
interventions
6 NURS 1202 Exam & Correct Answers with Rationales New 2026
7 2027 Update
8 Foundations of Nursing Fundamentals & Medical-Surgical Nursing
9 Applied Nursing Fundamentals & Medical-Surgical Nursing
10 Advanced Nursing Fundamentals & Medical-Surgical Nursing
11 Nursing Fundamentals & Medical-Surgical Nursing Review
ABSTRACT
This study document brings together 99 carefully worded exam questions drawn from NURS 1202
Exam & Correct Answers with Rationales New 2026-2027 Update, with the strongest emphasis
placed on Apply the nursing process to prioritize care for patients with complex, multi-system
health alterations, Demonstrate safe medication administration and calculation of dosages using
dimensional analysis, Integrate infection prevention, standard precautions and and isolation
protocols into patient care. 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,
MULTI-SYSTEM HEALTH ALTERATIONS
A nurse is preparing to administer a high-risk medication via a central venous
catheter. Which action best demonstrates the principle of 'right route' in the
context of the five rights of medication administration?
A. Verifying the catheter tip location on chest X-ray before administration.
B. Confirming the medication is compatible with the catheter material.
C. Checking that the prescribed route matches the patient's current venous access. CORRECT
D. Ensuring the medication is administered at the prescribed time.
RATIONALE: The 'right route' requires confirming the prescribed route aligns with the patient's
actual access (e.g., central line vs. peripheral). Option A addresses catheter placement
verification, which is part of preparation but not the right route itself. Option B relates to
compatibility, and Option D refers to the 'right time'.
Q2 APPLY THE NURSING PROCESS TO PRIORITIZE CARE FOR PATIENTS WITH COMPLEX,
MULTI-SYSTEM HEALTH ALTERATIONS
A patient with a history of heart failure is prescribed furosemide 40 mg IV push.
Which assessment finding would cause the nurse to withhold the dose and
contact the provider?
A. Serum potassium of 3.1 mEq/L CORRECT
B. Blood pressure of 118/72 mm Hg
C. Urine output of 50 mL/hr
D. Heart rate of 88 beats/min
RATIONALE: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that can cause hypokalemia; a potassium level of 3.1
mEq/L is below normal (3.5-5.0) and increases risk of dysrhythmias. The other findings are within
normal limits and do not contraindicate administration.
Page 2
,Q3 APPLY THE NURSING PROCESS TO PRIORITIZE CARE FOR PATIENTS WITH COMPLEX,
MULTI-SYSTEM HEALTH ALTERATIONS
A nurse is caring for a patient with active pulmonary tuberculosis. Which type of
isolation precautions should be implemented?
A. Standard precautions only
B. Contact precautions
C. Droplet precautions
D. Airborne precautions CORRECT
RATIONALE: Tuberculosis is transmitted via airborne droplet nuclei, requiring airborne
precautions (N95 respirator, negative-pressure room). Contact precautions are for direct/indirect
contact, and droplet precautions are for larger droplets (e.g., influenza). Standard precautions
alone are insufficient.
Q4 APPLY THE NURSING PROCESS TO PRIORITIZE CARE FOR PATIENTS WITH COMPLEX,
MULTI-SYSTEM HEALTH ALTERATIONS
A patient is admitted with severe dehydration. Which IV solution would the nurse
anticipate as the initial fluid replacement?
A. 0.45% sodium chloride (half-normal saline)
B. Lactated Ringer's solution
C. 5% dextrose in water (D5W)
D. 0.9% sodium chloride (normal saline) CORRECT
RATIONALE: Isotonic 0.9% sodium chloride is the initial fluid of choice for severe dehydration to
expand intravascular volume rapidly. Hypotonic solutions like 0.45% NaCl or D5W do not stay in
the vascular space and can worsen hypotension. Lactated Ringer's is also isotonic but is often
used for surgical fluid replacement; normal saline is preferred for initial resuscitation in many
protocols.
Page 3
, Q5 APPLY THE NURSING PROCESS TO PRIORITIZE CARE FOR PATIENTS WITH COMPLEX,
MULTI-SYSTEM HEALTH ALTERATIONS
A nurse is reviewing a medication order for a patient with renal failure. Which
principle should guide the nurse's decision to question the order?
A. Medications are primarily excreted by the kidneys, so doses may need adjustment.
B. Renal failure increases the risk of drug toxicity due to impaired clearance. CORRECT
C. The patient may require higher doses to achieve therapeutic effect.
D. Renal failure does not affect medication metabolism.
RATIONALE: Renal impairment reduces clearance of renally excreted drugs, increasing risk of
toxicity; doses often need reduction. Option A is true but less specific to the nurse's action;
Option C is incorrect (doses usually need decrease, not increase). Option D is false.
Q6 APPLY THE NURSING PROCESS TO PRIORITIZE CARE FOR PATIENTS WITH COMPLEX,
MULTI-SYSTEM HEALTH ALTERATIONS
A patient is scheduled for surgery and asks the nurse about advance directives.
Which statement by the nurse is most accurate?
A. Advance directives are only for terminally ill patients.
B. The Patient Self-Determination Act requires hospitals to ask about advance directives on
admission. CORRECT
C. A living will allows a designated person to make all healthcare decisions.
D. Advance directives must be notarized to be valid.
RATIONALE: The Patient Self-Determination Act (1990) mandates that healthcare facilities
inform patients of their right to advance directives. Option A is false; Option C confuses living will
(specific treatments) with durable power of attorney for healthcare. Option D is not universally
required.
Page 4
WITH RATIONALES NEW 2026-2027 UPDATE
99 QUESTIONS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
# TOPIC
1 Apply the nursing process to prioritize care for patients with complex, multi-system health alterations
2 Demonstrate safe medication administration and calculation of dosages using dimensional analysis
3 Integrate infection prevention, standard precautions, and isolation protocols into patient care
4 Analyze legal and ethical dilemmas in nursing practice using ANA Code of Ethics and state nurse practice
acts
5 Evaluate patient responses to fluid, electrolyte, and acid-base imbalances and implement appropriate
interventions
6 NURS 1202 Exam & Correct Answers with Rationales New 2026
7 2027 Update
8 Foundations of Nursing Fundamentals & Medical-Surgical Nursing
9 Applied Nursing Fundamentals & Medical-Surgical Nursing
10 Advanced Nursing Fundamentals & Medical-Surgical Nursing
11 Nursing Fundamentals & Medical-Surgical Nursing Review
ABSTRACT
This study document brings together 99 carefully worded exam questions drawn from NURS 1202
Exam & Correct Answers with Rationales New 2026-2027 Update, with the strongest emphasis
placed on Apply the nursing process to prioritize care for patients with complex, multi-system
health alterations, Demonstrate safe medication administration and calculation of dosages using
dimensional analysis, Integrate infection prevention, standard precautions and and isolation
protocols into patient care. 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,
MULTI-SYSTEM HEALTH ALTERATIONS
A nurse is preparing to administer a high-risk medication via a central venous
catheter. Which action best demonstrates the principle of 'right route' in the
context of the five rights of medication administration?
A. Verifying the catheter tip location on chest X-ray before administration.
B. Confirming the medication is compatible with the catheter material.
C. Checking that the prescribed route matches the patient's current venous access. CORRECT
D. Ensuring the medication is administered at the prescribed time.
RATIONALE: The 'right route' requires confirming the prescribed route aligns with the patient's
actual access (e.g., central line vs. peripheral). Option A addresses catheter placement
verification, which is part of preparation but not the right route itself. Option B relates to
compatibility, and Option D refers to the 'right time'.
Q2 APPLY THE NURSING PROCESS TO PRIORITIZE CARE FOR PATIENTS WITH COMPLEX,
MULTI-SYSTEM HEALTH ALTERATIONS
A patient with a history of heart failure is prescribed furosemide 40 mg IV push.
Which assessment finding would cause the nurse to withhold the dose and
contact the provider?
A. Serum potassium of 3.1 mEq/L CORRECT
B. Blood pressure of 118/72 mm Hg
C. Urine output of 50 mL/hr
D. Heart rate of 88 beats/min
RATIONALE: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that can cause hypokalemia; a potassium level of 3.1
mEq/L is below normal (3.5-5.0) and increases risk of dysrhythmias. The other findings are within
normal limits and do not contraindicate administration.
Page 2
,Q3 APPLY THE NURSING PROCESS TO PRIORITIZE CARE FOR PATIENTS WITH COMPLEX,
MULTI-SYSTEM HEALTH ALTERATIONS
A nurse is caring for a patient with active pulmonary tuberculosis. Which type of
isolation precautions should be implemented?
A. Standard precautions only
B. Contact precautions
C. Droplet precautions
D. Airborne precautions CORRECT
RATIONALE: Tuberculosis is transmitted via airborne droplet nuclei, requiring airborne
precautions (N95 respirator, negative-pressure room). Contact precautions are for direct/indirect
contact, and droplet precautions are for larger droplets (e.g., influenza). Standard precautions
alone are insufficient.
Q4 APPLY THE NURSING PROCESS TO PRIORITIZE CARE FOR PATIENTS WITH COMPLEX,
MULTI-SYSTEM HEALTH ALTERATIONS
A patient is admitted with severe dehydration. Which IV solution would the nurse
anticipate as the initial fluid replacement?
A. 0.45% sodium chloride (half-normal saline)
B. Lactated Ringer's solution
C. 5% dextrose in water (D5W)
D. 0.9% sodium chloride (normal saline) CORRECT
RATIONALE: Isotonic 0.9% sodium chloride is the initial fluid of choice for severe dehydration to
expand intravascular volume rapidly. Hypotonic solutions like 0.45% NaCl or D5W do not stay in
the vascular space and can worsen hypotension. Lactated Ringer's is also isotonic but is often
used for surgical fluid replacement; normal saline is preferred for initial resuscitation in many
protocols.
Page 3
, Q5 APPLY THE NURSING PROCESS TO PRIORITIZE CARE FOR PATIENTS WITH COMPLEX,
MULTI-SYSTEM HEALTH ALTERATIONS
A nurse is reviewing a medication order for a patient with renal failure. Which
principle should guide the nurse's decision to question the order?
A. Medications are primarily excreted by the kidneys, so doses may need adjustment.
B. Renal failure increases the risk of drug toxicity due to impaired clearance. CORRECT
C. The patient may require higher doses to achieve therapeutic effect.
D. Renal failure does not affect medication metabolism.
RATIONALE: Renal impairment reduces clearance of renally excreted drugs, increasing risk of
toxicity; doses often need reduction. Option A is true but less specific to the nurse's action;
Option C is incorrect (doses usually need decrease, not increase). Option D is false.
Q6 APPLY THE NURSING PROCESS TO PRIORITIZE CARE FOR PATIENTS WITH COMPLEX,
MULTI-SYSTEM HEALTH ALTERATIONS
A patient is scheduled for surgery and asks the nurse about advance directives.
Which statement by the nurse is most accurate?
A. Advance directives are only for terminally ill patients.
B. The Patient Self-Determination Act requires hospitals to ask about advance directives on
admission. CORRECT
C. A living will allows a designated person to make all healthcare decisions.
D. Advance directives must be notarized to be valid.
RATIONALE: The Patient Self-Determination Act (1990) mandates that healthcare facilities
inform patients of their right to advance directives. Option A is false; Option C confuses living will
(specific treatments) with durable power of attorney for healthcare. Option D is not universally
required.
Page 4
