NU 136 | COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE | 2026/2027
NU 136
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE
2026/2027 | Nursing Fundamentals & Practice Questions
Purpose: A structured nursing fundamentals review with key concepts, practical clinical
judgment reminders, original multiple-choice questions, detailed rationales, an answer key, a
high-yield checklist, and a five-session study plan.
Course coverage note: This guide is an original study aid, not an official NU 136 exam or a
guarantee of course coverage. Compare each topic with your current syllabus, instructor
materials, and facility policies.
How to Use This Guide
• Study one topic section at a time, then answer the practice questions without looking at the
key.
• For each missed question, identify the cue you overlooked and explain why the best action is
safer or more urgent.
• Use ABCs, acute-versus-chronic changes, baseline comparison, risk of harm, and time
sensitivity to organize priorities.
• Check scope-of-practice and delegation questions against the rules and policies applicable
to your program and clinical setting.
1. Clinical Judgment and Prioritization
• Recognize cues: identify abnormal vital signs, acute mental-status changes, respiratory
distress, uncontrolled bleeding, new neurologic deficits, and reports of sudden worsening.
• Analyze cues: compare with baseline; look for clusters instead of relying on one isolated
value; consider medications, recent procedures, and relevant history.
• Prioritize hypotheses: address immediate threats to airway, breathing, circulation,
neurologic function, and safety; consider how quickly harm could occur.
Original educational resource • Verify coverage with current course materials
, NU 136 | COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE | 2026/2027
• Generate solutions and take action: choose focused assessment and timely intervention;
activate emergency pathways when indicated; do not delay urgent care for routine tasks.
• Evaluate outcomes: reassess after interventions and compare results with the expected
response.
2. Infection Prevention and Patient Safety
• Perform hand hygiene at appropriate moments and use personal protective equipment
based on anticipated exposure and transmission precautions.
• Use standard precautions for all clients; add contact, droplet, or airborne precautions when
indicated by the suspected or confirmed infection and current policy.
• Use correct patient identifiers before care, specimen collection, medication administration,
and procedures.
• Reduce falls with individualized assessment, accessible call bell and personal items, safe
footwear, assisted mobility, and appropriate environmental measures.
• Report and document safety events according to policy; focus on prompt care, accurate
facts, and prevention of recurrence.
3. Vital Signs and Basic Assessment
• Assess trends and symptoms, not numbers alone. Repeat unexpected readings when
appropriate while avoiding delays when the client appears unstable.
• Assess respiratory rate, effort, oxygen saturation, mental status, skin signs, circulation, pain,
and other focused cues relevant to the complaint.
• New confusion may reflect hypoxemia, infection, medication effects, metabolic problems, or
other acute conditions and warrants assessment.
• Escalate concerning findings such as severe respiratory distress, sudden chest pain, new
focal neurologic deficits, symptomatic hypotension, or decreased responsiveness.
• Document objective findings, timing, relevant actions, communication, and the client’s
response.
Original educational resource • Verify coverage with current course materials
, NU 136 | COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE | 2026/2027
4. Medication Safety
• Use the medication administration rights and follow current orders, allergy checks, identity
checks, and required monitoring.
• Understand the indication, expected effect, major risks, relevant parameters, and
reassessment needs for each medication.
• Before opioids or other sedating medicines, assess respiratory status, level of alertness,
relevant co-medications, and required monitoring.
• After administration, evaluate therapeutic response and adverse effects; promptly respond
to excessive sedation, bradypnea, allergic reactions, or other serious changes.
• Do not independently alter orders or use another person’s medication; clarify incomplete or
unsafe orders with the appropriate clinician.
5. Oxygenation, Mobility, and Basic Care
• Recognize increased work of breathing, cyanosis, falling oxygen saturation, and new
confusion as possible warning signs.
• Use positioning, prescribed oxygen, breathing exercises, mobility, and pulmonary hygiene
according to the care plan and current protocol.
• Support safe mobility with fall-risk assessment, appropriate assistive devices, help as
directed, and reassessment when dizziness or weakness occurs.
• Provide hygiene, nutrition, hydration, elimination, and comfort care while preserving dignity,
privacy, and independence where safe.
• Assess swallowing safety before oral intake when alertness or neurologic function is
impaired.
6. Wounds, Skin, and Pressure Injury Prevention
• Assess skin and wounds systematically for location, dimensions when required, tissue
appearance, drainage, odor, surrounding skin, pain, and change over time.
• Use the ordered dressing method and aseptic technique; perform hand hygiene and dispose
of contaminated materials safely.
Original educational resource • Verify coverage with current course materials
NU 136
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE
2026/2027 | Nursing Fundamentals & Practice Questions
Purpose: A structured nursing fundamentals review with key concepts, practical clinical
judgment reminders, original multiple-choice questions, detailed rationales, an answer key, a
high-yield checklist, and a five-session study plan.
Course coverage note: This guide is an original study aid, not an official NU 136 exam or a
guarantee of course coverage. Compare each topic with your current syllabus, instructor
materials, and facility policies.
How to Use This Guide
• Study one topic section at a time, then answer the practice questions without looking at the
key.
• For each missed question, identify the cue you overlooked and explain why the best action is
safer or more urgent.
• Use ABCs, acute-versus-chronic changes, baseline comparison, risk of harm, and time
sensitivity to organize priorities.
• Check scope-of-practice and delegation questions against the rules and policies applicable
to your program and clinical setting.
1. Clinical Judgment and Prioritization
• Recognize cues: identify abnormal vital signs, acute mental-status changes, respiratory
distress, uncontrolled bleeding, new neurologic deficits, and reports of sudden worsening.
• Analyze cues: compare with baseline; look for clusters instead of relying on one isolated
value; consider medications, recent procedures, and relevant history.
• Prioritize hypotheses: address immediate threats to airway, breathing, circulation,
neurologic function, and safety; consider how quickly harm could occur.
Original educational resource • Verify coverage with current course materials
, NU 136 | COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE | 2026/2027
• Generate solutions and take action: choose focused assessment and timely intervention;
activate emergency pathways when indicated; do not delay urgent care for routine tasks.
• Evaluate outcomes: reassess after interventions and compare results with the expected
response.
2. Infection Prevention and Patient Safety
• Perform hand hygiene at appropriate moments and use personal protective equipment
based on anticipated exposure and transmission precautions.
• Use standard precautions for all clients; add contact, droplet, or airborne precautions when
indicated by the suspected or confirmed infection and current policy.
• Use correct patient identifiers before care, specimen collection, medication administration,
and procedures.
• Reduce falls with individualized assessment, accessible call bell and personal items, safe
footwear, assisted mobility, and appropriate environmental measures.
• Report and document safety events according to policy; focus on prompt care, accurate
facts, and prevention of recurrence.
3. Vital Signs and Basic Assessment
• Assess trends and symptoms, not numbers alone. Repeat unexpected readings when
appropriate while avoiding delays when the client appears unstable.
• Assess respiratory rate, effort, oxygen saturation, mental status, skin signs, circulation, pain,
and other focused cues relevant to the complaint.
• New confusion may reflect hypoxemia, infection, medication effects, metabolic problems, or
other acute conditions and warrants assessment.
• Escalate concerning findings such as severe respiratory distress, sudden chest pain, new
focal neurologic deficits, symptomatic hypotension, or decreased responsiveness.
• Document objective findings, timing, relevant actions, communication, and the client’s
response.
Original educational resource • Verify coverage with current course materials
, NU 136 | COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE | 2026/2027
4. Medication Safety
• Use the medication administration rights and follow current orders, allergy checks, identity
checks, and required monitoring.
• Understand the indication, expected effect, major risks, relevant parameters, and
reassessment needs for each medication.
• Before opioids or other sedating medicines, assess respiratory status, level of alertness,
relevant co-medications, and required monitoring.
• After administration, evaluate therapeutic response and adverse effects; promptly respond
to excessive sedation, bradypnea, allergic reactions, or other serious changes.
• Do not independently alter orders or use another person’s medication; clarify incomplete or
unsafe orders with the appropriate clinician.
5. Oxygenation, Mobility, and Basic Care
• Recognize increased work of breathing, cyanosis, falling oxygen saturation, and new
confusion as possible warning signs.
• Use positioning, prescribed oxygen, breathing exercises, mobility, and pulmonary hygiene
according to the care plan and current protocol.
• Support safe mobility with fall-risk assessment, appropriate assistive devices, help as
directed, and reassessment when dizziness or weakness occurs.
• Provide hygiene, nutrition, hydration, elimination, and comfort care while preserving dignity,
privacy, and independence where safe.
• Assess swallowing safety before oral intake when alertness or neurologic function is
impaired.
6. Wounds, Skin, and Pressure Injury Prevention
• Assess skin and wounds systematically for location, dimensions when required, tissue
appearance, drainage, odor, surrounding skin, pain, and change over time.
• Use the ordered dressing method and aseptic technique; perform hand hygiene and dispose
of contaminated materials safely.
Original educational resource • Verify coverage with current course materials
