NU 136 | FUNDAMENTALS OF NURSING PRACTICE
NU 136 Exam 2
Practice Exam | Fundamentals of Nursing Questions & Detailed Rationales
2026–2027
Purpose and Scope
This resource contains 40 original A–D practice questions covering wound healing and pressure injury prevention,
urinary and bowel elimination, fluid and electrolyte balance, mobility, oxygenation, nutrition and enteral tubes,
pain, and safe nursing care. NU 136 content differs by institution; compare this resource with your syllabus and
assigned units.
Instructions
Choose the single best answer (A–D). Review each correct answer, detailed rationale, and explanation of every
incorrect option. This is original educational practice material, not an official, leaked, or verified course exam.
Section 1 — Practice Questions
Question 1. An older adult reports waking several times nightly to urinate. Which age-related change can
contribute to nocturia?
A. Improved kidney concentrating ability
B. Reduced ability of the kidneys to concentrate urine
C. Complete loss of bladder function in all older adults
D. Increased bladder capacity
Correct Answer: B — Reduced ability of the kidneys to concentrate urine
Detailed Rationale: Aging can reduce renal concentrating ability and alter nighttime urine production; nocturia
can also have other causes, so assess medications, fluid timing, and symptoms.
Why the Other Options Are Incorrect
A. Kidney concentrating ability generally does not improve with age.
C. Nocturia does not mean bladder function is completely lost.
D. Bladder capacity may decrease rather than increase.
Question 2. A nurse assesses a client who has been on bed rest for several days. Which complication should
the nurse help prevent through regular mobility and leg exercises when appropriate?
A. Venous stasis and thrombus formation
B. Improved bone density
C. Increased respiratory muscle strength without activity
D. Reduced risk of constipation
Original educational practice material • Verify against your course syllabus
,NU 136 | FUNDAMENTALS OF NURSING PRACTICE
Correct Answer: A — Venous stasis and thrombus formation
Detailed Rationale: Immobility promotes venous stasis and increases thromboembolism risk. Mobility,
prescribed exercises, hydration when appropriate, and ordered prophylaxis help reduce risk.
Why the Other Options Are Incorrect
B. Immobility can contribute to bone loss, not improved density.
C. Prolonged inactivity can reduce respiratory muscle conditioning.
D. Immobility can slow bowel motility and increase constipation risk.
Question 3. A client receiving oxygen via nasal cannula asks whether the flow rate can be increased for
comfort. What is the safest response?
A. Adjust it to any level that feels comfortable
B. Use the prescribed settings or an authorized titration protocol and report persistent breathlessness
C. Remove oxygen whenever the client feels warm
D. Increase flow whenever the client is asleep
Correct Answer: B — Use the prescribed settings or an authorized titration protocol and report persistent
breathlessness
Detailed Rationale: Oxygen should be delivered according to the order, prescribed target, and authorized
protocol, with assessment and escalation if symptoms persist.
Why the Other Options Are Incorrect
A. Unsupervised adjustment can be unsafe.
C. Removing oxygen without guidance can compromise oxygenation.
D. Sleep alone does not justify changing the flow rate.
Question 4. Which finding in a client taking furosemide should prompt assessment for a possible electrolyte
problem?
A. New muscle weakness and irregular heartbeat
B. Improved appetite only
C. A stable healed scar
D. Mild thirst after exercise with no other symptoms
Correct Answer: A — New muscle weakness and irregular heartbeat
Detailed Rationale: Loop diuretics can cause potassium and other electrolyte losses. Weakness and
dysrhythmias may indicate a significant disturbance and warrant prompt assessment.
Why the Other Options Are Incorrect
B. Appetite alone is nonspecific and does not indicate an electrolyte emergency.
Original educational practice material • Verify against your course syllabus
, NU 136 | FUNDAMENTALS OF NURSING PRACTICE
C. A healed scar is unrelated.
D. Thirst may have many causes but is less specific than weakness with an irregular heartbeat.
Question 5. A nurse is preparing to assess bowel sounds. Which technique is appropriate?
A. Auscultate before palpating or percussing the abdomen
B. Palpate deeply first to locate bowel sounds
C. Percuss forcefully before inspection
D. Skip auscultation if the client has eaten
Correct Answer: A — Auscultate before palpating or percussing the abdomen
Detailed Rationale: For an abdominal assessment, auscultation is generally performed before palpation and
percussion because manipulation can alter bowel sounds.
Why the Other Options Are Incorrect
B. Palpation can change bowel activity and is not first.
C. Forceful percussion is not the first step.
D. Eating does not automatically eliminate the need for assessment.
Question 6. Which finding is most consistent with a possible arterial ulcer?
A. A shallow ulcer near the medial ankle with heavy drainage
B. A painful ulcer on a toe with diminished distal pulses and a cool foot
C. A painless plantar ulcer with reduced sensation and palpable pulses
D. Diffuse itching without a skin break
Correct Answer: B — A painful ulcer on a toe with diminished distal pulses and a cool foot
Detailed Rationale: Arterial insufficiency can cause distal, painful ulcers, cool skin, and diminished pulses.
Vascular assessment and timely clinical review are important.
Why the Other Options Are Incorrect
A. Medial ankle ulcers with edema and drainage are more typical of venous disease.
C. A painless plantar ulcer with neuropathy suggests a neuropathic ulcer pattern.
D. Itching without a wound is not an ulcer.
Question 7. Which feature is more typical of a venous leg ulcer than an arterial ulcer?
A. Ulcer on a toe tip with a cool foot
B. Painful lesion with absent pulses
C. Ulcer near the medial lower leg or ankle with edema and exudate
D. Gangrene as the usual first finding
Original educational practice material • Verify against your course syllabus
NU 136 Exam 2
Practice Exam | Fundamentals of Nursing Questions & Detailed Rationales
2026–2027
Purpose and Scope
This resource contains 40 original A–D practice questions covering wound healing and pressure injury prevention,
urinary and bowel elimination, fluid and electrolyte balance, mobility, oxygenation, nutrition and enteral tubes,
pain, and safe nursing care. NU 136 content differs by institution; compare this resource with your syllabus and
assigned units.
Instructions
Choose the single best answer (A–D). Review each correct answer, detailed rationale, and explanation of every
incorrect option. This is original educational practice material, not an official, leaked, or verified course exam.
Section 1 — Practice Questions
Question 1. An older adult reports waking several times nightly to urinate. Which age-related change can
contribute to nocturia?
A. Improved kidney concentrating ability
B. Reduced ability of the kidneys to concentrate urine
C. Complete loss of bladder function in all older adults
D. Increased bladder capacity
Correct Answer: B — Reduced ability of the kidneys to concentrate urine
Detailed Rationale: Aging can reduce renal concentrating ability and alter nighttime urine production; nocturia
can also have other causes, so assess medications, fluid timing, and symptoms.
Why the Other Options Are Incorrect
A. Kidney concentrating ability generally does not improve with age.
C. Nocturia does not mean bladder function is completely lost.
D. Bladder capacity may decrease rather than increase.
Question 2. A nurse assesses a client who has been on bed rest for several days. Which complication should
the nurse help prevent through regular mobility and leg exercises when appropriate?
A. Venous stasis and thrombus formation
B. Improved bone density
C. Increased respiratory muscle strength without activity
D. Reduced risk of constipation
Original educational practice material • Verify against your course syllabus
,NU 136 | FUNDAMENTALS OF NURSING PRACTICE
Correct Answer: A — Venous stasis and thrombus formation
Detailed Rationale: Immobility promotes venous stasis and increases thromboembolism risk. Mobility,
prescribed exercises, hydration when appropriate, and ordered prophylaxis help reduce risk.
Why the Other Options Are Incorrect
B. Immobility can contribute to bone loss, not improved density.
C. Prolonged inactivity can reduce respiratory muscle conditioning.
D. Immobility can slow bowel motility and increase constipation risk.
Question 3. A client receiving oxygen via nasal cannula asks whether the flow rate can be increased for
comfort. What is the safest response?
A. Adjust it to any level that feels comfortable
B. Use the prescribed settings or an authorized titration protocol and report persistent breathlessness
C. Remove oxygen whenever the client feels warm
D. Increase flow whenever the client is asleep
Correct Answer: B — Use the prescribed settings or an authorized titration protocol and report persistent
breathlessness
Detailed Rationale: Oxygen should be delivered according to the order, prescribed target, and authorized
protocol, with assessment and escalation if symptoms persist.
Why the Other Options Are Incorrect
A. Unsupervised adjustment can be unsafe.
C. Removing oxygen without guidance can compromise oxygenation.
D. Sleep alone does not justify changing the flow rate.
Question 4. Which finding in a client taking furosemide should prompt assessment for a possible electrolyte
problem?
A. New muscle weakness and irregular heartbeat
B. Improved appetite only
C. A stable healed scar
D. Mild thirst after exercise with no other symptoms
Correct Answer: A — New muscle weakness and irregular heartbeat
Detailed Rationale: Loop diuretics can cause potassium and other electrolyte losses. Weakness and
dysrhythmias may indicate a significant disturbance and warrant prompt assessment.
Why the Other Options Are Incorrect
B. Appetite alone is nonspecific and does not indicate an electrolyte emergency.
Original educational practice material • Verify against your course syllabus
, NU 136 | FUNDAMENTALS OF NURSING PRACTICE
C. A healed scar is unrelated.
D. Thirst may have many causes but is less specific than weakness with an irregular heartbeat.
Question 5. A nurse is preparing to assess bowel sounds. Which technique is appropriate?
A. Auscultate before palpating or percussing the abdomen
B. Palpate deeply first to locate bowel sounds
C. Percuss forcefully before inspection
D. Skip auscultation if the client has eaten
Correct Answer: A — Auscultate before palpating or percussing the abdomen
Detailed Rationale: For an abdominal assessment, auscultation is generally performed before palpation and
percussion because manipulation can alter bowel sounds.
Why the Other Options Are Incorrect
B. Palpation can change bowel activity and is not first.
C. Forceful percussion is not the first step.
D. Eating does not automatically eliminate the need for assessment.
Question 6. Which finding is most consistent with a possible arterial ulcer?
A. A shallow ulcer near the medial ankle with heavy drainage
B. A painful ulcer on a toe with diminished distal pulses and a cool foot
C. A painless plantar ulcer with reduced sensation and palpable pulses
D. Diffuse itching without a skin break
Correct Answer: B — A painful ulcer on a toe with diminished distal pulses and a cool foot
Detailed Rationale: Arterial insufficiency can cause distal, painful ulcers, cool skin, and diminished pulses.
Vascular assessment and timely clinical review are important.
Why the Other Options Are Incorrect
A. Medial ankle ulcers with edema and drainage are more typical of venous disease.
C. A painless plantar ulcer with neuropathy suggests a neuropathic ulcer pattern.
D. Itching without a wound is not an ulcer.
Question 7. Which feature is more typical of a venous leg ulcer than an arterial ulcer?
A. Ulcer on a toe tip with a cool foot
B. Painful lesion with absent pulses
C. Ulcer near the medial lower leg or ankle with edema and exudate
D. Gangrene as the usual first finding
Original educational practice material • Verify against your course syllabus
