NUR 272/NURS 272 EXAM 3
COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW | PRACTICE
QUESTIONS 1–100 AND ANSWERS |
2026/2027 UPDATE | DETAILED
RATIONALES — MEDGAR EVERS COLLEGE
Introduction
The NUR 272/NURS 272 Exam 3 Comprehensive Review is designed to help nursing
students at Medgar Evers College strengthen clinical reasoning, patient-safety
awareness, and evidence-based decision-making in preparation for an examination.
Because the official Exam 3 blueprint and course syllabus have not been provided,
this review uses broadly applicable nursing concepts and clinical scenarios rather than
claiming to reproduce the college’s actual examination.
The practice bank emphasizes application-level questions that require students to
interpret clinical findings, prioritize care, identify complications, select appropriate
nursing interventions, communicate effectively, and evaluate patient outcomes. Each
question has four answer choices, one best answer, and a rationale explaining why the
correct option is appropriate and why the alternatives are less suitable.
Use the questions to identify knowledge gaps, practise prioritization, and review the
reasoning behind safe nursing decisions. For best results, answer each question before
reading its rationale, then revisit missed questions and consult your NUR 272 lecture
notes, assigned textbook, and instructor-provided learning objectives. This is an
educational review resource, not an official or guaranteed representation of the
college’s examination.
Core domains reviewed
1.
Clinical assessment and judgment: Recognizing significant changes in patient
condition and deciding what requires immediate action.
2.
3.
Patient safety: Preventing falls, medication errors, and avoidable harm.
4.
5.
, Infection prevention: Applying standard and transmission-based precautions.
6.
7.
Fundamental nursing care: Supporting mobility, hygiene, nutrition,
elimination, and comfort.
8.
9.
Medication safety: Checking prescriptions, monitoring adverse effects, and
evaluating responses.
10.
11.
Fluid balance and physiological stability: Identifying concerning fluid,
electrolyte, and vital-sign changes.
12.
13.
Communication and documentation: Reporting changes clearly and recording
objective findings.
14.
15.
Prioritization and delegation: Matching nursing actions to urgency,
competence, and scope of practice.
16.
17.
Patient education and ethical care: Supporting informed decisions,
confidentiality, and culturally respectful communication.
18.
19.
Evaluation and evidence-based practice: Determining whether interventions
are effective and escalating unresolved problems.
20.
These domains are a general nursing review framework, not a confirmed official NUR
272 Exam 3 blueprint.
, QUESTIONS 1–100
Clinical assessment and prioritization
Q1: A nurse receives handoff on four patients. Which patient should the nurse assess
first?
A) A patient with chronic arthritis reporting pain of 6/10 B) A patient two days after
surgery requesting assistance with bathing C) A patient with new confusion,
respiratory rate of 32/min, and oxygen saturation of 86% D) A patient with diabetes
whose premeal glucose is 168 mg/dL
Rationale: C is correct because new confusion, tachypnea, and significant hypoxemia
suggest acute respiratory compromise requiring immediate assessment and
intervention. A needs pain management but has no stated emergency signs. B requires
routine assistance. D has an elevated glucose value that should be managed according
to the treatment plan, but the findings do not indicate an immediate threat comparable
to respiratory compromise.
Q2: A patient admitted with pneumonia becomes restless and has an oxygen
saturation of 88% despite prescribed oxygen. What should the nurse do first?
A) Encourage oral fluids B) Assess airway and breathing, verify oxygen delivery, and
initiate urgent escalation C) Document the findings and reassess in one hour D)
Administer a sedative to reduce restlessness
Rationale: B is correct because worsening oxygenation and restlessness can signal
hypoxemia. The nurse should rapidly assess respiratory status, ensure the prescribed
oxygen is functioning, intervene within protocol, and summon urgent assistance. A
does not correct the immediate problem. C delays treatment. D may suppress
respiratory drive and obscure deterioration.
Q3: A patient reports sudden chest pressure, nausea, and sweating. The patient
appears pale. Which action is most appropriate?
A) Ask the patient to walk to determine whether the pain worsens B) Offer food and
reassess after digestion C) Stop activity, assess vital signs, activate the appropriate
emergency response, and follow the chest-pain protocol D) Reassure the patient that
anxiety commonly causes chest discomfort
Rationale: C is correct because these findings may indicate acute coronary syndrome
and require rapid evaluation. A increases cardiac workload. B delays assessment and
may complicate urgent procedures. D makes an unsupported assumption and could
delay lifesaving treatment. The nurse should obtain focused information and facilitate
timely ECG and medical evaluation according to protocol.
Q4: A postoperative patient who was stable suddenly becomes pale, diaphoretic, and
hypotensive. The surgical dressing is saturated with blood. What is the priority?
COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW | PRACTICE
QUESTIONS 1–100 AND ANSWERS |
2026/2027 UPDATE | DETAILED
RATIONALES — MEDGAR EVERS COLLEGE
Introduction
The NUR 272/NURS 272 Exam 3 Comprehensive Review is designed to help nursing
students at Medgar Evers College strengthen clinical reasoning, patient-safety
awareness, and evidence-based decision-making in preparation for an examination.
Because the official Exam 3 blueprint and course syllabus have not been provided,
this review uses broadly applicable nursing concepts and clinical scenarios rather than
claiming to reproduce the college’s actual examination.
The practice bank emphasizes application-level questions that require students to
interpret clinical findings, prioritize care, identify complications, select appropriate
nursing interventions, communicate effectively, and evaluate patient outcomes. Each
question has four answer choices, one best answer, and a rationale explaining why the
correct option is appropriate and why the alternatives are less suitable.
Use the questions to identify knowledge gaps, practise prioritization, and review the
reasoning behind safe nursing decisions. For best results, answer each question before
reading its rationale, then revisit missed questions and consult your NUR 272 lecture
notes, assigned textbook, and instructor-provided learning objectives. This is an
educational review resource, not an official or guaranteed representation of the
college’s examination.
Core domains reviewed
1.
Clinical assessment and judgment: Recognizing significant changes in patient
condition and deciding what requires immediate action.
2.
3.
Patient safety: Preventing falls, medication errors, and avoidable harm.
4.
5.
, Infection prevention: Applying standard and transmission-based precautions.
6.
7.
Fundamental nursing care: Supporting mobility, hygiene, nutrition,
elimination, and comfort.
8.
9.
Medication safety: Checking prescriptions, monitoring adverse effects, and
evaluating responses.
10.
11.
Fluid balance and physiological stability: Identifying concerning fluid,
electrolyte, and vital-sign changes.
12.
13.
Communication and documentation: Reporting changes clearly and recording
objective findings.
14.
15.
Prioritization and delegation: Matching nursing actions to urgency,
competence, and scope of practice.
16.
17.
Patient education and ethical care: Supporting informed decisions,
confidentiality, and culturally respectful communication.
18.
19.
Evaluation and evidence-based practice: Determining whether interventions
are effective and escalating unresolved problems.
20.
These domains are a general nursing review framework, not a confirmed official NUR
272 Exam 3 blueprint.
, QUESTIONS 1–100
Clinical assessment and prioritization
Q1: A nurse receives handoff on four patients. Which patient should the nurse assess
first?
A) A patient with chronic arthritis reporting pain of 6/10 B) A patient two days after
surgery requesting assistance with bathing C) A patient with new confusion,
respiratory rate of 32/min, and oxygen saturation of 86% D) A patient with diabetes
whose premeal glucose is 168 mg/dL
Rationale: C is correct because new confusion, tachypnea, and significant hypoxemia
suggest acute respiratory compromise requiring immediate assessment and
intervention. A needs pain management but has no stated emergency signs. B requires
routine assistance. D has an elevated glucose value that should be managed according
to the treatment plan, but the findings do not indicate an immediate threat comparable
to respiratory compromise.
Q2: A patient admitted with pneumonia becomes restless and has an oxygen
saturation of 88% despite prescribed oxygen. What should the nurse do first?
A) Encourage oral fluids B) Assess airway and breathing, verify oxygen delivery, and
initiate urgent escalation C) Document the findings and reassess in one hour D)
Administer a sedative to reduce restlessness
Rationale: B is correct because worsening oxygenation and restlessness can signal
hypoxemia. The nurse should rapidly assess respiratory status, ensure the prescribed
oxygen is functioning, intervene within protocol, and summon urgent assistance. A
does not correct the immediate problem. C delays treatment. D may suppress
respiratory drive and obscure deterioration.
Q3: A patient reports sudden chest pressure, nausea, and sweating. The patient
appears pale. Which action is most appropriate?
A) Ask the patient to walk to determine whether the pain worsens B) Offer food and
reassess after digestion C) Stop activity, assess vital signs, activate the appropriate
emergency response, and follow the chest-pain protocol D) Reassure the patient that
anxiety commonly causes chest discomfort
Rationale: C is correct because these findings may indicate acute coronary syndrome
and require rapid evaluation. A increases cardiac workload. B delays assessment and
may complicate urgent procedures. D makes an unsupported assumption and could
delay lifesaving treatment. The nurse should obtain focused information and facilitate
timely ECG and medical evaluation according to protocol.
Q4: A postoperative patient who was stable suddenly becomes pale, diaphoretic, and
hypotensive. The surgical dressing is saturated with blood. What is the priority?
