PN 4006 COMPREHENSIVE NURSING EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS COVERING CLINICAL FOUNDATIONS,
PHARMACOLOGY, SPECIALTY CARE, AND EVIDENCE-
BASED NURSING PRACTICE FOR STUDENT AND
PROFESSIONAL SUCCESS
250 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. Q: What are the five rights of medication administration? ANSWER
Right patient, right drug, right dose, right route, right time.
2. Q: What is the primary purpose of a nursing care plan? ANSWER To
guide personalized and goal-directed care for the patient.
3. Q: How often should vital signs be taken in a stable post-op patient?
ANSWER Typically every 4 hours, but may vary depending on protocol.
4. Q: What class of drug is furosemide? ANSWER Loop diuretic.
5. Q: What’s the antidote for opioid overdose? ANSWER Naloxone.
6. Q: Why must a nurse monitor potassium levels when giving diuretics?
ANSWER To prevent hypokalemia, which can cause cardiac issues.
6. Q: What is a common side effect of ACE inhibitors like lisinopril?
ANSWER Persistent dry cough.
7. Q: Why is it important to check the apical pulse before giving digoxin?
ANSWER To ensure the heart rate is above 60 bpm; digoxin can cause
bradycardia.
8. Q: What is a major risk of anticoagulant therapy? ANSWER Bleeding.
9. Q: What is the action of insulin? ANSWER Lowers blood glucose by
promoting cellular uptake.
10.Q: What should you monitor when administering vancomycin?
ANSWER Trough levels, kidney function, and signs of ototoxicity.
,11.Q: What heart sound may indicate fluid overload or heart failure?
ANSWER S3 (ventricular gallop).
12.Q: What is the first action if a patient develops a dysrhythmia?
ANSWER Assess airway, breathing, and circulation (ABCs).
13.Q: What lab value is used to monitor warfarin therapy? ANSWER INR
(International Normalized Ratio).
14.Q: What does nitroglycerin do? ANSWER Dilates coronary arteries to
relieve chest pain.
15.Q: What position helps reduce preload in heart failure? ANSWER High
Fowler's position.
16.Q: What is a priority in care of a seizure patient? ANSWER Maintain a
patent airway and prevent injury.
17.Q: What does FAST stand for in stroke assessment? ANSWER Face
drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, Time to call emergency.
18.Q: What medication is given for status epilepticus? ANSWER IV
lorazepam (Ativan).
19.Q: What is a possible side effect of phenytoin (Dilantin)? ANSWER
Gingival hyperplasia.
20.Q: What is the primary concern with spinal cord injuries? ANSWER
Airway management and prevention of spinal shock.
21.Q: What are early signs of hypoxia? ANSWER Restlessness, anxiety,
and tachycardia.
22.Q: Why is pursed-lip breathing helpful in COPD? ANSWER It helps
maintain airway pressure and improve gas exchange.
23.Q: What is the most accurate way to assess oxygenation? ANSWER
Arterial blood gases (ABGs).
24.Q: What does wheezing usually indicate? ANSWER Narrowed airways,
often due to asthma or bronchospasm.
25.Q: What is the primary treatment for pulmonary embolism? ANSWER
Anticoagulation (e.g. heparin).
26.Q: What does a high WBC count indicate? ANSWER Possible infection
or inflammation.
, 27.Q: What lab value indicates kidney function? ANSWER Creatinine.
28.Q: What does an elevated troponin level indicate? ANSWER Myocardial
infarction.
29.Q: Why is hemoglobin A1C tested? ANSWER To assess long-term
glucose control in diabetics.
30.Q: What is the significance of BUN and creatinine ratio? ANSWER
Evaluates kidney perfusion and function.
31. Q: What is the most effective way to prevent the spread of infection?
ANSWER Hand hygiene.
32. Q: What type of precautions are required for tuberculosis? ANSWER
Airborne precautions.
33. Q: What PPE is needed for contact precautions? ANSWER Gloves and
gown.
34. Q: What is the purpose of surgical asepsis? ANSWER To eliminate all
microorganisms from an area.
35. Q: What is the first step in managing a needle-stick injury? ANSWER
Wash the area with soap and water.
36. Q: What is the normal fetal heart rate range? ANSWER 110–160 beats
per minute.
37. Q: What is the priority intervention for postpartum hemorrhage?
ANSWER Fundal massage and administration of uterotonic drugs.
38. Q: What is the purpose of administering vitamin K to newborns?
ANSWER To prevent bleeding due to immature clotting factors.
39. Q: What is a sign of preeclampsia? ANSWER Hypertension,
proteinuria, and edema.
40. Q: What is the APGAR score used for? ANSWER To assess the
newborn's health at 1 and 5 minutes after birth.
41. Q: What is the primary treatment for diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)?
ANSWER IV fluids, insulin, and electrolyte replacement.
42. Q: What are signs of hypothyroidism? ANSWER Fatigue, weight gain,
cold intolerance, and bradycardia.
AND ANSWERS COVERING CLINICAL FOUNDATIONS,
PHARMACOLOGY, SPECIALTY CARE, AND EVIDENCE-
BASED NURSING PRACTICE FOR STUDENT AND
PROFESSIONAL SUCCESS
250 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. Q: What are the five rights of medication administration? ANSWER
Right patient, right drug, right dose, right route, right time.
2. Q: What is the primary purpose of a nursing care plan? ANSWER To
guide personalized and goal-directed care for the patient.
3. Q: How often should vital signs be taken in a stable post-op patient?
ANSWER Typically every 4 hours, but may vary depending on protocol.
4. Q: What class of drug is furosemide? ANSWER Loop diuretic.
5. Q: What’s the antidote for opioid overdose? ANSWER Naloxone.
6. Q: Why must a nurse monitor potassium levels when giving diuretics?
ANSWER To prevent hypokalemia, which can cause cardiac issues.
6. Q: What is a common side effect of ACE inhibitors like lisinopril?
ANSWER Persistent dry cough.
7. Q: Why is it important to check the apical pulse before giving digoxin?
ANSWER To ensure the heart rate is above 60 bpm; digoxin can cause
bradycardia.
8. Q: What is a major risk of anticoagulant therapy? ANSWER Bleeding.
9. Q: What is the action of insulin? ANSWER Lowers blood glucose by
promoting cellular uptake.
10.Q: What should you monitor when administering vancomycin?
ANSWER Trough levels, kidney function, and signs of ototoxicity.
,11.Q: What heart sound may indicate fluid overload or heart failure?
ANSWER S3 (ventricular gallop).
12.Q: What is the first action if a patient develops a dysrhythmia?
ANSWER Assess airway, breathing, and circulation (ABCs).
13.Q: What lab value is used to monitor warfarin therapy? ANSWER INR
(International Normalized Ratio).
14.Q: What does nitroglycerin do? ANSWER Dilates coronary arteries to
relieve chest pain.
15.Q: What position helps reduce preload in heart failure? ANSWER High
Fowler's position.
16.Q: What is a priority in care of a seizure patient? ANSWER Maintain a
patent airway and prevent injury.
17.Q: What does FAST stand for in stroke assessment? ANSWER Face
drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, Time to call emergency.
18.Q: What medication is given for status epilepticus? ANSWER IV
lorazepam (Ativan).
19.Q: What is a possible side effect of phenytoin (Dilantin)? ANSWER
Gingival hyperplasia.
20.Q: What is the primary concern with spinal cord injuries? ANSWER
Airway management and prevention of spinal shock.
21.Q: What are early signs of hypoxia? ANSWER Restlessness, anxiety,
and tachycardia.
22.Q: Why is pursed-lip breathing helpful in COPD? ANSWER It helps
maintain airway pressure and improve gas exchange.
23.Q: What is the most accurate way to assess oxygenation? ANSWER
Arterial blood gases (ABGs).
24.Q: What does wheezing usually indicate? ANSWER Narrowed airways,
often due to asthma or bronchospasm.
25.Q: What is the primary treatment for pulmonary embolism? ANSWER
Anticoagulation (e.g. heparin).
26.Q: What does a high WBC count indicate? ANSWER Possible infection
or inflammation.
, 27.Q: What lab value indicates kidney function? ANSWER Creatinine.
28.Q: What does an elevated troponin level indicate? ANSWER Myocardial
infarction.
29.Q: Why is hemoglobin A1C tested? ANSWER To assess long-term
glucose control in diabetics.
30.Q: What is the significance of BUN and creatinine ratio? ANSWER
Evaluates kidney perfusion and function.
31. Q: What is the most effective way to prevent the spread of infection?
ANSWER Hand hygiene.
32. Q: What type of precautions are required for tuberculosis? ANSWER
Airborne precautions.
33. Q: What PPE is needed for contact precautions? ANSWER Gloves and
gown.
34. Q: What is the purpose of surgical asepsis? ANSWER To eliminate all
microorganisms from an area.
35. Q: What is the first step in managing a needle-stick injury? ANSWER
Wash the area with soap and water.
36. Q: What is the normal fetal heart rate range? ANSWER 110–160 beats
per minute.
37. Q: What is the priority intervention for postpartum hemorrhage?
ANSWER Fundal massage and administration of uterotonic drugs.
38. Q: What is the purpose of administering vitamin K to newborns?
ANSWER To prevent bleeding due to immature clotting factors.
39. Q: What is a sign of preeclampsia? ANSWER Hypertension,
proteinuria, and edema.
40. Q: What is the APGAR score used for? ANSWER To assess the
newborn's health at 1 and 5 minutes after birth.
41. Q: What is the primary treatment for diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)?
ANSWER IV fluids, insulin, and electrolyte replacement.
42. Q: What are signs of hypothyroidism? ANSWER Fatigue, weight gain,
cold intolerance, and bradycardia.
