NU 136 EXAM 2 MASTER PRACTICE TEST ACTUAL EXAM [
QUESTION 1- 200] AND ANSWERS UPDATED 2026/2027| 100%
VERIFIED|DETAILED RATIONALES –PASS GUARANTEED
A+ GRADED |INSTANT DOWNLOAD
Introduction:
This NU 136 Exam 2 Master Practice Test is an original educational practice set designed to
help nursing students strengthen clinical reasoning and preparation for Exam 2 content. It
emphasizes assessment, prioritization, nursing interventions, patient education, and
recognition of complications across gastrointestinal and genitourinary concepts commonly
addressed in foundational nursing courses. The questions are deliberately scenario-based so
that students practice applying knowledge rather than simply recalling definitions. Key areas
include gastrointestinal assessment, constipation, bowel elimination, urinary assessment,
urinary retention, urinary diversions, and related nursing care. Each question includes a
detailed rationale explaining the correct answer and why the alternatives are less appropriate.
This format allows learners to identify knowledge gaps, reinforce clinical concepts, and
develop test-taking strategies. The material is original practice content and should be used as a
study aid rather than represented as an actual unreleased institutional examination or a
verified exam dump. Students should also compare their preparation with their instructor’s
syllabus, course objectives, assigned readings, and official study materials.
Core Domains Covered:
1. Gastrointestinal Assessment — Assessment of abdominal symptoms, inspection,
auscultation, percussion, palpation, and interpretation of relevant findings.
2. Bowel Elimination — Normal bowel patterns, constipation, diarrhea, fecal impaction,
contributing factors, interventions, and patient teaching.
3. Gastrointestinal Disorders — Recognition of common GI conditions, expected findings,
complications, and appropriate nursing priorities.
4. Urinary Assessment — Assessment of urinary patterns, urine characteristics, intake and
output, and identification of abnormal findings.
5. Urinary Retention and Elimination — Risk factors, assessment findings, interventions,
catheter-related considerations, and prevention of complications.
6. Urinary Diversions — Basic care of common urinary diversions, expected findings,
complications, and patient education.
7. Clinical Prioritization and Patient Safety — Application of assessment findings, ABCs,
prioritization, escalation of care, and prevention of complications.
,QUESTIONS
Question 1
A nurse is preparing to perform an abdominal assessment on an adult patient. Which action
should the nurse take first?
A) Palpate the abdomen deeply
B) Inspect the abdomen
C) Percuss all four quadrants
D) Auscultate after palpation
Rationale: Inspection is performed first because it allows the nurse to observe contour,
symmetry, skin changes, distention, scars, and visible abnormalities without altering subsequent
findings. Auscultation should follow inspection and precede percussion and palpation because
manipulation of the abdomen can change bowel sounds. Deep palpation should not be the first
assessment technique.**
Question 2
A patient reports abdominal discomfort. Which assessment finding requires the nurse's greatest
concern?
A) Mild intermittent cramping
B) Occasional belching
C) Slightly decreased appetite
D) Rigid, board-like abdomen
Rationale: A rigid, board-like abdomen can indicate peritoneal irritation and potentially serious
intra-abdominal pathology. Mild cramping, belching, and decreased appetite are less
immediately concerning when occurring without other alarming findings. The nurse should
promptly report significant rigidity, especially when accompanied by severe pain or systemic
deterioration.**
Question 3
During abdominal assessment, the nurse notes visible abdominal distention. What should the
nurse do next?
A) Immediately administer a laxative
B) Continue the assessment and correlate the finding with bowel sounds and symptoms
C) Encourage the patient to eat a large meal
D) Insert a rectal tube without an order
,Rationale: Distention is an assessment finding that must be interpreted with other data,
including bowel sounds, pain, nausea, vomiting, stool pattern, and abdominal history.
Administering a laxative or inserting a device without determining the cause is inappropriate. A
large meal could worsen symptoms.**
Question 4
A patient reports constipation for several days. Which question is most useful initially?
A) "Do you dislike vegetables?"
B) "Have you ever had surgery?"
C) "What is your usual bowel pattern, and how has it changed?"
D) "Do you prefer morning or evening medications?"
Rationale: Establishing the patient's baseline bowel pattern and identifying changes is central to
assessing constipation. Diet, medications, activity, hydration, and medical history can then be
explored. The other questions may provide useful information in selected circumstances but are
less directly relevant as the initial question.**
Question 5
Which patient has the greatest risk for constipation?
A) A patient who walks daily and drinks adequate fluids
B) A patient consuming a balanced diet with adequate fiber
C) A patient receiving opioid analgesics with limited mobility
D) A patient with regular bowel movements after meals
Rationale: Opioids decrease gastrointestinal motility and commonly contribute to constipation.
Immobility can further reduce normal bowel activity. Adequate activity, hydration, and fiber
generally support normal elimination.**
Question 6
A nurse is teaching a patient about preventing constipation. Which recommendation is most
appropriate?
A) Avoid physical activity
B) Ignore the urge to defecate
C) Restrict fluids routinely
D) Increase appropriate dietary fiber and maintain adequate fluid intake
Rationale: Adequate fiber, fluids, and physical activity generally promote normal bowel
elimination. Routinely suppressing the urge to defecate can contribute to constipation. Fluid
restriction should only occur when clinically indicated.**
, Question 7
A patient receiving opioid therapy has not had a bowel movement for three days. Which
intervention is most appropriate?
A) Tell the patient constipation is unavoidable
B) Encourage prolonged bed rest
C) Assess bowel status and implement an appropriate bowel regimen as prescribed
D) Encourage the patient to stop prescribed analgesics independently
Rationale: Opioid-associated constipation should be anticipated, assessed, and managed
proactively. The nurse should assess bowel function and administer prescribed preventive or
therapeutic measures. Patients should not independently discontinue necessary analgesics.**
Question 8
Which finding most strongly suggests fecal impaction?
A) Regular formed stool
B) Increased appetite
C) Liquid stool leaking around retained stool
D) Normal bowel elimination every morning
Rationale: Liquid stool can pass around an impacted mass and may be mistaken for diarrhea.
Other possible findings include rectal pressure, abdominal discomfort, decreased appetite, and
inability to pass normal stool. Regular formed stools do not suggest impaction.**
Question 9
A patient with suspected fecal impaction reports severe abdominal pain and vomiting. What is
the nurse's priority?
A) Administer a high-fiber meal
B) Encourage vigorous exercise
C) Give an unprescribed laxative
D) Notify the healthcare provider and further assess for possible obstruction
Rationale: Severe pain and vomiting with suspected impaction can indicate obstruction or
another serious complication. The patient requires prompt evaluation rather than routine dietary
or laxative interventions. Vigorous activity is inappropriate until the cause is clarified.**
Question 10
Which statement by a patient indicates correct understanding of bowel-health teaching?
QUESTION 1- 200] AND ANSWERS UPDATED 2026/2027| 100%
VERIFIED|DETAILED RATIONALES –PASS GUARANTEED
A+ GRADED |INSTANT DOWNLOAD
Introduction:
This NU 136 Exam 2 Master Practice Test is an original educational practice set designed to
help nursing students strengthen clinical reasoning and preparation for Exam 2 content. It
emphasizes assessment, prioritization, nursing interventions, patient education, and
recognition of complications across gastrointestinal and genitourinary concepts commonly
addressed in foundational nursing courses. The questions are deliberately scenario-based so
that students practice applying knowledge rather than simply recalling definitions. Key areas
include gastrointestinal assessment, constipation, bowel elimination, urinary assessment,
urinary retention, urinary diversions, and related nursing care. Each question includes a
detailed rationale explaining the correct answer and why the alternatives are less appropriate.
This format allows learners to identify knowledge gaps, reinforce clinical concepts, and
develop test-taking strategies. The material is original practice content and should be used as a
study aid rather than represented as an actual unreleased institutional examination or a
verified exam dump. Students should also compare their preparation with their instructor’s
syllabus, course objectives, assigned readings, and official study materials.
Core Domains Covered:
1. Gastrointestinal Assessment — Assessment of abdominal symptoms, inspection,
auscultation, percussion, palpation, and interpretation of relevant findings.
2. Bowel Elimination — Normal bowel patterns, constipation, diarrhea, fecal impaction,
contributing factors, interventions, and patient teaching.
3. Gastrointestinal Disorders — Recognition of common GI conditions, expected findings,
complications, and appropriate nursing priorities.
4. Urinary Assessment — Assessment of urinary patterns, urine characteristics, intake and
output, and identification of abnormal findings.
5. Urinary Retention and Elimination — Risk factors, assessment findings, interventions,
catheter-related considerations, and prevention of complications.
6. Urinary Diversions — Basic care of common urinary diversions, expected findings,
complications, and patient education.
7. Clinical Prioritization and Patient Safety — Application of assessment findings, ABCs,
prioritization, escalation of care, and prevention of complications.
,QUESTIONS
Question 1
A nurse is preparing to perform an abdominal assessment on an adult patient. Which action
should the nurse take first?
A) Palpate the abdomen deeply
B) Inspect the abdomen
C) Percuss all four quadrants
D) Auscultate after palpation
Rationale: Inspection is performed first because it allows the nurse to observe contour,
symmetry, skin changes, distention, scars, and visible abnormalities without altering subsequent
findings. Auscultation should follow inspection and precede percussion and palpation because
manipulation of the abdomen can change bowel sounds. Deep palpation should not be the first
assessment technique.**
Question 2
A patient reports abdominal discomfort. Which assessment finding requires the nurse's greatest
concern?
A) Mild intermittent cramping
B) Occasional belching
C) Slightly decreased appetite
D) Rigid, board-like abdomen
Rationale: A rigid, board-like abdomen can indicate peritoneal irritation and potentially serious
intra-abdominal pathology. Mild cramping, belching, and decreased appetite are less
immediately concerning when occurring without other alarming findings. The nurse should
promptly report significant rigidity, especially when accompanied by severe pain or systemic
deterioration.**
Question 3
During abdominal assessment, the nurse notes visible abdominal distention. What should the
nurse do next?
A) Immediately administer a laxative
B) Continue the assessment and correlate the finding with bowel sounds and symptoms
C) Encourage the patient to eat a large meal
D) Insert a rectal tube without an order
,Rationale: Distention is an assessment finding that must be interpreted with other data,
including bowel sounds, pain, nausea, vomiting, stool pattern, and abdominal history.
Administering a laxative or inserting a device without determining the cause is inappropriate. A
large meal could worsen symptoms.**
Question 4
A patient reports constipation for several days. Which question is most useful initially?
A) "Do you dislike vegetables?"
B) "Have you ever had surgery?"
C) "What is your usual bowel pattern, and how has it changed?"
D) "Do you prefer morning or evening medications?"
Rationale: Establishing the patient's baseline bowel pattern and identifying changes is central to
assessing constipation. Diet, medications, activity, hydration, and medical history can then be
explored. The other questions may provide useful information in selected circumstances but are
less directly relevant as the initial question.**
Question 5
Which patient has the greatest risk for constipation?
A) A patient who walks daily and drinks adequate fluids
B) A patient consuming a balanced diet with adequate fiber
C) A patient receiving opioid analgesics with limited mobility
D) A patient with regular bowel movements after meals
Rationale: Opioids decrease gastrointestinal motility and commonly contribute to constipation.
Immobility can further reduce normal bowel activity. Adequate activity, hydration, and fiber
generally support normal elimination.**
Question 6
A nurse is teaching a patient about preventing constipation. Which recommendation is most
appropriate?
A) Avoid physical activity
B) Ignore the urge to defecate
C) Restrict fluids routinely
D) Increase appropriate dietary fiber and maintain adequate fluid intake
Rationale: Adequate fiber, fluids, and physical activity generally promote normal bowel
elimination. Routinely suppressing the urge to defecate can contribute to constipation. Fluid
restriction should only occur when clinically indicated.**
, Question 7
A patient receiving opioid therapy has not had a bowel movement for three days. Which
intervention is most appropriate?
A) Tell the patient constipation is unavoidable
B) Encourage prolonged bed rest
C) Assess bowel status and implement an appropriate bowel regimen as prescribed
D) Encourage the patient to stop prescribed analgesics independently
Rationale: Opioid-associated constipation should be anticipated, assessed, and managed
proactively. The nurse should assess bowel function and administer prescribed preventive or
therapeutic measures. Patients should not independently discontinue necessary analgesics.**
Question 8
Which finding most strongly suggests fecal impaction?
A) Regular formed stool
B) Increased appetite
C) Liquid stool leaking around retained stool
D) Normal bowel elimination every morning
Rationale: Liquid stool can pass around an impacted mass and may be mistaken for diarrhea.
Other possible findings include rectal pressure, abdominal discomfort, decreased appetite, and
inability to pass normal stool. Regular formed stools do not suggest impaction.**
Question 9
A patient with suspected fecal impaction reports severe abdominal pain and vomiting. What is
the nurse's priority?
A) Administer a high-fiber meal
B) Encourage vigorous exercise
C) Give an unprescribed laxative
D) Notify the healthcare provider and further assess for possible obstruction
Rationale: Severe pain and vomiting with suspected impaction can indicate obstruction or
another serious complication. The patient requires prompt evaluation rather than routine dietary
or laxative interventions. Vigorous activity is inappropriate until the cause is clarified.**
Question 10
Which statement by a patient indicates correct understanding of bowel-health teaching?
