NURS 321 HEALTH ASSESSMENT FINAL EXAM
II 2025/2026 QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS TOP SCORER ACTUAL EXAM CSU
FULLERTON
A nurse is assessing a patient with suspected neurocognitive disorder. Which finding
suggests possible Alzheimer's rather than Lewy Body dementia?
Memory impairment is the most prominent feature.
When developing a care plan for an Alzheimer's patient, which intervention is most
effective to reduce anxiety?
Use clear, simple explanations and maintain a consistent daily routine.
The nurse explains that infection occurs when which condition is met?
Microorganisms enter a host, multiply, and cause tissue damage.
Which link in the chain of infection does hand hygiene primarily break?
Mode of transmission.
A nurse identifies a contaminated wound dressing as which link in the chain of
infection?
Portal of exit.
The nurse identifies the patient as the "susceptible host" in the chain of infection when
the patient has which condition?
Poor nutritional status and chronic illness.
What differentiates microbes from pathogens?
All pathogens are microbes, but not all microbes cause disease.
The nurse recognizes that health care-associated infections (HAIs) are most
commonly transmitted by which route?
Direct contact with contaminated hands of health care workers.
Which infection site is most common for a health care-associated infection?
Urinary tract.
,Which practice is the most effective way to prevent the spread of infection?
Performing proper hand hygiene before and after all patient contact.
Which precaution should the nurse implement when entering the room of a patient
with tuberculosis?
Wear an N95 respirator and ensure negative pressure airflow in the room.
A patient with influenza requires which type of isolation precaution?
Droplet precautions.
Which infection requires contact precautions?
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) or Clostridium difficile.
What type of transmission occurs when an infection spreads via coughing or sneezing
droplets within 3-6 feet?
Droplet transmission.
Which type of transmission involves pathogens carried on air currents smaller than 5
microns?
Airborne transmission.
The nurse dons gown and gloves before entering a room with a patient with C. difficile.
What additional precaution is essential?
Wash hands with soap and water after care (alcohol-based sanitizer is not effective).
Which type of patient requires protective (reverse) isolation?
Immunocompromised or neutropenic patient.
The nurse identifies which infection as requiring protective environment precautions?
A patient undergoing stem cell transplant.
When collecting a wound culture, which technique ensures accuracy?
Cleanse the wound with normal saline before obtaining the specimen.
Which finding indicates a localized infection?
Redness, swelling, warmth, and drainage at the wound site.
Which clinical manifestation indicates a systemic infection?
Fever, tachycardia, and malaise.
What are atypical signs of infection in older adults?
,Confusion, incontinence, or agitation without fever.
The nurse reviews lab results for a patient with infection. Which finding supports the
diagnosis?
Elevated white blood cell count and increased ESR.
Which test differentiates bacterial infection severity and guides antibiotic therapy?
Procalcitonin level.
Which stage of infection occurs when the client shows nonspecific symptoms like
fatigue and low-grade fever?
Prodromal stage.
During which stage of infection does the client experience the most severe, specific
symptoms?
Acute illness stage.
The nurse recognizes the incubation period as which phase?
Time between pathogen entry and appearance of symptoms.
The nurse understands the decline stage of infection as characterized by what?
Symptoms begin to subside as pathogens decrease.
Which term describes the period when the client returns to health after infection?
Convalescence.
The nurse suspects sepsis in a postoperative patient. Which finding supports this?
Increased heart rate, fever, and decreased urine output.
The nurse identifies which patients as most at risk for sepsis?
Immunocompromised or postoperative patients with indwelling catheters.
When using sterile gloves, which principle must the nurse follow?
A sterile object remains sterile only when touched by another sterile object.
Which action breaks sterile technique?
Reaching over a sterile field.
Which rule about the sterile field border must the nurse remember?
The outer 1-inch border is considered contaminated.
, What should the nurse do if a sterile field becomes wet during a procedure?
Discard it and set up a new sterile field.
Which item requires sterilization before use?
Surgical instruments and devices entering sterile tissue or the vascular system.
What is the difference between disinfection and sterilization?
Disinfection removes many microorganisms; sterilization destroys all including spores.
A patient with measles (rubeola) is admitted. What type of isolation is required?
Airborne precautions.
The nurse enters the room of a patient with pneumonia. Which PPE should the nurse
wear?
Surgical mask (droplet precaution).
A nurse is caring for a patient with MRSA in an open wound. Which PPE is required?
Gown and gloves.
The nurse recognizes which transmission-based precaution requires negative
pressure airflow?
Airborne.
A nurse is caring for an older adult who frequently forgets recent events but can recall
childhood memories. The nurse notes gradual progression of symptoms and no change
in level of consciousness. Which condition is most likely?
Dementia (Neurocognitive Disorder)
The nurse differentiates delirium from dementia based on which characteristic?
Delirium has an acute onset and fluctuating symptoms; dementia is gradual and
progressive.
A patient is admitted with confusion that developed over the last 12 hours after
surgery. What is the nurse's first action?
Assess for underlying causes such as infection, hypoxia, or medications
which client is at greatest risk for developing delirium
an 82-year old postop patient on opioid analgesics with a history of dementia and
sleep deprivation
II 2025/2026 QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS TOP SCORER ACTUAL EXAM CSU
FULLERTON
A nurse is assessing a patient with suspected neurocognitive disorder. Which finding
suggests possible Alzheimer's rather than Lewy Body dementia?
Memory impairment is the most prominent feature.
When developing a care plan for an Alzheimer's patient, which intervention is most
effective to reduce anxiety?
Use clear, simple explanations and maintain a consistent daily routine.
The nurse explains that infection occurs when which condition is met?
Microorganisms enter a host, multiply, and cause tissue damage.
Which link in the chain of infection does hand hygiene primarily break?
Mode of transmission.
A nurse identifies a contaminated wound dressing as which link in the chain of
infection?
Portal of exit.
The nurse identifies the patient as the "susceptible host" in the chain of infection when
the patient has which condition?
Poor nutritional status and chronic illness.
What differentiates microbes from pathogens?
All pathogens are microbes, but not all microbes cause disease.
The nurse recognizes that health care-associated infections (HAIs) are most
commonly transmitted by which route?
Direct contact with contaminated hands of health care workers.
Which infection site is most common for a health care-associated infection?
Urinary tract.
,Which practice is the most effective way to prevent the spread of infection?
Performing proper hand hygiene before and after all patient contact.
Which precaution should the nurse implement when entering the room of a patient
with tuberculosis?
Wear an N95 respirator and ensure negative pressure airflow in the room.
A patient with influenza requires which type of isolation precaution?
Droplet precautions.
Which infection requires contact precautions?
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) or Clostridium difficile.
What type of transmission occurs when an infection spreads via coughing or sneezing
droplets within 3-6 feet?
Droplet transmission.
Which type of transmission involves pathogens carried on air currents smaller than 5
microns?
Airborne transmission.
The nurse dons gown and gloves before entering a room with a patient with C. difficile.
What additional precaution is essential?
Wash hands with soap and water after care (alcohol-based sanitizer is not effective).
Which type of patient requires protective (reverse) isolation?
Immunocompromised or neutropenic patient.
The nurse identifies which infection as requiring protective environment precautions?
A patient undergoing stem cell transplant.
When collecting a wound culture, which technique ensures accuracy?
Cleanse the wound with normal saline before obtaining the specimen.
Which finding indicates a localized infection?
Redness, swelling, warmth, and drainage at the wound site.
Which clinical manifestation indicates a systemic infection?
Fever, tachycardia, and malaise.
What are atypical signs of infection in older adults?
,Confusion, incontinence, or agitation without fever.
The nurse reviews lab results for a patient with infection. Which finding supports the
diagnosis?
Elevated white blood cell count and increased ESR.
Which test differentiates bacterial infection severity and guides antibiotic therapy?
Procalcitonin level.
Which stage of infection occurs when the client shows nonspecific symptoms like
fatigue and low-grade fever?
Prodromal stage.
During which stage of infection does the client experience the most severe, specific
symptoms?
Acute illness stage.
The nurse recognizes the incubation period as which phase?
Time between pathogen entry and appearance of symptoms.
The nurse understands the decline stage of infection as characterized by what?
Symptoms begin to subside as pathogens decrease.
Which term describes the period when the client returns to health after infection?
Convalescence.
The nurse suspects sepsis in a postoperative patient. Which finding supports this?
Increased heart rate, fever, and decreased urine output.
The nurse identifies which patients as most at risk for sepsis?
Immunocompromised or postoperative patients with indwelling catheters.
When using sterile gloves, which principle must the nurse follow?
A sterile object remains sterile only when touched by another sterile object.
Which action breaks sterile technique?
Reaching over a sterile field.
Which rule about the sterile field border must the nurse remember?
The outer 1-inch border is considered contaminated.
, What should the nurse do if a sterile field becomes wet during a procedure?
Discard it and set up a new sterile field.
Which item requires sterilization before use?
Surgical instruments and devices entering sterile tissue or the vascular system.
What is the difference between disinfection and sterilization?
Disinfection removes many microorganisms; sterilization destroys all including spores.
A patient with measles (rubeola) is admitted. What type of isolation is required?
Airborne precautions.
The nurse enters the room of a patient with pneumonia. Which PPE should the nurse
wear?
Surgical mask (droplet precaution).
A nurse is caring for a patient with MRSA in an open wound. Which PPE is required?
Gown and gloves.
The nurse recognizes which transmission-based precaution requires negative
pressure airflow?
Airborne.
A nurse is caring for an older adult who frequently forgets recent events but can recall
childhood memories. The nurse notes gradual progression of symptoms and no change
in level of consciousness. Which condition is most likely?
Dementia (Neurocognitive Disorder)
The nurse differentiates delirium from dementia based on which characteristic?
Delirium has an acute onset and fluctuating symptoms; dementia is gradual and
progressive.
A patient is admitted with confusion that developed over the last 12 hours after
surgery. What is the nurse's first action?
Assess for underlying causes such as infection, hypoxia, or medications
which client is at greatest risk for developing delirium
an 82-year old postop patient on opioid analgesics with a history of dementia and
sleep deprivation
