PNLE MEdicaL-SurgicaL NurSiNg rEviEwEr
2025/2026 – advaNcEd aduLt HEaLtH
coMPrEHENSivE ExaM PrEP | HigH-YiELd PracticE
QuEStioNS witH vErifiEd aNSwErS & dEtaiLEd
ratioNaLES | PHiLiPPiNE NurSiNg LicENSurE
ExaMiNatioN (Board ExaM) SuccESS guidE
1. What is the most common sign of hypoglycemia?
A) Polyuria
B) Polyphagia
C) Confusion
D) Abdominal pain
Correct Option: C) Confusion
Rationale: Confusion is a classic sign of hypoglycemia due to insufficient glucose reaching the
brain. Other signs may also appear, but confusion is a primary indicator that demands immediate
attention.
2. A patient with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is at risk for which of the following
complications?
A) Hypokalemia
B) Metabolic acidosis
C) Hypercalcemia
D) Hyponatremia
Correct Option: B) Metabolic acidosis
Rationale: In CKD, the kidneys cannot excrete acid effectively, leading to metabolic acidosis.
Patients often show a low bicarbonate level and acid retention.
3. Which statement best describes the term 'informed consent'?
A) Accepting treatment without understanding the risks
B) Agreement based on a thorough understanding of the procedure
C) Consent obtained under duress
D) General consent for all treatments
Correct Option: B) Agreement based on a thorough understanding of the procedure
Rationale: Informed consent means that the patient has been adequately informed about the
risks, benefits, and alternatives of a procedure and agrees to proceed based on that
understanding.
,4. What is the primary nursing intervention for a patient experiencing chest pain?
A) Administering pain medication
B) Performing a thorough assessment
C) Offering psychological support
D) Monitoring vital signs only
Correct Option: B) Performing a thorough assessment
Rationale: A thorough assessment is crucial to understand the nature and cause of the chest pain,
guiding further treatment and interventions.
5. A nurse is caring for a patient with heart failure. Which of the following findings should
be reported immediately?
A) Weight gain of 1 lb
B) Increased urine output
C) Shortness of breath at rest
D) Mild peripheral edema
Correct Option: C) Shortness of breath at rest
Rationale: Shortness of breath at rest is a concerning sign that may indicate worsening heart
failure and requires immediate intervention.
6. Which assessment finding indicates potential septicemia in a patient?
A) Bradycardia
B) Elevated white blood cell count
C) Low blood pressure
D) All of the above
Correct Option: D) All of the above
Rationale: Bradycardia, elevated white blood cell count, and low blood pressure can all indicate
septicemia. It reflects systemic infection requiring immediate medical attention.
7. A patient is receiving anticoagulation therapy. What laboratory value is most critical to
monitor?
A) Hemoglobin
B) Prothrombin time (PT)
C) White blood cell count
D) Potassium level
Correct Option: B) Prothrombin time (PT)
Rationale: PT monitoring helps ensure effective anticoagulation therapy and reduces the risk of
bleeding complications.
,8. What is the priority nursing diagnosis for a patient with a newly diagnosed stroke?
A) Impaired physical mobility
B) Risk for impaired skin integrity
C) Ineffective airway clearance
D) Anxiety
Correct Option: C) Ineffective airway clearance
Rationale: Ensuring airway patency is critical in stroke patients due to potential loss of
neurological control over breathing.
9. Which of the following is a common side effect of corticosteroid therapy?
A) Weight loss
B) Hypertension
C) Hypoglycemia
D) Muscle weakness
Correct Option: B) Hypertension
Rationale: Corticosteroids can cause fluid retention and increased blood pressure as common
side effects.
10. A patient is being discharged with a prescription for insulin. What should the nurse
include in the teaching plan?
A) Store insulin in the freezer
B) Rotate injection sites
C) Increase carbohydrate intake
D) Use alcohol swabs only on the injection site
Correct Option: B) Rotate injection sites
Rationale: Rotating injection sites helps prevent lipodystrophy and improves insulin absorption.
11. Which lab result indicates effective treatment of heart failure?
A) Increase in BNP levels
B) Decrease in blood urea nitrogen (BUN)
C) Decrease in creatinine levels
D) Increase in total cholesterol
, Correct Option: C) Decrease in creatinine levels
Rationale: Improved renal function (indicated by lower creatinine levels) is a positive sign in
heart failure management.
12. A nurse is assessing a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Which finding is expected?
A) Decreased respiratory rate
B) Bradypnea
C) Barrel chest
D) Increased heart rate
Correct Option: C) Barrel chest
Rationale: A barrel chest is common in COPD patients due to long-term lung hyperinflation.
13. A patient with liver cirrhosis is at risk for which complication?
A) Hypocalcemia
B) Encephalopathy
C) Hypertension
D) Hyperthyroidism
Correct Option: B) Encephalopathy
Rationale: Liver failure can lead to the accumulation of toxins in the bloodstream, resulting in
hepatic encephalopathy.
14. When caring for a patient with diabetes mellitus, what is a priority patient education
topic?
A) Importance of sleep
B) Proper foot care
C) Exercise routines
D) Stress management
Correct Option: B) Proper foot care
Rationale: Patients with diabetes are at high risk for foot complications due to neuropathy and
poor circulation.
15. A patient who just underwent surgery is complaining of severe pain. What is the first
action by the nurse?
A) Assess the patient's vital signs
2025/2026 – advaNcEd aduLt HEaLtH
coMPrEHENSivE ExaM PrEP | HigH-YiELd PracticE
QuEStioNS witH vErifiEd aNSwErS & dEtaiLEd
ratioNaLES | PHiLiPPiNE NurSiNg LicENSurE
ExaMiNatioN (Board ExaM) SuccESS guidE
1. What is the most common sign of hypoglycemia?
A) Polyuria
B) Polyphagia
C) Confusion
D) Abdominal pain
Correct Option: C) Confusion
Rationale: Confusion is a classic sign of hypoglycemia due to insufficient glucose reaching the
brain. Other signs may also appear, but confusion is a primary indicator that demands immediate
attention.
2. A patient with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is at risk for which of the following
complications?
A) Hypokalemia
B) Metabolic acidosis
C) Hypercalcemia
D) Hyponatremia
Correct Option: B) Metabolic acidosis
Rationale: In CKD, the kidneys cannot excrete acid effectively, leading to metabolic acidosis.
Patients often show a low bicarbonate level and acid retention.
3. Which statement best describes the term 'informed consent'?
A) Accepting treatment without understanding the risks
B) Agreement based on a thorough understanding of the procedure
C) Consent obtained under duress
D) General consent for all treatments
Correct Option: B) Agreement based on a thorough understanding of the procedure
Rationale: Informed consent means that the patient has been adequately informed about the
risks, benefits, and alternatives of a procedure and agrees to proceed based on that
understanding.
,4. What is the primary nursing intervention for a patient experiencing chest pain?
A) Administering pain medication
B) Performing a thorough assessment
C) Offering psychological support
D) Monitoring vital signs only
Correct Option: B) Performing a thorough assessment
Rationale: A thorough assessment is crucial to understand the nature and cause of the chest pain,
guiding further treatment and interventions.
5. A nurse is caring for a patient with heart failure. Which of the following findings should
be reported immediately?
A) Weight gain of 1 lb
B) Increased urine output
C) Shortness of breath at rest
D) Mild peripheral edema
Correct Option: C) Shortness of breath at rest
Rationale: Shortness of breath at rest is a concerning sign that may indicate worsening heart
failure and requires immediate intervention.
6. Which assessment finding indicates potential septicemia in a patient?
A) Bradycardia
B) Elevated white blood cell count
C) Low blood pressure
D) All of the above
Correct Option: D) All of the above
Rationale: Bradycardia, elevated white blood cell count, and low blood pressure can all indicate
septicemia. It reflects systemic infection requiring immediate medical attention.
7. A patient is receiving anticoagulation therapy. What laboratory value is most critical to
monitor?
A) Hemoglobin
B) Prothrombin time (PT)
C) White blood cell count
D) Potassium level
Correct Option: B) Prothrombin time (PT)
Rationale: PT monitoring helps ensure effective anticoagulation therapy and reduces the risk of
bleeding complications.
,8. What is the priority nursing diagnosis for a patient with a newly diagnosed stroke?
A) Impaired physical mobility
B) Risk for impaired skin integrity
C) Ineffective airway clearance
D) Anxiety
Correct Option: C) Ineffective airway clearance
Rationale: Ensuring airway patency is critical in stroke patients due to potential loss of
neurological control over breathing.
9. Which of the following is a common side effect of corticosteroid therapy?
A) Weight loss
B) Hypertension
C) Hypoglycemia
D) Muscle weakness
Correct Option: B) Hypertension
Rationale: Corticosteroids can cause fluid retention and increased blood pressure as common
side effects.
10. A patient is being discharged with a prescription for insulin. What should the nurse
include in the teaching plan?
A) Store insulin in the freezer
B) Rotate injection sites
C) Increase carbohydrate intake
D) Use alcohol swabs only on the injection site
Correct Option: B) Rotate injection sites
Rationale: Rotating injection sites helps prevent lipodystrophy and improves insulin absorption.
11. Which lab result indicates effective treatment of heart failure?
A) Increase in BNP levels
B) Decrease in blood urea nitrogen (BUN)
C) Decrease in creatinine levels
D) Increase in total cholesterol
, Correct Option: C) Decrease in creatinine levels
Rationale: Improved renal function (indicated by lower creatinine levels) is a positive sign in
heart failure management.
12. A nurse is assessing a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Which finding is expected?
A) Decreased respiratory rate
B) Bradypnea
C) Barrel chest
D) Increased heart rate
Correct Option: C) Barrel chest
Rationale: A barrel chest is common in COPD patients due to long-term lung hyperinflation.
13. A patient with liver cirrhosis is at risk for which complication?
A) Hypocalcemia
B) Encephalopathy
C) Hypertension
D) Hyperthyroidism
Correct Option: B) Encephalopathy
Rationale: Liver failure can lead to the accumulation of toxins in the bloodstream, resulting in
hepatic encephalopathy.
14. When caring for a patient with diabetes mellitus, what is a priority patient education
topic?
A) Importance of sleep
B) Proper foot care
C) Exercise routines
D) Stress management
Correct Option: B) Proper foot care
Rationale: Patients with diabetes are at high risk for foot complications due to neuropathy and
poor circulation.
15. A patient who just underwent surgery is complaining of severe pain. What is the first
action by the nurse?
A) Assess the patient's vital signs
