NUR 355 Exams 1,2 and 3 Complete Review guides Latest Spring
2026 NUR 355 Exam #1 - Modules 1 & 2
"Intro to Med Surg, HEENT, Integumentary and Sensory"
Intro to Med-Surg (Module 1)
General (assessment, priority, evaluation, education, non-pharm etc.)
1. Priority- management of acutely ill and adult pa�ents. Support decision-making in
rela�on to making clinical judgments about care provided.
2. “ABCDE” system to evaluate moles:
a. A: Asymmetry-one side does not match the other
b. B: Borders-ragged, notched, irregular, or blurred edges
c. C: Color-lack of uniformity in pigmenta�on (shade of tan, brown, or black)
d. D: Diameter- width greater than 6mm, or size of pencil eraser or pea
, NUR 355 Exam #1 - Modules 1 & 2
"Intro to Med Surg, HEENT, Integumentary and Sensory"
e. E: Evolving- change in appearance (shape, size, color, height, texture) or
condi�on (bleeding, itching)
3. 5 stages of nursing competence: Novice, advanced beginner, competent, proficient,
expert.
Ethical Principles
1. American Nurses Associa�on Scope and Standards of Prac�ce.
a. The ANA first published the Standards of Nursing Prac�ce in 1973.
2. Most common ethical principles (The Belmont report):
a. Beneficence concerns people ac�ng posi�vely on behalf of the perceived
well-being of others.
b. Autonomy involves the individual’s personal right to make decisions
concerning him- or herself. Nurses must provide support and advocacy for
the individual pa�ent’s choices, regardless of whether they agree with them.
c. Jus�ce requires fair and equal treatment for everyone regardless of race,
religion, or gender. At the level of community, ques�ons of equitability are
taken into account in decision making, such as the greatest good for the
greatest number and the alloca�on of scarce resources during �mes of
disasters or emergency.
d. Fidelity expects the nurse to be accountable for commitments made to
others, to the self, and to the profession, based on the virtue of caring.
e. Nonmaleficence examines issues related to who may be harmed by ac�ons
and how any harm can be minimized or averted. This also relates to nurses’
, NUR 355 Exam #1 - Modules 1 & 2
"Intro to Med Surg, HEENT, Integumentary and Sensory"
need to remain competent in their prac�ce and exercise moral courage in
repor�ng suspected/observed incidents of malprac�ce, abuse, or diversion.
f. Veracity is the requirement to tell the truth and to refrain from inten�onally
misleading or deceiving a pa�ent to influence decisions (related to
paternalism, described in item 8). Veracity or truth-telling is also part of
nonmaleficence, described in item 5.
g. Confiden�ality requires that informa�on is not shared beyond those who
have a need to know. Nurses must remain vigilant regarding their use of
social media, as outlined in later this chapter.
h. Paternalism is the inappropriate inten�on to protect individuals from their
own involuntary ac�ons or choices in the name of beneficence, which
violates their right to self-determina�on (autonomy). Paternalism is o�en
seen in the care of older adults and in male-dominant cultures.
Geriatric implications
1. Old age is defined by three stages:
a. The age range of 65 to 75 is considered “young-old,”
b. the range of 75 to 85 is “old,” and from
c. 85 upward is termed the “old-old” or “oldest old.”
2. Greater risk for illnesses! Decline in adapta�on.
a. Senescence (normal age-related changes in organ systems.
b. Sclerosis (hardening �ssue due fibrous �ssue overgrowth)
c. Stenosis (narrowing/constric�ng passage or orifice)
d. Atrophy (was�ng away/decrease in size of organ)
, NUR 355 Exam #1 - Modules 1 & 2
"Intro to Med Surg, HEENT, Integumentary and Sensory"
e. Calcifica�on (Ca/Ca NA deposited abnormally in organs/blood vessels)
3. Age-related Changes:
a. Cardiac: Heart Disease, Vascular Disease, HF, A-fib (rise in systolic BP,
orthosta�c Hypotension)
b. Neuro: Demen�a, depression, Parkinson's disease, cerebrovascular accident.
(decreased reac�on �me/increase response �me)
c. Respiratory: Pneumonia, COPD (inspira�on becomes dependent on abd
muscles, increase risk of aspira�on)
d. Cogni�ve Issues: memory decreases, processing speed decreases
(mul�tasking declines, memory of facts and meanings/intellectual ability
unchanged)
e. Renal Issues: risk of dehydra�on, decreased excre�on of medica�ons and
toxins. (hypo/hyper natremia, kalemia)
f. Psychosocial Issues:
i. Becoming more dependent
ii. Facing own mortality (Advance Direc�ves-Will/DNR)
iii. Housing/finances
4. Safety issues:
a. Increase falls (remove obstacles)
b. Medica�on safety (polypharmacy, access to meds)
c. Protec�on from abuse
2026 NUR 355 Exam #1 - Modules 1 & 2
"Intro to Med Surg, HEENT, Integumentary and Sensory"
Intro to Med-Surg (Module 1)
General (assessment, priority, evaluation, education, non-pharm etc.)
1. Priority- management of acutely ill and adult pa�ents. Support decision-making in
rela�on to making clinical judgments about care provided.
2. “ABCDE” system to evaluate moles:
a. A: Asymmetry-one side does not match the other
b. B: Borders-ragged, notched, irregular, or blurred edges
c. C: Color-lack of uniformity in pigmenta�on (shade of tan, brown, or black)
d. D: Diameter- width greater than 6mm, or size of pencil eraser or pea
, NUR 355 Exam #1 - Modules 1 & 2
"Intro to Med Surg, HEENT, Integumentary and Sensory"
e. E: Evolving- change in appearance (shape, size, color, height, texture) or
condi�on (bleeding, itching)
3. 5 stages of nursing competence: Novice, advanced beginner, competent, proficient,
expert.
Ethical Principles
1. American Nurses Associa�on Scope and Standards of Prac�ce.
a. The ANA first published the Standards of Nursing Prac�ce in 1973.
2. Most common ethical principles (The Belmont report):
a. Beneficence concerns people ac�ng posi�vely on behalf of the perceived
well-being of others.
b. Autonomy involves the individual’s personal right to make decisions
concerning him- or herself. Nurses must provide support and advocacy for
the individual pa�ent’s choices, regardless of whether they agree with them.
c. Jus�ce requires fair and equal treatment for everyone regardless of race,
religion, or gender. At the level of community, ques�ons of equitability are
taken into account in decision making, such as the greatest good for the
greatest number and the alloca�on of scarce resources during �mes of
disasters or emergency.
d. Fidelity expects the nurse to be accountable for commitments made to
others, to the self, and to the profession, based on the virtue of caring.
e. Nonmaleficence examines issues related to who may be harmed by ac�ons
and how any harm can be minimized or averted. This also relates to nurses’
, NUR 355 Exam #1 - Modules 1 & 2
"Intro to Med Surg, HEENT, Integumentary and Sensory"
need to remain competent in their prac�ce and exercise moral courage in
repor�ng suspected/observed incidents of malprac�ce, abuse, or diversion.
f. Veracity is the requirement to tell the truth and to refrain from inten�onally
misleading or deceiving a pa�ent to influence decisions (related to
paternalism, described in item 8). Veracity or truth-telling is also part of
nonmaleficence, described in item 5.
g. Confiden�ality requires that informa�on is not shared beyond those who
have a need to know. Nurses must remain vigilant regarding their use of
social media, as outlined in later this chapter.
h. Paternalism is the inappropriate inten�on to protect individuals from their
own involuntary ac�ons or choices in the name of beneficence, which
violates their right to self-determina�on (autonomy). Paternalism is o�en
seen in the care of older adults and in male-dominant cultures.
Geriatric implications
1. Old age is defined by three stages:
a. The age range of 65 to 75 is considered “young-old,”
b. the range of 75 to 85 is “old,” and from
c. 85 upward is termed the “old-old” or “oldest old.”
2. Greater risk for illnesses! Decline in adapta�on.
a. Senescence (normal age-related changes in organ systems.
b. Sclerosis (hardening �ssue due fibrous �ssue overgrowth)
c. Stenosis (narrowing/constric�ng passage or orifice)
d. Atrophy (was�ng away/decrease in size of organ)
, NUR 355 Exam #1 - Modules 1 & 2
"Intro to Med Surg, HEENT, Integumentary and Sensory"
e. Calcifica�on (Ca/Ca NA deposited abnormally in organs/blood vessels)
3. Age-related Changes:
a. Cardiac: Heart Disease, Vascular Disease, HF, A-fib (rise in systolic BP,
orthosta�c Hypotension)
b. Neuro: Demen�a, depression, Parkinson's disease, cerebrovascular accident.
(decreased reac�on �me/increase response �me)
c. Respiratory: Pneumonia, COPD (inspira�on becomes dependent on abd
muscles, increase risk of aspira�on)
d. Cogni�ve Issues: memory decreases, processing speed decreases
(mul�tasking declines, memory of facts and meanings/intellectual ability
unchanged)
e. Renal Issues: risk of dehydra�on, decreased excre�on of medica�ons and
toxins. (hypo/hyper natremia, kalemia)
f. Psychosocial Issues:
i. Becoming more dependent
ii. Facing own mortality (Advance Direc�ves-Will/DNR)
iii. Housing/finances
4. Safety issues:
a. Increase falls (remove obstacles)
b. Medica�on safety (polypharmacy, access to meds)
c. Protec�on from abuse
