NR224/ NR 224 EXAM 1 (LATEST UPDATE
2026/2027) - COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE WITH
ACTUAL EXAM QUESTI ONS AND 100%
CORRECT ANSWERS || CHAMBERLAIN
All Questions with Correct Answers and Rationales | Already Graded A+
QUESTION 1
While assessing a patient, the nurse observes the patient's IV line is not infusing at the
ordered rate. The nurse assesses the patient for pain at the IV site, checks the flow
regulator on the tubing, looks to see if the patient is lying on the tubing, checks the
point of connection between the tubing and the IV catheter, and then checks the
condition of the site where the IV catheter enters the patient's skin. After the nurse
readjusts the flow rate, the infusion begins at the correct rate. This is an example of:
A. Inference
B. Diagnostic reasoning
C. Competency
D. Problem solving
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Problem solving involves identifying a problem (IV not infusing at ordered
rate), systematically gathering information to identify possible causes, and implementing
solutions until the problem is resolved.
QUESTION 2
The nurse sits down to talk with a patient who lost her sister 2 weeks ago. The patient
reports she is unable to sleep, feels very fatigued during the day, and is having trouble
at work. The nurse asks her to clarify the type of trouble. The patient explains she
can't concentrate or even solve simple problems. The nurse records the results of the
assessment, describing the patient as having ineffective coping. This is an example of:
A. Diagnostic reasoning
B. Competency
,C. Inference
D. Problem solving
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Diagnostic reasoning is the process of analyzing assessment data to identify
patterns and draw conclusions to make a nursing diagnosis. The nurse gathered data,
identified a pattern, and formulated the diagnosis of ineffective coping.
QUESTION 3
A patient on a surgical unit develops sudden shortness of breath and a drop in BP.
The staff respond, but the patient dies 30 minutes later. The manager on the nursing
unit calls the staff involved in the emergency response together. The staff discusses
what occurred over the 30 minute time frame, the actions taken, and whether other
steps should have been implemented. The nurses in this situation are:
A. Problem solving
B. Showing humility
C. Conducting reflective practice
D. Exercising responsibility
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Reflective practice involves reviewing an experience to gain insight and
improve future practice. The staff is analyzing their actions to learn from the event.
QUESTION 4
A nurse has worked on an oncology unit for 3 years. One patient has become visibly
weaker and states, "I feel funny". The nurse knows how patients often have behavior
changes before developing sepsis when they have cancer. The nurse asks the patient
questions to assess thinking skills and notices the patient shivering. The nurse goes to
the phone, calls the physician, and begins the conversation by saying, "I believe that
your patient is developing sepsis. I want to report symptoms I'm seeing." What
examples of critical thinking concepts does the nurse show? (Select all that apply)
A. Experience
B. Ethical
C. Analyticity
D. Self-confidence
E. Risk taking
,Correct Answers: C, D
Rationale: Analyticity is shown by analyzing assessment data to identify potential sepsis.
Self-confidence is shown by confidently calling the physician and stating a belief about the
patient's condition.
QUESTION 5
A nurse who is working on a surgical unit is caring for four different patients. Patient
A will be discharged home and is in need of instruction about wound care. Patients B
and C have returned from the operating room within an hour of each other, and both
require vital signs and monitoring of their intravenous (IV) lines. Patient D is resting
following a visit by physical therapy. Which of the following activities by the nurse
represent(s) use of clinical decision making for groups of patients? (Select all that
apply.)
A. Consider how to involve patient A in deciding whether to involve the family caregiver in
wound care instruction
B. Think about past experience with patients who develop postoperative complications
C. Decide which activities can be combined for patients B and C
D. Carefully gather any assessment info and identify patient problems
Correct Answers: A, C
Rationale: Clinical decision making for groups involves prioritizing and organizing care
for multiple patients, including involving patients in their care decisions and combining
activities for efficiency.
QUESTION 6
The surgical unit has initiated the use of a pain-rating scale to assess patients' pain
severity during their postoperative recovery. The registered nurse (RN) looks at the
pain flow sheet to see the pain scores recorded for a patient over the last 24 hours. Use
of the pain scale is an example of which intellectual standard?
A. Deep
B. Relevant
C. Consistent
D. Significant
Correct Answer: C
, Rationale: Consistency means using the same measurement tool (pain scale) each time to
ensure reliable, comparable data over time.
QUESTION 7
During a home health visit the nurse prepares to instruct a patient in how to perform
range-of-motion (ROM) exercises for an injured shoulder. The nurse verifies that the
patient took an analgesic 30 minutes before arrival at the patient's home. After
discussing the purpose for the exercises and demonstrating each one, the nurse has the
patient perform them. After two attempts with only the second of three exercises, the
patient stops and says, "This hurts too much. I don't see why I have to do this so many
times." The nurse applies the critical thinking attitude of integrity in which of the
following actions?
A. "I understand your reluctance, but the exercises are necessary for you to regain function
in your shoulder. Let's go a bit more slowly and try to relax"
B. "I see that you're uncomfortable. I'll call your doctor to decide the next step."
C. "Show me exactly where your pain is and rate it for me on a scale of 0 to 10."
D. "Is anything else bothering you? Other than the pain, is there any other reason you might
not want to do the exercises?"
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Integrity involves being honest and truthful while acknowledging the patient's
concerns and working collaboratively toward the therapeutic goal.
QUESTION 8
The nurse cared for a 14-year-old with renal failure who died near the end of the
work shift. The health care team tried for 45 minutes to resuscitate the child with no
success. The family was devastated by the loss, and, when the nurse tried to talk with
them, the mother said, "You can't make me feel better; you don't know what it's like
to lose a child." Which of the following examples of journal entries might best help the
nurse reflect and think about this clinical experience? (Select all that apply.)
A. Data entry of the time of day, who was present, and the condition of the child
B. Description of the efforts to restore the child's BP, what was used, and questions about
the child's response
C. The meaning the experience had for the nurse with respect to her understanding of
dealing with the patient's death
2026/2027) - COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE WITH
ACTUAL EXAM QUESTI ONS AND 100%
CORRECT ANSWERS || CHAMBERLAIN
All Questions with Correct Answers and Rationales | Already Graded A+
QUESTION 1
While assessing a patient, the nurse observes the patient's IV line is not infusing at the
ordered rate. The nurse assesses the patient for pain at the IV site, checks the flow
regulator on the tubing, looks to see if the patient is lying on the tubing, checks the
point of connection between the tubing and the IV catheter, and then checks the
condition of the site where the IV catheter enters the patient's skin. After the nurse
readjusts the flow rate, the infusion begins at the correct rate. This is an example of:
A. Inference
B. Diagnostic reasoning
C. Competency
D. Problem solving
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Problem solving involves identifying a problem (IV not infusing at ordered
rate), systematically gathering information to identify possible causes, and implementing
solutions until the problem is resolved.
QUESTION 2
The nurse sits down to talk with a patient who lost her sister 2 weeks ago. The patient
reports she is unable to sleep, feels very fatigued during the day, and is having trouble
at work. The nurse asks her to clarify the type of trouble. The patient explains she
can't concentrate or even solve simple problems. The nurse records the results of the
assessment, describing the patient as having ineffective coping. This is an example of:
A. Diagnostic reasoning
B. Competency
,C. Inference
D. Problem solving
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Diagnostic reasoning is the process of analyzing assessment data to identify
patterns and draw conclusions to make a nursing diagnosis. The nurse gathered data,
identified a pattern, and formulated the diagnosis of ineffective coping.
QUESTION 3
A patient on a surgical unit develops sudden shortness of breath and a drop in BP.
The staff respond, but the patient dies 30 minutes later. The manager on the nursing
unit calls the staff involved in the emergency response together. The staff discusses
what occurred over the 30 minute time frame, the actions taken, and whether other
steps should have been implemented. The nurses in this situation are:
A. Problem solving
B. Showing humility
C. Conducting reflective practice
D. Exercising responsibility
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Reflective practice involves reviewing an experience to gain insight and
improve future practice. The staff is analyzing their actions to learn from the event.
QUESTION 4
A nurse has worked on an oncology unit for 3 years. One patient has become visibly
weaker and states, "I feel funny". The nurse knows how patients often have behavior
changes before developing sepsis when they have cancer. The nurse asks the patient
questions to assess thinking skills and notices the patient shivering. The nurse goes to
the phone, calls the physician, and begins the conversation by saying, "I believe that
your patient is developing sepsis. I want to report symptoms I'm seeing." What
examples of critical thinking concepts does the nurse show? (Select all that apply)
A. Experience
B. Ethical
C. Analyticity
D. Self-confidence
E. Risk taking
,Correct Answers: C, D
Rationale: Analyticity is shown by analyzing assessment data to identify potential sepsis.
Self-confidence is shown by confidently calling the physician and stating a belief about the
patient's condition.
QUESTION 5
A nurse who is working on a surgical unit is caring for four different patients. Patient
A will be discharged home and is in need of instruction about wound care. Patients B
and C have returned from the operating room within an hour of each other, and both
require vital signs and monitoring of their intravenous (IV) lines. Patient D is resting
following a visit by physical therapy. Which of the following activities by the nurse
represent(s) use of clinical decision making for groups of patients? (Select all that
apply.)
A. Consider how to involve patient A in deciding whether to involve the family caregiver in
wound care instruction
B. Think about past experience with patients who develop postoperative complications
C. Decide which activities can be combined for patients B and C
D. Carefully gather any assessment info and identify patient problems
Correct Answers: A, C
Rationale: Clinical decision making for groups involves prioritizing and organizing care
for multiple patients, including involving patients in their care decisions and combining
activities for efficiency.
QUESTION 6
The surgical unit has initiated the use of a pain-rating scale to assess patients' pain
severity during their postoperative recovery. The registered nurse (RN) looks at the
pain flow sheet to see the pain scores recorded for a patient over the last 24 hours. Use
of the pain scale is an example of which intellectual standard?
A. Deep
B. Relevant
C. Consistent
D. Significant
Correct Answer: C
, Rationale: Consistency means using the same measurement tool (pain scale) each time to
ensure reliable, comparable data over time.
QUESTION 7
During a home health visit the nurse prepares to instruct a patient in how to perform
range-of-motion (ROM) exercises for an injured shoulder. The nurse verifies that the
patient took an analgesic 30 minutes before arrival at the patient's home. After
discussing the purpose for the exercises and demonstrating each one, the nurse has the
patient perform them. After two attempts with only the second of three exercises, the
patient stops and says, "This hurts too much. I don't see why I have to do this so many
times." The nurse applies the critical thinking attitude of integrity in which of the
following actions?
A. "I understand your reluctance, but the exercises are necessary for you to regain function
in your shoulder. Let's go a bit more slowly and try to relax"
B. "I see that you're uncomfortable. I'll call your doctor to decide the next step."
C. "Show me exactly where your pain is and rate it for me on a scale of 0 to 10."
D. "Is anything else bothering you? Other than the pain, is there any other reason you might
not want to do the exercises?"
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Integrity involves being honest and truthful while acknowledging the patient's
concerns and working collaboratively toward the therapeutic goal.
QUESTION 8
The nurse cared for a 14-year-old with renal failure who died near the end of the
work shift. The health care team tried for 45 minutes to resuscitate the child with no
success. The family was devastated by the loss, and, when the nurse tried to talk with
them, the mother said, "You can't make me feel better; you don't know what it's like
to lose a child." Which of the following examples of journal entries might best help the
nurse reflect and think about this clinical experience? (Select all that apply.)
A. Data entry of the time of day, who was present, and the condition of the child
B. Description of the efforts to restore the child's BP, what was used, and questions about
the child's response
C. The meaning the experience had for the nurse with respect to her understanding of
dealing with the patient's death
