ADULT HEALTH NURSING EXAM REVIEW – 200+ QUESTIONS
WITH RATIONALES COMPLETE SOLUTIONS 2026
A nurse is teaching a patient about antihypertensive therapy. The patient correctly
understands the teaching when they state, "I will monitor my blood pressure regularly", "I
will stop the medication if I feel dizzy", "I can take my medication any time of day", "I should
increase my sodium intake" -ANSWER-"I will monitor my blood pressure regularly".
A patient on furosemide reports muscle weakness and irregular heartbeats. The nurse
anticipates which lab finding, hypokalemia, hypernatremia, hypocalcemia, hyperchloremia -
ANSWER-hypokalemia.
A nurse notes jugular vein distension, peripheral edema, and weight gain in a patient. These
findings are consistent with, right-sided heart failure, left-sided heart failure, hypovolemic
shock, aortic stenosis -ANSWER-right-sided heart failure.
A nurse observes an EKG showing irregular R-R intervals with no distinct P waves. This is
consistent with, atrial fibrillation, asystole, ventricular fibrillation, heart block -ANSWER-
atrial fibrillation.
A patient taking lisinopril reports a persistent cough. The nurse should, notify the provider
about the symptom, discontinue the medication immediately, suggest taking an over-the-
counter cough suppressant, encourage fluid intake -ANSWER-notify the provider about the
symptom.
The nurse administers nitroglycerin to a patient with chest pain. The nurse should monitor
the patient for, dizziness, bradycardia, hypertension, tachypnea -ANSWER-dizziness.
A nurse is educating a heart failure patient about daily weights. The correct instruction is to,
weigh at the same time every day, weigh after breakfast, use different scales for consistency,
weigh once a week -ANSWER-weigh at the same time every day.
, The nurse is teaching a COPD patient about pursed-lip breathing. This technique helps to,
reduce the effort of breathing, increase oxygen absorption, improve lung elasticity, prevent
aspiration -ANSWER-reduce the effort of breathing.
A nurse evaluates a patient with a sodium level of 130 mmol/L. This finding indicates,
hyponatremia, hypernatremia, normal sodium level, sodium depletion -ANSWER-
hyponatremia.
A nurse caring for a patient with COPD notices a rapid respiratory rate and pursed-lip
breathing. The nurse should, encourage the patient to continue pursed-lip breathing, initiate
oxygen therapy at 6 L/min, place the patient in the supine position, administer a
bronchodilator immediately -ANSWER-encourage the patient to continue pursed-lip
breathing.
The patient is prescribed albuterol for asthma. The nurse should educate the patient that a
common side effect is, tachycardia, bradycardia, cough, dry mouth -ANSWER-tachycardia.
A nurse is assessing a postoperative patient with shallow respirations and diminished breath
sounds. The nurse suspects, atelectasis, pneumonia, pulmonary edema, respiratory alkalosis
-ANSWER-atelectasis.
A nurse is teaching a patient about the DASH diet for hypertension. The patient understands
when they say, "I will eat more fruits and vegetables", "I will increase my sodium intake", "I
should avoid foods high in fiber", "I should eat more processed snacks" -ANSWER-"I will eat
more fruits and vegetables".
A patient presents with sharp chest pain and dyspnea. The nurse notes jugular vein
distention and hypotension. These findings suggest, pulmonary embolism, myocardial
infarction, tension pneumothorax, pericarditis -ANSWER-pulmonary embolism.
A nurse is caring for a patient with newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus. Which finding
requires immediate action, blood glucose of 250 mg/dL, fruity-smelling breath, polyuria,
fatigue -ANSWER-fruity-smelling breath.
WITH RATIONALES COMPLETE SOLUTIONS 2026
A nurse is teaching a patient about antihypertensive therapy. The patient correctly
understands the teaching when they state, "I will monitor my blood pressure regularly", "I
will stop the medication if I feel dizzy", "I can take my medication any time of day", "I should
increase my sodium intake" -ANSWER-"I will monitor my blood pressure regularly".
A patient on furosemide reports muscle weakness and irregular heartbeats. The nurse
anticipates which lab finding, hypokalemia, hypernatremia, hypocalcemia, hyperchloremia -
ANSWER-hypokalemia.
A nurse notes jugular vein distension, peripheral edema, and weight gain in a patient. These
findings are consistent with, right-sided heart failure, left-sided heart failure, hypovolemic
shock, aortic stenosis -ANSWER-right-sided heart failure.
A nurse observes an EKG showing irregular R-R intervals with no distinct P waves. This is
consistent with, atrial fibrillation, asystole, ventricular fibrillation, heart block -ANSWER-
atrial fibrillation.
A patient taking lisinopril reports a persistent cough. The nurse should, notify the provider
about the symptom, discontinue the medication immediately, suggest taking an over-the-
counter cough suppressant, encourage fluid intake -ANSWER-notify the provider about the
symptom.
The nurse administers nitroglycerin to a patient with chest pain. The nurse should monitor
the patient for, dizziness, bradycardia, hypertension, tachypnea -ANSWER-dizziness.
A nurse is educating a heart failure patient about daily weights. The correct instruction is to,
weigh at the same time every day, weigh after breakfast, use different scales for consistency,
weigh once a week -ANSWER-weigh at the same time every day.
, The nurse is teaching a COPD patient about pursed-lip breathing. This technique helps to,
reduce the effort of breathing, increase oxygen absorption, improve lung elasticity, prevent
aspiration -ANSWER-reduce the effort of breathing.
A nurse evaluates a patient with a sodium level of 130 mmol/L. This finding indicates,
hyponatremia, hypernatremia, normal sodium level, sodium depletion -ANSWER-
hyponatremia.
A nurse caring for a patient with COPD notices a rapid respiratory rate and pursed-lip
breathing. The nurse should, encourage the patient to continue pursed-lip breathing, initiate
oxygen therapy at 6 L/min, place the patient in the supine position, administer a
bronchodilator immediately -ANSWER-encourage the patient to continue pursed-lip
breathing.
The patient is prescribed albuterol for asthma. The nurse should educate the patient that a
common side effect is, tachycardia, bradycardia, cough, dry mouth -ANSWER-tachycardia.
A nurse is assessing a postoperative patient with shallow respirations and diminished breath
sounds. The nurse suspects, atelectasis, pneumonia, pulmonary edema, respiratory alkalosis
-ANSWER-atelectasis.
A nurse is teaching a patient about the DASH diet for hypertension. The patient understands
when they say, "I will eat more fruits and vegetables", "I will increase my sodium intake", "I
should avoid foods high in fiber", "I should eat more processed snacks" -ANSWER-"I will eat
more fruits and vegetables".
A patient presents with sharp chest pain and dyspnea. The nurse notes jugular vein
distention and hypotension. These findings suggest, pulmonary embolism, myocardial
infarction, tension pneumothorax, pericarditis -ANSWER-pulmonary embolism.
A nurse is caring for a patient with newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus. Which finding
requires immediate action, blood glucose of 250 mg/dL, fruity-smelling breath, polyuria,
fatigue -ANSWER-fruity-smelling breath.
