NUR 3275 Exam 2 Comprehensive Pharmacology Study
Guide & Test Bank (2027-2028)
Ace your advanced nursing pharmacology assessment with this
comprehensive, high-yield study guide and practice question bank for
NUR 3275 Exam 2. Every question is tailored to clinical nursing
blueprints and paired with deep-dive rationales covering high-alert
medication protocols, critical laboratory values, therapeutic drug ranges,
and priority nursing safety interventions. Perfect for intensive
remediation or structured last-minute cramming, this package guarantees
to build the testing baseline needed to maximize your exam score.
QUESTION 1
The nurse is assessing a patient's pain using the PQRST method. The "P" stands for:
A) Pain level
B) Provocation/Palliation
C) Pulse rate
D) Position
Rationale: P in PQRST stands for Provocation/Palliation, which asks what provokes the
pain and what provides relief. This helps identify aggravating and alleviating factors .
QUESTION 2
Which of the following findings indicates the patient may be experiencing respiratory
distress?
A) Respiratory rate of 14 breaths per minute
B) Use of accessory muscles to breathe
C) Clear breath sounds on auscultation
D) Oxygen saturation of 97%
,Rationale: Use of accessory muscles (sternocleidomastoid, trapezius, intercostals)
indicates respiratory distress. A rate of 14, clear breath sounds, and normal oxygen
saturation are expected findings .
QUESTION 3
A patient's blood pressure is 118/76 mmHg. This reading is classified as:
A) Normal
B) Elevated
C) Stage 1 hypertension
D) Stage 2 hypertension
Rationale: Normal blood pressure is defined as less than 120/80 mmHg. A reading of
118/76 mmHg falls within normal limits .
QUESTION 4
When assessing capillary refill in an adult patient, the nurse should expect the color to
return within:
A) Less than 2 seconds
B) 3-4 seconds
C) 5-6 seconds
D) 7-8 seconds
Rationale: Normal capillary refill time is less than 2 seconds. Prolonged capillary refill
(greater than 2-3 seconds) indicates decreased peripheral perfusion and should be
reported .
QUESTION 5
The nurse is assessing a patient's pupils. Which of the following findings is considered
NORMAL?
,A) Pupils equal and reactive to light
B) Pupils unequal in size
C) Pupils fixed and dilated
D) Pupils constricted and non-reactive
Rationale: Normal pupils are equal in size, round, and reactive to light (PERRL). Unequal
pupils (anisocoria), fixed and dilated pupils, or non-reactive pupils indicate neurological
abnormalities .
QUESTION 6
A patient with a fever of 102.5°F is experiencing:
A) Hypothermia
B) Pyrexia (fever)
C) Normal temperature
D) Hyperthermia
Rationale: Pyrexia is a fever with a temperature above 100.4°F. A temperature of 102.5°F
is a significant fever and requires intervention to identify the underlying cause .
QUESTION 7
Which of the following pulse sites would the nurse use to assess the apical pulse?
A) Radial
B) Brachial
C) Carotid
D) Fifth intercostal space, left midclavicular line
Rationale: The apical pulse is located at the fifth intercostal space at the left
midclavicular line, also known as the point of maximal impulse (PMI). It is assessed with a
stethoscope .
, QUESTION 8
A patient reports pain as "aching and throbbing" in the right knee. This describes which
component of the PQRST pain assessment?
A) Quality/Quantity
B) Region/Radiation
C) Severity Scale
D) Timing/Treatment
Rationale: Quality/Quantity (Q) in PQRST asks the patient to describe the pain
characteristics (e.g., sharp, dull, burning, aching, throbbing). This helps identify the nature
of the pain .
QUESTION 9
Which of the following is an example of OBJECTIVE data?
A) Patient states, "I feel nauseous"
B) Patient's temperature is 101.3°F
C) Patient reports, "My head hurts"
D) Patient complains of dizziness
Rationale: Objective data is measurable and observable, such as vital signs, physical
examination findings, and laboratory results. Subjective data is reported by the patient .
QUESTION 10
The nurse is preparing to auscultate a patient's bowel sounds. How long should the
nurse listen before documenting the sounds as absent?
A) 1 minute
B) 2 minutes
C) 5 minutes
D) 10 minutes
Rationale: Bowel sounds should be auscultated for 5 minutes in each quadrant before
documenting as absent. Absent bowel sounds indicate a paralytic ileus or intestinal
obstruction .
Guide & Test Bank (2027-2028)
Ace your advanced nursing pharmacology assessment with this
comprehensive, high-yield study guide and practice question bank for
NUR 3275 Exam 2. Every question is tailored to clinical nursing
blueprints and paired with deep-dive rationales covering high-alert
medication protocols, critical laboratory values, therapeutic drug ranges,
and priority nursing safety interventions. Perfect for intensive
remediation or structured last-minute cramming, this package guarantees
to build the testing baseline needed to maximize your exam score.
QUESTION 1
The nurse is assessing a patient's pain using the PQRST method. The "P" stands for:
A) Pain level
B) Provocation/Palliation
C) Pulse rate
D) Position
Rationale: P in PQRST stands for Provocation/Palliation, which asks what provokes the
pain and what provides relief. This helps identify aggravating and alleviating factors .
QUESTION 2
Which of the following findings indicates the patient may be experiencing respiratory
distress?
A) Respiratory rate of 14 breaths per minute
B) Use of accessory muscles to breathe
C) Clear breath sounds on auscultation
D) Oxygen saturation of 97%
,Rationale: Use of accessory muscles (sternocleidomastoid, trapezius, intercostals)
indicates respiratory distress. A rate of 14, clear breath sounds, and normal oxygen
saturation are expected findings .
QUESTION 3
A patient's blood pressure is 118/76 mmHg. This reading is classified as:
A) Normal
B) Elevated
C) Stage 1 hypertension
D) Stage 2 hypertension
Rationale: Normal blood pressure is defined as less than 120/80 mmHg. A reading of
118/76 mmHg falls within normal limits .
QUESTION 4
When assessing capillary refill in an adult patient, the nurse should expect the color to
return within:
A) Less than 2 seconds
B) 3-4 seconds
C) 5-6 seconds
D) 7-8 seconds
Rationale: Normal capillary refill time is less than 2 seconds. Prolonged capillary refill
(greater than 2-3 seconds) indicates decreased peripheral perfusion and should be
reported .
QUESTION 5
The nurse is assessing a patient's pupils. Which of the following findings is considered
NORMAL?
,A) Pupils equal and reactive to light
B) Pupils unequal in size
C) Pupils fixed and dilated
D) Pupils constricted and non-reactive
Rationale: Normal pupils are equal in size, round, and reactive to light (PERRL). Unequal
pupils (anisocoria), fixed and dilated pupils, or non-reactive pupils indicate neurological
abnormalities .
QUESTION 6
A patient with a fever of 102.5°F is experiencing:
A) Hypothermia
B) Pyrexia (fever)
C) Normal temperature
D) Hyperthermia
Rationale: Pyrexia is a fever with a temperature above 100.4°F. A temperature of 102.5°F
is a significant fever and requires intervention to identify the underlying cause .
QUESTION 7
Which of the following pulse sites would the nurse use to assess the apical pulse?
A) Radial
B) Brachial
C) Carotid
D) Fifth intercostal space, left midclavicular line
Rationale: The apical pulse is located at the fifth intercostal space at the left
midclavicular line, also known as the point of maximal impulse (PMI). It is assessed with a
stethoscope .
, QUESTION 8
A patient reports pain as "aching and throbbing" in the right knee. This describes which
component of the PQRST pain assessment?
A) Quality/Quantity
B) Region/Radiation
C) Severity Scale
D) Timing/Treatment
Rationale: Quality/Quantity (Q) in PQRST asks the patient to describe the pain
characteristics (e.g., sharp, dull, burning, aching, throbbing). This helps identify the nature
of the pain .
QUESTION 9
Which of the following is an example of OBJECTIVE data?
A) Patient states, "I feel nauseous"
B) Patient's temperature is 101.3°F
C) Patient reports, "My head hurts"
D) Patient complains of dizziness
Rationale: Objective data is measurable and observable, such as vital signs, physical
examination findings, and laboratory results. Subjective data is reported by the patient .
QUESTION 10
The nurse is preparing to auscultate a patient's bowel sounds. How long should the
nurse listen before documenting the sounds as absent?
A) 1 minute
B) 2 minutes
C) 5 minutes
D) 10 minutes
Rationale: Bowel sounds should be auscultated for 5 minutes in each quadrant before
documenting as absent. Absent bowel sounds indicate a paralytic ileus or intestinal
obstruction .
