NUR 283 ADULT HEALTH NURSING EXAM 1 (PDF) | 2026
EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS + RATIONALES | STUDY
GUIDE | 100% CORRECT
1. A nurse is providing in-service about client evacuation during a fire. Which of the
following clients should be evacuated first?
A) A client who is ambulating and receiving O₂
B) A client who has a fracture and is in balance suspension traction
C) A client who is bedridden and wears a hearing aid
D) A client who uses a wheelchair and is confused
Correct Answer: A) A client who is ambulating and receiving O₂
Rationale: In a fire, evacuation priority is given to clients in the zone of fire origin who can be
moved with the least assistance. The client who is ambulating can be evacuated quickly, taking
priority over more complex evacuations .
2. A nurse is planning care for an older adult client who has dementia. Which interventions
should the nurse include? (Select all that apply.)
A) Give one simple direction at a time
B) Refute the client's delusions using logic
C) Allow the client to choose among a variety of activities each day
D) Reinforce orientation to time, place, and person
E) Establish eye contact when communicating with the client
Correct Answer: A, D, E
Rationale: For a client with dementia, the nurse should give one simple direction at a time,
reinforce orientation, and establish eye contact when communicating. Refuting delusions is
ineffective and can increase agitation; providing too many choices can be overwhelming .
3. A nurse is providing discharge teaching to the partner of a client who has a tracheostomy.
Which information should the nurse include?
A) How to operate a portable suction machine
B) How to secure tracheostomy tube with ties at the back of the neck
C) How to change the nondisposable tracheostomy tube daily
D) How to change tracheostomy dressing using clean technique
Correct Answer: A) How to operate a portable suction machine
Rationale: The partner must be taught how to operate a portable suction machine for emergency
airway clearance. Tracheostomy tube ties should be secured at the side of the neck, and the
dressing is changed using sterile technique .
4. A nurse is caring for a client who reports xerostomia after radiation therapy to the
mandible. Which action should the nurse take?
A) Suggest rinsing the mouth with an alcohol-based mouthwash
, B) Provide humidification of the room air
C) Offer the client saline crackers between meals
D) Instruct the client on the use of esophageal speech
Correct Answer: B) Provide humidification of the room air
Rationale: Xerostomia (dry mouth) after radiation therapy can be managed with humidification.
Alcohol-based mouthwash will worsen dryness; saline crackers can irritate dry tissues;
esophageal speech is for laryngectomy clients .
5. A public health nurse working in a rural area is developing a program to improve health
for the local population. Which action should the nurse take?
A) Launch a media campaign to increase awareness about industrial pollution
B) Have a nurse from outside the community provide health lectures at the county
hospital
C) Encourage rural residents to focus health spending on tertiary health interventions
D) Provide anticipatory guidance classes to parents through public schools
Correct Answer: D) Provide anticipatory guidance classes to parents through public schools
Rationale: Providing anticipatory guidance classes through public schools is a proactive,
preventive intervention that is accessible and culturally appropriate for the rural community .
6. A nurse is assessing a child who has bacterial pneumonia. Which manifestation should
the nurse expect?
A) Drooling
B) Malaise
C) Stridor
D) Weight loss
Correct Answer: B) Malaise
Rationale: Bacterial pneumonia typically presents with malaise, fever, cough, and tachypnea.
Drooling and stridor are signs of epiglottitis; weight loss is a later sign of chronic illness .
7. A nurse is caring for a child who has bacterial pneumonia and is receiving oxygen.
Which finding indicates the child is experiencing an adverse effect of oxygen therapy?
A) Bradycardia
B) Hypoventilation
C) Restlessness
D) Flushed skin
Correct Answer: B) Hypoventilation
Rationale: Oxygen therapy can lead to hypoventilation, especially in clients with chronic CO₂
retention. This is a serious adverse effect requiring immediate intervention .
8. A nurse is assessing a client who is 2 days postoperative following abdominal surgery.
Which finding should the nurse report to the provider?
, A) Serosanguineous drainage on the dressing
B) Oral temperature of 99°F (37.2°C)
C) Client report of pain at 5 on 0–10 scale
D) Client report of feeling "something gave way"
Correct Answer: D) Client report of feeling "something gave way"
Rationale: A feeling that "something gave way" may indicate wound dehiscence or evisceration,
a surgical emergency requiring immediate notification of the provider .
9. A nurse is assessing a client who has pancreatitis. Which findings should the nurse
expect? (Select all that apply.)
A) Bloody stools
B) Hyperbilirubinemia
C) Abdominal pain
D) Elevated WBC count
Correct Answer: C, D
Rationale: Pancreatitis presents with abdominal pain and elevated WBC count due to
inflammation. Bloody stools and hyperbilirubinemia are more characteristic of other
gastrointestinal conditions .
10. A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client who has cholecystitis. Which
instructions should the nurse include? (Select all that apply.)
A) Notify your provider if you experience vomiting or diarrhea
B) You should expect clay-colored stools after surgery
C) You should eat foods that are low in fat
D) Avoid all dietary fats permanently
E) You should eat foods high in protein
Correct Answer: A, C, E
Rationale: The client should notify the provider for vomiting or diarrhea, eat low-fat foods, and
consume high-protein foods. Clay-colored stools indicate biliary obstruction and should not be
expected; not all fats need to be avoided permanently .
11. A nurse in an emergency department is caring for a client. Which statements by the client
indicate understanding of discharge teaching for cholecystitis? (Select all that apply.)
A) "I will eat small, frequent meals."
B) "I should expect my bowel movements to be pale in color."
C) "I will limit my morning coffee to no more than 2 cups."
D) "I will notify my provider if my urine is dark."
E) "I will eat fish for dinner at least twice per week."
Correct Answer: A, B, D
EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS + RATIONALES | STUDY
GUIDE | 100% CORRECT
1. A nurse is providing in-service about client evacuation during a fire. Which of the
following clients should be evacuated first?
A) A client who is ambulating and receiving O₂
B) A client who has a fracture and is in balance suspension traction
C) A client who is bedridden and wears a hearing aid
D) A client who uses a wheelchair and is confused
Correct Answer: A) A client who is ambulating and receiving O₂
Rationale: In a fire, evacuation priority is given to clients in the zone of fire origin who can be
moved with the least assistance. The client who is ambulating can be evacuated quickly, taking
priority over more complex evacuations .
2. A nurse is planning care for an older adult client who has dementia. Which interventions
should the nurse include? (Select all that apply.)
A) Give one simple direction at a time
B) Refute the client's delusions using logic
C) Allow the client to choose among a variety of activities each day
D) Reinforce orientation to time, place, and person
E) Establish eye contact when communicating with the client
Correct Answer: A, D, E
Rationale: For a client with dementia, the nurse should give one simple direction at a time,
reinforce orientation, and establish eye contact when communicating. Refuting delusions is
ineffective and can increase agitation; providing too many choices can be overwhelming .
3. A nurse is providing discharge teaching to the partner of a client who has a tracheostomy.
Which information should the nurse include?
A) How to operate a portable suction machine
B) How to secure tracheostomy tube with ties at the back of the neck
C) How to change the nondisposable tracheostomy tube daily
D) How to change tracheostomy dressing using clean technique
Correct Answer: A) How to operate a portable suction machine
Rationale: The partner must be taught how to operate a portable suction machine for emergency
airway clearance. Tracheostomy tube ties should be secured at the side of the neck, and the
dressing is changed using sterile technique .
4. A nurse is caring for a client who reports xerostomia after radiation therapy to the
mandible. Which action should the nurse take?
A) Suggest rinsing the mouth with an alcohol-based mouthwash
, B) Provide humidification of the room air
C) Offer the client saline crackers between meals
D) Instruct the client on the use of esophageal speech
Correct Answer: B) Provide humidification of the room air
Rationale: Xerostomia (dry mouth) after radiation therapy can be managed with humidification.
Alcohol-based mouthwash will worsen dryness; saline crackers can irritate dry tissues;
esophageal speech is for laryngectomy clients .
5. A public health nurse working in a rural area is developing a program to improve health
for the local population. Which action should the nurse take?
A) Launch a media campaign to increase awareness about industrial pollution
B) Have a nurse from outside the community provide health lectures at the county
hospital
C) Encourage rural residents to focus health spending on tertiary health interventions
D) Provide anticipatory guidance classes to parents through public schools
Correct Answer: D) Provide anticipatory guidance classes to parents through public schools
Rationale: Providing anticipatory guidance classes through public schools is a proactive,
preventive intervention that is accessible and culturally appropriate for the rural community .
6. A nurse is assessing a child who has bacterial pneumonia. Which manifestation should
the nurse expect?
A) Drooling
B) Malaise
C) Stridor
D) Weight loss
Correct Answer: B) Malaise
Rationale: Bacterial pneumonia typically presents with malaise, fever, cough, and tachypnea.
Drooling and stridor are signs of epiglottitis; weight loss is a later sign of chronic illness .
7. A nurse is caring for a child who has bacterial pneumonia and is receiving oxygen.
Which finding indicates the child is experiencing an adverse effect of oxygen therapy?
A) Bradycardia
B) Hypoventilation
C) Restlessness
D) Flushed skin
Correct Answer: B) Hypoventilation
Rationale: Oxygen therapy can lead to hypoventilation, especially in clients with chronic CO₂
retention. This is a serious adverse effect requiring immediate intervention .
8. A nurse is assessing a client who is 2 days postoperative following abdominal surgery.
Which finding should the nurse report to the provider?
, A) Serosanguineous drainage on the dressing
B) Oral temperature of 99°F (37.2°C)
C) Client report of pain at 5 on 0–10 scale
D) Client report of feeling "something gave way"
Correct Answer: D) Client report of feeling "something gave way"
Rationale: A feeling that "something gave way" may indicate wound dehiscence or evisceration,
a surgical emergency requiring immediate notification of the provider .
9. A nurse is assessing a client who has pancreatitis. Which findings should the nurse
expect? (Select all that apply.)
A) Bloody stools
B) Hyperbilirubinemia
C) Abdominal pain
D) Elevated WBC count
Correct Answer: C, D
Rationale: Pancreatitis presents with abdominal pain and elevated WBC count due to
inflammation. Bloody stools and hyperbilirubinemia are more characteristic of other
gastrointestinal conditions .
10. A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client who has cholecystitis. Which
instructions should the nurse include? (Select all that apply.)
A) Notify your provider if you experience vomiting or diarrhea
B) You should expect clay-colored stools after surgery
C) You should eat foods that are low in fat
D) Avoid all dietary fats permanently
E) You should eat foods high in protein
Correct Answer: A, C, E
Rationale: The client should notify the provider for vomiting or diarrhea, eat low-fat foods, and
consume high-protein foods. Clay-colored stools indicate biliary obstruction and should not be
expected; not all fats need to be avoided permanently .
11. A nurse in an emergency department is caring for a client. Which statements by the client
indicate understanding of discharge teaching for cholecystitis? (Select all that apply.)
A) "I will eat small, frequent meals."
B) "I should expect my bowel movements to be pale in color."
C) "I will limit my morning coffee to no more than 2 cups."
D) "I will notify my provider if my urine is dark."
E) "I will eat fish for dinner at least twice per week."
Correct Answer: A, B, D
