HONDROS NUR 212 FINAL EXAM PRACTICE | STUDY GUIDE | TESTBANK |
PRACTICE QUESTIONS & ANSWERS | EXAM PREPARATION | COMPREHENSIVE
PRACTICE EXAM | ADVANCED REVIEW | LATEST UPDATE 2026/2027
Examiner:
Hondros College of Nursing
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Foundations of Professional Nursing
2. Clinical Judgment and the Nursing Process
3. Adult Medical-Surgical Nursing
4. Pharmacology and Safe Medication Administration
5. Fluid, Electrolyte, and Acid-Base Balance
6. Cardiovascular and Respiratory Disorders
7. Endocrine and Renal Disorders
8. Neurological and Musculoskeletal Disorders
9. Infection Prevention and Patient Safety
10. Ethical, Legal, and Professional Responsibilities
CLINICAL JUDGMENT || PATIENT SAFETY || NURSING PROCESS ||
PHARMACOLOGY || PRIORITIZATION || DELEGATION || EVIDENCE-BASED
PRACTICE || FLUID AND ELECTROLYTES || CARDIOVASCULAR CARE ||
RESPIRATORY CARE || ENDOCRINE DISORDERS || RENAL NURSING || INFECTION
CONTROL || ETHICS || DOCUMENTATION || CRITICAL THINKING || QUALITY
IMPROVEMENT || PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
QUESTION 1.
A nurse receives handoff on four hospitalized patients. Which patient should be
assessed first?
A. A patient with chronic heart failure reporting sudden severe dyspnea and oxygen
saturation of 84% on room air.
B. A patient with diabetes requesting assistance before breakfast.
,C. A patient awaiting discharge who needs medication education.
D. A postoperative patient reporting incisional pain rated 5/10.
🔴 Correct Answer: A. A patient with chronic heart failure reporting sudden
severe dyspnea and oxygen saturation of 84% on room air.
🔵 Explanation: Airway and breathing take priority over other concerns. Acute
hypoxemia requires immediate assessment and intervention to prevent respiratory
failure. The remaining patients have important but less urgent needs that can safely
follow stabilization of the critically ill patient.
QUESTION 2.
A patient with sepsis has a blood pressure of 82/48 mmHg despite receiving an
initial fluid bolus. Which prescription should the nurse anticipate next?
A. Discontinue intravenous fluids.
B. Initiate vasopressor therapy after adequate fluid resuscitation.
C. Restrict oral fluids.
D. Administer a sedative before reassessment.
🔴 Correct Answer: B. Initiate vasopressor therapy after adequate fluid
resuscitation.
🔵 Explanation: Persistent hypotension after appropriate fluid resuscitation
commonly requires vasopressor support to maintain adequate tissue perfusion.
Stopping fluids, restricting intake, or prioritizing sedation does not address septic
shock physiology.
QUESTION 3.
A nurse administers insulin to a patient who subsequently becomes confused,
diaphoretic, and tachycardic. What is the priority intervention?
A. Notify the provider immediately before intervening.
B. Obtain a urine specimen.
,C. Assess blood glucose and treat suspected hypoglycemia according to protocol.
D. Encourage the patient to ambulate.
🔴 Correct Answer: C. Assess blood glucose and treat suspected hypoglycemia
according to protocol.
🔵 Explanation: The patient's symptoms strongly suggest hypoglycemia, which
requires immediate confirmation and prompt treatment. Delaying intervention for
provider notification or unrelated assessments could worsen neurologic injury.
QUESTION 4.
Which delegation assignment is most appropriate for an experienced unlicensed
assistive personnel (UAP)?
A. Evaluating the effectiveness of pain medication.
B. Teaching postoperative breathing exercises.
C. Developing a nursing care plan.
D. Measuring intake and output for a stable patient.
🔴 Correct Answer: D. Measuring intake and output for a stable patient.
🔵 Explanation: Collection of routine data on stable patients is appropriate for
delegation to trained UAPs. Assessment, teaching, evaluation, and care planning
remain responsibilities of the licensed nurse.
QUESTION 5.
A patient receiving intravenous potassium reports burning at the infusion site. What
is the nurse's priority action?
A. Assess the IV site and verify the infusion rate.
B. Increase the infusion rate to complete therapy sooner.
C. Apply heat without further assessment.
D. Continue the infusion because mild burning is expected.
🔴 Correct Answer: A. Assess the IV site and verify the infusion rate.
, 🔵 Explanation: Potassium is irritating to veins, and burning may indicate infiltration
or an excessive infusion rate. The nurse should immediately assess the site and ensure
administration complies with safety standards before continuing therapy.
QUESTION 6.
A patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease develops increasing
somnolence while receiving supplemental oxygen. Which physiologic change is
most concerning?
A. Mild increase in urine output.
B. Improved peripheral perfusion.
C. Carbon dioxide retention leading to respiratory acidosis.
D. Temporary decrease in heart rate during sleep.
🔴 Correct Answer: C. Carbon dioxide retention leading to respiratory acidosis.
🔵 Explanation: Excessive oxygen administration in susceptible patients may worsen
carbon dioxide retention and contribute to respiratory acidosis. Progressive
somnolence can indicate worsening hypercapnia requiring prompt evaluation.
QUESTION 7.
Which laboratory finding should the nurse recognize as requiring the most
immediate intervention?
A. Sodium 138 mEq/L.
B. Potassium 6.4 mEq/L.
C. Calcium 9.1 mg/dL.
D. Chloride 102 mEq/L.
🔴 Correct Answer: B. Potassium 6.4 mEq/L.
🔵 Explanation: Severe hyperkalemia significantly increases the risk of life-
threatening cardiac dysrhythmias and requires urgent treatment. The remaining
laboratory values are within or near normal limits.
PRACTICE QUESTIONS & ANSWERS | EXAM PREPARATION | COMPREHENSIVE
PRACTICE EXAM | ADVANCED REVIEW | LATEST UPDATE 2026/2027
Examiner:
Hondros College of Nursing
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Foundations of Professional Nursing
2. Clinical Judgment and the Nursing Process
3. Adult Medical-Surgical Nursing
4. Pharmacology and Safe Medication Administration
5. Fluid, Electrolyte, and Acid-Base Balance
6. Cardiovascular and Respiratory Disorders
7. Endocrine and Renal Disorders
8. Neurological and Musculoskeletal Disorders
9. Infection Prevention and Patient Safety
10. Ethical, Legal, and Professional Responsibilities
CLINICAL JUDGMENT || PATIENT SAFETY || NURSING PROCESS ||
PHARMACOLOGY || PRIORITIZATION || DELEGATION || EVIDENCE-BASED
PRACTICE || FLUID AND ELECTROLYTES || CARDIOVASCULAR CARE ||
RESPIRATORY CARE || ENDOCRINE DISORDERS || RENAL NURSING || INFECTION
CONTROL || ETHICS || DOCUMENTATION || CRITICAL THINKING || QUALITY
IMPROVEMENT || PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
QUESTION 1.
A nurse receives handoff on four hospitalized patients. Which patient should be
assessed first?
A. A patient with chronic heart failure reporting sudden severe dyspnea and oxygen
saturation of 84% on room air.
B. A patient with diabetes requesting assistance before breakfast.
,C. A patient awaiting discharge who needs medication education.
D. A postoperative patient reporting incisional pain rated 5/10.
🔴 Correct Answer: A. A patient with chronic heart failure reporting sudden
severe dyspnea and oxygen saturation of 84% on room air.
🔵 Explanation: Airway and breathing take priority over other concerns. Acute
hypoxemia requires immediate assessment and intervention to prevent respiratory
failure. The remaining patients have important but less urgent needs that can safely
follow stabilization of the critically ill patient.
QUESTION 2.
A patient with sepsis has a blood pressure of 82/48 mmHg despite receiving an
initial fluid bolus. Which prescription should the nurse anticipate next?
A. Discontinue intravenous fluids.
B. Initiate vasopressor therapy after adequate fluid resuscitation.
C. Restrict oral fluids.
D. Administer a sedative before reassessment.
🔴 Correct Answer: B. Initiate vasopressor therapy after adequate fluid
resuscitation.
🔵 Explanation: Persistent hypotension after appropriate fluid resuscitation
commonly requires vasopressor support to maintain adequate tissue perfusion.
Stopping fluids, restricting intake, or prioritizing sedation does not address septic
shock physiology.
QUESTION 3.
A nurse administers insulin to a patient who subsequently becomes confused,
diaphoretic, and tachycardic. What is the priority intervention?
A. Notify the provider immediately before intervening.
B. Obtain a urine specimen.
,C. Assess blood glucose and treat suspected hypoglycemia according to protocol.
D. Encourage the patient to ambulate.
🔴 Correct Answer: C. Assess blood glucose and treat suspected hypoglycemia
according to protocol.
🔵 Explanation: The patient's symptoms strongly suggest hypoglycemia, which
requires immediate confirmation and prompt treatment. Delaying intervention for
provider notification or unrelated assessments could worsen neurologic injury.
QUESTION 4.
Which delegation assignment is most appropriate for an experienced unlicensed
assistive personnel (UAP)?
A. Evaluating the effectiveness of pain medication.
B. Teaching postoperative breathing exercises.
C. Developing a nursing care plan.
D. Measuring intake and output for a stable patient.
🔴 Correct Answer: D. Measuring intake and output for a stable patient.
🔵 Explanation: Collection of routine data on stable patients is appropriate for
delegation to trained UAPs. Assessment, teaching, evaluation, and care planning
remain responsibilities of the licensed nurse.
QUESTION 5.
A patient receiving intravenous potassium reports burning at the infusion site. What
is the nurse's priority action?
A. Assess the IV site and verify the infusion rate.
B. Increase the infusion rate to complete therapy sooner.
C. Apply heat without further assessment.
D. Continue the infusion because mild burning is expected.
🔴 Correct Answer: A. Assess the IV site and verify the infusion rate.
, 🔵 Explanation: Potassium is irritating to veins, and burning may indicate infiltration
or an excessive infusion rate. The nurse should immediately assess the site and ensure
administration complies with safety standards before continuing therapy.
QUESTION 6.
A patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease develops increasing
somnolence while receiving supplemental oxygen. Which physiologic change is
most concerning?
A. Mild increase in urine output.
B. Improved peripheral perfusion.
C. Carbon dioxide retention leading to respiratory acidosis.
D. Temporary decrease in heart rate during sleep.
🔴 Correct Answer: C. Carbon dioxide retention leading to respiratory acidosis.
🔵 Explanation: Excessive oxygen administration in susceptible patients may worsen
carbon dioxide retention and contribute to respiratory acidosis. Progressive
somnolence can indicate worsening hypercapnia requiring prompt evaluation.
QUESTION 7.
Which laboratory finding should the nurse recognize as requiring the most
immediate intervention?
A. Sodium 138 mEq/L.
B. Potassium 6.4 mEq/L.
C. Calcium 9.1 mg/dL.
D. Chloride 102 mEq/L.
🔴 Correct Answer: B. Potassium 6.4 mEq/L.
🔵 Explanation: Severe hyperkalemia significantly increases the risk of life-
threatening cardiac dysrhythmias and requires urgent treatment. The remaining
laboratory values are within or near normal limits.
