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NUR 265 Exam 2 Comprehensive
Practice Exam Questions & Verified
Answers (Detailed Rationales) Graded A+
Updated 2026 Just Released Pass
Guaranteed
This practice exam covers the key concepts for NUR 265 Exam 2
including respiratory disorders, transfusion reactions, immunology,
sepsis, infectious diseases, oncology basics, perioperative care, and
postoperative complications. Each question is followed by the
correct answer and a detailed rationale explaining the clinical
reasoning and nursing priorities.
PART 1: RESPIRATORY DISORDERS
Pulmonary Embolism
Question 1
A patient suddenly develops sharp chest pain, dyspnea, and a feeling of
impending doom. The nurse suspects a pulmonary embolism. What is
the priority action?
A Obtain a 12-lead ECG
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B Elevate the head of the bed
C Administer aspirin 324 mg
D Prepare for thrombolytic therapy
Verified Answer: B
Rationale: Elevating the head of the bed to High-Fowlers position
maximizes chest expansion and oxygenation. This is an immediate
action while calling the Rapid Response Team. An ECG may be done
but is not the priority. Aspirin is not first-line for PE. Thrombolytics may
be indicated for massive PE but are not the first action .
Question 2
Which patient is at highest risk for developing a pulmonary embolism?
A A 25-year-old with a fractured ankle in a walking boot
B A 68-year-old post-operative day 2 following hip replacement
C A 45-year-old with hypertension on beta-blockers
D A 30-year-old with asthma using an albuterol inhaler
Verified Answer: B
Rationale: Major orthopedic surgery especially hip or knee replacement
combined with postoperative immobility creates the classic Virchows
triad venous stasis endothelial injury and hypercoagulability. This
patient is at highest risk for DVT and subsequent PE .
Question 3
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A patient with a suspected pulmonary embolism has a pulse oximetry
reading of 88 percent on room air. The nurse should first
A Notify the provider
B Administer supplemental oxygen via nasal cannula
C Obtain an order for a CT scan
D Place the patient in a supine position
Verified Answer: B
Rationale: Hypoxemia with SpO2 below 90 percent requires immediate
supplemental oxygen. The nurse should apply oxygen first then notify
the provider and prepare for diagnostic testing. Supine positioning
would worsen oxygenation .
Question 4
A patient is diagnosed with a DVT and started on enoxaparin Lovenox.
The nurse explains that this medication
A Requires daily INR monitoring
B Is given orally once daily
C Is a low-molecular-weight heparin that does not require routine
monitoring
D Is used to dissolve existing clots
Verified Answer: C
Rationale: Enoxaparin is a LMWH that has more predictable
pharmacokinetics than unfractionated heparin so routine aPTT
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monitoring is not required. It is given subcutaneously. It prevents further
clot formation but does not dissolve existing clots that requires
thrombolytics .
Question 5
The nurse is monitoring a patient receiving a heparin infusion. Which
aPTT value indicates therapeutic anticoagulation?
A 35 seconds
B 45 seconds
C 65 seconds
D 95 seconds
Verified Answer: C
Rationale: The therapeutic range for aPTT on heparin is typically 1.5 to
2.5 times the normal control with normal around 30 to 40 seconds. Thus
60 to 80 seconds is therapeutic. 35 seconds is subtherapeutic and 95
seconds is supratherapeutic and increases bleeding risk .
Question 6
A patient with a PE suddenly becomes more confused and has a new
oxygen saturation of 85 percent on 4 L nasal cannula. What should the
nurse do first
A Increase oxygen to 6 L
B Call a rapid response
C Reposition the patient to the left side
NUR 265 Exam 2 Comprehensive
Practice Exam Questions & Verified
Answers (Detailed Rationales) Graded A+
Updated 2026 Just Released Pass
Guaranteed
This practice exam covers the key concepts for NUR 265 Exam 2
including respiratory disorders, transfusion reactions, immunology,
sepsis, infectious diseases, oncology basics, perioperative care, and
postoperative complications. Each question is followed by the
correct answer and a detailed rationale explaining the clinical
reasoning and nursing priorities.
PART 1: RESPIRATORY DISORDERS
Pulmonary Embolism
Question 1
A patient suddenly develops sharp chest pain, dyspnea, and a feeling of
impending doom. The nurse suspects a pulmonary embolism. What is
the priority action?
A Obtain a 12-lead ECG
,2 | Page
B Elevate the head of the bed
C Administer aspirin 324 mg
D Prepare for thrombolytic therapy
Verified Answer: B
Rationale: Elevating the head of the bed to High-Fowlers position
maximizes chest expansion and oxygenation. This is an immediate
action while calling the Rapid Response Team. An ECG may be done
but is not the priority. Aspirin is not first-line for PE. Thrombolytics may
be indicated for massive PE but are not the first action .
Question 2
Which patient is at highest risk for developing a pulmonary embolism?
A A 25-year-old with a fractured ankle in a walking boot
B A 68-year-old post-operative day 2 following hip replacement
C A 45-year-old with hypertension on beta-blockers
D A 30-year-old with asthma using an albuterol inhaler
Verified Answer: B
Rationale: Major orthopedic surgery especially hip or knee replacement
combined with postoperative immobility creates the classic Virchows
triad venous stasis endothelial injury and hypercoagulability. This
patient is at highest risk for DVT and subsequent PE .
Question 3
,3 | Page
A patient with a suspected pulmonary embolism has a pulse oximetry
reading of 88 percent on room air. The nurse should first
A Notify the provider
B Administer supplemental oxygen via nasal cannula
C Obtain an order for a CT scan
D Place the patient in a supine position
Verified Answer: B
Rationale: Hypoxemia with SpO2 below 90 percent requires immediate
supplemental oxygen. The nurse should apply oxygen first then notify
the provider and prepare for diagnostic testing. Supine positioning
would worsen oxygenation .
Question 4
A patient is diagnosed with a DVT and started on enoxaparin Lovenox.
The nurse explains that this medication
A Requires daily INR monitoring
B Is given orally once daily
C Is a low-molecular-weight heparin that does not require routine
monitoring
D Is used to dissolve existing clots
Verified Answer: C
Rationale: Enoxaparin is a LMWH that has more predictable
pharmacokinetics than unfractionated heparin so routine aPTT
, 4 | Page
monitoring is not required. It is given subcutaneously. It prevents further
clot formation but does not dissolve existing clots that requires
thrombolytics .
Question 5
The nurse is monitoring a patient receiving a heparin infusion. Which
aPTT value indicates therapeutic anticoagulation?
A 35 seconds
B 45 seconds
C 65 seconds
D 95 seconds
Verified Answer: C
Rationale: The therapeutic range for aPTT on heparin is typically 1.5 to
2.5 times the normal control with normal around 30 to 40 seconds. Thus
60 to 80 seconds is therapeutic. 35 seconds is subtherapeutic and 95
seconds is supratherapeutic and increases bleeding risk .
Question 6
A patient with a PE suddenly becomes more confused and has a new
oxygen saturation of 85 percent on 4 L nasal cannula. What should the
nurse do first
A Increase oxygen to 6 L
B Call a rapid response
C Reposition the patient to the left side
