BSN MIDTERM EXAM FALL 2026
Comprehensive Practice Test & Rationales (100 Questions)
1. A client is receiving an IV infusion of 0.9% Normal SAFETY, INFECTION CONTROL & HYGIENE
Saline. The nurse notes the site is cool, pale, and swollen. Which action should the nurse
take first?
A. Apply a warm compress.
B. Stop the infusion.
C. Notify the physician.
D. Slow the rate of the infusion.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Coolness, pallor, and swelling indicate infiltration. The priority action is to stop the
infusion immediately to prevent further tissue damage.
2. The nurse is reviewing the laboratory results of a client VITAL SIGNS & PHYSICAL ASSESSMENT
with a potassium level of 2.8 mEq/L. Which assessment finding is a priority?
A. Hyperactive bowel sounds
B. Irregular heart rhythm
C. Increased muscle strength
D. Hypertension
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hypokalemia (potassium < 3.5 mEq/L) can cause life-threatening cardiac
dysrhythmias. Cardiac monitoring is the priority.
3. A nurse is administering a sublingual medication.PHARMACOLOGY: SAFE MED ADMINISTRATION
Which instruction should the nurse provide to the client?
A. 'Swallow the pill with a full glass of water.'
B. 'Chew the pill thoroughly before swallowing.'
C. 'Place the pill under your tongue and let it dissolve.'
D. 'Place the pill between your cheek and gum.'
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Sublingual medications are placed under the tongue for rapid absorption through
the mucous membranes. They should not be swallowed or chewed.
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,4. Which of the following is an example of an FLUID, ELECTROLYTES & ACID-BASE BALANCE
'Agnostic' belief system the nurse should respect during care?
A. Belief that God does not exist.
B. Belief that the existence of God cannot be proven or known.
C. Belief in multiple deities.
D. Strict adherence to religious rituals.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Agnosticism is the belief that nothing is known or can be known of the existence
or nature of God. Atheism (A) is the belief that God does not exist.
5. A client has a Stage 2 pressure injury. How should the nurse OXYGENATION & PERFUSION
document the appearance of this wound?
A. Non-blanchable erythema of intact skin.
B. Partial-thickness skin loss with a exposed dermis.
C. Full-thickness skin loss with visible adipose tissue.
D. Obscured by slough or eschar.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Stage 2 pressure injuries involve partial-thickness loss of skin with exposed
dermis, often presenting as a shallow open ulcer or a ruptured blister.
6. Practice Midterm Question 6: A nurse is managing a client WOUND CARE & SKIN INTEGRITY
with complications related to Wound Care & Skin Integrity. What is the primary nursing
intervention?
A. Intervention related to Wound Care & Skin Integrity
B. Assess vital signs
C. Document findings
D. Notify the provider
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Rationale 6: Assessment is always the first step of the nursing process (ADPIE)
before implementation or notification.
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,7. Practice Midterm Question 7: A nurse is managing a ETHICS, LEGAL & PROFESSIONALISM
client with complications related to Ethics, Legal & Professionalism. What is the primary
nursing intervention?
A. Intervention related to Ethics, Legal & Professionalism
B. Assess vital signs
C. Document findings
D. Notify the provider
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Rationale 7: Assessment is always the first step of the nursing process (ADPIE)
before implementation or notification.
8. Practice Midterm Question 8: A nurse is managing a client with NUTRITION & METABOLISM
complications related to Nutrition & Metabolism. What is the primary nursing
intervention?
A. Intervention related to Nutrition & Metabolism
B. Assess vital signs
C. Document findings
D. Notify the provider
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Rationale 8: Assessment is always the first step of the nursing process (ADPIE)
before implementation or notification.
9. Practice Midterm Question 9: A nurse is managing a client SLEEP, REST & PAIN MANAGEMENT
with complications related to Sleep, Rest & Pain Management. What is the primary
nursing intervention?
A. Intervention related to Sleep, Rest & Pain Management
B. Assess vital signs
C. Document findings
D. Notify the provider
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Rationale 9: Assessment is always the first step of the nursing process (ADPIE)
before implementation or notification.
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, 10. Practice Midterm Question 10: A nurse is managing NURSING PROCESS & CRITICAL THINKING
a client with complications related to Nursing Process & Critical Thinking. What is the
primary nursing intervention?
A. Intervention related to Nursing Process & Critical Thinking
B. Assess vital signs
C. Document findings
D. Notify the provider
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Rationale 10: Assessment is always the first step of the nursing process (ADPIE)
before implementation or notification.
11. Practice Midterm Question 11: A nurse is managing SAFETY, INFECTION CONTROL & HYGIENE
a client with complications related to Safety, Infection Control & Hygiene. What is the
primary nursing intervention?
A. Intervention related to Safety, Infection Control & Hygiene
B. Assess vital signs
C. Document findings
D. Notify the provider
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Rationale 11: Assessment is always the first step of the nursing process (ADPIE)
before implementation or notification.
12. Practice Midterm Question 12: A nurse is managing a VITAL SIGNS & PHYSICAL ASSESSMENT
client with complications related to Vital Signs & Physical Assessment. What is the
primary nursing intervention?
A. Intervention related to Vital Signs & Physical Assessment
B. Assess vital signs
C. Document findings
D. Notify the provider
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Rationale 12: Assessment is always the first step of the nursing process (ADPIE)
before implementation or notification.
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Comprehensive Practice Test & Rationales (100 Questions)
1. A client is receiving an IV infusion of 0.9% Normal SAFETY, INFECTION CONTROL & HYGIENE
Saline. The nurse notes the site is cool, pale, and swollen. Which action should the nurse
take first?
A. Apply a warm compress.
B. Stop the infusion.
C. Notify the physician.
D. Slow the rate of the infusion.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Coolness, pallor, and swelling indicate infiltration. The priority action is to stop the
infusion immediately to prevent further tissue damage.
2. The nurse is reviewing the laboratory results of a client VITAL SIGNS & PHYSICAL ASSESSMENT
with a potassium level of 2.8 mEq/L. Which assessment finding is a priority?
A. Hyperactive bowel sounds
B. Irregular heart rhythm
C. Increased muscle strength
D. Hypertension
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hypokalemia (potassium < 3.5 mEq/L) can cause life-threatening cardiac
dysrhythmias. Cardiac monitoring is the priority.
3. A nurse is administering a sublingual medication.PHARMACOLOGY: SAFE MED ADMINISTRATION
Which instruction should the nurse provide to the client?
A. 'Swallow the pill with a full glass of water.'
B. 'Chew the pill thoroughly before swallowing.'
C. 'Place the pill under your tongue and let it dissolve.'
D. 'Place the pill between your cheek and gum.'
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Sublingual medications are placed under the tongue for rapid absorption through
the mucous membranes. They should not be swallowed or chewed.
Page 1 of 34
,4. Which of the following is an example of an FLUID, ELECTROLYTES & ACID-BASE BALANCE
'Agnostic' belief system the nurse should respect during care?
A. Belief that God does not exist.
B. Belief that the existence of God cannot be proven or known.
C. Belief in multiple deities.
D. Strict adherence to religious rituals.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Agnosticism is the belief that nothing is known or can be known of the existence
or nature of God. Atheism (A) is the belief that God does not exist.
5. A client has a Stage 2 pressure injury. How should the nurse OXYGENATION & PERFUSION
document the appearance of this wound?
A. Non-blanchable erythema of intact skin.
B. Partial-thickness skin loss with a exposed dermis.
C. Full-thickness skin loss with visible adipose tissue.
D. Obscured by slough or eschar.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Stage 2 pressure injuries involve partial-thickness loss of skin with exposed
dermis, often presenting as a shallow open ulcer or a ruptured blister.
6. Practice Midterm Question 6: A nurse is managing a client WOUND CARE & SKIN INTEGRITY
with complications related to Wound Care & Skin Integrity. What is the primary nursing
intervention?
A. Intervention related to Wound Care & Skin Integrity
B. Assess vital signs
C. Document findings
D. Notify the provider
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Rationale 6: Assessment is always the first step of the nursing process (ADPIE)
before implementation or notification.
Page 2 of 34
,7. Practice Midterm Question 7: A nurse is managing a ETHICS, LEGAL & PROFESSIONALISM
client with complications related to Ethics, Legal & Professionalism. What is the primary
nursing intervention?
A. Intervention related to Ethics, Legal & Professionalism
B. Assess vital signs
C. Document findings
D. Notify the provider
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Rationale 7: Assessment is always the first step of the nursing process (ADPIE)
before implementation or notification.
8. Practice Midterm Question 8: A nurse is managing a client with NUTRITION & METABOLISM
complications related to Nutrition & Metabolism. What is the primary nursing
intervention?
A. Intervention related to Nutrition & Metabolism
B. Assess vital signs
C. Document findings
D. Notify the provider
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Rationale 8: Assessment is always the first step of the nursing process (ADPIE)
before implementation or notification.
9. Practice Midterm Question 9: A nurse is managing a client SLEEP, REST & PAIN MANAGEMENT
with complications related to Sleep, Rest & Pain Management. What is the primary
nursing intervention?
A. Intervention related to Sleep, Rest & Pain Management
B. Assess vital signs
C. Document findings
D. Notify the provider
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Rationale 9: Assessment is always the first step of the nursing process (ADPIE)
before implementation or notification.
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, 10. Practice Midterm Question 10: A nurse is managing NURSING PROCESS & CRITICAL THINKING
a client with complications related to Nursing Process & Critical Thinking. What is the
primary nursing intervention?
A. Intervention related to Nursing Process & Critical Thinking
B. Assess vital signs
C. Document findings
D. Notify the provider
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Rationale 10: Assessment is always the first step of the nursing process (ADPIE)
before implementation or notification.
11. Practice Midterm Question 11: A nurse is managing SAFETY, INFECTION CONTROL & HYGIENE
a client with complications related to Safety, Infection Control & Hygiene. What is the
primary nursing intervention?
A. Intervention related to Safety, Infection Control & Hygiene
B. Assess vital signs
C. Document findings
D. Notify the provider
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Rationale 11: Assessment is always the first step of the nursing process (ADPIE)
before implementation or notification.
12. Practice Midterm Question 12: A nurse is managing a VITAL SIGNS & PHYSICAL ASSESSMENT
client with complications related to Vital Signs & Physical Assessment. What is the
primary nursing intervention?
A. Intervention related to Vital Signs & Physical Assessment
B. Assess vital signs
C. Document findings
D. Notify the provider
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Rationale 12: Assessment is always the first step of the nursing process (ADPIE)
before implementation or notification.
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