NSG 430 Exam 1 – GCU Adult Health Nursing II 2026 UPDAT… 2026 Update • Verified Answers
✓ VERIFIED • 2026 UPDATE • 100% ACCURATE
NSG 430 Exam 1 – GCU Adult Health Nursing II 2026
UPDATE
Actual Exam Questions & Verified Answers
with Detailed Rationales
Document Type: Exam (Elaborations)
Academic Year:
Total Questions: 50 Multiple Choice
Includes: Correct Answers + Full Rationales
Status: Verified & Updated for 2026
Exam (Elaborations) • Actual Questions & Rationales Page 1
,NSG 430 Exam 1 – GCU Adult Health Nursing II 2026 UPDAT… 2026 Update • Verified Answers
Questions & Verified Answers
1. A nurse is caring for a patient with neutropenia due to chemotherapy. Which intervention is
the most critical to include in the plan of care?
A. Encouraging the patient to consume fresh fruits and vegetables.
B. Administering aspirin for a temperature of 100.2 F.
C. Performing frequent hand hygiene and restricting visitors with infections.
D. Checking the patient’s blood pressure every 2 hours.
Answer: C
Rationale: Hand hygiene and infection control are the most critical interventions for neutropenic patients to
prevent life-threatening infections. This is an important clinical concept because selecting the correct answer
(C) requires understanding both the pathophysiology and the practical nursing implications. Recognizing this
principle allows the nurse to prioritize care, anticipate complications, and provide accurate patient education.
2. Which assessment finding in a patient with thrombocytopenia should the nurse report to the
provider immediately?
A. Multiple small bruises on the upper arms.
B. A platelet count of 90,000/mm3.
C. A sudden change in mental status.
D. Occasional oozing of blood from the gums after brushing.
Answer: C
Rationale: A change in mental status in a patient with thrombocytopenia can indicate an intracranial
hemorrhage, which is a medical emergency. Recognizing this principle allows the nurse to prioritize care,
anticipate complications, and provide accurate patient education. Exam questions often test the ability to
distinguish this concept from closely related distractors, making a clear rationale essential for mastery.
3. A patient undergoing radiation therapy for head and neck cancer develops painful mouth
sores. Which instruction should the nurse provide?
A. Use a commercial alcohol-based mouthwash twice daily.
B. Rinse the mouth frequently with a saline and baking soda solution.
C. Avoid drinking fluids to prevent irritation of the sores.
D. Eat spicy foods to stimulate saliva production.
Answer: B
Rationale: Saline and baking soda rinses are gentle and help keep the oral mucosa clean without the drying
effects of alcohol. This is an important clinical concept because selecting the correct answer (B) requires
understanding both the pathophysiology and the practical nursing implications. Recognizing this principle
allows the nurse to prioritize care, anticipate complications, and provide accurate patient education.
Exam (Elaborations) • Actual Questions & Rationales Page 2
, NSG 430 Exam 1 – GCU Adult Health Nursing II 2026 UPDAT… 2026 Update • Verified Answers
4. A nurse is assessing a patient 24 hours after a modified radical mastectomy. Which finding
requires immediate action?
A. 20 mL of serosanguinous drainage in the Jackson-Pratt bulb.
B. Complaints of mild pain at the incision site.
C. The patient’s refusal to look at the surgical site.
D. Swelling and numbness in the arm on the affected side.
Answer: D
Rationale: While some swelling is expected, significant swelling and numbness may indicate impaired
circulation or nerve compression; lymphedema prevention is vital. This is an important clinical concept because
selecting the correct answer (D) requires understanding both the pathophysiology and the practical nursing
implications. Recognizing this principle allows the nurse to prioritize care, anticipate complications, and provide
accurate patient education.
5. Which laboratory value is the primary indicator used to diagnose and monitor the
progression of HIV infection?
A. CD4+ T-cell count.
B. White blood cell (WBC) count.
C. count.
D. Serum creatinine level.
Answer: A
Rationale: The CD4+ T-cell count measures the health of the immune system and determines the stage of HIV
infection. Recognizing this principle allows the nurse to prioritize care, anticipate complications, and provide
accurate patient education. Exam questions often test the ability to distinguish this concept from closely related
distractors, making a clear rationale essential for mastery.
6. A patient with a history of Sickle Cell Anemia presents in a vaso-occlusive crisis. What is the
priority nursing intervention?
A. Administering prophylactic antibiotics.
B. Applying cold compresses to the painful joints.
C. Encouraging the patient to ambulate in the hallway.
D. Administering intravenous fluids and oxygen.
Answer: D
Rationale: Hydration helps reduce blood viscosity, and oxygen helps prevent further sickling of cells during a
crisis. Recognizing this principle allows the nurse to prioritize care, anticipate complications, and provide
accurate patient education. Exam questions often test the ability to distinguish this concept from closely related
distractors, making a clear rationale essential for mastery.
Exam (Elaborations) • Actual Questions & Rationales Page 3
✓ VERIFIED • 2026 UPDATE • 100% ACCURATE
NSG 430 Exam 1 – GCU Adult Health Nursing II 2026
UPDATE
Actual Exam Questions & Verified Answers
with Detailed Rationales
Document Type: Exam (Elaborations)
Academic Year:
Total Questions: 50 Multiple Choice
Includes: Correct Answers + Full Rationales
Status: Verified & Updated for 2026
Exam (Elaborations) • Actual Questions & Rationales Page 1
,NSG 430 Exam 1 – GCU Adult Health Nursing II 2026 UPDAT… 2026 Update • Verified Answers
Questions & Verified Answers
1. A nurse is caring for a patient with neutropenia due to chemotherapy. Which intervention is
the most critical to include in the plan of care?
A. Encouraging the patient to consume fresh fruits and vegetables.
B. Administering aspirin for a temperature of 100.2 F.
C. Performing frequent hand hygiene and restricting visitors with infections.
D. Checking the patient’s blood pressure every 2 hours.
Answer: C
Rationale: Hand hygiene and infection control are the most critical interventions for neutropenic patients to
prevent life-threatening infections. This is an important clinical concept because selecting the correct answer
(C) requires understanding both the pathophysiology and the practical nursing implications. Recognizing this
principle allows the nurse to prioritize care, anticipate complications, and provide accurate patient education.
2. Which assessment finding in a patient with thrombocytopenia should the nurse report to the
provider immediately?
A. Multiple small bruises on the upper arms.
B. A platelet count of 90,000/mm3.
C. A sudden change in mental status.
D. Occasional oozing of blood from the gums after brushing.
Answer: C
Rationale: A change in mental status in a patient with thrombocytopenia can indicate an intracranial
hemorrhage, which is a medical emergency. Recognizing this principle allows the nurse to prioritize care,
anticipate complications, and provide accurate patient education. Exam questions often test the ability to
distinguish this concept from closely related distractors, making a clear rationale essential for mastery.
3. A patient undergoing radiation therapy for head and neck cancer develops painful mouth
sores. Which instruction should the nurse provide?
A. Use a commercial alcohol-based mouthwash twice daily.
B. Rinse the mouth frequently with a saline and baking soda solution.
C. Avoid drinking fluids to prevent irritation of the sores.
D. Eat spicy foods to stimulate saliva production.
Answer: B
Rationale: Saline and baking soda rinses are gentle and help keep the oral mucosa clean without the drying
effects of alcohol. This is an important clinical concept because selecting the correct answer (B) requires
understanding both the pathophysiology and the practical nursing implications. Recognizing this principle
allows the nurse to prioritize care, anticipate complications, and provide accurate patient education.
Exam (Elaborations) • Actual Questions & Rationales Page 2
, NSG 430 Exam 1 – GCU Adult Health Nursing II 2026 UPDAT… 2026 Update • Verified Answers
4. A nurse is assessing a patient 24 hours after a modified radical mastectomy. Which finding
requires immediate action?
A. 20 mL of serosanguinous drainage in the Jackson-Pratt bulb.
B. Complaints of mild pain at the incision site.
C. The patient’s refusal to look at the surgical site.
D. Swelling and numbness in the arm on the affected side.
Answer: D
Rationale: While some swelling is expected, significant swelling and numbness may indicate impaired
circulation or nerve compression; lymphedema prevention is vital. This is an important clinical concept because
selecting the correct answer (D) requires understanding both the pathophysiology and the practical nursing
implications. Recognizing this principle allows the nurse to prioritize care, anticipate complications, and provide
accurate patient education.
5. Which laboratory value is the primary indicator used to diagnose and monitor the
progression of HIV infection?
A. CD4+ T-cell count.
B. White blood cell (WBC) count.
C. count.
D. Serum creatinine level.
Answer: A
Rationale: The CD4+ T-cell count measures the health of the immune system and determines the stage of HIV
infection. Recognizing this principle allows the nurse to prioritize care, anticipate complications, and provide
accurate patient education. Exam questions often test the ability to distinguish this concept from closely related
distractors, making a clear rationale essential for mastery.
6. A patient with a history of Sickle Cell Anemia presents in a vaso-occlusive crisis. What is the
priority nursing intervention?
A. Administering prophylactic antibiotics.
B. Applying cold compresses to the painful joints.
C. Encouraging the patient to ambulate in the hallway.
D. Administering intravenous fluids and oxygen.
Answer: D
Rationale: Hydration helps reduce blood viscosity, and oxygen helps prevent further sickling of cells during a
crisis. Recognizing this principle allows the nurse to prioritize care, anticipate complications, and provide
accurate patient education. Exam questions often test the ability to distinguish this concept from closely related
distractors, making a clear rationale essential for mastery.
Exam (Elaborations) • Actual Questions & Rationales Page 3
