RN 402 EXAM 3 PRACTICE QUESTIONS 2026/2027 | NURSING STUDY
GUIDE, ANSWERS & EXAM REVIEW
1. During the primary assessment of a victim of a motor vehicle collision, the nurse determines that the
patient is breathing and has an unobstructed airway. Which action should the nurse take next?
a. Palpate extremities for bilateral pulses.
b. Observe the patients respiratory effort.
c. Check the patients level of consciousness.
d. Examine the patient for any external bleeding. - ANS ✔✔b. Observe the patients respiratory effort.
2. During the primary survey of a patient with severe leg trauma, the nurse observes that the patients
left pedal pulse is absent and the leg is swollen. Which action will the nurse take next?
a. Send blood to the lab for a complete blood count.
b. Assess further for a cause of the decreased circulation.
c. Finish the airway, breathing, circulation, disability survey.
d. Start normal saline fluid infusion with a large-bore IV line. - ANS ✔✔d. Start normal saline fluid
infusion with a large-bore IV line.
4. A patient who is unconscious after a fall from a ladder is transported to the emergency department by
emergency medical personnel. During the primary survey of the patient, the nurse should
a. obtain a complete set of vital signs.
b. obtain a Glasgow Coma Scale score.
c. ask about chronic medical conditions.
d. attach a cardiac electrocardiogram monitor. - ANS ✔✔b. obtain a Glasgow Coma Scale score.
3. After the return of spontaneous circulation following the resuscitation of a patient who had a cardiac
arrest, therapeutic hypothermia is ordered. Which action will the nurse include in the plan of care?
a. Apply external cooling device.
b. Check mental status every 15 minutes.
c. Avoid the use of sedative medications.
d. Rewarm if temperature is <91 F (32.8 C). - ANS ✔✔a. Apply external cooling device.
5. A 19-year-old is brought to the emergency department (ED) with multiple lacerations and tissue
avulsion of the left hand. When asked about tetanus immunization, the patient denies having any
previous vaccinations. The nurse will anticipate giving
a. tetanus immunoglobulin (TIG) only.
b. TIG and tetanus-diphtheria toxoid (Td).
c. tetanus-diphtheria toxoid and pertussis vaccine (Tdap) only.
d. TIG and tetanus-diphtheria toxoid and pertussis vaccine (Tdap). - ANS ✔✔d. TIG and tetanus-
diphtheria toxoid and pertussis vaccine (Tdap).
6. A patient who has experienced blunt abdominal trauma during a motor vehicle collision is complaining
of increasing abdominal pain. The nurse will plan to teach the patient about the purpose of
a. peritoneal lavage.
b. abdominal ultrasonography.
c. nasogastric (NG) tube placement.
, d. magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). - ANS ✔✔b. abdominal ultrasonography.
7. A patient with hypotension and an elevated temperature after working outside on a hot day is treated
in the emergency department (ED). The nurse determines that discharge teaching has been effective
when the patient makes which statement?
a. I will take salt tablets when I work outdoors in the summer.
b. I should take acetaminophen (Tylenol) if I start to feel too warm.
c. I should drink sports drinks when working outside in hot weather.
d. I will move to a cool environment if I notice that I am feeling confused. - ANS ✔✔c. I should drink
sports drinks when working outside in hot weather.
8. A 22-year-old patient who experienced a near drowning accident in a local pool, but now is awake and
breathing spontaneously, is admitted for observation. Which assessment will be most important for the
nurse to take during the observation period?
a. Auscultate heart sounds.
b. Palpate peripheral pulses.
c. Auscultate breath sounds.
d. Check pupil reaction to light. - ANS ✔✔c. Auscultate breath sounds.
9. When planning the response to the potential use of smallpox as an agent of terrorism, the emergency
department (ED) nurse manager will plan to obtain adequate quantities of
a. vaccine.
b. atropine.
c. antibiotics.
d. whole blood. - ANS ✔✔a. vaccine.
10. When rewarming a patient who arrived in the emergency department (ED) with a temperature of 87
F (30.6 C), which assessment indicates that the nurse should discontinue active rewarming?
a. The patient begins to shiver.
b. The BP decreases to 86/42 mm Hg.
c. The patient develops atrial fibrillation.
d. The core temperature is 94 F (34.4 C). - ANS ✔✔d. The core temperature is 94 F (34.4 C).
11. When assessing an older patient admitted to the emergency department (ED) with a broken arm and
facial bruises, the nurse observes several additional bruises in various stages of healing. Which
statement or question by the nurse is most appropriate?
a. Do you feel safe in your home?
b. You should not return to your home.
c. Would you like to see a social worker?
d. I need to report my concerns to the police. - ANS ✔✔a. Do you feel safe in your home?
12. A 20-year-old patient arrives in the emergency department (ED) several hours after taking 25 to 30
acetaminophen (Tylenol) tablets. Which action will the nurse plan to take?
a. Give N-acetylcysteine (Mucomyst).
b. Discuss the use of chelation therapy.
c. Start oxygen using a non-rebreather mask.
d. Have the patient drink large amounts of water. - ANS ✔✔a. Give N-acetylcysteine (Mucomyst).
GUIDE, ANSWERS & EXAM REVIEW
1. During the primary assessment of a victim of a motor vehicle collision, the nurse determines that the
patient is breathing and has an unobstructed airway. Which action should the nurse take next?
a. Palpate extremities for bilateral pulses.
b. Observe the patients respiratory effort.
c. Check the patients level of consciousness.
d. Examine the patient for any external bleeding. - ANS ✔✔b. Observe the patients respiratory effort.
2. During the primary survey of a patient with severe leg trauma, the nurse observes that the patients
left pedal pulse is absent and the leg is swollen. Which action will the nurse take next?
a. Send blood to the lab for a complete blood count.
b. Assess further for a cause of the decreased circulation.
c. Finish the airway, breathing, circulation, disability survey.
d. Start normal saline fluid infusion with a large-bore IV line. - ANS ✔✔d. Start normal saline fluid
infusion with a large-bore IV line.
4. A patient who is unconscious after a fall from a ladder is transported to the emergency department by
emergency medical personnel. During the primary survey of the patient, the nurse should
a. obtain a complete set of vital signs.
b. obtain a Glasgow Coma Scale score.
c. ask about chronic medical conditions.
d. attach a cardiac electrocardiogram monitor. - ANS ✔✔b. obtain a Glasgow Coma Scale score.
3. After the return of spontaneous circulation following the resuscitation of a patient who had a cardiac
arrest, therapeutic hypothermia is ordered. Which action will the nurse include in the plan of care?
a. Apply external cooling device.
b. Check mental status every 15 minutes.
c. Avoid the use of sedative medications.
d. Rewarm if temperature is <91 F (32.8 C). - ANS ✔✔a. Apply external cooling device.
5. A 19-year-old is brought to the emergency department (ED) with multiple lacerations and tissue
avulsion of the left hand. When asked about tetanus immunization, the patient denies having any
previous vaccinations. The nurse will anticipate giving
a. tetanus immunoglobulin (TIG) only.
b. TIG and tetanus-diphtheria toxoid (Td).
c. tetanus-diphtheria toxoid and pertussis vaccine (Tdap) only.
d. TIG and tetanus-diphtheria toxoid and pertussis vaccine (Tdap). - ANS ✔✔d. TIG and tetanus-
diphtheria toxoid and pertussis vaccine (Tdap).
6. A patient who has experienced blunt abdominal trauma during a motor vehicle collision is complaining
of increasing abdominal pain. The nurse will plan to teach the patient about the purpose of
a. peritoneal lavage.
b. abdominal ultrasonography.
c. nasogastric (NG) tube placement.
, d. magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). - ANS ✔✔b. abdominal ultrasonography.
7. A patient with hypotension and an elevated temperature after working outside on a hot day is treated
in the emergency department (ED). The nurse determines that discharge teaching has been effective
when the patient makes which statement?
a. I will take salt tablets when I work outdoors in the summer.
b. I should take acetaminophen (Tylenol) if I start to feel too warm.
c. I should drink sports drinks when working outside in hot weather.
d. I will move to a cool environment if I notice that I am feeling confused. - ANS ✔✔c. I should drink
sports drinks when working outside in hot weather.
8. A 22-year-old patient who experienced a near drowning accident in a local pool, but now is awake and
breathing spontaneously, is admitted for observation. Which assessment will be most important for the
nurse to take during the observation period?
a. Auscultate heart sounds.
b. Palpate peripheral pulses.
c. Auscultate breath sounds.
d. Check pupil reaction to light. - ANS ✔✔c. Auscultate breath sounds.
9. When planning the response to the potential use of smallpox as an agent of terrorism, the emergency
department (ED) nurse manager will plan to obtain adequate quantities of
a. vaccine.
b. atropine.
c. antibiotics.
d. whole blood. - ANS ✔✔a. vaccine.
10. When rewarming a patient who arrived in the emergency department (ED) with a temperature of 87
F (30.6 C), which assessment indicates that the nurse should discontinue active rewarming?
a. The patient begins to shiver.
b. The BP decreases to 86/42 mm Hg.
c. The patient develops atrial fibrillation.
d. The core temperature is 94 F (34.4 C). - ANS ✔✔d. The core temperature is 94 F (34.4 C).
11. When assessing an older patient admitted to the emergency department (ED) with a broken arm and
facial bruises, the nurse observes several additional bruises in various stages of healing. Which
statement or question by the nurse is most appropriate?
a. Do you feel safe in your home?
b. You should not return to your home.
c. Would you like to see a social worker?
d. I need to report my concerns to the police. - ANS ✔✔a. Do you feel safe in your home?
12. A 20-year-old patient arrives in the emergency department (ED) several hours after taking 25 to 30
acetaminophen (Tylenol) tablets. Which action will the nurse plan to take?
a. Give N-acetylcysteine (Mucomyst).
b. Discuss the use of chelation therapy.
c. Start oxygen using a non-rebreather mask.
d. Have the patient drink large amounts of water. - ANS ✔✔a. Give N-acetylcysteine (Mucomyst).
