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NR 324 ADULT HEALTH I EXAM – CHAMBERLAIN
UNIVERSITY 2026/2027 COMPLETE (150) CURRENT
TESTING QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS WITH
DETAILED RATIONALES.
ADULT HEALTH
Prepare effectively for the NR 324 Adult Health I Exam with this focused study
resource. It supports review of adult health concepts, patient assessment, common
medical-surgical conditions, nursing interventions, pharmacology, and clinical
decision-making. Use the material to reinforce your knowledge, review key topics, and
identify areas that may require additional study. This resource is suited for nursing
students, adult health learners, and candidates preparing for the NR 324 Adult Health I
examination.
MULTIPLE CHOICE.
SECTION 1: RESPIRATORY DISORDERS (Questions 1–25)
Question #1
A patient with COPD is admitted with increased dyspnea and purulent
sputum. Which of the following is the priority nursing action?
A. Obtain a sputum culture
B. Administer oxygen as prescribed and assess respiratory status
C. Position the patient in high-Fowler's position
D. Encourage incentive spirometry
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Administering oxygen and assessing respiratory status is the
priority for a COPD patient with an exacerbation. Airway, breathing, and
circulation (ABCs) come first. While positioning, sputum culture, and
incentive spirometry are important, they are not the priority action.
, Page 2 of 61
Question #2
A patient with pneumonia has a nursing diagnosis of "Ineffective Airway
Clearance." Which intervention should the nurse implement FIRST?
A. Administer bronchodilators
B. Encourage the patient to cough and deep breathe
C. Suction the airway
D. Obtain a chest X-ray
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Encouraging coughing and deep breathing is the first
intervention to promote airway clearance. Bronchodilators and suctioning
may be needed but are not the first step; chest X-ray is diagnostic, not
therapeutic.
Question #3
A patient who is 24 hours post-total laryngectomy is receiving tube feedings.
Which clinical finding would be MOST concerning?
A. Pain at the surgical site
B. Leakage of feeding from the nasogastric tube
C. Saliva accumulation in the mouth
D. Hoarseness
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Leakage from the nasogastric tube suggests improper
placement or gastric overflow, which increases the risk of aspiration. Pain,
saliva accumulation, and hoarseness are expected findings after a
laryngectomy.
Question #4
A patient is admitted with an acute asthma exacerbation. The nurse hears
wheezing on expiration. What is the best interpretation of this finding?
A. The patient is improving
B. The patient is experiencing bronchospasm
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C. The patient needs immediate intubation
D. The patient has a pneumothorax
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Wheezing on expiration indicates bronchospasm and airway
narrowing in asthma. A silent chest (no wheezing) is more concerning and
indicates severe obstruction.
Question #5
A patient is receiving oxygen via a Venturi mask. What is the primary
advantage of this device?
A. It delivers high humidity
B. It delivers a precise fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO₂)
C. It is more comfortable than a nasal cannula
D. It delivers oxygen at a high flow rate
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Venturi mask delivers a precise FiO₂ regardless of the
patient's respiratory pattern, making it ideal for patients with COPD who are at
risk for CO₂ retention.
Question #6
A patient with a chest tube has a continuous bubbling in the water-seal
chamber. What is the MOST appropriate nursing action?
A. Clamp the chest tube
B. Assess the patient and chest tube system for an air leak
C. Increase the suction pressure
D. Notify the provider immediately
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Continuous bubbling in the water-seal chamber indicates an
air leak; the nurse should assess the system and patient. Clamping the tube
is dangerous; notifying the provider may be needed after assessment.
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Question #7
A patient with tuberculosis is prescribed isoniazid (INH). Which teaching point
is most important for the nurse to include?
A. Take the medication with food
B. Avoid alcohol and report dark urine or jaundice
C. Take the medication on an empty stomach
D. Expect a harmless red-orange discoloration of urine
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: INH can cause hepatotoxicity; patients should avoid alcohol and
report signs of liver toxicity (dark urine, jaundice). Rifampin causes red-orange
urine, not INH.
Question #8
A patient is diagnosed with pulmonary embolism (PE). Which laboratory test is
most specific for PE?
A. D-dimer
B. CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA)
C. Complete blood count
D. Arterial blood gas
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: CTPA is the gold standard for diagnosing PE. D-dimer is a
screening test with low specificity; ABG and CBC are not diagnostic for PE.
Question #9
A patient with COPD has a nursing diagnosis of "Imbalanced Nutrition: Less
than Body Requirements." Which intervention is most appropriate?
A. Provide large meals three times daily
B. Encourage small, frequent meals and supplements
NR 324 ADULT HEALTH I EXAM – CHAMBERLAIN
UNIVERSITY 2026/2027 COMPLETE (150) CURRENT
TESTING QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS WITH
DETAILED RATIONALES.
ADULT HEALTH
Prepare effectively for the NR 324 Adult Health I Exam with this focused study
resource. It supports review of adult health concepts, patient assessment, common
medical-surgical conditions, nursing interventions, pharmacology, and clinical
decision-making. Use the material to reinforce your knowledge, review key topics, and
identify areas that may require additional study. This resource is suited for nursing
students, adult health learners, and candidates preparing for the NR 324 Adult Health I
examination.
MULTIPLE CHOICE.
SECTION 1: RESPIRATORY DISORDERS (Questions 1–25)
Question #1
A patient with COPD is admitted with increased dyspnea and purulent
sputum. Which of the following is the priority nursing action?
A. Obtain a sputum culture
B. Administer oxygen as prescribed and assess respiratory status
C. Position the patient in high-Fowler's position
D. Encourage incentive spirometry
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Administering oxygen and assessing respiratory status is the
priority for a COPD patient with an exacerbation. Airway, breathing, and
circulation (ABCs) come first. While positioning, sputum culture, and
incentive spirometry are important, they are not the priority action.
, Page 2 of 61
Question #2
A patient with pneumonia has a nursing diagnosis of "Ineffective Airway
Clearance." Which intervention should the nurse implement FIRST?
A. Administer bronchodilators
B. Encourage the patient to cough and deep breathe
C. Suction the airway
D. Obtain a chest X-ray
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Encouraging coughing and deep breathing is the first
intervention to promote airway clearance. Bronchodilators and suctioning
may be needed but are not the first step; chest X-ray is diagnostic, not
therapeutic.
Question #3
A patient who is 24 hours post-total laryngectomy is receiving tube feedings.
Which clinical finding would be MOST concerning?
A. Pain at the surgical site
B. Leakage of feeding from the nasogastric tube
C. Saliva accumulation in the mouth
D. Hoarseness
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Leakage from the nasogastric tube suggests improper
placement or gastric overflow, which increases the risk of aspiration. Pain,
saliva accumulation, and hoarseness are expected findings after a
laryngectomy.
Question #4
A patient is admitted with an acute asthma exacerbation. The nurse hears
wheezing on expiration. What is the best interpretation of this finding?
A. The patient is improving
B. The patient is experiencing bronchospasm
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C. The patient needs immediate intubation
D. The patient has a pneumothorax
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Wheezing on expiration indicates bronchospasm and airway
narrowing in asthma. A silent chest (no wheezing) is more concerning and
indicates severe obstruction.
Question #5
A patient is receiving oxygen via a Venturi mask. What is the primary
advantage of this device?
A. It delivers high humidity
B. It delivers a precise fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO₂)
C. It is more comfortable than a nasal cannula
D. It delivers oxygen at a high flow rate
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Venturi mask delivers a precise FiO₂ regardless of the
patient's respiratory pattern, making it ideal for patients with COPD who are at
risk for CO₂ retention.
Question #6
A patient with a chest tube has a continuous bubbling in the water-seal
chamber. What is the MOST appropriate nursing action?
A. Clamp the chest tube
B. Assess the patient and chest tube system for an air leak
C. Increase the suction pressure
D. Notify the provider immediately
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Continuous bubbling in the water-seal chamber indicates an
air leak; the nurse should assess the system and patient. Clamping the tube
is dangerous; notifying the provider may be needed after assessment.
, Page 4 of 61
Question #7
A patient with tuberculosis is prescribed isoniazid (INH). Which teaching point
is most important for the nurse to include?
A. Take the medication with food
B. Avoid alcohol and report dark urine or jaundice
C. Take the medication on an empty stomach
D. Expect a harmless red-orange discoloration of urine
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: INH can cause hepatotoxicity; patients should avoid alcohol and
report signs of liver toxicity (dark urine, jaundice). Rifampin causes red-orange
urine, not INH.
Question #8
A patient is diagnosed with pulmonary embolism (PE). Which laboratory test is
most specific for PE?
A. D-dimer
B. CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA)
C. Complete blood count
D. Arterial blood gas
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: CTPA is the gold standard for diagnosing PE. D-dimer is a
screening test with low specificity; ABG and CBC are not diagnostic for PE.
Question #9
A patient with COPD has a nursing diagnosis of "Imbalanced Nutrition: Less
than Body Requirements." Which intervention is most appropriate?
A. Provide large meals three times daily
B. Encourage small, frequent meals and supplements
