NUR 265 Exam 3 Review - Questions and Answers | Latest Update
2026/2027
1. If a patient with trigeminal neuralgia reports that they have stopped taking
their prescribed medication due to side effects, what should the nurse do
next?
Encourage the patient to continue the medication despite side effects.
Advise the patient to seek emergency care immediately.
Discuss alternative medications or therapies with the patient.
Suggest the patient try home remedies without consulting a doctor.
2. Why is it critical for the nurse to assess vital signs and neurological status in a
patient with confusion and a history of HIV?
Vital signs are only relevant if the patient is stable.
The nurse should focus solely on medication management.
Assessing vital signs and neurological status helps identify potential
complications and the severity of the patient's condition.
It is not necessary to assess vital signs in this scenario.
3. A patient with full thickness burns to 25% of the TSBA is stabilized in the ED. If
the patient begins to show signs of respiratory distress, what should the
nurse's immediate action be?
Monitor vital signs closely
Reassess and secure the airway
Prepare for surgical intervention
Administer IV fluids
,4. What is a common prescription that may require follow-up for a patient with a
spinal cord injury?
Antibiotics
Antidepressants
Anticoagulants
Analgesics
5. Which initial action is most important for the nurse to take when caring for a
patient with myasthenia gravis who is beginning a new prescription of oral
neostigmine?
Teach the patient to wear a MedicAlert bracelet.
Check the patient's deep tendon reflexes.
Assess the patient's ability to swallow.
Measure the patient's plasma neostigmine level.
6. If a nurse observes that a patient with a closed head injury on a ventilator is
exhibiting signs of increased intracranial pressure, what should be the nurse's
immediate priority action?
Increase the ventilator settings to improve oxygenation.
Reposition the patient to a flat position.
Administer a sedative to calm the patient.
Notify the healthcare provider for further assessment and
intervention.
,7. The nurse is the first to arrive at the scene of a client who has sustained a
high-voltage electrical injury as a result of downed power lines. Which should
be considered first when preparing to assist the client?
Level of consciousness
Safety and possible active electrical current
Availability of bystanders to assist in rescue efforts
Degree of injury
8. Why is it important to report changes in level of consciousness in patients
with TBI to the primary care provider?
Dizziness is a common side effect and can be ignored.
Changes in level of consciousness can indicate worsening brain
injury or complications.
Stable vital signs are sufficient to monitor the patient.
Minor symptoms do not require reporting.
9. Your patient with a TBI is feeling unwell, complaining of headaches, and is
now vomiting. What do you do?
Check on the patient in half an hour when their obs are due
Advise the doctor immediately - signs of increasing ICP
Give the patient some paracetamol and an anti-emetic
Tell the patient this is to be expected with a head injury
10. How can the nurse help reduce ICP in caring for the patient after a
craniotomy?
Elevating the head of the bed 30 degrees
, Keeping the patient flat in bed
Closely monitoring the IV rate
Turning the patient to the right side
11. When assessing the severity of a TBI, the MOST important assessment
parameter is the patients:
level of consciousness
initial GCS
blood pressure
response to verbal stimuli
12. During the emergent phase of burn management, you would expect the
following lab values:
low Na, high K, high glucose, high Hct
High Na, low K, low glucose, high Hct
Low Na, low K, high glucose, low Hct
high Na, high K, high glucose, low Hct
13. As a nurse, you are assigned to four patients. Which patient do you see first?
a patient admitted yesterday with afib with decreased LOC
a patient with a wound drain who needs teaching before discharge
this afternoon
a patient going to surgery for a mastectomy in 3 hours who has a
question about the surgery
the patient who has abdominal surgery 2 days ago who is requesting
pain medication
2026/2027
1. If a patient with trigeminal neuralgia reports that they have stopped taking
their prescribed medication due to side effects, what should the nurse do
next?
Encourage the patient to continue the medication despite side effects.
Advise the patient to seek emergency care immediately.
Discuss alternative medications or therapies with the patient.
Suggest the patient try home remedies without consulting a doctor.
2. Why is it critical for the nurse to assess vital signs and neurological status in a
patient with confusion and a history of HIV?
Vital signs are only relevant if the patient is stable.
The nurse should focus solely on medication management.
Assessing vital signs and neurological status helps identify potential
complications and the severity of the patient's condition.
It is not necessary to assess vital signs in this scenario.
3. A patient with full thickness burns to 25% of the TSBA is stabilized in the ED. If
the patient begins to show signs of respiratory distress, what should the
nurse's immediate action be?
Monitor vital signs closely
Reassess and secure the airway
Prepare for surgical intervention
Administer IV fluids
,4. What is a common prescription that may require follow-up for a patient with a
spinal cord injury?
Antibiotics
Antidepressants
Anticoagulants
Analgesics
5. Which initial action is most important for the nurse to take when caring for a
patient with myasthenia gravis who is beginning a new prescription of oral
neostigmine?
Teach the patient to wear a MedicAlert bracelet.
Check the patient's deep tendon reflexes.
Assess the patient's ability to swallow.
Measure the patient's plasma neostigmine level.
6. If a nurse observes that a patient with a closed head injury on a ventilator is
exhibiting signs of increased intracranial pressure, what should be the nurse's
immediate priority action?
Increase the ventilator settings to improve oxygenation.
Reposition the patient to a flat position.
Administer a sedative to calm the patient.
Notify the healthcare provider for further assessment and
intervention.
,7. The nurse is the first to arrive at the scene of a client who has sustained a
high-voltage electrical injury as a result of downed power lines. Which should
be considered first when preparing to assist the client?
Level of consciousness
Safety and possible active electrical current
Availability of bystanders to assist in rescue efforts
Degree of injury
8. Why is it important to report changes in level of consciousness in patients
with TBI to the primary care provider?
Dizziness is a common side effect and can be ignored.
Changes in level of consciousness can indicate worsening brain
injury or complications.
Stable vital signs are sufficient to monitor the patient.
Minor symptoms do not require reporting.
9. Your patient with a TBI is feeling unwell, complaining of headaches, and is
now vomiting. What do you do?
Check on the patient in half an hour when their obs are due
Advise the doctor immediately - signs of increasing ICP
Give the patient some paracetamol and an anti-emetic
Tell the patient this is to be expected with a head injury
10. How can the nurse help reduce ICP in caring for the patient after a
craniotomy?
Elevating the head of the bed 30 degrees
, Keeping the patient flat in bed
Closely monitoring the IV rate
Turning the patient to the right side
11. When assessing the severity of a TBI, the MOST important assessment
parameter is the patients:
level of consciousness
initial GCS
blood pressure
response to verbal stimuli
12. During the emergent phase of burn management, you would expect the
following lab values:
low Na, high K, high glucose, high Hct
High Na, low K, low glucose, high Hct
Low Na, low K, high glucose, low Hct
high Na, high K, high glucose, low Hct
13. As a nurse, you are assigned to four patients. Which patient do you see first?
a patient admitted yesterday with afib with decreased LOC
a patient with a wound drain who needs teaching before discharge
this afternoon
a patient going to surgery for a mastectomy in 3 hours who has a
question about the surgery
the patient who has abdominal surgery 2 days ago who is requesting
pain medication
