MARYVILLE UNIVERSITY NURS 612 EXAM 1 2026/2027 |
COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) |
EXAM PREP | LATEST EXAM GUIDE 2026&2027
1. A nurse is reviewing a patient's health history before developing a plan of care. Which
finding should the nurse prioritize as the most important determinant of immediate
nursing assessment?
A. The patient's preferred learning style
B. The patient's current physiological stability
C. The patient's employment history
D. The patient's preferred appointment time
Answer: B
Physiological stability takes priority because immediate threats to airway, breathing,
circulation, or neurological status require prompt assessment and intervention before less
urgent considerations.
2. A patient reports that a prescribed medication has caused dizziness after each dose.
What should the nurse do first?
A. Tell the patient to discontinue the medication
B. Document the complaint and reassess at the next visit
C. Assess the severity, timing, and circumstances of the dizziness
D. Recommend taking the medication with food
Answer: C
The nurse should first gather focused assessment data. Determining severity, timing,
associated symptoms, and circumstances helps establish whether the reaction represents an
expected effect or a potentially serious adverse event.
3. Which action best demonstrates evidence-based nursing practice?
A. Combining current research evidence with clinical expertise and patient preferences
B. Following the same intervention used by the previous nurse
C. Selecting interventions based solely on personal experience
D. Using the most frequently requested intervention by patients
Answer: A
Evidence-based practice integrates the best available research evidence with professional
expertise and the patient's values, preferences, and circumstances.
,4. A nurse notices that a patient's condition has changed significantly from the previous
assessment. What is the most appropriate initial response?
A. Wait until the next scheduled physician round
B. Compare the new findings with baseline data and perform focused reassessment
C. Immediately discharge the patient from the current care plan
D. Document the findings without further assessment
Answer: B
A significant change requires validation and focused reassessment so that the nurse can
determine the clinical significance and initiate appropriate escalation.
5. Which statement best describes clinical judgment in advanced nursing practice?
A. Selecting interventions according to routine protocols without modification
B. Memorizing disease manifestations and matching them to diagnoses
C. Making decisions based exclusively on laboratory findings
D. Interpreting patient information, recognizing priorities, and determining appropriate action
Answer: D
Clinical judgment requires interpretation of multiple sources of information, identification of
priorities, evaluation of risks, and selection of appropriate interventions.
6. A patient asks why the nurse needs to obtain information about social support during an
assessment. Which response is most appropriate?
A. "Social support can influence health behaviors, coping, access to care, and outcomes."
B. "It is required for every patient regardless of the situation."
C. "The information is primarily used for billing purposes."
D. "It allows the nurse to determine whether your family is responsible for your care."
Answer: A
Social determinants and support systems can substantially affect adherence, coping, access to
resources, and overall health outcomes.
7. During an interview, a patient becomes visibly uncomfortable when discussing substance
use. What should the nurse do?
A. End the interview immediately
B. Tell the patient that complete disclosure is mandatory
C. Use a nonjudgmental approach and explain why the information is clinically relevant
D. Ask the patient's family to provide the information
,Answer: C
A nonjudgmental, therapeutic approach improves trust and encourages accurate disclosure
while preserving patient autonomy and confidentiality.
8. Which finding requires the nurse's most immediate attention?
A. A patient who reports difficulty sleeping for two nights
B. A patient with new-onset confusion and oxygen saturation of 86%
C. A patient who requests information about diet
D. A patient who reports mild chronic back pain
Answer: B
New confusion combined with significant hypoxemia may indicate acute physiological
compromise and requires immediate assessment and intervention.
9. A nurse is preparing to educate a patient newly diagnosed with a chronic illness. Which
approach is most appropriate?
A. Provide all available information during one session
B. Use complex terminology to promote independence
C. Focus only on information the nurse considers important
D. Assess readiness, health literacy, learning needs, and patient priorities first
Answer: D
Effective education begins with assessment of readiness, learning needs, health literacy,
preferences, and priorities so teaching can be individualized.
10. Which nursing action best supports shared decision-making?
A. Presenting reasonable options and helping the patient evaluate them according to personal
values
B. Selecting the option with the lowest cost
C. Choosing the intervention preferred by the healthcare provider
D. Asking the family to make the decision for the patient
Answer: A
Shared decision-making involves presenting appropriate options, discussing benefits and
risks, and incorporating the patient's preferences and values into the decision.
11. A patient refuses a recommended diagnostic procedure after receiving an explanation
of its risks and benefits. Which ethical principle is most directly involved?
, A. Justice
B. Autonomy
C. Fidelity
D. Nonmaleficence
Answer: B
Autonomy recognizes the competent patient's right to make informed decisions about
personal healthcare, including the right to refuse treatment.
12. A nurse accidentally documents information in the wrong patient's electronic health
record. What should the nurse do first?
A. Delete the entire patient record
B. Ignore the error if no treatment was affected
C. Follow organizational procedures for correcting the documentation error and protecting
confidentiality
D. Ask another nurse to overwrite the documentation
Answer: C
Documentation errors should be corrected according to policy while maintaining an accurate
audit trail and protecting the patient's health information.
13. Which situation represents a potential breach of patient confidentiality?
A. Discussing patient information privately with members of the care team who need the
information
B. Reviewing a patient's chart before providing care
C. Sharing relevant findings during a secure clinical handoff
D. Discussing a patient's diagnosis with a friend who is not involved in the patient's care
Answer: D
Patient information should only be disclosed to individuals authorized to receive it and when
there is a legitimate clinical or legal need.
14. A nurse is evaluating whether a patient understood discharge instructions. Which
method provides the strongest evidence of understanding?
A. Asking, "Do you understand?"
B. Giving the patient a printed handout
C. Asking the patient to explain or demonstrate the instructions in their own words
D. Asking a family member whether the patient understands
Answer: C
COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) |
EXAM PREP | LATEST EXAM GUIDE 2026&2027
1. A nurse is reviewing a patient's health history before developing a plan of care. Which
finding should the nurse prioritize as the most important determinant of immediate
nursing assessment?
A. The patient's preferred learning style
B. The patient's current physiological stability
C. The patient's employment history
D. The patient's preferred appointment time
Answer: B
Physiological stability takes priority because immediate threats to airway, breathing,
circulation, or neurological status require prompt assessment and intervention before less
urgent considerations.
2. A patient reports that a prescribed medication has caused dizziness after each dose.
What should the nurse do first?
A. Tell the patient to discontinue the medication
B. Document the complaint and reassess at the next visit
C. Assess the severity, timing, and circumstances of the dizziness
D. Recommend taking the medication with food
Answer: C
The nurse should first gather focused assessment data. Determining severity, timing,
associated symptoms, and circumstances helps establish whether the reaction represents an
expected effect or a potentially serious adverse event.
3. Which action best demonstrates evidence-based nursing practice?
A. Combining current research evidence with clinical expertise and patient preferences
B. Following the same intervention used by the previous nurse
C. Selecting interventions based solely on personal experience
D. Using the most frequently requested intervention by patients
Answer: A
Evidence-based practice integrates the best available research evidence with professional
expertise and the patient's values, preferences, and circumstances.
,4. A nurse notices that a patient's condition has changed significantly from the previous
assessment. What is the most appropriate initial response?
A. Wait until the next scheduled physician round
B. Compare the new findings with baseline data and perform focused reassessment
C. Immediately discharge the patient from the current care plan
D. Document the findings without further assessment
Answer: B
A significant change requires validation and focused reassessment so that the nurse can
determine the clinical significance and initiate appropriate escalation.
5. Which statement best describes clinical judgment in advanced nursing practice?
A. Selecting interventions according to routine protocols without modification
B. Memorizing disease manifestations and matching them to diagnoses
C. Making decisions based exclusively on laboratory findings
D. Interpreting patient information, recognizing priorities, and determining appropriate action
Answer: D
Clinical judgment requires interpretation of multiple sources of information, identification of
priorities, evaluation of risks, and selection of appropriate interventions.
6. A patient asks why the nurse needs to obtain information about social support during an
assessment. Which response is most appropriate?
A. "Social support can influence health behaviors, coping, access to care, and outcomes."
B. "It is required for every patient regardless of the situation."
C. "The information is primarily used for billing purposes."
D. "It allows the nurse to determine whether your family is responsible for your care."
Answer: A
Social determinants and support systems can substantially affect adherence, coping, access to
resources, and overall health outcomes.
7. During an interview, a patient becomes visibly uncomfortable when discussing substance
use. What should the nurse do?
A. End the interview immediately
B. Tell the patient that complete disclosure is mandatory
C. Use a nonjudgmental approach and explain why the information is clinically relevant
D. Ask the patient's family to provide the information
,Answer: C
A nonjudgmental, therapeutic approach improves trust and encourages accurate disclosure
while preserving patient autonomy and confidentiality.
8. Which finding requires the nurse's most immediate attention?
A. A patient who reports difficulty sleeping for two nights
B. A patient with new-onset confusion and oxygen saturation of 86%
C. A patient who requests information about diet
D. A patient who reports mild chronic back pain
Answer: B
New confusion combined with significant hypoxemia may indicate acute physiological
compromise and requires immediate assessment and intervention.
9. A nurse is preparing to educate a patient newly diagnosed with a chronic illness. Which
approach is most appropriate?
A. Provide all available information during one session
B. Use complex terminology to promote independence
C. Focus only on information the nurse considers important
D. Assess readiness, health literacy, learning needs, and patient priorities first
Answer: D
Effective education begins with assessment of readiness, learning needs, health literacy,
preferences, and priorities so teaching can be individualized.
10. Which nursing action best supports shared decision-making?
A. Presenting reasonable options and helping the patient evaluate them according to personal
values
B. Selecting the option with the lowest cost
C. Choosing the intervention preferred by the healthcare provider
D. Asking the family to make the decision for the patient
Answer: A
Shared decision-making involves presenting appropriate options, discussing benefits and
risks, and incorporating the patient's preferences and values into the decision.
11. A patient refuses a recommended diagnostic procedure after receiving an explanation
of its risks and benefits. Which ethical principle is most directly involved?
, A. Justice
B. Autonomy
C. Fidelity
D. Nonmaleficence
Answer: B
Autonomy recognizes the competent patient's right to make informed decisions about
personal healthcare, including the right to refuse treatment.
12. A nurse accidentally documents information in the wrong patient's electronic health
record. What should the nurse do first?
A. Delete the entire patient record
B. Ignore the error if no treatment was affected
C. Follow organizational procedures for correcting the documentation error and protecting
confidentiality
D. Ask another nurse to overwrite the documentation
Answer: C
Documentation errors should be corrected according to policy while maintaining an accurate
audit trail and protecting the patient's health information.
13. Which situation represents a potential breach of patient confidentiality?
A. Discussing patient information privately with members of the care team who need the
information
B. Reviewing a patient's chart before providing care
C. Sharing relevant findings during a secure clinical handoff
D. Discussing a patient's diagnosis with a friend who is not involved in the patient's care
Answer: D
Patient information should only be disclosed to individuals authorized to receive it and when
there is a legitimate clinical or legal need.
14. A nurse is evaluating whether a patient understood discharge instructions. Which
method provides the strongest evidence of understanding?
A. Asking, "Do you understand?"
B. Giving the patient a printed handout
C. Asking the patient to explain or demonstrate the instructions in their own words
D. Asking a family member whether the patient understands
Answer: C
