NUR 231 EXAM 2 – ADULT NURSING II (2026) ACTUAL
QUESTIONS & VERIFIED ANSWERS | ILLINOIS STATE
UNIVERSITY | GUARANTEE PASS
NUR 231 EXAM 2 – ADULT NURSING II
Comprehensive Practice Examination
2026
Institution: Illinois State University
College: Mennonite College of Nursing
Course: NUR 231 – Adult Nursing II
Document type: Original comprehensive practice examination with answers and rationales
Table of Contents
1. Introduction and Nursing Foundations — Questions 1–40
2. Core Adult Nursing Concepts — Questions 41–80
3. Applied Clinical Scenarios — Questions 81–120
4. Critical Thinking and Prioritization — Questions 121–160
5. Comprehensive Review Questions — Questions 161–200
6. Answer and Rationale Reference
Instructions
• Answer all 200 questions.
• Questions include multiple-choice and short-answer formats.
• For multiple-choice questions, select the one best answer unless otherwise stated.
• The answer and rationale are provided immediately after each question for study use.
• Rationales emphasize assessment, prioritization, safety, clinical reasoning, patient
education, and evidence-based nursing principles.
SECTION I — INTRODUCTION AND NURSING FOUNDATIONS
,Question 1
A nurse is beginning care for an adult patient admitted with an acute health alteration. Which
action should the nurse perform first?
A. Review the patient's discharge instructions
B. Perform a focused assessment
C. Contact the patient's family
D. Prepare the patient's medications
Correct answer: B. Perform a focused assessment
Rationale: Assessment provides the information needed to identify immediate problems and
establish priorities. The nurse should obtain relevant subjective and objective data before
implementing most interventions.
Question 2
Which finding requires the most immediate nursing intervention?
A. Temperature of 37.4°C (99.3°F)
B. Heart rate of 88/min
C. Oxygen saturation of 86%
D. Blood pressure of 128/76 mm Hg
Correct answer: C. Oxygen saturation of 86%
Rationale: An oxygen saturation of 86% indicates significant hypoxemia and may compromise
tissue oxygenation. Airway and breathing concerns take priority over stable findings.
Question 3
A patient reports new chest pressure accompanied by diaphoresis and nausea. What is the nurse's
priority action?
A. Obtain a detailed dietary history
B. Encourage the patient to ambulate
C. Assess vital signs and initiate appropriate emergency evaluation
D. Ask the patient to rate chronic pain
Correct answer: C. Assess vital signs and initiate appropriate emergency evaluation
,Rationale: New chest pressure with autonomic symptoms may indicate acute coronary
syndrome. Rapid assessment and escalation are necessary because myocardial ischemia can
become life-threatening.
Question 4
Which principle best describes the nursing process?
A. It is completed once during admission
B. It is a linear process that does not change
C. It is a continuous cycle of assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation
D. It is primarily used for documentation
Correct answer: C. It is a continuous cycle of assessment, planning, implementation, and
evaluation
Rationale: Patient conditions change continuously. Nurses reassess patients and modify
interventions according to the patient's response.
Question 5
Which assessment finding should the nurse document as objective data?
A. "I feel dizzy."
B. "My pain is terrible."
C. Blood pressure 92/58 mm Hg
D. "I am anxious."
Correct answer: C. Blood pressure 92/58 mm Hg
Rationale: Objective data are observable or measurable findings. Blood pressure is directly
measured by the nurse, whereas the other statements represent subjective patient reports.
Question 6
A patient states, "I don't understand why I need this treatment." What is the nurse's best
response?
A. "The provider ordered it, so you need it."
B. "Your family already knows about it."
C. "Tell me what you understand about the treatment so far."
D. "You can read about it later."
, Correct answer: C. "Tell me what you understand about the treatment so far."
Rationale: This response assesses the patient's existing knowledge and allows teaching to be
individualized. Effective education begins by determining what the patient already understands.
Question 7
Which nursing intervention most directly reduces the risk of falls?
A. Keeping the bed in the highest position
B. Leaving the call light across the room
C. Ensuring frequently used items are within reach
D. Encouraging patients to walk without assistance
Correct answer: C. Ensuring frequently used items are within reach
Rationale: Keeping needed items accessible reduces unnecessary reaching and unassisted
ambulation. Environmental safety is an important component of fall prevention.
Question 8
A patient develops sudden confusion during hospitalization. Which assessment is most
appropriate initially?
A. Assume dementia is progressing
B. Assess for potentially reversible causes
C. Restrict all oral fluids
D. Immediately discharge the patient
Correct answer: B. Assess for potentially reversible causes
Rationale: Acute confusion can result from hypoxia, infection, medications, metabolic
disturbances, dehydration, pain, or other reversible causes. New confusion should not
automatically be attributed to dementia.
Question 9
Which patient statement demonstrates effective teach-back?
A. "I think I understand."
B. "The nurse explained everything."
C. "I will call the clinic if my symptoms worsen as you explained."
D. "My spouse will remember the instructions."
QUESTIONS & VERIFIED ANSWERS | ILLINOIS STATE
UNIVERSITY | GUARANTEE PASS
NUR 231 EXAM 2 – ADULT NURSING II
Comprehensive Practice Examination
2026
Institution: Illinois State University
College: Mennonite College of Nursing
Course: NUR 231 – Adult Nursing II
Document type: Original comprehensive practice examination with answers and rationales
Table of Contents
1. Introduction and Nursing Foundations — Questions 1–40
2. Core Adult Nursing Concepts — Questions 41–80
3. Applied Clinical Scenarios — Questions 81–120
4. Critical Thinking and Prioritization — Questions 121–160
5. Comprehensive Review Questions — Questions 161–200
6. Answer and Rationale Reference
Instructions
• Answer all 200 questions.
• Questions include multiple-choice and short-answer formats.
• For multiple-choice questions, select the one best answer unless otherwise stated.
• The answer and rationale are provided immediately after each question for study use.
• Rationales emphasize assessment, prioritization, safety, clinical reasoning, patient
education, and evidence-based nursing principles.
SECTION I — INTRODUCTION AND NURSING FOUNDATIONS
,Question 1
A nurse is beginning care for an adult patient admitted with an acute health alteration. Which
action should the nurse perform first?
A. Review the patient's discharge instructions
B. Perform a focused assessment
C. Contact the patient's family
D. Prepare the patient's medications
Correct answer: B. Perform a focused assessment
Rationale: Assessment provides the information needed to identify immediate problems and
establish priorities. The nurse should obtain relevant subjective and objective data before
implementing most interventions.
Question 2
Which finding requires the most immediate nursing intervention?
A. Temperature of 37.4°C (99.3°F)
B. Heart rate of 88/min
C. Oxygen saturation of 86%
D. Blood pressure of 128/76 mm Hg
Correct answer: C. Oxygen saturation of 86%
Rationale: An oxygen saturation of 86% indicates significant hypoxemia and may compromise
tissue oxygenation. Airway and breathing concerns take priority over stable findings.
Question 3
A patient reports new chest pressure accompanied by diaphoresis and nausea. What is the nurse's
priority action?
A. Obtain a detailed dietary history
B. Encourage the patient to ambulate
C. Assess vital signs and initiate appropriate emergency evaluation
D. Ask the patient to rate chronic pain
Correct answer: C. Assess vital signs and initiate appropriate emergency evaluation
,Rationale: New chest pressure with autonomic symptoms may indicate acute coronary
syndrome. Rapid assessment and escalation are necessary because myocardial ischemia can
become life-threatening.
Question 4
Which principle best describes the nursing process?
A. It is completed once during admission
B. It is a linear process that does not change
C. It is a continuous cycle of assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation
D. It is primarily used for documentation
Correct answer: C. It is a continuous cycle of assessment, planning, implementation, and
evaluation
Rationale: Patient conditions change continuously. Nurses reassess patients and modify
interventions according to the patient's response.
Question 5
Which assessment finding should the nurse document as objective data?
A. "I feel dizzy."
B. "My pain is terrible."
C. Blood pressure 92/58 mm Hg
D. "I am anxious."
Correct answer: C. Blood pressure 92/58 mm Hg
Rationale: Objective data are observable or measurable findings. Blood pressure is directly
measured by the nurse, whereas the other statements represent subjective patient reports.
Question 6
A patient states, "I don't understand why I need this treatment." What is the nurse's best
response?
A. "The provider ordered it, so you need it."
B. "Your family already knows about it."
C. "Tell me what you understand about the treatment so far."
D. "You can read about it later."
, Correct answer: C. "Tell me what you understand about the treatment so far."
Rationale: This response assesses the patient's existing knowledge and allows teaching to be
individualized. Effective education begins by determining what the patient already understands.
Question 7
Which nursing intervention most directly reduces the risk of falls?
A. Keeping the bed in the highest position
B. Leaving the call light across the room
C. Ensuring frequently used items are within reach
D. Encouraging patients to walk without assistance
Correct answer: C. Ensuring frequently used items are within reach
Rationale: Keeping needed items accessible reduces unnecessary reaching and unassisted
ambulation. Environmental safety is an important component of fall prevention.
Question 8
A patient develops sudden confusion during hospitalization. Which assessment is most
appropriate initially?
A. Assume dementia is progressing
B. Assess for potentially reversible causes
C. Restrict all oral fluids
D. Immediately discharge the patient
Correct answer: B. Assess for potentially reversible causes
Rationale: Acute confusion can result from hypoxia, infection, medications, metabolic
disturbances, dehydration, pain, or other reversible causes. New confusion should not
automatically be attributed to dementia.
Question 9
Which patient statement demonstrates effective teach-back?
A. "I think I understand."
B. "The nurse explained everything."
C. "I will call the clinic if my symptoms worsen as you explained."
D. "My spouse will remember the instructions."
