NURS 370 Practice Questions with Correct Answers (Grade A+)
Question 1: A 4-year-old is brought to Emergency by his parents, who report he swallowed a small toy.
What symptom suggests complete airway obstruction by a foreign body? A. Gagging B. Coughing C.
Inability to speak D. Rapid respirations
Answer: C. Inability to speak
Question 2: The adult client is newly admitted to the ward following surgery. Which assessment
finding should be the RN's priority? A. The surgical site dressing has a scant amount of bright red
blood. B. The client is sleeping but easily arouses when touched. C. The client's respirations are 6 to 8
breaths per minute. D. The client's blood pressure is 100/68 mm Hg.
Answer: C. The client's respirations are 6 to 8 breaths per minute.
Question 3: The nurse is caring for a client who had a total hip replacement four days ago. Which
assessment requires the nurse's immediate attention? A. "I have bad pain in my lower leg" B. "I just
can't 'catch my breath" C. "I have to use the bedpan to pee at least every hour." D. "The pain
medication is not working today."
Answer: B. "I just can't 'catch my breath"
Question 4: There has been a train derailment and four people are injured. Which patient should the
RN see first? A.Client who is 20 years of age who has unequal pupils and is tachypneic B.Client who is
80 years old complaining of a "racing heart" and has a laceration on his arm C.Client who is 10 years
old with a swollen wrist D.Client who is 25 years old with an open chest wall wound
Answer: D. Client who is 25 years old with an open chest wall wound Because of open-chest wall wound =
at risk for pneumothorax or hemothorax = life-threatening.
Question 5: The client just returned to the nursing unit following surgery. Which observation by the
RN requires the most immediate intervention? A. The client is sleepy B. The client coughed up
blood-tinged sputum C. Oxygen saturation level is 82% D. Jackson-Pratt wound drain is half full
Answer: C. Oxygen saturation level is 82%
Question 6: At 0730 hours, the oncoming RN is planning care for four clients. Which client should the
RN plan to assess first? A.The 23-year-old client with cystic fibrosis who has pulmonary function tests
scheduled in ten minutes B.The 35-year-old client admitted the previous day with bacterial pneumonia
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,Question 6 (continued):
and now has a temperature of 39.4oC C.The 46-year-old client who had a chest tube removed an hour
ago and now has dyspnea D.The 77-year-old client with tuberculosis who has four anti-tubercular
medications due at 08:00 hours
Answer: C. The 46-year-old client who had a chest tube removed an hour ago and now has dyspnea
Question 7: What is the purpose of the ABCDE approach?
Answer: To provide life-saving treatment To break down complex clinical situations into more manageable
parts To serve as an assessment and treatment algorithm To establish common situational awareness among
all treatment providers To buy time to establish a final diagnosis and treatment (identifies priority needs
and guides nursing practice) Can be initiated without any equipment and more advanced interventions can
be applied on arrival of emergency medical services, in a clinic, or at the hospital. Assessments should be
repeated until the patient is stable, regularly, and/or at any sign of deterioration.
Question 8: What are strategies for prioritizing care?
Answer: Central focus on prioritization of Client care: -Priority 1 - life threatening illness (ex: airway
obstruction, myocardial infarction) -Priority 2 - safety (ex: of patient and family, nurse and health
professionals) -Priority 3 - client priorities (ex: pain, nausea) -Priority 4 - nurse priorities (ex: a nursing
intervention appropriate for the situation)
Question 9: What are normal/expected airway findings?
Answer: Patient responds in a normal voice Regular and visible respirations
Question 10: What are abnormal/unexpected airway findings?
Answer: Partial obstruction = voice changes, noisy breathing, and increased breathing effort Complete
obstruction = there is no respiration despite great effort, unconscious
Question 11: What are possible airway interventions? List them.
Answer: Head tilt and chin tilt to open airway Suction of the airways Removal of foreign bodies Conscious
- 5 back blows or 5 abdominal thrusts High oxygen flow should be given ASAP Endotracheal tube
Question 12: What are normal/expected breathing findings?
Answer: Respiratory rate appropriate for age, normal O2Sat Symmetrical and visible movements of the
thoracic Percussed unilateral dullness or resonance
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, Question 13: What are abnormal/unexpected breathing findings?
Answer: Cyanosis Distended neck veins Lateralization of the trachea Tension pneumothorax (air trapped in
pleural space) Bronchospasms
Question 14: What are possible breathing interventions? List them.
Answer: Seat comfortably Rescue breaths Tension pneumothorax (relieve immediately by inserting cannula
between 2nd intercostal space (needle thoracentesis) Treat with oxygen Inhalations of meds (ex: Ventolin)
Assisted ventilation (bag mask or intubation) Elevate head of bed
Question 15: What are normal/expected circulation findings?
Answer: Capillary refill within range Pulse rate appropriate for age (equal/bilateral) Inspect skin colour
Blood pressure within normal limits
Question 16: What are abnormal/unexpected circulation findings?
Answer: Colour changes, sweating, and decreased LOC = decreased perfusion Hypotension/hypertension
Hypovolemia (grey/blue skin)
Question 17: What are possible circulation interventions? List them.
Answer: Stop bleeding IV access, infuse saline Heart auscultation Electrocardiography Blood pressure
measurements Elevating legs and placing patient in recovery position (supine)
Question 18: What are normal/expected disability findings?
Answer: LOC intact A - alert V - voice P - pain responsive U - unresponsive GCS (total 9-15): Eye opening
- 4, 3, 2, 1; Verbal - 5, 4, 3, 2, 1; Motor - 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 Blood glucose within normal limits
Question 19: What are abnormal/unexpected disability findings?
Answer: GCS of 8 or less Hypo or hyperglycaemia
Question 20: What are possible disability interventions? List them.
Answer: ABC's are stable Lateral limb movement (symmetry) Intubation may be required Pupillary light
reflexes Blood glucose measured (if low, oral or infused glucose) - insulin? glucagon? glucose? Recovery
position
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Question 1: A 4-year-old is brought to Emergency by his parents, who report he swallowed a small toy.
What symptom suggests complete airway obstruction by a foreign body? A. Gagging B. Coughing C.
Inability to speak D. Rapid respirations
Answer: C. Inability to speak
Question 2: The adult client is newly admitted to the ward following surgery. Which assessment
finding should be the RN's priority? A. The surgical site dressing has a scant amount of bright red
blood. B. The client is sleeping but easily arouses when touched. C. The client's respirations are 6 to 8
breaths per minute. D. The client's blood pressure is 100/68 mm Hg.
Answer: C. The client's respirations are 6 to 8 breaths per minute.
Question 3: The nurse is caring for a client who had a total hip replacement four days ago. Which
assessment requires the nurse's immediate attention? A. "I have bad pain in my lower leg" B. "I just
can't 'catch my breath" C. "I have to use the bedpan to pee at least every hour." D. "The pain
medication is not working today."
Answer: B. "I just can't 'catch my breath"
Question 4: There has been a train derailment and four people are injured. Which patient should the
RN see first? A.Client who is 20 years of age who has unequal pupils and is tachypneic B.Client who is
80 years old complaining of a "racing heart" and has a laceration on his arm C.Client who is 10 years
old with a swollen wrist D.Client who is 25 years old with an open chest wall wound
Answer: D. Client who is 25 years old with an open chest wall wound Because of open-chest wall wound =
at risk for pneumothorax or hemothorax = life-threatening.
Question 5: The client just returned to the nursing unit following surgery. Which observation by the
RN requires the most immediate intervention? A. The client is sleepy B. The client coughed up
blood-tinged sputum C. Oxygen saturation level is 82% D. Jackson-Pratt wound drain is half full
Answer: C. Oxygen saturation level is 82%
Question 6: At 0730 hours, the oncoming RN is planning care for four clients. Which client should the
RN plan to assess first? A.The 23-year-old client with cystic fibrosis who has pulmonary function tests
scheduled in ten minutes B.The 35-year-old client admitted the previous day with bacterial pneumonia
Page 1
,Question 6 (continued):
and now has a temperature of 39.4oC C.The 46-year-old client who had a chest tube removed an hour
ago and now has dyspnea D.The 77-year-old client with tuberculosis who has four anti-tubercular
medications due at 08:00 hours
Answer: C. The 46-year-old client who had a chest tube removed an hour ago and now has dyspnea
Question 7: What is the purpose of the ABCDE approach?
Answer: To provide life-saving treatment To break down complex clinical situations into more manageable
parts To serve as an assessment and treatment algorithm To establish common situational awareness among
all treatment providers To buy time to establish a final diagnosis and treatment (identifies priority needs
and guides nursing practice) Can be initiated without any equipment and more advanced interventions can
be applied on arrival of emergency medical services, in a clinic, or at the hospital. Assessments should be
repeated until the patient is stable, regularly, and/or at any sign of deterioration.
Question 8: What are strategies for prioritizing care?
Answer: Central focus on prioritization of Client care: -Priority 1 - life threatening illness (ex: airway
obstruction, myocardial infarction) -Priority 2 - safety (ex: of patient and family, nurse and health
professionals) -Priority 3 - client priorities (ex: pain, nausea) -Priority 4 - nurse priorities (ex: a nursing
intervention appropriate for the situation)
Question 9: What are normal/expected airway findings?
Answer: Patient responds in a normal voice Regular and visible respirations
Question 10: What are abnormal/unexpected airway findings?
Answer: Partial obstruction = voice changes, noisy breathing, and increased breathing effort Complete
obstruction = there is no respiration despite great effort, unconscious
Question 11: What are possible airway interventions? List them.
Answer: Head tilt and chin tilt to open airway Suction of the airways Removal of foreign bodies Conscious
- 5 back blows or 5 abdominal thrusts High oxygen flow should be given ASAP Endotracheal tube
Question 12: What are normal/expected breathing findings?
Answer: Respiratory rate appropriate for age, normal O2Sat Symmetrical and visible movements of the
thoracic Percussed unilateral dullness or resonance
Page 2
, Question 13: What are abnormal/unexpected breathing findings?
Answer: Cyanosis Distended neck veins Lateralization of the trachea Tension pneumothorax (air trapped in
pleural space) Bronchospasms
Question 14: What are possible breathing interventions? List them.
Answer: Seat comfortably Rescue breaths Tension pneumothorax (relieve immediately by inserting cannula
between 2nd intercostal space (needle thoracentesis) Treat with oxygen Inhalations of meds (ex: Ventolin)
Assisted ventilation (bag mask or intubation) Elevate head of bed
Question 15: What are normal/expected circulation findings?
Answer: Capillary refill within range Pulse rate appropriate for age (equal/bilateral) Inspect skin colour
Blood pressure within normal limits
Question 16: What are abnormal/unexpected circulation findings?
Answer: Colour changes, sweating, and decreased LOC = decreased perfusion Hypotension/hypertension
Hypovolemia (grey/blue skin)
Question 17: What are possible circulation interventions? List them.
Answer: Stop bleeding IV access, infuse saline Heart auscultation Electrocardiography Blood pressure
measurements Elevating legs and placing patient in recovery position (supine)
Question 18: What are normal/expected disability findings?
Answer: LOC intact A - alert V - voice P - pain responsive U - unresponsive GCS (total 9-15): Eye opening
- 4, 3, 2, 1; Verbal - 5, 4, 3, 2, 1; Motor - 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 Blood glucose within normal limits
Question 19: What are abnormal/unexpected disability findings?
Answer: GCS of 8 or less Hypo or hyperglycaemia
Question 20: What are possible disability interventions? List them.
Answer: ABC's are stable Lateral limb movement (symmetry) Intubation may be required Pupillary light
reflexes Blood glucose measured (if low, oral or infused glucose) - insulin? glucagon? glucose? Recovery
position
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