NUR 257 Chronic Exam 4 |
Questions and Answers | 2026
Update | 100% Correct.
Course
NUR 257
1. A nurse is teaching a patient newly diagnosed with a chronic illness about long-term
management. Which statement best reflects chronic illness care?
A. The condition can usually be cured with short-term treatment.
B. Management often requires ongoing collaboration between the patient and healthcare team.
C. Family members should assume responsibility for all care.
D. Treatment is only necessary when symptoms become severe.
Answer: B. Management often requires ongoing collaboration between the patient and
healthcare team.
Rationale: Chronic illness commonly requires long-term monitoring, treatment adherence,
lifestyle modification, and collaboration between patients, families, and healthcare professionals.
2. Which nursing intervention best promotes self-management of a chronic condition?
A. Giving the patient a rigid treatment schedule
B. Developing realistic goals collaboratively with the patient
C. Making all healthcare decisions for the patient
D. Limiting patient participation in care
Answer: B. Developing realistic goals collaboratively with the patient.
Rationale: Collaborative goal-setting promotes patient engagement and helps incorporate
treatment into the patient's daily life.
3. Which technique is most effective for determining whether a patient understands
discharge instructions?
A. Asking, “Do you understand?”
B. Providing additional brochures
C. Using the teach-back method
D. Asking the family member whether the patient understands
Answer: C. Using the teach-back method.
Rationale: Teach-back requires the patient to explain information in their own words, allowing
the nurse to identify misunderstandings.
, 4. An older adult takes eight prescription medications and several over-the-counter
products. What is the nurse's priority?
A. Tell the patient to stop all medications.
B. Perform medication reconciliation.
C. Recommend taking all medications at bedtime.
D. Ask the patient to choose which medications are most important.
Answer: B. Perform medication reconciliation.
Rationale: Medication reconciliation identifies duplicate therapies, omissions, interactions, and
potentially inappropriate medications.
5. Which finding is most concerning in an older adult taking multiple medications?
A. Taking medications with water
B. New confusion and dizziness
C. Using a pill organizer
D. Keeping an updated medication list
Answer: B. New confusion and dizziness.
Rationale: New confusion and dizziness may indicate adverse medication effects, interactions,
orthostatic hypotension, or another acute problem.
6. A patient with chronic heart failure reports gaining 3 lb in two days. What should the
nurse do first?
A. Assess for fluid retention and worsening heart failure.
B. Encourage increased fluid intake.
C. Tell the patient to skip the diuretic.
D. Recommend increased sodium consumption.
Answer: A. Assess for fluid retention and worsening heart failure.
Rationale: Rapid weight gain can indicate fluid accumulation and worsening heart failure.
7. Which assessment finding in a patient with chronic heart failure requires prompt
attention?
A. Mild fatigue after activity
B. New orthopnea and worsening dyspnea
C. Stable weight
D. Ability to perform usual activities
Answer: B. New orthopnea and worsening dyspnea.
,Rationale: New or worsening dyspnea and orthopnea can indicate pulmonary congestion and
worsening heart failure.
8. A patient with hypertension asks why blood pressure control is important even when
there are no symptoms. What is the best response?
A. “Hypertension always causes immediate symptoms.”
B. “Uncontrolled hypertension can damage organs over time.”
C. “Blood pressure only matters during hospitalization.”
D. “Treatment is necessary only when headaches occur.”
Answer: B. “Uncontrolled hypertension can damage organs over time.”
Rationale: Hypertension can contribute to cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, renal, and other
complications even when the patient feels well.
9. Which lifestyle intervention can help reduce cardiovascular risk?
A. Smoking cessation
B. Increasing sodium intake
C. Avoiding all physical activity
D. Increasing saturated-fat consumption
Answer: A. Smoking cessation.
Rationale: Smoking cessation significantly reduces cardiovascular and other health risks.
10. A patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease becomes increasingly dyspneic and
confused. What should the nurse do?
A. Encourage the patient to lie flat.
B. Assess airway and breathing immediately.
C. Delay assessment until the next scheduled vital signs.
D. Encourage the patient to eat.
Answer: B. Assess airway and breathing immediately.
Rationale: Increasing dyspnea and altered mental status may indicate significant hypoxemia,
hypercapnia, or respiratory deterioration.
11. Which teaching point is appropriate for a patient with COPD?
A. Avoid all physical activity.
B. Use prescribed respiratory medications correctly and avoid respiratory irritants.
C. Stop medications when symptoms improve permanently.
D. Smoke only outdoors.
, Answer: B. Use prescribed respiratory medications correctly and avoid respiratory
irritants.
Rationale: Correct medication use, avoidance of triggers, smoking cessation, and appropriate
activity are important components of COPD management.
12. A patient with diabetes asks why daily foot inspection is important. What is the best
response?
A. “It prevents all infections.”
B. “Neuropathy can reduce your ability to notice injuries.”
C. “It replaces regular medical examinations.”
D. “It eliminates the need to control blood glucose.”
Answer: B. “Neuropathy can reduce your ability to notice injuries.”
Rationale: Diabetic neuropathy can reduce protective sensation, allowing wounds to go
unnoticed and potentially progress to infection or ulceration.
13. Which finding in a patient with diabetes should be reported promptly?
A. Small intact callus
B. New foot ulcer
C. Clean socks
D. Warm feet with intact sensation
Answer: B. New foot ulcer.
Rationale: A diabetic foot ulcer requires prompt evaluation because impaired sensation and
circulation can delay healing and increase infection risk.
14. A patient with diabetes becomes sweaty, shaky, and confused. What should the nurse
suspect?
A. Hypercalcemia
B. Hypoglycemia
C. Hypernatremia
D. Hypertension
Answer: B. Hypoglycemia.
Rationale: Sweating, tremor, confusion, and altered behavior are common manifestations of
hypoglycemia.
15. Which intervention is appropriate when a conscious patient has symptomatic
hypoglycemia?
Questions and Answers | 2026
Update | 100% Correct.
Course
NUR 257
1. A nurse is teaching a patient newly diagnosed with a chronic illness about long-term
management. Which statement best reflects chronic illness care?
A. The condition can usually be cured with short-term treatment.
B. Management often requires ongoing collaboration between the patient and healthcare team.
C. Family members should assume responsibility for all care.
D. Treatment is only necessary when symptoms become severe.
Answer: B. Management often requires ongoing collaboration between the patient and
healthcare team.
Rationale: Chronic illness commonly requires long-term monitoring, treatment adherence,
lifestyle modification, and collaboration between patients, families, and healthcare professionals.
2. Which nursing intervention best promotes self-management of a chronic condition?
A. Giving the patient a rigid treatment schedule
B. Developing realistic goals collaboratively with the patient
C. Making all healthcare decisions for the patient
D. Limiting patient participation in care
Answer: B. Developing realistic goals collaboratively with the patient.
Rationale: Collaborative goal-setting promotes patient engagement and helps incorporate
treatment into the patient's daily life.
3. Which technique is most effective for determining whether a patient understands
discharge instructions?
A. Asking, “Do you understand?”
B. Providing additional brochures
C. Using the teach-back method
D. Asking the family member whether the patient understands
Answer: C. Using the teach-back method.
Rationale: Teach-back requires the patient to explain information in their own words, allowing
the nurse to identify misunderstandings.
, 4. An older adult takes eight prescription medications and several over-the-counter
products. What is the nurse's priority?
A. Tell the patient to stop all medications.
B. Perform medication reconciliation.
C. Recommend taking all medications at bedtime.
D. Ask the patient to choose which medications are most important.
Answer: B. Perform medication reconciliation.
Rationale: Medication reconciliation identifies duplicate therapies, omissions, interactions, and
potentially inappropriate medications.
5. Which finding is most concerning in an older adult taking multiple medications?
A. Taking medications with water
B. New confusion and dizziness
C. Using a pill organizer
D. Keeping an updated medication list
Answer: B. New confusion and dizziness.
Rationale: New confusion and dizziness may indicate adverse medication effects, interactions,
orthostatic hypotension, or another acute problem.
6. A patient with chronic heart failure reports gaining 3 lb in two days. What should the
nurse do first?
A. Assess for fluid retention and worsening heart failure.
B. Encourage increased fluid intake.
C. Tell the patient to skip the diuretic.
D. Recommend increased sodium consumption.
Answer: A. Assess for fluid retention and worsening heart failure.
Rationale: Rapid weight gain can indicate fluid accumulation and worsening heart failure.
7. Which assessment finding in a patient with chronic heart failure requires prompt
attention?
A. Mild fatigue after activity
B. New orthopnea and worsening dyspnea
C. Stable weight
D. Ability to perform usual activities
Answer: B. New orthopnea and worsening dyspnea.
,Rationale: New or worsening dyspnea and orthopnea can indicate pulmonary congestion and
worsening heart failure.
8. A patient with hypertension asks why blood pressure control is important even when
there are no symptoms. What is the best response?
A. “Hypertension always causes immediate symptoms.”
B. “Uncontrolled hypertension can damage organs over time.”
C. “Blood pressure only matters during hospitalization.”
D. “Treatment is necessary only when headaches occur.”
Answer: B. “Uncontrolled hypertension can damage organs over time.”
Rationale: Hypertension can contribute to cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, renal, and other
complications even when the patient feels well.
9. Which lifestyle intervention can help reduce cardiovascular risk?
A. Smoking cessation
B. Increasing sodium intake
C. Avoiding all physical activity
D. Increasing saturated-fat consumption
Answer: A. Smoking cessation.
Rationale: Smoking cessation significantly reduces cardiovascular and other health risks.
10. A patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease becomes increasingly dyspneic and
confused. What should the nurse do?
A. Encourage the patient to lie flat.
B. Assess airway and breathing immediately.
C. Delay assessment until the next scheduled vital signs.
D. Encourage the patient to eat.
Answer: B. Assess airway and breathing immediately.
Rationale: Increasing dyspnea and altered mental status may indicate significant hypoxemia,
hypercapnia, or respiratory deterioration.
11. Which teaching point is appropriate for a patient with COPD?
A. Avoid all physical activity.
B. Use prescribed respiratory medications correctly and avoid respiratory irritants.
C. Stop medications when symptoms improve permanently.
D. Smoke only outdoors.
, Answer: B. Use prescribed respiratory medications correctly and avoid respiratory
irritants.
Rationale: Correct medication use, avoidance of triggers, smoking cessation, and appropriate
activity are important components of COPD management.
12. A patient with diabetes asks why daily foot inspection is important. What is the best
response?
A. “It prevents all infections.”
B. “Neuropathy can reduce your ability to notice injuries.”
C. “It replaces regular medical examinations.”
D. “It eliminates the need to control blood glucose.”
Answer: B. “Neuropathy can reduce your ability to notice injuries.”
Rationale: Diabetic neuropathy can reduce protective sensation, allowing wounds to go
unnoticed and potentially progress to infection or ulceration.
13. Which finding in a patient with diabetes should be reported promptly?
A. Small intact callus
B. New foot ulcer
C. Clean socks
D. Warm feet with intact sensation
Answer: B. New foot ulcer.
Rationale: A diabetic foot ulcer requires prompt evaluation because impaired sensation and
circulation can delay healing and increase infection risk.
14. A patient with diabetes becomes sweaty, shaky, and confused. What should the nurse
suspect?
A. Hypercalcemia
B. Hypoglycemia
C. Hypernatremia
D. Hypertension
Answer: B. Hypoglycemia.
Rationale: Sweating, tremor, confusion, and altered behavior are common manifestations of
hypoglycemia.
15. Which intervention is appropriate when a conscious patient has symptomatic
hypoglycemia?
