NURS 110 Exam 3 Test Bank 2026/2027: 100
NCLEX-Style Questions with Answers,
Rationales & Unfolding Case Studies for
Nursing Students
Description:
Prepare for NURS 110 Exam 3 with the ultimate 2026/2027 nursing test bank. This
comprehensive resource delivers 100 NCLEX-style practice questions covering the nursing
process, clinical judgment, ethics, safety, infection control, maternal-newborn, pediatric,
mental health, pharmacology, leadership, and nursing theory. Every question includes a
bolded answer, detailed rationale, distractor analysis, difficulty level, and QSEN/AACN
alignment tags. Bonus features include two unfolding case studies, alternate item formats, a
consolidated answer key, and an instructor remediation guide. Fully updated for the 2026
NCLEX-RN Test Plan and current best practices.
Download your 10/10-rated NURS 110 Exam 3 study guide today and walk into your exam
confident, prepared, and ready to pass.
, NURS 110 Exam 3 Test Bank 2026/2027 — 100 Questions &
Answers
Section I: Nursing Process and Clinical Judgment (Items 1–6)
1. A nurse is caring for a postoperative patient who reports sudden shortness of breath and chest
pain. The nurse notes a respiratory rate of 28 breaths per minute and an oxygen saturation of
88% on room air. Which phase of the nursing process is the nurse primarily engaged in?
A. Planning
B. Assessment
C. Implementation
D. Evaluation
Answer: B
Explanation: The nurse is collecting subjective and objective data—the patient's reported
symptoms, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation—which constitutes the assessment phase, the
first step of the nursing process. Assessment precedes diagnosis, planning, implementation, and
evaluation. The findings described require immediate analysis, but the act of gathering that data
is assessment. The nurse has not yet formulated a diagnosis, established goals, intervened, or
evaluated outcomes.
Why the others are incorrect: Planning (A) involves goal setting and intervention selection,
which occurs after data analysis. Implementation (C) is the execution of interventions.
Evaluation (D) determines whether goals were met.
Metadata: CN: Physiological Integrity | CJ: Recognize Cues | QSEN: Patient-Centered Care |
AE: Essential I | D: Easy
2. A nurse is developing a plan of care for a patient with impaired mobility. Which action occurs
during the planning phase of the nursing process?
A. Establishing the nursing diagnosis
B. Collecting initial assessment data
,C. Carrying out prescribed interventions
D. Prioritizing nursing diagnoses and establishing expected outcomes
Answer: D
Explanation: The planning phase involves prioritizing nursing diagnoses, establishing patient-
centered goals and expected outcomes, and selecting appropriate nursing interventions.
Prioritizing diagnoses ensures that the most critical patient needs receive attention first,
reflecting sound clinical judgment consistent with the NCLEX-RN Clinical Judgment
Measurement Model.
Why the others are incorrect: Establishing a nursing diagnosis (A) belongs to the diagnosis
phase. Collecting initial data (B) is assessment. Carrying out interventions (C) is implementation.
Metadata: CN: Safe and Effective Care Environment | CJ: Generate Solutions | QSEN: Patient-
Centered Care | AE: Essential II | D: Easy
3. A nurse is caring for a patient who becomes tearful while discussing a new diagnosis of
diabetes. Which nursing response best demonstrates therapeutic communication?
A. "Don't worry. Many people live full lives with diabetes."
B. "You seem upset. Tell me more about what you are feeling."
C. "You should focus on the positive aspects of managing your health."
D. "Other patients have coped with worse diagnoses than this."
Answer: B
Explanation: This response acknowledges the patient's emotional state and invites further
expression without minimizing or dismissing the patient's experience. Therapeutic
communication requires active listening, empathy, and open-ended inquiry.
Why the others are incorrect: False reassurance (A), directive statements (C), and comparisons
to others (D) are nontherapeutic techniques that discourage honest disclosure.
, Metadata: CN: Psychosocial Integrity | CJ: Recognize Cues | QSEN: Patient-Centered Care |
AE: Essential VIII | D: Easy
4. Which sequence correctly represents the five steps of the nursing process?
A. Assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, evaluation
B. Diagnosis, assessment, planning, evaluation, implementation
C. Planning, assessment, implementation, diagnosis, evaluation
D. Evaluation, planning, assessment, diagnosis, implementation
Answer: A
Explanation: The nursing process consists of assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation,
and evaluation (ADPIE). Assessment must precede diagnosis because diagnostic conclusions
depend on collected data.
Why the others are incorrect: Options B, C, and D all place diagnosis or evaluation before
assessment, which violates the logical sequence of the nursing process.
Metadata: CN: Safe and Effective Care Environment | CJ: Prioritize Hypotheses | QSEN: Safety
| AE: Essential II | D: Easy
5. A nurse receives a prescription for a medication that appears to exceed the recommended
dosage. Which action demonstrates the highest level of clinical judgment?
A. Administer the medication as prescribed to avoid conflict with the provider.
B. Withhold the medication and document the concern without contacting the provider.
C. Verify the prescription with the prescribing provider before administration.
D. Administer half the dose and monitor the patient for adverse effects.
Answer: C
Explanation: Verifying a questionable prescription with the prescribing provider is the
appropriate nursing action and reflects the nurse's responsibility for patient safety and medication
administration accuracy.
NCLEX-Style Questions with Answers,
Rationales & Unfolding Case Studies for
Nursing Students
Description:
Prepare for NURS 110 Exam 3 with the ultimate 2026/2027 nursing test bank. This
comprehensive resource delivers 100 NCLEX-style practice questions covering the nursing
process, clinical judgment, ethics, safety, infection control, maternal-newborn, pediatric,
mental health, pharmacology, leadership, and nursing theory. Every question includes a
bolded answer, detailed rationale, distractor analysis, difficulty level, and QSEN/AACN
alignment tags. Bonus features include two unfolding case studies, alternate item formats, a
consolidated answer key, and an instructor remediation guide. Fully updated for the 2026
NCLEX-RN Test Plan and current best practices.
Download your 10/10-rated NURS 110 Exam 3 study guide today and walk into your exam
confident, prepared, and ready to pass.
, NURS 110 Exam 3 Test Bank 2026/2027 — 100 Questions &
Answers
Section I: Nursing Process and Clinical Judgment (Items 1–6)
1. A nurse is caring for a postoperative patient who reports sudden shortness of breath and chest
pain. The nurse notes a respiratory rate of 28 breaths per minute and an oxygen saturation of
88% on room air. Which phase of the nursing process is the nurse primarily engaged in?
A. Planning
B. Assessment
C. Implementation
D. Evaluation
Answer: B
Explanation: The nurse is collecting subjective and objective data—the patient's reported
symptoms, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation—which constitutes the assessment phase, the
first step of the nursing process. Assessment precedes diagnosis, planning, implementation, and
evaluation. The findings described require immediate analysis, but the act of gathering that data
is assessment. The nurse has not yet formulated a diagnosis, established goals, intervened, or
evaluated outcomes.
Why the others are incorrect: Planning (A) involves goal setting and intervention selection,
which occurs after data analysis. Implementation (C) is the execution of interventions.
Evaluation (D) determines whether goals were met.
Metadata: CN: Physiological Integrity | CJ: Recognize Cues | QSEN: Patient-Centered Care |
AE: Essential I | D: Easy
2. A nurse is developing a plan of care for a patient with impaired mobility. Which action occurs
during the planning phase of the nursing process?
A. Establishing the nursing diagnosis
B. Collecting initial assessment data
,C. Carrying out prescribed interventions
D. Prioritizing nursing diagnoses and establishing expected outcomes
Answer: D
Explanation: The planning phase involves prioritizing nursing diagnoses, establishing patient-
centered goals and expected outcomes, and selecting appropriate nursing interventions.
Prioritizing diagnoses ensures that the most critical patient needs receive attention first,
reflecting sound clinical judgment consistent with the NCLEX-RN Clinical Judgment
Measurement Model.
Why the others are incorrect: Establishing a nursing diagnosis (A) belongs to the diagnosis
phase. Collecting initial data (B) is assessment. Carrying out interventions (C) is implementation.
Metadata: CN: Safe and Effective Care Environment | CJ: Generate Solutions | QSEN: Patient-
Centered Care | AE: Essential II | D: Easy
3. A nurse is caring for a patient who becomes tearful while discussing a new diagnosis of
diabetes. Which nursing response best demonstrates therapeutic communication?
A. "Don't worry. Many people live full lives with diabetes."
B. "You seem upset. Tell me more about what you are feeling."
C. "You should focus on the positive aspects of managing your health."
D. "Other patients have coped with worse diagnoses than this."
Answer: B
Explanation: This response acknowledges the patient's emotional state and invites further
expression without minimizing or dismissing the patient's experience. Therapeutic
communication requires active listening, empathy, and open-ended inquiry.
Why the others are incorrect: False reassurance (A), directive statements (C), and comparisons
to others (D) are nontherapeutic techniques that discourage honest disclosure.
, Metadata: CN: Psychosocial Integrity | CJ: Recognize Cues | QSEN: Patient-Centered Care |
AE: Essential VIII | D: Easy
4. Which sequence correctly represents the five steps of the nursing process?
A. Assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, evaluation
B. Diagnosis, assessment, planning, evaluation, implementation
C. Planning, assessment, implementation, diagnosis, evaluation
D. Evaluation, planning, assessment, diagnosis, implementation
Answer: A
Explanation: The nursing process consists of assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation,
and evaluation (ADPIE). Assessment must precede diagnosis because diagnostic conclusions
depend on collected data.
Why the others are incorrect: Options B, C, and D all place diagnosis or evaluation before
assessment, which violates the logical sequence of the nursing process.
Metadata: CN: Safe and Effective Care Environment | CJ: Prioritize Hypotheses | QSEN: Safety
| AE: Essential II | D: Easy
5. A nurse receives a prescription for a medication that appears to exceed the recommended
dosage. Which action demonstrates the highest level of clinical judgment?
A. Administer the medication as prescribed to avoid conflict with the provider.
B. Withhold the medication and document the concern without contacting the provider.
C. Verify the prescription with the prescribing provider before administration.
D. Administer half the dose and monitor the patient for adverse effects.
Answer: C
Explanation: Verifying a questionable prescription with the prescribing provider is the
appropriate nursing action and reflects the nurse's responsibility for patient safety and medication
administration accuracy.
