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NURS 143
MIDTERM EXAM
2026/2027 EDITION
100 Exam-Style Questions & Answers | Detailed Rationales
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,Section 1: Brief Introduction
The NURS 143 midterm exam assesses foundational nursing knowledge and clinical
judgment in the care of adult clients, in the style of the NCLEX test plan. This practice exam
presents 100 recall, calculation, prioritization, clinical-scenario, and client-education
questions covering the nursing process, safety and infection control, client care and
comfort, vital signs and assessment, medication administration, wound care, perioperative
care, fluid and electrolyte balance, documentation, client teaching, cultural and legal-ethical
issues, and common medical-surgical disorders. Each question shows the highlighted
correct answer and a rationale that explains why the other options are wrong.
Section 2: The Complete Exam
1. Which finding documented by the nurse is an example of subjective data?
A. Blood pressure is 142/88 mm Hg.
B. A 3-cm area of redness is on the heel.
C. The client states, "I feel nauseated after I eat."
D. Temperature is 38.2 °C (100.8 °F).
Rationale: Subjective data are symptoms described by the client, such as nausea, pain, or
fatigue. Vital signs and measurements are objective data the nurse observes or measures.
2. A nurse gives a PRN analgesic and returns 30 minutes later to ask the client to rate the
pain again. Which step of the nursing process does this represent?
A. Assessment
B. Implementation
C. Planning
D. Evaluation
Rationale: Evaluation determines whether the client's goals or outcomes were met after an
intervention. Reassessing pain after giving the medication measures the response to the
intervention.
2
,3. Which is a correctly written problem-focused nursing diagnosis?
A. Acute pain related to surgical incision as evidenced by grimacing and a pain
rating of 8/10
B. Needs analgesic related to incisional pain
C. Appendectomy related to acute abdominal pain
D. Postoperative pain related to lack of pain medication
Rationale: A nursing diagnosis has a problem, a related-to factor, and defining characteristics,
and it must be something nurses can treat independently. Medical diagnoses and statements
that restate a need or missing treatment are not valid nursing diagnoses.
4. Which is the best-written goal for a client who needs to improve mobility after hip
surgery?
A. The client will walk 50 feet with a walker and standby assistance by the end of
the shift.
B. The client will improve mobility.
C. The nurse will ambulate the client twice daily.
D. The client will walk more every day.
Rationale: Goals should be client-centered, specific, measurable, realistic, and time-bound. The
incorrect options are vague or describe a nurse action rather than the client's expected
outcome.
5. Four clients are assigned to the nurse. Which client should the nurse assess first?
A. A client with a pain rating of 5/10 on postoperative day 2
B. A client with asthma who has audible wheezing and a respiratory rate of 32
C. A client with type 2 diabetes awaiting a scheduled meal
D. A client who is waiting for discharge teaching
Rationale: Airway, breathing, and circulation take priority over other needs. Respiratory
distress is life-threatening, whereas pain, scheduled meals, and teaching are less urgent.
3
, 6. A client is admitted in respiratory distress and tells the nurse she is afraid. According to
Maslow's hierarchy of needs, which need should the nurse address first?
A. Oxygenation
B. Fear and anxiety
C. Information about the plan of care
D. Family visitation
Rationale: Physiological needs such as oxygen and airway must be met before safety,
belonging, and psychological needs. Comforting the client is important but comes after the
airway is supported.
7. A client is placed on airborne precautions for suspected active pulmonary tuberculosis.
Which measure is required?
A. Place the client in a private room with a surgical mask for staff
B. Place the client in a negative-pressure room and wear a fit-tested N95
respirator
C. Place the client in any room with the door open
D. Use a gown and gloves only when entering the room
Rationale: Airborne pathogens remain suspended in the air, so a negative-pressure airborne
infection isolation room and a fit-tested N95 or higher respirator are required. Surgical masks
do not filter airborne particles.
8. A client has Clostridioides difficile infection. Which action is most appropriate for hand
hygiene?
A. Use an alcohol-based hand rub after glove removal
B. Use hand rub only if hands are visibly soiled
C. Wash hands only before entering the room
D. Wash hands with soap and water after glove removal
Rationale: C. difficile forms spores that are not reliably killed by alcohol-based hand rubs, so
soap and water mechanical friction is preferred. Contact precautions with gown and gloves
are also used.
4
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╲╲╲╲╲╲ ●●●●●●●●●
╲╲╲╲╲ ●●●●●●●●●
╲╲╲╲ ●●●●●●●●●
╲╲╲
╲╲
╲
NURS 143
MIDTERM EXAM
2026/2027 EDITION
100 Exam-Style Questions & Answers | Detailed Rationales
◆ ◇ ◆
●●●●●●●●●
●●●●●●●●●
●●●●●●●●●
◆ ◆
●●●●●●●●●
●●●●●●●●●
●●●●●●●●●
●●●●●●●●●
◆ ─── ◆ ─── ◆
,Section 1: Brief Introduction
The NURS 143 midterm exam assesses foundational nursing knowledge and clinical
judgment in the care of adult clients, in the style of the NCLEX test plan. This practice exam
presents 100 recall, calculation, prioritization, clinical-scenario, and client-education
questions covering the nursing process, safety and infection control, client care and
comfort, vital signs and assessment, medication administration, wound care, perioperative
care, fluid and electrolyte balance, documentation, client teaching, cultural and legal-ethical
issues, and common medical-surgical disorders. Each question shows the highlighted
correct answer and a rationale that explains why the other options are wrong.
Section 2: The Complete Exam
1. Which finding documented by the nurse is an example of subjective data?
A. Blood pressure is 142/88 mm Hg.
B. A 3-cm area of redness is on the heel.
C. The client states, "I feel nauseated after I eat."
D. Temperature is 38.2 °C (100.8 °F).
Rationale: Subjective data are symptoms described by the client, such as nausea, pain, or
fatigue. Vital signs and measurements are objective data the nurse observes or measures.
2. A nurse gives a PRN analgesic and returns 30 minutes later to ask the client to rate the
pain again. Which step of the nursing process does this represent?
A. Assessment
B. Implementation
C. Planning
D. Evaluation
Rationale: Evaluation determines whether the client's goals or outcomes were met after an
intervention. Reassessing pain after giving the medication measures the response to the
intervention.
2
,3. Which is a correctly written problem-focused nursing diagnosis?
A. Acute pain related to surgical incision as evidenced by grimacing and a pain
rating of 8/10
B. Needs analgesic related to incisional pain
C. Appendectomy related to acute abdominal pain
D. Postoperative pain related to lack of pain medication
Rationale: A nursing diagnosis has a problem, a related-to factor, and defining characteristics,
and it must be something nurses can treat independently. Medical diagnoses and statements
that restate a need or missing treatment are not valid nursing diagnoses.
4. Which is the best-written goal for a client who needs to improve mobility after hip
surgery?
A. The client will walk 50 feet with a walker and standby assistance by the end of
the shift.
B. The client will improve mobility.
C. The nurse will ambulate the client twice daily.
D. The client will walk more every day.
Rationale: Goals should be client-centered, specific, measurable, realistic, and time-bound. The
incorrect options are vague or describe a nurse action rather than the client's expected
outcome.
5. Four clients are assigned to the nurse. Which client should the nurse assess first?
A. A client with a pain rating of 5/10 on postoperative day 2
B. A client with asthma who has audible wheezing and a respiratory rate of 32
C. A client with type 2 diabetes awaiting a scheduled meal
D. A client who is waiting for discharge teaching
Rationale: Airway, breathing, and circulation take priority over other needs. Respiratory
distress is life-threatening, whereas pain, scheduled meals, and teaching are less urgent.
3
, 6. A client is admitted in respiratory distress and tells the nurse she is afraid. According to
Maslow's hierarchy of needs, which need should the nurse address first?
A. Oxygenation
B. Fear and anxiety
C. Information about the plan of care
D. Family visitation
Rationale: Physiological needs such as oxygen and airway must be met before safety,
belonging, and psychological needs. Comforting the client is important but comes after the
airway is supported.
7. A client is placed on airborne precautions for suspected active pulmonary tuberculosis.
Which measure is required?
A. Place the client in a private room with a surgical mask for staff
B. Place the client in a negative-pressure room and wear a fit-tested N95
respirator
C. Place the client in any room with the door open
D. Use a gown and gloves only when entering the room
Rationale: Airborne pathogens remain suspended in the air, so a negative-pressure airborne
infection isolation room and a fit-tested N95 or higher respirator are required. Surgical masks
do not filter airborne particles.
8. A client has Clostridioides difficile infection. Which action is most appropriate for hand
hygiene?
A. Use an alcohol-based hand rub after glove removal
B. Use hand rub only if hands are visibly soiled
C. Wash hands only before entering the room
D. Wash hands with soap and water after glove removal
Rationale: C. difficile forms spores that are not reliably killed by alcohol-based hand rubs, so
soap and water mechanical friction is preferred. Contact precautions with gown and gloves
are also used.
4
