NUR 272 EXAM 3 NCLEX STYLE REVIEW
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
PLUS RATIONALE NEW 2026-2027 UPDATE
143 QUESTIONS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
# TOPIC
1 Prioritize nursing interventions for patients with complex, multisystem health alterations using Maslow's
hierarchy and ABC framework
2 Interpret diagnostic data and laboratory values to guide clinical decision-making and evaluate therapeutic
responses
3 Apply principles of safe medication administration, including high-alert medications, to prevent adverse
events
4 Recognize early signs of clinical deterioration and initiate appropriate rapid response interventions
5 Evaluate the effectiveness of nursing interventions for patients with acute and chronic health conditions
6 NUR 272 Exam 3 NCLEX Style Review Questions and Correct Answers plus Rationale New 2026
7 2027 Update
8 Foundations of Medical-Surgical Nursing / Complex Adult Health
9 Applied Medical-Surgical Nursing / Complex Adult Health
10 Advanced Medical-Surgical Nursing / Complex Adult Health
11 Medical-Surgical Nursing / Complex Adult Health Review
ABSTRACT
This study document brings together 143 carefully worded exam questions drawn from NUR 272
Exam 3 NCLEX Style Review Questions and Correct Answers plus Rationale New 2026-2027
Update, with the strongest emphasis placed on Prioritize nursing interventions for patients with
complex, multisystem health alterations using Maslow's hierarchy and ABC framework, Interpret
diagnostic data and laboratory values to guide clinical decision-making and evaluate therapeutic
responses, Apply principles of safe medication administration, including high-alert medications and
to prevent adverse events. Every item follows the wording style and level of reasoning you meet in
the real paper, and each one is paired with a clear rationale so the correct choice is never a guess.
Work through the set at your own pace, mark the questions that slow you down, then come back to
them until the reasoning feels automatic. Learners who revise this way walk into the exam room
recognising the pattern behind the questions instead of meeting them for the first time. Keep going
- steady, honest practice is what turns a difficult paper into a comfortable pass.
Page 1
,Q1 PRIORITIZE NURSING INTERVENTIONS FOR PATIENTS WITH COMPLEX, MULTISYSTEM
HEALTH ALTERATIONS USING MASLOW'S HIERARCHY AND ABC FRAMEWORK
A patient with acute decompensated heart failure is receiving intravenous
furosemide. Which assessment finding requires immediate nursing intervention?
A. Urine output of 50 mL/hr
B. Serum potassium of 3.1 mEq/L CORRECT
C. Blood pressure of 108/62 mm Hg
D. Weight loss of 1 kg over 24 hours
RATIONALE: Loop diuretics like furosemide cause potassium loss; a level of 3.1 mEq/L is
critically low and predisposes to dysrhythmias. The other findings are expected therapeutic
effects or acceptable parameters.
Q2 PRIORITIZE NURSING INTERVENTIONS FOR PATIENTS WITH COMPLEX, MULTISYSTEM
HEALTH ALTERATIONS USING MASLOW'S HIERARCHY AND ABC FRAMEWORK
A patient with type 1 diabetes has a blood glucose of 42 mg/dL and is
unresponsive. After administering glucagon, which action should the nurse take
next?
A. Administer 50% dextrose IV push
B. Recheck blood glucose in 15 minutes CORRECT
C. Place the patient in a supine position
D. Prepare to administer insulin
RATIONALE: After giving glucagon, the nurse should recheck glucose in 15 minutes to evaluate
effectiveness. IV dextrose is used if the patient is unresponsive and glucagon is unavailable or
ineffective. Insulin would worsen hypoglycemia.
Page 2
,Q3 PRIORITIZE NURSING INTERVENTIONS FOR PATIENTS WITH COMPLEX, MULTISYSTEM
HEALTH ALTERATIONS USING MASLOW'S HIERARCHY AND ABC FRAMEWORK
A patient with a traumatic brain injury has an intracranial pressure (ICP) of 22 mm
Hg. Which intervention should the nurse implement first?
A. Administer mannitol 0.5 g/kg IV
B. Elevate the head of the bed to 30 degrees CORRECT
C. Hyperventilate the patient to a PaCO2 of 30 mm Hg
D. Perform a lumbar puncture
RATIONALE: Elevating the head of the bed promotes venous drainage and reduces ICP, a
first-line noninvasive intervention. Mannitol is used but not first; hyperventilation is a temporary
measure; lumbar puncture is contraindicated with elevated ICP.
Q4 PRIORITIZE NURSING INTERVENTIONS FOR PATIENTS WITH COMPLEX, MULTISYSTEM
HEALTH ALTERATIONS USING MASLOW'S HIERARCHY AND ABC FRAMEWORK
A patient is receiving a blood transfusion and develops fever, chills, and flank
pain. Which action should the nurse take immediately?
A. Stop the transfusion and maintain IV access with normal saline CORRECT
B. Administer acetaminophen and continue the transfusion
C. Slow the transfusion rate and reassess in 15 minutes
D. Obtain a urine sample and continue the transfusion
RATIONALE: These are signs of an acute hemolytic transfusion reaction; the transfusion must be
stopped immediately and IV access maintained with normal saline. Continuing or slowing the
transfusion can worsen the reaction. Acetaminophen is for febrile nonhemolytic reactions.
Page 3
, Q5 PRIORITIZE NURSING INTERVENTIONS FOR PATIENTS WITH COMPLEX, MULTISYSTEM
HEALTH ALTERATIONS USING MASLOW'S HIERARCHY AND ABC FRAMEWORK
A patient with a new colostomy has a stoma that is dark purple and dry. Which
action should the nurse take?
A. Apply a moist dressing and notify the provider CORRECT
B. Document the finding as normal
C. Apply petroleum jelly to the stoma
D. Increase the frequency of stoma care
RATIONALE: A dark purple, dry stoma indicates ischemia and requires immediate provider
notification and moist dressing. A normal stoma is pink/red and moist. Petroleum jelly is not used.
Documentation as normal is incorrect.
Q6 PRIORITIZE NURSING INTERVENTIONS FOR PATIENTS WITH COMPLEX, MULTISYSTEM
HEALTH ALTERATIONS USING MASLOW'S HIERARCHY AND ABC FRAMEWORK
A patient with acute pancreatitis is receiving total parenteral nutrition (TPN).
Which laboratory value should the nurse monitor most closely?
A. Serum amylase
B. Serum potassium
C. Serum glucose CORRECT
D. Serum lipase
RATIONALE: TPN contains high dextrose, risking hyperglycemia; glucose monitoring is critical.
Amylase and lipase reflect pancreatitis but are not directly affected by TPN. Potassium may be
affected but glucose is the priority.
Page 4
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
PLUS RATIONALE NEW 2026-2027 UPDATE
143 QUESTIONS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
# TOPIC
1 Prioritize nursing interventions for patients with complex, multisystem health alterations using Maslow's
hierarchy and ABC framework
2 Interpret diagnostic data and laboratory values to guide clinical decision-making and evaluate therapeutic
responses
3 Apply principles of safe medication administration, including high-alert medications, to prevent adverse
events
4 Recognize early signs of clinical deterioration and initiate appropriate rapid response interventions
5 Evaluate the effectiveness of nursing interventions for patients with acute and chronic health conditions
6 NUR 272 Exam 3 NCLEX Style Review Questions and Correct Answers plus Rationale New 2026
7 2027 Update
8 Foundations of Medical-Surgical Nursing / Complex Adult Health
9 Applied Medical-Surgical Nursing / Complex Adult Health
10 Advanced Medical-Surgical Nursing / Complex Adult Health
11 Medical-Surgical Nursing / Complex Adult Health Review
ABSTRACT
This study document brings together 143 carefully worded exam questions drawn from NUR 272
Exam 3 NCLEX Style Review Questions and Correct Answers plus Rationale New 2026-2027
Update, with the strongest emphasis placed on Prioritize nursing interventions for patients with
complex, multisystem health alterations using Maslow's hierarchy and ABC framework, Interpret
diagnostic data and laboratory values to guide clinical decision-making and evaluate therapeutic
responses, Apply principles of safe medication administration, including high-alert medications and
to prevent adverse events. Every item follows the wording style and level of reasoning you meet in
the real paper, and each one is paired with a clear rationale so the correct choice is never a guess.
Work through the set at your own pace, mark the questions that slow you down, then come back to
them until the reasoning feels automatic. Learners who revise this way walk into the exam room
recognising the pattern behind the questions instead of meeting them for the first time. Keep going
- steady, honest practice is what turns a difficult paper into a comfortable pass.
Page 1
,Q1 PRIORITIZE NURSING INTERVENTIONS FOR PATIENTS WITH COMPLEX, MULTISYSTEM
HEALTH ALTERATIONS USING MASLOW'S HIERARCHY AND ABC FRAMEWORK
A patient with acute decompensated heart failure is receiving intravenous
furosemide. Which assessment finding requires immediate nursing intervention?
A. Urine output of 50 mL/hr
B. Serum potassium of 3.1 mEq/L CORRECT
C. Blood pressure of 108/62 mm Hg
D. Weight loss of 1 kg over 24 hours
RATIONALE: Loop diuretics like furosemide cause potassium loss; a level of 3.1 mEq/L is
critically low and predisposes to dysrhythmias. The other findings are expected therapeutic
effects or acceptable parameters.
Q2 PRIORITIZE NURSING INTERVENTIONS FOR PATIENTS WITH COMPLEX, MULTISYSTEM
HEALTH ALTERATIONS USING MASLOW'S HIERARCHY AND ABC FRAMEWORK
A patient with type 1 diabetes has a blood glucose of 42 mg/dL and is
unresponsive. After administering glucagon, which action should the nurse take
next?
A. Administer 50% dextrose IV push
B. Recheck blood glucose in 15 minutes CORRECT
C. Place the patient in a supine position
D. Prepare to administer insulin
RATIONALE: After giving glucagon, the nurse should recheck glucose in 15 minutes to evaluate
effectiveness. IV dextrose is used if the patient is unresponsive and glucagon is unavailable or
ineffective. Insulin would worsen hypoglycemia.
Page 2
,Q3 PRIORITIZE NURSING INTERVENTIONS FOR PATIENTS WITH COMPLEX, MULTISYSTEM
HEALTH ALTERATIONS USING MASLOW'S HIERARCHY AND ABC FRAMEWORK
A patient with a traumatic brain injury has an intracranial pressure (ICP) of 22 mm
Hg. Which intervention should the nurse implement first?
A. Administer mannitol 0.5 g/kg IV
B. Elevate the head of the bed to 30 degrees CORRECT
C. Hyperventilate the patient to a PaCO2 of 30 mm Hg
D. Perform a lumbar puncture
RATIONALE: Elevating the head of the bed promotes venous drainage and reduces ICP, a
first-line noninvasive intervention. Mannitol is used but not first; hyperventilation is a temporary
measure; lumbar puncture is contraindicated with elevated ICP.
Q4 PRIORITIZE NURSING INTERVENTIONS FOR PATIENTS WITH COMPLEX, MULTISYSTEM
HEALTH ALTERATIONS USING MASLOW'S HIERARCHY AND ABC FRAMEWORK
A patient is receiving a blood transfusion and develops fever, chills, and flank
pain. Which action should the nurse take immediately?
A. Stop the transfusion and maintain IV access with normal saline CORRECT
B. Administer acetaminophen and continue the transfusion
C. Slow the transfusion rate and reassess in 15 minutes
D. Obtain a urine sample and continue the transfusion
RATIONALE: These are signs of an acute hemolytic transfusion reaction; the transfusion must be
stopped immediately and IV access maintained with normal saline. Continuing or slowing the
transfusion can worsen the reaction. Acetaminophen is for febrile nonhemolytic reactions.
Page 3
, Q5 PRIORITIZE NURSING INTERVENTIONS FOR PATIENTS WITH COMPLEX, MULTISYSTEM
HEALTH ALTERATIONS USING MASLOW'S HIERARCHY AND ABC FRAMEWORK
A patient with a new colostomy has a stoma that is dark purple and dry. Which
action should the nurse take?
A. Apply a moist dressing and notify the provider CORRECT
B. Document the finding as normal
C. Apply petroleum jelly to the stoma
D. Increase the frequency of stoma care
RATIONALE: A dark purple, dry stoma indicates ischemia and requires immediate provider
notification and moist dressing. A normal stoma is pink/red and moist. Petroleum jelly is not used.
Documentation as normal is incorrect.
Q6 PRIORITIZE NURSING INTERVENTIONS FOR PATIENTS WITH COMPLEX, MULTISYSTEM
HEALTH ALTERATIONS USING MASLOW'S HIERARCHY AND ABC FRAMEWORK
A patient with acute pancreatitis is receiving total parenteral nutrition (TPN).
Which laboratory value should the nurse monitor most closely?
A. Serum amylase
B. Serum potassium
C. Serum glucose CORRECT
D. Serum lipase
RATIONALE: TPN contains high dextrose, risking hyperglycemia; glucose monitoring is critical.
Amylase and lipase reflect pancreatitis but are not directly affected by TPN. Potassium may be
affected but glucose is the priority.
Page 4
