NUR 215 Nursing Exam Bundle 2026/2027 | Exam 1, Exam 2 & Final
Exam Practice Questions with Answers and Rationales
Question 1
A nurse is admitting a client who reports generalized weakness,
lethargy, and muscle cramps. Laboratory results reveal a serum
potassium level of 2.9 mEq/L. Which electrocardiogram (ECG) finding
should the nurse expect to observe?
A. Tall, peaked T waves
B. Prominent U waves and ST-segment depression
C. Widened QRS complexes
D. Shortened QT interval
Correct Answer: B. Prominent U waves and ST-segment depression
Detailed Rationale: Hypokalemia (< 3.5 mEq/L) hyperpolarizes the cell
membrane, altering myocardial repolarization. Typical ECG changes
associated with low potassium include prominent U waves, flattened or
inverted T waves, and ST-segment depression. Tall peaked T waves are
characteristic of hyperkalemia.
Question 2
A nurse is preparing to administer an intradermal injection for a
tuberculin skin test. Which angle of needle insertion is correct for an
intradermal injection?
A. 15∘ angle with the bevel up
B. 45∘ angle
C. 90∘ angle
,D. 60∘ angle
Correct Answer: A. 15∘ angle with the bevel up
Detailed Rationale: Intradermal injections are administered into the
dermal layer just beneath the epidermis. The needle should be inserted
at a 5--15∘ angle with the bevel facing upward so that a small bleb or
wheal forms under the skin.
Question 3
A nurse is assessing a client's surgical incision and notes separation of
the wound edges with protrusion of visceral organs through the surgical
wound. What is the nurse's immediate priority action?
A. Push the protruding organs gently back into the abdominal cavity.
B. Cover the wound with sterile, saline-moistened gauze and notify the
surgical team immediately.
C. Apply a tight abdominal binder without dressings.
D. Administer a prescribed oral analgesic.
Correct Answer: B. Cover the wound with sterile, saline-moistened
gauze and notify the surgical team immediately.
Detailed Rationale: This is an acute surgical emergency known as
evisceration. The nurse must immediately stay with the client, place
them in a low-Fowler's position with knees flexed, cover the exposed
viscera with sterile dressings moistened with warm sterile normal
saline, and notify the surgeon right away. Never attempt to push organs
back inside.
Question 4
,A nurse is reviewing a prescription: "Infuse 1,000 mLof 0.9%Normal
Saline IV over 8 hours." The drop factor of the manual tubing is
15 gtt/mL. Calculate the flow rate in drops per minute (gtt/min). (Round
to the nearest whole number)
A. 25 gtt/min
B. 31 gtt/min
C. 42 gtt/min
D. 125 gtt/min
Correct Answer: B. 31 gtt/min
Detailed Rationale:
Total Time in Minutes = 8 hours × 60 minutes/hour = 480 minutes
Total Volume (mL) × Drop Factor (gtt/mL)
Flow Rate (gtt/min) =
Total Time (minutes)
1,000 mL × 15 gtt/mL 15,000
= = = 31.25 ≈ 31 gtt/min
480 minutes 480
Question 5
A nurse is preparing to administer a sublingual medication. Where
should the nurse instruct the client to place the medication?
A. On top of the tongue and swallow with water
B. Between the cheek and the gum
C. Underneath the tongue until completely dissolved
D. Directly inside the ear canal
Correct Answer: C. Underneath the tongue until completely dissolved
, Detailed Rationale: Sublingual medications are placed underneath the
tongue, where they dissolve rapidly and absorb directly into systemic
circulation through the rich mucosal blood supply, bypassing first-pass
hepatic metabolism. Buccal medications are placed between the cheek
and gum.
Question 6
A nurse is caring for a client with a nasogastric (NG) tube connected to
low intermittent suction. The client complains of sudden epigastric
discomfort, nausea, and a feeling of fullness, but no drainage has
entered the collection canister for 2 hours. What should the nurse do
first?
A. Instill 30 mLof air into the blue vent lumen (Salem sump).
B. Irrigate the main suction lumen with 30 mLof sterile normal saline
per policy.
C. Pull the tube out 4 inches.
D. Discontinue the suction and remove the tube.
Correct Answer: B. Irrigate the main suction lumen with 30 mLof sterile
normal saline per policy.
Detailed Rationale: When an NG tube stops draining and the client
experiences nausea or fullness, the primary cause is a mucus plug or
blockage within the lumen. The nurse should first check for kinks, and
then irrigate the main lumen with sterile normal saline (as
prescribed/per protocol) to clear the obstruction. (Note: The blue air-
vent on a Salem sump tube should never be clamped or used for
irrigation; it remains open to keep air flow constant).
Exam Practice Questions with Answers and Rationales
Question 1
A nurse is admitting a client who reports generalized weakness,
lethargy, and muscle cramps. Laboratory results reveal a serum
potassium level of 2.9 mEq/L. Which electrocardiogram (ECG) finding
should the nurse expect to observe?
A. Tall, peaked T waves
B. Prominent U waves and ST-segment depression
C. Widened QRS complexes
D. Shortened QT interval
Correct Answer: B. Prominent U waves and ST-segment depression
Detailed Rationale: Hypokalemia (< 3.5 mEq/L) hyperpolarizes the cell
membrane, altering myocardial repolarization. Typical ECG changes
associated with low potassium include prominent U waves, flattened or
inverted T waves, and ST-segment depression. Tall peaked T waves are
characteristic of hyperkalemia.
Question 2
A nurse is preparing to administer an intradermal injection for a
tuberculin skin test. Which angle of needle insertion is correct for an
intradermal injection?
A. 15∘ angle with the bevel up
B. 45∘ angle
C. 90∘ angle
,D. 60∘ angle
Correct Answer: A. 15∘ angle with the bevel up
Detailed Rationale: Intradermal injections are administered into the
dermal layer just beneath the epidermis. The needle should be inserted
at a 5--15∘ angle with the bevel facing upward so that a small bleb or
wheal forms under the skin.
Question 3
A nurse is assessing a client's surgical incision and notes separation of
the wound edges with protrusion of visceral organs through the surgical
wound. What is the nurse's immediate priority action?
A. Push the protruding organs gently back into the abdominal cavity.
B. Cover the wound with sterile, saline-moistened gauze and notify the
surgical team immediately.
C. Apply a tight abdominal binder without dressings.
D. Administer a prescribed oral analgesic.
Correct Answer: B. Cover the wound with sterile, saline-moistened
gauze and notify the surgical team immediately.
Detailed Rationale: This is an acute surgical emergency known as
evisceration. The nurse must immediately stay with the client, place
them in a low-Fowler's position with knees flexed, cover the exposed
viscera with sterile dressings moistened with warm sterile normal
saline, and notify the surgeon right away. Never attempt to push organs
back inside.
Question 4
,A nurse is reviewing a prescription: "Infuse 1,000 mLof 0.9%Normal
Saline IV over 8 hours." The drop factor of the manual tubing is
15 gtt/mL. Calculate the flow rate in drops per minute (gtt/min). (Round
to the nearest whole number)
A. 25 gtt/min
B. 31 gtt/min
C. 42 gtt/min
D. 125 gtt/min
Correct Answer: B. 31 gtt/min
Detailed Rationale:
Total Time in Minutes = 8 hours × 60 minutes/hour = 480 minutes
Total Volume (mL) × Drop Factor (gtt/mL)
Flow Rate (gtt/min) =
Total Time (minutes)
1,000 mL × 15 gtt/mL 15,000
= = = 31.25 ≈ 31 gtt/min
480 minutes 480
Question 5
A nurse is preparing to administer a sublingual medication. Where
should the nurse instruct the client to place the medication?
A. On top of the tongue and swallow with water
B. Between the cheek and the gum
C. Underneath the tongue until completely dissolved
D. Directly inside the ear canal
Correct Answer: C. Underneath the tongue until completely dissolved
, Detailed Rationale: Sublingual medications are placed underneath the
tongue, where they dissolve rapidly and absorb directly into systemic
circulation through the rich mucosal blood supply, bypassing first-pass
hepatic metabolism. Buccal medications are placed between the cheek
and gum.
Question 6
A nurse is caring for a client with a nasogastric (NG) tube connected to
low intermittent suction. The client complains of sudden epigastric
discomfort, nausea, and a feeling of fullness, but no drainage has
entered the collection canister for 2 hours. What should the nurse do
first?
A. Instill 30 mLof air into the blue vent lumen (Salem sump).
B. Irrigate the main suction lumen with 30 mLof sterile normal saline
per policy.
C. Pull the tube out 4 inches.
D. Discontinue the suction and remove the tube.
Correct Answer: B. Irrigate the main suction lumen with 30 mLof sterile
normal saline per policy.
Detailed Rationale: When an NG tube stops draining and the client
experiences nausea or fullness, the primary cause is a mucus plug or
blockage within the lumen. The nurse should first check for kinks, and
then irrigate the main lumen with sterile normal saline (as
prescribed/per protocol) to clear the obstruction. (Note: The blue air-
vent on a Salem sump tube should never be clamped or used for
irrigation; it remains open to keep air flow constant).
