NUR 272/NURS 272 FINAL EXAM
COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW | QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES |
2026/2027 UPDATED | MEDGAR EVERS
COLLEGE
Introduction
This comprehensive NUR 272/NURS 272 final exam review is designed to help
nursing students strengthen their clinical reasoning, apply nursing concepts to patient-
care scenarios, and prepare for examinations through original practice questions with
detailed rationales.
The review emphasizes foundational nursing knowledge, patient assessment, nursing
diagnoses, care planning, implementation, evaluation, safety, infection prevention,
medication administration, communication, documentation, and prioritization.
Questions use clinical scenarios to encourage students to recognize significant
assessment findings, identify potential complications, select appropriate nursing
interventions, and evaluate patient responses.
The material is intended as a general nursing study resource. The exact course title,
learning outcomes, and examination blueprint for NUR 272/NURS 272 at Medgar
Evers College have not been independently verified here. Therefore, these questions
are original practice materials rather than authenticated examination questions or an
official college question bank. Compare the topics with your syllabus, lecture notes,
assigned readings, and instructor-provided study guide.
Use each rationale to understand not only why the correct answer is appropriate, but
also why the alternatives are less suitable. Prioritize patient safety, evidence-based
practice, clinical judgment, and timely escalation when a patient's condition
deteriorates.
Core Content Domains
1.
Nursing assessment and clinical judgment
2.
3.
Nursing process and individualized care planning
, 4.
5.
Patient safety and infection prevention
6.
7.
Vital signs and recognition of deterioration
8.
9.
Medication administration and pharmacological safety
10.
11.
Fluid balance, electrolytes, and nutrition
12.
13.
Respiratory and cardiovascular nursing care
14.
15.
Gastrointestinal and urinary nursing care
16.
17.
Mobility, skin integrity, and wound management
18.
19.
Communication, documentation, ethics, and prioritization
20.
Questions 1–10: Nursing Assessment and
Clinical Judgment
Question 1
,A nurse enters a patient's room and finds the patient newly confused, restless, and
breathing rapidly. The patient's oxygen saturation is 86% on room air. Which action
should the nurse take first?
A. Review the patient's medical history.
B. Apply supplemental oxygen according to protocol and immediately assess airway
and breathing.
C. Document the change in mental status.
D. Ask the patient's family whether confusion is normal.
Correct Answer: B. Apply supplemental oxygen according to protocol and
immediately assess airway and breathing.
Rationale: Acute confusion and restlessness may be early signs of hypoxemia. An
oxygen saturation of 86% requires immediate assessment and intervention to improve
oxygenation, with escalation of care according to the patient's condition and
institutional protocol. Option A delays treatment of a potentially life-threatening
problem. Option C is necessary after immediate stabilization but does not address the
emergency. Option D may provide useful background information but must not delay
respiratory assessment and treatment.
Question 2
A patient reports severe abdominal pain rated 9 out of 10. The patient is pale,
diaphoretic, and has a blood pressure of 88/54 mmHg. What is the nurse's priority?
A. Offer oral fluids and reassess in one hour.
B. Complete a detailed dietary history.
C. Initiate urgent assessment, activate appropriate emergency assistance, and support
circulation according to protocol.
D. Encourage the patient to walk to relieve discomfort.
Correct Answer: C. Initiate urgent assessment, activate appropriate emergency
assistance, and support circulation according to protocol.
Rationale: Severe abdominal pain accompanied by hypotension, pallor, and
diaphoresis may indicate shock, internal bleeding, or another acute abdominal
emergency. The nurse should rapidly assess the patient, obtain assistance, monitor
vital signs, and implement emergency measures within scope and protocol. Option A
could delay evaluation and may be inappropriate depending on the suspected
condition. Option B is not the immediate priority. Option D may worsen instability
and is unsafe until the cause is evaluated.
, Question 3
During a routine assessment, a nurse discovers that a patient has a new unilateral
facial droop and difficulty speaking. What should the nurse do?
A. Activate the facility's stroke response and establish the time the patient was last
known well.
B. Reassess the patient after the next scheduled meal.
C. Give oral medication immediately.
D. Ask the patient to sleep while the nurse contacts the provider later.
Correct Answer: A. Activate the facility's stroke response and establish the time the
patient was last known well.
Rationale: Sudden facial droop and speech difficulty are warning signs of stroke.
Rapid recognition and emergency evaluation are essential because time-sensitive
treatment may be possible. The last-known-well time helps determine eligibility for
certain interventions. Option B delays critical care. Option C may create an aspiration
risk and is inappropriate before swallowing safety is assessed. Option D dangerously
delays emergency evaluation.
Question 4
A patient has a temperature of 39.4°C (102.9°F), heart rate of 124 beats/minute,
respiratory rate of 28 breaths/minute, and new lethargy. What is the most appropriate
nursing response?
A. Wait until the next scheduled observation round.
B. Administer an antipyretic and take no further action.
C. Encourage sleep and reduce interruptions.
D. Promptly assess for sepsis or other serious infection and escalate care.
Correct Answer: D. Promptly assess for sepsis or other serious infection and escalate
care.
Rationale: Fever, tachycardia, tachypnea, and altered mental status may indicate
serious infection and possible sepsis. The nurse should rapidly assess perfusion,
oxygenation, blood pressure, urine output, and other relevant findings while initiating
the appropriate escalation pathway. An antipyretic may be part of treatment but is not
sufficient alone. Waiting or simply encouraging sleep may delay life-saving
interventions.
Question 5
COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW | QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES |
2026/2027 UPDATED | MEDGAR EVERS
COLLEGE
Introduction
This comprehensive NUR 272/NURS 272 final exam review is designed to help
nursing students strengthen their clinical reasoning, apply nursing concepts to patient-
care scenarios, and prepare for examinations through original practice questions with
detailed rationales.
The review emphasizes foundational nursing knowledge, patient assessment, nursing
diagnoses, care planning, implementation, evaluation, safety, infection prevention,
medication administration, communication, documentation, and prioritization.
Questions use clinical scenarios to encourage students to recognize significant
assessment findings, identify potential complications, select appropriate nursing
interventions, and evaluate patient responses.
The material is intended as a general nursing study resource. The exact course title,
learning outcomes, and examination blueprint for NUR 272/NURS 272 at Medgar
Evers College have not been independently verified here. Therefore, these questions
are original practice materials rather than authenticated examination questions or an
official college question bank. Compare the topics with your syllabus, lecture notes,
assigned readings, and instructor-provided study guide.
Use each rationale to understand not only why the correct answer is appropriate, but
also why the alternatives are less suitable. Prioritize patient safety, evidence-based
practice, clinical judgment, and timely escalation when a patient's condition
deteriorates.
Core Content Domains
1.
Nursing assessment and clinical judgment
2.
3.
Nursing process and individualized care planning
, 4.
5.
Patient safety and infection prevention
6.
7.
Vital signs and recognition of deterioration
8.
9.
Medication administration and pharmacological safety
10.
11.
Fluid balance, electrolytes, and nutrition
12.
13.
Respiratory and cardiovascular nursing care
14.
15.
Gastrointestinal and urinary nursing care
16.
17.
Mobility, skin integrity, and wound management
18.
19.
Communication, documentation, ethics, and prioritization
20.
Questions 1–10: Nursing Assessment and
Clinical Judgment
Question 1
,A nurse enters a patient's room and finds the patient newly confused, restless, and
breathing rapidly. The patient's oxygen saturation is 86% on room air. Which action
should the nurse take first?
A. Review the patient's medical history.
B. Apply supplemental oxygen according to protocol and immediately assess airway
and breathing.
C. Document the change in mental status.
D. Ask the patient's family whether confusion is normal.
Correct Answer: B. Apply supplemental oxygen according to protocol and
immediately assess airway and breathing.
Rationale: Acute confusion and restlessness may be early signs of hypoxemia. An
oxygen saturation of 86% requires immediate assessment and intervention to improve
oxygenation, with escalation of care according to the patient's condition and
institutional protocol. Option A delays treatment of a potentially life-threatening
problem. Option C is necessary after immediate stabilization but does not address the
emergency. Option D may provide useful background information but must not delay
respiratory assessment and treatment.
Question 2
A patient reports severe abdominal pain rated 9 out of 10. The patient is pale,
diaphoretic, and has a blood pressure of 88/54 mmHg. What is the nurse's priority?
A. Offer oral fluids and reassess in one hour.
B. Complete a detailed dietary history.
C. Initiate urgent assessment, activate appropriate emergency assistance, and support
circulation according to protocol.
D. Encourage the patient to walk to relieve discomfort.
Correct Answer: C. Initiate urgent assessment, activate appropriate emergency
assistance, and support circulation according to protocol.
Rationale: Severe abdominal pain accompanied by hypotension, pallor, and
diaphoresis may indicate shock, internal bleeding, or another acute abdominal
emergency. The nurse should rapidly assess the patient, obtain assistance, monitor
vital signs, and implement emergency measures within scope and protocol. Option A
could delay evaluation and may be inappropriate depending on the suspected
condition. Option B is not the immediate priority. Option D may worsen instability
and is unsafe until the cause is evaluated.
, Question 3
During a routine assessment, a nurse discovers that a patient has a new unilateral
facial droop and difficulty speaking. What should the nurse do?
A. Activate the facility's stroke response and establish the time the patient was last
known well.
B. Reassess the patient after the next scheduled meal.
C. Give oral medication immediately.
D. Ask the patient to sleep while the nurse contacts the provider later.
Correct Answer: A. Activate the facility's stroke response and establish the time the
patient was last known well.
Rationale: Sudden facial droop and speech difficulty are warning signs of stroke.
Rapid recognition and emergency evaluation are essential because time-sensitive
treatment may be possible. The last-known-well time helps determine eligibility for
certain interventions. Option B delays critical care. Option C may create an aspiration
risk and is inappropriate before swallowing safety is assessed. Option D dangerously
delays emergency evaluation.
Question 4
A patient has a temperature of 39.4°C (102.9°F), heart rate of 124 beats/minute,
respiratory rate of 28 breaths/minute, and new lethargy. What is the most appropriate
nursing response?
A. Wait until the next scheduled observation round.
B. Administer an antipyretic and take no further action.
C. Encourage sleep and reduce interruptions.
D. Promptly assess for sepsis or other serious infection and escalate care.
Correct Answer: D. Promptly assess for sepsis or other serious infection and escalate
care.
Rationale: Fever, tachycardia, tachypnea, and altered mental status may indicate
serious infection and possible sepsis. The nurse should rapidly assess perfusion,
oxygenation, blood pressure, urine output, and other relevant findings while initiating
the appropriate escalation pathway. An antipyretic may be part of treatment but is not
sufficient alone. Waiting or simply encouraging sleep may delay life-saving
interventions.
Question 5
