2026/2027 | NURSING EXAM PREP & PRACTICE QUESTIONS
1. Constitutional symptoms include all of the following EXCEPT:
fever
weakness
chest pain
fatigue
2. What is the expected pupil size in a comatose patient who has used heroin?
Constricted pupils
Dilated pupils
Unequal pupils
Normal-sized pupils
3. If Mary continues to experience elbow pain despite rest and modification of
her activities, what would be the next appropriate step in her management?
Referral to a physical therapist
Increased weight lifting
Ignoring the pain
Immediate surgery
,4. A 55-year-old bookkeeper comes to your office for a routine visit. You note
that on a previous visit for treatment of contact dermatitis, her blood pressure
was elevated. She does not have prior elevated readings and her family
history is negative for hypertension. You measure her blood pressure in your
office today. Which of the following factors can result in a false high reading?
Blood pressure is measured on a bare arm.
Patient is seated quietly for 10 minutes prior to measurement.
Patient's arm is resting, supported by your arm at her mid-chest level
as you stand to measure the blood pressure.
Blood pressure cuff is tightly fitted.
5. In a clinical scenario, if a nurse fails to use adaptive interviewing techniques
while assessing an elderly patient with urinary symptoms, what potential
impact could this have on patient care?
It would ensure a thorough physical examination is conducted.
It would improve the efficiency of the assessment process.
It could lead to incomplete information and misdiagnosis.
It would enhance the patient's comfort during the interview.
6. A 50-year-old woman presents with a new complaint of headache. The
patient states, 'This is the worst headache of my life.' Concurrent history
includes HTN. BP is 200/110 with a HR of 95. Which is the most likely etiology?
Cluster
Meningitis
Subarachnoid hemorrhage
Migraine
,7. An 84 year old client complains of reduced visual acuity and the presence
glaring around objects. on physical exam the nurse notices lens opacity. what
is the term for this common vision disturbance in the older adult?
cataracts
presbyopia
presbycusis
glaucoma
8. A 17-year-old high school student is brought in to your emergency room in a
comatose state. His friends have accompanied him and tell you that they
have been shooting up heroin tonight and they think their friend may have
had too much. The patient is unconscious and cannot protect his airway, so
he is intubated. His heart rate is 60 and he is breathing through the ventilator.
He is not posturing and he does not respond to a sternal rub. Preparing to
finish the neurologic examination, you get a penlight. What size pupils do you
expect to see in this comatose patient?
Irregularly shaped pupils
Large pupils
Pinpoint pupils
Asymmetric pupils
9. What BMI value indicates that a person is classified as obese?
35 or higher
30 or higher
25 or higher
40 or higher
, 10. Mrs. T. comes for her regular visit to the clinic. Her regular provider is on
vacation, but the client did not want to wait. The nurse has heard about this
client many times from colleagues and is aware that she is very talkative.
Which of the following is a helpful technique to improve the quality of the
interview for both provider and client?
Allow the client to speak uninterrupted for the duration of the
appointment.
Briefly summarize what the client says in the first 5 minutes and
then try to have her focus on one aspect of what she discussed.
11. A 29-y.o. patient comes to your office for evaluation of a headache. He
spends several hours each day at a computer monitor/keyboard. He
describes his headache as a tightening sensation is located all over the head
and is of moderate intensity. It usually only last minutes, but this time it has
lasted for 5 days. He has no photophobia and nausea. He has not tried any
medications. Based on this description, what is your most likely diagnosis?
Cluster
Tension
Migraine
Analgesic rebound
12. A pt presents to you saying she had noticed one large lesion (herald patch)
and then two days later many more developed on her back and arms. When
examining the rash, you notice it is in a christmas tree pattern. A KOH test is
negative. She does mention it is mildly pruritic. What is your likely diagnosis?
Lichen Planus
Rosacea
Psoriasis