NUR 283 Comprehensive Exam 2026
| Nursing Questions and Answers
A patient with a possible pulmonary embolism complains of chest pain and difficulty breathing.
The nurse finds a heart rate of 142 beats/min, blood pressure of 100/60 mmHg, and respirations
of 42 breaths/min. Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Administer anticoagulant drug therapy
B. Notify the patient's health care provider
C. Pressure patient for a spiral computed tomography (CT)
D. Elevate the head of the bed to a semi-Fowler's position - ANSWER-D. Elevate the head of the
bed to a semi-Fowler's position
The emergency department nurse is evaluating the effective of therapy for a patient who has
received treatment during an asthma attack. Which assessment finding is the best indicator that
the therapy has been effective?
A. No wheezes are audible
B. O2 saturation is >90%
C. Accessory muscle use has decreased
D. Respiratory rate is 16 breaths/minute - ANSWER-B. O2 saturation is >90%
A patient in the clinic with cystic fibrosis (CF) reports increased sweating and weakness during
the summer months. Which action by the nurse would be most appropriate?
,A. Teach the patient signs of hypoglycemia
B. Have the patient add dietary salt to meals
C. Suggest decreasing intake of dietary fat and calories
D. Instruct the patient about pancreatic enzyme replacements - ANSWER-B. Have the patient
add dietary salt to meals
A patient who has a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) was hospitalized
for increasing shortness of breath and chronic hypoxemia (SaO2 levels of 89% to 90%). In
planning for discharge, which action by the nurse will be most effective in improving compliance
with discharge teaching?
A. Have the patient repeat the instructions immediately after teaching
B. Accomplish the patient teaching just before the scheduled discharge
C. Arrange for the patient's caregiver to be present during the teaching
D. Start giving the patient discharge teaching during the admission process - ANSWER-C.
Arrange for the patient's caregiver to be present during the teaching
A patient is scheduled for a computed tomography (CT) scan of the chest with contrast media.
Which assessment findings should the nurse report to the healthcare provider before the
patient goes for the CT? Select all that apply.
A. Allergy to shellfish
B. Patient reports claustrophobia
C. Elevated serum creatinine level
D. Recent bronchodilator inhaler use
E. Inability to remove a wedding band - ANSWER-ANS: A, C
Because the contrast media is iodine-based and may cause dehydration and decreased renal
blood flow, asking about iodine allergies (such as allergy to shellfish) and monitoring renal
function before the CT scan are necessary. The other actions are not contraindications for CT of
the chest, although they may be for other diagnostic tests, such as magnetic resonance imaging
(MRI) or pulmonary function testing (PFT).
,A patient arrives in the ear, nose and throat clinic complaining of a piece of tissue being "stuck
up my nose" and which foul-smelling nasal drainage from the right nare. Which action should
the nurse take first?
A. Notify the clinic health care provider
B. Obtain aerobic culture specimens of the drainage
C. Ask the patient about how the cotton got into the nose
D. Have the patient occlude the left nare and blow the nose - ANSWER-D. Have the patient
occlude the left nare and blow the nose
Because the highest priority action is to remove the foreign object from the nare, the nurse's
first action should be to assist the patient to remove the object. The other actions are also
appropriate but should be done after attempting to clear the nose.
The nurse is caring for a patient with aortic stenosis. Which assessment data obtained by the
nurse would be most important to report to the health care provider?
A. The patient complains of chest pressure when ambulating
B. A loud systolic murmur is heard along the right sternal border
C. A thrill is palpated at the second intercostal space, right sternal border
D. The point of maximum impulse (PMI) is at the left midclavicular line - ANSWER-A. The patient
complains of chest pressure when ambulating
Which are clinical findings in a person with an acute lower extremity VTE? Select all that apply.
A. Pallor and coolness of foot and calf
B. Mild to moderate calf pain and tenderness
, C. Grossly diminished or absent pedal pulses
D. Unilateral edema and induration of the thigh
E. Palpable cord along a superficial varicose vein - ANSWER-B. Mild to moderate calf pain and
tenderness
D. Unilateral edema and induration of the thigh
The patient with lower extremity venous thromboembolism (VTE) may or may not have
unilateral leg edema, extremity pain, a sense of fullness in the thigh or calf, paresthesias, warm
skin, erythema, or a systemic temperature greater than 100.4 F (38 C). If the calf is involved, it
may be tender to palpation.
Which statement(s) is/are correct about infective endocarditis? Select all that apply.
A. The infection leading to heart failure, sepsis and heart block
B. Tests to diagnose IE are MRI and CT scan
C. Symptoms of subacute IE include arthralgias, myalgias and clubbing of fingers
D. Worsening or new onset of systolic murmur is noted, and the aortic or mitral valves are most
often affected in most patient with IE
E. IE generally requires treatment with antibiotic for 4-6 weeks and bed rest - ANSWER-A. The
infection leading to heart failure, sepsis and heart block
C. Symptoms of subacute IE include arthralgias, myalgias and clubbing of fingers
D. Worsening or new onset of systolic murmur is noted, and the aortic or mitral valves are most
often affected in most patient with IE
E. IE generally requires treatment with antibiotic for 4-6 weeks and best rest
A patient with a history of chronic stable angina begins to feel a squeezing, heavy kind of ache in
their chest that radiates to between their shoulder blades. Expecting that they may be
experiencing an angina attack, what is the first thing the nurse will do?
| Nursing Questions and Answers
A patient with a possible pulmonary embolism complains of chest pain and difficulty breathing.
The nurse finds a heart rate of 142 beats/min, blood pressure of 100/60 mmHg, and respirations
of 42 breaths/min. Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Administer anticoagulant drug therapy
B. Notify the patient's health care provider
C. Pressure patient for a spiral computed tomography (CT)
D. Elevate the head of the bed to a semi-Fowler's position - ANSWER-D. Elevate the head of the
bed to a semi-Fowler's position
The emergency department nurse is evaluating the effective of therapy for a patient who has
received treatment during an asthma attack. Which assessment finding is the best indicator that
the therapy has been effective?
A. No wheezes are audible
B. O2 saturation is >90%
C. Accessory muscle use has decreased
D. Respiratory rate is 16 breaths/minute - ANSWER-B. O2 saturation is >90%
A patient in the clinic with cystic fibrosis (CF) reports increased sweating and weakness during
the summer months. Which action by the nurse would be most appropriate?
,A. Teach the patient signs of hypoglycemia
B. Have the patient add dietary salt to meals
C. Suggest decreasing intake of dietary fat and calories
D. Instruct the patient about pancreatic enzyme replacements - ANSWER-B. Have the patient
add dietary salt to meals
A patient who has a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) was hospitalized
for increasing shortness of breath and chronic hypoxemia (SaO2 levels of 89% to 90%). In
planning for discharge, which action by the nurse will be most effective in improving compliance
with discharge teaching?
A. Have the patient repeat the instructions immediately after teaching
B. Accomplish the patient teaching just before the scheduled discharge
C. Arrange for the patient's caregiver to be present during the teaching
D. Start giving the patient discharge teaching during the admission process - ANSWER-C.
Arrange for the patient's caregiver to be present during the teaching
A patient is scheduled for a computed tomography (CT) scan of the chest with contrast media.
Which assessment findings should the nurse report to the healthcare provider before the
patient goes for the CT? Select all that apply.
A. Allergy to shellfish
B. Patient reports claustrophobia
C. Elevated serum creatinine level
D. Recent bronchodilator inhaler use
E. Inability to remove a wedding band - ANSWER-ANS: A, C
Because the contrast media is iodine-based and may cause dehydration and decreased renal
blood flow, asking about iodine allergies (such as allergy to shellfish) and monitoring renal
function before the CT scan are necessary. The other actions are not contraindications for CT of
the chest, although they may be for other diagnostic tests, such as magnetic resonance imaging
(MRI) or pulmonary function testing (PFT).
,A patient arrives in the ear, nose and throat clinic complaining of a piece of tissue being "stuck
up my nose" and which foul-smelling nasal drainage from the right nare. Which action should
the nurse take first?
A. Notify the clinic health care provider
B. Obtain aerobic culture specimens of the drainage
C. Ask the patient about how the cotton got into the nose
D. Have the patient occlude the left nare and blow the nose - ANSWER-D. Have the patient
occlude the left nare and blow the nose
Because the highest priority action is to remove the foreign object from the nare, the nurse's
first action should be to assist the patient to remove the object. The other actions are also
appropriate but should be done after attempting to clear the nose.
The nurse is caring for a patient with aortic stenosis. Which assessment data obtained by the
nurse would be most important to report to the health care provider?
A. The patient complains of chest pressure when ambulating
B. A loud systolic murmur is heard along the right sternal border
C. A thrill is palpated at the second intercostal space, right sternal border
D. The point of maximum impulse (PMI) is at the left midclavicular line - ANSWER-A. The patient
complains of chest pressure when ambulating
Which are clinical findings in a person with an acute lower extremity VTE? Select all that apply.
A. Pallor and coolness of foot and calf
B. Mild to moderate calf pain and tenderness
, C. Grossly diminished or absent pedal pulses
D. Unilateral edema and induration of the thigh
E. Palpable cord along a superficial varicose vein - ANSWER-B. Mild to moderate calf pain and
tenderness
D. Unilateral edema and induration of the thigh
The patient with lower extremity venous thromboembolism (VTE) may or may not have
unilateral leg edema, extremity pain, a sense of fullness in the thigh or calf, paresthesias, warm
skin, erythema, or a systemic temperature greater than 100.4 F (38 C). If the calf is involved, it
may be tender to palpation.
Which statement(s) is/are correct about infective endocarditis? Select all that apply.
A. The infection leading to heart failure, sepsis and heart block
B. Tests to diagnose IE are MRI and CT scan
C. Symptoms of subacute IE include arthralgias, myalgias and clubbing of fingers
D. Worsening or new onset of systolic murmur is noted, and the aortic or mitral valves are most
often affected in most patient with IE
E. IE generally requires treatment with antibiotic for 4-6 weeks and bed rest - ANSWER-A. The
infection leading to heart failure, sepsis and heart block
C. Symptoms of subacute IE include arthralgias, myalgias and clubbing of fingers
D. Worsening or new onset of systolic murmur is noted, and the aortic or mitral valves are most
often affected in most patient with IE
E. IE generally requires treatment with antibiotic for 4-6 weeks and best rest
A patient with a history of chronic stable angina begins to feel a squeezing, heavy kind of ache in
their chest that radiates to between their shoulder blades. Expecting that they may be
experiencing an angina attack, what is the first thing the nurse will do?
