NURS 370 Practice Exam Questions
with Actual Detailed Answers 2025-
2026 Review Update.
A 4-year-old is brought to Emergency by his parents, who report he swallowed a small toy. What
symptom suggests complete airway obstruction by a foreign body?
A. Gagging
B. Coughing
C. Inability to speak
D. Rapid respirations - Answer C. Inability to speak
The adult client is newly admitted to the ward following surgery. Which assessment finding
should be the RN's priority?
A.The surgical site dressing has a scant amount of bright red blood.
B.The client is sleeping but easily arouses when touched.
C.The client's respirations are 6 to 8 breaths per minute.
D.The client's blood pressure is 100/68 mm Hg. - Answer C. The client's respirations are 6 to 8
breaths per minute.
The nurse is caring for a client who had a total hip replacement four days ago. Which
assessment requires the nurse's immediate attention?
A."I have bad pain in my lower leg"
B."I just can't 'catch my breath"
C. "I have to use the bedpan to pee at least every hour."
D. "The pain medication is not working today." - Answer B. "I just can't 'catch my breath"
There has been a train derailment and four people are injured. Which patient should the RN see
first?
A.Client who is 20 years of age who has unequal pupils and is tachypneic
B.Client who is 80 years old complaining of a "racing heart" and has a laceration on his arm
C.Client who is 10 years old with a swollen wrist
D.Client who is 25 years old with an open chest wall wound - Answer D. Client who is 25 years
old with an open chest wall wound
,A. The client is sleepy
B. The client coughed up blood-tinged sputum
C. Oxygen saturation level is 82%
D. Jackson-Pratt wound drain is half full - Answer C. Oxygen saturation level is 82%
At 0730 hours, the oncoming RN is planning care for four clients. Which client should the RN
plan to assess first?
A.The 23-year-old client with cystic fibrosis who has pulmonary function tests scheduled in ten
minutes
B.The 35-year-old client admitted the previous day with bacterial pneumonia and now has a
temperature of 39.4oC
C.The 46-year-old client who had a chest tube removed an hour ago and now has dyspnea
D.The 77-year-old client with tuberculosis who has four anti-tubercular medications due at
08:00 hours - Answer C. The 46-year-old client who had a chest tube removed an hour ago
and now has dyspnea
What is the purpose of the ABCDE approach? - Answer To provide life-saving treatment
To break down complex clinical situations into more manageable parts
To serve as an assessment and treatment algorithm
To establish common situational awareness among all treatment providers
To buy time to establish a final diagnosis and treatment (identifies priority needs and guides
nursing practice)
Can be initiated without any equipment and more advanced interventions can be applied on
arrival of emergency medical services, in a clinic, or at the hospital.
Assessments should be repeated until the patient is stable, regularly, and/or at any sign of
deterioration.
What are strategies for prioritizing care? - Answer Central focus on prioritization of Client care:
-Priority 1 - life threatening illness (ex: airway obstruction, myocardial infarction)
-Priority 2 - safety (ex: of patient and family, nurse and health professionals)
-Priority 3 - client priorities (ex: pain, nausea)
-Priority 4 - nurse priorities (ex: a nursing intervention appropriate for the situation)
What are normal/expected airway findings? - Answer Patient responds in a normal voice
,Complete obstruction = there is no respiration despite great effort, unconscious
What are possible airway interventions? List them. - Answer Head tilt and chin tilt to open
airway
Suction of the airways
Removal of foreign bodies
Conscious - 5 back blows or 5 abdominal thrusts
High oxygen flow should be given ASAP
Endotracheal tube
What are normal/expected breathing findings? - Answer Respiratory rate appropriate for age,
normal O2Sat
Symmetrical and visible movements of the thoracic
Percussed unilateral dullness or resonance
What are abnormal/unexpected breathing findings? - Answer Cyanosis
Distended neck veins
Lateralization of the trachea
Tension pneumothorax (air trapped in pleural space)
Bronchospasms
What are possible breathing interventions? List them. - Answer Seat comfortably
Rescue breaths
Tension pneumothorax (relieve immediately by inserting cannula between 2nd intercostal space
(needle thoracentesis)
Treat with oxygen
Inhalations of meds (ex: Ventolin)
Assisted ventilation (bag mask or intubation)
Elevate head of bed
What are normal/expected circulation findings? - Answer Capillary refill within range
Pulse rate appropriate for age (equal/bilateral)
, What are abnormal/unexpected circulation findings? - Answer Colour changes, sweating, and
decreased LOC = decreased perfusion
Hypotension/hypertension
Hypovolemia
(grey/blue skin)
What are possible circulation interventions? List them. - Answer Stop bleeding
IV access, infuse saline
Heart auscultation
Electrocardiography
Blood pressure measurements
Elevating legs and placing patient in recovery position (supine)
What are normal/expected disability findings? - Answer LOC intact
A - alert
V - voice
P - pain responsive
U - unresponsive
GCS (total 9-15): Eye opening - 4, 3, 2, 1; Verbal - 5, 4, 3, 2, 1; Motor - 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
Blood glucose within normal limits
What are abnormal/unexpected disability findings? - Answer GCS of 8 or less
Hypo or hyperglycaemia
What are possible disability interventions? List them. - Answer ABC's are stable
Lateral limb movement (symmetry)
Intubation may be required
Pupillary light reflexes
Blood glucose measured (if low, oral or infused glucose) - insulin? glucagon? glucose?
Recovery position
with Actual Detailed Answers 2025-
2026 Review Update.
A 4-year-old is brought to Emergency by his parents, who report he swallowed a small toy. What
symptom suggests complete airway obstruction by a foreign body?
A. Gagging
B. Coughing
C. Inability to speak
D. Rapid respirations - Answer C. Inability to speak
The adult client is newly admitted to the ward following surgery. Which assessment finding
should be the RN's priority?
A.The surgical site dressing has a scant amount of bright red blood.
B.The client is sleeping but easily arouses when touched.
C.The client's respirations are 6 to 8 breaths per minute.
D.The client's blood pressure is 100/68 mm Hg. - Answer C. The client's respirations are 6 to 8
breaths per minute.
The nurse is caring for a client who had a total hip replacement four days ago. Which
assessment requires the nurse's immediate attention?
A."I have bad pain in my lower leg"
B."I just can't 'catch my breath"
C. "I have to use the bedpan to pee at least every hour."
D. "The pain medication is not working today." - Answer B. "I just can't 'catch my breath"
There has been a train derailment and four people are injured. Which patient should the RN see
first?
A.Client who is 20 years of age who has unequal pupils and is tachypneic
B.Client who is 80 years old complaining of a "racing heart" and has a laceration on his arm
C.Client who is 10 years old with a swollen wrist
D.Client who is 25 years old with an open chest wall wound - Answer D. Client who is 25 years
old with an open chest wall wound
,A. The client is sleepy
B. The client coughed up blood-tinged sputum
C. Oxygen saturation level is 82%
D. Jackson-Pratt wound drain is half full - Answer C. Oxygen saturation level is 82%
At 0730 hours, the oncoming RN is planning care for four clients. Which client should the RN
plan to assess first?
A.The 23-year-old client with cystic fibrosis who has pulmonary function tests scheduled in ten
minutes
B.The 35-year-old client admitted the previous day with bacterial pneumonia and now has a
temperature of 39.4oC
C.The 46-year-old client who had a chest tube removed an hour ago and now has dyspnea
D.The 77-year-old client with tuberculosis who has four anti-tubercular medications due at
08:00 hours - Answer C. The 46-year-old client who had a chest tube removed an hour ago
and now has dyspnea
What is the purpose of the ABCDE approach? - Answer To provide life-saving treatment
To break down complex clinical situations into more manageable parts
To serve as an assessment and treatment algorithm
To establish common situational awareness among all treatment providers
To buy time to establish a final diagnosis and treatment (identifies priority needs and guides
nursing practice)
Can be initiated without any equipment and more advanced interventions can be applied on
arrival of emergency medical services, in a clinic, or at the hospital.
Assessments should be repeated until the patient is stable, regularly, and/or at any sign of
deterioration.
What are strategies for prioritizing care? - Answer Central focus on prioritization of Client care:
-Priority 1 - life threatening illness (ex: airway obstruction, myocardial infarction)
-Priority 2 - safety (ex: of patient and family, nurse and health professionals)
-Priority 3 - client priorities (ex: pain, nausea)
-Priority 4 - nurse priorities (ex: a nursing intervention appropriate for the situation)
What are normal/expected airway findings? - Answer Patient responds in a normal voice
,Complete obstruction = there is no respiration despite great effort, unconscious
What are possible airway interventions? List them. - Answer Head tilt and chin tilt to open
airway
Suction of the airways
Removal of foreign bodies
Conscious - 5 back blows or 5 abdominal thrusts
High oxygen flow should be given ASAP
Endotracheal tube
What are normal/expected breathing findings? - Answer Respiratory rate appropriate for age,
normal O2Sat
Symmetrical and visible movements of the thoracic
Percussed unilateral dullness or resonance
What are abnormal/unexpected breathing findings? - Answer Cyanosis
Distended neck veins
Lateralization of the trachea
Tension pneumothorax (air trapped in pleural space)
Bronchospasms
What are possible breathing interventions? List them. - Answer Seat comfortably
Rescue breaths
Tension pneumothorax (relieve immediately by inserting cannula between 2nd intercostal space
(needle thoracentesis)
Treat with oxygen
Inhalations of meds (ex: Ventolin)
Assisted ventilation (bag mask or intubation)
Elevate head of bed
What are normal/expected circulation findings? - Answer Capillary refill within range
Pulse rate appropriate for age (equal/bilateral)
, What are abnormal/unexpected circulation findings? - Answer Colour changes, sweating, and
decreased LOC = decreased perfusion
Hypotension/hypertension
Hypovolemia
(grey/blue skin)
What are possible circulation interventions? List them. - Answer Stop bleeding
IV access, infuse saline
Heart auscultation
Electrocardiography
Blood pressure measurements
Elevating legs and placing patient in recovery position (supine)
What are normal/expected disability findings? - Answer LOC intact
A - alert
V - voice
P - pain responsive
U - unresponsive
GCS (total 9-15): Eye opening - 4, 3, 2, 1; Verbal - 5, 4, 3, 2, 1; Motor - 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
Blood glucose within normal limits
What are abnormal/unexpected disability findings? - Answer GCS of 8 or less
Hypo or hyperglycaemia
What are possible disability interventions? List them. - Answer ABC's are stable
Lateral limb movement (symmetry)
Intubation may be required
Pupillary light reflexes
Blood glucose measured (if low, oral or infused glucose) - insulin? glucagon? glucose?
Recovery position
