Nursing Final Exam Questions
A 16-year-old girl is being seen at the clinic for gastrointestinal complaints and weight
loss. The nurse determines that many of her complaints may be r/t erratic eating
patterns, eating predominantly fast foods, and high caffeine intake. In this situation,
which is most appropriate when collecting current dietary intake information?
a. Scheduling a time for direct observation of the adolescent during meals
b. Asking the patient for a 24-hour diet recall, and assuming it to be reflective of a
typical day for her
c. Having the patient complete a food diary for 3 days, including 2 weekdays and 1
weekend day
d. Using the food frequency questionnaire to identify the amount of intake of specific
foods - ANS - c. Having the patient complete a food diary for 3 days, including 2
weekdays and 1 weekend day
\A 17-year-old single mother is describing how difficult it is to raise a 3-year-old child by
herself. During the course of the interview she states, "I can't believe my boyfriend left
me to do this by myself! What a terrible thing to do to me!" Which of these responses by
the nurse uses empathy?
a. "You feel alone."
b. "You can't believe he left you alone?"
c. "It must be so hard to care for a child all alone."
d. "I would be angry, too; raising a child alone is no picnic." - ANS - c. "It must be so
hard to care for a child all alone."
\A 17-year-old student is a swimmer on her high school's swim team. She has had three
bouts of otitis externa this season and wants to know what to do to prevent it. What
should the nurse include in the instructions?
a. Use a cotton-tipped swab to dry ear canals thoroughly after each swim.
b. Use rubbing alcohol or 2% acetic acid eardrops after every swim.
c. Irrigate the ears with warm water and a bulb syringe after each swim.
d. Rinse the ears with a warmed solution of mineral oil and hydrogen peroxide. - ANS -
b. Use rubbing alcohol or 2% acetic acid eardrops after every swim.
\A 19-year-old college student is brought to the emergency department with a severe
headache he describes as, "Like nothing I've ever had before." His temperature is 40°
C, and he has a stiff neck. The nurse looks for other signs and symptoms of which
problem?
a. Head injury
b. Cluster headache
c. Migraine headache
,d. Meningeal inflammation - ANS - d. Meningeal inflammation
\A 21-year-old woman has been on a low-protein liquid diet for the past 2 months. She
has had adequate intake of calories and appears well nourished. After further
assessment, what would the nurse expect to find?
a. Poor skin turgor
b. Decreased serum albumin
c. Increased lymphocyte count
d. Triceps skinfold less than standard - ANS - b. Decreased serum albumin
\A 22-year-old man comes to the clinic for an examination after falling off his motorcycle
and landing on his left side on the handle bars. The nurse suspects that he may have
injured his spleen. Which of these statements is trueregarding assessment of the spleen
in this situation?
a. The spleen can be enlarged as a result of trauma.
b. The spleen is normally felt on routine palpation.
c. If an enlarged spleen is noted, then the nurse should thoroughly palpate to determine
its size.
d. An enlarged spleen should not be palpated because it can easily rupture. - ANS - d.
An enlarged spleen should not be palpated because it can easily rupture.
\A 22-year-old woman is being seen at the clinic for problems with vulvar pain, dysuria,
and fever. On physical examination, the nurse notices clusters of small, shallow vesicles
with surrounding erythema on the labia. Inguinal lymphadenopathy is also present.
What do these findings indicate?
a. HPV
b. Pediculosis pubis
c. Contact dermatitis
d. Herpes simplex virus type 2 - ANS - d. Herpes simplex virus type 2
\A 25-year-old woman comes to the emergency department with a sudden fever of
38.3° C and abdominal pain. Upon examination, the nurse notices that she has rigid,
boardlike lower abdominal musculature. When the nurse tries to perform a vaginal
examination, the patient has severe pain when the uterus and cervix are moved. What
do these findings suggest?
a. Endometriosis
b. Uterine fibroids
c. Ectopic pregnancy
d. Pelvic inflammatory disease - ANS - d. Pelvic inflammatory disease
\A 25-year-old woman in her fifth month of pregnancy has a blood pressure of 100/70
mm Hg. In reviewing her previous examination, the nurse notes that her blood pressure
in her second month was 124/80 mm Hg. In evaluating this change, what does the
nurse know to be true?
,a. This decline in blood pressure is the result of peripheral vasodilatation and is an
expected change.
b. Because of increased cardiac output, the blood pressure should be higher at this
time.
c. This change in blood pressure is not an expected finding because it means a
decrease in cardiac output.
d. This decline in blood pressure means a decrease in circulating blood volume, which
is dangerous for the fetus. - ANS - a. This decline in blood pressure is the result of
peripheral vasodilatation and is an expected change.
\A 30-year-old female patient is describing feelings of hopelessness and depression.
She has attempted self-mutilation and has a history of suicide attempts. She describes
difficulty sleeping at night and has lost 10 pounds in the past month. Which of these
statements or questions is the nurse's best response in this situation?
a. "Do you have a weapon?"
b. "How do other people treat you?"
c. "Are you feeling so hopeless that you feel like hurting yourself now?"
d. "People often feel hopeless, but the feelings resolve within a few weeks." - ANS - c.
"Are you feeling so hopeless that you feel like hurting yourself now?"
\A 30-year-old woman is visiting the clinic because of "pain in my bottom when I have a
bowel movement." The nurse should assess for which problem?
a. Pinworms
b. Hemorrhoids
c. Colon cancer
d. Fecal incontinence - ANS - b. Hemorrhoids
\A 30-year-old woman with a history of mitral valve problems states that she has been
"very tired." She has started waking up at night and feels like her "heart is pounding."
During the assessment, the nurse palpates a thrill and lift at the fifth left intercostal
space midclavicular line. In the same area, the nurse also auscultates a blowing,
swishing sound right after the S1. What do these findings most likely indicate?
a. Heart failure
b. Aortic stenosis
c. Pulmonary edema
d. Mitral regurgitation - ANS - d. Mitral regurgitation
\A 32-year-old woman tells the nurse that she has noticed "very sudden, jerky
movements" mainly in her hands and arms. She says, "They seem to come and go,
primarily when I am trying to do something. I haven't noticed them when I'm sleeping."
What do these symptoms suggest?
a. Tics
b. Chorea
c. Athetosis
, d. Myoclonus - ANS - b. Chorea
\A 35-year-old recent immigrant is being seen in the clinic for symptoms of a cough
associated with rust-colored sputum, low-grade afternoon fevers, and night sweats for
the past 2 months. Based on these findings, what is the most likely cause?
a. Pneumonia
b. Bronchitis
c. Tuberculosis
d. Pulmonary edema - ANS - c. Tuberculosis
\A 35-year-old woman is at the clinic for a gynecologic examination. During the
examination, she asks the nurse, "How often do I need to have this Pap test done?"
Which reply by the nurse is correct?
a. "It depends. Do you smoke?"
b. "A Pap test needs to be performed annually until you are 65 years of age."
c. "If you have two consecutive normal Pap tests, then you can wait 5 years between
tests."
d. "After age 30 years, if you have three consecutive normal Pap tests, then you may be
screened every 2 to 3 years." - ANS - d. "After age 30 years, if you have three
consecutive normal Pap tests, then you may be screened every 2 to 3 years."
\A 4-year-old boy is brought to the emergency department by his mother. She says he
points to his stomach and says, "It hurts so bad." Which pain assessment tool would be
the best choice when assessing this child's pain?
a. Descriptor scale
b. Numeric rating scale
c. Brief pain inventory
d. Faces Pain Scale-Revised (FPS-R) - ANS - d. Faces Pain Scale-Revised (FPS-R)
\A 40-year-old man has come into the clinic reporting extreme pain in his toes. The
nurse notices that his toes are slightly swollen, reddened, and warm to the touch. What
does the nurse suspect?
a. Acute gout
b. Osteoporosis
c. Ankylosing spondylitis
d. Degenerative joint disease - ANS - a. Acute gout
\A 40-year-old man states that his physician told him that he has a hernia. He asks the
nurse to explain what a hernia is. Which response by the nurse is appropriate?
a. "No need to worry. Most men your age develop hernias."
b. "A hernia is a loop of bowel protruding through a weak spot in the abdominal
muscles."
c. "A hernia is the result of prenatal growth abnormalities that are just now causing
problems."
A 16-year-old girl is being seen at the clinic for gastrointestinal complaints and weight
loss. The nurse determines that many of her complaints may be r/t erratic eating
patterns, eating predominantly fast foods, and high caffeine intake. In this situation,
which is most appropriate when collecting current dietary intake information?
a. Scheduling a time for direct observation of the adolescent during meals
b. Asking the patient for a 24-hour diet recall, and assuming it to be reflective of a
typical day for her
c. Having the patient complete a food diary for 3 days, including 2 weekdays and 1
weekend day
d. Using the food frequency questionnaire to identify the amount of intake of specific
foods - ANS - c. Having the patient complete a food diary for 3 days, including 2
weekdays and 1 weekend day
\A 17-year-old single mother is describing how difficult it is to raise a 3-year-old child by
herself. During the course of the interview she states, "I can't believe my boyfriend left
me to do this by myself! What a terrible thing to do to me!" Which of these responses by
the nurse uses empathy?
a. "You feel alone."
b. "You can't believe he left you alone?"
c. "It must be so hard to care for a child all alone."
d. "I would be angry, too; raising a child alone is no picnic." - ANS - c. "It must be so
hard to care for a child all alone."
\A 17-year-old student is a swimmer on her high school's swim team. She has had three
bouts of otitis externa this season and wants to know what to do to prevent it. What
should the nurse include in the instructions?
a. Use a cotton-tipped swab to dry ear canals thoroughly after each swim.
b. Use rubbing alcohol or 2% acetic acid eardrops after every swim.
c. Irrigate the ears with warm water and a bulb syringe after each swim.
d. Rinse the ears with a warmed solution of mineral oil and hydrogen peroxide. - ANS -
b. Use rubbing alcohol or 2% acetic acid eardrops after every swim.
\A 19-year-old college student is brought to the emergency department with a severe
headache he describes as, "Like nothing I've ever had before." His temperature is 40°
C, and he has a stiff neck. The nurse looks for other signs and symptoms of which
problem?
a. Head injury
b. Cluster headache
c. Migraine headache
,d. Meningeal inflammation - ANS - d. Meningeal inflammation
\A 21-year-old woman has been on a low-protein liquid diet for the past 2 months. She
has had adequate intake of calories and appears well nourished. After further
assessment, what would the nurse expect to find?
a. Poor skin turgor
b. Decreased serum albumin
c. Increased lymphocyte count
d. Triceps skinfold less than standard - ANS - b. Decreased serum albumin
\A 22-year-old man comes to the clinic for an examination after falling off his motorcycle
and landing on his left side on the handle bars. The nurse suspects that he may have
injured his spleen. Which of these statements is trueregarding assessment of the spleen
in this situation?
a. The spleen can be enlarged as a result of trauma.
b. The spleen is normally felt on routine palpation.
c. If an enlarged spleen is noted, then the nurse should thoroughly palpate to determine
its size.
d. An enlarged spleen should not be palpated because it can easily rupture. - ANS - d.
An enlarged spleen should not be palpated because it can easily rupture.
\A 22-year-old woman is being seen at the clinic for problems with vulvar pain, dysuria,
and fever. On physical examination, the nurse notices clusters of small, shallow vesicles
with surrounding erythema on the labia. Inguinal lymphadenopathy is also present.
What do these findings indicate?
a. HPV
b. Pediculosis pubis
c. Contact dermatitis
d. Herpes simplex virus type 2 - ANS - d. Herpes simplex virus type 2
\A 25-year-old woman comes to the emergency department with a sudden fever of
38.3° C and abdominal pain. Upon examination, the nurse notices that she has rigid,
boardlike lower abdominal musculature. When the nurse tries to perform a vaginal
examination, the patient has severe pain when the uterus and cervix are moved. What
do these findings suggest?
a. Endometriosis
b. Uterine fibroids
c. Ectopic pregnancy
d. Pelvic inflammatory disease - ANS - d. Pelvic inflammatory disease
\A 25-year-old woman in her fifth month of pregnancy has a blood pressure of 100/70
mm Hg. In reviewing her previous examination, the nurse notes that her blood pressure
in her second month was 124/80 mm Hg. In evaluating this change, what does the
nurse know to be true?
,a. This decline in blood pressure is the result of peripheral vasodilatation and is an
expected change.
b. Because of increased cardiac output, the blood pressure should be higher at this
time.
c. This change in blood pressure is not an expected finding because it means a
decrease in cardiac output.
d. This decline in blood pressure means a decrease in circulating blood volume, which
is dangerous for the fetus. - ANS - a. This decline in blood pressure is the result of
peripheral vasodilatation and is an expected change.
\A 30-year-old female patient is describing feelings of hopelessness and depression.
She has attempted self-mutilation and has a history of suicide attempts. She describes
difficulty sleeping at night and has lost 10 pounds in the past month. Which of these
statements or questions is the nurse's best response in this situation?
a. "Do you have a weapon?"
b. "How do other people treat you?"
c. "Are you feeling so hopeless that you feel like hurting yourself now?"
d. "People often feel hopeless, but the feelings resolve within a few weeks." - ANS - c.
"Are you feeling so hopeless that you feel like hurting yourself now?"
\A 30-year-old woman is visiting the clinic because of "pain in my bottom when I have a
bowel movement." The nurse should assess for which problem?
a. Pinworms
b. Hemorrhoids
c. Colon cancer
d. Fecal incontinence - ANS - b. Hemorrhoids
\A 30-year-old woman with a history of mitral valve problems states that she has been
"very tired." She has started waking up at night and feels like her "heart is pounding."
During the assessment, the nurse palpates a thrill and lift at the fifth left intercostal
space midclavicular line. In the same area, the nurse also auscultates a blowing,
swishing sound right after the S1. What do these findings most likely indicate?
a. Heart failure
b. Aortic stenosis
c. Pulmonary edema
d. Mitral regurgitation - ANS - d. Mitral regurgitation
\A 32-year-old woman tells the nurse that she has noticed "very sudden, jerky
movements" mainly in her hands and arms. She says, "They seem to come and go,
primarily when I am trying to do something. I haven't noticed them when I'm sleeping."
What do these symptoms suggest?
a. Tics
b. Chorea
c. Athetosis
, d. Myoclonus - ANS - b. Chorea
\A 35-year-old recent immigrant is being seen in the clinic for symptoms of a cough
associated with rust-colored sputum, low-grade afternoon fevers, and night sweats for
the past 2 months. Based on these findings, what is the most likely cause?
a. Pneumonia
b. Bronchitis
c. Tuberculosis
d. Pulmonary edema - ANS - c. Tuberculosis
\A 35-year-old woman is at the clinic for a gynecologic examination. During the
examination, she asks the nurse, "How often do I need to have this Pap test done?"
Which reply by the nurse is correct?
a. "It depends. Do you smoke?"
b. "A Pap test needs to be performed annually until you are 65 years of age."
c. "If you have two consecutive normal Pap tests, then you can wait 5 years between
tests."
d. "After age 30 years, if you have three consecutive normal Pap tests, then you may be
screened every 2 to 3 years." - ANS - d. "After age 30 years, if you have three
consecutive normal Pap tests, then you may be screened every 2 to 3 years."
\A 4-year-old boy is brought to the emergency department by his mother. She says he
points to his stomach and says, "It hurts so bad." Which pain assessment tool would be
the best choice when assessing this child's pain?
a. Descriptor scale
b. Numeric rating scale
c. Brief pain inventory
d. Faces Pain Scale-Revised (FPS-R) - ANS - d. Faces Pain Scale-Revised (FPS-R)
\A 40-year-old man has come into the clinic reporting extreme pain in his toes. The
nurse notices that his toes are slightly swollen, reddened, and warm to the touch. What
does the nurse suspect?
a. Acute gout
b. Osteoporosis
c. Ankylosing spondylitis
d. Degenerative joint disease - ANS - a. Acute gout
\A 40-year-old man states that his physician told him that he has a hernia. He asks the
nurse to explain what a hernia is. Which response by the nurse is appropriate?
a. "No need to worry. Most men your age develop hernias."
b. "A hernia is a loop of bowel protruding through a weak spot in the abdominal
muscles."
c. "A hernia is the result of prenatal growth abnormalities that are just now causing
problems."
