Nur 257 Final Exam 2026 Questions And
Correct Answers Already Graded A+
A patient is being admitted to the neurologic ICU following an
acute head injury that has resulted in cerebral edema. When
planning this patient's care, the nurse would expect to administer
what priority medication?
A) Hydrochlorothiazide (HydroDIURIL)
B) Furosemide (Lasix)
C) Mannitol (Osmitrol)
D) Spirolactone (Aldactone) - ANSWER: C
The nurse is providing care for a patient who is unconscious.
What nursing intervention takes highest priority?
A) Maintaining accurate records of intake and output
B) Maintaining a patent airway
C) Inserting a nasogastric (NG) tube as ordered
D) Providing appropriate pain control - ANSWER: B
The nurse is caring for a patient in the ICU who has a brain stem
herniation and who is exhibiting an altered level of consciousness.
Monitoring reveals that the patient's mean arterial pressure (MAP)
is 60 mm Hg with an intracranial pressure (ICP) reading of 5 mm
Hg. What is the nurse's most appropriate action?
A) Position the patient in the high Fowler's position as tolerated.
B) Administer osmotic diuretics as ordered.
,C) Participate in interventions to increase cerebral perfusion
pressure.
D) Prepare the patient for craniotomy - ANSWER: C
The nurse is caring for a patient who is postoperative following a
craniotomy. When writing the plan of care, the nurse identifies a
diagnosis of "deficient fluid volume related to fluid restriction and
osmotic diuretic use." What would be an appropriate intervention
for this diagnosis?
A) Change the patient's position as indicated.
B) Monitor serum electrolytes.
C) Maintain NPO status.
D) Monitor arterial blood gas (ABG) values. - ANSWER: B
A patient with a documented history of seizure disorder
experiences a generalized seizure. What nursing action is most
appropriate?
A) Restrain the patient to prevent injury.
B) Open the patient's jaws to insert an oral airway.
C) Place patient in high Fowler's position.
D) Loosen the patient's restrictive clothing. - ANSWER: D
A patient who has been on long-term phenytoin (Dilantin) therapy
is admitted to the unit. In light of the adverse of effects of this
medication, the nurse should prioritize which of the following in
the patient's plan of care?
A) Monitoring of pulse oximetry
B) Administration of a low-protein diet
C) Administration of thorough oral hygiene
D) Fluid restriction as ordered - ANSWER: C
,A nurse is admitting a patient with a severe migraine headache
and a history of acute coronary syndrome. What migraine
medication would the nurse question for this patient?
A) Rizatriptan (Maxalt)
B) Naratriptan (Amerge)
C) Sumatriptan succinate (Imitrex)
D) Zolmitriptan (Zomig) - ANSWER: C
The nurse is caring for a patient with increased intracranial
pressure (ICP). The patient has a nursing diagnosis of "ineffective
cerebral tissue perfusion." What would be an expected outcome
that the nurse would document for this diagnosis?
A) Copes with sensory deprivation.
B) Registers normal body temperature.
C) Pays attention to grooming.
D) Obeys commands with appropriate motor responses. -
ANSWER: D
A patient exhibiting an altered level of consciousness (LOC) due
to blunt-force trauma to the head is admitted to the ED. The
physician determines the patient's injury is causing increased
intracranial pressure (ICP). The nurse should gauge the patient's
LOC on the results of what diagnostic tool?
A) Monro-Kellie hypothesis
B) Glasgow Coma Scale
C) Cranial nerve function
D) Mental status examination - ANSWER: B
While completing a health history on a patient who has recently
experienced a seizure, the nurse would assess for what
characteristic associated with the postictal state?
, A) Epileptic cry
B) Confusion
C) Urinary incontinence
D) Body rigidity - ANSWER: B
A patient with increased ICP has a ventriculostomy for monitoring
ICP. The nurse's most recent assessment reveals that the patient
is now exhibiting nuchal rigidity and photophobia. The nurse
would be correct in suspecting the presence of what
complication?
A) Encephalitis
B) CSF leak
C) Meningitis
D) Catheter occlusion - ANSWER: C
The nurse is participating in the care of a patient with increased
ICP. What diagnostic test is contraindicated in this patient's
treatment?
A) Computed tomography (CT) scan
B) Lumbar puncture
C) Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
D) Venous Doppler studies - ANSWER: B
The nurse is caring for a patient who is in status epilepticus. What
medication does the nurse know may be given to halt the seizure
immediately?
A) Intravenous phenobarbital (Luminal)
B) Intravenous diazepam (Valium)
C) Oral lorazepam (Ativan)
D) Oral phenytoin (Dilantin) - ANSWER: B
Correct Answers Already Graded A+
A patient is being admitted to the neurologic ICU following an
acute head injury that has resulted in cerebral edema. When
planning this patient's care, the nurse would expect to administer
what priority medication?
A) Hydrochlorothiazide (HydroDIURIL)
B) Furosemide (Lasix)
C) Mannitol (Osmitrol)
D) Spirolactone (Aldactone) - ANSWER: C
The nurse is providing care for a patient who is unconscious.
What nursing intervention takes highest priority?
A) Maintaining accurate records of intake and output
B) Maintaining a patent airway
C) Inserting a nasogastric (NG) tube as ordered
D) Providing appropriate pain control - ANSWER: B
The nurse is caring for a patient in the ICU who has a brain stem
herniation and who is exhibiting an altered level of consciousness.
Monitoring reveals that the patient's mean arterial pressure (MAP)
is 60 mm Hg with an intracranial pressure (ICP) reading of 5 mm
Hg. What is the nurse's most appropriate action?
A) Position the patient in the high Fowler's position as tolerated.
B) Administer osmotic diuretics as ordered.
,C) Participate in interventions to increase cerebral perfusion
pressure.
D) Prepare the patient for craniotomy - ANSWER: C
The nurse is caring for a patient who is postoperative following a
craniotomy. When writing the plan of care, the nurse identifies a
diagnosis of "deficient fluid volume related to fluid restriction and
osmotic diuretic use." What would be an appropriate intervention
for this diagnosis?
A) Change the patient's position as indicated.
B) Monitor serum electrolytes.
C) Maintain NPO status.
D) Monitor arterial blood gas (ABG) values. - ANSWER: B
A patient with a documented history of seizure disorder
experiences a generalized seizure. What nursing action is most
appropriate?
A) Restrain the patient to prevent injury.
B) Open the patient's jaws to insert an oral airway.
C) Place patient in high Fowler's position.
D) Loosen the patient's restrictive clothing. - ANSWER: D
A patient who has been on long-term phenytoin (Dilantin) therapy
is admitted to the unit. In light of the adverse of effects of this
medication, the nurse should prioritize which of the following in
the patient's plan of care?
A) Monitoring of pulse oximetry
B) Administration of a low-protein diet
C) Administration of thorough oral hygiene
D) Fluid restriction as ordered - ANSWER: C
,A nurse is admitting a patient with a severe migraine headache
and a history of acute coronary syndrome. What migraine
medication would the nurse question for this patient?
A) Rizatriptan (Maxalt)
B) Naratriptan (Amerge)
C) Sumatriptan succinate (Imitrex)
D) Zolmitriptan (Zomig) - ANSWER: C
The nurse is caring for a patient with increased intracranial
pressure (ICP). The patient has a nursing diagnosis of "ineffective
cerebral tissue perfusion." What would be an expected outcome
that the nurse would document for this diagnosis?
A) Copes with sensory deprivation.
B) Registers normal body temperature.
C) Pays attention to grooming.
D) Obeys commands with appropriate motor responses. -
ANSWER: D
A patient exhibiting an altered level of consciousness (LOC) due
to blunt-force trauma to the head is admitted to the ED. The
physician determines the patient's injury is causing increased
intracranial pressure (ICP). The nurse should gauge the patient's
LOC on the results of what diagnostic tool?
A) Monro-Kellie hypothesis
B) Glasgow Coma Scale
C) Cranial nerve function
D) Mental status examination - ANSWER: B
While completing a health history on a patient who has recently
experienced a seizure, the nurse would assess for what
characteristic associated with the postictal state?
, A) Epileptic cry
B) Confusion
C) Urinary incontinence
D) Body rigidity - ANSWER: B
A patient with increased ICP has a ventriculostomy for monitoring
ICP. The nurse's most recent assessment reveals that the patient
is now exhibiting nuchal rigidity and photophobia. The nurse
would be correct in suspecting the presence of what
complication?
A) Encephalitis
B) CSF leak
C) Meningitis
D) Catheter occlusion - ANSWER: C
The nurse is participating in the care of a patient with increased
ICP. What diagnostic test is contraindicated in this patient's
treatment?
A) Computed tomography (CT) scan
B) Lumbar puncture
C) Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
D) Venous Doppler studies - ANSWER: B
The nurse is caring for a patient who is in status epilepticus. What
medication does the nurse know may be given to halt the seizure
immediately?
A) Intravenous phenobarbital (Luminal)
B) Intravenous diazepam (Valium)
C) Oral lorazepam (Ativan)
D) Oral phenytoin (Dilantin) - ANSWER: B
