NURS 3700 STUDY GUIDE 2026 EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS RATED A+
✔✔At the end of a very long day involving the death of a patient, the nurse uses a social
media account to share the experience and find some support. According to HIPAA,
which posting would be acceptable?
A. "It was a very difficult day for me due to the death of one of my favorite patients."
B. "My shift at Affinity General was so hard today when one of my long-term patients
died."
C. "It is so sad when a young, healthy guy like the one i have been taking care of dies
from cancer."
D. "One of my favorite patients died today from pancreatic cancer. It was so difficult
because he was only 27." - ✔✔A. "It was a very difficult day for me due to the death of
one of my favorite patients."
✔✔In which way would the nurse define the practice of meditation for a patient?
A. A specialized type of breathing
B. A specific series of exercises stances
C. A state of being with increased concentration and awareness
D. Using one's mind to generate images that have a calming effect - ✔✔C. A state of
being with increased concentration and awareness
✔✔The nurse reviews the medical record of patients diagnosed with community-
acquired pneumonia (CAP) and identifies that the patient meet with which criterion?
A. The patients presented to the hospital with symptoms
B. The patients were in close proximity with someone who had pneumonia within the
past 10 days of the onset of symptoms
C. The patients have not been hospitalized or have not lived in a long-term care facility
within 14 days of the onset of symptoms
D. The symptoms have a condition that weakens the immune system - ✔✔C. The
patients have not been hospitalized or have not lived in a long-term care facility within
14 days of the onset of symptoms
✔✔A patient is hospitalized with a diagnosis of pneumonia. When reviewing the
patient's history, the nurse finds that the patient experienced a seizure with profuse
vomiting four days prior to the hospital admission. Which type of pneumonia does the
nurse suspect?
A. Aspiration pneumonia
B. Opportunistic pneumonia
C. Hospital-associated pneumonia
D. Community-acquired pneumonia - ✔✔A. Aspiration pneumonia
✔✔The nurse is providing postoperative care for a patient three days after a total knee
arthroplasty. The patient reports a sudden onset of shortness of breath, slight chest
pain, and "something is wrong". The assessment findings include a temperature of
,98.4F (36.9C), BP 130/88 mmHg, respirations 36 breaths/ min, and an oxygen
saturation reading of 91 % on room air. Which immediate action does the nurse take?
A. Call a code blue
B. Administer a nitroglycerin tablet sublingually
C. Conduct a thorough assessment of the chest pain
D. Sit the patient up in bed as tolerated and apply oxygen - ✔✔D. Sit the patient up in
bed as tolerated and apply oxygen
✔✔A patient is transported to the ER by the emergency response system with a sudden
change in mental status and a feeling of impending doom. The nurse reviews the
patient's medical history and notes recent international air travel. The nurse suspects
that the patient is experiencing which condition?
A. Pneumonia
B. Unstable angina
C. Pulmonary Embolism (PE)
D. COPD exacerbation - ✔✔C. Pulmonary Embolism (PE)
✔✔A patient with a spontaneous pneumothorax has a chest tube in place that is
attached to a chest drainage unit (CDU) with no suction being applied. The water level
in the water-seal chamber is fluctuating. What action does the nurse take?
A. Notify the HCP immediately
B. Decrease the amount of water in the water-seal chamber
C. Continue to monitor and document the respiratory status
D. Clamp the chest tube as close as possible insertion site - ✔✔C. Continue to monitor
and document the respiratory status
✔✔A patient has a chest tube inserted to treat a pneumothorax. Which observation
causes the nurse to conclude that the water-seal chamber of the chest drainage unit
(CDU) is functioning properly?
A. There is no bubbling in the suction control chamber
B. The wall suction regulator is set to 150 mm Hg
C. The level in the water-seal chamber fluctuates with respirations
D. There is bloody drainage present in the water-seal chamber - ✔✔C. The level in the
water-seal chamber fluctuates with respirations
✔✔A patient presents to the ER with severe dyspnea, tachycardia, tracheal deviation,
and neck vein distention. Which condition does the nurse suspect?
A. Flail chest
B. Hemothorax
C. Cardiac tamponade
D. Tension pneumothorax - ✔✔D. Tension pneumothorax
✔✔Which patient action promotes energy conservation?
A. Standing up while performing activities
B. Using a diaphragm muscles to breathe deeply
,C. Inhaling a lot of air while exerting effort and exhaling at rest
D. Using a tripod posture and placing a mirror on the table while using an electric razor -
✔✔D. Using a tripod posture and placing a mirror on the table while using an electric
razor
✔✔Which description best characterizes COPD?
A. Progressive persistent expiratory airflow limitation
B. Airway obstruction due to increased mucus production
C. Difficulty clearing secretions due to dilated bronchioles
D. Variations in airflow over time with normal lung functions in between - ✔✔A.
Progressive persistent expiratory airflow limitation
✔✔Which of these is a clinical manifestation of early COPD?
A. Dyspnea
B. A chronic, intermittent cough
C. The presence of chest breathing
D. Increased numbers of red blood cells - ✔✔B. A chronic, intermittent cough
✔✔Which diagnostic test for a patient with chronic cough will be most useful in making
a diagnosis of COPD?
A. Spirometry
B. Chest X-ray
C. Complete blood count (CBC)
D. CT - ✔✔A. Spirometry
✔✔When caring for a patient with COPD who has increased b-type natriuretic peptide
(BNP) levels, which treatment will the nurse anticipate administering?
A. Diuretic
B. Antibiotic
C. Oral corticosteroid
D. Phosphodiesterase inhibitor - ✔✔A. Diuretic
✔✔After giving 6 oz of orange juice to a patient with hypoglycemia, the nurse finds that
the patient's blood glucose level is 65 mg/dL. Which nursing intervention would be the
most appropriate in this situation?
A. Giving an additional 15 g of carbohydrate
B. Administering 5% to 10 % dextrose infusion
C. Giving 25 to 50 mL of 50 % glucose IV
D. Administering 1 mg IM glucagon - ✔✔A. Giving an additional 15 g of carbohydrate
✔✔Which treatment would be done initially for a patient with DKA who arrived at the
hospital with clinical symptoms of dry mucous membrane, tachycardia, and orthostatic
hypotension?
A. Infusion of 5% to 10% dextrose
B. Subcutaneous injection of 1 mg glucagon
, C. Infusion of 0.45% to 0.9% NaCl
D. IV administration of 25 to 50 mL of 50% glucose - ✔✔C. Infusion of 0.45% to 0.9%
NaCl
✔✔A patient who is in DKA is on a continuous short-acting insulin infusion and is
receiving a continuous infusion of normal saline solution. Which assessment is the
highest priority for this patient?
A. Urine output
B. Temperature
C. Respiratory Rate
D. Cardiac monitoring - ✔✔D. Cardiac monitoring
✔✔Which action would the nurse take first when teaching the patient with type 2
diabetes to become an active participant in his or her care?
A. Assess the patient's understanding of the disease
B. Make a list of food restrictions for proper diabetes management
C. Refer the patient to a nutritionist
D. Set long-term goals to decrease the risk of complications - ✔✔A. Assess the patient's
understanding of the disease
✔✔Which is the cause of primary obesity?
A. The development of metabolic disorders
B. The presence of congenital abnormalities
C. The presence of lesions in the central nervous system
D. The excess caloric intake over the metabolic demand - ✔✔D. The excess caloric
intake over the metabolic demand
✔✔Which assessment finding would the nurse expect in a patient with a high ammonia
level associated with hepatic encephalopathy?
A. Aphasia
B. Asterixis
C. Hyperactivity
D. Acute dementia - ✔✔B. Asterixis
✔✔A patient with advanced cirrhosis asks why the skin is so yellow. Which information
would the nurse use to provide a response?
A. Jaundice results from the body's inability to conjugate and excrete bilirubin
B. A lack of clotting factors promotes the collection of blood under the skin surface
C. Deceased peristalsis in the gastrointestinal tract contributes to an excess of bile salts
D. Decreased colloidal oncotic pressure from hypoalbuminemia causes the skin
discoloration - ✔✔A. Jaundice results from the body's inability to conjugate and excrete
bilirubin
ANSWERS RATED A+
✔✔At the end of a very long day involving the death of a patient, the nurse uses a social
media account to share the experience and find some support. According to HIPAA,
which posting would be acceptable?
A. "It was a very difficult day for me due to the death of one of my favorite patients."
B. "My shift at Affinity General was so hard today when one of my long-term patients
died."
C. "It is so sad when a young, healthy guy like the one i have been taking care of dies
from cancer."
D. "One of my favorite patients died today from pancreatic cancer. It was so difficult
because he was only 27." - ✔✔A. "It was a very difficult day for me due to the death of
one of my favorite patients."
✔✔In which way would the nurse define the practice of meditation for a patient?
A. A specialized type of breathing
B. A specific series of exercises stances
C. A state of being with increased concentration and awareness
D. Using one's mind to generate images that have a calming effect - ✔✔C. A state of
being with increased concentration and awareness
✔✔The nurse reviews the medical record of patients diagnosed with community-
acquired pneumonia (CAP) and identifies that the patient meet with which criterion?
A. The patients presented to the hospital with symptoms
B. The patients were in close proximity with someone who had pneumonia within the
past 10 days of the onset of symptoms
C. The patients have not been hospitalized or have not lived in a long-term care facility
within 14 days of the onset of symptoms
D. The symptoms have a condition that weakens the immune system - ✔✔C. The
patients have not been hospitalized or have not lived in a long-term care facility within
14 days of the onset of symptoms
✔✔A patient is hospitalized with a diagnosis of pneumonia. When reviewing the
patient's history, the nurse finds that the patient experienced a seizure with profuse
vomiting four days prior to the hospital admission. Which type of pneumonia does the
nurse suspect?
A. Aspiration pneumonia
B. Opportunistic pneumonia
C. Hospital-associated pneumonia
D. Community-acquired pneumonia - ✔✔A. Aspiration pneumonia
✔✔The nurse is providing postoperative care for a patient three days after a total knee
arthroplasty. The patient reports a sudden onset of shortness of breath, slight chest
pain, and "something is wrong". The assessment findings include a temperature of
,98.4F (36.9C), BP 130/88 mmHg, respirations 36 breaths/ min, and an oxygen
saturation reading of 91 % on room air. Which immediate action does the nurse take?
A. Call a code blue
B. Administer a nitroglycerin tablet sublingually
C. Conduct a thorough assessment of the chest pain
D. Sit the patient up in bed as tolerated and apply oxygen - ✔✔D. Sit the patient up in
bed as tolerated and apply oxygen
✔✔A patient is transported to the ER by the emergency response system with a sudden
change in mental status and a feeling of impending doom. The nurse reviews the
patient's medical history and notes recent international air travel. The nurse suspects
that the patient is experiencing which condition?
A. Pneumonia
B. Unstable angina
C. Pulmonary Embolism (PE)
D. COPD exacerbation - ✔✔C. Pulmonary Embolism (PE)
✔✔A patient with a spontaneous pneumothorax has a chest tube in place that is
attached to a chest drainage unit (CDU) with no suction being applied. The water level
in the water-seal chamber is fluctuating. What action does the nurse take?
A. Notify the HCP immediately
B. Decrease the amount of water in the water-seal chamber
C. Continue to monitor and document the respiratory status
D. Clamp the chest tube as close as possible insertion site - ✔✔C. Continue to monitor
and document the respiratory status
✔✔A patient has a chest tube inserted to treat a pneumothorax. Which observation
causes the nurse to conclude that the water-seal chamber of the chest drainage unit
(CDU) is functioning properly?
A. There is no bubbling in the suction control chamber
B. The wall suction regulator is set to 150 mm Hg
C. The level in the water-seal chamber fluctuates with respirations
D. There is bloody drainage present in the water-seal chamber - ✔✔C. The level in the
water-seal chamber fluctuates with respirations
✔✔A patient presents to the ER with severe dyspnea, tachycardia, tracheal deviation,
and neck vein distention. Which condition does the nurse suspect?
A. Flail chest
B. Hemothorax
C. Cardiac tamponade
D. Tension pneumothorax - ✔✔D. Tension pneumothorax
✔✔Which patient action promotes energy conservation?
A. Standing up while performing activities
B. Using a diaphragm muscles to breathe deeply
,C. Inhaling a lot of air while exerting effort and exhaling at rest
D. Using a tripod posture and placing a mirror on the table while using an electric razor -
✔✔D. Using a tripod posture and placing a mirror on the table while using an electric
razor
✔✔Which description best characterizes COPD?
A. Progressive persistent expiratory airflow limitation
B. Airway obstruction due to increased mucus production
C. Difficulty clearing secretions due to dilated bronchioles
D. Variations in airflow over time with normal lung functions in between - ✔✔A.
Progressive persistent expiratory airflow limitation
✔✔Which of these is a clinical manifestation of early COPD?
A. Dyspnea
B. A chronic, intermittent cough
C. The presence of chest breathing
D. Increased numbers of red blood cells - ✔✔B. A chronic, intermittent cough
✔✔Which diagnostic test for a patient with chronic cough will be most useful in making
a diagnosis of COPD?
A. Spirometry
B. Chest X-ray
C. Complete blood count (CBC)
D. CT - ✔✔A. Spirometry
✔✔When caring for a patient with COPD who has increased b-type natriuretic peptide
(BNP) levels, which treatment will the nurse anticipate administering?
A. Diuretic
B. Antibiotic
C. Oral corticosteroid
D. Phosphodiesterase inhibitor - ✔✔A. Diuretic
✔✔After giving 6 oz of orange juice to a patient with hypoglycemia, the nurse finds that
the patient's blood glucose level is 65 mg/dL. Which nursing intervention would be the
most appropriate in this situation?
A. Giving an additional 15 g of carbohydrate
B. Administering 5% to 10 % dextrose infusion
C. Giving 25 to 50 mL of 50 % glucose IV
D. Administering 1 mg IM glucagon - ✔✔A. Giving an additional 15 g of carbohydrate
✔✔Which treatment would be done initially for a patient with DKA who arrived at the
hospital with clinical symptoms of dry mucous membrane, tachycardia, and orthostatic
hypotension?
A. Infusion of 5% to 10% dextrose
B. Subcutaneous injection of 1 mg glucagon
, C. Infusion of 0.45% to 0.9% NaCl
D. IV administration of 25 to 50 mL of 50% glucose - ✔✔C. Infusion of 0.45% to 0.9%
NaCl
✔✔A patient who is in DKA is on a continuous short-acting insulin infusion and is
receiving a continuous infusion of normal saline solution. Which assessment is the
highest priority for this patient?
A. Urine output
B. Temperature
C. Respiratory Rate
D. Cardiac monitoring - ✔✔D. Cardiac monitoring
✔✔Which action would the nurse take first when teaching the patient with type 2
diabetes to become an active participant in his or her care?
A. Assess the patient's understanding of the disease
B. Make a list of food restrictions for proper diabetes management
C. Refer the patient to a nutritionist
D. Set long-term goals to decrease the risk of complications - ✔✔A. Assess the patient's
understanding of the disease
✔✔Which is the cause of primary obesity?
A. The development of metabolic disorders
B. The presence of congenital abnormalities
C. The presence of lesions in the central nervous system
D. The excess caloric intake over the metabolic demand - ✔✔D. The excess caloric
intake over the metabolic demand
✔✔Which assessment finding would the nurse expect in a patient with a high ammonia
level associated with hepatic encephalopathy?
A. Aphasia
B. Asterixis
C. Hyperactivity
D. Acute dementia - ✔✔B. Asterixis
✔✔A patient with advanced cirrhosis asks why the skin is so yellow. Which information
would the nurse use to provide a response?
A. Jaundice results from the body's inability to conjugate and excrete bilirubin
B. A lack of clotting factors promotes the collection of blood under the skin surface
C. Deceased peristalsis in the gastrointestinal tract contributes to an excess of bile salts
D. Decreased colloidal oncotic pressure from hypoalbuminemia causes the skin
discoloration - ✔✔A. Jaundice results from the body's inability to conjugate and excrete
bilirubin
