NBST 515 FINAL PAPER 2026 FULL Q&A
STUDY GUIDE GRADED A+
◉A 44-year-old woman was bitten on the ankle by an unidentified
snake while working in her garden. She is conscious and alert, has
stable vital signs, and denies shortness of breath. Her only complaint
is a burning sensation at the wound site. Your assessment reveals
two small puncture wounds, redness, and swelling. You should:
• A:conclude that envenomation likely did not occur, provide
reassurance, and allow a friend to take her to the hospital.
• B:give supplemental oxygen, splint her leg to decrease movement,
and keep her leg below the level of her heart.
• C:elevate her leg, cover the wound with a dry sterile dressing, and
apply an ice pack to reduce pain and swelling.
• D:administer high-flow oxygen, apply a constricting band proximal
to the bite, and use ice to prevent venom spread. Answer: You
selected B; This is correct!
Reason:Given the fact that the snake was not identified, you should
assume that it was poisonous. Furthermore, the presence of
puncture wounds, burning, redness, and swelling are suggestive of
envenomation. Therefore, you should provide emergency care and
transport the patient to the hospital. Treatment for a snake bite
involves keeping the patient calm, administering oxygen, splinting
the affected extremity to decrease movement (helps slow the spread
,of venom), keeping the extremity below the level of the heart, and
transporting the patient to the hospital. Do NOT apply ice to a snake
bite; it may constrict the blood vessels and force venom further into
the bloodstream. The use of a proximal constricting band is
controversial; if one is used, it should be loose, not tight. En route to
the hospital, monitor the patient's vital signs and mental status, and
be alert for vomiting.
◉A 34-year-old female complains of persistent fever, fatigue, and
night sweats. During your assessment, you note that she has purple
blotches on her arms and legs. She MOST likely has:
• A:HIV/AIDS.
• B:chickenpox.
• C:tuberculosis.
• D:viral hepatitis. Answer: You selected A; This is correct!
Reason:Signs of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection
include persistent fever, weight loss, fatigue, a cough, and night
sweats. The presence of purple skin blotches (malignant lesions
called Kaposi's sarcoma) is consistent with acquired immune
deficiency syndrome (AIDS), also known as late stage HIV infection.
Patients with tuberculosis (TB) also present with fever, fatigue,
weight loss, a cough, and night sweats; however, skin lesions are not
common. Hepatitis is characterized by right upper quadrant
abdominal pain, fever, nausea and vomiting, and a yellow tint to the
skin and sclera (jaundice). Chickenpox is unlikely; the associated
rash is characterized by pustules that crust over, not purple blotches.
,◉The daughter of an elderly patient states that her mother is acting
confused and talking incoherently. This nature of illness is MOST
consistent with:
• A:diabetic complications.
• B:altered mental status.
• C:cardiac compromise.
• D:behavioral problems Answer: You selected B; This is correct!
Reason:The nature of illness is a category in which you place the
patient based on his or her chief complaint. A chief complaint of
confusion and incoherent speech suggests that altered mental status
is the nature of illness. An altered mental status can be caused by a
variety of problems, including diabetic and behavioral problems, and
in some cases, cardiac problems.
◉Which of the following statements regarding heatstroke is correct?
• A:Heatstroke is caused by a hyperactive sweating mechanism.
• B:Not all patients experiencing heatstroke have dry skin.
• C:As core body temperature rises, the patient becomes more
agitated.
• D:Heatstroke is more likely to occur when the humidity is low.
Answer: You selected B; This is correct!
, Reason: Heatstroke occurs when the body is exposed to more heat
than it can eliminate and normal mechanisms for eliminating heat,
such as sweating, are overwhelmed. The core body temperature then
rises rapidly to the point where tissues are destroyed. Heatstroke
can develop in patients during prolonged vigorous physical activity
or when they are in a closed, poorly ventilated, hot and humid space.
High humidity impairs a person's ability to eliminate heat via the
sweating mechanism. Many patients with heatstroke have hot, dry,
flushed skin; however, early in the course of heatstroke, the skin may
be moist due to residual perspiration, as with exertional heatstroke.
As the core body temperature rises, the patient's level of
consciousness decreases. Untreated heatstroke will result in death.
◉Law enforcement requests your assistance to evaluate a young
female who they believe has overdosed. The patient is conscious, is
displaying bizarre behavior, and is very restless. Her BP is 170/90
mm Hg and her heart rate is 130 beats/min. You see needle tracks
on both of her arms. She is MOST likely under the influence of a:
• A:benzodiazepine.
• B:sedative-hypnotic.
• C:powerful narcotic.
• D:methamphetamine. Answer: You selected D; This is correct!
Reason:The needle tracks on the patient's arms indicate narcotic
abuse, most likely heroin; however, her signs and symptoms are not
consistent with those caused by a narcotic or any other central
nervous system (CNS) depressant (eg, benzodiazepine [a sedative-
STUDY GUIDE GRADED A+
◉A 44-year-old woman was bitten on the ankle by an unidentified
snake while working in her garden. She is conscious and alert, has
stable vital signs, and denies shortness of breath. Her only complaint
is a burning sensation at the wound site. Your assessment reveals
two small puncture wounds, redness, and swelling. You should:
• A:conclude that envenomation likely did not occur, provide
reassurance, and allow a friend to take her to the hospital.
• B:give supplemental oxygen, splint her leg to decrease movement,
and keep her leg below the level of her heart.
• C:elevate her leg, cover the wound with a dry sterile dressing, and
apply an ice pack to reduce pain and swelling.
• D:administer high-flow oxygen, apply a constricting band proximal
to the bite, and use ice to prevent venom spread. Answer: You
selected B; This is correct!
Reason:Given the fact that the snake was not identified, you should
assume that it was poisonous. Furthermore, the presence of
puncture wounds, burning, redness, and swelling are suggestive of
envenomation. Therefore, you should provide emergency care and
transport the patient to the hospital. Treatment for a snake bite
involves keeping the patient calm, administering oxygen, splinting
the affected extremity to decrease movement (helps slow the spread
,of venom), keeping the extremity below the level of the heart, and
transporting the patient to the hospital. Do NOT apply ice to a snake
bite; it may constrict the blood vessels and force venom further into
the bloodstream. The use of a proximal constricting band is
controversial; if one is used, it should be loose, not tight. En route to
the hospital, monitor the patient's vital signs and mental status, and
be alert for vomiting.
◉A 34-year-old female complains of persistent fever, fatigue, and
night sweats. During your assessment, you note that she has purple
blotches on her arms and legs. She MOST likely has:
• A:HIV/AIDS.
• B:chickenpox.
• C:tuberculosis.
• D:viral hepatitis. Answer: You selected A; This is correct!
Reason:Signs of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection
include persistent fever, weight loss, fatigue, a cough, and night
sweats. The presence of purple skin blotches (malignant lesions
called Kaposi's sarcoma) is consistent with acquired immune
deficiency syndrome (AIDS), also known as late stage HIV infection.
Patients with tuberculosis (TB) also present with fever, fatigue,
weight loss, a cough, and night sweats; however, skin lesions are not
common. Hepatitis is characterized by right upper quadrant
abdominal pain, fever, nausea and vomiting, and a yellow tint to the
skin and sclera (jaundice). Chickenpox is unlikely; the associated
rash is characterized by pustules that crust over, not purple blotches.
,◉The daughter of an elderly patient states that her mother is acting
confused and talking incoherently. This nature of illness is MOST
consistent with:
• A:diabetic complications.
• B:altered mental status.
• C:cardiac compromise.
• D:behavioral problems Answer: You selected B; This is correct!
Reason:The nature of illness is a category in which you place the
patient based on his or her chief complaint. A chief complaint of
confusion and incoherent speech suggests that altered mental status
is the nature of illness. An altered mental status can be caused by a
variety of problems, including diabetic and behavioral problems, and
in some cases, cardiac problems.
◉Which of the following statements regarding heatstroke is correct?
• A:Heatstroke is caused by a hyperactive sweating mechanism.
• B:Not all patients experiencing heatstroke have dry skin.
• C:As core body temperature rises, the patient becomes more
agitated.
• D:Heatstroke is more likely to occur when the humidity is low.
Answer: You selected B; This is correct!
, Reason: Heatstroke occurs when the body is exposed to more heat
than it can eliminate and normal mechanisms for eliminating heat,
such as sweating, are overwhelmed. The core body temperature then
rises rapidly to the point where tissues are destroyed. Heatstroke
can develop in patients during prolonged vigorous physical activity
or when they are in a closed, poorly ventilated, hot and humid space.
High humidity impairs a person's ability to eliminate heat via the
sweating mechanism. Many patients with heatstroke have hot, dry,
flushed skin; however, early in the course of heatstroke, the skin may
be moist due to residual perspiration, as with exertional heatstroke.
As the core body temperature rises, the patient's level of
consciousness decreases. Untreated heatstroke will result in death.
◉Law enforcement requests your assistance to evaluate a young
female who they believe has overdosed. The patient is conscious, is
displaying bizarre behavior, and is very restless. Her BP is 170/90
mm Hg and her heart rate is 130 beats/min. You see needle tracks
on both of her arms. She is MOST likely under the influence of a:
• A:benzodiazepine.
• B:sedative-hypnotic.
• C:powerful narcotic.
• D:methamphetamine. Answer: You selected D; This is correct!
Reason:The needle tracks on the patient's arms indicate narcotic
abuse, most likely heroin; however, her signs and symptoms are not
consistent with those caused by a narcotic or any other central
nervous system (CNS) depressant (eg, benzodiazepine [a sedative-
