NSG 3250 EXAM – QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | VERIFIED AND WELL DETAILED
ANSWERS | PLUS RATIONALES | GUARANTEED PASS | LATEST EXAM UPDATE
2026/2027
Core Domains
Health Promotion and Risk Reduction
Pathophysiology and Disease Management
Pharmacological Interventions and Safety
Evidence-Based Clinical Practice
Professional Ethics and Legal Responsibilities
Holistic Patient Assessment
Collaborative Care Coordination
Quality Improvement and Safety in Healthcare
Introduction
This comprehensive assessment is designed to evaluate the core competencies and
advanced clinical knowledge required for professional nursing practice. The exam
,focuses on a diverse range of topics, including complex physiological processes,
pharmacological safety, and the application of ethical principles in clinical decision-
making. Consisting of 200 high-fidelity multiple-choice questions, the assessment utilizes
both foundational theory and scenario-based inquiries to test critical thinking skills.
Candidates are expected to demonstrate proficiency in synthesizing patient data to
prioritize care and implement evidence-based interventions. This rigorous evaluation
ensures that practitioners are prepared for real-world challenges, emphasizing patient
safety, legal compliance, and the delivery of high-quality, patient-centered care in various
healthcare environments.
SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1–100
1. A patient with a history of heart failure presents with an increased respiratory rate
and crackles in the bilateral lung bases. Which of the following should be the
nurse’s priority action?
A. Administering an ordered analgesic
B. Encouraging the patient to cough and deep breathe
C. Elevating the head of the bed to a high-Fowler’s position
D. Assessing the patient's peripheral pulses
🟢 C. Elevating the head of the bed to a high-Fowler’s position
,🔴 Explanation: Elevating the head of the bed promotes lung expansion and reduces
venous return to the heart, which helps alleviate respiratory distress in patients with fluid
overload.
2. A nurse is caring for a patient who is post-operative day 1 following an abdominal
surgery. The patient reports sudden shortness of breath and chest pain. What is the
most likely complication occurring?
A. Atelectasis
B. Pulmonary embolism
C. Myocardial infarction
D. Pneumonia
🟢 B. Pulmonary embolism
🔴 Explanation: Sudden onset of dyspnea and chest pain in a post-operative patient is a
classic presentation of a pulmonary embolism, often resulting from deep vein thrombosis
due to immobility.
3. Which laboratory value is most critical to monitor for a patient receiving heparin
therapy via continuous intravenous infusion?
, A. Prothrombin time (PT)
B. International Normalized Ratio (INR)
C. Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT)
D. Platelet count
🟢 C. Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT)
🔴 Explanation: The aPTT is the standard laboratory test used to monitor the
effectiveness and safety of heparin therapy to ensure it remains within the therapeutic
range.
4. A patient is prescribed lisinopril for hypertension. Which of the following side effects
should the nurse instruct the patient to report immediately?
A. Dizziness when standing up
B. A persistent dry cough
C. Facial or tongue swelling
D. Mild fatigue
🟢 C. Facial or tongue swelling
🔴 Explanation: Facial and tongue swelling are signs of angioedema, a rare but life-
threatening adverse reaction to ACE inhibitors that requires immediate medical
intervention.
ANSWERS | PLUS RATIONALES | GUARANTEED PASS | LATEST EXAM UPDATE
2026/2027
Core Domains
Health Promotion and Risk Reduction
Pathophysiology and Disease Management
Pharmacological Interventions and Safety
Evidence-Based Clinical Practice
Professional Ethics and Legal Responsibilities
Holistic Patient Assessment
Collaborative Care Coordination
Quality Improvement and Safety in Healthcare
Introduction
This comprehensive assessment is designed to evaluate the core competencies and
advanced clinical knowledge required for professional nursing practice. The exam
,focuses on a diverse range of topics, including complex physiological processes,
pharmacological safety, and the application of ethical principles in clinical decision-
making. Consisting of 200 high-fidelity multiple-choice questions, the assessment utilizes
both foundational theory and scenario-based inquiries to test critical thinking skills.
Candidates are expected to demonstrate proficiency in synthesizing patient data to
prioritize care and implement evidence-based interventions. This rigorous evaluation
ensures that practitioners are prepared for real-world challenges, emphasizing patient
safety, legal compliance, and the delivery of high-quality, patient-centered care in various
healthcare environments.
SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1–100
1. A patient with a history of heart failure presents with an increased respiratory rate
and crackles in the bilateral lung bases. Which of the following should be the
nurse’s priority action?
A. Administering an ordered analgesic
B. Encouraging the patient to cough and deep breathe
C. Elevating the head of the bed to a high-Fowler’s position
D. Assessing the patient's peripheral pulses
🟢 C. Elevating the head of the bed to a high-Fowler’s position
,🔴 Explanation: Elevating the head of the bed promotes lung expansion and reduces
venous return to the heart, which helps alleviate respiratory distress in patients with fluid
overload.
2. A nurse is caring for a patient who is post-operative day 1 following an abdominal
surgery. The patient reports sudden shortness of breath and chest pain. What is the
most likely complication occurring?
A. Atelectasis
B. Pulmonary embolism
C. Myocardial infarction
D. Pneumonia
🟢 B. Pulmonary embolism
🔴 Explanation: Sudden onset of dyspnea and chest pain in a post-operative patient is a
classic presentation of a pulmonary embolism, often resulting from deep vein thrombosis
due to immobility.
3. Which laboratory value is most critical to monitor for a patient receiving heparin
therapy via continuous intravenous infusion?
, A. Prothrombin time (PT)
B. International Normalized Ratio (INR)
C. Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT)
D. Platelet count
🟢 C. Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT)
🔴 Explanation: The aPTT is the standard laboratory test used to monitor the
effectiveness and safety of heparin therapy to ensure it remains within the therapeutic
range.
4. A patient is prescribed lisinopril for hypertension. Which of the following side effects
should the nurse instruct the patient to report immediately?
A. Dizziness when standing up
B. A persistent dry cough
C. Facial or tongue swelling
D. Mild fatigue
🟢 C. Facial or tongue swelling
🔴 Explanation: Facial and tongue swelling are signs of angioedema, a rare but life-
threatening adverse reaction to ACE inhibitors that requires immediate medical
intervention.
