NUR2790 Final Exam V3 | NUR 2790
Professional Nursing III / PN3 Exam Q&A |
Rasmussen University
1. A nurse is triaging victims at the scene of a multi-car accident. Which patient should be
assigned a red tag?
A. A patient with a closed fracture of the right tibia.
B. A patient with a sucking chest wound and respiratory distress.
C. A patient with no pulse and fixed, dilated pupils.
D. A patient with minor abrasions who is walking around the scene.
Answer: B
Rationale: A red tag indicates an immediate threat to life that is treatable with rapid
intervention. A sucking chest wound causes severe respiratory impairment and requires
urgent stabilization. Patients with no pulse are tagged black, while stable fractures are
tagged yellow or green.
2. When assessing a patient with a Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP) of 55 mmHg, what is the
nurse’s priority concern?
A. Inadequate organ perfusion.
B. Risk for fluid volume overload.
C. Elevated intracranial pressure.
,D. Development of hypertension.
Answer: A
Rationale: A Mean Arterial Pressure of at least 60 to 65 mmHg is generally required to
maintain adequate tissue perfusion to vital organs. A MAP of 55 mmHg indicates that the
patient is at high risk for ischemia and multi-system organ failure. The nurse must
prioritize interventions to increase blood pressure and improve perfusion.
3. The nurse is caring for a patient on a mechanical ventilator. The high-pressure alarm
sounds. Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Disconnect the patient and manually ventilate with a bag-valve mask.
B. Increase the oxygen concentration on the ventilator.
C. Assess the patient’s breath sounds and for any biting on the ETT.
D. Call the respiratory therapist to adjust the pressure limits.
Answer: C
Rationale: High-pressure alarms are often caused by obstructions such as secretions,
biting on the tube, or coughing. The nurse must first assess the patient to identify the cause
of the alarm. Only if the cause cannot be found or if the patient is in distress should manual
ventilation be initiated.
4. A patient in the ICU is diagnosed with Septic Shock. Which laboratory finding is the most
critical indicator of tissue hypoxia?
A. Elevated white blood cell count.
, B. Decreased hemoglobin level.
C. Elevated serum lactate level.
D. Increased blood urea nitrogen.
Answer: C
Rationale: Serum lactate is a key biomarker for anaerobic metabolism which occurs during
tissue hypoxia. In septic shock, high lactate levels correlate with poor outcomes and the
severity of shock. Monitoring lactate trends helps clinicians evaluate the effectiveness of
resuscitation efforts.
5. The nurse is managing a patient with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) who is
being placed in the prone position. What is the primary rationale for this intervention?
A. To improve drainage of oral secretions.
B. To reduce the risk of pressure ulcers on the back.
C. To facilitate easier access for central line placement.
D. To improve oxygenation by recruiting collapsed posterior alveoli.
Answer: D
Rationale: Prone positioning is used in severe ARDS to improve ventilation-perfusion
matching. It helps shift fluid and recruit dorsal lung regions that are often collapsed in the
supine position. This leads to improved arterial oxygenation and may reduce ventilator-
induced lung injury.
Professional Nursing III / PN3 Exam Q&A |
Rasmussen University
1. A nurse is triaging victims at the scene of a multi-car accident. Which patient should be
assigned a red tag?
A. A patient with a closed fracture of the right tibia.
B. A patient with a sucking chest wound and respiratory distress.
C. A patient with no pulse and fixed, dilated pupils.
D. A patient with minor abrasions who is walking around the scene.
Answer: B
Rationale: A red tag indicates an immediate threat to life that is treatable with rapid
intervention. A sucking chest wound causes severe respiratory impairment and requires
urgent stabilization. Patients with no pulse are tagged black, while stable fractures are
tagged yellow or green.
2. When assessing a patient with a Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP) of 55 mmHg, what is the
nurse’s priority concern?
A. Inadequate organ perfusion.
B. Risk for fluid volume overload.
C. Elevated intracranial pressure.
,D. Development of hypertension.
Answer: A
Rationale: A Mean Arterial Pressure of at least 60 to 65 mmHg is generally required to
maintain adequate tissue perfusion to vital organs. A MAP of 55 mmHg indicates that the
patient is at high risk for ischemia and multi-system organ failure. The nurse must
prioritize interventions to increase blood pressure and improve perfusion.
3. The nurse is caring for a patient on a mechanical ventilator. The high-pressure alarm
sounds. Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Disconnect the patient and manually ventilate with a bag-valve mask.
B. Increase the oxygen concentration on the ventilator.
C. Assess the patient’s breath sounds and for any biting on the ETT.
D. Call the respiratory therapist to adjust the pressure limits.
Answer: C
Rationale: High-pressure alarms are often caused by obstructions such as secretions,
biting on the tube, or coughing. The nurse must first assess the patient to identify the cause
of the alarm. Only if the cause cannot be found or if the patient is in distress should manual
ventilation be initiated.
4. A patient in the ICU is diagnosed with Septic Shock. Which laboratory finding is the most
critical indicator of tissue hypoxia?
A. Elevated white blood cell count.
, B. Decreased hemoglobin level.
C. Elevated serum lactate level.
D. Increased blood urea nitrogen.
Answer: C
Rationale: Serum lactate is a key biomarker for anaerobic metabolism which occurs during
tissue hypoxia. In septic shock, high lactate levels correlate with poor outcomes and the
severity of shock. Monitoring lactate trends helps clinicians evaluate the effectiveness of
resuscitation efforts.
5. The nurse is managing a patient with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) who is
being placed in the prone position. What is the primary rationale for this intervention?
A. To improve drainage of oral secretions.
B. To reduce the risk of pressure ulcers on the back.
C. To facilitate easier access for central line placement.
D. To improve oxygenation by recruiting collapsed posterior alveoli.
Answer: D
Rationale: Prone positioning is used in severe ARDS to improve ventilation-perfusion
matching. It helps shift fluid and recruit dorsal lung regions that are often collapsed in the
supine position. This leads to improved arterial oxygenation and may reduce ventilator-
induced lung injury.
