NUR 2790 / NUR2790: Professional
Nursing III / PN3 Final Exam (Latest
) Rasmussen
Instructions
This exam contains 75 NCLEX-style questions for the NUR 2790 Professional Nursing III (PN3)
Final Exam at Rasmussen University for the 2024/2025 academic year. Questions cover high-
acuity medical-surgical nursing topics, including cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological,
oncological, and endocrine disorders, burn management, end-of-life care, and prioritization of
care, as outlined in course material from Stuvia. Read each question carefully and select the best
answer(s). For "Select all that apply" questions, choose all correct options. Answers are provided
in blue, with detailed rationales immediately following each question. The exam is divided into
sections: Cardiovascular and Respiratory Care, Neurological and Oncological Care, Endocrine
and Burn Management, and General High-Acuity Nursing. Use this resource for the PN3 final
exam.
Section 1: Cardiovascular and Respiratory Care (Questions
1–20)
1. The nurse is prioritizing care for four newly admitted patients on a high-acuity
medical-surgical unit. Which patient should the nurse assess first?
A. The NPO patient with a blood glucose of 80 mg/dL who received 20 units of 70/30
Novolin insulin
B. The patient with a pulse of 58 bpm about to receive digoxin
C. The patient with a blood pressure of 136/92 mm Hg complaining of a headache
D. The patient with a penicillin allergy receiving vancomycin
Answer: The NPO patient with a blood glucose of 80 mg/dL who received 20 units of
70/30 Novolin insulin
Rationale: A blood glucose of 80 mg/dL in an NPO patient who received 20 units of
insulin is dangerously low, risking hypoglycemia. This patient requires immediate
assessment and intervention.
2. A patient with a myocardial infarction reports chest pain rated 8/10. What should
the nurse do first?
A. Administer morphine IV
, B. Obtain a 12-lead ECG
C. Assess vital signs
D. Administer nitroglycerin sublingually
Answer: Assess vital signs
Rationale: Assessing vital signs provides critical baseline data to guide interventions for
acute chest pain.
3. A patient with heart failure has 2+ pitting edema and bibasilar crackles. Which
medication should the nurse anticipate?
A. Metoprolol
B. Furosemide
C. Digoxin
D. Warfarin
Answer: Furosemide
Rationale: Furosemide, a loop diuretic, reduces fluid overload, addressing edema and
crackles in heart failure.
4. A patient on digoxin has a pulse of 56 bpm. What should the nurse do?
A. Administer the dose
B. Withhold the dose and notify the provider
C. Recheck the pulse in 1 hour
D. Administer atropine
Answer: Withhold the dose and notify the provider
Rationale: A pulse below 60 bpm indicates potential digoxin toxicity; the dose should be
withheld.
5. Which electrolyte imbalance increases digoxin toxicity risk?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hypernatremia
D. Hypocalcemia
Answer: Hypokalemia
Rationale: Hypokalemia enhances digoxin’s effect on the heart, increasing toxicity risk.
6. A patient with atrial fibrillation has an INR of 4.8. What should the nurse
anticipate?
A. Continue warfarin
B. Administer vitamin K
C. Increase warfarin dose
D. Administer heparin
Nursing III / PN3 Final Exam (Latest
) Rasmussen
Instructions
This exam contains 75 NCLEX-style questions for the NUR 2790 Professional Nursing III (PN3)
Final Exam at Rasmussen University for the 2024/2025 academic year. Questions cover high-
acuity medical-surgical nursing topics, including cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological,
oncological, and endocrine disorders, burn management, end-of-life care, and prioritization of
care, as outlined in course material from Stuvia. Read each question carefully and select the best
answer(s). For "Select all that apply" questions, choose all correct options. Answers are provided
in blue, with detailed rationales immediately following each question. The exam is divided into
sections: Cardiovascular and Respiratory Care, Neurological and Oncological Care, Endocrine
and Burn Management, and General High-Acuity Nursing. Use this resource for the PN3 final
exam.
Section 1: Cardiovascular and Respiratory Care (Questions
1–20)
1. The nurse is prioritizing care for four newly admitted patients on a high-acuity
medical-surgical unit. Which patient should the nurse assess first?
A. The NPO patient with a blood glucose of 80 mg/dL who received 20 units of 70/30
Novolin insulin
B. The patient with a pulse of 58 bpm about to receive digoxin
C. The patient with a blood pressure of 136/92 mm Hg complaining of a headache
D. The patient with a penicillin allergy receiving vancomycin
Answer: The NPO patient with a blood glucose of 80 mg/dL who received 20 units of
70/30 Novolin insulin
Rationale: A blood glucose of 80 mg/dL in an NPO patient who received 20 units of
insulin is dangerously low, risking hypoglycemia. This patient requires immediate
assessment and intervention.
2. A patient with a myocardial infarction reports chest pain rated 8/10. What should
the nurse do first?
A. Administer morphine IV
, B. Obtain a 12-lead ECG
C. Assess vital signs
D. Administer nitroglycerin sublingually
Answer: Assess vital signs
Rationale: Assessing vital signs provides critical baseline data to guide interventions for
acute chest pain.
3. A patient with heart failure has 2+ pitting edema and bibasilar crackles. Which
medication should the nurse anticipate?
A. Metoprolol
B. Furosemide
C. Digoxin
D. Warfarin
Answer: Furosemide
Rationale: Furosemide, a loop diuretic, reduces fluid overload, addressing edema and
crackles in heart failure.
4. A patient on digoxin has a pulse of 56 bpm. What should the nurse do?
A. Administer the dose
B. Withhold the dose and notify the provider
C. Recheck the pulse in 1 hour
D. Administer atropine
Answer: Withhold the dose and notify the provider
Rationale: A pulse below 60 bpm indicates potential digoxin toxicity; the dose should be
withheld.
5. Which electrolyte imbalance increases digoxin toxicity risk?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hypernatremia
D. Hypocalcemia
Answer: Hypokalemia
Rationale: Hypokalemia enhances digoxin’s effect on the heart, increasing toxicity risk.
6. A patient with atrial fibrillation has an INR of 4.8. What should the nurse
anticipate?
A. Continue warfarin
B. Administer vitamin K
C. Increase warfarin dose
D. Administer heparin
