NU131 Exam 2 Nursing and Healthcare I
Official Practice Exam Actual Exam
2026/2027 with Detailed Rationales |
Complete Exam-Style Questions | Pass
Guaranteed – A+ Graded
══════════════════════════════════════
SECTION 1: FOUNDATIONS OF NURSING PRACTICE Q1 – Q10
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Question 1 of 50
A 72-year-old male patient is admitted to the medical-surgical unit with a new diagnosis of
heart failure. During the initial admission assessment, the nurse notes the patient has hearing
aids in both ears and is wearing a medical alert bracelet indicating a penicillin allergy. Which
action by the nurse best demonstrates the principle of patient-centered care?
A. Documenting the hearing aids and allergy in the electronic health record before greeting
the patient
B. Speaking loudly and slowly while standing at the foot of the bed to ensure the patient can
hear
C. Positioning face-to-face at eye level, speaking clearly, and asking the patient his preferred
name ✓ CORRECT
D. Removing the hearing aids for safekeeping and proceeding with the standard admission
protocol
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Patient-centered care requires recognizing the patient as an individual with unique
preferences and needs, and positioning face-to-face at eye level with clear speech respects
both his hearing needs and his dignity as a person. Option B is incorrect because speaking
loudly can distort sound for hearing aid users and standing at the foot of the bed creates
physical and psychological distance. In practice, simply asking a patient how they prefer to
be addressed sets a respectful tone for the entire hospital stay.
Question 2 of 50
,A newly licensed nurse is caring for a 45-year-old woman who was admitted for an elective
total knee replacement. The patient asks the nurse to explain the difference between a
nursing diagnosis and a medical diagnosis. Which response by the nurse is most accurate?
A. "A nursing diagnosis identifies the disease process, while a medical diagnosis describes
your response to treatment."
B. "A medical diagnosis identifies a disease or pathology, while a nursing diagnosis describes
your human response to that condition." ✓ CORRECT
C. "Both diagnoses are written by physicians and focus on identifying the underlying cause of
illness."
D. "A nursing diagnosis is only used in home health settings, while a medical diagnosis is
used in hospitals."
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A medical diagnosis identifies a specific disease, pathology, or condition such as
osteoarthritis, while a nursing diagnosis focuses on the patient's human response to that
condition, such as impaired physical mobility or acute pain. Option A reverses the definitions
and misrepresents the purpose of each diagnosis type. Understanding this distinction helps
nurses articulate their unique contribution to patient care during interdisciplinary rounds.
Question 3 of 50
During morning handoff report, the night nurse tells the day nurse that a 68-year-old
postoperative patient has been restless, pulling at his IV line, and attempting to get out of bed
unassisted. The patient has a history of dementia and is on fall precautions. Which nursing
action takes highest priority before leaving the bedside?
A. Reorienting the patient to the date, time, and hospital location
B. Assessing the patient's level of consciousness and pain status ✓ CORRECT
C. Calling the physician to request an order for a sedative medication
D. Placing all four side rails up and applying wrist restraints
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Restlessness in a postoperative patient with dementia can signal uncontrolled
pain, hypoxia, or delirium, so a focused assessment of consciousness and pain must come
before any intervention. Option D is incorrect because restraints are a last resort and require
a physician order after less restrictive measures have been attempted. A quick pain
assessment often reveals that agitation resolves with analgesia rather than sedation.
Question 4 of 50
A 34-year-old female patient is being discharged home after a three-day hospitalization for
pyelonephritis. She will continue oral antibiotics at home and has been taught to monitor for
, signs of worsening infection. Which statement by the patient indicates that further teaching
is needed?
A. "I will finish all of my antibiotic pills even if I start feeling better."
B. "I should call my doctor if my fever returns or if I have shaking chills."
C. "I can stop taking the antibiotics once my back pain and fever are gone." ✓ CORRECT
D. "I will drink at least eight glasses of water every day to help flush my kidneys."
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Antibiotics must be taken for the full prescribed course to eradicate the infection
and prevent antibiotic resistance, so stopping early because symptoms resolve indicates a
critical knowledge gap. Option A is a correct statement that demonstrates understanding of
medication adherence. Patients often feel better before the bacteria are fully eliminated,
which is why nurses must explicitly teach the risks of premature discontinuation.
Question 5 of 50
A nurse is caring for a 56-year-old man who was admitted with uncontrolled hypertension.
The patient tells the nurse he has been skipping doses of his antihypertensive medication
because he cannot afford the prescription. Which nursing response best demonstrates
advocacy?
A. "You need to take your medication as prescribed or you could have a stroke."
B. "Have you considered asking a family member to help pay for your prescriptions?"
C. "Let me contact the social worker to discuss medication assistance programs and generic
options." ✓ CORRECT
D. "Your insurance should cover most of the cost, so cost shouldn't be an issue."
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Advocacy involves taking action to secure resources and remove barriers to care,
and connecting the patient with a social worker addresses the root cause of nonadherence
through concrete solutions. Option A uses fear-based communication that does not solve the
financial barrier and may damage the therapeutic relationship. Social workers often have
access to patient assistance programs that nurses may not be aware of, making this referral
essential.
Question 6 of 50
A nursing student is preparing to administer morning medications to a group of patients on a
medical-surgical unit. The instructor asks the student to identify which task can be delegated
to an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP). Which response by the student is correct?
A. "I can ask the UAP to check the patient's identification band before I give the medication."
Official Practice Exam Actual Exam
2026/2027 with Detailed Rationales |
Complete Exam-Style Questions | Pass
Guaranteed – A+ Graded
══════════════════════════════════════
SECTION 1: FOUNDATIONS OF NURSING PRACTICE Q1 – Q10
══════════════════════════════════════
Question 1 of 50
A 72-year-old male patient is admitted to the medical-surgical unit with a new diagnosis of
heart failure. During the initial admission assessment, the nurse notes the patient has hearing
aids in both ears and is wearing a medical alert bracelet indicating a penicillin allergy. Which
action by the nurse best demonstrates the principle of patient-centered care?
A. Documenting the hearing aids and allergy in the electronic health record before greeting
the patient
B. Speaking loudly and slowly while standing at the foot of the bed to ensure the patient can
hear
C. Positioning face-to-face at eye level, speaking clearly, and asking the patient his preferred
name ✓ CORRECT
D. Removing the hearing aids for safekeeping and proceeding with the standard admission
protocol
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Patient-centered care requires recognizing the patient as an individual with unique
preferences and needs, and positioning face-to-face at eye level with clear speech respects
both his hearing needs and his dignity as a person. Option B is incorrect because speaking
loudly can distort sound for hearing aid users and standing at the foot of the bed creates
physical and psychological distance. In practice, simply asking a patient how they prefer to
be addressed sets a respectful tone for the entire hospital stay.
Question 2 of 50
,A newly licensed nurse is caring for a 45-year-old woman who was admitted for an elective
total knee replacement. The patient asks the nurse to explain the difference between a
nursing diagnosis and a medical diagnosis. Which response by the nurse is most accurate?
A. "A nursing diagnosis identifies the disease process, while a medical diagnosis describes
your response to treatment."
B. "A medical diagnosis identifies a disease or pathology, while a nursing diagnosis describes
your human response to that condition." ✓ CORRECT
C. "Both diagnoses are written by physicians and focus on identifying the underlying cause of
illness."
D. "A nursing diagnosis is only used in home health settings, while a medical diagnosis is
used in hospitals."
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A medical diagnosis identifies a specific disease, pathology, or condition such as
osteoarthritis, while a nursing diagnosis focuses on the patient's human response to that
condition, such as impaired physical mobility or acute pain. Option A reverses the definitions
and misrepresents the purpose of each diagnosis type. Understanding this distinction helps
nurses articulate their unique contribution to patient care during interdisciplinary rounds.
Question 3 of 50
During morning handoff report, the night nurse tells the day nurse that a 68-year-old
postoperative patient has been restless, pulling at his IV line, and attempting to get out of bed
unassisted. The patient has a history of dementia and is on fall precautions. Which nursing
action takes highest priority before leaving the bedside?
A. Reorienting the patient to the date, time, and hospital location
B. Assessing the patient's level of consciousness and pain status ✓ CORRECT
C. Calling the physician to request an order for a sedative medication
D. Placing all four side rails up and applying wrist restraints
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Restlessness in a postoperative patient with dementia can signal uncontrolled
pain, hypoxia, or delirium, so a focused assessment of consciousness and pain must come
before any intervention. Option D is incorrect because restraints are a last resort and require
a physician order after less restrictive measures have been attempted. A quick pain
assessment often reveals that agitation resolves with analgesia rather than sedation.
Question 4 of 50
A 34-year-old female patient is being discharged home after a three-day hospitalization for
pyelonephritis. She will continue oral antibiotics at home and has been taught to monitor for
, signs of worsening infection. Which statement by the patient indicates that further teaching
is needed?
A. "I will finish all of my antibiotic pills even if I start feeling better."
B. "I should call my doctor if my fever returns or if I have shaking chills."
C. "I can stop taking the antibiotics once my back pain and fever are gone." ✓ CORRECT
D. "I will drink at least eight glasses of water every day to help flush my kidneys."
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Antibiotics must be taken for the full prescribed course to eradicate the infection
and prevent antibiotic resistance, so stopping early because symptoms resolve indicates a
critical knowledge gap. Option A is a correct statement that demonstrates understanding of
medication adherence. Patients often feel better before the bacteria are fully eliminated,
which is why nurses must explicitly teach the risks of premature discontinuation.
Question 5 of 50
A nurse is caring for a 56-year-old man who was admitted with uncontrolled hypertension.
The patient tells the nurse he has been skipping doses of his antihypertensive medication
because he cannot afford the prescription. Which nursing response best demonstrates
advocacy?
A. "You need to take your medication as prescribed or you could have a stroke."
B. "Have you considered asking a family member to help pay for your prescriptions?"
C. "Let me contact the social worker to discuss medication assistance programs and generic
options." ✓ CORRECT
D. "Your insurance should cover most of the cost, so cost shouldn't be an issue."
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Advocacy involves taking action to secure resources and remove barriers to care,
and connecting the patient with a social worker addresses the root cause of nonadherence
through concrete solutions. Option A uses fear-based communication that does not solve the
financial barrier and may damage the therapeutic relationship. Social workers often have
access to patient assistance programs that nurses may not be aware of, making this referral
essential.
Question 6 of 50
A nursing student is preparing to administer morning medications to a group of patients on a
medical-surgical unit. The instructor asks the student to identify which task can be delegated
to an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP). Which response by the student is correct?
A. "I can ask the UAP to check the patient's identification band before I give the medication."
