NU 185
EXAM 2
3
NCLEX Style Questions w/ Rationales
Medical-Surgical Nursing II
Galen College of Nursing
This Document Description:
This document contains NCLEX-style Exam
questions tailored to the NU 185 course at
Galen College of Nursing
It covers core topics assessed in the course
and reflects the actual exam format and question style.
Each question is followed by a correct answer and rationale
to support exam preparation.
,Which layer of the heart is responsible for the forceful contractions
that pump blood throughout the body?
A. Epicardium
B. Myocardium
C. Endocardium
D. Pericardium
Correct Answer: B. Myocardium
Rationale: The myocardium is the thick muscular middle layer responsible
for the heart's contractions and pumping action.
Which of the following correctly describes the flow of oxygenated
blood?
A. Right atrium → right ventricle → pulmonary artery
B. Pulmonary veins → left atrium → left ventricle
C. Superior vena cava → right atrium → right ventricle
D. Left ventricle → right atrium → lungs
Correct Answer: B. Pulmonary veins → left atrium → left ventricle
Rationale: Oxygenated blood returns from the lungs through the
pulmonary veins to the left atrium, then moves to the left ventricle before
being pumped to the rest of the body.
Which vessel type is responsible for gas exchange at the tissue level?
A. Arteries
B. Veins
C. Capillaries
D. Venules
Correct Answer: C. Capillaries
Rationale: Capillaries are the smallest blood vessels where oxygen and
carbon dioxide exchange occurs between blood and tissues.
Which vessel carries deoxygenated blood away from the heart?
, A. Aorta
B. Pulmonary artery
C. Pulmonary vein
D. Inferior vena cava
Correct Answer: B. Pulmonary artery
Rationale: The pulmonary artery is the only artery that carries
deoxygenated blood, transporting it from the right ventricle to the lungs for
oxygenation.
A nurse is assessing a client with decreased tissue perfusion. Which
finding would support this diagnosis?
A. Warm, pink skin
B. Bounding peripheral pulses
C. Capillary refill less than 2 seconds
D. Cool extremities and weak pulses
Correct Answer: D. Cool extremities and weak pulses
Rationale: Decreased perfusion results in poor blood flow to extremities,
leading to cool skin and weak pulses.
A patient arrives at the emergency department with chest pain that
began 6 hours ago. Which cardiac marker is most specific for
diagnosing myocardial infarction (MI)?
A. Myoglobin
B. Creatinine Kinase (CK)
C. Troponin
D. B-type Natriuretic Peptide (BNP)
Correct Answer: C. Troponin
Rationale: Troponin is the gold standard for diagnosing myocardial
infarction because of its high specificity to cardiac muscle and long
elevation time after injury.
A patient presents with shortness of breath, fatigue, and peripheral
edema. Which lab value would best support a diagnosis of heart
EXAM 2
3
NCLEX Style Questions w/ Rationales
Medical-Surgical Nursing II
Galen College of Nursing
This Document Description:
This document contains NCLEX-style Exam
questions tailored to the NU 185 course at
Galen College of Nursing
It covers core topics assessed in the course
and reflects the actual exam format and question style.
Each question is followed by a correct answer and rationale
to support exam preparation.
,Which layer of the heart is responsible for the forceful contractions
that pump blood throughout the body?
A. Epicardium
B. Myocardium
C. Endocardium
D. Pericardium
Correct Answer: B. Myocardium
Rationale: The myocardium is the thick muscular middle layer responsible
for the heart's contractions and pumping action.
Which of the following correctly describes the flow of oxygenated
blood?
A. Right atrium → right ventricle → pulmonary artery
B. Pulmonary veins → left atrium → left ventricle
C. Superior vena cava → right atrium → right ventricle
D. Left ventricle → right atrium → lungs
Correct Answer: B. Pulmonary veins → left atrium → left ventricle
Rationale: Oxygenated blood returns from the lungs through the
pulmonary veins to the left atrium, then moves to the left ventricle before
being pumped to the rest of the body.
Which vessel type is responsible for gas exchange at the tissue level?
A. Arteries
B. Veins
C. Capillaries
D. Venules
Correct Answer: C. Capillaries
Rationale: Capillaries are the smallest blood vessels where oxygen and
carbon dioxide exchange occurs between blood and tissues.
Which vessel carries deoxygenated blood away from the heart?
, A. Aorta
B. Pulmonary artery
C. Pulmonary vein
D. Inferior vena cava
Correct Answer: B. Pulmonary artery
Rationale: The pulmonary artery is the only artery that carries
deoxygenated blood, transporting it from the right ventricle to the lungs for
oxygenation.
A nurse is assessing a client with decreased tissue perfusion. Which
finding would support this diagnosis?
A. Warm, pink skin
B. Bounding peripheral pulses
C. Capillary refill less than 2 seconds
D. Cool extremities and weak pulses
Correct Answer: D. Cool extremities and weak pulses
Rationale: Decreased perfusion results in poor blood flow to extremities,
leading to cool skin and weak pulses.
A patient arrives at the emergency department with chest pain that
began 6 hours ago. Which cardiac marker is most specific for
diagnosing myocardial infarction (MI)?
A. Myoglobin
B. Creatinine Kinase (CK)
C. Troponin
D. B-type Natriuretic Peptide (BNP)
Correct Answer: C. Troponin
Rationale: Troponin is the gold standard for diagnosing myocardial
infarction because of its high specificity to cardiac muscle and long
elevation time after injury.
A patient presents with shortness of breath, fatigue, and peripheral
edema. Which lab value would best support a diagnosis of heart
