NURS 2356 – EXAM 1 EXAM READY - VERIFIED QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS - COMPREHENSIVE LATEST VERSION (2026/2027)
1. A patient has a serum sodium level of 125 mEq/L. The nurse recognizes
this as:
A. Hypernatremia
B. Hyponatremia
C. Normal sodium level
D. Hyperkalemia
Answer: B
2. Which IV solution is considered isotonic?
A. 0.45% NaCl
B. 3% NaCl
C. 0.9% NaCl
D. D10W
Answer: C
3. A patient develops tetany, positive Chvostek's sign, and muscle cramps.
The nurse suspects:
A. Hypermagnesemia
B. Hypocalcemia
C. Hyperkalemia
D. Hyponatremia
Answer: B
4. Which electrolyte imbalance is most associated with peaked T waves on
ECG?
A. Hypokalemia
B. Hypernatremia
C. Hyperkalemia
D. Hypocalcemia
,Answer: C
5. A nurse is caring for a patient receiving a blood transfusion who
develops chills, fever, and flank pain. The priority nursing action is:
A. Slow the transfusion
B. Administer acetaminophen
C. Stop the transfusion immediately
D. Notify the physician first
Answer: C
6. Which finding indicates fluid volume excess (hypervolemia)?
A. Poor skin turgor
B. Flat neck veins
C. Bounding pulse
D. Concentrated urine
Answer: C
7. The normal serum potassium level is:
A. 1.5–2.5 mEq/L
B. 3.5–5.0 mEq/L
C. 5.5–7.0 mEq/L
D. 8.0–10.0 mEq/L
Answer: B
8. A patient is receiving furosemide (Lasix). Which electrolyte should the
nurse monitor closely?
A. Calcium
B. Sodium
C. Potassium
D. Phosphorus
Answer: C
9. Which patient is at highest risk for developing hyperkalemia?
A. Patient with prolonged vomiting
B. Patient with chronic renal failure
C. Patient receiving insulin therapy
D. Patient with burns
Answer: B
,10. Osmosis is best described as:
A. Movement of solutes from low to high concentration
B. Movement of water from low solute to high solute concentration
C. Active transport requiring ATP
D. Movement via carrier proteins
Answer: B
11. A patient has a serum calcium of 12.5 mg/dL. Which symptom would
the nurse expect?
A. Tetany
B. Positive Trousseau's sign
C. Muscle weakness and constipation
D. Seizures
Answer: C
12. Which IV fluid is hypotonic?
A. 0.9% NaCl
B. Lactated Ringer's
C. 0.45% NaCl
D. D5NS
Answer: C
13. A urine specific gravity of 1.030 indicates:
A. Dilute urine, fluid overload
B. Concentrated urine, dehydration
C. Normal specific gravity
D. Renal failure
Answer: B
14. A patient with hypomagnesemia is most at risk for:
A. Hypertension
B. Cardiac dysrhythmias
C. Pulmonary edema
D. Renal stones
Answer: B
15. Which is an early sign of fluid volume deficit (hypovolemia)?
A. JVD
, B. Orthostatic hypotension
C. Crackles in the lungs
D. Pitting edema
Answer: B
16. Normal serum osmolarity range is:
A. 150–200 mOsm/kg
B. 200–250 mOsm/kg
C. 275–295 mOsm/kg
D. 300–350 mOsm/kg
Answer: C
17. ABG: pH 7.30, PaCO2 50, HCO3 24. The nurse interprets this as:
A. Metabolic acidosis
B. Metabolic alkalosis
C. Respiratory acidosis
D. Respiratory alkalosis
Answer: C
18. ABG: pH 7.50, PaCO2 30, HCO3 22. This represents:
A. Respiratory alkalosis
B. Respiratory acidosis
C. Metabolic alkalosis
D. Metabolic acidosis
Answer: A
19. Metabolic acidosis is associated with:
A. Prolonged vomiting
B. Antacid overuse
C. Diabetic ketoacidosis
D. Hyperventilation
Answer: C
20. The Trousseau's sign is elicited by:
A. Tapping the facial nerve
B. Inflating BP cuff above systolic for 3 minutes
C. Dorsiflexing the foot
D. Hyperextending the knee
ANSWERS - COMPREHENSIVE LATEST VERSION (2026/2027)
1. A patient has a serum sodium level of 125 mEq/L. The nurse recognizes
this as:
A. Hypernatremia
B. Hyponatremia
C. Normal sodium level
D. Hyperkalemia
Answer: B
2. Which IV solution is considered isotonic?
A. 0.45% NaCl
B. 3% NaCl
C. 0.9% NaCl
D. D10W
Answer: C
3. A patient develops tetany, positive Chvostek's sign, and muscle cramps.
The nurse suspects:
A. Hypermagnesemia
B. Hypocalcemia
C. Hyperkalemia
D. Hyponatremia
Answer: B
4. Which electrolyte imbalance is most associated with peaked T waves on
ECG?
A. Hypokalemia
B. Hypernatremia
C. Hyperkalemia
D. Hypocalcemia
,Answer: C
5. A nurse is caring for a patient receiving a blood transfusion who
develops chills, fever, and flank pain. The priority nursing action is:
A. Slow the transfusion
B. Administer acetaminophen
C. Stop the transfusion immediately
D. Notify the physician first
Answer: C
6. Which finding indicates fluid volume excess (hypervolemia)?
A. Poor skin turgor
B. Flat neck veins
C. Bounding pulse
D. Concentrated urine
Answer: C
7. The normal serum potassium level is:
A. 1.5–2.5 mEq/L
B. 3.5–5.0 mEq/L
C. 5.5–7.0 mEq/L
D. 8.0–10.0 mEq/L
Answer: B
8. A patient is receiving furosemide (Lasix). Which electrolyte should the
nurse monitor closely?
A. Calcium
B. Sodium
C. Potassium
D. Phosphorus
Answer: C
9. Which patient is at highest risk for developing hyperkalemia?
A. Patient with prolonged vomiting
B. Patient with chronic renal failure
C. Patient receiving insulin therapy
D. Patient with burns
Answer: B
,10. Osmosis is best described as:
A. Movement of solutes from low to high concentration
B. Movement of water from low solute to high solute concentration
C. Active transport requiring ATP
D. Movement via carrier proteins
Answer: B
11. A patient has a serum calcium of 12.5 mg/dL. Which symptom would
the nurse expect?
A. Tetany
B. Positive Trousseau's sign
C. Muscle weakness and constipation
D. Seizures
Answer: C
12. Which IV fluid is hypotonic?
A. 0.9% NaCl
B. Lactated Ringer's
C. 0.45% NaCl
D. D5NS
Answer: C
13. A urine specific gravity of 1.030 indicates:
A. Dilute urine, fluid overload
B. Concentrated urine, dehydration
C. Normal specific gravity
D. Renal failure
Answer: B
14. A patient with hypomagnesemia is most at risk for:
A. Hypertension
B. Cardiac dysrhythmias
C. Pulmonary edema
D. Renal stones
Answer: B
15. Which is an early sign of fluid volume deficit (hypovolemia)?
A. JVD
, B. Orthostatic hypotension
C. Crackles in the lungs
D. Pitting edema
Answer: B
16. Normal serum osmolarity range is:
A. 150–200 mOsm/kg
B. 200–250 mOsm/kg
C. 275–295 mOsm/kg
D. 300–350 mOsm/kg
Answer: C
17. ABG: pH 7.30, PaCO2 50, HCO3 24. The nurse interprets this as:
A. Metabolic acidosis
B. Metabolic alkalosis
C. Respiratory acidosis
D. Respiratory alkalosis
Answer: C
18. ABG: pH 7.50, PaCO2 30, HCO3 22. This represents:
A. Respiratory alkalosis
B. Respiratory acidosis
C. Metabolic alkalosis
D. Metabolic acidosis
Answer: A
19. Metabolic acidosis is associated with:
A. Prolonged vomiting
B. Antacid overuse
C. Diabetic ketoacidosis
D. Hyperventilation
Answer: C
20. The Trousseau's sign is elicited by:
A. Tapping the facial nerve
B. Inflating BP cuff above systolic for 3 minutes
C. Dorsiflexing the foot
D. Hyperextending the knee
