NR325 EXAM 2 COMPLETE PRACTICE
TEST (200 QUESTIONS) – ANSWERS &
RATIONALES | ADULT HEALTH / MED-
SURG NURSING STUDY GUIDE
NR325 Practice Exam 2
Question 1
A nurse is caring for a patient with heart failure who reports shortness
of breath when lying flat. Which term describes this symptom?
A. Dyspnea
B. Orthopnea
C. Tachypnea
D. Apnea
Answer: B. Orthopnea
Rationale: Orthopnea refers to difficulty breathing when lying flat.
Patients with heart failure often sleep with multiple pillows or in an
upright position to relieve this symptom.
Question 2
A nurse is reviewing laboratory results for a patient receiving
furosemide. Which electrolyte imbalance should the nurse monitor
for?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hypernatremia
D. Hypercalcemia
Answer: B. Hypokalemia
Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that increases potassium
excretion in the urine. Patients are at risk for hypokalemia, which can
cause cardiac dysrhythmias.
,Question 3
A patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is
receiving oxygen therapy. What is the recommended oxygen saturation
goal for this patient?
A. 100%
B. 98–100%
C. 88–92%
D. 75–80%
Answer: C. 88–92%
Rationale: COPD patients often rely on hypoxic drive to breathe.
Oxygen therapy is usually titrated to maintain saturation between 88–
92% to avoid suppressing respiratory drive.
Question 4
Which assessment finding is most concerning in a patient with
increased intracranial pressure (ICP)?
A. Headache
B. Nausea
C. Decreased level of consciousness
D. Dilated pupils
Answer: C. Decreased level of consciousness
Rationale: A decreasing level of consciousness is often the earliest and
most sensitive indicator of increased intracranial pressure.
Question 5
A nurse is caring for a patient experiencing hypoglycemia. Which
intervention should be performed first?
A. Administer insulin
B. Give 15 g of fast-acting carbohydrates
C. Start IV fluids
D. Encourage exercise
Answer: B. Give 15 g of fast-acting carbohydrates
,Rationale: Hypoglycemia requires rapid treatment with fast-acting
carbohydrates such as glucose tablets, juice, or regular soda.
Question 6
A nurse is educating a patient about deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
prevention after surgery. Which instruction is most appropriate?
A. Limit movement in the legs
B. Avoid fluids
C. Ambulate as soon as possible
D. Cross legs when sitting
Answer: C. Ambulate as soon as possible
Rationale: Early ambulation promotes venous return and reduces the
risk of blood clot formation.
Question 7
A patient with chronic kidney disease has a potassium level of 6.2
mEq/L. Which food should the nurse instruct the patient to avoid?
A. Apples
B. Rice
C. Bread
D. Bananas
Answer: D. Bananas
Rationale: Bananas are high in potassium. Patients with hyperkalemia
or kidney disease should avoid high-potassium foods.
Question 8
Which sign indicates fluid overload in a patient?
A. Hypotension
B. Dry mucous membranes
C. Peripheral edema
D. Weight loss
Answer: C. Peripheral edema
, Rationale: Fluid overload often manifests as peripheral edema, weight
gain, crackles in lungs, and hypertension.
Question 9
A nurse is caring for a patient with pneumonia. Which intervention
helps improve oxygenation?
A. Restrict fluids
B. Encourage coughing and deep breathing
C. Limit activity completely
D. Keep patient supine
Answer: B. Encourage coughing and deep breathing
Rationale: Coughing and deep breathing help mobilize secretions,
improve lung expansion, and increase oxygenation.
Question 10
A patient is receiving heparin therapy. Which laboratory test should
the nurse monitor?
A. INR
B. Platelets
C. aPTT
D. Hemoglobin
Answer: C. aPTT
Rationale: Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) is used to
monitor the effectiveness and safety of heparin therapy.
• NCLEX-style SATA questions
• Case-study scenario questions like your actual nursing
exams.
Question 11
A patient with hypertension is prescribed lisinopril. Which side
effect should the nurse teach the patient to report?
A. Constipation
B. Persistent dry cough
TEST (200 QUESTIONS) – ANSWERS &
RATIONALES | ADULT HEALTH / MED-
SURG NURSING STUDY GUIDE
NR325 Practice Exam 2
Question 1
A nurse is caring for a patient with heart failure who reports shortness
of breath when lying flat. Which term describes this symptom?
A. Dyspnea
B. Orthopnea
C. Tachypnea
D. Apnea
Answer: B. Orthopnea
Rationale: Orthopnea refers to difficulty breathing when lying flat.
Patients with heart failure often sleep with multiple pillows or in an
upright position to relieve this symptom.
Question 2
A nurse is reviewing laboratory results for a patient receiving
furosemide. Which electrolyte imbalance should the nurse monitor
for?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hypernatremia
D. Hypercalcemia
Answer: B. Hypokalemia
Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that increases potassium
excretion in the urine. Patients are at risk for hypokalemia, which can
cause cardiac dysrhythmias.
,Question 3
A patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is
receiving oxygen therapy. What is the recommended oxygen saturation
goal for this patient?
A. 100%
B. 98–100%
C. 88–92%
D. 75–80%
Answer: C. 88–92%
Rationale: COPD patients often rely on hypoxic drive to breathe.
Oxygen therapy is usually titrated to maintain saturation between 88–
92% to avoid suppressing respiratory drive.
Question 4
Which assessment finding is most concerning in a patient with
increased intracranial pressure (ICP)?
A. Headache
B. Nausea
C. Decreased level of consciousness
D. Dilated pupils
Answer: C. Decreased level of consciousness
Rationale: A decreasing level of consciousness is often the earliest and
most sensitive indicator of increased intracranial pressure.
Question 5
A nurse is caring for a patient experiencing hypoglycemia. Which
intervention should be performed first?
A. Administer insulin
B. Give 15 g of fast-acting carbohydrates
C. Start IV fluids
D. Encourage exercise
Answer: B. Give 15 g of fast-acting carbohydrates
,Rationale: Hypoglycemia requires rapid treatment with fast-acting
carbohydrates such as glucose tablets, juice, or regular soda.
Question 6
A nurse is educating a patient about deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
prevention after surgery. Which instruction is most appropriate?
A. Limit movement in the legs
B. Avoid fluids
C. Ambulate as soon as possible
D. Cross legs when sitting
Answer: C. Ambulate as soon as possible
Rationale: Early ambulation promotes venous return and reduces the
risk of blood clot formation.
Question 7
A patient with chronic kidney disease has a potassium level of 6.2
mEq/L. Which food should the nurse instruct the patient to avoid?
A. Apples
B. Rice
C. Bread
D. Bananas
Answer: D. Bananas
Rationale: Bananas are high in potassium. Patients with hyperkalemia
or kidney disease should avoid high-potassium foods.
Question 8
Which sign indicates fluid overload in a patient?
A. Hypotension
B. Dry mucous membranes
C. Peripheral edema
D. Weight loss
Answer: C. Peripheral edema
, Rationale: Fluid overload often manifests as peripheral edema, weight
gain, crackles in lungs, and hypertension.
Question 9
A nurse is caring for a patient with pneumonia. Which intervention
helps improve oxygenation?
A. Restrict fluids
B. Encourage coughing and deep breathing
C. Limit activity completely
D. Keep patient supine
Answer: B. Encourage coughing and deep breathing
Rationale: Coughing and deep breathing help mobilize secretions,
improve lung expansion, and increase oxygenation.
Question 10
A patient is receiving heparin therapy. Which laboratory test should
the nurse monitor?
A. INR
B. Platelets
C. aPTT
D. Hemoglobin
Answer: C. aPTT
Rationale: Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) is used to
monitor the effectiveness and safety of heparin therapy.
• NCLEX-style SATA questions
• Case-study scenario questions like your actual nursing
exams.
Question 11
A patient with hypertension is prescribed lisinopril. Which side
effect should the nurse teach the patient to report?
A. Constipation
B. Persistent dry cough
