NUR 1211 Medical-Surgical Nursing
Practice Exam Questions and Answers
Latest Version 2026 Top Rated A+ Miami
Dade College (MDC)
Fluid & Electrolyte / IV Therapy Questions
1. You are caring for a patient with syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion
(SIADH). The plan includes assessing urine specific gravity every 4 hours. This test allows the
nurse to assess what aspect of the patient's health?
A. Nutritional status
B. Potassium balance
C. Calcium balance
D. Fluid volume status
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Specific gravity reflects urine concentration and directly indicates fluid volume
deficit (high SG) or excess (low SG, as in SIADH dilutional hyponatremia). Nutrition, K+, or
Ca++ are not primary indicators here.quizlet.com
2. A patient on the burns unit shows signs of third-spacing. What imbalance should the nurse
expect?
A. Metabolic alkalosis
B. Hypermagnesemia
C. Hypercalcemia
,D. Hypovolemia
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Third-spacing shifts fluid out of the vascular space into tissues (e.g., edema in
burns), reducing intravascular volume and causing hypovolemia. Burns often lead to acidosis,
not alkalosis.quizlet.com
3. An older adult patient with end-stage liver disease has inelastic skin turgor. How should the
nurse interpret this during assessment?
A. Overhydration is common in older adults
B. Dehydration causes spongy skin
C. Inelastic skin turgor is a normal part of aging
D. Skin turgor cannot be assessed in patients over 70
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Decreased skin elasticity is a normal age-related change (due to less
collagen/elastin) and does not always indicate dehydration. Always correlate with other signs
(e.g., mucous membranes, I&O).quizlet.com
4. When selecting a peripheral IV site on the hand or arm, what is the priority consideration?
A. Choose a hairless site if available
B. Consider potential effects on the patient's mobility
C. Have the patient hold the arm over the head briefly
D. Leave the tourniquet on for at least 3 minutes
Correct Answer: B
,Rationale: Site selection must avoid interfering with daily activities or mobility. Dependent
positioning increases venous filling; tourniquet should never exceed 1–2 minutes to prevent
hemoconcentration or discomfort.quizlet.com
Acid-Base (ABG) Interpretation Questions
5. Patient ABGs: pH 7.26, PaCO₂ 28 mmHg, HCO₃⁻ 11 mEq/L. How do you interpret these?
A. Respiratory acidosis with no compensation
B. Metabolic alkalosis with compensatory alkalosis
C. Metabolic acidosis with no compensation
D. Metabolic acidosis with compensatory respiratory alkalosis
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Low pH = acidosis. Low HCO₃⁻ = primary metabolic cause. Low PaCO₂ shows lungs
compensating by hyperventilating to blow off CO₂ (respiratory alkalosis compensation). Step-
by-step: pH first (acidosis), then match to HCO₃⁻ (metabolic), then check compensation (PaCO₂
moving opposite).quizlet.com
6. A patient with anxiety is hyperventilating. This is the most common cause of which
imbalance?
A. Respiratory acidosis
B. Respiratory alkalosis
C. Increased PaCO₂
D. CNS disturbances
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hyperventilation lowers PaCO₂ rapidly, causing respiratory alkalosis (↑pH).
Respiratory acidosis involves hypoventilation and ↑PaCO₂.quizlet.com
, 7. ABGs in a pneumonia patient: pH 7.21, PaCO₂ 64 mmHg, HCO₃⁻ 24 mEq/L. What does this
reflect?
A. Metabolic acidosis
B. Respiratory acidosis (uncompensated)
C. Respiratory alkalosis
D. Mixed disorder
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Low pH + high PaCO₂ (hypoventilation from pneumonia) = primary respiratory
acidosis. Normal HCO₃⁻ indicates no renal compensation yet.quizlet.com
Diabetes Mellitus Questions
8. A school nurse teaches high school students about diabetes risk factors. Which action has
the greatest potential to reduce risk?
A. Avoiding all sugary foods
B. Exercising 30 minutes daily
C. Getting annual blood glucose checks
D. Losing weight if obese
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Obesity is a major modifiable risk factor for type 2 diabetes (insulin resistance).
Weight loss improves insulin sensitivity more directly than the other options
alone.quizlet.com
9. A client with diabetes mellitus experiences polyphagia. What is the priority outcome
statement?
A. Fluid and electrolyte balance
B. Prevention of water toxicity
Practice Exam Questions and Answers
Latest Version 2026 Top Rated A+ Miami
Dade College (MDC)
Fluid & Electrolyte / IV Therapy Questions
1. You are caring for a patient with syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion
(SIADH). The plan includes assessing urine specific gravity every 4 hours. This test allows the
nurse to assess what aspect of the patient's health?
A. Nutritional status
B. Potassium balance
C. Calcium balance
D. Fluid volume status
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Specific gravity reflects urine concentration and directly indicates fluid volume
deficit (high SG) or excess (low SG, as in SIADH dilutional hyponatremia). Nutrition, K+, or
Ca++ are not primary indicators here.quizlet.com
2. A patient on the burns unit shows signs of third-spacing. What imbalance should the nurse
expect?
A. Metabolic alkalosis
B. Hypermagnesemia
C. Hypercalcemia
,D. Hypovolemia
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Third-spacing shifts fluid out of the vascular space into tissues (e.g., edema in
burns), reducing intravascular volume and causing hypovolemia. Burns often lead to acidosis,
not alkalosis.quizlet.com
3. An older adult patient with end-stage liver disease has inelastic skin turgor. How should the
nurse interpret this during assessment?
A. Overhydration is common in older adults
B. Dehydration causes spongy skin
C. Inelastic skin turgor is a normal part of aging
D. Skin turgor cannot be assessed in patients over 70
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Decreased skin elasticity is a normal age-related change (due to less
collagen/elastin) and does not always indicate dehydration. Always correlate with other signs
(e.g., mucous membranes, I&O).quizlet.com
4. When selecting a peripheral IV site on the hand or arm, what is the priority consideration?
A. Choose a hairless site if available
B. Consider potential effects on the patient's mobility
C. Have the patient hold the arm over the head briefly
D. Leave the tourniquet on for at least 3 minutes
Correct Answer: B
,Rationale: Site selection must avoid interfering with daily activities or mobility. Dependent
positioning increases venous filling; tourniquet should never exceed 1–2 minutes to prevent
hemoconcentration or discomfort.quizlet.com
Acid-Base (ABG) Interpretation Questions
5. Patient ABGs: pH 7.26, PaCO₂ 28 mmHg, HCO₃⁻ 11 mEq/L. How do you interpret these?
A. Respiratory acidosis with no compensation
B. Metabolic alkalosis with compensatory alkalosis
C. Metabolic acidosis with no compensation
D. Metabolic acidosis with compensatory respiratory alkalosis
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Low pH = acidosis. Low HCO₃⁻ = primary metabolic cause. Low PaCO₂ shows lungs
compensating by hyperventilating to blow off CO₂ (respiratory alkalosis compensation). Step-
by-step: pH first (acidosis), then match to HCO₃⁻ (metabolic), then check compensation (PaCO₂
moving opposite).quizlet.com
6. A patient with anxiety is hyperventilating. This is the most common cause of which
imbalance?
A. Respiratory acidosis
B. Respiratory alkalosis
C. Increased PaCO₂
D. CNS disturbances
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hyperventilation lowers PaCO₂ rapidly, causing respiratory alkalosis (↑pH).
Respiratory acidosis involves hypoventilation and ↑PaCO₂.quizlet.com
, 7. ABGs in a pneumonia patient: pH 7.21, PaCO₂ 64 mmHg, HCO₃⁻ 24 mEq/L. What does this
reflect?
A. Metabolic acidosis
B. Respiratory acidosis (uncompensated)
C. Respiratory alkalosis
D. Mixed disorder
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Low pH + high PaCO₂ (hypoventilation from pneumonia) = primary respiratory
acidosis. Normal HCO₃⁻ indicates no renal compensation yet.quizlet.com
Diabetes Mellitus Questions
8. A school nurse teaches high school students about diabetes risk factors. Which action has
the greatest potential to reduce risk?
A. Avoiding all sugary foods
B. Exercising 30 minutes daily
C. Getting annual blood glucose checks
D. Losing weight if obese
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Obesity is a major modifiable risk factor for type 2 diabetes (insulin resistance).
Weight loss improves insulin sensitivity more directly than the other options
alone.quizlet.com
9. A client with diabetes mellitus experiences polyphagia. What is the priority outcome
statement?
A. Fluid and electrolyte balance
B. Prevention of water toxicity
