NUR 170 Exam 3 Study Guide (2026) - Medical-Surgical Nursing 2026
Galen College
1. A patient presents with dyspnea, crackles in the lungs, and an S3 heart sound.
Which condition do these symptoms most likely indicate?
A. Left-sided heart failure
B. Right-sided heart failure
C. Peripheral arterial disease
D. Hypovolemic shock
Answer: A
Rationale: Left-sided heart failure causes blood to back up into the pulmonary system,
leading to respiratory symptoms like crackles and dyspnea.
2. Which assessment finding is a hallmark sign of right-sided heart failure?
A. Orthopnea
B. Frothy pink-tinged sputum
C. Jugular venous distention (JVD)
D. Pulmonary edema
Answer: C
Rationale: Right-sided heart failure leads to systemic congestion, evidenced by JVD,
peripheral edema, and hepatomegaly.
,3. A patient taking Digoxin reports seeing yellow-green halos around lights.
What is the nurse’s priority action?
A. Administer the next dose as scheduled
B. Assess for signs of hypokalemia
C. Document the finding as a normal side effect
D. Hold the dose and notify the provider
Answer: D
Rationale: Visual changes such as yellow-green halos are classic signs of Digoxin toxicity
and require immediate intervention.
4. Which medication is classified as a loop diuretic and requires monitoring for
hypokalemia?
A. Spironolactone
B. Furosemide
C. Hydrochlorothiazide
D. Lisinopril
Answer: B
Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that causes the excretion of potassium, putting
the patient at risk for hypokalemia.
5. A patient with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) complains of leg pain that
occurs with walking and stops with rest. What is this called?
A. Venous insufficiency
B. Raynaud’s phenomenon
C. Deep vein thrombosis
D. Intermittent claudication
Answer: D
Rationale: Intermittent claudication is ischemic muscle pain that occurs during activity
and is relieved by rest, common in PAD.
, 6. What is the most appropriate nursing intervention for a patient with deep
vein thrombosis (DVT)?
A. Elevating the affected extremity and monitoring for PE
B. Encouraging vigorous exercise
C. Applying sequential compression devices to both legs
D. Massaging the affected calf for comfort
Answer: A
Rationale: Elevation helps reduce edema, and the nurse must monitor for pulmonary
embolism (PE), a life-threatening complication of DVT.
7. A patient is prescribed Lisinopril for hypertension. Which side effect should
the nurse instruct the patient to report?
A. Dry, persistent cough
B. Increased appetite
C. Yellowing of the skin
D. Constipation
Answer: A
Rationale: A dry, hacking cough is a common side effect of ACE inhibitors like Lisinopril
due to bradykinin accumulation.
8. Which blood pressure reading is classified as Stage 1 Hypertension?
A. 118/78 mmHg
B. 124/76 mmHg
C. 162/92 mmHg
D. 136/84 mmHg
Answer: D
Rationale: Stage 1 Hypertension is defined as a systolic between 130-139 or a diastolic
between 80-89.
Galen College
1. A patient presents with dyspnea, crackles in the lungs, and an S3 heart sound.
Which condition do these symptoms most likely indicate?
A. Left-sided heart failure
B. Right-sided heart failure
C. Peripheral arterial disease
D. Hypovolemic shock
Answer: A
Rationale: Left-sided heart failure causes blood to back up into the pulmonary system,
leading to respiratory symptoms like crackles and dyspnea.
2. Which assessment finding is a hallmark sign of right-sided heart failure?
A. Orthopnea
B. Frothy pink-tinged sputum
C. Jugular venous distention (JVD)
D. Pulmonary edema
Answer: C
Rationale: Right-sided heart failure leads to systemic congestion, evidenced by JVD,
peripheral edema, and hepatomegaly.
,3. A patient taking Digoxin reports seeing yellow-green halos around lights.
What is the nurse’s priority action?
A. Administer the next dose as scheduled
B. Assess for signs of hypokalemia
C. Document the finding as a normal side effect
D. Hold the dose and notify the provider
Answer: D
Rationale: Visual changes such as yellow-green halos are classic signs of Digoxin toxicity
and require immediate intervention.
4. Which medication is classified as a loop diuretic and requires monitoring for
hypokalemia?
A. Spironolactone
B. Furosemide
C. Hydrochlorothiazide
D. Lisinopril
Answer: B
Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that causes the excretion of potassium, putting
the patient at risk for hypokalemia.
5. A patient with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) complains of leg pain that
occurs with walking and stops with rest. What is this called?
A. Venous insufficiency
B. Raynaud’s phenomenon
C. Deep vein thrombosis
D. Intermittent claudication
Answer: D
Rationale: Intermittent claudication is ischemic muscle pain that occurs during activity
and is relieved by rest, common in PAD.
, 6. What is the most appropriate nursing intervention for a patient with deep
vein thrombosis (DVT)?
A. Elevating the affected extremity and monitoring for PE
B. Encouraging vigorous exercise
C. Applying sequential compression devices to both legs
D. Massaging the affected calf for comfort
Answer: A
Rationale: Elevation helps reduce edema, and the nurse must monitor for pulmonary
embolism (PE), a life-threatening complication of DVT.
7. A patient is prescribed Lisinopril for hypertension. Which side effect should
the nurse instruct the patient to report?
A. Dry, persistent cough
B. Increased appetite
C. Yellowing of the skin
D. Constipation
Answer: A
Rationale: A dry, hacking cough is a common side effect of ACE inhibitors like Lisinopril
due to bradykinin accumulation.
8. Which blood pressure reading is classified as Stage 1 Hypertension?
A. 118/78 mmHg
B. 124/76 mmHg
C. 162/92 mmHg
D. 136/84 mmHg
Answer: D
Rationale: Stage 1 Hypertension is defined as a systolic between 130-139 or a diastolic
between 80-89.
