NUR 170 Medical-Surgical Nursing Exam 2 Study Guide 2026 Galen
College
1. When obtaining informed consent for a surgical procedure, whose primary
responsibility is it to explain the risks, benefits, and alternatives to the patient?
A. The circulating nurse
B. The scrub technician
C. The anesthesiologist
D. The surgeon
Answer: D
Rationale: The surgeon is legally responsible for providing the explanation of the
procedure, risks, benefits, and alternatives. The nurse’s role is typically to witness the
signature.
2. A patient is undergoing general anesthesia and develops muscle rigidity, a
rising temperature, and tachycardia. Which medication should the nurse expect
to be administered?
A. Naloxone
B. Dantrolene sodium
C. Atropine sulfate
D. Epinephrine
Answer: B
Rationale: Muscle rigidity and hyperthermia are signs of Malignant Hyperthermia, a life-
threatening complication of general anesthesia treated with Dantrolene.
,3. What is the immediate priority for a nurse when a patient arrives in the Post-
Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU)?
A. Assessing airway patency
B. Assessing surgical site drainage
C. Managing postoperative pain
D. Checking the patient’s identity
Answer: A
Rationale: Airway, breathing, and circulation (ABCs) are the highest priority in the
immediate postoperative period.
4. A nurse is caring for a patient who has a large abdominal incision. The patient
coughs, and the nurse notes that the wound has opened and internal organs are
protruding. What is the nurse’s first action?
A. Push the organs back into the abdominal cavity
B. Cover the organs with sterile gauze soaked in sterile normal saline
C. Call the family to provide emotional support
D. Place the patient in a high-Fowler’s position
Answer: B
Rationale: Evisceration is a medical emergency. The nurse should cover the exposed
organs with sterile, saline-soaked dressings and notify the surgeon immediately.
5. Which electrolyte imbalance is most commonly associated with the
development of a ‘U’ wave on an EKG?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hypernatremia
D. Hypocalcemia
Answer: B
, Rationale: Hypokalemia often causes cardiac rhythm changes, including flattened T waves
and the presence of U waves.
6. A patient’s ABG results are pH 7.30, PaCO2 55, and HCO3 26. How should the
nurse interpret these results?
A. Metabolic Acidosis
B. Respiratory Acidosis
C. Metabolic Alkalosis
D. Respiratory Alkalosis
Answer: B
Rationale: A low pH (below 7.35) indicates acidosis. A high PaCO2 (above 45) indicates a
respiratory cause.
7. Which sign is an early clinical manifestation of fluid volume deficit
(dehydration)?
A. Bounding pulse
B. Peripheral edema
C. Distended neck veins
D. Tachycardia
Answer: D
Rationale: The heart rate increases (tachycardia) as a compensatory mechanism to
maintain cardiac output when fluid volume is low.
8. A patient with a serum sodium level of 115 mEq/L is at highest risk for which
of the following?
A. Cardiac arrest
B. Seizures
C. Tetany
D. Constipation
Answer: B
College
1. When obtaining informed consent for a surgical procedure, whose primary
responsibility is it to explain the risks, benefits, and alternatives to the patient?
A. The circulating nurse
B. The scrub technician
C. The anesthesiologist
D. The surgeon
Answer: D
Rationale: The surgeon is legally responsible for providing the explanation of the
procedure, risks, benefits, and alternatives. The nurse’s role is typically to witness the
signature.
2. A patient is undergoing general anesthesia and develops muscle rigidity, a
rising temperature, and tachycardia. Which medication should the nurse expect
to be administered?
A. Naloxone
B. Dantrolene sodium
C. Atropine sulfate
D. Epinephrine
Answer: B
Rationale: Muscle rigidity and hyperthermia are signs of Malignant Hyperthermia, a life-
threatening complication of general anesthesia treated with Dantrolene.
,3. What is the immediate priority for a nurse when a patient arrives in the Post-
Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU)?
A. Assessing airway patency
B. Assessing surgical site drainage
C. Managing postoperative pain
D. Checking the patient’s identity
Answer: A
Rationale: Airway, breathing, and circulation (ABCs) are the highest priority in the
immediate postoperative period.
4. A nurse is caring for a patient who has a large abdominal incision. The patient
coughs, and the nurse notes that the wound has opened and internal organs are
protruding. What is the nurse’s first action?
A. Push the organs back into the abdominal cavity
B. Cover the organs with sterile gauze soaked in sterile normal saline
C. Call the family to provide emotional support
D. Place the patient in a high-Fowler’s position
Answer: B
Rationale: Evisceration is a medical emergency. The nurse should cover the exposed
organs with sterile, saline-soaked dressings and notify the surgeon immediately.
5. Which electrolyte imbalance is most commonly associated with the
development of a ‘U’ wave on an EKG?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hypernatremia
D. Hypocalcemia
Answer: B
, Rationale: Hypokalemia often causes cardiac rhythm changes, including flattened T waves
and the presence of U waves.
6. A patient’s ABG results are pH 7.30, PaCO2 55, and HCO3 26. How should the
nurse interpret these results?
A. Metabolic Acidosis
B. Respiratory Acidosis
C. Metabolic Alkalosis
D. Respiratory Alkalosis
Answer: B
Rationale: A low pH (below 7.35) indicates acidosis. A high PaCO2 (above 45) indicates a
respiratory cause.
7. Which sign is an early clinical manifestation of fluid volume deficit
(dehydration)?
A. Bounding pulse
B. Peripheral edema
C. Distended neck veins
D. Tachycardia
Answer: D
Rationale: The heart rate increases (tachycardia) as a compensatory mechanism to
maintain cardiac output when fluid volume is low.
8. A patient with a serum sodium level of 115 mEq/L is at highest risk for which
of the following?
A. Cardiac arrest
B. Seizures
C. Tetany
D. Constipation
Answer: B
