MARY VILLE UNIVERSITY NUR 320 – ADULT HEALTH I
EXAM 2|QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS|GRADED
A+|2026 UPDATE
1. A patient presents with shortness of breath, fatigue, and bilateral leg edema. Likely
diagnosis:
A. Heart failure
B. Pneumonia
C. Hypertension only
D. Anemia only
Answer: A
Rationale: Symptoms indicate fluid overload and reduced cardiac output.
2. The nurse auscultates a patient’s lungs and hears fine crackles. This is associated with:
A. Pulmonary edema
B. Asthma only
C. Pneumothorax only
D. Normal lungs
Answer: A
Rationale: Crackles indicate fluid in alveoli or interstitial spaces.
3. A patient with COPD presents with barrel chest. This is caused by:
A. Chronic hyperinflation of lungs
B. Heart failure
C. Pulmonary embolism
D. Normal aging only
Answer: A
Rationale: Barrel chest results from chronic air trapping and hyperinflation.
4. The nurse is teaching deep breathing exercises. Purpose is to:
,A. Prevent atelectasis and improve oxygenation
B. Reduce heart rate only
C. Increase blood pressure only
D. Relieve anxiety only
Answer: A
Rationale: Deep breathing helps expand alveoli and prevent lung collapse.
5. A patient has hypoxemia. Expected assessment findings include:
A. Cyanosis, tachypnea, restlessness
B. Hypotension only
C. Bradycardia only
D. Warm dry skin only
Answer: A
Rationale: Low oxygen causes visible and systemic compensatory signs.
6. The nurse assesses a patient for fluid balance. Best indicator is:
A. Daily weight
B. Blood pressure only
C. Heart rate only
D. Respiratory rate only
Answer: A
Rationale: Daily weight changes reflect fluid retention or loss accurately.
7. A patient presents with sudden chest pain, dyspnea, and hemoptysis. Priority assessment:
A. Pulmonary embolism
B. Pneumonia
C. Heart failure only
D. Anxiety only
Answer: A
Rationale: Classic signs indicate possible PE; requires immediate action.
8. The nurse detects S4 heart sound. This indicates:
, A. Stiff or hypertrophic ventricle
B. Normal in young adults
C. Pulmonary edema only
D. Myocardial infarction only
Answer: A
Rationale: S4 (“atrial gallop”) is due to atrial contraction against noncompliant ventricle.
9. A patient reports palpitations and shortness of breath. ECG shows atrial fibrillation. Nurse’s
priority:
A. Assess hemodynamic stability
B. Provide diet instruction only
C. Administer diuretic immediately
D. Observe without intervention
Answer: A
Rationale: AF can cause decreased cardiac output and thromboembolism risk.
10. Normal ejection fraction (EF) in adults:
A. 55–70%
B. 40–50%
C. 30–40%
D. 70–85%
Answer: A
Rationale: EF indicates the percentage of blood ejected per heartbeat; <50% suggests heart
failure.
11. The nurse is teaching a patient with hypertension about lifestyle modifications. Important
instruction:
A. Reduce sodium, maintain healthy weight, exercise regularly
B. Increase salt intake only
C. Avoid all liquids
D. Increase sugar intake
Answer: A
Rationale: Lifestyle changes reduce BP and cardiovascular risk.
EXAM 2|QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS|GRADED
A+|2026 UPDATE
1. A patient presents with shortness of breath, fatigue, and bilateral leg edema. Likely
diagnosis:
A. Heart failure
B. Pneumonia
C. Hypertension only
D. Anemia only
Answer: A
Rationale: Symptoms indicate fluid overload and reduced cardiac output.
2. The nurse auscultates a patient’s lungs and hears fine crackles. This is associated with:
A. Pulmonary edema
B. Asthma only
C. Pneumothorax only
D. Normal lungs
Answer: A
Rationale: Crackles indicate fluid in alveoli or interstitial spaces.
3. A patient with COPD presents with barrel chest. This is caused by:
A. Chronic hyperinflation of lungs
B. Heart failure
C. Pulmonary embolism
D. Normal aging only
Answer: A
Rationale: Barrel chest results from chronic air trapping and hyperinflation.
4. The nurse is teaching deep breathing exercises. Purpose is to:
,A. Prevent atelectasis and improve oxygenation
B. Reduce heart rate only
C. Increase blood pressure only
D. Relieve anxiety only
Answer: A
Rationale: Deep breathing helps expand alveoli and prevent lung collapse.
5. A patient has hypoxemia. Expected assessment findings include:
A. Cyanosis, tachypnea, restlessness
B. Hypotension only
C. Bradycardia only
D. Warm dry skin only
Answer: A
Rationale: Low oxygen causes visible and systemic compensatory signs.
6. The nurse assesses a patient for fluid balance. Best indicator is:
A. Daily weight
B. Blood pressure only
C. Heart rate only
D. Respiratory rate only
Answer: A
Rationale: Daily weight changes reflect fluid retention or loss accurately.
7. A patient presents with sudden chest pain, dyspnea, and hemoptysis. Priority assessment:
A. Pulmonary embolism
B. Pneumonia
C. Heart failure only
D. Anxiety only
Answer: A
Rationale: Classic signs indicate possible PE; requires immediate action.
8. The nurse detects S4 heart sound. This indicates:
, A. Stiff or hypertrophic ventricle
B. Normal in young adults
C. Pulmonary edema only
D. Myocardial infarction only
Answer: A
Rationale: S4 (“atrial gallop”) is due to atrial contraction against noncompliant ventricle.
9. A patient reports palpitations and shortness of breath. ECG shows atrial fibrillation. Nurse’s
priority:
A. Assess hemodynamic stability
B. Provide diet instruction only
C. Administer diuretic immediately
D. Observe without intervention
Answer: A
Rationale: AF can cause decreased cardiac output and thromboembolism risk.
10. Normal ejection fraction (EF) in adults:
A. 55–70%
B. 40–50%
C. 30–40%
D. 70–85%
Answer: A
Rationale: EF indicates the percentage of blood ejected per heartbeat; <50% suggests heart
failure.
11. The nurse is teaching a patient with hypertension about lifestyle modifications. Important
instruction:
A. Reduce sodium, maintain healthy weight, exercise regularly
B. Increase salt intake only
C. Avoid all liquids
D. Increase sugar intake
Answer: A
Rationale: Lifestyle changes reduce BP and cardiovascular risk.
