NR 226 Adult Health I Exam 3 Practice Questions 2026 |Chamberlain
College
1. Which member of the healthcare team is primarily responsible for obtaining
informed consent from a patient prior to surgery?
A. The surgeon
B. The circulating nurse
C. The scrub nurse
D. The anesthesiologist
Answer: A
Rationale: The surgeon is responsible for explaining the procedure, risks, benefits, and
alternatives to obtain informed consent.
2. A patient with a potassium level of 2.8 mEq/L is likely to show which of the
following on an EKG?
A. Peaked T waves
B. Presence of a U wave
C. Shortened QT interval
D. Widened QRS complex
Answer: B
Rationale: Hypokalemia (low potassium) is characterized by the presence of U waves,
flattened T waves, and ST-segment depression.
,3. An arterial blood gas (ABG) result shows: pH 7.30, PaCO2 52 mmHg, and
HCO3 24 mEq/L. How should the nurse interpret this?
A. Metabolic Acidosis
B. Metabolic Alkalosis
C. Respiratory Acidosis
D. Respiratory Alkalosis
Answer: C
Rationale: A pH below 7.35 indicates acidosis, and a PaCO2 above 45 mmHg indicates a
respiratory cause.
4. Which of the following is a priority nursing action when a patient experiences
wound evisceration post-operatively?
A. Push the organs back into the abdominal cavity
B. Cover the protruding organs with sterile gauze moistened with sterile normal saline
C. Apply a tight abdominal binder to hold the organs in
D. Administer an oral pain medication immediately
Answer: B
Rationale: Wound evisceration is a medical emergency; organs must be kept moist with
sterile saline-soaked gauze while preparing for surgery.
5. A patient is diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus. The nurse understands
that this condition is primarily caused by:
A. Insulin resistance in peripheral tissues
B. Destruction of pancreatic beta cells
C. Excessive intake of dietary carbohydrates
D. Overproduction of glucagon by alpha cells
Answer: B
Rationale: Type 1 Diabetes is an autoimmune disorder where the body’s immune system
destroys insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas.
, 6. What is the primary purpose of maintaining a patient in NPO (nothing by
mouth) status for 6-8 hours before surgery?
A. To prevent postoperative diarrhea
B. To ensure the patient loses weight before the procedure
C. To reduce the risk of pulmonary aspiration during anesthesia
D. To prevent the formation of blood clots
Answer: C
Rationale: NPO status reduces the gastric volume and acidity, lowering the risk of
aspiration of stomach contents into the lungs during anesthesia.
7. Which clinical manifestation is an early sign of malignant hyperthermia during
surgery?
A. Extreme hypothermia
B. Muscle rigidity and tachycardia
C. Bradycardia
D. Hypotension
Answer: B
Rationale: Early signs of malignant hyperthermia include muscle rigidity (especially the
jaw) and unexplained tachycardia; high temperature is often a late sign.
8. Which intravenous fluid is considered isotonic?
A. 0.45% Normal Saline
B. 0.9% Normal Saline
C. 3% Normal Saline
D. Dextrose 10% in Water
Answer: B
Rationale: 0.9% Normal Saline is isotonic, meaning it has the same osmolarity as body
fluids and does not cause fluid shifts between cells.
College
1. Which member of the healthcare team is primarily responsible for obtaining
informed consent from a patient prior to surgery?
A. The surgeon
B. The circulating nurse
C. The scrub nurse
D. The anesthesiologist
Answer: A
Rationale: The surgeon is responsible for explaining the procedure, risks, benefits, and
alternatives to obtain informed consent.
2. A patient with a potassium level of 2.8 mEq/L is likely to show which of the
following on an EKG?
A. Peaked T waves
B. Presence of a U wave
C. Shortened QT interval
D. Widened QRS complex
Answer: B
Rationale: Hypokalemia (low potassium) is characterized by the presence of U waves,
flattened T waves, and ST-segment depression.
,3. An arterial blood gas (ABG) result shows: pH 7.30, PaCO2 52 mmHg, and
HCO3 24 mEq/L. How should the nurse interpret this?
A. Metabolic Acidosis
B. Metabolic Alkalosis
C. Respiratory Acidosis
D. Respiratory Alkalosis
Answer: C
Rationale: A pH below 7.35 indicates acidosis, and a PaCO2 above 45 mmHg indicates a
respiratory cause.
4. Which of the following is a priority nursing action when a patient experiences
wound evisceration post-operatively?
A. Push the organs back into the abdominal cavity
B. Cover the protruding organs with sterile gauze moistened with sterile normal saline
C. Apply a tight abdominal binder to hold the organs in
D. Administer an oral pain medication immediately
Answer: B
Rationale: Wound evisceration is a medical emergency; organs must be kept moist with
sterile saline-soaked gauze while preparing for surgery.
5. A patient is diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus. The nurse understands
that this condition is primarily caused by:
A. Insulin resistance in peripheral tissues
B. Destruction of pancreatic beta cells
C. Excessive intake of dietary carbohydrates
D. Overproduction of glucagon by alpha cells
Answer: B
Rationale: Type 1 Diabetes is an autoimmune disorder where the body’s immune system
destroys insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas.
, 6. What is the primary purpose of maintaining a patient in NPO (nothing by
mouth) status for 6-8 hours before surgery?
A. To prevent postoperative diarrhea
B. To ensure the patient loses weight before the procedure
C. To reduce the risk of pulmonary aspiration during anesthesia
D. To prevent the formation of blood clots
Answer: C
Rationale: NPO status reduces the gastric volume and acidity, lowering the risk of
aspiration of stomach contents into the lungs during anesthesia.
7. Which clinical manifestation is an early sign of malignant hyperthermia during
surgery?
A. Extreme hypothermia
B. Muscle rigidity and tachycardia
C. Bradycardia
D. Hypotension
Answer: B
Rationale: Early signs of malignant hyperthermia include muscle rigidity (especially the
jaw) and unexplained tachycardia; high temperature is often a late sign.
8. Which intravenous fluid is considered isotonic?
A. 0.45% Normal Saline
B. 0.9% Normal Saline
C. 3% Normal Saline
D. Dextrose 10% in Water
Answer: B
Rationale: 0.9% Normal Saline is isotonic, meaning it has the same osmolarity as body
fluids and does not cause fluid shifts between cells.
