NR 226 Adult Health I Final Exam Practice Questions 2026
|Chamberlain College
1. A patient is admitted with a serum potassium level of 2.8 mEq/L. Which of
the following should the nurse expect to see on the patient’s ECG?
A. Tall peaked T waves
B. ST-segment elevation
C. Widened QRS complex
D. Prominent U waves
Answer: D
Rationale: Hypokalemia is characterized by the presence of U waves, ST-segment
depression, and flat or inverted T waves. Peaked T waves and widened QRS are associated
with hyperkalemia.
2. Which clinical manifestation should a nurse expect to find in a patient with
hypocalcemia?
A. Negative Chvostek’s sign
B. Hyporeflexia
C. Positive Trousseau’s sign
D. Constipation
Answer: C
Rationale: Hypocalcemia causes neuromuscular excitability. Positive Trousseau’s sign
(carpal spasm with BP cuff inflation) and Chvostek’s sign (facial twitching) are hallmark
signs.
,3. A nurse is caring for a patient with COPD who is receiving oxygen via nasal
cannula. Which oxygen flow rate is generally safest for this patient?
A. 8 to 10 L/min
B. 4 to 6 L/min
C. 1 to 2 L/min
D. 12 to 15 L/min
Answer: C
Rationale: In patients with COPD, high concentrations of oxygen can suppress the hypoxic
drive to breathe. A low flow rate of 1-2 L/min is typically maintained.
4. Who is primarily responsible for obtaining informed consent for a surgical
procedure?
A. The registered nurse
B. The surgeon
C. The anesthesia provider
D. The hospital administrator
Answer: B
Rationale: The surgeon is responsible for explaining the procedure, risks, and benefits.
The nurse’s role is to witness the patient’s signature and clarify understanding.
5. Which nursing intervention is most effective in preventing postoperative
atelectasis?
A. Administering prophylactic antibiotics
B. Encouraging incentive spirometry every hour while awake
C. Restricting fluid intake
D. Maintaining strict bed rest for 48 hours
Answer: B
Rationale: Incentive spirometry promotes deep breathing and lung expansion, which helps
prevent the collapse of alveoli (atelectasis) after surgery.
, 6. A postoperative patient’s abdominal wound has eviscerated. What is the
nurse’s immediate priority action?
A. Cover the wound with a sterile dressing moistened with sterile normal saline
B. Push the organs back into the abdominal cavity
C. Place the patient in a High-Fowler’s position
D. Leave the patient to call the surgeon immediately
Answer: A
Rationale: Evisceration is a medical emergency. The nurse must protect the exposed
organs by covering them with sterile, saline-soaked dressings to keep them moist and
prevent infection.
7. A patient with diabetes mellitus reports feeling shaky, sweaty, and hungry.
What is the nurse’s priority action?
A. Call the healthcare provider
B. Administer 15 units of regular insulin
C. Offer the patient a high-protein snack
D. Check the patient’s blood glucose level
Answer: D
Rationale: The patient is showing signs of hypoglycemia. The nurse must first confirm the
blood glucose level before providing appropriate treatment like fast-acting carbohydrates.
8. Which assessment finding is the most reliable indicator of fluid volume status
in a patient with heart failure?
A. Skin turgor
B. Intake and output totals
C. Daily weights
D. Serum sodium levels
Answer: C
|Chamberlain College
1. A patient is admitted with a serum potassium level of 2.8 mEq/L. Which of
the following should the nurse expect to see on the patient’s ECG?
A. Tall peaked T waves
B. ST-segment elevation
C. Widened QRS complex
D. Prominent U waves
Answer: D
Rationale: Hypokalemia is characterized by the presence of U waves, ST-segment
depression, and flat or inverted T waves. Peaked T waves and widened QRS are associated
with hyperkalemia.
2. Which clinical manifestation should a nurse expect to find in a patient with
hypocalcemia?
A. Negative Chvostek’s sign
B. Hyporeflexia
C. Positive Trousseau’s sign
D. Constipation
Answer: C
Rationale: Hypocalcemia causes neuromuscular excitability. Positive Trousseau’s sign
(carpal spasm with BP cuff inflation) and Chvostek’s sign (facial twitching) are hallmark
signs.
,3. A nurse is caring for a patient with COPD who is receiving oxygen via nasal
cannula. Which oxygen flow rate is generally safest for this patient?
A. 8 to 10 L/min
B. 4 to 6 L/min
C. 1 to 2 L/min
D. 12 to 15 L/min
Answer: C
Rationale: In patients with COPD, high concentrations of oxygen can suppress the hypoxic
drive to breathe. A low flow rate of 1-2 L/min is typically maintained.
4. Who is primarily responsible for obtaining informed consent for a surgical
procedure?
A. The registered nurse
B. The surgeon
C. The anesthesia provider
D. The hospital administrator
Answer: B
Rationale: The surgeon is responsible for explaining the procedure, risks, and benefits.
The nurse’s role is to witness the patient’s signature and clarify understanding.
5. Which nursing intervention is most effective in preventing postoperative
atelectasis?
A. Administering prophylactic antibiotics
B. Encouraging incentive spirometry every hour while awake
C. Restricting fluid intake
D. Maintaining strict bed rest for 48 hours
Answer: B
Rationale: Incentive spirometry promotes deep breathing and lung expansion, which helps
prevent the collapse of alveoli (atelectasis) after surgery.
, 6. A postoperative patient’s abdominal wound has eviscerated. What is the
nurse’s immediate priority action?
A. Cover the wound with a sterile dressing moistened with sterile normal saline
B. Push the organs back into the abdominal cavity
C. Place the patient in a High-Fowler’s position
D. Leave the patient to call the surgeon immediately
Answer: A
Rationale: Evisceration is a medical emergency. The nurse must protect the exposed
organs by covering them with sterile, saline-soaked dressings to keep them moist and
prevent infection.
7. A patient with diabetes mellitus reports feeling shaky, sweaty, and hungry.
What is the nurse’s priority action?
A. Call the healthcare provider
B. Administer 15 units of regular insulin
C. Offer the patient a high-protein snack
D. Check the patient’s blood glucose level
Answer: D
Rationale: The patient is showing signs of hypoglycemia. The nurse must first confirm the
blood glucose level before providing appropriate treatment like fast-acting carbohydrates.
8. Which assessment finding is the most reliable indicator of fluid volume status
in a patient with heart failure?
A. Skin turgor
B. Intake and output totals
C. Daily weights
D. Serum sodium levels
Answer: C
