NUR 176 Exam 1 Actual Exam
2026/2027 with Detailed Rationales |
Complete Exam-Style Questions | Pass
Guaranteed – A+ Graded
Q1: A nurse is reviewing body fluid compartments with a group of students. Which statement
correctly describes the intracellular fluid (ICF) compartment?
A. ICF comprises approximately 20% of total body weight in adults.
B. The interstitial fluid is the primary component of ICF.
C. ICF accounts for approximately 40% of total body weight in adults. [CORRECT]
D. Plasma volume represents the majority of ICF.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because intracellular fluid (ICF) normally constitutes about 40% of total body
weight, whereas extracellular fluid (ECF) comprises approximately 20%.
Q2: During a routine health assessment, a nurse reviews a patient's laboratory results. Which
serum sodium value falls within the expected reference range?
A. 128 mEq/L
B. 132 mEq/L
C. 140 mEq/L [CORRECT]
D. 148 mEq/L
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because the normal serum sodium range is 135 to 145 mEq/L, making 140
mEq/L the only value within expected limits.
Q3: A patient with acute kidney injury is found to have a serum potassium of 6.8 mEq/L. Which
ECG finding does the nurse anticipate?
,A. Flattened T waves and prominent U waves
B. Shortened QT interval and bradycardia
C. Peaked T waves, widened QRS complex, and possible sine wave pattern [CORRECT]
D. ST-segment elevation and shortened PR interval
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because hyperkalemia produces characteristic ECG changes including peaked
T waves, QRS widening, and progression to a sine wave pattern as severity increases.
Q4: A patient has the following arterial blood gas results: Na+ 138 mEq/L, Cl- 105 mEq/L, HCO3-
22 mEq/L. What is the patient's anion gap?
A. 5 mEq/L
B. 9 mEq/L
C. 11 mEq/L [CORRECT]
D. 16 mEq/L
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because the anion gap is calculated as Na+ minus (Cl- + HCO3-), or 138 - (105
+ 22) = 11 mEq/L, which falls within the normal range of 8 to 12 mEq/L.
Q5: A patient receiving loop diuretics develops a serum potassium of 2.8 mEq/L. Which ECG
change does the nurse expect to observe?
A. Peaked T waves and QRS widening
B. ST-segment elevation with tall R waves
C. Flattened T waves and prominent U waves [CORRECT]
D. Prolonged PR interval with delta waves
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because hypokalemia characteristically produces flattened T waves,
ST-segment depression, and prominent U waves on the ECG due to altered cardiac repolarization.
Q6: A patient presents with muscle weakness and a serum potassium of 2.9 mEq/L. Which
condition is most likely contributing to this electrolyte imbalance?
A. Chronic renal failure and potassium-sparing diuretic use
B. Adrenal insufficiency and angiotensin receptor blocker therapy
C. Loop diuretic therapy and prolonged vomiting [CORRECT]
D. Massive blood transfusion and tumor lysis syndrome
Correct Answer: C
, Rationale: Correct because hypokalemia commonly results from gastrointestinal losses (vomiting,
diarrhea) and renal losses caused by loop or thiazide diuretics, insulin administration, and
metabolic alkalosis.
Q7: A patient with severe COPD presents with confusion and somnolence. Arterial blood gas
reveals pH 7.30, PaCO2 58 mmHg, and HCO3- 30 mEq/L. Which acid-base disorder is present?
A. Respiratory alkalosis with metabolic compensation
B. Metabolic acidosis with respiratory compensation
C. Respiratory acidosis with metabolic compensation [CORRECT]
D. Metabolic alkalosis with respiratory compensation
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because the low pH, elevated PaCO2 (>45 mmHg), and elevated bicarbonate
indicate respiratory acidosis from hypoventilation with renal compensation, consistent with severe
COPD exacerbation.
Q8: A patient has lost both water and sodium proportionally through severe diarrhea. Which type of
dehydration has developed?
A. Hypertonic dehydration
B. Hypotonic dehydration
C. Isotonic dehydration [CORRECT]
D. Osmotic dehydration
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because isotonic dehydration occurs when water and sodium are lost in
proportional amounts, resulting in no significant change in serum osmolality or sodium
concentration.
Q9: A nurse is reviewing calcium levels for a patient with hypoparathyroidism. Which value
represents the normal total serum calcium range?
A. 6.5 to 8.0 mg/dL
B. 7.5 to 9.0 mg/dL
C. 8.5 to 10.5 mg/dL [CORRECT]
D. 10.5 to 12.5 mg/dL
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because the normal total serum calcium range is 8.5 to 10.5 mg/dL; values
below this range define hypocalcemia and values above define hypercalcemia.
2026/2027 with Detailed Rationales |
Complete Exam-Style Questions | Pass
Guaranteed – A+ Graded
Q1: A nurse is reviewing body fluid compartments with a group of students. Which statement
correctly describes the intracellular fluid (ICF) compartment?
A. ICF comprises approximately 20% of total body weight in adults.
B. The interstitial fluid is the primary component of ICF.
C. ICF accounts for approximately 40% of total body weight in adults. [CORRECT]
D. Plasma volume represents the majority of ICF.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because intracellular fluid (ICF) normally constitutes about 40% of total body
weight, whereas extracellular fluid (ECF) comprises approximately 20%.
Q2: During a routine health assessment, a nurse reviews a patient's laboratory results. Which
serum sodium value falls within the expected reference range?
A. 128 mEq/L
B. 132 mEq/L
C. 140 mEq/L [CORRECT]
D. 148 mEq/L
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because the normal serum sodium range is 135 to 145 mEq/L, making 140
mEq/L the only value within expected limits.
Q3: A patient with acute kidney injury is found to have a serum potassium of 6.8 mEq/L. Which
ECG finding does the nurse anticipate?
,A. Flattened T waves and prominent U waves
B. Shortened QT interval and bradycardia
C. Peaked T waves, widened QRS complex, and possible sine wave pattern [CORRECT]
D. ST-segment elevation and shortened PR interval
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because hyperkalemia produces characteristic ECG changes including peaked
T waves, QRS widening, and progression to a sine wave pattern as severity increases.
Q4: A patient has the following arterial blood gas results: Na+ 138 mEq/L, Cl- 105 mEq/L, HCO3-
22 mEq/L. What is the patient's anion gap?
A. 5 mEq/L
B. 9 mEq/L
C. 11 mEq/L [CORRECT]
D. 16 mEq/L
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because the anion gap is calculated as Na+ minus (Cl- + HCO3-), or 138 - (105
+ 22) = 11 mEq/L, which falls within the normal range of 8 to 12 mEq/L.
Q5: A patient receiving loop diuretics develops a serum potassium of 2.8 mEq/L. Which ECG
change does the nurse expect to observe?
A. Peaked T waves and QRS widening
B. ST-segment elevation with tall R waves
C. Flattened T waves and prominent U waves [CORRECT]
D. Prolonged PR interval with delta waves
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because hypokalemia characteristically produces flattened T waves,
ST-segment depression, and prominent U waves on the ECG due to altered cardiac repolarization.
Q6: A patient presents with muscle weakness and a serum potassium of 2.9 mEq/L. Which
condition is most likely contributing to this electrolyte imbalance?
A. Chronic renal failure and potassium-sparing diuretic use
B. Adrenal insufficiency and angiotensin receptor blocker therapy
C. Loop diuretic therapy and prolonged vomiting [CORRECT]
D. Massive blood transfusion and tumor lysis syndrome
Correct Answer: C
, Rationale: Correct because hypokalemia commonly results from gastrointestinal losses (vomiting,
diarrhea) and renal losses caused by loop or thiazide diuretics, insulin administration, and
metabolic alkalosis.
Q7: A patient with severe COPD presents with confusion and somnolence. Arterial blood gas
reveals pH 7.30, PaCO2 58 mmHg, and HCO3- 30 mEq/L. Which acid-base disorder is present?
A. Respiratory alkalosis with metabolic compensation
B. Metabolic acidosis with respiratory compensation
C. Respiratory acidosis with metabolic compensation [CORRECT]
D. Metabolic alkalosis with respiratory compensation
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because the low pH, elevated PaCO2 (>45 mmHg), and elevated bicarbonate
indicate respiratory acidosis from hypoventilation with renal compensation, consistent with severe
COPD exacerbation.
Q8: A patient has lost both water and sodium proportionally through severe diarrhea. Which type of
dehydration has developed?
A. Hypertonic dehydration
B. Hypotonic dehydration
C. Isotonic dehydration [CORRECT]
D. Osmotic dehydration
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because isotonic dehydration occurs when water and sodium are lost in
proportional amounts, resulting in no significant change in serum osmolality or sodium
concentration.
Q9: A nurse is reviewing calcium levels for a patient with hypoparathyroidism. Which value
represents the normal total serum calcium range?
A. 6.5 to 8.0 mg/dL
B. 7.5 to 9.0 mg/dL
C. 8.5 to 10.5 mg/dL [CORRECT]
D. 10.5 to 12.5 mg/dL
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because the normal total serum calcium range is 8.5 to 10.5 mg/dL; values
below this range define hypocalcemia and values above define hypercalcemia.
