MDC III EXAM 1 (RASMUSSEN) NEWEST 2026 ACTUAL
EXAM TEST BANK| MDC 3 EXAM 1 REVIEW WITH 350
REAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT VERIFIED
ANSWERS/ ALREADY GRADED A+ (MOST RECENT!!)
1. A patient has a serum sodium level of 155 mEq/L. Which IV
fluid would the nurse expect to be prescribed?
A) 0.9% normal saline
B) 0.45% normal saline (half-normal saline)
C) 3% normal saline
D) D5W
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hypernatremia (>145) indicates water deficit or
sodium excess. Hypotonic fluid (0.45% NS) provides free water
to dilute serum sodium. 3% NS is hypertonic, used only for severe
hyponatremia.
2. A patient with heart failure has a serum potassium of 2.9
mEq/L. Which EKG change should the nurse anticipate?
A) Peaked T waves
B) U waves
1
,C) Wide QRS complex
D) Absent P waves
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hypokalemia (<3.5) causes flattened T waves,
prominent U waves, and ST depression. Peaked T waves indicate
hyperkalemia.
3. The nurse is caring for a patient with a potassium level of
7.0 mEq/L. Which intervention should the nurse implement
first?
A) Administer sodium polystyrene sulfonate (Kayexalate)
B) Prepare for hemodialysis
C) Administer IV calcium gluconate
D) Give IV insulin and dextrose
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Severe hyperkalemia (>6.5) requires cardiac
membrane stabilization with IV calcium gluconate to prevent
arrhythmias. Then insulin+dextrose shifts K+ into cells,
Kayexalate removes via GI tract, and dialysis is definitive.
4. A patient presents with muscle twitching, a positive
Chvostek’s sign, and a prolonged QT interval on EKG. Which
electrolyte imbalance is most likely?
2
,A) Hypokalemia
B) Hypercalcemia
C) Hypocalcemia
D) Hypermagnesemia
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Hypocalcemia (low calcium) causes neuromuscular
irritability (tetany, Chvostek’s, Trousseau’s) and prolonged QT
interval. Hypercalcemia shortens QT.
5. The nurse is reviewing ABG results: pH 7.31, PaCO2 50,
HCO3 24. Which condition does this represent?
A) Uncompensated respiratory acidosis
B) Partially compensated metabolic acidosis
C) Uncompensated metabolic alkalosis
D) Fully compensated respiratory acidosis
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: pH <7.35 (acidosis), PaCO2 >45 (respiratory cause),
HCO3 normal (no renal compensation yet) = uncompensated
respiratory acidosis.
6. A patient with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) has an ABG of
pH 7.25, PaCO2 30, HCO3 14. This indicates:
A) Uncompensated metabolic acidosis
3
, B) Partially compensated metabolic acidosis
C) Fully compensated metabolic acidosis
D) Uncompensated respiratory alkalosis
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: pH low (acidosis), HCO3 low (metabolic cause),
PaCO2 low (respiratory compensation via Kussmaul breathing) =
partially compensated metabolic acidosis.
7. A patient with a nasogastric tube to continuous suction is at
risk for which acid-base disorder?
A) Metabolic acidosis
B) Metabolic alkalosis
C) Respiratory acidosis
D) Respiratory alkalosis
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: NG suction removes gastric acid (HCl) → loss of
hydrogen ions → metabolic alkalosis (increased HCO3,
increased pH).
8. A patient has a magnesium level of 0.9 mg/dL (normal
1.5–2.5). Which assessment finding correlates?
A) Hyperreflexia and muscle tremors
B) Hyporeflexia and lethargy
4
EXAM TEST BANK| MDC 3 EXAM 1 REVIEW WITH 350
REAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT VERIFIED
ANSWERS/ ALREADY GRADED A+ (MOST RECENT!!)
1. A patient has a serum sodium level of 155 mEq/L. Which IV
fluid would the nurse expect to be prescribed?
A) 0.9% normal saline
B) 0.45% normal saline (half-normal saline)
C) 3% normal saline
D) D5W
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hypernatremia (>145) indicates water deficit or
sodium excess. Hypotonic fluid (0.45% NS) provides free water
to dilute serum sodium. 3% NS is hypertonic, used only for severe
hyponatremia.
2. A patient with heart failure has a serum potassium of 2.9
mEq/L. Which EKG change should the nurse anticipate?
A) Peaked T waves
B) U waves
1
,C) Wide QRS complex
D) Absent P waves
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hypokalemia (<3.5) causes flattened T waves,
prominent U waves, and ST depression. Peaked T waves indicate
hyperkalemia.
3. The nurse is caring for a patient with a potassium level of
7.0 mEq/L. Which intervention should the nurse implement
first?
A) Administer sodium polystyrene sulfonate (Kayexalate)
B) Prepare for hemodialysis
C) Administer IV calcium gluconate
D) Give IV insulin and dextrose
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Severe hyperkalemia (>6.5) requires cardiac
membrane stabilization with IV calcium gluconate to prevent
arrhythmias. Then insulin+dextrose shifts K+ into cells,
Kayexalate removes via GI tract, and dialysis is definitive.
4. A patient presents with muscle twitching, a positive
Chvostek’s sign, and a prolonged QT interval on EKG. Which
electrolyte imbalance is most likely?
2
,A) Hypokalemia
B) Hypercalcemia
C) Hypocalcemia
D) Hypermagnesemia
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Hypocalcemia (low calcium) causes neuromuscular
irritability (tetany, Chvostek’s, Trousseau’s) and prolonged QT
interval. Hypercalcemia shortens QT.
5. The nurse is reviewing ABG results: pH 7.31, PaCO2 50,
HCO3 24. Which condition does this represent?
A) Uncompensated respiratory acidosis
B) Partially compensated metabolic acidosis
C) Uncompensated metabolic alkalosis
D) Fully compensated respiratory acidosis
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: pH <7.35 (acidosis), PaCO2 >45 (respiratory cause),
HCO3 normal (no renal compensation yet) = uncompensated
respiratory acidosis.
6. A patient with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) has an ABG of
pH 7.25, PaCO2 30, HCO3 14. This indicates:
A) Uncompensated metabolic acidosis
3
, B) Partially compensated metabolic acidosis
C) Fully compensated metabolic acidosis
D) Uncompensated respiratory alkalosis
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: pH low (acidosis), HCO3 low (metabolic cause),
PaCO2 low (respiratory compensation via Kussmaul breathing) =
partially compensated metabolic acidosis.
7. A patient with a nasogastric tube to continuous suction is at
risk for which acid-base disorder?
A) Metabolic acidosis
B) Metabolic alkalosis
C) Respiratory acidosis
D) Respiratory alkalosis
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: NG suction removes gastric acid (HCl) → loss of
hydrogen ions → metabolic alkalosis (increased HCO3,
increased pH).
8. A patient has a magnesium level of 0.9 mg/dL (normal
1.5–2.5). Which assessment finding correlates?
A) Hyperreflexia and muscle tremors
B) Hyporeflexia and lethargy
4
