MDC III FINAL EXAM (RASMUSSEN) NEWEST 2026
ACTUAL EXAM TEST BANK| MDC 3 FINAL EXAM
REVIEW WITH 400 REAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT VERIFIED ANSWERS/ ALREADY GRADED A+
(MOST RECENT!!)
1. A patient with heart failure has a serum potassium level of
2.8 mEq/L. Which EKG finding should the nurse expect?
A) Peaked T waves
B) U waves
C) Wide QRS complex
D) Absent P waves
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hypokalemia (K+ <3.5) causes U waves, flat T waves,
and ST depression. Peaked T waves indicate hyperkalemia.
2. A patient presents with muscle twitching, tetany, and a
positive Chvostek’s sign. Which electrolyte imbalance is most
likely?
A) Hypernatremia
B) Hypocalcemia
C) Hyperkalemia
D) Hypermagnesemia
1
,Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hypocalcemia causes neuromuscular irritability: tetany,
Chvostek's (facial twitching on tapping), Trousseau's sign (carpal
spasm with BP cuff inflation). Hypercalcemia causes lethargy and
weakness.
3. The nurse is caring for a patient with severe vomiting. ABG
results: pH 7.50, PaCO2 48, HCO3 32. Which condition does
this represent?
A) Metabolic acidosis
B) Metabolic alkalosis
C) Respiratory acidosis
D) Respiratory alkalosis
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Vomiting loses gastric acid (HCl) → increased HCO3
(metabolic alkalosis). pH >7.45, HCO3 elevated (>26).
Respiratory compensation is hypoventilation (PaCO2 elevated).
4. A patient with acute kidney injury (AKI) has a potassium
level of 6.8 mEq/L. Which intervention should the nurse
implement first?
A) Administer sodium polystyrene sulfonate (Kayexalate)
B) Prepare for hemodialysis
2
,C) Administer IV calcium gluconate
D) Give IV insulin and dextrose
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Cardiac membrane stabilization with IV calcium
gluconate is first to prevent life-threatening arrhythmias. Then
insulin+dextrose shifts K+ into cells, Kayexalate removes, dialysis
definitive.
5. A patient is on a loop diuretic (furosemide). The nurse
should monitor for which electrolyte imbalance?
A) Hyperkalemia
B) Hypokalemia
C) Hyponatremia
D) Hypercalcemia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Loop diuretics cause potassium wasting (hypokalemia).
Monitor K+ and consider potassium-sparing diuretics or
supplements.
6. A patient with SIADH (syndrome of inappropriate
antidiuretic hormone) has a serum sodium of 118 mEq/L.
Which assessment finding is most concerning?
A) Dry mucous membranes
3
, B) Altered mental status and seizures
C) Polyuria
D) Hypertension
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Severe hyponatremia (<120) causes cerebral edema
→ confusion, seizures, coma. SIADH causes water retention →
dilutional hyponatremia.
7. A patient with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) has a potassium
level of 5.5 mEq/L on admission. After starting insulin, the
nurse should anticipate:
A) Potassium will rise further
B) Potassium will decrease (shift into cells)
C) No change in potassium
D) Potassium will convert to sodium
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Insulin drives K+ into cells, worsening hypokalemia.
Even if initial K+ is normal/high, monitor closely because K+
drops with insulin therapy.
8. Which EKG change is characteristic of hypercalcemia?
A) Shortened QT interval
B) Prolonged QT interval
4
ACTUAL EXAM TEST BANK| MDC 3 FINAL EXAM
REVIEW WITH 400 REAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT VERIFIED ANSWERS/ ALREADY GRADED A+
(MOST RECENT!!)
1. A patient with heart failure has a serum potassium level of
2.8 mEq/L. Which EKG finding should the nurse expect?
A) Peaked T waves
B) U waves
C) Wide QRS complex
D) Absent P waves
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hypokalemia (K+ <3.5) causes U waves, flat T waves,
and ST depression. Peaked T waves indicate hyperkalemia.
2. A patient presents with muscle twitching, tetany, and a
positive Chvostek’s sign. Which electrolyte imbalance is most
likely?
A) Hypernatremia
B) Hypocalcemia
C) Hyperkalemia
D) Hypermagnesemia
1
,Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hypocalcemia causes neuromuscular irritability: tetany,
Chvostek's (facial twitching on tapping), Trousseau's sign (carpal
spasm with BP cuff inflation). Hypercalcemia causes lethargy and
weakness.
3. The nurse is caring for a patient with severe vomiting. ABG
results: pH 7.50, PaCO2 48, HCO3 32. Which condition does
this represent?
A) Metabolic acidosis
B) Metabolic alkalosis
C) Respiratory acidosis
D) Respiratory alkalosis
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Vomiting loses gastric acid (HCl) → increased HCO3
(metabolic alkalosis). pH >7.45, HCO3 elevated (>26).
Respiratory compensation is hypoventilation (PaCO2 elevated).
4. A patient with acute kidney injury (AKI) has a potassium
level of 6.8 mEq/L. Which intervention should the nurse
implement first?
A) Administer sodium polystyrene sulfonate (Kayexalate)
B) Prepare for hemodialysis
2
,C) Administer IV calcium gluconate
D) Give IV insulin and dextrose
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Cardiac membrane stabilization with IV calcium
gluconate is first to prevent life-threatening arrhythmias. Then
insulin+dextrose shifts K+ into cells, Kayexalate removes, dialysis
definitive.
5. A patient is on a loop diuretic (furosemide). The nurse
should monitor for which electrolyte imbalance?
A) Hyperkalemia
B) Hypokalemia
C) Hyponatremia
D) Hypercalcemia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Loop diuretics cause potassium wasting (hypokalemia).
Monitor K+ and consider potassium-sparing diuretics or
supplements.
6. A patient with SIADH (syndrome of inappropriate
antidiuretic hormone) has a serum sodium of 118 mEq/L.
Which assessment finding is most concerning?
A) Dry mucous membranes
3
, B) Altered mental status and seizures
C) Polyuria
D) Hypertension
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Severe hyponatremia (<120) causes cerebral edema
→ confusion, seizures, coma. SIADH causes water retention →
dilutional hyponatremia.
7. A patient with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) has a potassium
level of 5.5 mEq/L on admission. After starting insulin, the
nurse should anticipate:
A) Potassium will rise further
B) Potassium will decrease (shift into cells)
C) No change in potassium
D) Potassium will convert to sodium
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Insulin drives K+ into cells, worsening hypokalemia.
Even if initial K+ is normal/high, monitor closely because K+
drops with insulin therapy.
8. Which EKG change is characteristic of hypercalcemia?
A) Shortened QT interval
B) Prolonged QT interval
4
