NSG 3850 Exam 2 Galen College Of
Nursing Actual Exam Questions And
Answers Practice Questions with
Solutions Newest | Already Graded
A+
1. A patient presents with confusion, lethargy, and a serum sodium
level of 118 mEq/L. Which assessment finding does the nurse
anticipate?
A) Weak pulse and hypotension
B) Thirst and dry mucous membranes
C) Seizures and coma
D) Cardiac dysrhythmias and muscle weakness
Answer: C
*Rationale: Severe hyponatremia (sodium <120 mEq/L) leads to cerebral
edema because water shifts into brain cells. This causes neurological
symptoms: confusion, lethargy, seizures, and coma.*
2. Abnormalities in intracellular regulation of enzyme activity and
cellular production of ATP are associated with which electrolyte
imbalance?
A) Hyponatremia
B) Hypocalcemia
C) Hypophosphatemia
D) Hypokalemia
Answer: C
,Rationale: Hypophosphatemia leads to deficiency of ATP, which is essential
for cellular energy and enzyme function.
3. The fraction of total body water (TBW) volume contained in the
intracellular space in adults is:
A) Three-fourths
B) Two-thirds
C) One-half
D) One-third
Answer: B
*Rationale: Approximately two-thirds (65-75%) of total body water is
located within cells (intracellular fluid).*
4. Which electrolyte imbalances cause increased neuromuscular
excitability?
A) Hypokalemia and hyperphosphatemia
B) Hyperkalemia and hypophosphatemia
C) Hypocalcemia and hypomagnesemia
D) Hypercalcemia and hypermagnesemia
Answer: C
Rationale: Both hypocalcemia and hypomagnesemia increase neuronal
membrane excitability, leading to muscle twitching, tetany, Chvostek sign,
and Trousseau sign.
5. Excessive antidiuretic hormone (ADH) secretion can cause:
A) Increased serum sodium concentration
B) Decreased serum sodium concentration
C) Increased serum potassium concentration
D) Decreased serum potassium concentration
Answer: B
Rationale: SIADH causes water retention without proportionate sodium
retention, leading to dilutional hyponatremia.
6. Causes of hypomagnesemia include:
A) Hyperphosphatemia
B) Chronic alcoholism
,C) Oliguric renal failure
D) Clinical dehydration
Answer: B
Rationale: Chronic alcoholism is a common cause of hypomagnesemia due to
poor dietary intake, malabsorption, and increased renal excretion.
7. Hypernatremia may be caused by:
A) Decreased aldosterone secretion
B) Decreased antidiuretic hormone secretion
C) Compulsive water drinking
D) Excessive dietary potassium
Answer: B
Rationale: Decreased ADH secretion (diabetes insipidus) leads to dilute urine
and water loss, causing hypernatremia.
8. An increase in filtration of fluid from the pulmonary capillaries into
the interstitium occurs with ________ pressure.
A) increased capillary colloid
B) increased capillary hydrostatic
C) decreased capillary hydrostatic
D) decreased interstitial colloid
Answer: B
Rationale: When capillary hydrostatic pressure exceeds capillary colloid
osmotic pressure, fluid moves from the capillary to the interstitium.
9. The process responsible for distribution of fluid between the
interstitial and intracellular compartments is:
A) Filtration
B) Osmosis
C) Active transport
D) Diffusion
Answer: B
Rationale: Osmosis is the primary mechanism for fluid distribution between
interstitial and intracellular spaces.
, 10. Clinical manifestations of moderate to severe hypokalemia include:
A) Muscle spasms and rapid respirations
B) Muscle weakness and cardiac dysrhythmias
C) Confusion and irritability
D) Vomiting and diarrhea
Answer: B
Rationale: Moderate to severe hypokalemia causes muscle weakness, fatigue,
and cardiac arrhythmias.
11. The central chemoreceptors for respiratory control are:
A) located in the carotid artery, responsive primarily to changes in pH and
CO2.
B) responsive primarily to changes in pH and CO2.
C) less important than the peripheral chemoreceptors.
D) responsive primarily to hypoxemia.
Answer: B
Rationale: Central chemoreceptors are located in the medullary center, are
responsive to pH and CO2, and are more important than peripheral
chemoreceptors in controlling respirations.
12. The peripheral chemoreceptors:
A) are located in the medulla oblongata.
B) lead to hypoventilation when stimulated.
C) respond to the arterial oxygen level.
D) are unresponsive to pH and CO2 levels.
Answer: C
Rationale: The peripheral chemoreceptors respond to reduced arterial oxygen
(hypoxemia).
13. Hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction:
A) diverts blood to hypoxic regions.
B) increases blood flow to the base of the lung.
C) can lead to secondary pulmonary hypertension.
D) is always detrimental to the patient.
Answer: C
Nursing Actual Exam Questions And
Answers Practice Questions with
Solutions Newest | Already Graded
A+
1. A patient presents with confusion, lethargy, and a serum sodium
level of 118 mEq/L. Which assessment finding does the nurse
anticipate?
A) Weak pulse and hypotension
B) Thirst and dry mucous membranes
C) Seizures and coma
D) Cardiac dysrhythmias and muscle weakness
Answer: C
*Rationale: Severe hyponatremia (sodium <120 mEq/L) leads to cerebral
edema because water shifts into brain cells. This causes neurological
symptoms: confusion, lethargy, seizures, and coma.*
2. Abnormalities in intracellular regulation of enzyme activity and
cellular production of ATP are associated with which electrolyte
imbalance?
A) Hyponatremia
B) Hypocalcemia
C) Hypophosphatemia
D) Hypokalemia
Answer: C
,Rationale: Hypophosphatemia leads to deficiency of ATP, which is essential
for cellular energy and enzyme function.
3. The fraction of total body water (TBW) volume contained in the
intracellular space in adults is:
A) Three-fourths
B) Two-thirds
C) One-half
D) One-third
Answer: B
*Rationale: Approximately two-thirds (65-75%) of total body water is
located within cells (intracellular fluid).*
4. Which electrolyte imbalances cause increased neuromuscular
excitability?
A) Hypokalemia and hyperphosphatemia
B) Hyperkalemia and hypophosphatemia
C) Hypocalcemia and hypomagnesemia
D) Hypercalcemia and hypermagnesemia
Answer: C
Rationale: Both hypocalcemia and hypomagnesemia increase neuronal
membrane excitability, leading to muscle twitching, tetany, Chvostek sign,
and Trousseau sign.
5. Excessive antidiuretic hormone (ADH) secretion can cause:
A) Increased serum sodium concentration
B) Decreased serum sodium concentration
C) Increased serum potassium concentration
D) Decreased serum potassium concentration
Answer: B
Rationale: SIADH causes water retention without proportionate sodium
retention, leading to dilutional hyponatremia.
6. Causes of hypomagnesemia include:
A) Hyperphosphatemia
B) Chronic alcoholism
,C) Oliguric renal failure
D) Clinical dehydration
Answer: B
Rationale: Chronic alcoholism is a common cause of hypomagnesemia due to
poor dietary intake, malabsorption, and increased renal excretion.
7. Hypernatremia may be caused by:
A) Decreased aldosterone secretion
B) Decreased antidiuretic hormone secretion
C) Compulsive water drinking
D) Excessive dietary potassium
Answer: B
Rationale: Decreased ADH secretion (diabetes insipidus) leads to dilute urine
and water loss, causing hypernatremia.
8. An increase in filtration of fluid from the pulmonary capillaries into
the interstitium occurs with ________ pressure.
A) increased capillary colloid
B) increased capillary hydrostatic
C) decreased capillary hydrostatic
D) decreased interstitial colloid
Answer: B
Rationale: When capillary hydrostatic pressure exceeds capillary colloid
osmotic pressure, fluid moves from the capillary to the interstitium.
9. The process responsible for distribution of fluid between the
interstitial and intracellular compartments is:
A) Filtration
B) Osmosis
C) Active transport
D) Diffusion
Answer: B
Rationale: Osmosis is the primary mechanism for fluid distribution between
interstitial and intracellular spaces.
, 10. Clinical manifestations of moderate to severe hypokalemia include:
A) Muscle spasms and rapid respirations
B) Muscle weakness and cardiac dysrhythmias
C) Confusion and irritability
D) Vomiting and diarrhea
Answer: B
Rationale: Moderate to severe hypokalemia causes muscle weakness, fatigue,
and cardiac arrhythmias.
11. The central chemoreceptors for respiratory control are:
A) located in the carotid artery, responsive primarily to changes in pH and
CO2.
B) responsive primarily to changes in pH and CO2.
C) less important than the peripheral chemoreceptors.
D) responsive primarily to hypoxemia.
Answer: B
Rationale: Central chemoreceptors are located in the medullary center, are
responsive to pH and CO2, and are more important than peripheral
chemoreceptors in controlling respirations.
12. The peripheral chemoreceptors:
A) are located in the medulla oblongata.
B) lead to hypoventilation when stimulated.
C) respond to the arterial oxygen level.
D) are unresponsive to pH and CO2 levels.
Answer: C
Rationale: The peripheral chemoreceptors respond to reduced arterial oxygen
(hypoxemia).
13. Hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction:
A) diverts blood to hypoxic regions.
B) increases blood flow to the base of the lung.
C) can lead to secondary pulmonary hypertension.
D) is always detrimental to the patient.
Answer: C
