NURS 201 Medical-Surgical Nursing Week 9 Comprehensive Quiz 2026
|WCU
1. A patient with chronic heart failure is prescribed Digoxin. Which laboratory
result should the nurse prioritize before administration?
A. Serum sodium 138 mEq/L
B. Serum potassium 3.2 mEq/L
C. Serum creatinine 1.0 mg/dL
D. Blood urea nitrogen 18 mg/dL
Answer: B
Rationale: Hypokalemia (low potassium) significantly increases the risk of Digoxin
toxicity. The nurse must check potassium levels before administration.
2. When assessing a patient with left-sided heart failure, which clinical
manifestation is the nurse most likely to find?
A. Peripheral edema in the lower extremities
B. Jugular venous distension (JVD)
C. Hepatosplenomegaly
D. Crackles upon auscultation of the lungs
Answer: D
Rationale: Left-sided heart failure causes blood to back up into the pulmonary system,
leading to pulmonary congestion and crackles.
,3. A patient is admitted with an acute exacerbation of COPD. Which oxygen
delivery setting is most appropriate to prevent respiratory depression?
A. 6 L/min via simple face mask
B. 2 L/min via nasal cannula
C. 10 L/min via non-rebreather mask
D. 12 L/min via Venturi mask at 50% FiO2
Answer: B
Rationale: Patients with COPD often rely on a hypoxic drive to breathe. High
concentrations of oxygen can suppress this drive, so low-flow oxygen is preferred.
4. An ABG result shows pH 7.31, PaCO2 52 mmHg, and HCO3 25 mEq/L. How
should the nurse interpret these findings?
A. Metabolic Acidosis
B. Metabolic Alkalosis
C. Respiratory Acidosis
D. Respiratory Alkalosis
Answer: C
Rationale: The low pH (<7.35) and high PaCO2 (>45 mmHg) with a normal HCO3 indicate
uncompensated respiratory acidosis.
5. A patient is 24 hours post-operative following a total hip arthroplasty. Which
finding requires immediate intervention?
A. Sudden onset of shortness of breath and chest pain
B. Pain level of 5/10 at the incision site
C. Small amount of serosanguinous drainage on the dressing
D. Urinary output of 40 mL over the last hour
Answer: A
Rationale: Sudden shortness of breath and chest pain suggest a pulmonary embolism, a
life-threatening complication of deep vein thrombosis post-surgery.
, 6. Which medication is considered the ‘gold standard’ for the immediate relief
of acute anginal pain?
A. Metoprolol
B. Lisinopril
C. Sublingual Nitroglycerin
D. Atorvastatin
Answer: C
Rationale: Sublingual nitroglycerin is a rapid-acting vasodilator used specifically for the
immediate relief of angina.
7. A patient with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) has a serum potassium level of
6.8 mEq/L. Which medication should the nurse prepare to administer?
A. Calcium Carbonate
B. Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate (Kayexalate)
C. Epoetin Alfa
D. Furosemide
Answer: B
Rationale: Kayexalate is used to lower dangerously high potassium levels by exchanging
sodium ions for potassium ions in the intestine.
8. In the ‘Rule of Nines’ for burn assessment, what percentage is assigned to the
entire anterior trunk?
A. 9%
B. 4.5%
C. 18%
D. 36%
Answer: C
Rationale: The entire anterior trunk (chest and abdomen) accounts for 18% of the total
body surface area.
|WCU
1. A patient with chronic heart failure is prescribed Digoxin. Which laboratory
result should the nurse prioritize before administration?
A. Serum sodium 138 mEq/L
B. Serum potassium 3.2 mEq/L
C. Serum creatinine 1.0 mg/dL
D. Blood urea nitrogen 18 mg/dL
Answer: B
Rationale: Hypokalemia (low potassium) significantly increases the risk of Digoxin
toxicity. The nurse must check potassium levels before administration.
2. When assessing a patient with left-sided heart failure, which clinical
manifestation is the nurse most likely to find?
A. Peripheral edema in the lower extremities
B. Jugular venous distension (JVD)
C. Hepatosplenomegaly
D. Crackles upon auscultation of the lungs
Answer: D
Rationale: Left-sided heart failure causes blood to back up into the pulmonary system,
leading to pulmonary congestion and crackles.
,3. A patient is admitted with an acute exacerbation of COPD. Which oxygen
delivery setting is most appropriate to prevent respiratory depression?
A. 6 L/min via simple face mask
B. 2 L/min via nasal cannula
C. 10 L/min via non-rebreather mask
D. 12 L/min via Venturi mask at 50% FiO2
Answer: B
Rationale: Patients with COPD often rely on a hypoxic drive to breathe. High
concentrations of oxygen can suppress this drive, so low-flow oxygen is preferred.
4. An ABG result shows pH 7.31, PaCO2 52 mmHg, and HCO3 25 mEq/L. How
should the nurse interpret these findings?
A. Metabolic Acidosis
B. Metabolic Alkalosis
C. Respiratory Acidosis
D. Respiratory Alkalosis
Answer: C
Rationale: The low pH (<7.35) and high PaCO2 (>45 mmHg) with a normal HCO3 indicate
uncompensated respiratory acidosis.
5. A patient is 24 hours post-operative following a total hip arthroplasty. Which
finding requires immediate intervention?
A. Sudden onset of shortness of breath and chest pain
B. Pain level of 5/10 at the incision site
C. Small amount of serosanguinous drainage on the dressing
D. Urinary output of 40 mL over the last hour
Answer: A
Rationale: Sudden shortness of breath and chest pain suggest a pulmonary embolism, a
life-threatening complication of deep vein thrombosis post-surgery.
, 6. Which medication is considered the ‘gold standard’ for the immediate relief
of acute anginal pain?
A. Metoprolol
B. Lisinopril
C. Sublingual Nitroglycerin
D. Atorvastatin
Answer: C
Rationale: Sublingual nitroglycerin is a rapid-acting vasodilator used specifically for the
immediate relief of angina.
7. A patient with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) has a serum potassium level of
6.8 mEq/L. Which medication should the nurse prepare to administer?
A. Calcium Carbonate
B. Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate (Kayexalate)
C. Epoetin Alfa
D. Furosemide
Answer: B
Rationale: Kayexalate is used to lower dangerously high potassium levels by exchanging
sodium ions for potassium ions in the intestine.
8. In the ‘Rule of Nines’ for burn assessment, what percentage is assigned to the
entire anterior trunk?
A. 9%
B. 4.5%
C. 18%
D. 36%
Answer: C
Rationale: The entire anterior trunk (chest and abdomen) accounts for 18% of the total
body surface area.
