NURS 120 | Introduction to Medical-Surgical Nursing | Exam 2 2026
|WCU
1. A nurse interprets the arterial blood gas (ABG) results of a patient as follows:
pH 7.30, PaCO2 52 mm Hg, and HCO3 26 mEq/L. Which imbalance is the patient
experiencing?
A. Respiratory Alkalosis
B. Metabolic Alkalosis
C. Metabolic Acidosis
D. Respiratory Acidosis
Answer: D
Rationale: The pH is below 7.35 (acidosis) and the PaCO2 is above 45 mm Hg
(respiratory), indicating respiratory acidosis.
2. Which electrocardiogram (ECG) change is most characteristic of a patient with
a potassium level of 6.2 mEq/L?
A. Tall, peaked T waves
B. ST-segment depression
C. Prominent U waves
D. Inverted T waves
Answer: A
Rationale: Hyperkalemia (potassium > 5.0) typically causes tall, peaked T waves and
widened QRS complexes.
,3. During a physical assessment, the nurse taps the patient’s facial nerve in front
of the ear and observes a contraction of the facial muscles. How should this be
documented?
A. Positive Chvostek sign
B. Positive Trousseau sign
C. Normal neurological reflex
D. Positive Babinski sign
Answer: A
Rationale: Chvostek sign is an indicator of hypocalcemia or hypomagnesemia and is
elicited by tapping the facial nerve.
4. A patient is scheduled for surgery. The nurse knows that the primary
responsibility for obtaining informed consent rests with whom?
A. The circulating nurse
B. The surgeon
C. The anesthesiologist
D. The scrub technician
Answer: B
Rationale: It is the surgeon’s responsibility to explain the procedure and obtain consent;
the nurse only witnesses the signature.
5. Which medication is considered the antidote for malignant hyperthermia
during surgery?
A. Atropine sulfate
B. Naloxone
C. Dantrolene sodium
D. Neostigmine
Answer: C
, Rationale: Dantrolene is a skeletal muscle relaxant used specifically to treat the
hypermetabolic crisis of malignant hyperthermia.
6. A postoperative patient reports sudden chest pain and shortness of breath.
The nurse notes a heart rate of 110 bpm and oxygen saturation of 88%. What
should the nurse suspect first?
A. Pulmonary Embolism
B. Myocardial Infarction
C. Atelectasis
D. Pneumonia
Answer: A
Rationale: Sudden onset of dyspnea, chest pain, and tachycardia in a post-op patient are
classic signs of a pulmonary embolism.
7. Which intravenous (IV) fluid is classified as isotonic?
A. 0.45% Sodium Chloride
B. 3% Sodium Chloride
C. 10% Dextrose in water
D. 0.9% Sodium Chloride
Answer: D
Rationale: 0.9% Normal Saline is isotonic, meaning it has the same osmolality as body
fluids.
8. The nurse is caring for a patient with a wound that has separated and the
abdominal organs are protruding. What is the immediate nursing action?
A. Push the organs back into the abdomen
B. Cover the wound with a dry sterile dressing
C. Cover the wound with sterile gauze soaked in sterile normal saline
D. Position the patient in high-Fowler’s position
Answer: C
|WCU
1. A nurse interprets the arterial blood gas (ABG) results of a patient as follows:
pH 7.30, PaCO2 52 mm Hg, and HCO3 26 mEq/L. Which imbalance is the patient
experiencing?
A. Respiratory Alkalosis
B. Metabolic Alkalosis
C. Metabolic Acidosis
D. Respiratory Acidosis
Answer: D
Rationale: The pH is below 7.35 (acidosis) and the PaCO2 is above 45 mm Hg
(respiratory), indicating respiratory acidosis.
2. Which electrocardiogram (ECG) change is most characteristic of a patient with
a potassium level of 6.2 mEq/L?
A. Tall, peaked T waves
B. ST-segment depression
C. Prominent U waves
D. Inverted T waves
Answer: A
Rationale: Hyperkalemia (potassium > 5.0) typically causes tall, peaked T waves and
widened QRS complexes.
,3. During a physical assessment, the nurse taps the patient’s facial nerve in front
of the ear and observes a contraction of the facial muscles. How should this be
documented?
A. Positive Chvostek sign
B. Positive Trousseau sign
C. Normal neurological reflex
D. Positive Babinski sign
Answer: A
Rationale: Chvostek sign is an indicator of hypocalcemia or hypomagnesemia and is
elicited by tapping the facial nerve.
4. A patient is scheduled for surgery. The nurse knows that the primary
responsibility for obtaining informed consent rests with whom?
A. The circulating nurse
B. The surgeon
C. The anesthesiologist
D. The scrub technician
Answer: B
Rationale: It is the surgeon’s responsibility to explain the procedure and obtain consent;
the nurse only witnesses the signature.
5. Which medication is considered the antidote for malignant hyperthermia
during surgery?
A. Atropine sulfate
B. Naloxone
C. Dantrolene sodium
D. Neostigmine
Answer: C
, Rationale: Dantrolene is a skeletal muscle relaxant used specifically to treat the
hypermetabolic crisis of malignant hyperthermia.
6. A postoperative patient reports sudden chest pain and shortness of breath.
The nurse notes a heart rate of 110 bpm and oxygen saturation of 88%. What
should the nurse suspect first?
A. Pulmonary Embolism
B. Myocardial Infarction
C. Atelectasis
D. Pneumonia
Answer: A
Rationale: Sudden onset of dyspnea, chest pain, and tachycardia in a post-op patient are
classic signs of a pulmonary embolism.
7. Which intravenous (IV) fluid is classified as isotonic?
A. 0.45% Sodium Chloride
B. 3% Sodium Chloride
C. 10% Dextrose in water
D. 0.9% Sodium Chloride
Answer: D
Rationale: 0.9% Normal Saline is isotonic, meaning it has the same osmolality as body
fluids.
8. The nurse is caring for a patient with a wound that has separated and the
abdominal organs are protruding. What is the immediate nursing action?
A. Push the organs back into the abdomen
B. Cover the wound with a dry sterile dressing
C. Cover the wound with sterile gauze soaked in sterile normal saline
D. Position the patient in high-Fowler’s position
Answer: C
