NUR242 Final Exam V2 | NUR 242 Med-Surg
Exam Q&A | Galen College of Nursing
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This study guide is intended to help students consolidate foundational and advanced concepts
related to adult healthcare, acute care nursing, and evidence-based medical-surgical
interventions. The material reflects the style and complexity commonly encountered in nursing
final examinations.
This version contains realistic final exam-style questions covering adult disorders, nursing
assessments, and therapeutic interventions. Detailed expert explanations are included to support
deeper understanding and comprehensive exam preparation.
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The Exam Covers:
• Acute and chronic adult illnesses
• Adult emergency nursing care
• Complex nursing interventions
• Adult fluid and electrolyte management
• Critical care prioritization
• Adult rehabilitation concepts
• Ethical and legal nursing care
• Nursing leadership and delegation
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1. A nurse is caring for a patient who is 24 hours post-operative after an abdominal surgery.
Which finding should the nurse prioritize as the most concerning?
A. Pain level of 6 on a scale of 0 to 10
B. Sudden onset of shortness of breath and chest pain
C. Absence of bowel sounds on auscultation
,D. Serosanguineous drainage on the surgical dressing
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: Sudden shortness of breath and chest pain in a post-operative patient
are classic signs of a pulmonary embolism, which is a life-threatening emergency. While
pain and absent bowel sounds are expected shortly after surgery, they do not take priority
over airway and breathing. Serosanguineous drainage is a normal finding for a fresh
surgical wound.
2. Which task is most appropriate for a registered nurse (RN) to delegate to an unlicensed
assistive personnel (UAP)?
A. Assessing a patient’s skin integrity after a fall
B. Assisting a stable patient with ambulation in the hallway
C. Providing discharge instructions to a patient with heart failure
D. Adjusting the flow rate of an intravenous infusion
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: Assisting a stable patient with mobility is within the scope of practice
for UAPs. Assessments, patient education, and medication/IV management require the
professional judgment and clinical knowledge of a licensed nurse. Proper delegation
ensures patient safety and optimizes the use of the healthcare team’s resources.
, 3. A patient presents to the emergency department with a potassium level of 6.8 mEq/L.
Which intervention should the nurse anticipate first?
A. Administering a dose of oral potassium-sparing diuretic
B. Obtaining a 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG)
C. Encouraging the intake of potassium-rich foods like bananas
D. Checking the patient’s blood glucose level
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: Hyperkalemia (K+ > 5.0 mEq/L) can cause life-threatening cardiac
dysrhythmias and cardiac arrest. Obtaining an ECG is the priority to assess for peaked T-
waves or widened QRS complexes. Potassium-sparing diuretics and high-potassium foods
would worsen the condition, and glucose checks are secondary to cardiac monitoring.
4. In the context of ethical nursing practice, the principle of ‘Beneficence’ is best described as:
A. The duty to do no harm to the patient
B. The right of the patient to make their own healthcare decisions
C. The obligation to act in the best interest of the patient
D. The fair and equitable distribution of healthcare resources
Correct Answer: C
Expert Explanation: Beneficence refers to taking positive actions to help others and acting
in the best interest of the patient. Nonmaleficence is the duty to do no harm, autonomy is
Exam Q&A | Galen College of Nursing
────────────────────────────────────
This study guide is intended to help students consolidate foundational and advanced concepts
related to adult healthcare, acute care nursing, and evidence-based medical-surgical
interventions. The material reflects the style and complexity commonly encountered in nursing
final examinations.
This version contains realistic final exam-style questions covering adult disorders, nursing
assessments, and therapeutic interventions. Detailed expert explanations are included to support
deeper understanding and comprehensive exam preparation.
════════════════════════════════════
The Exam Covers:
• Acute and chronic adult illnesses
• Adult emergency nursing care
• Complex nursing interventions
• Adult fluid and electrolyte management
• Critical care prioritization
• Adult rehabilitation concepts
• Ethical and legal nursing care
• Nursing leadership and delegation
════════════════════════════════════
1. A nurse is caring for a patient who is 24 hours post-operative after an abdominal surgery.
Which finding should the nurse prioritize as the most concerning?
A. Pain level of 6 on a scale of 0 to 10
B. Sudden onset of shortness of breath and chest pain
C. Absence of bowel sounds on auscultation
,D. Serosanguineous drainage on the surgical dressing
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: Sudden shortness of breath and chest pain in a post-operative patient
are classic signs of a pulmonary embolism, which is a life-threatening emergency. While
pain and absent bowel sounds are expected shortly after surgery, they do not take priority
over airway and breathing. Serosanguineous drainage is a normal finding for a fresh
surgical wound.
2. Which task is most appropriate for a registered nurse (RN) to delegate to an unlicensed
assistive personnel (UAP)?
A. Assessing a patient’s skin integrity after a fall
B. Assisting a stable patient with ambulation in the hallway
C. Providing discharge instructions to a patient with heart failure
D. Adjusting the flow rate of an intravenous infusion
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: Assisting a stable patient with mobility is within the scope of practice
for UAPs. Assessments, patient education, and medication/IV management require the
professional judgment and clinical knowledge of a licensed nurse. Proper delegation
ensures patient safety and optimizes the use of the healthcare team’s resources.
, 3. A patient presents to the emergency department with a potassium level of 6.8 mEq/L.
Which intervention should the nurse anticipate first?
A. Administering a dose of oral potassium-sparing diuretic
B. Obtaining a 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG)
C. Encouraging the intake of potassium-rich foods like bananas
D. Checking the patient’s blood glucose level
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: Hyperkalemia (K+ > 5.0 mEq/L) can cause life-threatening cardiac
dysrhythmias and cardiac arrest. Obtaining an ECG is the priority to assess for peaked T-
waves or widened QRS complexes. Potassium-sparing diuretics and high-potassium foods
would worsen the condition, and glucose checks are secondary to cardiac monitoring.
4. In the context of ethical nursing practice, the principle of ‘Beneficence’ is best described as:
A. The duty to do no harm to the patient
B. The right of the patient to make their own healthcare decisions
C. The obligation to act in the best interest of the patient
D. The fair and equitable distribution of healthcare resources
Correct Answer: C
Expert Explanation: Beneficence refers to taking positive actions to help others and acting
in the best interest of the patient. Nonmaleficence is the duty to do no harm, autonomy is
