NUR242 Exam 1 V3 | NUR 242 Med-Surg Exam
Q&A | Galen College of Nursing
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This exam-style preparation material is designed to support students preparing for medical-
surgical nursing assessments involving acute illnesses, complex nursing care, and multisystem
adult disorders. The material emphasizes safe nursing interventions and evidence-based patient
management practices.
The questions are structured to closely mirror actual course assessments while reinforcing
analytical reasoning and patient care decision-making skills. Detailed expert explanations are
included to improve comprehension and academic performance.
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The Exam Covers:
• Adult respiratory emergencies
• Dysrhythmia management
• Hemodynamic monitoring
• Nursing interventions for acute illness
• Adult mobility and safety
• Patient-centered communication
• Clinical nursing judgment
• Adult pharmacology review
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1. A patient in the intensive care unit is being monitored with a central venous catheter. The
nurse notes a central venous pressure (CVP) of 1 mmHg. Which intervention should the nurse
anticipate?
A. Administration of a loop diuretic
B. Assessment of the patient for signs of pulmonary edema
,C. Increasing the rate of a continuous nitroglycerin infusion
D. Administration of a bolus of intravenous fluids
Correct Answer: D
Expert Explanation: A normal CVP ranges from 2 to 8 mmHg. A CVP of 1 mmHg indicates
hypovolemia or fluid volume deficit, requiring fluid resuscitation to improve preload and
cardiac output. Diuretics and nitroglycerin would further decrease the CVP and blood
pressure.
2. The nurse is caring for a patient who is experiencing sudden shortness of breath and
pleuritic chest pain. Which diagnostic test is considered the gold standard for confirming a
pulmonary embolism (PE)?
A. Computed Tomography Pulmonary Angiography (CTPA)
B. Chest X-ray
C. D-dimer assay
D. Arterial Blood Gas (ABG) analysis
Correct Answer: A
Expert Explanation: While D-dimer is used for screening, CTPA is the definitive gold
standard for visualizing clots in the pulmonary vasculature. Chest X-rays often appear
normal in PE, and ABGs show non-specific hypoxemia.
, 3. A patient’s electrocardiogram (EKG) shows a saw-tooth pattern with a regular atrial rate of
300 bpm and a ventricular rate of 75 bpm. What is the nurse’s primary interpretation of this
rhythm?
A. Atrial Fibrillation
B. Atrial Flutter
C. Ventricular Tachycardia
D. Third-degree Heart Block
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: Atrial flutter is characterized by a ‘saw-tooth’ baseline (F-waves) and
typically results from a reentrant circuit in the atrium. Atrial fibrillation is irregularly
irregular without distinct P or F waves.
4. The nurse is assessing a patient on a mechanical ventilator. The high-pressure alarm
sounds. Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Suction the patient’s airway
B. Check for kinks in the ventilator tubing
C. Manually bag the patient with 100% oxygen
D. Call the respiratory therapist for assistance
Correct Answer: B
Q&A | Galen College of Nursing
────────────────────────────────────
This exam-style preparation material is designed to support students preparing for medical-
surgical nursing assessments involving acute illnesses, complex nursing care, and multisystem
adult disorders. The material emphasizes safe nursing interventions and evidence-based patient
management practices.
The questions are structured to closely mirror actual course assessments while reinforcing
analytical reasoning and patient care decision-making skills. Detailed expert explanations are
included to improve comprehension and academic performance.
════════════════════════════════════
The Exam Covers:
• Adult respiratory emergencies
• Dysrhythmia management
• Hemodynamic monitoring
• Nursing interventions for acute illness
• Adult mobility and safety
• Patient-centered communication
• Clinical nursing judgment
• Adult pharmacology review
════════════════════════════════════
1. A patient in the intensive care unit is being monitored with a central venous catheter. The
nurse notes a central venous pressure (CVP) of 1 mmHg. Which intervention should the nurse
anticipate?
A. Administration of a loop diuretic
B. Assessment of the patient for signs of pulmonary edema
,C. Increasing the rate of a continuous nitroglycerin infusion
D. Administration of a bolus of intravenous fluids
Correct Answer: D
Expert Explanation: A normal CVP ranges from 2 to 8 mmHg. A CVP of 1 mmHg indicates
hypovolemia or fluid volume deficit, requiring fluid resuscitation to improve preload and
cardiac output. Diuretics and nitroglycerin would further decrease the CVP and blood
pressure.
2. The nurse is caring for a patient who is experiencing sudden shortness of breath and
pleuritic chest pain. Which diagnostic test is considered the gold standard for confirming a
pulmonary embolism (PE)?
A. Computed Tomography Pulmonary Angiography (CTPA)
B. Chest X-ray
C. D-dimer assay
D. Arterial Blood Gas (ABG) analysis
Correct Answer: A
Expert Explanation: While D-dimer is used for screening, CTPA is the definitive gold
standard for visualizing clots in the pulmonary vasculature. Chest X-rays often appear
normal in PE, and ABGs show non-specific hypoxemia.
, 3. A patient’s electrocardiogram (EKG) shows a saw-tooth pattern with a regular atrial rate of
300 bpm and a ventricular rate of 75 bpm. What is the nurse’s primary interpretation of this
rhythm?
A. Atrial Fibrillation
B. Atrial Flutter
C. Ventricular Tachycardia
D. Third-degree Heart Block
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: Atrial flutter is characterized by a ‘saw-tooth’ baseline (F-waves) and
typically results from a reentrant circuit in the atrium. Atrial fibrillation is irregularly
irregular without distinct P or F waves.
4. The nurse is assessing a patient on a mechanical ventilator. The high-pressure alarm
sounds. Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Suction the patient’s airway
B. Check for kinks in the ventilator tubing
C. Manually bag the patient with 100% oxygen
D. Call the respiratory therapist for assistance
Correct Answer: B
