NUR242 Exam 1 V1 | NUR 242 Med-Surg Exam
Q&A | Galen College of Nursing
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This exam preparation resource is designed to help students strengthen their understanding of
medical-surgical nursing concepts, adult patient care management, and evidence-based
nursing interventions. The material emphasizes clinical reasoning, patient safety, and nursing
management strategies commonly applied in acute healthcare settings.
The questions included in this version are structured to closely mirror the actual course exam
format and level of difficulty. Detailed expert explanations are included to improve clinical
judgment, prioritization skills, and exam readiness.
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The Exam Covers:
• Foundations of medical-surgical nursing
• Adult health assessment
• Cardiovascular nursing care
• Respiratory disorders and interventions
• Fluid and electrolyte balance
• Medication administration safety
• Nursing process and care planning
• Patient-centered nursing care
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1. A patient presents with a serum potassium level of 6.2 mEq/L. Which clinical manifestation
should the nurse prioritize?
A. Muscle weakness
B. Increased bowel sounds
C. Cardiac dysrhythmias
,D. Paresthesia
Correct Answer: C
Expert Explanation: Hyperkalemia is defined as a potassium level greater than 5.0 mEq/L.
Elevated potassium significantly impacts cardiac electrical conduction, potentially leading
to fatal arrhythmias such as ventricular fibrillation or asystole. The nurse must
immediately monitor the ECG and notify the healthcare provider to initiate stabilizing
treatments.
2. Which assessment finding is most indicative of fluid volume deficit in an elderly patient?
A. Increased blood pressure
B. Distended neck veins
C. Dry mucous membranes
D. Bradycardia
Correct Answer: C
Expert Explanation: Fluid volume deficit, or dehydration, often manifests as dry mucous
membranes and poor skin turgor. In elderly patients, skin turgor is less reliable due to loss
of elasticity, making oral mucosa a better indicator. Vital signs typically show tachycardia
and hypotension as the body compensates for reduced circulating volume.
3. A nurse is caring for a patient with heart failure. Which lung sound is most commonly
associated with left-sided heart failure?
A. Wheezing
, B. Crackles
C. Rhonchi
D. Stridor
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: Left-sided heart failure leads to pulmonary congestion because the
heart cannot effectively pump blood into systemic circulation. This results in fluid leaking
into the alveoli, which produces crackling sounds during auscultation. The nurse should
monitor for worsening dyspnea and decreasing oxygen saturation in these patients.
4. What is the primary goal of oxygen therapy for a patient with chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease (COPD)?
A. Maintain oxygen saturation at 100%
B. Improve tissue oxygenation while maintaining the drive to breathe
C. Increase the respiratory rate
D. Eliminate the need for bronchodilators
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: Patients with COPD often rely on a hypoxic drive to stimulate
breathing due to chronic carbon dioxide retention. Excessive oxygen administration can
suppress this drive, leading to respiratory depression. The target oxygen saturation for
COPD patients is typically 88-92% to balance oxygenation and respiratory drive.
Q&A | Galen College of Nursing
────────────────────────────────────
This exam preparation resource is designed to help students strengthen their understanding of
medical-surgical nursing concepts, adult patient care management, and evidence-based
nursing interventions. The material emphasizes clinical reasoning, patient safety, and nursing
management strategies commonly applied in acute healthcare settings.
The questions included in this version are structured to closely mirror the actual course exam
format and level of difficulty. Detailed expert explanations are included to improve clinical
judgment, prioritization skills, and exam readiness.
════════════════════════════════════
The Exam Covers:
• Foundations of medical-surgical nursing
• Adult health assessment
• Cardiovascular nursing care
• Respiratory disorders and interventions
• Fluid and electrolyte balance
• Medication administration safety
• Nursing process and care planning
• Patient-centered nursing care
════════════════════════════════════
1. A patient presents with a serum potassium level of 6.2 mEq/L. Which clinical manifestation
should the nurse prioritize?
A. Muscle weakness
B. Increased bowel sounds
C. Cardiac dysrhythmias
,D. Paresthesia
Correct Answer: C
Expert Explanation: Hyperkalemia is defined as a potassium level greater than 5.0 mEq/L.
Elevated potassium significantly impacts cardiac electrical conduction, potentially leading
to fatal arrhythmias such as ventricular fibrillation or asystole. The nurse must
immediately monitor the ECG and notify the healthcare provider to initiate stabilizing
treatments.
2. Which assessment finding is most indicative of fluid volume deficit in an elderly patient?
A. Increased blood pressure
B. Distended neck veins
C. Dry mucous membranes
D. Bradycardia
Correct Answer: C
Expert Explanation: Fluid volume deficit, or dehydration, often manifests as dry mucous
membranes and poor skin turgor. In elderly patients, skin turgor is less reliable due to loss
of elasticity, making oral mucosa a better indicator. Vital signs typically show tachycardia
and hypotension as the body compensates for reduced circulating volume.
3. A nurse is caring for a patient with heart failure. Which lung sound is most commonly
associated with left-sided heart failure?
A. Wheezing
, B. Crackles
C. Rhonchi
D. Stridor
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: Left-sided heart failure leads to pulmonary congestion because the
heart cannot effectively pump blood into systemic circulation. This results in fluid leaking
into the alveoli, which produces crackling sounds during auscultation. The nurse should
monitor for worsening dyspnea and decreasing oxygen saturation in these patients.
4. What is the primary goal of oxygen therapy for a patient with chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease (COPD)?
A. Maintain oxygen saturation at 100%
B. Improve tissue oxygenation while maintaining the drive to breathe
C. Increase the respiratory rate
D. Eliminate the need for bronchodilators
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: Patients with COPD often rely on a hypoxic drive to stimulate
breathing due to chronic carbon dioxide retention. Excessive oxygen administration can
suppress this drive, leading to respiratory depression. The target oxygen saturation for
COPD patients is typically 88-92% to balance oxygenation and respiratory drive.
