NUR 305 Cumulative final exam example Q's | COMPLETE QUESTIONS
WITH 100% RATED CORRECT ANSWERS | GRADED A+| 2025 LATEST
UPDATED
Which symptom requires immediate intervention during a hypoglycemic episode?
A.Confusion
B.Hunger
C.Headache
Tachycardia - (answers)CONFUSION
Rationale: Glucose is necessary for brain function. Confusion is a marker of severe
hypoglycemia requiring immediate intervention. Irritability/anxiety, hunger, tachycardia,
headache, sweating, and seizures are additional signs of hypoglycemia.
When should a patient with type 1 diabetes avoid exercise?
A.When serum glucose is less than 150
B.During colder months
C.When ketones are present in the urine
D.When emotional stressors are high for the patient - (answers)C.When ketones are present in
the urine
Rationale: Exercise should be avoided if ketones are present in the urine. Ketones indicate that
current insulin levels are not adequate and that exercise would elevate blood glucose levels.
A patient with an acid-base imbalance has an altered
potassium level. The nurse recognizes that the potassium
level is altered because:
,1. Potassium is returned to extracellular fluid when metabolic acidosis is corrected.
2. Hyperkalemia causes an alkalosis that results in potassium being shifted into the cells.
3. Acidosis causes hydrogen ions in the blood to be exchanged for potassium from the cells.
4. In alkalosis, potassium is shifted into extracellular fluid to bind excessive bicarbonate. -
(answers)3. Acidosis causes hydrogen ions in the blood to be exchanged for potassium from the
cells.
Rationale: Changes in pH (hydrogen ion concentration) will affect potassium balance. In
acidosis, hydrogen ions accumulate in the intracellular fluid (ICF), and potassium shifts out of
the cell to the extracellular fluid to maintain a balance of cations across the cell membrane. In
alkalosis, ICF levels of hydrogen diminish, and potassium shifts into the cell. If a deficit of H+
occurs in the extracellular fluid, potassium will shift into the cell. Acidosis is associated with
hyperkalemia, and alkalosis is associated with hypokalemia.
A patient has the following arterial blood gas (ABG) results: pH 7.48, PaO2 86 mm Hg, PaCO2
44 mm Hg, HCO3 29 mEq/L. When assessing the patient, the nurse would expect the patient to
experience:
1. Warm, flushed skin.
2. Respiratory rate of 36.
3. Blood pressure of 94/52.
4. Hypertonic muscles with cramping. - (answers)4. Hypertonic muscles with cramping.
Rationale: The patient is experiencing metabolic alkalosis (elevated pH and elevated HCO3).
Clinical manifestations of metabolic alkalosis include hypertonic muscles and cramping, severe
hypotension and reduced respiratory rate. Hypotension and warm, flushed skin may occur with
respiratory acidosis.
A patient is brought to the ED after being hit by a car while biking. He is unresponsive, has
shallow breathing, and has an open femur fracture from which he has lost a significant amount of
blood. The nurse anticipates which acid-base imbalance?
A.Metabolic alkalosis
B.Respiratory acidosis
,C.Metabolic alkalosis and respiratory alkalosis
D.Metabolic acidosis and respiratory acidosis - (answers)D.Metabolic acidosis and respiratory
acidosis
Rationale: Hypoperfusion associated with significant shift in intravascular volume and/or blood
loss that may be experienced by patients with significant trauma, burn injuries, sepsis, shock
states, or cardiac arrest are examples of problems leading to metabolic acidosis. Shallow
breathing or ineffective ventilation causes respiratory acidosis. Combined acidosis is more severe
than either metabolic acidosis or respiratory acidosis alone.
The nurse is evaluating the laboratory work of a patient who has uncontrolled metabolic acidosis.
Which outcome would result from this condition?
A.pH 7.30
B.Bicarbonate 18 mEq/L
C.Pao2 98 mm Hg
D.Serum potassium 5.7 mEq/L - (answers)D.Serum potassium 5.7 mEq/L
Rationale: Metabolic acidosis is reflected by several changes in ABG values. The pH is low
(<7.35). The bicarbonate level is low (<21 mEq/L). The partial pressure of arterial oxygen (Pao2)
is normal because gas exchange is adequate. The serum potassium level is often high in acidosis
as the body attempts to maintain electroneutrality during buffering.
The nurse is reviewing the standing orders for a patient who was admitted for evaluation of chest
pain. The patient has a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and his
laboratory results and assessment reveal that he has mild respiratory acidosis. The nurse would
question which order?
A.Encourage oral fluids
B.Oxygen therapy at 4 L/min as needed
C.Keep head of bed elevated
Bedrest with bathroom privileges only - (answers)B.Oxygen therapy at 4 L/min as needed
, Rationale: The bedrest order will help the patient conserve energy. The upright position (mid-
Fowler's to high-Fowler's position) helps increase lung expansion. Increasing fluid intake may
reduce the thickness of lung secretions and assist in their removal. Oxygen therapy helps
promote gas exchange for patients with respiratory acidosis. However, use caution when giving
oxygen to patients with COPD and CO2 retention as evidenced by a high Paco2 level. The only
breathing trigger for these patients is a decreased arterial oxygen level. Giving too much oxygen
to these patients decreases their respiratory drive and may lead to respiratory arrest
Ideally, the goal of patient diabetes education is to:
1. Make all patients responsible for the management of their disease.
2. Involve the patient's family and significant others in the care of the patient.
3. Enable the patient to become the most active participant in the management of the diabetes.
4. Provide the patient with as much information as soon as possible to prevent complications of
diabetes. - (answers)3. Enable the patient to become the most active participant in the
management of the diabetes.
Rationale: The goal of diabetes education is to enable the patient to become the most active
participant in his or her own care.
A patient with type 1 diabetes calls the clinic with complaints of nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
It is most important that the nurse advise the patient to:
1. Hold the regular dose of insulin.
2. Drink cool fluids with high glucose content.
3. Check the blood glucose level every 2 to 4 hours.
4. Use a less strenuous form of exercise than usual until the illness resolves. - (answers)3. Check
the blood glucose level every 2 to 4 hours.
Rationale: If a person with type 1 diabetes mellitus is ill, he or she should test blood glucose
levels at least at 2-to-4-hour intervals to determine the effects of this stressor on the blood
glucose level.
WITH 100% RATED CORRECT ANSWERS | GRADED A+| 2025 LATEST
UPDATED
Which symptom requires immediate intervention during a hypoglycemic episode?
A.Confusion
B.Hunger
C.Headache
Tachycardia - (answers)CONFUSION
Rationale: Glucose is necessary for brain function. Confusion is a marker of severe
hypoglycemia requiring immediate intervention. Irritability/anxiety, hunger, tachycardia,
headache, sweating, and seizures are additional signs of hypoglycemia.
When should a patient with type 1 diabetes avoid exercise?
A.When serum glucose is less than 150
B.During colder months
C.When ketones are present in the urine
D.When emotional stressors are high for the patient - (answers)C.When ketones are present in
the urine
Rationale: Exercise should be avoided if ketones are present in the urine. Ketones indicate that
current insulin levels are not adequate and that exercise would elevate blood glucose levels.
A patient with an acid-base imbalance has an altered
potassium level. The nurse recognizes that the potassium
level is altered because:
,1. Potassium is returned to extracellular fluid when metabolic acidosis is corrected.
2. Hyperkalemia causes an alkalosis that results in potassium being shifted into the cells.
3. Acidosis causes hydrogen ions in the blood to be exchanged for potassium from the cells.
4. In alkalosis, potassium is shifted into extracellular fluid to bind excessive bicarbonate. -
(answers)3. Acidosis causes hydrogen ions in the blood to be exchanged for potassium from the
cells.
Rationale: Changes in pH (hydrogen ion concentration) will affect potassium balance. In
acidosis, hydrogen ions accumulate in the intracellular fluid (ICF), and potassium shifts out of
the cell to the extracellular fluid to maintain a balance of cations across the cell membrane. In
alkalosis, ICF levels of hydrogen diminish, and potassium shifts into the cell. If a deficit of H+
occurs in the extracellular fluid, potassium will shift into the cell. Acidosis is associated with
hyperkalemia, and alkalosis is associated with hypokalemia.
A patient has the following arterial blood gas (ABG) results: pH 7.48, PaO2 86 mm Hg, PaCO2
44 mm Hg, HCO3 29 mEq/L. When assessing the patient, the nurse would expect the patient to
experience:
1. Warm, flushed skin.
2. Respiratory rate of 36.
3. Blood pressure of 94/52.
4. Hypertonic muscles with cramping. - (answers)4. Hypertonic muscles with cramping.
Rationale: The patient is experiencing metabolic alkalosis (elevated pH and elevated HCO3).
Clinical manifestations of metabolic alkalosis include hypertonic muscles and cramping, severe
hypotension and reduced respiratory rate. Hypotension and warm, flushed skin may occur with
respiratory acidosis.
A patient is brought to the ED after being hit by a car while biking. He is unresponsive, has
shallow breathing, and has an open femur fracture from which he has lost a significant amount of
blood. The nurse anticipates which acid-base imbalance?
A.Metabolic alkalosis
B.Respiratory acidosis
,C.Metabolic alkalosis and respiratory alkalosis
D.Metabolic acidosis and respiratory acidosis - (answers)D.Metabolic acidosis and respiratory
acidosis
Rationale: Hypoperfusion associated with significant shift in intravascular volume and/or blood
loss that may be experienced by patients with significant trauma, burn injuries, sepsis, shock
states, or cardiac arrest are examples of problems leading to metabolic acidosis. Shallow
breathing or ineffective ventilation causes respiratory acidosis. Combined acidosis is more severe
than either metabolic acidosis or respiratory acidosis alone.
The nurse is evaluating the laboratory work of a patient who has uncontrolled metabolic acidosis.
Which outcome would result from this condition?
A.pH 7.30
B.Bicarbonate 18 mEq/L
C.Pao2 98 mm Hg
D.Serum potassium 5.7 mEq/L - (answers)D.Serum potassium 5.7 mEq/L
Rationale: Metabolic acidosis is reflected by several changes in ABG values. The pH is low
(<7.35). The bicarbonate level is low (<21 mEq/L). The partial pressure of arterial oxygen (Pao2)
is normal because gas exchange is adequate. The serum potassium level is often high in acidosis
as the body attempts to maintain electroneutrality during buffering.
The nurse is reviewing the standing orders for a patient who was admitted for evaluation of chest
pain. The patient has a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and his
laboratory results and assessment reveal that he has mild respiratory acidosis. The nurse would
question which order?
A.Encourage oral fluids
B.Oxygen therapy at 4 L/min as needed
C.Keep head of bed elevated
Bedrest with bathroom privileges only - (answers)B.Oxygen therapy at 4 L/min as needed
, Rationale: The bedrest order will help the patient conserve energy. The upright position (mid-
Fowler's to high-Fowler's position) helps increase lung expansion. Increasing fluid intake may
reduce the thickness of lung secretions and assist in their removal. Oxygen therapy helps
promote gas exchange for patients with respiratory acidosis. However, use caution when giving
oxygen to patients with COPD and CO2 retention as evidenced by a high Paco2 level. The only
breathing trigger for these patients is a decreased arterial oxygen level. Giving too much oxygen
to these patients decreases their respiratory drive and may lead to respiratory arrest
Ideally, the goal of patient diabetes education is to:
1. Make all patients responsible for the management of their disease.
2. Involve the patient's family and significant others in the care of the patient.
3. Enable the patient to become the most active participant in the management of the diabetes.
4. Provide the patient with as much information as soon as possible to prevent complications of
diabetes. - (answers)3. Enable the patient to become the most active participant in the
management of the diabetes.
Rationale: The goal of diabetes education is to enable the patient to become the most active
participant in his or her own care.
A patient with type 1 diabetes calls the clinic with complaints of nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
It is most important that the nurse advise the patient to:
1. Hold the regular dose of insulin.
2. Drink cool fluids with high glucose content.
3. Check the blood glucose level every 2 to 4 hours.
4. Use a less strenuous form of exercise than usual until the illness resolves. - (answers)3. Check
the blood glucose level every 2 to 4 hours.
Rationale: If a person with type 1 diabetes mellitus is ill, he or she should test blood glucose
levels at least at 2-to-4-hour intervals to determine the effects of this stressor on the blood
glucose level.
