NURS 1600 FLUIDS & ELECTROLYTES EXAM
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS WITH
RATIONALES NEWLY MODIFIED 2025/2026 LATEST
The nurse instructs an older adult patient to increase intake of dietary potassium when the
patient is prescribed which classification of drugs?
a. Beta blockers
b. Corticosteroids
c. Alpha antagonists
d. High-ceiling (loop) diuretics
--ANSWER--d.
High-ceiling (loop) diuretics are potassium-depleting drugs. The patient should increase
intake of dietary potassium to compensate for this depletion. Alpha antagonists, beta
blockers, and corticosteroids are not potassium-depleting drugs.
What is a consequence of fluid overload?
a. Tachycardia
b. Hyperthermia
c. Pulmonary edema
d. Orthostatic hypotension
--ANSWER--c.
Page 1 of 129
,Pulmonary edema may occur due to accumulation of fluid in the air spaces of lungs due to
fluid retention. Tachycardia, where the heart rate increases to compensate for decreased fluid
loss, is associated with dehydration. Hyperthermia is one of the conditions associated with
dehydration. Orthostatic hypotension occurs due to decreased blood pressure, which is a
clinical manifestation of dehydration.
The nurse is analyzing a patient's serum electrolyte results. Which lab result is of the highest
concern?
a. Chloride 88 mEq/L
b. Sodium 143 mEq/L
c. Potassium 4.8 mEq/L
d. Magnesium 2.0 mEq/L
--ANSWER--a.
The chloride level of 88 mEq/L is low, so it is of the greatest concern to the nurse. The
normal chloride range is 98-106 mEq/L. A decreased range is indicative of fluid loss that may
be the result of dehydration, vomiting, or diarrhea. The sodium, magnesium, and potassium
levels are within the normal ranges.
Page 2 of 129
,A patient with heart failure is hospitalized with shortness of breath and lower extremity
pitting edema. Furosemide 5 mg intravenous (IV) push is ordered. Which patient outcome
indicates that the medication is effective?
a. Weight gain
b. Increased heart rate
c. Increased urine output
d. Decreased blood pressure (BP)
--ANSWER--c
When giving furosemide, the nurse monitors the patient for response to drug therapy,
including improved respiratory status, increased urine output, and a decrease in weight.
Although a fall in the patient's BP may occur with the decrease in body fluid, this is not the
most important assessment to be monitored. Urinary output is most important. Furosemide
may cause a decrease in heart rate as it lowers the patient's body fluid, but this effect would
take some time to note. Weight loss, rather than weight gain, is often the effect of furosemide,
but it does not occur immediately.
An electrocardiogram (ECG) is ordered for a patient who was placed on intravenous (IV)
fluids containing potassium. Which ECG finding is consistent with hyperkalemia?
a. Absent T waves
b. Elevated P waves
c. Prolonged PR intervals
d. Shortened QRS complexes
--ANSWER--c
Page 3 of 129
, When hyperkalemia is present, an individual may show absent P waves, tall T waves,
prolonged PR intervals, and widened QRS complexes
A patient with cerebral edema was prescribed a hyperosmotic intravenous (IV) solution.
What is the purpose of this intervention?
a. Improve diffusion of electrolytes within cells
b. Reduce diffusion of potassium into the extracellular space
c. Pull excessive water from the interstitial volume to reduce edema
d. Reduce filtration of body fluids by increasing hydrostatic pressure in the blood vessels
--ANSWER--c
Osmosis is the movement of water only through a semipermeable membrane down a
concentration gradient. By infusing a hyperosmotic solution, interstitial fluid will be pulled
into the plasma volume, reducing cerebral edema. Other physiologic actions, including
diffusion and filtration, that help maintain intracellular and extracellular homeostasis are less
influenced by the infusion of hyperosmotic IV solution
Which hormone regulates fluid and electrolyte balance by preventing water and sodium loss?
a. Antidiuretic
b. Thyrotropin
c. Aldosterone
d. Natriuretic peptide (NP)
--ANSWER--c
Page 4 of 129
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS WITH
RATIONALES NEWLY MODIFIED 2025/2026 LATEST
The nurse instructs an older adult patient to increase intake of dietary potassium when the
patient is prescribed which classification of drugs?
a. Beta blockers
b. Corticosteroids
c. Alpha antagonists
d. High-ceiling (loop) diuretics
--ANSWER--d.
High-ceiling (loop) diuretics are potassium-depleting drugs. The patient should increase
intake of dietary potassium to compensate for this depletion. Alpha antagonists, beta
blockers, and corticosteroids are not potassium-depleting drugs.
What is a consequence of fluid overload?
a. Tachycardia
b. Hyperthermia
c. Pulmonary edema
d. Orthostatic hypotension
--ANSWER--c.
Page 1 of 129
,Pulmonary edema may occur due to accumulation of fluid in the air spaces of lungs due to
fluid retention. Tachycardia, where the heart rate increases to compensate for decreased fluid
loss, is associated with dehydration. Hyperthermia is one of the conditions associated with
dehydration. Orthostatic hypotension occurs due to decreased blood pressure, which is a
clinical manifestation of dehydration.
The nurse is analyzing a patient's serum electrolyte results. Which lab result is of the highest
concern?
a. Chloride 88 mEq/L
b. Sodium 143 mEq/L
c. Potassium 4.8 mEq/L
d. Magnesium 2.0 mEq/L
--ANSWER--a.
The chloride level of 88 mEq/L is low, so it is of the greatest concern to the nurse. The
normal chloride range is 98-106 mEq/L. A decreased range is indicative of fluid loss that may
be the result of dehydration, vomiting, or diarrhea. The sodium, magnesium, and potassium
levels are within the normal ranges.
Page 2 of 129
,A patient with heart failure is hospitalized with shortness of breath and lower extremity
pitting edema. Furosemide 5 mg intravenous (IV) push is ordered. Which patient outcome
indicates that the medication is effective?
a. Weight gain
b. Increased heart rate
c. Increased urine output
d. Decreased blood pressure (BP)
--ANSWER--c
When giving furosemide, the nurse monitors the patient for response to drug therapy,
including improved respiratory status, increased urine output, and a decrease in weight.
Although a fall in the patient's BP may occur with the decrease in body fluid, this is not the
most important assessment to be monitored. Urinary output is most important. Furosemide
may cause a decrease in heart rate as it lowers the patient's body fluid, but this effect would
take some time to note. Weight loss, rather than weight gain, is often the effect of furosemide,
but it does not occur immediately.
An electrocardiogram (ECG) is ordered for a patient who was placed on intravenous (IV)
fluids containing potassium. Which ECG finding is consistent with hyperkalemia?
a. Absent T waves
b. Elevated P waves
c. Prolonged PR intervals
d. Shortened QRS complexes
--ANSWER--c
Page 3 of 129
, When hyperkalemia is present, an individual may show absent P waves, tall T waves,
prolonged PR intervals, and widened QRS complexes
A patient with cerebral edema was prescribed a hyperosmotic intravenous (IV) solution.
What is the purpose of this intervention?
a. Improve diffusion of electrolytes within cells
b. Reduce diffusion of potassium into the extracellular space
c. Pull excessive water from the interstitial volume to reduce edema
d. Reduce filtration of body fluids by increasing hydrostatic pressure in the blood vessels
--ANSWER--c
Osmosis is the movement of water only through a semipermeable membrane down a
concentration gradient. By infusing a hyperosmotic solution, interstitial fluid will be pulled
into the plasma volume, reducing cerebral edema. Other physiologic actions, including
diffusion and filtration, that help maintain intracellular and extracellular homeostasis are less
influenced by the infusion of hyperosmotic IV solution
Which hormone regulates fluid and electrolyte balance by preventing water and sodium loss?
a. Antidiuretic
b. Thyrotropin
c. Aldosterone
d. Natriuretic peptide (NP)
--ANSWER--c
Page 4 of 129
