NR 226 Adult Health I Exam 8 Practice 2026 |Chamberlain College
1. A patient is admitted with a diagnosis of acute pancreatitis. Which laboratory
result should the nurse expect to be significantly elevated?
A. Serum creatinine
B. Serum amylase
C. Serum potassium
D. Red blood cell count
Answer: B
Rationale: Serum amylase and lipase are the primary biomarkers for diagnosing acute
pancreatitis as they are released from the inflamed pancreas.
2. When assessing a patient with right-sided heart failure, which clinical
manifestation is the nurse most likely to find?
A. Jugular venous distention
B. Productive cough
C. Crackles in the lungs
D. Orthopnea
Answer: A
Rationale: Right-sided heart failure causes systemic congestion, leading to jugular venous
distention, peripheral edema, and hepatomegaly. Pulmonary symptoms are typical of left-
sided heart failure.
,3. A patient with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus is found unconscious and clammy.
What should be the nurse’s first action?
A. Administer 15g of simple carbohydrates orally
B. Administer intramuscular glucagon
C. Wait for the laboratory to confirm blood glucose levels
D. Administer 10 units of regular insulin
Answer: B
Rationale: If a patient is unconscious and hypoglycemia is suspected, the nurse should
administer glucagon or D50W IV. Oral carbs are only for conscious patients.
4. The nurse is caring for a patient who is 2 hours post-operative. Which sign is
an early indicator of hypovolemic shock?
A. Decreased respiratory rate
B. Increased urine output
C. Tachycardia
D. Bradycardia
Answer: C
Rationale: Tachycardia is one of the earliest compensatory mechanisms for decreased
blood volume in hypovolemic shock.
5. A patient with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is receiving
oxygen. Why must the nurse maintain a low flow rate?
A. To prevent oxygen toxicity
B. To prevent the loss of the hypoxic drive to breathe
C. To avoid drying out the nasal mucosa
D. To decrease the risk of combustion
Answer: B
Rationale: In some COPD patients, high oxygen concentrations can suppress the hypoxic
drive, which is their primary stimulus for breathing.
, 6. Which electrolyte imbalance is most associated with the use of non-
potassium-sparing diuretics like Furosemide?
A. Hypokalemia
B. Hypocalcemia
C. Hyperkalemia
D. Hypernatremia
Answer: A
Rationale: Loop diuretics like Furosemide cause the excretion of potassium in the urine,
leading to hypokalemia.
7. A patient is scheduled for a colonoscopy. Which instruction should the nurse
include in the pre-procedure teaching?
A. Maintain a high-fiber diet the day before
B. Eat a heavy meal 2 hours before the procedure
C. Complete the prescribed bowel preparation
D. Avoid drinking any clear liquids
Answer: C
Rationale: Bowel preparation is essential to clear the colon for adequate visualization
during a colonoscopy.
8. Which assessment finding is most characteristic of peripheral arterial disease
(PAD)?
A. Painless, beefy red ulcers
B. Bounding pedal pulses
C. Warm, ruddy skin on the lower extremities
D. Intermittent claudication
Answer: D
Rationale: Intermittent claudication, or pain during exercise that is relieved by rest, is a
classic sign of reduced arterial blood flow.
1. A patient is admitted with a diagnosis of acute pancreatitis. Which laboratory
result should the nurse expect to be significantly elevated?
A. Serum creatinine
B. Serum amylase
C. Serum potassium
D. Red blood cell count
Answer: B
Rationale: Serum amylase and lipase are the primary biomarkers for diagnosing acute
pancreatitis as they are released from the inflamed pancreas.
2. When assessing a patient with right-sided heart failure, which clinical
manifestation is the nurse most likely to find?
A. Jugular venous distention
B. Productive cough
C. Crackles in the lungs
D. Orthopnea
Answer: A
Rationale: Right-sided heart failure causes systemic congestion, leading to jugular venous
distention, peripheral edema, and hepatomegaly. Pulmonary symptoms are typical of left-
sided heart failure.
,3. A patient with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus is found unconscious and clammy.
What should be the nurse’s first action?
A. Administer 15g of simple carbohydrates orally
B. Administer intramuscular glucagon
C. Wait for the laboratory to confirm blood glucose levels
D. Administer 10 units of regular insulin
Answer: B
Rationale: If a patient is unconscious and hypoglycemia is suspected, the nurse should
administer glucagon or D50W IV. Oral carbs are only for conscious patients.
4. The nurse is caring for a patient who is 2 hours post-operative. Which sign is
an early indicator of hypovolemic shock?
A. Decreased respiratory rate
B. Increased urine output
C. Tachycardia
D. Bradycardia
Answer: C
Rationale: Tachycardia is one of the earliest compensatory mechanisms for decreased
blood volume in hypovolemic shock.
5. A patient with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is receiving
oxygen. Why must the nurse maintain a low flow rate?
A. To prevent oxygen toxicity
B. To prevent the loss of the hypoxic drive to breathe
C. To avoid drying out the nasal mucosa
D. To decrease the risk of combustion
Answer: B
Rationale: In some COPD patients, high oxygen concentrations can suppress the hypoxic
drive, which is their primary stimulus for breathing.
, 6. Which electrolyte imbalance is most associated with the use of non-
potassium-sparing diuretics like Furosemide?
A. Hypokalemia
B. Hypocalcemia
C. Hyperkalemia
D. Hypernatremia
Answer: A
Rationale: Loop diuretics like Furosemide cause the excretion of potassium in the urine,
leading to hypokalemia.
7. A patient is scheduled for a colonoscopy. Which instruction should the nurse
include in the pre-procedure teaching?
A. Maintain a high-fiber diet the day before
B. Eat a heavy meal 2 hours before the procedure
C. Complete the prescribed bowel preparation
D. Avoid drinking any clear liquids
Answer: C
Rationale: Bowel preparation is essential to clear the colon for adequate visualization
during a colonoscopy.
8. Which assessment finding is most characteristic of peripheral arterial disease
(PAD)?
A. Painless, beefy red ulcers
B. Bounding pedal pulses
C. Warm, ruddy skin on the lower extremities
D. Intermittent claudication
Answer: D
Rationale: Intermittent claudication, or pain during exercise that is relieved by rest, is a
classic sign of reduced arterial blood flow.
