NURS 120 Week 4: Medical-Surgical Nursing Comprehensive Quiz
2026 – WCU
1. Which of the following intravenous fluids is considered an isotonic solution?
A. 0.45% Normal Saline
B. 3% Normal Saline
C. 0.9% Normal Saline
D. 10% Dextrose in water
Answer: C
Rationale: 0.9% Normal Saline is an isotonic solution as it has the same osmolality as body
fluids, making it ideal for volume expansion.
2. A patient presents with a positive Chvostek’s sign. Which electrolyte
imbalance should the nurse suspect?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hyponatremia
C. Hypocalcemia
D. Hypermagnesemia
Answer: C
Rationale: Chvostek’s sign (facial twitching when the facial nerve is tapped) is a classic
sign of hypocalcemia.
,3. Which organ is primarily responsible for regulating the excretion of water and
electrolytes to maintain homeostasis?
A. Kidneys
B. Liver
C. Lungs
D. Pancreas
Answer: A
Rationale: The kidneys are the main organs responsible for adjusting the volume and
composition of urine to maintain fluid and electrolyte balance.
4. A patient’s ABG results are: pH 7.30, PaCO2 52, HCO3 24. How should the
nurse interpret these results?
A. Metabolic Acidosis
B. Respiratory Acidosis
C. Respiratory Alkalosis
D. Metabolic Alkalosis
Answer: B
Rationale: A pH below 7.35 indicates acidosis, and a PaCO2 above 45 indicates a
respiratory cause.
5. During the preoperative phase, whose responsibility is it to obtain informed
consent for the surgical procedure?
A. The scrub nurse
B. The circulating nurse
C. The anesthesiologist
D. The surgeon
Answer: D
Rationale: It is the surgeon’s legal responsibility to explain the procedure and obtain
informed consent; the nurse’s role is to witness the signature.
, 6. Which electrolyte is the most abundant intracellular cation and is vital for
cardiac rhythm?
A. Sodium
B. Calcium
C. Magnesium
D. Potassium
Answer: D
Rationale: Potassium is the major intracellular cation; even small changes in levels can
cause life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias.
7. What is the primary purpose of the ‘time-out’ procedure in the operating
room?
A. To allow the surgeon to rest
B. To wait for anesthesia to take effect
C. To verify the correct patient, site, and procedure
D. To count the number of instruments
Answer: C
Rationale: The time-out is a safety protocol designed to prevent wrong-site, wrong-
procedure, and wrong-person surgery.
8. A patient is hyperventilating due to anxiety. Which acid-base imbalance is this
patient at risk for?
A. Respiratory Alkalosis
B. Respiratory Acidosis
C. Metabolic Alkalosis
D. Metabolic Acidosis
Answer: A
Rationale: Hyperventilation causes excessive blowing off of CO2, leading to a rise in pH
and respiratory alkalosis.
2026 – WCU
1. Which of the following intravenous fluids is considered an isotonic solution?
A. 0.45% Normal Saline
B. 3% Normal Saline
C. 0.9% Normal Saline
D. 10% Dextrose in water
Answer: C
Rationale: 0.9% Normal Saline is an isotonic solution as it has the same osmolality as body
fluids, making it ideal for volume expansion.
2. A patient presents with a positive Chvostek’s sign. Which electrolyte
imbalance should the nurse suspect?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hyponatremia
C. Hypocalcemia
D. Hypermagnesemia
Answer: C
Rationale: Chvostek’s sign (facial twitching when the facial nerve is tapped) is a classic
sign of hypocalcemia.
,3. Which organ is primarily responsible for regulating the excretion of water and
electrolytes to maintain homeostasis?
A. Kidneys
B. Liver
C. Lungs
D. Pancreas
Answer: A
Rationale: The kidneys are the main organs responsible for adjusting the volume and
composition of urine to maintain fluid and electrolyte balance.
4. A patient’s ABG results are: pH 7.30, PaCO2 52, HCO3 24. How should the
nurse interpret these results?
A. Metabolic Acidosis
B. Respiratory Acidosis
C. Respiratory Alkalosis
D. Metabolic Alkalosis
Answer: B
Rationale: A pH below 7.35 indicates acidosis, and a PaCO2 above 45 indicates a
respiratory cause.
5. During the preoperative phase, whose responsibility is it to obtain informed
consent for the surgical procedure?
A. The scrub nurse
B. The circulating nurse
C. The anesthesiologist
D. The surgeon
Answer: D
Rationale: It is the surgeon’s legal responsibility to explain the procedure and obtain
informed consent; the nurse’s role is to witness the signature.
, 6. Which electrolyte is the most abundant intracellular cation and is vital for
cardiac rhythm?
A. Sodium
B. Calcium
C. Magnesium
D. Potassium
Answer: D
Rationale: Potassium is the major intracellular cation; even small changes in levels can
cause life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias.
7. What is the primary purpose of the ‘time-out’ procedure in the operating
room?
A. To allow the surgeon to rest
B. To wait for anesthesia to take effect
C. To verify the correct patient, site, and procedure
D. To count the number of instruments
Answer: C
Rationale: The time-out is a safety protocol designed to prevent wrong-site, wrong-
procedure, and wrong-person surgery.
8. A patient is hyperventilating due to anxiety. Which acid-base imbalance is this
patient at risk for?
A. Respiratory Alkalosis
B. Respiratory Acidosis
C. Metabolic Alkalosis
D. Metabolic Acidosis
Answer: A
Rationale: Hyperventilation causes excessive blowing off of CO2, leading to a rise in pH
and respiratory alkalosis.
