NSG 3280 Exam 4 LATEST 2026 UPDATE 100
QUESTIONS AND DETAILED VERIFIED ANSWERS
FROM ACTUAL EXAMS TEST GRADE A+
1. A patient with heart failure is prescribed furosemide. Which finding indicates
the medication is effective?
A. Increased blood pressure
B. Decreased urine output
C. Reduced edema
D. Weight gain
ANSWER: C. Reduced edema
Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that reduces fluid overload; decreased
edema indicates effective therapy.
2. Which lab value requires immediate intervention in a patient taking
spironolactone?
A. Sodium 140 mEq/L
B. Potassium 6.0 mEq/L
C. Calcium 9.0 mg/dL
D. Chloride 100 mEq/L
ANSWER: B. Potassium 6.0 mEq/L
Rationale: Spironolactone is potassium-sparing and can cause hyperkalemia,
which is life-threatening.
3. A patient with COPD is most likely to exhibit which acid-base imbalance?
,A. Respiratory alkalosis
B. Metabolic acidosis
C. Respiratory acidosis
D. Metabolic alkalosis
ANSWER: C. Respiratory acidosis
Rationale: COPD causes CO₂ retention leading to respiratory acidosis.
4. Which intervention is priority for a patient experiencing an asthma attack?
A. Give oral fluids
B. Administer bronchodilator
C. Obtain chest x-ray
D. Encourage coughing
ANSWER: B. Administer bronchodilator
Rationale: Bronchodilators open airways quickly during acute asthma
exacerbation.
5. A patient receiving heparin has a PTT of 120 seconds. What is the nurse’s
priority action?
A. Increase infusion
B. Continue monitoring
C. Hold infusion
D. Give vitamin K
ANSWER: C. Hold infusion
Rationale: Elevated PTT indicates increased bleeding risk; heparin should be
stopped.
6. Which symptom indicates hypoglycemia?
,A. Fruity breath
B. Tremors and sweating
C. Slow deep breathing
D. Dry skin
ANSWER: B. Tremors and sweating
Rationale: Sympathetic activation causes tremors, diaphoresis in hypoglycemia.
7. Which insulin has the fastest onset?
A. NPH
B. Regular
C. Lispro
D. Glargine
ANSWER: C. Lispro
Rationale: Rapid-acting insulin lispro has the fastest onset (about 15 minutes).
8. A patient with chest pain is suspected of myocardial infarction. What is the
priority action?
A. Obtain vital signs
B. Administer oxygen
C. Draw blood
D. Start IV fluids
ANSWER: B. Administer oxygen
Rationale: Oxygen improves myocardial oxygenation during ischemia.
9. Which finding is most concerning in a patient receiving morphine?
A. Drowsiness
B. Respiratory rate 8/min
, C. Nausea
D. Itching
ANSWER: B. Respiratory rate 8/min
Rationale: Respiratory depression is a life-threatening opioid side effect.
10. What is the priority nursing action for a patient with suspected stroke?
A. Give aspirin
B. Check blood glucose
C. Provide food
D. Lower head of bed
ANSWER: B. Check blood glucose
Rationale: Hypoglycemia can mimic stroke symptoms and must be ruled out.
11. Which sign indicates increased intracranial pressure (ICP)?
A. Bradycardia
B. Hypotension
C. Tachypnea
D. Fever
ANSWER: A. Bradycardia
Rationale: Cushing’s triad includes bradycardia as a sign of increased ICP.
12. A patient with DKA will most likely present with:
A. Hypoglycemia
B. Metabolic alkalosis
C. Kussmaul respirations
D. Bradycardia
QUESTIONS AND DETAILED VERIFIED ANSWERS
FROM ACTUAL EXAMS TEST GRADE A+
1. A patient with heart failure is prescribed furosemide. Which finding indicates
the medication is effective?
A. Increased blood pressure
B. Decreased urine output
C. Reduced edema
D. Weight gain
ANSWER: C. Reduced edema
Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that reduces fluid overload; decreased
edema indicates effective therapy.
2. Which lab value requires immediate intervention in a patient taking
spironolactone?
A. Sodium 140 mEq/L
B. Potassium 6.0 mEq/L
C. Calcium 9.0 mg/dL
D. Chloride 100 mEq/L
ANSWER: B. Potassium 6.0 mEq/L
Rationale: Spironolactone is potassium-sparing and can cause hyperkalemia,
which is life-threatening.
3. A patient with COPD is most likely to exhibit which acid-base imbalance?
,A. Respiratory alkalosis
B. Metabolic acidosis
C. Respiratory acidosis
D. Metabolic alkalosis
ANSWER: C. Respiratory acidosis
Rationale: COPD causes CO₂ retention leading to respiratory acidosis.
4. Which intervention is priority for a patient experiencing an asthma attack?
A. Give oral fluids
B. Administer bronchodilator
C. Obtain chest x-ray
D. Encourage coughing
ANSWER: B. Administer bronchodilator
Rationale: Bronchodilators open airways quickly during acute asthma
exacerbation.
5. A patient receiving heparin has a PTT of 120 seconds. What is the nurse’s
priority action?
A. Increase infusion
B. Continue monitoring
C. Hold infusion
D. Give vitamin K
ANSWER: C. Hold infusion
Rationale: Elevated PTT indicates increased bleeding risk; heparin should be
stopped.
6. Which symptom indicates hypoglycemia?
,A. Fruity breath
B. Tremors and sweating
C. Slow deep breathing
D. Dry skin
ANSWER: B. Tremors and sweating
Rationale: Sympathetic activation causes tremors, diaphoresis in hypoglycemia.
7. Which insulin has the fastest onset?
A. NPH
B. Regular
C. Lispro
D. Glargine
ANSWER: C. Lispro
Rationale: Rapid-acting insulin lispro has the fastest onset (about 15 minutes).
8. A patient with chest pain is suspected of myocardial infarction. What is the
priority action?
A. Obtain vital signs
B. Administer oxygen
C. Draw blood
D. Start IV fluids
ANSWER: B. Administer oxygen
Rationale: Oxygen improves myocardial oxygenation during ischemia.
9. Which finding is most concerning in a patient receiving morphine?
A. Drowsiness
B. Respiratory rate 8/min
, C. Nausea
D. Itching
ANSWER: B. Respiratory rate 8/min
Rationale: Respiratory depression is a life-threatening opioid side effect.
10. What is the priority nursing action for a patient with suspected stroke?
A. Give aspirin
B. Check blood glucose
C. Provide food
D. Lower head of bed
ANSWER: B. Check blood glucose
Rationale: Hypoglycemia can mimic stroke symptoms and must be ruled out.
11. Which sign indicates increased intracranial pressure (ICP)?
A. Bradycardia
B. Hypotension
C. Tachypnea
D. Fever
ANSWER: A. Bradycardia
Rationale: Cushing’s triad includes bradycardia as a sign of increased ICP.
12. A patient with DKA will most likely present with:
A. Hypoglycemia
B. Metabolic alkalosis
C. Kussmaul respirations
D. Bradycardia
