NUR 113 Exam 2 Exam Prep 2026/2027 | Questions &
Correct Answers | Graded A+
1. Describe how respiratory alkalosis can lead to symptoms such as light-
headedness or paresthesia in patients.
Respiratory alkalosis increases blood acidity, resulting in nausea and
vomiting.
Respiratory alkalosis causes decreased carbon dioxide levels,
leading to symptoms like light-headedness or paresthesia due to
altered nerve function.
Respiratory alkalosis causes fluid retention, leading to abdominal pain.
Respiratory alkalosis results in increased oxygen levels, causing
hallucinations.
2. You are caring for a new client on your unit who is third-spacing fluid. You
know to assess for what type of edema?
Pitting
Dependent
Brassy
Generalized
3. A patient presents with lethargy and slow response, and laboratory results
show a serum calcium level of 12.0 mg/dL. What nursing intervention should
be prioritized to address the potential hypercalcemia?
Encourage the patient to increase dietary calcium intake.
Initiate a low-sodium diet.
Administer intravenous fluids to promote renal excretion of calcium.
, Monitor the patient for signs of hypokalemia.
4. The nurse closely monitors for an oncologic emergency consisting of a
blood calcium concentration that is too high. This may be manifested by:
urine output less than 30 mL/hr.
fatigue, confusion, and weakness.
laboratory test results of potassium 2.5 mEq/L, sodium 143 mEq/L
hypertension and bradycardia.
5. A 42-year-old client has chronic hyponatremia which requires weekly blood
labs to keep him from lapsing into convulsions or a coma. What is the level of
serum sodium below which convulsions or coma can occur?
135 mEq/L
145 mEq/L
140 mEq/L
142 mEq/L
6. If a patient presents with a urine pH of 3.0 along with symptoms of confusion
and lethargy, what should be the priority nursing intervention?
Assess the patient's respiratory status and obtain arterial blood
gases.
Administer a diuretic to manage fluid balance.
Increase the patient's oral fluid intake immediately.
Schedule a follow-up urinalysis in one week.
7. What is the term used to describe the accumulation of fluid in the interstitial
spaces due to third-spacing?
, Ascites
Hypervolemia
Dehydration
Edema
8. What is the serum sodium concentration threshold below which convulsions
or coma may occur?
135 mEq/L (135 mmol/L)
140 mEq/L (140 mmol/L)
145 mEq/L (145 mmol/L)
142 mEq/L (142 mmol/L)
9. Which of the following food options is recommended for a low-sodium diet
aimed at managing fluid volume excess?
A frozen, packaged low-fat dinner with a side salad.
Three ounces of light or dark meat chicken, 1 cup of spaghetti and a
garden salad.
Tomato juice, low-fat cottage cheese, and three slices of bacon.
Three ounces of sliced ham, beets, and a salad.
10. A client has a serum calcium level of 7.2 mg/dl. During the physical
examination, the nurse should assess for which of the following signs or
symptoms?
Hegar's sign.
Trousseau's sign.
Homans' sign.
, Goodell's sign.
11. A client reports tingling in the fingers as well as feeling depressed. The nurse
assesses positive Trousseaus and Chvostek's signs. What laboratory result
would be present?
High calcium
High potassium
Low calcium
Low phosphorus
12. If a nurse identifies a serum sodium level of 113 mEq/L in a patient, what
immediate nursing intervention should be prioritized?
Monitor the patient for signs of dehydration and administer IV fluids.
Restrict sodium intake to prevent further complications.
Encourage the patient to drink more fluids to dilute sodium levels.
Administer hypertonic saline as ordered to correct the sodium
imbalance.
13. Describe how respiratory acidosis can lead to increased intracranial
pressure.
Respiratory acidosis has no effect on intracranial pressure.
Respiratory acidosis can cause increased intracranial pressure due
to elevated carbon dioxide levels leading to cerebral vasodilation.
Respiratory acidosis causes dehydration, which reduces intracranial
pressure.
Respiratory acidosis results in decreased oxygen levels, which
directly lowers intracranial pressure.
Correct Answers | Graded A+
1. Describe how respiratory alkalosis can lead to symptoms such as light-
headedness or paresthesia in patients.
Respiratory alkalosis increases blood acidity, resulting in nausea and
vomiting.
Respiratory alkalosis causes decreased carbon dioxide levels,
leading to symptoms like light-headedness or paresthesia due to
altered nerve function.
Respiratory alkalosis causes fluid retention, leading to abdominal pain.
Respiratory alkalosis results in increased oxygen levels, causing
hallucinations.
2. You are caring for a new client on your unit who is third-spacing fluid. You
know to assess for what type of edema?
Pitting
Dependent
Brassy
Generalized
3. A patient presents with lethargy and slow response, and laboratory results
show a serum calcium level of 12.0 mg/dL. What nursing intervention should
be prioritized to address the potential hypercalcemia?
Encourage the patient to increase dietary calcium intake.
Initiate a low-sodium diet.
Administer intravenous fluids to promote renal excretion of calcium.
, Monitor the patient for signs of hypokalemia.
4. The nurse closely monitors for an oncologic emergency consisting of a
blood calcium concentration that is too high. This may be manifested by:
urine output less than 30 mL/hr.
fatigue, confusion, and weakness.
laboratory test results of potassium 2.5 mEq/L, sodium 143 mEq/L
hypertension and bradycardia.
5. A 42-year-old client has chronic hyponatremia which requires weekly blood
labs to keep him from lapsing into convulsions or a coma. What is the level of
serum sodium below which convulsions or coma can occur?
135 mEq/L
145 mEq/L
140 mEq/L
142 mEq/L
6. If a patient presents with a urine pH of 3.0 along with symptoms of confusion
and lethargy, what should be the priority nursing intervention?
Assess the patient's respiratory status and obtain arterial blood
gases.
Administer a diuretic to manage fluid balance.
Increase the patient's oral fluid intake immediately.
Schedule a follow-up urinalysis in one week.
7. What is the term used to describe the accumulation of fluid in the interstitial
spaces due to third-spacing?
, Ascites
Hypervolemia
Dehydration
Edema
8. What is the serum sodium concentration threshold below which convulsions
or coma may occur?
135 mEq/L (135 mmol/L)
140 mEq/L (140 mmol/L)
145 mEq/L (145 mmol/L)
142 mEq/L (142 mmol/L)
9. Which of the following food options is recommended for a low-sodium diet
aimed at managing fluid volume excess?
A frozen, packaged low-fat dinner with a side salad.
Three ounces of light or dark meat chicken, 1 cup of spaghetti and a
garden salad.
Tomato juice, low-fat cottage cheese, and three slices of bacon.
Three ounces of sliced ham, beets, and a salad.
10. A client has a serum calcium level of 7.2 mg/dl. During the physical
examination, the nurse should assess for which of the following signs or
symptoms?
Hegar's sign.
Trousseau's sign.
Homans' sign.
, Goodell's sign.
11. A client reports tingling in the fingers as well as feeling depressed. The nurse
assesses positive Trousseaus and Chvostek's signs. What laboratory result
would be present?
High calcium
High potassium
Low calcium
Low phosphorus
12. If a nurse identifies a serum sodium level of 113 mEq/L in a patient, what
immediate nursing intervention should be prioritized?
Monitor the patient for signs of dehydration and administer IV fluids.
Restrict sodium intake to prevent further complications.
Encourage the patient to drink more fluids to dilute sodium levels.
Administer hypertonic saline as ordered to correct the sodium
imbalance.
13. Describe how respiratory acidosis can lead to increased intracranial
pressure.
Respiratory acidosis has no effect on intracranial pressure.
Respiratory acidosis can cause increased intracranial pressure due
to elevated carbon dioxide levels leading to cerebral vasodilation.
Respiratory acidosis causes dehydration, which reduces intracranial
pressure.
Respiratory acidosis results in decreased oxygen levels, which
directly lowers intracranial pressure.
