NUR 170 Med Surg Exam 2 Review:
Neurological, Sensory, Respiratory,
& Elimination Concepts with Correct
300 Questions and Answers
[Updated 2026]
1. Which patient would the nurse identify as being at highest
risk for stroke?
Answer: A 27-year-old heavy cocaine user.
2. A nurse assesses a client who has a history of migraines.
Which clinical manifestation would the nurse identify as an
aura?
Answer: Visual disturbances.
3. A client prescribed carbamazepine should be taught about
its main effect. Which statement indicates understanding?
Answer: "This medication has an anticonvulsant effect."
4. The nurse is caring for a client who begins to experience
seizure activity while in bed. Which actions should the nurse
take? (Select all that apply)
,Answer: Loosening restrictive clothing, Removing the pillow and
raising padded side rails, Positioning the client to the side.
5. A client taking phenytoin for seizures is admitted with an
increase in seizure activity after 24 hours of vomiting. Which
medication will the provider most likely prescribe?
Answer: Fosphenytoin sodium.
6. The nurse teaches the wife of a client receiving
levodopa/carbidopa to avoid pyridoxine. Which statement by
the wife shows understanding?
Answer: "Vitamin B6 reverses the effectiveness of the medication,
meaning a higher dose is needed."
7. A home health nurse is visiting a client with multiple
sclerosis taking oxybutynin. The nurse evaluates effectiveness
by asking which question?
Answer: "Are you getting up at night to urinate?"
Prioritization and Patient Assessment
8. A charge nurse is reviewing outcome statements written by
a novice nurse. The nurse is using the SMART approach.
Which patient outcome statement is appropriate?
Answer: The patient will feed self at all mealtimes today without
reports of shortness of breath.
9. A nurse develops a nursing diagnostic statement for a
patient with pneumonia. Which nursing diagnosis is written
correctly?
Answer: Impaired gas exchange related to alveolar-capillary
,membrane changes as evidenced by oxygen saturation of 88% on
room air.
10. A nurse is evaluating an expected outcome that states
"heart rate will be less than 80 beats/min by 12/3." Which
finding shows the goal has been met?
Answer: Heart rate 78 beats/min on 12/3.
11. Using Maslow's hierarchy of needs, rank the following
diagnoses: 1. Risk for Infection, 2. Diarrhea, 3. Disturbed Body
Image, 4. Impaired Gas Exchange
Answer: 4. Impaired Gas Exchange, 2. Diarrhea, 1. Risk for
Infection, 3. Disturbed Body Image.
12. In the PACU, the nurse monitors temperature, pulse,
respiration, blood pressure, and pain level. What additional
bodily function should the nurse monitor?
Answer: Oxygen saturation (SpO2).
13. The nurse is beginning an assessment of a patient in
shock. What should the nurse do first?
Answer: Determine if the airway is patent.
Fluid, Electrolyte, and Acid-Base Balance
14. A patient with a serum sodium level of 115 mEq/L is at
highest risk for which complication?
Answer: Seizures.
15. A patient's ABG results are pH 7.30, PaCO2 55, and HCO3
26. How should the nurse interpret these results?
Answer: Respiratory Acidosis.
, 16. Which electrolyte imbalance is most commonly associated
with a U wave on an EKG?
Answer: Hypokalemia.
17. A nurse is caring for a patient with a serum potassium of
2.8 mEq/L. Which assessment finding is most concerning?
Answer: Irregular heart rhythm.
18. A patient with heart failure has a serum sodium of 130
mEq/L. The nurse should assess for which manifestation?
Answer: Confusion and headache.
19. The nurse is caring for a patient who has been vomiting
profusely for 2 days. Which arterial blood gas finding would
the nurse anticipate?
Answer: pH 7.48, HCO3- 32 mEq/L.
20. A patient is admitted with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).
The nurse anticipates which arterial blood gas finding?
Answer: pH 7.30, PaCO2 30 mmHg, HCO3- 16 mEq/L.
Wound Care and Pressure Injuries
21. A client's Braden Scale score is 9. Which intervention
demonstrates a lack of evidence-based knowledge?
Answer: Raises the head of the bed to 60 degrees continuously.
Gastrointestinal System
22. The nurse is caring for a client with acute pancreatitis.
Which laboratory finding is most consistent with this
Neurological, Sensory, Respiratory,
& Elimination Concepts with Correct
300 Questions and Answers
[Updated 2026]
1. Which patient would the nurse identify as being at highest
risk for stroke?
Answer: A 27-year-old heavy cocaine user.
2. A nurse assesses a client who has a history of migraines.
Which clinical manifestation would the nurse identify as an
aura?
Answer: Visual disturbances.
3. A client prescribed carbamazepine should be taught about
its main effect. Which statement indicates understanding?
Answer: "This medication has an anticonvulsant effect."
4. The nurse is caring for a client who begins to experience
seizure activity while in bed. Which actions should the nurse
take? (Select all that apply)
,Answer: Loosening restrictive clothing, Removing the pillow and
raising padded side rails, Positioning the client to the side.
5. A client taking phenytoin for seizures is admitted with an
increase in seizure activity after 24 hours of vomiting. Which
medication will the provider most likely prescribe?
Answer: Fosphenytoin sodium.
6. The nurse teaches the wife of a client receiving
levodopa/carbidopa to avoid pyridoxine. Which statement by
the wife shows understanding?
Answer: "Vitamin B6 reverses the effectiveness of the medication,
meaning a higher dose is needed."
7. A home health nurse is visiting a client with multiple
sclerosis taking oxybutynin. The nurse evaluates effectiveness
by asking which question?
Answer: "Are you getting up at night to urinate?"
Prioritization and Patient Assessment
8. A charge nurse is reviewing outcome statements written by
a novice nurse. The nurse is using the SMART approach.
Which patient outcome statement is appropriate?
Answer: The patient will feed self at all mealtimes today without
reports of shortness of breath.
9. A nurse develops a nursing diagnostic statement for a
patient with pneumonia. Which nursing diagnosis is written
correctly?
Answer: Impaired gas exchange related to alveolar-capillary
,membrane changes as evidenced by oxygen saturation of 88% on
room air.
10. A nurse is evaluating an expected outcome that states
"heart rate will be less than 80 beats/min by 12/3." Which
finding shows the goal has been met?
Answer: Heart rate 78 beats/min on 12/3.
11. Using Maslow's hierarchy of needs, rank the following
diagnoses: 1. Risk for Infection, 2. Diarrhea, 3. Disturbed Body
Image, 4. Impaired Gas Exchange
Answer: 4. Impaired Gas Exchange, 2. Diarrhea, 1. Risk for
Infection, 3. Disturbed Body Image.
12. In the PACU, the nurse monitors temperature, pulse,
respiration, blood pressure, and pain level. What additional
bodily function should the nurse monitor?
Answer: Oxygen saturation (SpO2).
13. The nurse is beginning an assessment of a patient in
shock. What should the nurse do first?
Answer: Determine if the airway is patent.
Fluid, Electrolyte, and Acid-Base Balance
14. A patient with a serum sodium level of 115 mEq/L is at
highest risk for which complication?
Answer: Seizures.
15. A patient's ABG results are pH 7.30, PaCO2 55, and HCO3
26. How should the nurse interpret these results?
Answer: Respiratory Acidosis.
, 16. Which electrolyte imbalance is most commonly associated
with a U wave on an EKG?
Answer: Hypokalemia.
17. A nurse is caring for a patient with a serum potassium of
2.8 mEq/L. Which assessment finding is most concerning?
Answer: Irregular heart rhythm.
18. A patient with heart failure has a serum sodium of 130
mEq/L. The nurse should assess for which manifestation?
Answer: Confusion and headache.
19. The nurse is caring for a patient who has been vomiting
profusely for 2 days. Which arterial blood gas finding would
the nurse anticipate?
Answer: pH 7.48, HCO3- 32 mEq/L.
20. A patient is admitted with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).
The nurse anticipates which arterial blood gas finding?
Answer: pH 7.30, PaCO2 30 mmHg, HCO3- 16 mEq/L.
Wound Care and Pressure Injuries
21. A client's Braden Scale score is 9. Which intervention
demonstrates a lack of evidence-based knowledge?
Answer: Raises the head of the bed to 60 degrees continuously.
Gastrointestinal System
22. The nurse is caring for a client with acute pancreatitis.
Which laboratory finding is most consistent with this
