NURS 221 EXAM 2 2026/2027 | NURSING STUDY GUIDE, PRACTICE QUESTIONS,
ANSWERS & EXAM REVIEW
Stable angina - correct answer ✔✔predictable and consistent pain that occurs on exertion and is relieved
by rest and/or nitroglycerin
The nurse is monitoring hourly urine output of a client diagnosed with hypovolemic shock. The nurse is
most concerned if the client's output is:
a. 20 mL/hour
b. 40 mL/hour
c. 60 mL/hour
d. 80 mL/hour - correct answer ✔✔a. 20 mL/hour
A client recovered from influenza 2 days ago and informs the nurse that she is feeling better but now has
a fever, chills, pain when breathing, and a productive cough. What complication does the nurse
anticipate the client will be treated for?
a. A secondary bacterial pneumonia
b. A relapse of the flu
c. Reye syndrome
d. Tuberculosis - correct answer ✔✔a. A secondary bacterial pneumonia; people usually start to feel
better and then symptoms return
Which client is at risk for developing acute respiratory failure?
a. A middle-aged male diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) who has pneumonia with low
O2 saturation
b. An older adult female living in senior housing who has been exposed to a "cold" while her
grandchildren visited
c. A teenager in a high school who has had an increase in student absences due to an outbreak of strep
throat
d. A toddler in daycare who has been sharing toys with peers before the staff could sanitize properly -
correct answer ✔✔a. A middle-aged male diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) who has
pneumonia with low O2 saturation
A client with a history of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is experiencing increasing fatigue, lethargy, and
activity intolerance. The care team has established that the client's glomerular filtration rate (GFR)
remains at a low, but stable, level. Which laboratory assessments will most likely be prescribed to help
determine the cause of these new symptoms?
a. Blood work for white cells and differential
b. Cystoscopy and ureteroscopy
c. Assessment of pancreatic exocrine and endocrine function
,d. Blood work for hemoglobin, red blood cells, and hematocrit - correct answer ✔✔d. Blood work for
hemoglobin, red blood cells, and hematocrit
Following several weeks of increasing fatigue and a subsequent diagnostic workup, a client has been
diagnosed with mitral valve regurgitation. Failure of this heart valve would have which hemodynamic
consequences?
a. Backup of blood from the right atrium into the superior vena cava
b. Backflow from the right ventricle to the right atrium during systole
c. Inhibition of the SA node's normal action potential
d. Backflow from the left ventricle to left atrium - correct answer ✔✔d. Backflow from the left ventricle
to left atrium
A client with a suspected MI is brought to the emergency department by ambulance. The nurse caring
for this client would expect to receive an order for which laboratory test to confirm a diagnosis of MI?
a. Creatine kinase marker
b. Complete blood components
c. Calcium level
d. Troponin level - correct answer ✔✔d. Troponin level
A client has been diagnosed with aortic stenosis and asks the nurse what this means. The most
appropriate response would be:
a. The valve opening is narrowed and produces increased resistance to blood flow out of the left
ventricle and into the aorta.
b. The valve opening is incompetent, thereby allowing blood to flow back from the pulmonary artery and
into the left atrium.
c. The valve opening permits backward flow to occur when the valve should be closed.
d. The valve opens backward, permitting blood to flow from the right ventricle into the right atrium. -
correct answer ✔✔a. The valve opening is narrowed and produces increased resistance to blood flow
out of the left ventricle and into the aorta.
A client has just been told that he has an infection of the inner surface of the heart. He is also told that
the bacteria has invaded his heart valves. What term is used for this disease process?
a. Pericarditis
b. Myocardial infarction
c. Infective endocarditis
d. Cardiomyopathy - correct answer ✔✔c. Infective endocarditis
The nurse is reviewing the laboratory work of several medical clients. Which laboratory result is most
suggestive of abnormalities in kidney function?
a. An absolute absence of protein in a urine sample
b. Increased creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels
c. Urine gravity of 1.030 and normal serum creatinine levels
, d. Normal creatinine levels and elevated blood urea nitrogen (BUN) - correct answer ✔✔b. Increased
creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels
A nurse is performing client health education with a 68-year-old man who has recently been diagnosed
with heart failure. Which statement demonstrates an accurate understanding of his new diagnosis?
a. "I'll be sure to take my beta-blocker whenever I feel short of breath."
b. "I'm going to avoid as much physical activity as I can so that I preserve my strength."
c. "I know it's healthy to drink a lot of water, and I'm going to make sure I do this from now on."
d. "I'm trying to think of ways that I can cut down the amount of salt that I usually eat." - correct answer
✔✔d. "I'm trying to think of ways that I can cut down the amount of salt that I usually eat."
The nurse would be most concerned when the glomerular filtrate contains:
a. Protein
b. Sodium
c. Potassium
d. Water - correct answer ✔✔a. Protein
The nurse develops a plan to prevent atelectasis in a postsurgical client. Which intervention will be
effective?
a. Supervision of hourly deep-breathing exercises
b. Teaching the client to wear an abdominal binder
c. Encouraging calf-pumping exercises
d. Administering IV antibiotics - correct answer ✔✔a. Supervision of hourly deep-breathing exercises;
ambulation and changing positions also help prevent post-op atelectasis
The nurse is caring for an infant admitted to the emergency department diagnosed with bronchiolitis.
The nurse would assess the client for:
a. wheezy cough and dyspnea.
b. no history of upper respiratory infection.
c. jaundiced skin and mucous membranes.
d. dehydration and drooling. - correct answer ✔✔a. wheezy cough and dyspnea.
If a client experiences sympathetic nervous stimulation of the heart, the nurse will observe which
changes in manifestations?
a. Increased heart rate and increased contractility
b. Increased heart rate and decreased contractility
c. Decreased contractility and decreased heart rate
d. Decreased rate and force of contraction - correct answer ✔✔a. Increased heart rate and increased
contractility
Acute-onset bronchial asthma causes wheezing and breathlessness as a result of which of the following?
ANSWERS & EXAM REVIEW
Stable angina - correct answer ✔✔predictable and consistent pain that occurs on exertion and is relieved
by rest and/or nitroglycerin
The nurse is monitoring hourly urine output of a client diagnosed with hypovolemic shock. The nurse is
most concerned if the client's output is:
a. 20 mL/hour
b. 40 mL/hour
c. 60 mL/hour
d. 80 mL/hour - correct answer ✔✔a. 20 mL/hour
A client recovered from influenza 2 days ago and informs the nurse that she is feeling better but now has
a fever, chills, pain when breathing, and a productive cough. What complication does the nurse
anticipate the client will be treated for?
a. A secondary bacterial pneumonia
b. A relapse of the flu
c. Reye syndrome
d. Tuberculosis - correct answer ✔✔a. A secondary bacterial pneumonia; people usually start to feel
better and then symptoms return
Which client is at risk for developing acute respiratory failure?
a. A middle-aged male diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) who has pneumonia with low
O2 saturation
b. An older adult female living in senior housing who has been exposed to a "cold" while her
grandchildren visited
c. A teenager in a high school who has had an increase in student absences due to an outbreak of strep
throat
d. A toddler in daycare who has been sharing toys with peers before the staff could sanitize properly -
correct answer ✔✔a. A middle-aged male diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) who has
pneumonia with low O2 saturation
A client with a history of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is experiencing increasing fatigue, lethargy, and
activity intolerance. The care team has established that the client's glomerular filtration rate (GFR)
remains at a low, but stable, level. Which laboratory assessments will most likely be prescribed to help
determine the cause of these new symptoms?
a. Blood work for white cells and differential
b. Cystoscopy and ureteroscopy
c. Assessment of pancreatic exocrine and endocrine function
,d. Blood work for hemoglobin, red blood cells, and hematocrit - correct answer ✔✔d. Blood work for
hemoglobin, red blood cells, and hematocrit
Following several weeks of increasing fatigue and a subsequent diagnostic workup, a client has been
diagnosed with mitral valve regurgitation. Failure of this heart valve would have which hemodynamic
consequences?
a. Backup of blood from the right atrium into the superior vena cava
b. Backflow from the right ventricle to the right atrium during systole
c. Inhibition of the SA node's normal action potential
d. Backflow from the left ventricle to left atrium - correct answer ✔✔d. Backflow from the left ventricle
to left atrium
A client with a suspected MI is brought to the emergency department by ambulance. The nurse caring
for this client would expect to receive an order for which laboratory test to confirm a diagnosis of MI?
a. Creatine kinase marker
b. Complete blood components
c. Calcium level
d. Troponin level - correct answer ✔✔d. Troponin level
A client has been diagnosed with aortic stenosis and asks the nurse what this means. The most
appropriate response would be:
a. The valve opening is narrowed and produces increased resistance to blood flow out of the left
ventricle and into the aorta.
b. The valve opening is incompetent, thereby allowing blood to flow back from the pulmonary artery and
into the left atrium.
c. The valve opening permits backward flow to occur when the valve should be closed.
d. The valve opens backward, permitting blood to flow from the right ventricle into the right atrium. -
correct answer ✔✔a. The valve opening is narrowed and produces increased resistance to blood flow
out of the left ventricle and into the aorta.
A client has just been told that he has an infection of the inner surface of the heart. He is also told that
the bacteria has invaded his heart valves. What term is used for this disease process?
a. Pericarditis
b. Myocardial infarction
c. Infective endocarditis
d. Cardiomyopathy - correct answer ✔✔c. Infective endocarditis
The nurse is reviewing the laboratory work of several medical clients. Which laboratory result is most
suggestive of abnormalities in kidney function?
a. An absolute absence of protein in a urine sample
b. Increased creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels
c. Urine gravity of 1.030 and normal serum creatinine levels
, d. Normal creatinine levels and elevated blood urea nitrogen (BUN) - correct answer ✔✔b. Increased
creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels
A nurse is performing client health education with a 68-year-old man who has recently been diagnosed
with heart failure. Which statement demonstrates an accurate understanding of his new diagnosis?
a. "I'll be sure to take my beta-blocker whenever I feel short of breath."
b. "I'm going to avoid as much physical activity as I can so that I preserve my strength."
c. "I know it's healthy to drink a lot of water, and I'm going to make sure I do this from now on."
d. "I'm trying to think of ways that I can cut down the amount of salt that I usually eat." - correct answer
✔✔d. "I'm trying to think of ways that I can cut down the amount of salt that I usually eat."
The nurse would be most concerned when the glomerular filtrate contains:
a. Protein
b. Sodium
c. Potassium
d. Water - correct answer ✔✔a. Protein
The nurse develops a plan to prevent atelectasis in a postsurgical client. Which intervention will be
effective?
a. Supervision of hourly deep-breathing exercises
b. Teaching the client to wear an abdominal binder
c. Encouraging calf-pumping exercises
d. Administering IV antibiotics - correct answer ✔✔a. Supervision of hourly deep-breathing exercises;
ambulation and changing positions also help prevent post-op atelectasis
The nurse is caring for an infant admitted to the emergency department diagnosed with bronchiolitis.
The nurse would assess the client for:
a. wheezy cough and dyspnea.
b. no history of upper respiratory infection.
c. jaundiced skin and mucous membranes.
d. dehydration and drooling. - correct answer ✔✔a. wheezy cough and dyspnea.
If a client experiences sympathetic nervous stimulation of the heart, the nurse will observe which
changes in manifestations?
a. Increased heart rate and increased contractility
b. Increased heart rate and decreased contractility
c. Decreased contractility and decreased heart rate
d. Decreased rate and force of contraction - correct answer ✔✔a. Increased heart rate and increased
contractility
Acute-onset bronchial asthma causes wheezing and breathlessness as a result of which of the following?
