NUR 242 Exam 2: Medical-Surgical Nursing Concepts… 2026/2027 • Verified • Assured Grade A+
✓ VERIFIED • 2026/2027 UPDATE • 100% ACCURATE
NUR 242 Exam 2: Medical-Surgical Nursing Concepts
2026/2027 UPDATE Galen College
ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS & VERIFIED ANSWERS
with Clear, Detailed Rationales
Document Type: Exam (Elaborations) / Study Guide
Academic Year:
Total Questions: 50 Multiple Choice
Includes: Correct Answers + Rationales
Grade: A+ Assured
ASSURED GRADE A+
Exam (Elaborations) • Detailed Rationales Page 1
,NUR 242 Exam 2: Medical-Surgical Nursing Concepts… 2026/2027 • Verified • Assured Grade A+
Questions & Verified Answers
1. A patient’s arterial blood gas (ABG) results are: pH 7.30, PaCO2 55 mmHg, and HCO3 26
mEq/L. Which acid-base imbalance is the patient experiencing?
A. Metabolic Acidosis
B. Respiratory Alkalosis
C. Metabolic Alkalosis
D. Respiratory Acidosis
Answer: D
Rationale: The pH is low (<7.35), indicating acidosis. The PaCO2 is high (>45), indicating a
respiratory cause. The HCO3 is normal, meaning compensation has not occurred. In practice, this
guides the nurse to set priorities and protect the client from harm. Safety, nutrition, and clear
communication are frequent priorities. Exam questions often test whether you can pick the most
practical and safe choice for the client in real situations. Focus on what the nurse can actually do right
now.
2. A nurse is assessing a patient with left-sided heart failure. Which clinical manifestation
should the nurse expect to find?
A. Jugular venous distention
B. Crackles in the lungs
C. Dependent peripheral edema
D. Splenomegaly
Answer: B
Rationale: Left-sided heart failure causes blood to back up into the pulmonary circulation, leading to
pulmonary congestion and crackles. The other options are signs of right-sided heart failure.
Remembering this point will help you decide the best nursing action when similar questions appear on
the exam. Link the answer to the client’s current condition and risk level. Clear understanding of this
concept improves both test performance and everyday clinical judgment. Practice applying it to short
case scenarios to lock the idea in place.
Exam (Elaborations) • Detailed Rationales Page 2
, NUR 242 Exam 2: Medical-Surgical Nursing Concepts… 2026/2027 • Verified • Assured Grade A+
3. A patient with a history of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) suddenly develops dyspnea,
tachypnea, and chest pain. Which condition should the nurse suspect?
A. Pneumonia
B. Myocardial Infarction
C. Pneumothorax
D. Pulmonary Embolism
Answer: D
Rationale: Sudden onset of respiratory distress and chest pain in a patient with a DVT history is a
classic presentation of a pulmonary embolism (PE). In practice, this guides the nurse to set priorities
and protect the client from harm. Safety, nutrition, and clear communication are frequent priorities. In
practice, this guides the nurse to set priorities and protect the client from harm. Safety, nutrition, and
clear communication are frequent priorities.
4. Which medication is the primary treatment for a patient experiencing an acute asthma
attack to provide rapid bronchodilation?
A. Fluticasone
B. Albuterol
C. Salmeterol
D. Montelukast
Answer: B
Rationale: Albuterol is a short-acting beta2-agonist (SABA) used as a rescue medication for
immediate bronchodilation during an acute attack. Clear understanding of this concept improves both
test performance and everyday clinical judgment. Practice applying it to short case scenarios to lock
the idea in place. Understanding this helps the nurse notice early warning signs and act before the
problem gets worse. Early action often prevents bigger complications for the client.
Exam (Elaborations) • Detailed Rationales Page 3
✓ VERIFIED • 2026/2027 UPDATE • 100% ACCURATE
NUR 242 Exam 2: Medical-Surgical Nursing Concepts
2026/2027 UPDATE Galen College
ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS & VERIFIED ANSWERS
with Clear, Detailed Rationales
Document Type: Exam (Elaborations) / Study Guide
Academic Year:
Total Questions: 50 Multiple Choice
Includes: Correct Answers + Rationales
Grade: A+ Assured
ASSURED GRADE A+
Exam (Elaborations) • Detailed Rationales Page 1
,NUR 242 Exam 2: Medical-Surgical Nursing Concepts… 2026/2027 • Verified • Assured Grade A+
Questions & Verified Answers
1. A patient’s arterial blood gas (ABG) results are: pH 7.30, PaCO2 55 mmHg, and HCO3 26
mEq/L. Which acid-base imbalance is the patient experiencing?
A. Metabolic Acidosis
B. Respiratory Alkalosis
C. Metabolic Alkalosis
D. Respiratory Acidosis
Answer: D
Rationale: The pH is low (<7.35), indicating acidosis. The PaCO2 is high (>45), indicating a
respiratory cause. The HCO3 is normal, meaning compensation has not occurred. In practice, this
guides the nurse to set priorities and protect the client from harm. Safety, nutrition, and clear
communication are frequent priorities. Exam questions often test whether you can pick the most
practical and safe choice for the client in real situations. Focus on what the nurse can actually do right
now.
2. A nurse is assessing a patient with left-sided heart failure. Which clinical manifestation
should the nurse expect to find?
A. Jugular venous distention
B. Crackles in the lungs
C. Dependent peripheral edema
D. Splenomegaly
Answer: B
Rationale: Left-sided heart failure causes blood to back up into the pulmonary circulation, leading to
pulmonary congestion and crackles. The other options are signs of right-sided heart failure.
Remembering this point will help you decide the best nursing action when similar questions appear on
the exam. Link the answer to the client’s current condition and risk level. Clear understanding of this
concept improves both test performance and everyday clinical judgment. Practice applying it to short
case scenarios to lock the idea in place.
Exam (Elaborations) • Detailed Rationales Page 2
, NUR 242 Exam 2: Medical-Surgical Nursing Concepts… 2026/2027 • Verified • Assured Grade A+
3. A patient with a history of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) suddenly develops dyspnea,
tachypnea, and chest pain. Which condition should the nurse suspect?
A. Pneumonia
B. Myocardial Infarction
C. Pneumothorax
D. Pulmonary Embolism
Answer: D
Rationale: Sudden onset of respiratory distress and chest pain in a patient with a DVT history is a
classic presentation of a pulmonary embolism (PE). In practice, this guides the nurse to set priorities
and protect the client from harm. Safety, nutrition, and clear communication are frequent priorities. In
practice, this guides the nurse to set priorities and protect the client from harm. Safety, nutrition, and
clear communication are frequent priorities.
4. Which medication is the primary treatment for a patient experiencing an acute asthma
attack to provide rapid bronchodilation?
A. Fluticasone
B. Albuterol
C. Salmeterol
D. Montelukast
Answer: B
Rationale: Albuterol is a short-acting beta2-agonist (SABA) used as a rescue medication for
immediate bronchodilation during an acute attack. Clear understanding of this concept improves both
test performance and everyday clinical judgment. Practice applying it to short case scenarios to lock
the idea in place. Understanding this helps the nurse notice early warning signs and act before the
problem gets worse. Early action often prevents bigger complications for the client.
Exam (Elaborations) • Detailed Rationales Page 3
