NSG 3850 Exam 1
Galen College Of Nursing
NEW Practice Questions, Answers & Detailed Solutions
Comprehensive Exam Prep 2026/2027
Graded A+
Welcome to the NSG 3850 Exam 1 Practice Test Bank for Galen College of Nursing. This
comprehensive examination focuses on the essential concepts of Fluid and Electrolyte Balance
and Imbalances, a critical topic in nursing fundamentals. The exam covers key domains
including: Fluid and Electrolyte Physiology, Sodium Imbalances (Hypernatremia and
Hyponatremia), Potassium Imbalances (Hyperkalemia and Hypokalemia), Calcium and
Magnesium Imbalances, Acid-Base Balance, and Clinical Manifestations and Management. Each
question includes the correct answer and a short rationale to facilitate effective learning and
self-assessment. Use this test bank to prepare thoroughly for your exam.
1. Which electrolyte imbalances cause increase neuromuscular excitability?
a. hypokalemia and hyperphosphatemia
b. hyperkalemia and hypophosphatemia
c. hypocalcemia and hypomagnesemia
d. hypercalcemia and hypermagnesemia
Answer: C
Rationale: Hypocalcemia and hypomagnesemia both increase neuromuscular excitability
by lowering the threshold for action potentials, leading to muscle twitching, spasms, and
tetany. Hypokalemia causes muscle weakness, not excitability.
2. Excessive antidiuretic hormone (ADH) secretion can cause concentration:
,a. increased serum sodium
b. decreased serum sodium
c. increased serum potassium
d. decreased serum potassium
Answer: B
Rationale: Excessive ADH leads to water retention, diluting serum sodium and causing
hyponatremia (decreased serum sodium). This is seen in SIADH (Syndrome of
Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone).
3. Causes of hypomagnesemia include:
a. hyperphosphatemia
b. chronic alcoholism
c. oliguric renal failure
d. clinical dehydration
Answer: B
Rationale: Chronic alcoholism is a leading cause of hypomagnesemia due to poor dietary
intake, increased renal excretion, and gastrointestinal losses. Oliguric renal failure causes
hypermagnesemia.
4. Hypernatremia may be caused by:
a. decreased aldosterone secretion
b. decreased antidiuretic hormone secretion
c. compulsive water drinking
d. excessive dietary potassium
Answer: B
,Rationale: Decreased ADH secretion (as in diabetes insipidus) leads to excessive water
loss and hypernatremia. Compulsive water drinking causes hyponatremia.
5. Clinical manifestations of hyponatremia include:
a. weak pulse, low BP, increased HR
b. thirst, dry mucous membranes, diarrhea
c. confusion, lethargy, coma, seizures
d. cardiac dysrhythmias, parenthesis, muscle weakness
Answer: C
Rationale: Hyponatremia causes cerebral edema due to water shifting into brain cells,
leading to confusion, lethargy, coma, and seizures. The other options describe fluid volume
deficit (A) and hypernatremia (B).
6. Clinical manifestations of extracellular fluid volume deficit include:
a. weak pulse, low BP, increased HR
b. thirst, dry mucous membranes, diarrhea
c. confusion, lethargy, coma, seizures
d. cardiac dysrhythmias, parenthesis, muscle weakness
Answer: A
Rationale: ECF volume deficit (hypovolemia) causes decreased cardiac output, leading to
weak pulse, low blood pressure, and compensatory tachycardia (increased HR). Thirst and
dry mucous membranes are signs of dehydration.
7. The imbalance that occurs with oliguric renal failure is:
a. metabolic alkalosis
, b. hyperkalemia
c. hypokalemia
d. hypophosphatemia
Answer: B
Rationale: Oliguric renal failure causes decreased potassium excretion, leading to
hyperkalemia. Metabolic alkalosis is not typical; metabolic acidosis is more common.
8. A known cause of hypokalemia is:
a. oliguric renal failure
b. pancreatitis
c. insulin overdose
d. hyperparathyroidism
Answer: C
Rationale: Insulin promotes potassium uptake into cells, causing hypokalemia. Oliguric
renal failure causes hyperkalemia.
9. Effects of hypernatremia on the CNS typically include:
a. confusion
b. excitation
c. insomnia
d. hallucinations
Answer: A
Rationale: Hypernatremia causes cellular dehydration (shrinking of brain cells), leading to
confusion, lethargy, and coma. Excitation is seen in hypocalcemia.
Galen College Of Nursing
NEW Practice Questions, Answers & Detailed Solutions
Comprehensive Exam Prep 2026/2027
Graded A+
Welcome to the NSG 3850 Exam 1 Practice Test Bank for Galen College of Nursing. This
comprehensive examination focuses on the essential concepts of Fluid and Electrolyte Balance
and Imbalances, a critical topic in nursing fundamentals. The exam covers key domains
including: Fluid and Electrolyte Physiology, Sodium Imbalances (Hypernatremia and
Hyponatremia), Potassium Imbalances (Hyperkalemia and Hypokalemia), Calcium and
Magnesium Imbalances, Acid-Base Balance, and Clinical Manifestations and Management. Each
question includes the correct answer and a short rationale to facilitate effective learning and
self-assessment. Use this test bank to prepare thoroughly for your exam.
1. Which electrolyte imbalances cause increase neuromuscular excitability?
a. hypokalemia and hyperphosphatemia
b. hyperkalemia and hypophosphatemia
c. hypocalcemia and hypomagnesemia
d. hypercalcemia and hypermagnesemia
Answer: C
Rationale: Hypocalcemia and hypomagnesemia both increase neuromuscular excitability
by lowering the threshold for action potentials, leading to muscle twitching, spasms, and
tetany. Hypokalemia causes muscle weakness, not excitability.
2. Excessive antidiuretic hormone (ADH) secretion can cause concentration:
,a. increased serum sodium
b. decreased serum sodium
c. increased serum potassium
d. decreased serum potassium
Answer: B
Rationale: Excessive ADH leads to water retention, diluting serum sodium and causing
hyponatremia (decreased serum sodium). This is seen in SIADH (Syndrome of
Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone).
3. Causes of hypomagnesemia include:
a. hyperphosphatemia
b. chronic alcoholism
c. oliguric renal failure
d. clinical dehydration
Answer: B
Rationale: Chronic alcoholism is a leading cause of hypomagnesemia due to poor dietary
intake, increased renal excretion, and gastrointestinal losses. Oliguric renal failure causes
hypermagnesemia.
4. Hypernatremia may be caused by:
a. decreased aldosterone secretion
b. decreased antidiuretic hormone secretion
c. compulsive water drinking
d. excessive dietary potassium
Answer: B
,Rationale: Decreased ADH secretion (as in diabetes insipidus) leads to excessive water
loss and hypernatremia. Compulsive water drinking causes hyponatremia.
5. Clinical manifestations of hyponatremia include:
a. weak pulse, low BP, increased HR
b. thirst, dry mucous membranes, diarrhea
c. confusion, lethargy, coma, seizures
d. cardiac dysrhythmias, parenthesis, muscle weakness
Answer: C
Rationale: Hyponatremia causes cerebral edema due to water shifting into brain cells,
leading to confusion, lethargy, coma, and seizures. The other options describe fluid volume
deficit (A) and hypernatremia (B).
6. Clinical manifestations of extracellular fluid volume deficit include:
a. weak pulse, low BP, increased HR
b. thirst, dry mucous membranes, diarrhea
c. confusion, lethargy, coma, seizures
d. cardiac dysrhythmias, parenthesis, muscle weakness
Answer: A
Rationale: ECF volume deficit (hypovolemia) causes decreased cardiac output, leading to
weak pulse, low blood pressure, and compensatory tachycardia (increased HR). Thirst and
dry mucous membranes are signs of dehydration.
7. The imbalance that occurs with oliguric renal failure is:
a. metabolic alkalosis
, b. hyperkalemia
c. hypokalemia
d. hypophosphatemia
Answer: B
Rationale: Oliguric renal failure causes decreased potassium excretion, leading to
hyperkalemia. Metabolic alkalosis is not typical; metabolic acidosis is more common.
8. A known cause of hypokalemia is:
a. oliguric renal failure
b. pancreatitis
c. insulin overdose
d. hyperparathyroidism
Answer: C
Rationale: Insulin promotes potassium uptake into cells, causing hypokalemia. Oliguric
renal failure causes hyperkalemia.
9. Effects of hypernatremia on the CNS typically include:
a. confusion
b. excitation
c. insomnia
d. hallucinations
Answer: A
Rationale: Hypernatremia causes cellular dehydration (shrinking of brain cells), leading to
confusion, lethargy, and coma. Excitation is seen in hypocalcemia.
