NU 185
Exam 2 Medical-Surgical Nursing II Practice Quiz
Exam 2 • Practice Questions & Rationales
UPDATE
Actual Questions & Verified Answers
with Detailed Clinical Rationales
Practice Questions with Rationales
Galen College of Nursing
NU 185
✓ 100% Verified Answers
✓ Complete Rationales Included
Exam (elaborations)
Instant PDF Download • Ready for Study
,NU 185 Exam 2 Medical-Surgical Nursing II Practice Quiz 2026/2027 UPDATE – Galen
1. A patient with heart failure is prescribed Digoxin 0.125 mg daily. Which assessment finding
most urgently requires the nurse to withhold the medication and notify the provider?
A. Report of seeing yellow-green halos around lights
B. Blood pressure of 100/62 mmHg
C. A heart rate of 72 beats per minute
D. Serum potassium level of 4.8 mEq/L
Answer: A
Rationale: Visual disturbances, such as yellow-green halos, are a classic sign of digoxin
toxicity and require immediate intervention. Bradycardia is also a sign, but 72 bpm is
normal. Low potassium increases toxicity risk, but 4.8 is normal.
2. Which arterial blood gas (ABG) result would the nurse expect to find in a patient
experiencing a severe exacerbation of COPD?
A. pH 7.50, PaCO2 30 mmHg, HCO3 22 mEq/L
B. pH 7.35, PaCO2 40 mmHg, HCO3 24 mEq/L
C. pH 7.32, PaCO2 58 mmHg, HCO3 30 mEq/L
D. pH 7.28, PaCO2 35 mmHg, HCO3 18 mEq/L
, Answer: C
Rationale: COPD patients typically exhibit respiratory acidosis (low pH, high PaCO2) with
partial metabolic compensation (elevated HCO3).
3. A patient is admitted with a diagnosis of Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA). Which IV fluid should
the nurse anticipate administering first?
A. 5% Dextrose in 0.45% Saline
B. 0.9% Normal Saline
C. 0.45% Normal Saline
D. 3% Hypertonic Saline
Answer: B
Rationale: The initial priority in DKA management is fluid resuscitation using an isotonic
solution (0.9% NS) to restore extracellular fluid volume and perfusion.
4. A nurse is monitoring a patient post-thyroidectomy. The patient reports tingling in the
fingertips and around the mouth. Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Administer the prescribed levothyroxine
B. Assess for Trousseau’s sign
C. Encourage the patient to cough and deep breathe
D. Check the surgical dressing for bleeding
Answer: B
Exam 2 Medical-Surgical Nursing II Practice Quiz
Exam 2 • Practice Questions & Rationales
UPDATE
Actual Questions & Verified Answers
with Detailed Clinical Rationales
Practice Questions with Rationales
Galen College of Nursing
NU 185
✓ 100% Verified Answers
✓ Complete Rationales Included
Exam (elaborations)
Instant PDF Download • Ready for Study
,NU 185 Exam 2 Medical-Surgical Nursing II Practice Quiz 2026/2027 UPDATE – Galen
1. A patient with heart failure is prescribed Digoxin 0.125 mg daily. Which assessment finding
most urgently requires the nurse to withhold the medication and notify the provider?
A. Report of seeing yellow-green halos around lights
B. Blood pressure of 100/62 mmHg
C. A heart rate of 72 beats per minute
D. Serum potassium level of 4.8 mEq/L
Answer: A
Rationale: Visual disturbances, such as yellow-green halos, are a classic sign of digoxin
toxicity and require immediate intervention. Bradycardia is also a sign, but 72 bpm is
normal. Low potassium increases toxicity risk, but 4.8 is normal.
2. Which arterial blood gas (ABG) result would the nurse expect to find in a patient
experiencing a severe exacerbation of COPD?
A. pH 7.50, PaCO2 30 mmHg, HCO3 22 mEq/L
B. pH 7.35, PaCO2 40 mmHg, HCO3 24 mEq/L
C. pH 7.32, PaCO2 58 mmHg, HCO3 30 mEq/L
D. pH 7.28, PaCO2 35 mmHg, HCO3 18 mEq/L
, Answer: C
Rationale: COPD patients typically exhibit respiratory acidosis (low pH, high PaCO2) with
partial metabolic compensation (elevated HCO3).
3. A patient is admitted with a diagnosis of Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA). Which IV fluid should
the nurse anticipate administering first?
A. 5% Dextrose in 0.45% Saline
B. 0.9% Normal Saline
C. 0.45% Normal Saline
D. 3% Hypertonic Saline
Answer: B
Rationale: The initial priority in DKA management is fluid resuscitation using an isotonic
solution (0.9% NS) to restore extracellular fluid volume and perfusion.
4. A nurse is monitoring a patient post-thyroidectomy. The patient reports tingling in the
fingertips and around the mouth. Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Administer the prescribed levothyroxine
B. Assess for Trousseau’s sign
C. Encourage the patient to cough and deep breathe
D. Check the surgical dressing for bleeding
Answer: B
