NUR 170
Exam 2 Study Guide - Medical-Surgical Nursing
Exam 2 • Practice Questions & Rationales
UPDATE
Actual Questions & Verified Answers
with Detailed Clinical Rationales
Practice Questions with Rationales
Galen College of Nursing
NUR 170
✓ 100% Verified Answers
✓ Complete Rationales Included
Exam (elaborations)
Instant PDF Download • Ready for Study
,NUR 170 Exam 2 Study Guide - Medical-Surgical Nursing 2026/2027 UPDATE – Galen
1. A patient presents with a serum potassium level of 6.2 mEq/L. Which EKG change is the
nurse most likely to observe?
A. Tall, peaked T waves
B. Prominent U waves
C. ST-segment depression
D. Prolonged QT interval
Answer: A
Rationale: Hyperkalemia (potassium > 5.0 mEq/L) causes characteristic tall, peaked T
waves and widened QRS complexes. U waves and ST depression are associated with
hypokalemia.
2. A patient’s arterial blood gas (ABG) results are: pH 7.31, PaCO2 52 mmHg, and HCO3 25
mEq/L. How should the nurse interpret these results?
A. Respiratory Acidosis
B. Respiratory Alkalosis
C. Metabolic Acidosis
D. Metabolic Alkalosis
, Answer: A
Rationale: A pH below 7.35 indicates acidosis. A PaCO2 above 45 mmHg indicates a
respiratory cause. Since the HCO3 is normal, it is uncompensated respiratory acidosis.
3. Which electrolyte imbalance is a patient at risk for when receiving massive blood
transfusions due to the presence of citrate?
A. Hypomagnesemia
B. Hypernatremia
C. Hypocalcemia
D. Hypercalcemia
Answer: C
Rationale: Citrate is used as a preservative in blood products and binds to ionized calcium,
potentially leading to hypocalcemia.
4. During the preoperative phase, whose primary responsibility is it to obtain the legal
informed consent from the patient?
A. The circulating nurse
B. The surgeon
C. The anesthesiologist
D. The preoperative holding nurse
Answer: B
Exam 2 Study Guide - Medical-Surgical Nursing
Exam 2 • Practice Questions & Rationales
UPDATE
Actual Questions & Verified Answers
with Detailed Clinical Rationales
Practice Questions with Rationales
Galen College of Nursing
NUR 170
✓ 100% Verified Answers
✓ Complete Rationales Included
Exam (elaborations)
Instant PDF Download • Ready for Study
,NUR 170 Exam 2 Study Guide - Medical-Surgical Nursing 2026/2027 UPDATE – Galen
1. A patient presents with a serum potassium level of 6.2 mEq/L. Which EKG change is the
nurse most likely to observe?
A. Tall, peaked T waves
B. Prominent U waves
C. ST-segment depression
D. Prolonged QT interval
Answer: A
Rationale: Hyperkalemia (potassium > 5.0 mEq/L) causes characteristic tall, peaked T
waves and widened QRS complexes. U waves and ST depression are associated with
hypokalemia.
2. A patient’s arterial blood gas (ABG) results are: pH 7.31, PaCO2 52 mmHg, and HCO3 25
mEq/L. How should the nurse interpret these results?
A. Respiratory Acidosis
B. Respiratory Alkalosis
C. Metabolic Acidosis
D. Metabolic Alkalosis
, Answer: A
Rationale: A pH below 7.35 indicates acidosis. A PaCO2 above 45 mmHg indicates a
respiratory cause. Since the HCO3 is normal, it is uncompensated respiratory acidosis.
3. Which electrolyte imbalance is a patient at risk for when receiving massive blood
transfusions due to the presence of citrate?
A. Hypomagnesemia
B. Hypernatremia
C. Hypocalcemia
D. Hypercalcemia
Answer: C
Rationale: Citrate is used as a preservative in blood products and binds to ionized calcium,
potentially leading to hypocalcemia.
4. During the preoperative phase, whose primary responsibility is it to obtain the legal
informed consent from the patient?
A. The circulating nurse
B. The surgeon
C. The anesthesiologist
D. The preoperative holding nurse
Answer: B
