NUR 170
Medical-Surgical Nursing Exam 2 Practice
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 Medical-Surgical Nursing Exam 2 Practice 2026/2027 UPDATED – Galen
1. A patient’s arterial blood gas (ABG) results show: pH 7.31, PaCO2 52 mmHg, and HCO3 26
mEq/L. Which acid-base imbalance is occurring?
A. Respiratory alkalosis
B. Metabolic acidosis
C. Metabolic alkalosis
D. Respiratory acidosis
Answer: D
Rationale: A pH below 7.35 indicates acidosis, and a PaCO2 above 45 mmHg with a normal
bicarbonate indicates the cause is respiratory in nature.
2. When caring for a patient with right-sided heart failure, the nurse expects to find which
assessment finding?
A. Peripheral edema
B. Crackles in the lungs
C. Pulmonary congestion
D. Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea
Answer: A
, Rationale: Right-sided heart failure results in systemic congestion, leading to peripheral
edema, jugular venous distention, and hepatomegaly. The other options are signs of left-
sided heart failure.
3. A client is admitted with a diagnosis of bacterial pneumonia. Which clinical manifestation is
the most common sign of late-stage hypoxia in this client?
A. Cyanosis
B. Tachycardia
C. Restlessness
D. Increased respiratory rate
Answer: A
Rationale: Restlessness and tachycardia are early signs of hypoxia; cyanosis is a late
indicator that tissue oxygenation is severely compromised.
4. Which laboratory value is the primary indicator of the progression of HIV and the risk for
opportunistic infections?
A. CD4+ T-cell count
B. White blood cell count
C. Red blood cell count
D. HIV viral load
Answer: A
Medical-Surgical Nursing Exam 2 Practice
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 Medical-Surgical Nursing Exam 2 Practice 2026/2027 UPDATED – Galen
1. A patient’s arterial blood gas (ABG) results show: pH 7.31, PaCO2 52 mmHg, and HCO3 26
mEq/L. Which acid-base imbalance is occurring?
A. Respiratory alkalosis
B. Metabolic acidosis
C. Metabolic alkalosis
D. Respiratory acidosis
Answer: D
Rationale: A pH below 7.35 indicates acidosis, and a PaCO2 above 45 mmHg with a normal
bicarbonate indicates the cause is respiratory in nature.
2. When caring for a patient with right-sided heart failure, the nurse expects to find which
assessment finding?
A. Peripheral edema
B. Crackles in the lungs
C. Pulmonary congestion
D. Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea
Answer: A
, Rationale: Right-sided heart failure results in systemic congestion, leading to peripheral
edema, jugular venous distention, and hepatomegaly. The other options are signs of left-
sided heart failure.
3. A client is admitted with a diagnosis of bacterial pneumonia. Which clinical manifestation is
the most common sign of late-stage hypoxia in this client?
A. Cyanosis
B. Tachycardia
C. Restlessness
D. Increased respiratory rate
Answer: A
Rationale: Restlessness and tachycardia are early signs of hypoxia; cyanosis is a late
indicator that tissue oxygenation is severely compromised.
4. Which laboratory value is the primary indicator of the progression of HIV and the risk for
opportunistic infections?
A. CD4+ T-cell count
B. White blood cell count
C. Red blood cell count
D. HIV viral load
Answer: A
