NU 155 PRACTICE EXAM: MEDICAL-
SURGICAL NURSING QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS 100% GUARANTEE PASS |
GALEN COLLEGE OF NURSING
1. A patient’s arterial blood gas (ABG) results are: pH 7.28, PaCO2 52 mmHg, and HCO3 24
mEq/L. Which acid-base imbalance is the patient experiencing?
A. Metabolic Acidosis
B. Metabolic Alkalosis
C. Respiratory Alkalosis
D. Respiratory Acidosis
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: A pH below 7.35 indicates acidosis. The elevated PaCO2 (above
45) indicates a respiratory cause, while the normal HCO3 shows no compensation yet.
2. Which electrocardiogram (ECG) change is most characteristic of a patient with a serum
potassium level of 6.2 mEq/L?
A. Prominent U waves
B. Tall, peaked T waves
C. ST segment depression
,D. Inverted T waves
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Hyperkalemia (K+ > 5.0) typically causes tall, peaked T waves,
widened QRS complexes, and potentially flat P waves.
3. A nurse is caring for a post-operative patient who suddenly develops wound evisceration.
What is the priority nursing action?
A. Push the protruding organs back into the abdominal cavity
B. Cover the wound with a sterile dressing soaked in sterile normal saline
C. Apply a dry sterile pressure dressing
D. Place the patient in High-Fowler’s position
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Evisceration is a medical emergency. The nurse should cover the
organs with sterile, saline-soaked dressings to keep them moist and call the surgeon
immediately.
4. Which clinical manifestation is specifically associated with left-sided heart failure?
A. Pulmonary crackles
B. Jugular venous distention
C. Dependent peripheral edema
D. Hepatomegaly
, Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: Left-sided heart failure causes blood to back up into the lungs,
leading to pulmonary symptoms like crackles, dyspnea, and orthopnea.
5. What is considered the earliest and most sensitive sign of increased intracranial pressure
(ICP)?
A. Cushing’s triad
B. Fixed and dilated pupils
C. Change in level of consciousness
D. Decerebrate posturing
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Changes in LOC, such as restlessness or agitation, are the earliest
indicators of neurological deterioration. Cushing’s triad is a late sign.
6. A patient with a spinal cord injury at T4 reports a sudden, severe headache and is found to
be hypertensive. What should the nurse suspect?
A. Autonomic dysreflexia
B. Spinal shock
C. Pulmonary embolism
D. Septic shock
Answer: A
SURGICAL NURSING QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS 100% GUARANTEE PASS |
GALEN COLLEGE OF NURSING
1. A patient’s arterial blood gas (ABG) results are: pH 7.28, PaCO2 52 mmHg, and HCO3 24
mEq/L. Which acid-base imbalance is the patient experiencing?
A. Metabolic Acidosis
B. Metabolic Alkalosis
C. Respiratory Alkalosis
D. Respiratory Acidosis
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: A pH below 7.35 indicates acidosis. The elevated PaCO2 (above
45) indicates a respiratory cause, while the normal HCO3 shows no compensation yet.
2. Which electrocardiogram (ECG) change is most characteristic of a patient with a serum
potassium level of 6.2 mEq/L?
A. Prominent U waves
B. Tall, peaked T waves
C. ST segment depression
,D. Inverted T waves
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Hyperkalemia (K+ > 5.0) typically causes tall, peaked T waves,
widened QRS complexes, and potentially flat P waves.
3. A nurse is caring for a post-operative patient who suddenly develops wound evisceration.
What is the priority nursing action?
A. Push the protruding organs back into the abdominal cavity
B. Cover the wound with a sterile dressing soaked in sterile normal saline
C. Apply a dry sterile pressure dressing
D. Place the patient in High-Fowler’s position
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Evisceration is a medical emergency. The nurse should cover the
organs with sterile, saline-soaked dressings to keep them moist and call the surgeon
immediately.
4. Which clinical manifestation is specifically associated with left-sided heart failure?
A. Pulmonary crackles
B. Jugular venous distention
C. Dependent peripheral edema
D. Hepatomegaly
, Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: Left-sided heart failure causes blood to back up into the lungs,
leading to pulmonary symptoms like crackles, dyspnea, and orthopnea.
5. What is considered the earliest and most sensitive sign of increased intracranial pressure
(ICP)?
A. Cushing’s triad
B. Fixed and dilated pupils
C. Change in level of consciousness
D. Decerebrate posturing
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Changes in LOC, such as restlessness or agitation, are the earliest
indicators of neurological deterioration. Cushing’s triad is a late sign.
6. A patient with a spinal cord injury at T4 reports a sudden, severe headache and is found to
be hypertensive. What should the nurse suspect?
A. Autonomic dysreflexia
B. Spinal shock
C. Pulmonary embolism
D. Septic shock
Answer: A
