NSG 3800 Exam 1 med surge 2 practice exam
questions and correct answers / Galen NSG 3800
Nursing Practice Adult Health 2 Exam 1 Prep 2026-
2027 (NSG 3800 Medical Surgical II Exam 1 Prep)
The nurse is providing care for a client with prolonged gastric suctioning. Which
arterial blood gas result should the nurse anticipate?
A. pH: 7.48, PaCO2: 45 mmHg, HCO3: 38 mEq/L
B. pH: 7.30, PaCO2: 40 mmHg, HCO3: 20 mEq/L
C. pH: 7.35, PaCO2: 45 mmHg, HCO3: 24 mEq/L
D. pH: 7.28, PaCO2: 55 mmHg, HCO3: 26 mEq/L
-ANSWER- A
The nurse is caring for a client who has an ileostomy. When care planning for this
client, the nurse understands that this client is at risk for which acid-base
imbalance?
A. Metabolic Acidosis
B. Metabolic Alkalosis
C. Respiratory Acidosis
D. Respiratory Alkalosis
-ANSWER- A
As the nurse, you are caring for a client who has been experiencing wasting
syndrome as a complication of AIDS. The client is restless, alert, and oriented. The
client has excoriation in the perineal area due to experiencing up to 10 episodes of
very liquid stools a day for several days. VS: HR: 148 bpm, BP: 110/74 mmHg,
RR: 32 bpm on room air, Oxygen saturation: 96%. ABG results: pH: 7.32, CO2:
42 mmHg, HCO3: 19 mEq/L. Using the lab values, assessment data, and vital
signs provided, why do you think the client might have an elevated CO2 level?
A. The large amount of bowel movements from the client has caused the client to
experience metabolic acidosis
B. The client is hyperventilating due to anxiety
C. The client has a respiratory infection
1
,D. The client is retaining CO2 due to sedation
-ANSWER- A
You are caring for a patient who has a diagnosis of syndrome of inappropriate
antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH). Your patient's plan of care includes
assessment of specific gravity every 4 hours. The results of this test will allow the
nurse to assess what aspect of the patient's health?
A. Fluid volume status
B. Nutritional status
C. Potassium balance
D. Calcium balance
-ANSWER- A
You are caring for a patient admitted with a diagnosis of acute kidney injury.
When you review your patient's most recent laboratory reports, you note that the
patient's magnesium levels are high. You should prioritize assessment for which of
the following health problems?
A. Diminished deep tendon reflexes
B. Tachycardia
C. Cool, clammy skin
D. Acute flank pain
-ANSWER- A
You are working on a burns unit and one of your acutely ill patients is exhibiting
signs and symptoms of third spacing. Based on this change in status, you should
expect the patient to exhibit signs and symptoms of what imbalance?
A. Hypovolemia
B. Metabolic alkalosis
C. Hypermagnesemia
D. Hypercalcemia
-ANSWER- A
A patient with a longstanding diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder presents to
the emergency room. The triage nurse notes upon assessment that the patient is
hyperventilating. The triage nurse is aware that hyperventilation is the most
common cause of which acid-base imbalance?
A. Respiratory alkalosis
B. Respiratory acidosis
C. Increased PaCO2
2
,D. CNS disturbances
-ANSWER- A
You are an emergency-room nurse caring for a trauma patient. Your patient has the
following arterial blood gas results: pH 7.26, PaCO2 28, HCO3 11 mEq/L. How
would you interpret these results?
A. Metabolic acidosis with a compensatory respiratory alkalosis
B. Respiratory acidosis with a compensatory metabolic alkalosis
C. Metabolic alkalosis with a compensatory respiratory acidosis
D. Respiratory alkalosis with a compensatory metabolic acidosis
-ANSWER- A
You are making initial shift assessments on your patients. While assessing one
patient's peripheral IV site, you note edema around the insertion site. How should
you document this complication related to IV therapy?
A. Infiltration
B. Air emboli
C. Phlebitis
D. Fluid overload
-ANSWER- A
You are performing an admission assessment on an older adult patient newly
admitted for end-stage liver disease. What principle should guide your assessment
of the patient's skin turgor?
A. Inelastic skin turgor is a normal part of aging
B. Overhydration is common among healthy older adults
C. Dehydration causes the skin to appear spongy
D. Skin turgor cannot be assessed in patients over 70
-ANSWER- A
The physician has ordered a peripheral IV to be inserted before the patient goes for
a computed tomography. What should the nurse do when selecting a site on the
hand or arm for insertion of an IV catheter?
A. Consider potential effects on the patient's mobility when selecting a site
B. Choose a hairless site if available
C. Have the patient briefly hold his arm over his head before insertion
D. Leave the tourniquet on for at least 3 minutes
-ANSWER- A
3
, A nurse in the neurologic ICU has orders to infuse a hypertonic solution into a
patient with increased intracranial pressure. This solution will increase the number
of dissolved particles in the patient's blood, creating pressure for fluids in the
tissues to shift into the capillaries and increase the blood volume. This process is
best described as which of the following?
A. Osmosis and osmolality
B. Hydrostatic pressure
C. Diffusion
D. Active transport
-ANSWER- A
You are the surgical nurse caring for a 65-year-old female patient who is post day
1 following a thyroidectomy. During your shift assessment, the patient complains
of tingling in her lips and fingers. She tells you that she has intermittent spasm in
her wrist and hand and she exhibits increased muscle tone. What electrolyte
imbalance should you suspect?
A. Hypocalcemia
B. Hypophosphatemia
C. Hypermagnesemia
D. Hyperkalemia
-ANSWER- A
A nurse is planning care for a nephrology patient with a new nursing graduate. The
nurse states, a patient in renal failure partially loses the ability to regulate changes
in pH. What is the cause of this partial inability?
A. The kidneys regenerate and reabsorb bicarbonate to maintain a stable pH
B. The kidneys regulate and reabsorb carbonic acid to change and maintain pH
C. The kidneys buffer acids through electrolyte changes
D. The kidneys combine carbonic acid and bicarbonate to maintain a stable pH
-ANSWER- A
You are caring for a 65-year-old male patient admitted to your medical unit 72
hours ago with pyloric stenosis. A NG tube placed upon admission has been on
low intermittent suction ever since. Upon review of the morning's blood work, you
notice that the patient's potassium is below reference range. You should recognize
that the patient may be at risk for what imbalance?
A. Metabolic alkalosis
B. Hypercalcemia
4
questions and correct answers / Galen NSG 3800
Nursing Practice Adult Health 2 Exam 1 Prep 2026-
2027 (NSG 3800 Medical Surgical II Exam 1 Prep)
The nurse is providing care for a client with prolonged gastric suctioning. Which
arterial blood gas result should the nurse anticipate?
A. pH: 7.48, PaCO2: 45 mmHg, HCO3: 38 mEq/L
B. pH: 7.30, PaCO2: 40 mmHg, HCO3: 20 mEq/L
C. pH: 7.35, PaCO2: 45 mmHg, HCO3: 24 mEq/L
D. pH: 7.28, PaCO2: 55 mmHg, HCO3: 26 mEq/L
-ANSWER- A
The nurse is caring for a client who has an ileostomy. When care planning for this
client, the nurse understands that this client is at risk for which acid-base
imbalance?
A. Metabolic Acidosis
B. Metabolic Alkalosis
C. Respiratory Acidosis
D. Respiratory Alkalosis
-ANSWER- A
As the nurse, you are caring for a client who has been experiencing wasting
syndrome as a complication of AIDS. The client is restless, alert, and oriented. The
client has excoriation in the perineal area due to experiencing up to 10 episodes of
very liquid stools a day for several days. VS: HR: 148 bpm, BP: 110/74 mmHg,
RR: 32 bpm on room air, Oxygen saturation: 96%. ABG results: pH: 7.32, CO2:
42 mmHg, HCO3: 19 mEq/L. Using the lab values, assessment data, and vital
signs provided, why do you think the client might have an elevated CO2 level?
A. The large amount of bowel movements from the client has caused the client to
experience metabolic acidosis
B. The client is hyperventilating due to anxiety
C. The client has a respiratory infection
1
,D. The client is retaining CO2 due to sedation
-ANSWER- A
You are caring for a patient who has a diagnosis of syndrome of inappropriate
antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH). Your patient's plan of care includes
assessment of specific gravity every 4 hours. The results of this test will allow the
nurse to assess what aspect of the patient's health?
A. Fluid volume status
B. Nutritional status
C. Potassium balance
D. Calcium balance
-ANSWER- A
You are caring for a patient admitted with a diagnosis of acute kidney injury.
When you review your patient's most recent laboratory reports, you note that the
patient's magnesium levels are high. You should prioritize assessment for which of
the following health problems?
A. Diminished deep tendon reflexes
B. Tachycardia
C. Cool, clammy skin
D. Acute flank pain
-ANSWER- A
You are working on a burns unit and one of your acutely ill patients is exhibiting
signs and symptoms of third spacing. Based on this change in status, you should
expect the patient to exhibit signs and symptoms of what imbalance?
A. Hypovolemia
B. Metabolic alkalosis
C. Hypermagnesemia
D. Hypercalcemia
-ANSWER- A
A patient with a longstanding diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder presents to
the emergency room. The triage nurse notes upon assessment that the patient is
hyperventilating. The triage nurse is aware that hyperventilation is the most
common cause of which acid-base imbalance?
A. Respiratory alkalosis
B. Respiratory acidosis
C. Increased PaCO2
2
,D. CNS disturbances
-ANSWER- A
You are an emergency-room nurse caring for a trauma patient. Your patient has the
following arterial blood gas results: pH 7.26, PaCO2 28, HCO3 11 mEq/L. How
would you interpret these results?
A. Metabolic acidosis with a compensatory respiratory alkalosis
B. Respiratory acidosis with a compensatory metabolic alkalosis
C. Metabolic alkalosis with a compensatory respiratory acidosis
D. Respiratory alkalosis with a compensatory metabolic acidosis
-ANSWER- A
You are making initial shift assessments on your patients. While assessing one
patient's peripheral IV site, you note edema around the insertion site. How should
you document this complication related to IV therapy?
A. Infiltration
B. Air emboli
C. Phlebitis
D. Fluid overload
-ANSWER- A
You are performing an admission assessment on an older adult patient newly
admitted for end-stage liver disease. What principle should guide your assessment
of the patient's skin turgor?
A. Inelastic skin turgor is a normal part of aging
B. Overhydration is common among healthy older adults
C. Dehydration causes the skin to appear spongy
D. Skin turgor cannot be assessed in patients over 70
-ANSWER- A
The physician has ordered a peripheral IV to be inserted before the patient goes for
a computed tomography. What should the nurse do when selecting a site on the
hand or arm for insertion of an IV catheter?
A. Consider potential effects on the patient's mobility when selecting a site
B. Choose a hairless site if available
C. Have the patient briefly hold his arm over his head before insertion
D. Leave the tourniquet on for at least 3 minutes
-ANSWER- A
3
, A nurse in the neurologic ICU has orders to infuse a hypertonic solution into a
patient with increased intracranial pressure. This solution will increase the number
of dissolved particles in the patient's blood, creating pressure for fluids in the
tissues to shift into the capillaries and increase the blood volume. This process is
best described as which of the following?
A. Osmosis and osmolality
B. Hydrostatic pressure
C. Diffusion
D. Active transport
-ANSWER- A
You are the surgical nurse caring for a 65-year-old female patient who is post day
1 following a thyroidectomy. During your shift assessment, the patient complains
of tingling in her lips and fingers. She tells you that she has intermittent spasm in
her wrist and hand and she exhibits increased muscle tone. What electrolyte
imbalance should you suspect?
A. Hypocalcemia
B. Hypophosphatemia
C. Hypermagnesemia
D. Hyperkalemia
-ANSWER- A
A nurse is planning care for a nephrology patient with a new nursing graduate. The
nurse states, a patient in renal failure partially loses the ability to regulate changes
in pH. What is the cause of this partial inability?
A. The kidneys regenerate and reabsorb bicarbonate to maintain a stable pH
B. The kidneys regulate and reabsorb carbonic acid to change and maintain pH
C. The kidneys buffer acids through electrolyte changes
D. The kidneys combine carbonic acid and bicarbonate to maintain a stable pH
-ANSWER- A
You are caring for a 65-year-old male patient admitted to your medical unit 72
hours ago with pyloric stenosis. A NG tube placed upon admission has been on
low intermittent suction ever since. Upon review of the morning's blood work, you
notice that the patient's potassium is below reference range. You should recognize
that the patient may be at risk for what imbalance?
A. Metabolic alkalosis
B. Hypercalcemia
4
