NUR 265
Advanced Concepts of Medical-Surgical
Nursing
Exam 2 Questions & Answers
2026/2027 Academic Year
Galen College of Nursing
Welcome to the NUR 265 Advanced Concepts of Medical-
Surgical Nursing Exam 4 Practice Resource, designed to help
nursing students strengthen their understanding of key
concepts and prepare effectively for their first course
assessment.
This resource provides a focused collection of original
practice questions, answer explanations, and rationales
covering major concepts commonly encountered in advanced
medical-surgical nursing. The questions are designed to
encourage clinical reasoning, application of nursing
knowledge, and recognition of appropriate patient-care
priorities.
NURSE_PAULA
,1. A patient with COPD is increasingly short of breath.
Which assessment finding is most concerning?
A. Respiratory rate of 20/min
B. Productive cough with clear sputum
C. New confusion and decreasing level of consciousness
D. Oxygen saturation of 94% at baseline
Answer: C. New confusion and decreasing level of
consciousness
Rationale: Increasing confusion may indicate worsening
hypoxemia or hypercapnia and possible respiratory
failure.
2. Which intervention best helps a patient with COPD
improve ventilation?
A. Pursed-lip breathing
B. Holding the breath
C. Rapid shallow breathing
D. Complete bed rest
Answer: A. Pursed-lip breathing
Rationale: Pursed-lip breathing prolongs expiration and
helps prevent premature airway collapse.
3. A patient with asthma is wheezing severely. Suddenly,
the wheezing disappears while respiratory distress
worsens. What does this finding suggest?
NURSE_PAULA 1
,A. The asthma has resolved
B. Improved ventilation
C. Severe airway obstruction with minimal airflow
D. Normal respiratory function
Answer: C. Severe airway obstruction with minimal airflow
Rationale: A "silent chest" in a severely distressed
patient is an emergency because very little air may be
moving through the obstructed airways.
4. Which medication is generally used for rapid relief of
acute bronchospasm?
A. Albuterol
B. Warfarin
C. Furosemide
D. Levothyroxine
Answer: A. Albuterol
Rationale: Albuterol is a short-acting beta₂ agonist that
rapidly relaxes bronchial smooth muscle.
5. Which finding is most consistent with pneumonia?
A. Fever, productive cough, crackles
B. Bradycardia and clear lungs
C. Polyuria and polydipsia
D. Painless hematuria
Answer: A. Fever, productive cough, crackles
NURSE_PAULA 2
Advanced Concepts of Medical-Surgical
Nursing
Exam 2 Questions & Answers
2026/2027 Academic Year
Galen College of Nursing
Welcome to the NUR 265 Advanced Concepts of Medical-
Surgical Nursing Exam 4 Practice Resource, designed to help
nursing students strengthen their understanding of key
concepts and prepare effectively for their first course
assessment.
This resource provides a focused collection of original
practice questions, answer explanations, and rationales
covering major concepts commonly encountered in advanced
medical-surgical nursing. The questions are designed to
encourage clinical reasoning, application of nursing
knowledge, and recognition of appropriate patient-care
priorities.
NURSE_PAULA
,1. A patient with COPD is increasingly short of breath.
Which assessment finding is most concerning?
A. Respiratory rate of 20/min
B. Productive cough with clear sputum
C. New confusion and decreasing level of consciousness
D. Oxygen saturation of 94% at baseline
Answer: C. New confusion and decreasing level of
consciousness
Rationale: Increasing confusion may indicate worsening
hypoxemia or hypercapnia and possible respiratory
failure.
2. Which intervention best helps a patient with COPD
improve ventilation?
A. Pursed-lip breathing
B. Holding the breath
C. Rapid shallow breathing
D. Complete bed rest
Answer: A. Pursed-lip breathing
Rationale: Pursed-lip breathing prolongs expiration and
helps prevent premature airway collapse.
3. A patient with asthma is wheezing severely. Suddenly,
the wheezing disappears while respiratory distress
worsens. What does this finding suggest?
NURSE_PAULA 1
,A. The asthma has resolved
B. Improved ventilation
C. Severe airway obstruction with minimal airflow
D. Normal respiratory function
Answer: C. Severe airway obstruction with minimal airflow
Rationale: A "silent chest" in a severely distressed
patient is an emergency because very little air may be
moving through the obstructed airways.
4. Which medication is generally used for rapid relief of
acute bronchospasm?
A. Albuterol
B. Warfarin
C. Furosemide
D. Levothyroxine
Answer: A. Albuterol
Rationale: Albuterol is a short-acting beta₂ agonist that
rapidly relaxes bronchial smooth muscle.
5. Which finding is most consistent with pneumonia?
A. Fever, productive cough, crackles
B. Bradycardia and clear lungs
C. Polyuria and polydipsia
D. Painless hematuria
Answer: A. Fever, productive cough, crackles
NURSE_PAULA 2
