NUR 155 Exam 3 | Concepts of Foundations of Nursing (2026)
Q&A | Galen College
1. Which of the following best describes the primary focus of NUR 155 Exam 3 based on the
Galen College of Nursing curriculum?
A) Fluid and electrolyte balance and nutrition
B) Oxygenation, tissue perfusion, skin integrity, and pharmacology
C) Mental health and psychiatric nursing interventions
D) Maternal and newborn nursing care
Correct Answer: Oxygenation, tissue perfusion, skin integrity, and pharmacology
Rationale: Based on the Galen College of Nursing curriculum, NUR 155 Exam 3 covers Units 6-8,
which focus on oxygenation, tissue perfusion, skin integrity/wound care, and pharmacology.
While fluid balance and nutrition are important, they are typically covered in earlier exams.
Mental health and maternal-newborn care are not the primary focus of this exam.
2. A nurse is assessing a patient's respiratory status. Which of the following terms describes a
normal, quiet, and effortless breathing pattern?
A) Tachypnea
B) Bradypnea
C) Eupnea
D) Dyspnea
Correct Answer: Eupnea
Rationale: Eupnea is defined as normal respirations that are quiet, rhythmic, and effortless.
Tachypnea is rapid respirations, Bradypnea is abnormally slow respirations, and Dyspnea is
difficult or labored breathing.
,3. A patient with a fever is breathing rapidly at a rate of 28 breaths per minute. The nurse
correctly documents this finding as which of the following?
A) Bradypnea
B) Tachypnea
C) Apnea
D) Orthopnea
Correct Answer: Tachypnea
Rationale: Tachypnea is defined as rapid respirations, often seen with fever, hypoxemia, or
metabolic acidosis. Bradypnea is an abnormally slow rate, Apnea is the absence of breathing,
and Orthopnea is the inability to breathe easily unless sitting upright or standing.
4. A patient who has taken a morphine overdose is exhibiting a respiratory rate of 8 breaths per
minute. The nurse recognizes this as which of the following?
A) Tachypnea
B) Bradypnea
C) Kussmaul's breathing
D) Hyperventilation
Correct Answer: Bradypnea
Rationale: Bradypnea is an abnormally slow respiratory rate, which can occur in patients who
have taken morphine or sedatives, or those with metabolic acidosis or increased intracranial
pressure. Tachypnea is rapid breathing, Kussmaul's is deep and labored, and hyperventilation is
increased air movement.
,5. The nurse is caring for a patient with metabolic acidosis. Which breathing pattern is the
body's compensatory mechanism to eliminate excess carbon dioxide?
A) Cheyne-Stokes respiration
B) Biot's respiration
C) Kussmaul's breathing
D) Apneustic breathing
Correct Answer: Kussmaul's breathing
Rationale: Kussmaul's breathing is a deep, rapid, and labored breathing pattern that occurs as
the body attempts to compensate for metabolic acidosis by eliminating excess CO2. Cheyne-
Stokes is a cyclical pattern, Biot's is irregular, and apneustic is prolonged inspiration.
6. A nurse is assessing a patient who reports difficulty breathing unless sitting upright. The nurse
documents this finding as which of the following?
A) Dyspnea
B) Orthopnea
C) Apnea
D) Hyperpnea
Correct Answer: Orthopnea
Rationale: Orthopnea is defined as the inability to breathe easily unless sitting upright or
standing. Dyspnea is subjective difficulty breathing, Apnea is absence of breathing, and
Hyperpnea is deep breathing.
7. The nurse is preparing to administer oxygen to a patient via a nasal cannula. Which flow rate
range is appropriate for this delivery device?
, A) 1-6 L/min
B) 5-8 L/min
C) 4-10 L/min
D) 10-15 L/min
Correct Answer: 1-6 L/min
Rationale: A nasal cannula delivers oxygen at flow rates of 1 to 6 L/min, providing an FiO2 of
approximately 24% to 44%. A simple face mask delivers 5-8 L/min, a Venturi mask delivers 4-10
L/min, and a partial rebreather mask delivers higher flows.
8. A patient is unable to tolerate a standard face mask for oxygen delivery. Which oxygen
delivery device should the nurse consider using?
A) Nasal cannula
B) Simple face mask
C) Face tent mask
D) Non-rebreather mask
Correct Answer: Face tent mask
Rationale: A face tent mask is used when a standard type mask is not well tolerated by the
patient. It delivers varying oxygen concentrations and is often more comfortable for patients
with facial trauma or claustrophobia.
9. The nurse is caring for a patient who requires a precise oxygen concentration. Which oxygen
delivery device should the nurse select?
A) Nasal cannula
B) Simple face mask
Q&A | Galen College
1. Which of the following best describes the primary focus of NUR 155 Exam 3 based on the
Galen College of Nursing curriculum?
A) Fluid and electrolyte balance and nutrition
B) Oxygenation, tissue perfusion, skin integrity, and pharmacology
C) Mental health and psychiatric nursing interventions
D) Maternal and newborn nursing care
Correct Answer: Oxygenation, tissue perfusion, skin integrity, and pharmacology
Rationale: Based on the Galen College of Nursing curriculum, NUR 155 Exam 3 covers Units 6-8,
which focus on oxygenation, tissue perfusion, skin integrity/wound care, and pharmacology.
While fluid balance and nutrition are important, they are typically covered in earlier exams.
Mental health and maternal-newborn care are not the primary focus of this exam.
2. A nurse is assessing a patient's respiratory status. Which of the following terms describes a
normal, quiet, and effortless breathing pattern?
A) Tachypnea
B) Bradypnea
C) Eupnea
D) Dyspnea
Correct Answer: Eupnea
Rationale: Eupnea is defined as normal respirations that are quiet, rhythmic, and effortless.
Tachypnea is rapid respirations, Bradypnea is abnormally slow respirations, and Dyspnea is
difficult or labored breathing.
,3. A patient with a fever is breathing rapidly at a rate of 28 breaths per minute. The nurse
correctly documents this finding as which of the following?
A) Bradypnea
B) Tachypnea
C) Apnea
D) Orthopnea
Correct Answer: Tachypnea
Rationale: Tachypnea is defined as rapid respirations, often seen with fever, hypoxemia, or
metabolic acidosis. Bradypnea is an abnormally slow rate, Apnea is the absence of breathing,
and Orthopnea is the inability to breathe easily unless sitting upright or standing.
4. A patient who has taken a morphine overdose is exhibiting a respiratory rate of 8 breaths per
minute. The nurse recognizes this as which of the following?
A) Tachypnea
B) Bradypnea
C) Kussmaul's breathing
D) Hyperventilation
Correct Answer: Bradypnea
Rationale: Bradypnea is an abnormally slow respiratory rate, which can occur in patients who
have taken morphine or sedatives, or those with metabolic acidosis or increased intracranial
pressure. Tachypnea is rapid breathing, Kussmaul's is deep and labored, and hyperventilation is
increased air movement.
,5. The nurse is caring for a patient with metabolic acidosis. Which breathing pattern is the
body's compensatory mechanism to eliminate excess carbon dioxide?
A) Cheyne-Stokes respiration
B) Biot's respiration
C) Kussmaul's breathing
D) Apneustic breathing
Correct Answer: Kussmaul's breathing
Rationale: Kussmaul's breathing is a deep, rapid, and labored breathing pattern that occurs as
the body attempts to compensate for metabolic acidosis by eliminating excess CO2. Cheyne-
Stokes is a cyclical pattern, Biot's is irregular, and apneustic is prolonged inspiration.
6. A nurse is assessing a patient who reports difficulty breathing unless sitting upright. The nurse
documents this finding as which of the following?
A) Dyspnea
B) Orthopnea
C) Apnea
D) Hyperpnea
Correct Answer: Orthopnea
Rationale: Orthopnea is defined as the inability to breathe easily unless sitting upright or
standing. Dyspnea is subjective difficulty breathing, Apnea is absence of breathing, and
Hyperpnea is deep breathing.
7. The nurse is preparing to administer oxygen to a patient via a nasal cannula. Which flow rate
range is appropriate for this delivery device?
, A) 1-6 L/min
B) 5-8 L/min
C) 4-10 L/min
D) 10-15 L/min
Correct Answer: 1-6 L/min
Rationale: A nasal cannula delivers oxygen at flow rates of 1 to 6 L/min, providing an FiO2 of
approximately 24% to 44%. A simple face mask delivers 5-8 L/min, a Venturi mask delivers 4-10
L/min, and a partial rebreather mask delivers higher flows.
8. A patient is unable to tolerate a standard face mask for oxygen delivery. Which oxygen
delivery device should the nurse consider using?
A) Nasal cannula
B) Simple face mask
C) Face tent mask
D) Non-rebreather mask
Correct Answer: Face tent mask
Rationale: A face tent mask is used when a standard type mask is not well tolerated by the
patient. It delivers varying oxygen concentrations and is often more comfortable for patients
with facial trauma or claustrophobia.
9. The nurse is caring for a patient who requires a precise oxygen concentration. Which oxygen
delivery device should the nurse select?
A) Nasal cannula
B) Simple face mask
