EXAM 7
Cardiovascular and Respiratory Emergencies
75 Multiple-Choice Questions • Correct Answers Highlighted • Brief Rationales
Instructions: Choose the single best answer for each question. The correct option is highlighted in yellow, followed by a brief
rationale.
Study resource: Original practice questions based on the working assumption that NR-252 covers Adult Health II /
medical-surgical nursing. This is not an official Chamberlain exam; verify topics against your current syllabus.
1. Complication prevention: A client with COPD is acutely short of breath. Which complication or risk should the nurse
address first?
A. Use a paper bag
B. Assess respiratory status and provide prescribed oxygen, titrated to the target range
C. Withhold oxygen regardless of saturation
D. Encourage breath-holding
Rationale: Oxygen should be titrated to clinical targets; hypoxemia must be treated.
2. Safety check: A client taking warfarin reports black, tarry stools. Which action best promotes client safety?
A. Take an extra dose
B. Begin aspirin without advice
C. Ignore it if there is no pain
D. Report possible gastrointestinal bleeding promptly
Rationale: Melena can indicate bleeding during anticoagulation.
3. Client scenario: A client has suspected sepsis with hypotension and altered mental status. Which instruction should the
nurse reinforce?
A. Escalate urgently and support prompt cultures, antibiotics, and fluids per protocol
B. Wait for a high fever before escalating
C. Give only oral fluids
D. Delay treatment until all test results return
Rationale: Sepsis treatment is time-sensitive; hypotension and mental-status change are concerning.
4. Client scenario: A client is receiving antibiotics and develops wheezing and facial swelling. Which instruction should the
nurse reinforce?
A. Stop the infusion if running and activate emergency response for possible anaphylaxis
B. Document as a mild expected effect
C. Continue the infusion slowly
D. Offer food and reassess tomorrow
Rationale: Airway swelling and wheezing indicate possible anaphylaxis.
, 5. During care: A client taking furosemide has weakness and dysrhythmia. Which nursing response is most appropriate?
A. Assume potassium is elevated
B. Check potassium and report possible hypokalemia
C. Encourage a laxative
D. Stop all monitoring
Rationale: Loop diuretics can lower potassium and provoke dysrhythmias.
6. Client scenario: A client with asthma has severe wheezing and difficulty speaking. Which instruction should the nurse
reinforce?
A. Lie flat and wait
B. Give prescribed rapid-acting bronchodilator and escalate if severe
C. Use only a long-acting controller for immediate relief
D. Delay rescue medication until bedtime
Rationale: Severe symptoms can progress quickly and require rescue treatment.
7. At the bedside, a client with copd is acutely short of breath. What should the nurse do next?
A. Assess respiratory status and provide prescribed oxygen, titrated to the target range
B. Use a paper bag
C. Withhold oxygen regardless of saturation
D. Encourage breath-holding
Rationale: Oxygen should be titrated to clinical targets; hypoxemia must be treated.
8. A client has suspected sepsis with hypotension and altered mental status. Which action is the nurse's priority?
A. Wait for a high fever before escalating
B. Escalate urgently and support prompt cultures, antibiotics, and fluids per protocol
C. Delay treatment until all test results return
D. Give only oral fluids
Rationale: Sepsis treatment is time-sensitive; hypotension and mental-status change are concerning.
9. Safety check: A client with asthma has severe wheezing and difficulty speaking. Which action best promotes client safety?
A. Delay rescue medication until bedtime
B. Use only a long-acting controller for immediate relief
C. Lie flat and wait
D. Give prescribed rapid-acting bronchodilator and escalate if severe
Rationale: Severe symptoms can progress quickly and require rescue treatment.
10. At the bedside, a client uses patient-controlled analgesia. What should the nurse do next?
A. Teach the client to press the button; visitors must not press it for them
B. Press repeatedly to override lockout
C. Let family activate the dose while the client sleeps
D. Share the device with another client
Rationale: Only the patient should activate PCA to reduce oversedation risk.
11. A client with asthma has severe wheezing and difficulty speaking. Which action is the nurse's priority?
A. Lie flat and wait
B. Delay rescue medication until bedtime
C. Use only a long-acting controller for immediate relief
D. Give prescribed rapid-acting bronchodilator and escalate if severe
Rationale: Severe symptoms can progress quickly and require rescue treatment.
Cardiovascular and Respiratory Emergencies
75 Multiple-Choice Questions • Correct Answers Highlighted • Brief Rationales
Instructions: Choose the single best answer for each question. The correct option is highlighted in yellow, followed by a brief
rationale.
Study resource: Original practice questions based on the working assumption that NR-252 covers Adult Health II /
medical-surgical nursing. This is not an official Chamberlain exam; verify topics against your current syllabus.
1. Complication prevention: A client with COPD is acutely short of breath. Which complication or risk should the nurse
address first?
A. Use a paper bag
B. Assess respiratory status and provide prescribed oxygen, titrated to the target range
C. Withhold oxygen regardless of saturation
D. Encourage breath-holding
Rationale: Oxygen should be titrated to clinical targets; hypoxemia must be treated.
2. Safety check: A client taking warfarin reports black, tarry stools. Which action best promotes client safety?
A. Take an extra dose
B. Begin aspirin without advice
C. Ignore it if there is no pain
D. Report possible gastrointestinal bleeding promptly
Rationale: Melena can indicate bleeding during anticoagulation.
3. Client scenario: A client has suspected sepsis with hypotension and altered mental status. Which instruction should the
nurse reinforce?
A. Escalate urgently and support prompt cultures, antibiotics, and fluids per protocol
B. Wait for a high fever before escalating
C. Give only oral fluids
D. Delay treatment until all test results return
Rationale: Sepsis treatment is time-sensitive; hypotension and mental-status change are concerning.
4. Client scenario: A client is receiving antibiotics and develops wheezing and facial swelling. Which instruction should the
nurse reinforce?
A. Stop the infusion if running and activate emergency response for possible anaphylaxis
B. Document as a mild expected effect
C. Continue the infusion slowly
D. Offer food and reassess tomorrow
Rationale: Airway swelling and wheezing indicate possible anaphylaxis.
, 5. During care: A client taking furosemide has weakness and dysrhythmia. Which nursing response is most appropriate?
A. Assume potassium is elevated
B. Check potassium and report possible hypokalemia
C. Encourage a laxative
D. Stop all monitoring
Rationale: Loop diuretics can lower potassium and provoke dysrhythmias.
6. Client scenario: A client with asthma has severe wheezing and difficulty speaking. Which instruction should the nurse
reinforce?
A. Lie flat and wait
B. Give prescribed rapid-acting bronchodilator and escalate if severe
C. Use only a long-acting controller for immediate relief
D. Delay rescue medication until bedtime
Rationale: Severe symptoms can progress quickly and require rescue treatment.
7. At the bedside, a client with copd is acutely short of breath. What should the nurse do next?
A. Assess respiratory status and provide prescribed oxygen, titrated to the target range
B. Use a paper bag
C. Withhold oxygen regardless of saturation
D. Encourage breath-holding
Rationale: Oxygen should be titrated to clinical targets; hypoxemia must be treated.
8. A client has suspected sepsis with hypotension and altered mental status. Which action is the nurse's priority?
A. Wait for a high fever before escalating
B. Escalate urgently and support prompt cultures, antibiotics, and fluids per protocol
C. Delay treatment until all test results return
D. Give only oral fluids
Rationale: Sepsis treatment is time-sensitive; hypotension and mental-status change are concerning.
9. Safety check: A client with asthma has severe wheezing and difficulty speaking. Which action best promotes client safety?
A. Delay rescue medication until bedtime
B. Use only a long-acting controller for immediate relief
C. Lie flat and wait
D. Give prescribed rapid-acting bronchodilator and escalate if severe
Rationale: Severe symptoms can progress quickly and require rescue treatment.
10. At the bedside, a client uses patient-controlled analgesia. What should the nurse do next?
A. Teach the client to press the button; visitors must not press it for them
B. Press repeatedly to override lockout
C. Let family activate the dose while the client sleeps
D. Share the device with another client
Rationale: Only the patient should activate PCA to reduce oversedation risk.
11. A client with asthma has severe wheezing and difficulty speaking. Which action is the nurse's priority?
A. Lie flat and wait
B. Delay rescue medication until bedtime
C. Use only a long-acting controller for immediate relief
D. Give prescribed rapid-acting bronchodilator and escalate if severe
Rationale: Severe symptoms can progress quickly and require rescue treatment.
