RN TARGETED MEDICAL SURGICAL: FLUID,
ELECTROLYTE, AND ACID-BASE ONLINE
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS LATEST 2025-2026
EXAM UPDATE
A nurse is admitting a client who takes 40 mg furosemide daily for
heart failure and has experienced 3 days of vomiting. The nurse suspects
hypokalemia. Which of the following medications should the nurse
prepare to adminster?
A. Sodium polystyrene sulfonate 30 g/day
B. 0.9% sodium chloride with 10 mEq/L of potassium chloride at 100
mL/hr
C. Bumetanide 8 mg/day
D. 100 mL of dextrose 10% in water with 10 units of insulin - Answer-
B. 0.9% sodium chloride with 10 mEq/L of potassium chloride at 100
mL/hr
This IV solution will provide adequate fluid and potassium replacement
to offset the losses from vomiting. The typical amount of potassium
chloride to administer IV is 5 to 10 mEq/hr and not to exceed 20
mEq/hr. The dilution should be 1 mEq to 10 mL of 0.9% sodium
chloride.
A nurse is caring for a client who reports difficulty breathing and
tingling in both hands. His respiratory rate is 36.min and he appears very
restless. Which of the following values should the nurse anticipate to be
,outside the expected reference range if the client is experiencing
respiratory alkalosis?
A. PaO2
B. PaCO2
C. Sodium
D. Bicarbonate - Answer-B. PaCO2
With respiratory alkalosis, the PaCO2 level is decreased.
A nurse is planning care for a client who has a potassium level of 3.0
mEq/L. The nurse should plan to monitor the client for which of the
following findings?
A. hyperactive deep-tendon reflexes
B. orthostatic hypotension
C. rapid, deep respirations
D. strong, bounding pulse - Answer-B. orthostatic hypotension
Hypokalemia can lead to hypotension. The nurse should monitor the
client for orthostatic hypotension.
A nurse is caring for a client who has a sodium level of 155 mEq/L.
Which of the following IV fluids should the nurse anticipate the provider
to perscribe?
A. dextrose 5% in 0.9% sodium chloride
B. dextrose 5% in lactated Ringer's
, C. 3% sodium chloride
D. 0.45% sodium chloride - Answer-D. 0.45% sodium chloride
A sodium level of 155 mEq/L is an indication of hypernatremia. The
nurse should anticipate a prescription for a hypotonic solution.
The 0.45% sodium chloride is a hypotonic solution used to provide free
water and treat cellular dehydration, which promotes waste elimination
by the kidneys.
Dextrose 5% in 0.9% sodium chloride is a hypertonic solution.
The 3% sodium chloride is a hypertonic solution.
Lactated Ringer's solution contains sodium and other electrolytes and is
not indicated for hypernatremia.
A nurse is caring for a client who has dehydration and is receiving IV
fluids. When assessing for complications, the nurse should recognize
which of the following manifestations as a sign of fluid overload?
A. increased urine specific gravity
B. hypoactive bowel sounds
C. bounding peripheral pulses
D. decreased respiratory rate - Answer-C. bounding peripheral pulses
ELECTROLYTE, AND ACID-BASE ONLINE
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS LATEST 2025-2026
EXAM UPDATE
A nurse is admitting a client who takes 40 mg furosemide daily for
heart failure and has experienced 3 days of vomiting. The nurse suspects
hypokalemia. Which of the following medications should the nurse
prepare to adminster?
A. Sodium polystyrene sulfonate 30 g/day
B. 0.9% sodium chloride with 10 mEq/L of potassium chloride at 100
mL/hr
C. Bumetanide 8 mg/day
D. 100 mL of dextrose 10% in water with 10 units of insulin - Answer-
B. 0.9% sodium chloride with 10 mEq/L of potassium chloride at 100
mL/hr
This IV solution will provide adequate fluid and potassium replacement
to offset the losses from vomiting. The typical amount of potassium
chloride to administer IV is 5 to 10 mEq/hr and not to exceed 20
mEq/hr. The dilution should be 1 mEq to 10 mL of 0.9% sodium
chloride.
A nurse is caring for a client who reports difficulty breathing and
tingling in both hands. His respiratory rate is 36.min and he appears very
restless. Which of the following values should the nurse anticipate to be
,outside the expected reference range if the client is experiencing
respiratory alkalosis?
A. PaO2
B. PaCO2
C. Sodium
D. Bicarbonate - Answer-B. PaCO2
With respiratory alkalosis, the PaCO2 level is decreased.
A nurse is planning care for a client who has a potassium level of 3.0
mEq/L. The nurse should plan to monitor the client for which of the
following findings?
A. hyperactive deep-tendon reflexes
B. orthostatic hypotension
C. rapid, deep respirations
D. strong, bounding pulse - Answer-B. orthostatic hypotension
Hypokalemia can lead to hypotension. The nurse should monitor the
client for orthostatic hypotension.
A nurse is caring for a client who has a sodium level of 155 mEq/L.
Which of the following IV fluids should the nurse anticipate the provider
to perscribe?
A. dextrose 5% in 0.9% sodium chloride
B. dextrose 5% in lactated Ringer's
, C. 3% sodium chloride
D. 0.45% sodium chloride - Answer-D. 0.45% sodium chloride
A sodium level of 155 mEq/L is an indication of hypernatremia. The
nurse should anticipate a prescription for a hypotonic solution.
The 0.45% sodium chloride is a hypotonic solution used to provide free
water and treat cellular dehydration, which promotes waste elimination
by the kidneys.
Dextrose 5% in 0.9% sodium chloride is a hypertonic solution.
The 3% sodium chloride is a hypertonic solution.
Lactated Ringer's solution contains sodium and other electrolytes and is
not indicated for hypernatremia.
A nurse is caring for a client who has dehydration and is receiving IV
fluids. When assessing for complications, the nurse should recognize
which of the following manifestations as a sign of fluid overload?
A. increased urine specific gravity
B. hypoactive bowel sounds
C. bounding peripheral pulses
D. decreased respiratory rate - Answer-C. bounding peripheral pulses
