NUR 265
Exam 1 Medical-Surgical Nursing
I (Galen College Level)
Exam 1 • Practice Questions & Rationales
UPDATE
Actual Questions & Verified Answers
with Detailed Clinical Rationales
Practice Questions with Rationales
Galen College of Nursing
NUR 265
✓ 100% Verified Answers
✓ Complete Rationales Included
Exam (elaborations)
Instant PDF Download • Ready for Study
,NUR 265 Exam 1: Medical-Surgical Nursing I (Galen College Level) 2026/2027 UPDATE – Galen
1. A patient is admitted with a serum potassium level of 6.8 mEq/L. Which electrocardiogram
(ECG) change should the nurse expect to see first?
A. Tall, peaked T waves
B. Prolonged ST segment
C. Prominent U waves
D. Shortened PR interval
Answer: A
Rationale: Hyperkalemia (K+ > 5.0) causes tall, peaked T waves on an ECG. As levels rise,
the PR interval prolongs, the QRS widens, and the P wave may disappear. U waves are
typical of hypokalemia.
2. A patient’s arterial blood gas (ABG) results are: pH 7.31, PaCO2 52 mmHg, and HCO3 27
mEq/L. How should the nurse interpret these findings?
A. Partially compensated metabolic acidosis
B. Fully compensated metabolic alkalosis
C. Uncompensated respiratory acidosis
D. Partially compensated respiratory acidosis
, Answer: D
Rationale: The pH is low (acidosis), the PaCO2 is high (respiratory cause), and the HCO3 is
slightly high, indicating the kidneys have begun to retain bicarbonate to compensate, but
the pH is not yet normal, so it is partially compensated.
3. Which electrolyte imbalance is a patient at highest risk for if they are experiencing
excessive nasogastric (NG) suctioning?
A. Hypokalemia
B. Hypernatremia
C. Hypermagnesemia
D. Hypocalcemia
Answer: A
Rationale: Gastric secretions are rich in potassium, chloride, and hydrogen ions. Excessive
suctioning leads to the loss of these electrolytes, primarily causing hypokalemia and
metabolic alkalosis.
4. A patient is scheduled for surgery and the nurse is reviewing the preoperative checklist.
Which finding must be reported to the surgeon immediately?
A. A serum creatinine of 0.8 mg/dL
B. Hemoglobin of 13.5 g/dL
C. A serum potassium level of 3.2 mEq/L
Exam 1 Medical-Surgical Nursing
I (Galen College Level)
Exam 1 • Practice Questions & Rationales
UPDATE
Actual Questions & Verified Answers
with Detailed Clinical Rationales
Practice Questions with Rationales
Galen College of Nursing
NUR 265
✓ 100% Verified Answers
✓ Complete Rationales Included
Exam (elaborations)
Instant PDF Download • Ready for Study
,NUR 265 Exam 1: Medical-Surgical Nursing I (Galen College Level) 2026/2027 UPDATE – Galen
1. A patient is admitted with a serum potassium level of 6.8 mEq/L. Which electrocardiogram
(ECG) change should the nurse expect to see first?
A. Tall, peaked T waves
B. Prolonged ST segment
C. Prominent U waves
D. Shortened PR interval
Answer: A
Rationale: Hyperkalemia (K+ > 5.0) causes tall, peaked T waves on an ECG. As levels rise,
the PR interval prolongs, the QRS widens, and the P wave may disappear. U waves are
typical of hypokalemia.
2. A patient’s arterial blood gas (ABG) results are: pH 7.31, PaCO2 52 mmHg, and HCO3 27
mEq/L. How should the nurse interpret these findings?
A. Partially compensated metabolic acidosis
B. Fully compensated metabolic alkalosis
C. Uncompensated respiratory acidosis
D. Partially compensated respiratory acidosis
, Answer: D
Rationale: The pH is low (acidosis), the PaCO2 is high (respiratory cause), and the HCO3 is
slightly high, indicating the kidneys have begun to retain bicarbonate to compensate, but
the pH is not yet normal, so it is partially compensated.
3. Which electrolyte imbalance is a patient at highest risk for if they are experiencing
excessive nasogastric (NG) suctioning?
A. Hypokalemia
B. Hypernatremia
C. Hypermagnesemia
D. Hypocalcemia
Answer: A
Rationale: Gastric secretions are rich in potassium, chloride, and hydrogen ions. Excessive
suctioning leads to the loss of these electrolytes, primarily causing hypokalemia and
metabolic alkalosis.
4. A patient is scheduled for surgery and the nurse is reviewing the preoperative checklist.
Which finding must be reported to the surgeon immediately?
A. A serum creatinine of 0.8 mg/dL
B. Hemoglobin of 13.5 g/dL
C. A serum potassium level of 3.2 mEq/L
