NR341 Exam 1 – End-of-Life Care, Electrolytes,
ABGs & Nursing Priorities|Verified Questions with
A+ Graded Rationales Latest Updated 2026
The nurse is caring for an unresponsive terminally ill patient who has 20-second periods of
apnea followed by periods of deep and rapid breathing. Which action would the nurse take?
Document the patient's respiratory pattern.
The nurse is caring for a terminally ill patient who is experiencing continuous and severe pain.
How would the nurse schedule the administration of opioid pain medications?
Plan around-the-clock routine administration of prescribed analgesics
A hospice nurse who has become close to a terminally ill patient is present in the home when
the patient dies and feels saddened and tearful as the family members begin to cry. Which
action would the nurse take at this time?
Cry along with the patient's family members
A middle-aged patient tells the nurse, "My mother died 2 months ago. I have been thinking
about all the good times we shared together every day." Which type of grief is the patient
describing?
Adaptive grief
The son of a dying patient tells the nurse, "Mother doesn't respond any more when I visit. I
don't think she knows that I am here." Which response would the nurse provide?
Withdrawal can be a normal response in the process of dying."
Which patient would the nurse refer for hospice care?
A 40-yr-old patient with AIDS-related dementia who needs pain management
The nurse admits a terminally ill patient to the hospital. Which action would the nurse plan to
complete first?
Determine the patient's wishes about end-of-life care.
The home health nurse cares for an alert and oriented older adult patient who has a history of
dehydration. Which instruction would the nurse give this patient?
Increase the fluids if your mouth feels dry
, IV potassium chloride (KCl) 60 mEq is prescribed for a patient with severe hypokalemia. Which
action would the nurse take?
Infuse the KCl at a maximum rate of 10 mEq/hr
A patient who was involved in a motor vehicle crash has had a tracheostomy placed to allow for
continued mechanical ventilation. How would the nurse interpret the following arterial blood
gas results: pH 7.48, PaO2 85 mm Hg, PaCO2 32 mm Hg, and HCO3 25 mEq/L?
Respiratory alkalosis
A patient receives 3% NaCl solution for correction of hyponatremia. Which assessment
is most important for the nurse to monitor while the patient is receiving this infusion?
Lung sounds
A patient who has been receiving diuretic therapy is admitted to the emergency department
with a serum potassium level of 3.0 mEq/L. The nurse would alert the health care provider
immediately that the patient is on which medication?
Digoxin (Lanoxin) 0.25 mg/day
Which action would the nurse take when caring for a patient who has a central venous access
device (CVAD)?
Use the push-pause method to flush the CVAD after giving medications.
An older adult patient receiving iso-osmolar continuous enteral nutrition develops restlessness,
agitation, and weakness. Which laboratory result would the nurse report to the health care
provider immediately?
Na+ 154 mEq/L (154 mmol/L)
A patient with renal failure who arrives for outpatient hemodialysis is unresponsive to questions
and has decreased deep tendon reflexes. Family members report that the patient has been
taking aluminum hydroxide/magnesium hydroxide suspension (Maalox) at home for indigestion.
Which action would the nurse take first?
Notify the patient's health care provider
A patient who had a transverse colectomy for diverticulosis 18 hours ago has nasogastric
suction. The patient reports anxiety and incisional pain. The patient’s respiratory rate is 32
breaths/min, and the arterial blood gases (ABGs) indicate respiratory alkalosis with a normal
arterial oxygen level. Which action would the nurse take first?
Give the patient the PRN IV morphine sulfate 4 mg.
ABGs & Nursing Priorities|Verified Questions with
A+ Graded Rationales Latest Updated 2026
The nurse is caring for an unresponsive terminally ill patient who has 20-second periods of
apnea followed by periods of deep and rapid breathing. Which action would the nurse take?
Document the patient's respiratory pattern.
The nurse is caring for a terminally ill patient who is experiencing continuous and severe pain.
How would the nurse schedule the administration of opioid pain medications?
Plan around-the-clock routine administration of prescribed analgesics
A hospice nurse who has become close to a terminally ill patient is present in the home when
the patient dies and feels saddened and tearful as the family members begin to cry. Which
action would the nurse take at this time?
Cry along with the patient's family members
A middle-aged patient tells the nurse, "My mother died 2 months ago. I have been thinking
about all the good times we shared together every day." Which type of grief is the patient
describing?
Adaptive grief
The son of a dying patient tells the nurse, "Mother doesn't respond any more when I visit. I
don't think she knows that I am here." Which response would the nurse provide?
Withdrawal can be a normal response in the process of dying."
Which patient would the nurse refer for hospice care?
A 40-yr-old patient with AIDS-related dementia who needs pain management
The nurse admits a terminally ill patient to the hospital. Which action would the nurse plan to
complete first?
Determine the patient's wishes about end-of-life care.
The home health nurse cares for an alert and oriented older adult patient who has a history of
dehydration. Which instruction would the nurse give this patient?
Increase the fluids if your mouth feels dry
, IV potassium chloride (KCl) 60 mEq is prescribed for a patient with severe hypokalemia. Which
action would the nurse take?
Infuse the KCl at a maximum rate of 10 mEq/hr
A patient who was involved in a motor vehicle crash has had a tracheostomy placed to allow for
continued mechanical ventilation. How would the nurse interpret the following arterial blood
gas results: pH 7.48, PaO2 85 mm Hg, PaCO2 32 mm Hg, and HCO3 25 mEq/L?
Respiratory alkalosis
A patient receives 3% NaCl solution for correction of hyponatremia. Which assessment
is most important for the nurse to monitor while the patient is receiving this infusion?
Lung sounds
A patient who has been receiving diuretic therapy is admitted to the emergency department
with a serum potassium level of 3.0 mEq/L. The nurse would alert the health care provider
immediately that the patient is on which medication?
Digoxin (Lanoxin) 0.25 mg/day
Which action would the nurse take when caring for a patient who has a central venous access
device (CVAD)?
Use the push-pause method to flush the CVAD after giving medications.
An older adult patient receiving iso-osmolar continuous enteral nutrition develops restlessness,
agitation, and weakness. Which laboratory result would the nurse report to the health care
provider immediately?
Na+ 154 mEq/L (154 mmol/L)
A patient with renal failure who arrives for outpatient hemodialysis is unresponsive to questions
and has decreased deep tendon reflexes. Family members report that the patient has been
taking aluminum hydroxide/magnesium hydroxide suspension (Maalox) at home for indigestion.
Which action would the nurse take first?
Notify the patient's health care provider
A patient who had a transverse colectomy for diverticulosis 18 hours ago has nasogastric
suction. The patient reports anxiety and incisional pain. The patient’s respiratory rate is 32
breaths/min, and the arterial blood gases (ABGs) indicate respiratory alkalosis with a normal
arterial oxygen level. Which action would the nurse take first?
Give the patient the PRN IV morphine sulfate 4 mg.
