NUR 242 EXAM 2 MEDICAL-SURGICAL NURSING EXAM 2 GALEN
COLLEGE OF NURSING PRACTICE QUESTIONS |
CARDIOVASCULAR, RESPIRATORY & HEMATOLOGIC NURSING
REVIEW 100 Q&A
Exam 2 – Cardiovascular, Respiratory & Hematologic Disorders
Overview:
Exam 2 focuses on cardiovascular, respiratory, and hematologic system disorders. Key areas
include heart failure, myocardial infarction, arrhythmias, hypertension, COPD, asthma,
anemia, and coagulation disorders. The exam tests your ability to interpret lab values, EKGs,
and clinical symptoms, as well as prioritize nursing interventions and patient education.
Q1. A patient with DKA presents with rapid, deep respirations. What is this
called?
A) Cheyne-Stokes respirations
B) Kussmaul respirations ✅
C) Biot’s respirations
D) Apneustic respirations
Answer: B) Kussmaul respirations ✅
Rationale: Kussmaul respirations are deep, rapid breathing seen in metabolic
acidosis as the body tries to blow off CO₂ to compensate.
Q2. Which lab finding is most consistent with DKA?
A) Hypoglycemia
B) Hyperglycemia with ketonuria ✅
C) Hypernatremia only
D) Hypokalemia
,Answer: B) Hyperglycemia with ketonuria ✅
Rationale: DKA presents with high blood glucose, ketone production, and
metabolic acidosis.
Q3. A patient with HHS (Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic State) is most likely to
present with:
A) Severe dehydration, hyperglycemia, little or no ketones ✅
B) Hypoglycemia and ketonuria
C) Polyuria and hyponatremia
D) Hypotension only
Answer: A) Severe dehydration, hyperglycemia, little or no ketones ✅
Rationale: HHS occurs mainly in type 2 diabetes, causing extreme hyperglycemia
and osmotic diuresis without significant ketoacidosis.
Q4. Which intervention is priority for a patient with hyperkalemia (K+ 6.8
mEq/L)?
A) Administer IV insulin with glucose ✅
B) Restrict fluids only
C) Administer IV calcium gluconate only
D) Start diuretics immediately
Answer: A) Administer IV insulin with glucose ✅
Rationale: Insulin drives potassium into cells, lowering serum potassium
temporarily; calcium stabilizes cardiac membranes, but insulin is essential.
Q5. A patient with Addison’s disease is at risk for which electrolyte imbalance?
A) Hypernatremia and hypokalemia
B) Hyponatremia and hyperkalemia ✅
C) Hypocalcemia
D) Hypercalcemia
,Answer: B) Hyponatremia and hyperkalemia ✅
Rationale: Low aldosterone → sodium loss and potassium retention.
Q6. A patient with SIADH is experiencing confusion and nausea. Which nursing
intervention is priority?
A) Encourage oral fluids
B) Restrict fluids ✅
C) Administer high-sodium diet only
D) Encourage diuretics immediately
Answer: B) Restrict fluids ✅
Rationale: Fluid restriction prevents further water retention, correcting
hyponatremia and reducing risk of water intoxication.
Q7. Which lab finding indicates early kidney damage in diabetes?
A) Elevated BUN and creatinine
B) Proteinuria >300 mg/day
C) Microalbuminuria ✅
D) Anuria
Answer: C) Microalbuminuria ✅
Rationale: 30–300 mg/day albumin in urine is the earliest sign of diabetic
nephropathy.
Q8. Which symptom is most characteristic of hyperthyroidism?
A) Weight gain and constipation
B) Heat intolerance, tachycardia, weight loss ✅
C) Bradycardia and fatigue
D) Cold intolerance
Answer: B) Heat intolerance, tachycardia, weight loss ✅
Rationale: Hyperthyroidism → increased metabolism and sympathetic activity.
, Q9. Which medication is used to treat hypothyroidism?
A) Levothyroxine ✅
B) Propylthiouracil
C) Hydrocortisone
D) Insulin
Answer: A) Levothyroxine ✅
Rationale: Levothyroxine replaces T4, correcting hypothyroidism.
Q10. A patient in thyroid storm presents with tachycardia, fever, and agitation.
Which is priority?
A) Administer antithyroid medications ✅
B) Restrict fluids
C) Give levothyroxine
D) Encourage high-calorie diet
Answer: A) Administer antithyroid medications ✅
Rationale: Thyroid storm is life-threatening; rapid control of hormone synthesis
is critical.
Q11. Which electrolyte imbalance is most dangerous in CKD patients?
A) Hypocalcemia
B) Hyperkalemia ✅
C) Hyponatremia
D) Hypomagnesemia
Answer: B) Hyperkalemia ✅
Rationale: CKD → impaired potassium excretion → arrhythmias and cardiac
arrest risk.
COLLEGE OF NURSING PRACTICE QUESTIONS |
CARDIOVASCULAR, RESPIRATORY & HEMATOLOGIC NURSING
REVIEW 100 Q&A
Exam 2 – Cardiovascular, Respiratory & Hematologic Disorders
Overview:
Exam 2 focuses on cardiovascular, respiratory, and hematologic system disorders. Key areas
include heart failure, myocardial infarction, arrhythmias, hypertension, COPD, asthma,
anemia, and coagulation disorders. The exam tests your ability to interpret lab values, EKGs,
and clinical symptoms, as well as prioritize nursing interventions and patient education.
Q1. A patient with DKA presents with rapid, deep respirations. What is this
called?
A) Cheyne-Stokes respirations
B) Kussmaul respirations ✅
C) Biot’s respirations
D) Apneustic respirations
Answer: B) Kussmaul respirations ✅
Rationale: Kussmaul respirations are deep, rapid breathing seen in metabolic
acidosis as the body tries to blow off CO₂ to compensate.
Q2. Which lab finding is most consistent with DKA?
A) Hypoglycemia
B) Hyperglycemia with ketonuria ✅
C) Hypernatremia only
D) Hypokalemia
,Answer: B) Hyperglycemia with ketonuria ✅
Rationale: DKA presents with high blood glucose, ketone production, and
metabolic acidosis.
Q3. A patient with HHS (Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic State) is most likely to
present with:
A) Severe dehydration, hyperglycemia, little or no ketones ✅
B) Hypoglycemia and ketonuria
C) Polyuria and hyponatremia
D) Hypotension only
Answer: A) Severe dehydration, hyperglycemia, little or no ketones ✅
Rationale: HHS occurs mainly in type 2 diabetes, causing extreme hyperglycemia
and osmotic diuresis without significant ketoacidosis.
Q4. Which intervention is priority for a patient with hyperkalemia (K+ 6.8
mEq/L)?
A) Administer IV insulin with glucose ✅
B) Restrict fluids only
C) Administer IV calcium gluconate only
D) Start diuretics immediately
Answer: A) Administer IV insulin with glucose ✅
Rationale: Insulin drives potassium into cells, lowering serum potassium
temporarily; calcium stabilizes cardiac membranes, but insulin is essential.
Q5. A patient with Addison’s disease is at risk for which electrolyte imbalance?
A) Hypernatremia and hypokalemia
B) Hyponatremia and hyperkalemia ✅
C) Hypocalcemia
D) Hypercalcemia
,Answer: B) Hyponatremia and hyperkalemia ✅
Rationale: Low aldosterone → sodium loss and potassium retention.
Q6. A patient with SIADH is experiencing confusion and nausea. Which nursing
intervention is priority?
A) Encourage oral fluids
B) Restrict fluids ✅
C) Administer high-sodium diet only
D) Encourage diuretics immediately
Answer: B) Restrict fluids ✅
Rationale: Fluid restriction prevents further water retention, correcting
hyponatremia and reducing risk of water intoxication.
Q7. Which lab finding indicates early kidney damage in diabetes?
A) Elevated BUN and creatinine
B) Proteinuria >300 mg/day
C) Microalbuminuria ✅
D) Anuria
Answer: C) Microalbuminuria ✅
Rationale: 30–300 mg/day albumin in urine is the earliest sign of diabetic
nephropathy.
Q8. Which symptom is most characteristic of hyperthyroidism?
A) Weight gain and constipation
B) Heat intolerance, tachycardia, weight loss ✅
C) Bradycardia and fatigue
D) Cold intolerance
Answer: B) Heat intolerance, tachycardia, weight loss ✅
Rationale: Hyperthyroidism → increased metabolism and sympathetic activity.
, Q9. Which medication is used to treat hypothyroidism?
A) Levothyroxine ✅
B) Propylthiouracil
C) Hydrocortisone
D) Insulin
Answer: A) Levothyroxine ✅
Rationale: Levothyroxine replaces T4, correcting hypothyroidism.
Q10. A patient in thyroid storm presents with tachycardia, fever, and agitation.
Which is priority?
A) Administer antithyroid medications ✅
B) Restrict fluids
C) Give levothyroxine
D) Encourage high-calorie diet
Answer: A) Administer antithyroid medications ✅
Rationale: Thyroid storm is life-threatening; rapid control of hormone synthesis
is critical.
Q11. Which electrolyte imbalance is most dangerous in CKD patients?
A) Hypocalcemia
B) Hyperkalemia ✅
C) Hyponatremia
D) Hypomagnesemia
Answer: B) Hyperkalemia ✅
Rationale: CKD → impaired potassium excretion → arrhythmias and cardiac
arrest risk.
