NUR 242 EXAM 3 MEDICAL-SURGICAL NURSING
GALEN COLLEGE OF NURSING 2026 PRACTICE
QUESTIONS | NEURO, MUSCULOSKELETAL &
SKIN NURSING REVIEW |INSTANT PDF
DOWNLOAD
Exam 3 – Neurological, Musculoskeletal & Integumentary Disorders
Overview:
Exam 3 covers neurological, musculoskeletal, and integumentary system disorders. Important
topics include stroke, seizures, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, fractures, osteoporosis,
burns, and wound care. Questions focus on assessment findings, lab interpretation, imaging, and
nursing management, emphasizing safety, mobility, pain management, and rehabilitation.
Q1. A patient with heart failure presents with dyspnea, edema, and crackles. Which is
the priority nursing intervention?
A) Administer oxygen ✅
B) Encourage fluids
C) Restrict activity
D) Monitor sodium only
Answer: A) Administer oxygen ✅
Rationale: Oxygen improves tissue perfusion and relieves hypoxia caused by pulmonary
congestion.
Q2. Which lab is most important to monitor in a patient with heart failure taking
furosemide?
A) Potassium ✅
B) Sodium only
C) Calcium only
D) Magnesium only
,Answer: A) Potassium ✅
Rationale: Loop diuretics → potassium loss → risk of arrhythmias; monitor electrolytes
closely.
Q3. Which finding is characteristic of left-sided heart failure?
A) Peripheral edema
B) Pulmonary congestion, dyspnea ✅
C) Jugular vein distention
D) Hepatomegaly
Answer: B) Pulmonary congestion, dyspnea ✅
Rationale: Left-sided failure → blood backs up into lungs, causing pulmonary symptoms.
Q4. A patient presents with chest pain and ST elevation on ECG. Which is priority?
A) Administer nitroglycerin
B) Call rapid response / activate STEMI protocol ✅
C) Restrict fluids
D) Monitor potassium only
Answer: B) Call rapid response / activate STEMI protocol ✅
Rationale: ST-elevation MI → emergent reperfusion is critical to prevent cardiac tissue
death.
Q5. Which electrolyte imbalance increases the risk of arrhythmias in heart failure?
A) Hyperkalemia ✅
B) Hypercalcemia
C) Hyponatremia only
D) Hypomagnesemia only
Answer: A) Hyperkalemia ✅
Rationale: Both hyper- and hypokalemia can precipitate arrhythmias, especially in
patients on diuretics or ACE inhibitors.
, Q6. Which intervention is priority for a patient with pulmonary edema?
A) High-Fowler’s position ✅
B) Encourage fluids
C) Restrict oxygen
D) Administer potassium supplements
Answer: A) High-Fowler’s position ✅
Rationale: Upright position improves ventilation and reduces pulmonary congestion.
Q7. A patient with COPD has PaO₂ of 55 mmHg and PaCO₂ of 60 mmHg. Which is
priority?
A) Administer oxygen carefully ✅
B) Encourage fluids only
C) Restrict activity
D) Give insulin
Answer: A) Administer oxygen carefully ✅
Rationale: COPD patients are at risk for CO₂ retention; oxygen must be titrated to avoid
worsening hypercapnia.
Q8. Which is the hallmark symptom of right-sided heart failure?
A) Pulmonary edema
B) Peripheral edema, jugular vein distention ✅
C) Dyspnea only
D) Crackles
Answer: B) Peripheral edema, jugular vein distention ✅
Rationale: Right-sided failure → blood backs up into systemic circulation, causing
edema and hepatomegaly.
Q9. Which ECG finding indicates hyperkalemia?
A) Peaked T waves ✅
B) Flattened T waves
GALEN COLLEGE OF NURSING 2026 PRACTICE
QUESTIONS | NEURO, MUSCULOSKELETAL &
SKIN NURSING REVIEW |INSTANT PDF
DOWNLOAD
Exam 3 – Neurological, Musculoskeletal & Integumentary Disorders
Overview:
Exam 3 covers neurological, musculoskeletal, and integumentary system disorders. Important
topics include stroke, seizures, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, fractures, osteoporosis,
burns, and wound care. Questions focus on assessment findings, lab interpretation, imaging, and
nursing management, emphasizing safety, mobility, pain management, and rehabilitation.
Q1. A patient with heart failure presents with dyspnea, edema, and crackles. Which is
the priority nursing intervention?
A) Administer oxygen ✅
B) Encourage fluids
C) Restrict activity
D) Monitor sodium only
Answer: A) Administer oxygen ✅
Rationale: Oxygen improves tissue perfusion and relieves hypoxia caused by pulmonary
congestion.
Q2. Which lab is most important to monitor in a patient with heart failure taking
furosemide?
A) Potassium ✅
B) Sodium only
C) Calcium only
D) Magnesium only
,Answer: A) Potassium ✅
Rationale: Loop diuretics → potassium loss → risk of arrhythmias; monitor electrolytes
closely.
Q3. Which finding is characteristic of left-sided heart failure?
A) Peripheral edema
B) Pulmonary congestion, dyspnea ✅
C) Jugular vein distention
D) Hepatomegaly
Answer: B) Pulmonary congestion, dyspnea ✅
Rationale: Left-sided failure → blood backs up into lungs, causing pulmonary symptoms.
Q4. A patient presents with chest pain and ST elevation on ECG. Which is priority?
A) Administer nitroglycerin
B) Call rapid response / activate STEMI protocol ✅
C) Restrict fluids
D) Monitor potassium only
Answer: B) Call rapid response / activate STEMI protocol ✅
Rationale: ST-elevation MI → emergent reperfusion is critical to prevent cardiac tissue
death.
Q5. Which electrolyte imbalance increases the risk of arrhythmias in heart failure?
A) Hyperkalemia ✅
B) Hypercalcemia
C) Hyponatremia only
D) Hypomagnesemia only
Answer: A) Hyperkalemia ✅
Rationale: Both hyper- and hypokalemia can precipitate arrhythmias, especially in
patients on diuretics or ACE inhibitors.
, Q6. Which intervention is priority for a patient with pulmonary edema?
A) High-Fowler’s position ✅
B) Encourage fluids
C) Restrict oxygen
D) Administer potassium supplements
Answer: A) High-Fowler’s position ✅
Rationale: Upright position improves ventilation and reduces pulmonary congestion.
Q7. A patient with COPD has PaO₂ of 55 mmHg and PaCO₂ of 60 mmHg. Which is
priority?
A) Administer oxygen carefully ✅
B) Encourage fluids only
C) Restrict activity
D) Give insulin
Answer: A) Administer oxygen carefully ✅
Rationale: COPD patients are at risk for CO₂ retention; oxygen must be titrated to avoid
worsening hypercapnia.
Q8. Which is the hallmark symptom of right-sided heart failure?
A) Pulmonary edema
B) Peripheral edema, jugular vein distention ✅
C) Dyspnea only
D) Crackles
Answer: B) Peripheral edema, jugular vein distention ✅
Rationale: Right-sided failure → blood backs up into systemic circulation, causing
edema and hepatomegaly.
Q9. Which ECG finding indicates hyperkalemia?
A) Peaked T waves ✅
B) Flattened T waves
