NUR 210 & NUR 242 | Nursing Fundamentals & Med-Surg
Foundations | Exam 8 Preparation 2026 |Galen College
1. When witnessing a patient sign an informed consent form for surgery, what is
the nurse’s primary responsibility?
A. Explaining the risks and benefits of the procedure
B. Ensuring the surgeon has already performed the surgery
C. Providing alternative treatment options to the patient
D. Confirming the patient is signing voluntarily and is competent
Answer: D
Rationale: The nurse’s role in informed consent is to witness the signature, ensuring the
patient is competent, acting voluntarily, and is who they say they are. The surgeon is
responsible for explaining the procedure and risks.
2. A patient is 12 hours postoperative. Which assessment finding should the
nurse prioritize as the most concerning?
A. Pain level of 6 on a scale of 0 to 10
B. Absent bowel sounds in all four quadrants
C. Serosanguineous drainage on the dressing
D. Urine output of 20 mL over the last 2 hours
Answer: D
Rationale: Urine output should be at least 30 mL/hr. 20 mL over 2 hours (10 mL/hr)
indicates potential renal failure or severe dehydration/hypovolemia and requires
immediate intervention.
,3. Which electrolyte imbalance is most commonly associated with the use of
loop diuretics like Furosemide?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hypercalcemia
D. Hypernatremia
Answer: B
Rationale: Loop diuretics increase the excretion of water, sodium, and potassium.
Hypokalemia (low potassium) is a common and dangerous side effect.
4. A patient presents with a Chvostek’s sign. Which electrolyte abnormality does
the nurse suspect?
A. Hypokalemia
B. Hypermagnesemia
C. Hyponatremia
D. Hypocalcemia
Answer: D
Rationale: Chvostek’s sign (facial twitching when the facial nerve is tapped) and
Trousseau’s sign are classic indicators of hypocalcemia or hypomagnesemia.
5. What is the priority nursing intervention for a patient who has just returned
to the floor from the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU)?
A. Assessing the surgical site for drainage
B. Administering prescribed pain medication
C. Assessing airway patency and respiratory status
D. Encouraging the patient to void
Answer: C
Rationale: According to the ABC (Airway, Breathing, Circulation) priority framework,
ensuring a patent airway is always the first priority in postoperative care.
, 6. An older adult patient is at risk for skin breakdown. Which Braden Scale score
indicates the highest risk?
A. 23
B. 18
C. 9
D. 14
Answer: C
Rationale: On the Braden Scale, a lower score indicates a higher risk for pressure injury
development. A score of 9 represents very high risk.
7. Which type of wound drainage is considered normal during the first 24 hours
after major surgery?
A. Purulent
B. Fecalulent
C. Puru-sanguineous
D. Sanguineous
Answer: D
Rationale: Sanguineous (bloody) drainage is expected immediately post-op. Purulent (pus)
indicates infection and is not normal.
8. A nurse is caring for a patient with an IV infusion. The site is cool, pale, and
swollen. What is the nurse’s first action?
A. Apply a warm compress
B. Stop the infusion and remove the catheter
C. Slow the infusion rate
D. Flush the line with normal saline
Answer: B
Rationale: Coolness, pallor, and swelling are signs of infiltration. The priority is to stop the
infusion and remove the IV to prevent further tissue damage.
Foundations | Exam 8 Preparation 2026 |Galen College
1. When witnessing a patient sign an informed consent form for surgery, what is
the nurse’s primary responsibility?
A. Explaining the risks and benefits of the procedure
B. Ensuring the surgeon has already performed the surgery
C. Providing alternative treatment options to the patient
D. Confirming the patient is signing voluntarily and is competent
Answer: D
Rationale: The nurse’s role in informed consent is to witness the signature, ensuring the
patient is competent, acting voluntarily, and is who they say they are. The surgeon is
responsible for explaining the procedure and risks.
2. A patient is 12 hours postoperative. Which assessment finding should the
nurse prioritize as the most concerning?
A. Pain level of 6 on a scale of 0 to 10
B. Absent bowel sounds in all four quadrants
C. Serosanguineous drainage on the dressing
D. Urine output of 20 mL over the last 2 hours
Answer: D
Rationale: Urine output should be at least 30 mL/hr. 20 mL over 2 hours (10 mL/hr)
indicates potential renal failure or severe dehydration/hypovolemia and requires
immediate intervention.
,3. Which electrolyte imbalance is most commonly associated with the use of
loop diuretics like Furosemide?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hypercalcemia
D. Hypernatremia
Answer: B
Rationale: Loop diuretics increase the excretion of water, sodium, and potassium.
Hypokalemia (low potassium) is a common and dangerous side effect.
4. A patient presents with a Chvostek’s sign. Which electrolyte abnormality does
the nurse suspect?
A. Hypokalemia
B. Hypermagnesemia
C. Hyponatremia
D. Hypocalcemia
Answer: D
Rationale: Chvostek’s sign (facial twitching when the facial nerve is tapped) and
Trousseau’s sign are classic indicators of hypocalcemia or hypomagnesemia.
5. What is the priority nursing intervention for a patient who has just returned
to the floor from the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU)?
A. Assessing the surgical site for drainage
B. Administering prescribed pain medication
C. Assessing airway patency and respiratory status
D. Encouraging the patient to void
Answer: C
Rationale: According to the ABC (Airway, Breathing, Circulation) priority framework,
ensuring a patent airway is always the first priority in postoperative care.
, 6. An older adult patient is at risk for skin breakdown. Which Braden Scale score
indicates the highest risk?
A. 23
B. 18
C. 9
D. 14
Answer: C
Rationale: On the Braden Scale, a lower score indicates a higher risk for pressure injury
development. A score of 9 represents very high risk.
7. Which type of wound drainage is considered normal during the first 24 hours
after major surgery?
A. Purulent
B. Fecalulent
C. Puru-sanguineous
D. Sanguineous
Answer: D
Rationale: Sanguineous (bloody) drainage is expected immediately post-op. Purulent (pus)
indicates infection and is not normal.
8. A nurse is caring for a patient with an IV infusion. The site is cool, pale, and
swollen. What is the nurse’s first action?
A. Apply a warm compress
B. Stop the infusion and remove the catheter
C. Slow the infusion rate
D. Flush the line with normal saline
Answer: B
Rationale: Coolness, pallor, and swelling are signs of infiltration. The priority is to stop the
infusion and remove the IV to prevent further tissue damage.
