WGU D444 ADULT HEALTH 1 OBJECTIVE ASSESSMENT | OA V1 AND V2 –QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS)
PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF.
*Core Domains*
*· Fluid and Electrolyte Balance*
*· Perioperative Nursing Care*
*· Respiratory System Disorders*
*· Cardiovascular System Management*
*· Hematological and Immunological Disorders*
*· Endocrine System Regulation*
*· Integumentary System and Wound Care*
*· Acid-Base Imbalances*
*Introduction*
*The WGU D444 Adult Health 1 Objective Assessment is a comprehensive evaluation designed to measure a candidate's proficiency in
Section One: Questions 1–100
1. A patient is admitted with a serum sodium level of 125 mEq/L. Which nursing intervention is a priority for this patient?
A. Encouraging increased oral fluid intake
B. Administering a bolus of hypotonic IV fluids
C. Implementing seizure precautions
D. Increasing dietary sodium intake
🟢 Correct answer: C
🔴 RATIONALE: Hyponatremia (sodium < 135 mEq/L) places the patient at high risk for cerebral edema and seizures; safety through seizure
precautions is the clinical priority.
2. During the preoperative assessment, a patient reports an allergy to avocados and bananas. Which action should the nurse take?
A. Document the allergy and proceed with standard care
B. Notify the surgical team to prepare for a latex-free environment
,C. Administer an antihistamine as a prophylactic measure
D. Replace the surgical scrub solution with a non-iodine alternative
🟢 Correct answer: B
🔴 RATIONALE: Allergies to certain fruits, such as avocados, bananas, and chestnuts, are strongly associated with a high risk for latex allergy due
to cross-reactivity.
3. A nurse is caring for a patient with a chest tube following a lobectomy. The nurse notes continuous bubbling in the water-seal chamber. What
does this finding indicate?
A. The system is functioning normally
B. The lung has fully re-expanded
C. There is an air leak in the system
D. The suction pressure is set too high
🟢 Correct answer: C
🔴 RATIONALE: Intermittent bubbling is expected during expiration or coughing; however, continuous bubbling in the water-seal chamber indicates
a persistent air leak in the drainage system or at the insertion site.
4. Which clinical manifestation should the nurse expect to find in a patient experiencing Cushing's syndrome?
A. Weight loss and hypotension
B. Hyperpigmentation and hyperkalemia
C. Truncal obesity and moon face
D. Tachycardia and tremors
🟢 Correct answer: C
🔴 RATIONALE: Cushing's syndrome, caused by excessive cortisol, leads to physical changes including truncal obesity, a "buffalo hump," and a
rounded "moon face."
5. A patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is receiving oxygen via nasal cannula at 2L/min. The nurse notes the patient's
SpO2 is 89%. What is the most appropriate nursing action?
A. Increase the oxygen flow to 6L/min immediately
B. Switch the patient to a non-rebreather mask
C. Maintain the current oxygen rate and continue to monitor
D. Prepare the patient for emergency intubation
, 🟢 Correct answer: C
🔴 RATIONALE: For COPD patients, a target SpO2 of 88-92% is often acceptable to prevent the suppression of the hypoxic drive to breathe.
6. Which medication should the nurse anticipate administering to a patient with a potassium level of 6.2 mEq/L and EKG changes?
A. Potassium chloride IV piggyback
B. Sodium polystyrene sulfonate
C. Calcium gluconate
D. Spironolactone
🟢 Correct answer: C
🔴 RATIONALE: While other treatments lower potassium, calcium gluconate is administered first in the presence of EKG changes to stabilize the
myocardial cell membrane and prevent arrhythmias.
7. A nurse is assessing a patient 4 hours post-thyroidectomy. The patient reports tingling in the fingers and around the mouth. Which action is
most important?
A. Check the patient's blood pressure
B. Assess for Trousseau’s sign
C. Encourage the patient to ambulate
D. Administer a sedative
🟢 Correct answer: B
🔴 RATIONALE: Tingling (paresthesia) is a sign of hypocalcemia, a common complication of thyroid surgery if the parathyroid glands are damaged.
Trousseau’s sign helps confirm this finding.
8. A patient is prescribed warfarin for atrial fibrillation. Which laboratory value should the nurse monitor to evaluate the effectiveness of this
medication?
A. Platelet count
B. Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT)
C. International Normalized Ratio (INR)
D. Hemoglobin and hematocrit
🟢 Correct answer: C
🔴 RATIONALE: The INR is the standardized measurement used to monitor the therapeutic effect of warfarin (Coumadin) therapy.
9. In the PACU, a nurse notes a patient's blood pressure has dropped from 120/80 to 90/50 mmHg. The heart rate is 115 bpm. What is the
nurse's first priority?
PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF.
*Core Domains*
*· Fluid and Electrolyte Balance*
*· Perioperative Nursing Care*
*· Respiratory System Disorders*
*· Cardiovascular System Management*
*· Hematological and Immunological Disorders*
*· Endocrine System Regulation*
*· Integumentary System and Wound Care*
*· Acid-Base Imbalances*
*Introduction*
*The WGU D444 Adult Health 1 Objective Assessment is a comprehensive evaluation designed to measure a candidate's proficiency in
Section One: Questions 1–100
1. A patient is admitted with a serum sodium level of 125 mEq/L. Which nursing intervention is a priority for this patient?
A. Encouraging increased oral fluid intake
B. Administering a bolus of hypotonic IV fluids
C. Implementing seizure precautions
D. Increasing dietary sodium intake
🟢 Correct answer: C
🔴 RATIONALE: Hyponatremia (sodium < 135 mEq/L) places the patient at high risk for cerebral edema and seizures; safety through seizure
precautions is the clinical priority.
2. During the preoperative assessment, a patient reports an allergy to avocados and bananas. Which action should the nurse take?
A. Document the allergy and proceed with standard care
B. Notify the surgical team to prepare for a latex-free environment
,C. Administer an antihistamine as a prophylactic measure
D. Replace the surgical scrub solution with a non-iodine alternative
🟢 Correct answer: B
🔴 RATIONALE: Allergies to certain fruits, such as avocados, bananas, and chestnuts, are strongly associated with a high risk for latex allergy due
to cross-reactivity.
3. A nurse is caring for a patient with a chest tube following a lobectomy. The nurse notes continuous bubbling in the water-seal chamber. What
does this finding indicate?
A. The system is functioning normally
B. The lung has fully re-expanded
C. There is an air leak in the system
D. The suction pressure is set too high
🟢 Correct answer: C
🔴 RATIONALE: Intermittent bubbling is expected during expiration or coughing; however, continuous bubbling in the water-seal chamber indicates
a persistent air leak in the drainage system or at the insertion site.
4. Which clinical manifestation should the nurse expect to find in a patient experiencing Cushing's syndrome?
A. Weight loss and hypotension
B. Hyperpigmentation and hyperkalemia
C. Truncal obesity and moon face
D. Tachycardia and tremors
🟢 Correct answer: C
🔴 RATIONALE: Cushing's syndrome, caused by excessive cortisol, leads to physical changes including truncal obesity, a "buffalo hump," and a
rounded "moon face."
5. A patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is receiving oxygen via nasal cannula at 2L/min. The nurse notes the patient's
SpO2 is 89%. What is the most appropriate nursing action?
A. Increase the oxygen flow to 6L/min immediately
B. Switch the patient to a non-rebreather mask
C. Maintain the current oxygen rate and continue to monitor
D. Prepare the patient for emergency intubation
, 🟢 Correct answer: C
🔴 RATIONALE: For COPD patients, a target SpO2 of 88-92% is often acceptable to prevent the suppression of the hypoxic drive to breathe.
6. Which medication should the nurse anticipate administering to a patient with a potassium level of 6.2 mEq/L and EKG changes?
A. Potassium chloride IV piggyback
B. Sodium polystyrene sulfonate
C. Calcium gluconate
D. Spironolactone
🟢 Correct answer: C
🔴 RATIONALE: While other treatments lower potassium, calcium gluconate is administered first in the presence of EKG changes to stabilize the
myocardial cell membrane and prevent arrhythmias.
7. A nurse is assessing a patient 4 hours post-thyroidectomy. The patient reports tingling in the fingers and around the mouth. Which action is
most important?
A. Check the patient's blood pressure
B. Assess for Trousseau’s sign
C. Encourage the patient to ambulate
D. Administer a sedative
🟢 Correct answer: B
🔴 RATIONALE: Tingling (paresthesia) is a sign of hypocalcemia, a common complication of thyroid surgery if the parathyroid glands are damaged.
Trousseau’s sign helps confirm this finding.
8. A patient is prescribed warfarin for atrial fibrillation. Which laboratory value should the nurse monitor to evaluate the effectiveness of this
medication?
A. Platelet count
B. Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT)
C. International Normalized Ratio (INR)
D. Hemoglobin and hematocrit
🟢 Correct answer: C
🔴 RATIONALE: The INR is the standardized measurement used to monitor the therapeutic effect of warfarin (Coumadin) therapy.
9. In the PACU, a nurse notes a patient's blood pressure has dropped from 120/80 to 90/50 mmHg. The heart rate is 115 bpm. What is the
nurse's first priority?
