NU 155 / NU155 Medical-Surgical Nursing I Exam 2
Practice Test Actual 2025/2026 with Detailed
Rationales | 100% Verified | Pass Guaranteed – A+
Graded
SECTION 1: Respiratory Disorders (Questions 1–12)
Q1: A nurse is assessing a client with community-acquired pneumonia. Which
assessment finding is most characteristic of this condition?
A. Decreased respiratory rate with periods of apnea
B. High-pitched inspiratory stridor without fever
C. Crackles and diminished breath sounds over the affected lobe with productive
cough [CORRECT]
D. Clear breath sounds bilaterally with dry, nonproductive cough
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because pneumonia presents with crackles and diminished breath
sounds over consolidated areas, accompanied by productive cough and fever,
reflecting alveolar inflammation and fluid accumulation.
Q2: A client with COPD is admitted with an oxygen saturation of 84%. Which oxygen
delivery method and flow rate is most appropriate for this client?
A. Non-rebreather mask at 15 L/min
B. Nasal cannula at 1-2 L/min or titrated to maintain SpO2 88-92% [CORRECT]
C. Simple face mask at 10 L/min
,D. Venturi mask at 40% FiO2 regardless of saturation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because COPD clients are chronically hypercapnic and rely on
hypoxic drive; high-concentration oxygen can cause CO2 narcosis, so titrated
low-flow oxygen maintaining SpO2 88-92% is safest.
Q3: A client experiencing an acute asthma exacerbation presents with wheezing,
dyspnea, and anxiety. Which medication should the nurse administer first?
A. Oral corticosteroid
B. Inhaled short-acting beta-2 agonist (albuterol) [CORRECT]
C. Oral leukotriene receptor antagonist
D. Long-acting muscarinic antagonist
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because short-acting beta-2 agonists provide rapid
bronchodilation within minutes, making them the first-line rescue medication for
acute asthma exacerbations.
Q4: A client suddenly develops pleuritic chest pain, dyspnea, tachycardia, and
hemoptysis. Which condition should the nurse suspect?
A. Pneumothorax
B. Pulmonary embolism [CORRECT]
C. Acute bronchitis
D. Asthma exacerbation
Correct Answer: B
, Rationale: Correct because the classic triad of pleuritic chest pain, dyspnea, and
hemoptysis, along with tachycardia, strongly suggests pulmonary embolism caused
by obstructed pulmonary blood flow.
Q5: Which arterial blood gas (ABG) result is most consistent with acute respiratory
failure?
A. pH 7.40, PaCO2 40, PaO2 95, HCO3 24
B. pH 7.32, PaCO2 55, PaO2 58, HCO3 26 [CORRECT]
C. pH 7.48, PaCO2 30, PaO2 85, HCO3 22
D. pH 7.38, PaCO2 42, PaO2 88, HCO3 24
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because acute respiratory failure is defined by PaO2 less than 60
mmHg or PaCO2 greater than 50 mmHg with acidosis; the ABG showing hypoxemia
(PaO2 58) and hypercapnia (PaCO2 55) with respiratory acidosis (pH 7.32) meets
diagnostic criteria.
Q6: A client has a chest tube inserted for pneumothorax. The nurse observes
continuous bubbling in the water seal chamber. Which action is most appropriate?
A. Clamp the chest tube immediately
B. Check all connections for an air leak and notify the provider [CORRECT]
C. Lower the drainage collection device below the bed
D. Milk the chest tube toward the collection chamber
Correct Answer: B
Practice Test Actual 2025/2026 with Detailed
Rationales | 100% Verified | Pass Guaranteed – A+
Graded
SECTION 1: Respiratory Disorders (Questions 1–12)
Q1: A nurse is assessing a client with community-acquired pneumonia. Which
assessment finding is most characteristic of this condition?
A. Decreased respiratory rate with periods of apnea
B. High-pitched inspiratory stridor without fever
C. Crackles and diminished breath sounds over the affected lobe with productive
cough [CORRECT]
D. Clear breath sounds bilaterally with dry, nonproductive cough
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because pneumonia presents with crackles and diminished breath
sounds over consolidated areas, accompanied by productive cough and fever,
reflecting alveolar inflammation and fluid accumulation.
Q2: A client with COPD is admitted with an oxygen saturation of 84%. Which oxygen
delivery method and flow rate is most appropriate for this client?
A. Non-rebreather mask at 15 L/min
B. Nasal cannula at 1-2 L/min or titrated to maintain SpO2 88-92% [CORRECT]
C. Simple face mask at 10 L/min
,D. Venturi mask at 40% FiO2 regardless of saturation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because COPD clients are chronically hypercapnic and rely on
hypoxic drive; high-concentration oxygen can cause CO2 narcosis, so titrated
low-flow oxygen maintaining SpO2 88-92% is safest.
Q3: A client experiencing an acute asthma exacerbation presents with wheezing,
dyspnea, and anxiety. Which medication should the nurse administer first?
A. Oral corticosteroid
B. Inhaled short-acting beta-2 agonist (albuterol) [CORRECT]
C. Oral leukotriene receptor antagonist
D. Long-acting muscarinic antagonist
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because short-acting beta-2 agonists provide rapid
bronchodilation within minutes, making them the first-line rescue medication for
acute asthma exacerbations.
Q4: A client suddenly develops pleuritic chest pain, dyspnea, tachycardia, and
hemoptysis. Which condition should the nurse suspect?
A. Pneumothorax
B. Pulmonary embolism [CORRECT]
C. Acute bronchitis
D. Asthma exacerbation
Correct Answer: B
, Rationale: Correct because the classic triad of pleuritic chest pain, dyspnea, and
hemoptysis, along with tachycardia, strongly suggests pulmonary embolism caused
by obstructed pulmonary blood flow.
Q5: Which arterial blood gas (ABG) result is most consistent with acute respiratory
failure?
A. pH 7.40, PaCO2 40, PaO2 95, HCO3 24
B. pH 7.32, PaCO2 55, PaO2 58, HCO3 26 [CORRECT]
C. pH 7.48, PaCO2 30, PaO2 85, HCO3 22
D. pH 7.38, PaCO2 42, PaO2 88, HCO3 24
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because acute respiratory failure is defined by PaO2 less than 60
mmHg or PaCO2 greater than 50 mmHg with acidosis; the ABG showing hypoxemia
(PaO2 58) and hypercapnia (PaCO2 55) with respiratory acidosis (pH 7.32) meets
diagnostic criteria.
Q6: A client has a chest tube inserted for pneumothorax. The nurse observes
continuous bubbling in the water seal chamber. Which action is most appropriate?
A. Clamp the chest tube immediately
B. Check all connections for an air leak and notify the provider [CORRECT]
C. Lower the drainage collection device below the bed
D. Milk the chest tube toward the collection chamber
Correct Answer: B
