NURS 201 Quiz 2 V1 | NURS 201 Medical
Surgical Nursing | Actual Q&A with
Rationale (NURS201 Quiz 2) | West Coast
University
1. A patient is admitted with a serum potassium level of 6.2 mEq/L. Which of the following
nursing interventions is the highest priority?
A. Administer a dose of oral potassium supplements.
B. Encourage the consumption of bananas and orange juice.
C. Place the patient on a continuous cardiac monitor.
D. Perform a focused neurological assessment every 4 hours.
Answer: C
Rationale: A serum potassium level of 6.2 mEq/L indicates hyperkalemia, which carries a
high risk of life-threatening cardiac dysrhythmias. Monitoring the heart’s electrical activity
is the priority to identify changes like peaked T waves or widened QRS complexes.
Immediate notification of the provider and potential administration of medications like
insulin with dextrose or sodium polystyrene sulfonate would follow.
2. An arterial blood gas (ABG) report shows pH 7.30, PaCO2 52 mm Hg, and HCO3 24 mEq/L.
How should the nurse interpret these findings?
A. Metabolic Acidosis
,B. Respiratory Acidosis
C. Respiratory Alkalosis
D. Metabolic Alkalosis
Answer: B
Rationale: The pH is below the normal range of 7.35 to 7.45, indicating acidosis. The
PaCO2 is elevated above the normal range of 35 to 45 mm Hg, which causes the drop in pH.
Since the bicarbonate level is within the normal range, this represents an uncompensated
respiratory acidosis often seen in hypoventilation.
3. Which clinical manifestation should the nurse expect to observe in a patient with a serum
calcium level of 7.8 mg/dL?
A. Shortened QT interval on EKG
B. Hypoactive bowel sounds
C. Positive Trousseau’s sign
D. Muscle flaccidity
Answer: C
Rationale: A serum calcium level of 7.8 mg/dL is below the normal range of 8.5 to 10.5
mg/dL, indicating hypocalcemia. Hypocalcemia increases neuromuscular excitability,
leading to signs such as Trousseau’s sign or Chvostek’s sign. The nurse should also monitor
for laryngeal spasms and seizures which are medical emergencies.
, 4. A postoperative patient has a heart rate of 115 bpm, temperature of 102.4 F, and muscle
rigidity. Which medication does the nurse anticipate administering?
A. Naloxone
B. Dantrolene
C. Atropine
D. Furosemide
Answer: B
Rationale: The combination of tachycardia, high fever, and muscle rigidity after anesthesia
is highly suggestive of malignant hyperthermia. This is a rare but life-threatening
pharmacogenetic disorder triggered by certain volatile anesthetics or succinylcholine.
Dantrolene is the specific skeletal muscle relaxant used to treat this metabolic crisis.
5. During a pre-operative assessment, a patient reports an allergy to bananas and avocados.
For which allergy should the nurse specifically screen the patient?
A. Iodine
B. Latex
C. Penicillin
D. Propofol
Answer: B
Surgical Nursing | Actual Q&A with
Rationale (NURS201 Quiz 2) | West Coast
University
1. A patient is admitted with a serum potassium level of 6.2 mEq/L. Which of the following
nursing interventions is the highest priority?
A. Administer a dose of oral potassium supplements.
B. Encourage the consumption of bananas and orange juice.
C. Place the patient on a continuous cardiac monitor.
D. Perform a focused neurological assessment every 4 hours.
Answer: C
Rationale: A serum potassium level of 6.2 mEq/L indicates hyperkalemia, which carries a
high risk of life-threatening cardiac dysrhythmias. Monitoring the heart’s electrical activity
is the priority to identify changes like peaked T waves or widened QRS complexes.
Immediate notification of the provider and potential administration of medications like
insulin with dextrose or sodium polystyrene sulfonate would follow.
2. An arterial blood gas (ABG) report shows pH 7.30, PaCO2 52 mm Hg, and HCO3 24 mEq/L.
How should the nurse interpret these findings?
A. Metabolic Acidosis
,B. Respiratory Acidosis
C. Respiratory Alkalosis
D. Metabolic Alkalosis
Answer: B
Rationale: The pH is below the normal range of 7.35 to 7.45, indicating acidosis. The
PaCO2 is elevated above the normal range of 35 to 45 mm Hg, which causes the drop in pH.
Since the bicarbonate level is within the normal range, this represents an uncompensated
respiratory acidosis often seen in hypoventilation.
3. Which clinical manifestation should the nurse expect to observe in a patient with a serum
calcium level of 7.8 mg/dL?
A. Shortened QT interval on EKG
B. Hypoactive bowel sounds
C. Positive Trousseau’s sign
D. Muscle flaccidity
Answer: C
Rationale: A serum calcium level of 7.8 mg/dL is below the normal range of 8.5 to 10.5
mg/dL, indicating hypocalcemia. Hypocalcemia increases neuromuscular excitability,
leading to signs such as Trousseau’s sign or Chvostek’s sign. The nurse should also monitor
for laryngeal spasms and seizures which are medical emergencies.
, 4. A postoperative patient has a heart rate of 115 bpm, temperature of 102.4 F, and muscle
rigidity. Which medication does the nurse anticipate administering?
A. Naloxone
B. Dantrolene
C. Atropine
D. Furosemide
Answer: B
Rationale: The combination of tachycardia, high fever, and muscle rigidity after anesthesia
is highly suggestive of malignant hyperthermia. This is a rare but life-threatening
pharmacogenetic disorder triggered by certain volatile anesthetics or succinylcholine.
Dantrolene is the specific skeletal muscle relaxant used to treat this metabolic crisis.
5. During a pre-operative assessment, a patient reports an allergy to bananas and avocados.
For which allergy should the nurse specifically screen the patient?
A. Iodine
B. Latex
C. Penicillin
D. Propofol
Answer: B
