NRSG 2350 Northeastern University Final
Exam – Complete Practice Questions
GRADED A + 2026
Question 1
A patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has an arterial blood gas
showing pH 7.32, PaCO₂ 55 mmHg, and HCO₃⁻ 30 mEq/L. The nurse interprets this as:
A. Uncompensated respiratory acidosis
B. Partially compensated respiratory acidosis
C. Fully compensated respiratory acidosis
D. Uncompensated metabolic alkalosis
*Correct Answer: B. Partially compensated respiratory acidosis. *
Rationale: The pH is low (acidosis), PaCO₂ is elevated (respiratory cause), and HCO₃⁻ is
elevated (renal compensation). Since the pH is still abnormal, compensation is partial, not
complete .
Question 2
A patient with renal failure has an arterial blood gas showing pH 7.30, PaCO₂ 30 mmHg,
and HCO₃⁻ 16 mEq/L. The nurse interprets this as:
A. Uncompensated metabolic acidosis
B. Partially compensated metabolic acidosis
C. Fully compensated metabolic acidosis
D. Uncompensated respiratory alkalosis
*Correct Answer: B. Partially compensated metabolic acidosis. *
Rationale: The pH is low (acidosis), HCO₃⁻ is low (metabolic cause), and PaCO₂ is low
(respiratory compensation). Since pH remains abnormal, compensation is partial .
,Question 3
Which of the following is a characteristic finding in nephrotic syndrome?
A. Massive proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia, and edema
B. Hematuria and hypertension
C. Elevated BUN and creatinine with oliguria
D. Pyuria and bacteriuria
*Correct Answer: A. Massive proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia, and edema. *
Rationale: Nephrotic syndrome is characterized by massive proteinuria (>3.5 g/day),
hypoalbuminemia, edema, and hyperlipidemia. Hematuria and hypertension are more
characteristic of nephritic syndrome .
Question 4
Which of the following is characteristic of nephritic syndrome?
A. Proteinuria > 3.5 g/day
B. Gross hematuria, RBC casts, and hypertension
C. Hypoalbuminemia and edema
D. Hyperlipidemia
*Correct Answer: B. Gross hematuria, RBC casts, and hypertension. *
Rationale: Nephritic syndrome is characterized by hematuria (often gross), RBC casts,
hypertension, and mild proteinuria (<3.5 g/day). Nephrotic syndrome features heavy
proteinuria and edema .
Question 5
A patient with chronic kidney disease has a serum potassium of 6.2 mEq/L. Which ECG
change would the nurse expect to see?
A. Tall peaked T waves
B. Flat T waves
C. U waves
D. Prolonged QT interval
,*Correct Answer: A. Tall peaked T waves. *
Rationale: Hyperkalemia (serum potassium >5.0 mEq/L) causes tall peaked T waves,
prolonged PR interval, and widened QRS complex. Flat T waves and U waves are seen in
hypokalemia .
Question 6
A patient with renal failure has a serum calcium of 7.2 mg/dL. This finding is most likely
due to:
A. Inadequate dietary calcium intake
B. Decreased vitamin D activation by the kidneys
C. Increased PTH secretion
D. Hyperphosphatemia
*Correct Answer: B. Decreased vitamin D activation by the kidneys. *
Rationale: The kidneys convert vitamin D to its active form (calcitriol). In renal failure, this
conversion is impaired, leading to decreased calcium absorption and hypocalcemia .
Question 7
In chronic kidney disease, anemia is primarily caused by:
A. Iron deficiency
B. Vitamin B12 deficiency
C. Decreased erythropoietin production
D. Folate deficiency
*Correct Answer: C. Decreased erythropoietin production. *
Rationale: The kidneys produce erythropoietin, which stimulates red blood cell production.
In chronic kidney disease, decreased erythropoietin production leads to anemia .
, Question 8
A patient with acute kidney injury is in the oliguric phase. Which finding would the nurse
expect?
A. Urine output > 400 mL/day
B. Urine output < 400 mL/day
C. Polyuria with dilute urine
D. Normal urine output
*Correct Answer: B. Urine output < 400 mL/day. *
Rationale: The oliguric phase of acute kidney injury is characterized by urine output <400
mL/day. The diuretic phase is characterized by polyuria (>3 L/day) .
Question 9
A patient with hypothyroidism would most likely exhibit which of the following?
A. Weight loss, tachycardia, and heat intolerance
B. Weight gain, bradycardia, and cold intolerance
C. Exophthalmos and tremors
D. Hypertension and hyperglycemia
*Correct Answer: B. Weight gain, bradycardia, and cold intolerance. *
Rationale: Hypothyroidism causes decreased metabolic rate, leading to weight gain,
bradycardia, cold intolerance, fatigue, and constipation. Hyperthyroidism causes weight
loss, tachycardia, and heat intolerance .
Question 10
A patient with hyperthyroidism would most likely exhibit which of the following?
A. Weight gain, bradycardia, and cold intolerance
B. Weight loss, tachycardia, and heat intolerance
C. Hypotension and bradycardia
D. Constipation and dry skin
Exam – Complete Practice Questions
GRADED A + 2026
Question 1
A patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has an arterial blood gas
showing pH 7.32, PaCO₂ 55 mmHg, and HCO₃⁻ 30 mEq/L. The nurse interprets this as:
A. Uncompensated respiratory acidosis
B. Partially compensated respiratory acidosis
C. Fully compensated respiratory acidosis
D. Uncompensated metabolic alkalosis
*Correct Answer: B. Partially compensated respiratory acidosis. *
Rationale: The pH is low (acidosis), PaCO₂ is elevated (respiratory cause), and HCO₃⁻ is
elevated (renal compensation). Since the pH is still abnormal, compensation is partial, not
complete .
Question 2
A patient with renal failure has an arterial blood gas showing pH 7.30, PaCO₂ 30 mmHg,
and HCO₃⁻ 16 mEq/L. The nurse interprets this as:
A. Uncompensated metabolic acidosis
B. Partially compensated metabolic acidosis
C. Fully compensated metabolic acidosis
D. Uncompensated respiratory alkalosis
*Correct Answer: B. Partially compensated metabolic acidosis. *
Rationale: The pH is low (acidosis), HCO₃⁻ is low (metabolic cause), and PaCO₂ is low
(respiratory compensation). Since pH remains abnormal, compensation is partial .
,Question 3
Which of the following is a characteristic finding in nephrotic syndrome?
A. Massive proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia, and edema
B. Hematuria and hypertension
C. Elevated BUN and creatinine with oliguria
D. Pyuria and bacteriuria
*Correct Answer: A. Massive proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia, and edema. *
Rationale: Nephrotic syndrome is characterized by massive proteinuria (>3.5 g/day),
hypoalbuminemia, edema, and hyperlipidemia. Hematuria and hypertension are more
characteristic of nephritic syndrome .
Question 4
Which of the following is characteristic of nephritic syndrome?
A. Proteinuria > 3.5 g/day
B. Gross hematuria, RBC casts, and hypertension
C. Hypoalbuminemia and edema
D. Hyperlipidemia
*Correct Answer: B. Gross hematuria, RBC casts, and hypertension. *
Rationale: Nephritic syndrome is characterized by hematuria (often gross), RBC casts,
hypertension, and mild proteinuria (<3.5 g/day). Nephrotic syndrome features heavy
proteinuria and edema .
Question 5
A patient with chronic kidney disease has a serum potassium of 6.2 mEq/L. Which ECG
change would the nurse expect to see?
A. Tall peaked T waves
B. Flat T waves
C. U waves
D. Prolonged QT interval
,*Correct Answer: A. Tall peaked T waves. *
Rationale: Hyperkalemia (serum potassium >5.0 mEq/L) causes tall peaked T waves,
prolonged PR interval, and widened QRS complex. Flat T waves and U waves are seen in
hypokalemia .
Question 6
A patient with renal failure has a serum calcium of 7.2 mg/dL. This finding is most likely
due to:
A. Inadequate dietary calcium intake
B. Decreased vitamin D activation by the kidneys
C. Increased PTH secretion
D. Hyperphosphatemia
*Correct Answer: B. Decreased vitamin D activation by the kidneys. *
Rationale: The kidneys convert vitamin D to its active form (calcitriol). In renal failure, this
conversion is impaired, leading to decreased calcium absorption and hypocalcemia .
Question 7
In chronic kidney disease, anemia is primarily caused by:
A. Iron deficiency
B. Vitamin B12 deficiency
C. Decreased erythropoietin production
D. Folate deficiency
*Correct Answer: C. Decreased erythropoietin production. *
Rationale: The kidneys produce erythropoietin, which stimulates red blood cell production.
In chronic kidney disease, decreased erythropoietin production leads to anemia .
, Question 8
A patient with acute kidney injury is in the oliguric phase. Which finding would the nurse
expect?
A. Urine output > 400 mL/day
B. Urine output < 400 mL/day
C. Polyuria with dilute urine
D. Normal urine output
*Correct Answer: B. Urine output < 400 mL/day. *
Rationale: The oliguric phase of acute kidney injury is characterized by urine output <400
mL/day. The diuretic phase is characterized by polyuria (>3 L/day) .
Question 9
A patient with hypothyroidism would most likely exhibit which of the following?
A. Weight loss, tachycardia, and heat intolerance
B. Weight gain, bradycardia, and cold intolerance
C. Exophthalmos and tremors
D. Hypertension and hyperglycemia
*Correct Answer: B. Weight gain, bradycardia, and cold intolerance. *
Rationale: Hypothyroidism causes decreased metabolic rate, leading to weight gain,
bradycardia, cold intolerance, fatigue, and constipation. Hyperthyroidism causes weight
loss, tachycardia, and heat intolerance .
Question 10
A patient with hyperthyroidism would most likely exhibit which of the following?
A. Weight gain, bradycardia, and cold intolerance
B. Weight loss, tachycardia, and heat intolerance
C. Hypotension and bradycardia
D. Constipation and dry skin
