NSG 3130 Final Exam : 2026/2027 Questions and
100% Correct Answers Latest -Galen
OVERVIEW:
NSG 3130 Final Exam comprehensive overview covers cardiopulmonary nursing
care. Topics include left and right heart failure, cardiac output, preload and stroke
volume, fluid overload, hypertension management, COPD and asthma
exacerbation, hypoxia early and late signs, oxygen delivery devices, nasotracheal
and tracheostomy suctioning, new tracheostomy care, chest tube management,
post cardiac catheterization assessment, DVT and PE prevention, postural
drainage, and priority ABCs nursing diagnoses ensuring safe effective patient-
centered clinical practice
Correct answer highlighted in bold Green + rationales.
1. While performing an assessment, the nurse hears crackles in the patient's lung fields. The
nurse also learns that the patient is sleeping on three pillows to help with the difficulty
breathing during the night. Which condition will the nurse most likely observe written in the
patient's medical record?
A. Atrial fibrillation
B. Myocardial ischemia
C. Left-sided heart failure
D. Right-sided heart failure
Rationale: Crackles indicate pulmonary congestion from fluid backing up into pulmonary
circulation, and orthopnea (sleeping on three pillows) indicates difficulty breathing when
supine due to increased pulmonary fluid. Both are classic signs of left-sided heart failure.
Right-sided failure causes systemic congestion like peripheral edema and JVD.
2. A patient's heart rate increased from 94 to 164 beats/min. What will the nurse expect?
A. Increase in diastolic filling time
B. Decrease in hemoglobin level
C. Decrease in cardiac output
D. Increase in stroke volume
, Rationale: Severe tachycardia >150 bpm drastically shortens diastole, reducing ventricular
filling time and preload, which decreases stroke volume and thus cardiac output (CO = HR x
SV).
3. The nurse is careful to monitor a patient's cardiac output. Which goal is the nurse trying to
achieve?
A. To determine peripheral extremity circulation
B. To determine oxygenation requirements
C. To determine cardiac dysrhythmias
D. To determine ventilation status
Rationale: Cardiac output is the amount of blood pumped per minute and determines
systemic tissue perfusion and oxygen delivery. Monitoring CO helps assess oxygenation needs.
4. A nurse is caring for a group of patients. Which patient should the nurse see first?
A. A patient with hypercapnia wearing an oxygen mask
B. A patient with a chest tube ambulating with the chest tube unclamped
C. A patient with thick secretions being tracheal suctioned first and then orally
D. A patient with a new tracheostomy and tracheostomy obturator at bedside
Rationale: Patients with chronic hypercapnia rely on hypoxic drive. High-concentration oxygen
via mask can suppress that drive, worsening hypercapnia, respiratory acidosis, and leading to
respiratory arrest. This is the most immediate risk. Chest tube unclamped while ambulating is
correct, obturator at bedside is correct.
5. A patient has inadequate stroke volume related to decreased preload. Which treatment does
the nurse prepare to administer?
A. Diuretics
B. Vasodilators
C. Chest physiotherapy
D. Intravenous (IV) fluids
Rationale: Preload is determined by venous return. Decreased preload means inadequate
circulating volume. IV fluids increase intravascular volume and venous return, increasing
preload and stroke volume.
6. A nurse is preparing to suction a patient. The pulse is 65 and pulse oximetry is 94%. Which
finding will cause the nurse to stop suctioning?
A. Pulse 75
B. Pulse 80
C. Oxygen saturation 91%
D. Oxygen saturation 88%
100% Correct Answers Latest -Galen
OVERVIEW:
NSG 3130 Final Exam comprehensive overview covers cardiopulmonary nursing
care. Topics include left and right heart failure, cardiac output, preload and stroke
volume, fluid overload, hypertension management, COPD and asthma
exacerbation, hypoxia early and late signs, oxygen delivery devices, nasotracheal
and tracheostomy suctioning, new tracheostomy care, chest tube management,
post cardiac catheterization assessment, DVT and PE prevention, postural
drainage, and priority ABCs nursing diagnoses ensuring safe effective patient-
centered clinical practice
Correct answer highlighted in bold Green + rationales.
1. While performing an assessment, the nurse hears crackles in the patient's lung fields. The
nurse also learns that the patient is sleeping on three pillows to help with the difficulty
breathing during the night. Which condition will the nurse most likely observe written in the
patient's medical record?
A. Atrial fibrillation
B. Myocardial ischemia
C. Left-sided heart failure
D. Right-sided heart failure
Rationale: Crackles indicate pulmonary congestion from fluid backing up into pulmonary
circulation, and orthopnea (sleeping on three pillows) indicates difficulty breathing when
supine due to increased pulmonary fluid. Both are classic signs of left-sided heart failure.
Right-sided failure causes systemic congestion like peripheral edema and JVD.
2. A patient's heart rate increased from 94 to 164 beats/min. What will the nurse expect?
A. Increase in diastolic filling time
B. Decrease in hemoglobin level
C. Decrease in cardiac output
D. Increase in stroke volume
, Rationale: Severe tachycardia >150 bpm drastically shortens diastole, reducing ventricular
filling time and preload, which decreases stroke volume and thus cardiac output (CO = HR x
SV).
3. The nurse is careful to monitor a patient's cardiac output. Which goal is the nurse trying to
achieve?
A. To determine peripheral extremity circulation
B. To determine oxygenation requirements
C. To determine cardiac dysrhythmias
D. To determine ventilation status
Rationale: Cardiac output is the amount of blood pumped per minute and determines
systemic tissue perfusion and oxygen delivery. Monitoring CO helps assess oxygenation needs.
4. A nurse is caring for a group of patients. Which patient should the nurse see first?
A. A patient with hypercapnia wearing an oxygen mask
B. A patient with a chest tube ambulating with the chest tube unclamped
C. A patient with thick secretions being tracheal suctioned first and then orally
D. A patient with a new tracheostomy and tracheostomy obturator at bedside
Rationale: Patients with chronic hypercapnia rely on hypoxic drive. High-concentration oxygen
via mask can suppress that drive, worsening hypercapnia, respiratory acidosis, and leading to
respiratory arrest. This is the most immediate risk. Chest tube unclamped while ambulating is
correct, obturator at bedside is correct.
5. A patient has inadequate stroke volume related to decreased preload. Which treatment does
the nurse prepare to administer?
A. Diuretics
B. Vasodilators
C. Chest physiotherapy
D. Intravenous (IV) fluids
Rationale: Preload is determined by venous return. Decreased preload means inadequate
circulating volume. IV fluids increase intravascular volume and venous return, increasing
preload and stroke volume.
6. A nurse is preparing to suction a patient. The pulse is 65 and pulse oximetry is 94%. Which
finding will cause the nurse to stop suctioning?
A. Pulse 75
B. Pulse 80
C. Oxygen saturation 91%
D. Oxygen saturation 88%
