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NUR 170 – Complete Practice Test (Questions and Answers
Rationales | 2026 Updated | 100% correct)
EXAM 1: Fluid & Electrolytes, Acid-Base Balances, and Perioperative Nursing
1. A patient with heart failure is prescribed furosemide (Lasix). The nurse should
monitor the patient for which electrolyte imbalance?
A) Hyperkalemia
B) Hypokalemia (loop diuretics cause potassium loss)
C) Hypercalcemia
D) Hypermagnesemia
Answer: B
Rationale: Loop diuretics (furosemide) block sodium reabsorption in the loop of
Henle, which also increases potassium excretion, leading to hypokalemia.
2. The nurse is assessing a patient who has been vomiting for 24 hours. The
nurse suspects the patient is experiencing which acid-base disturbance?
A) Respiratory acidosis
B) Metabolic alkalosis (loss of gastric acid [HCl] leads to alkalosis)
C) Metabolic acidosis
D) Respiratory alkalosis
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Answer: B
Rationale: Vomiting causes the loss of gastric acid (HCl). The loss of hydrogen ions
leads to metabolic alkalosis.
3. A patient's ABG results show: pH 7.32, PaCO₂ 48 mmHg, HCO₃⁻ 28 mEq/L.
What is the acid-base disturbance?
A) Metabolic acidosis
B) Respiratory acidosis with metabolic compensation (the high PaCO₂ indicates
respiratory acidosis; the elevated HCO₃⁻ indicates the kidneys are retaining
bicarbonate to compensate)
C) Metabolic alkalosis
D) Respiratory alkalosis
Answer: B
Rationale: The pH is low (acidemia). The PaCO₂ is high (> 45 mmHg), indicating
respiratory acidosis. The HCO₃⁻ is high (> 26 mEq/L), indicating metabolic
compensation (the kidneys are retaining HCO₃⁻ to raise the pH).
4. The nurse is preparing to administer 0.9% Normal Saline (NS) IV to a patient
with hypovolemia. Which of the following is a key nursing consideration?
A) This is a hypotonic solution.
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B) This is an isotonic solution that expands intravascular volume.
C) This is a hypertonic solution.
D) This solution should be used cautiously in patients with heart failure due to the
risk of fluid overload.
Answer: B
Rationale: 0.9% NS is an isotonic solution used to expand intravascular volume.
However, it must be used cautiously in patients with heart failure because it can
contribute to fluid overload.
5. The nurse is caring for a patient who is receiving an IV infusion of Lactated
Ringer's (LR). The nurse understands that LR is preferred over Normal Saline in
which of the following situations?
A) Hypovolemia
B) Metabolic acidosis (LR contains lactate, which is converted to bicarbonate in
the liver, helping to buffer acidosis)
C) Hyperkalemia
D) Hypernatremia
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Answer: B
Rationale: Lactated Ringer's contains lactate, which is converted to bicarbonate in
the liver. This makes it a better choice for patients with metabolic acidosis.
6. A patient is experiencing severe diarrhea. The patient is at highest risk for
which of the following fluid and electrolyte imbalances?
A) Hyperkalemia and hypernatremia
B) Hypokalemia, hyponatremia, and dehydration
C) Hypercalcemia
D) Hypermagnesemia
Answer: B
Rationale: Diarrhea causes the loss of water, sodium, and potassium. The patient
is at risk for dehydration, hyponatremia, and hypokalemia.
7. The nurse is teaching a patient with heart failure about daily weight
monitoring. Which of the following statements by the patient indicates an
understanding of the teaching?
A) "I will weigh myself once a week."
B) "I will weigh myself daily at the same time each morning, after voiding, before
breakfast, and record the weight."
NUR 170 – Complete Practice Test (Questions and Answers
Rationales | 2026 Updated | 100% correct)
EXAM 1: Fluid & Electrolytes, Acid-Base Balances, and Perioperative Nursing
1. A patient with heart failure is prescribed furosemide (Lasix). The nurse should
monitor the patient for which electrolyte imbalance?
A) Hyperkalemia
B) Hypokalemia (loop diuretics cause potassium loss)
C) Hypercalcemia
D) Hypermagnesemia
Answer: B
Rationale: Loop diuretics (furosemide) block sodium reabsorption in the loop of
Henle, which also increases potassium excretion, leading to hypokalemia.
2. The nurse is assessing a patient who has been vomiting for 24 hours. The
nurse suspects the patient is experiencing which acid-base disturbance?
A) Respiratory acidosis
B) Metabolic alkalosis (loss of gastric acid [HCl] leads to alkalosis)
C) Metabolic acidosis
D) Respiratory alkalosis
, Page |2
Answer: B
Rationale: Vomiting causes the loss of gastric acid (HCl). The loss of hydrogen ions
leads to metabolic alkalosis.
3. A patient's ABG results show: pH 7.32, PaCO₂ 48 mmHg, HCO₃⁻ 28 mEq/L.
What is the acid-base disturbance?
A) Metabolic acidosis
B) Respiratory acidosis with metabolic compensation (the high PaCO₂ indicates
respiratory acidosis; the elevated HCO₃⁻ indicates the kidneys are retaining
bicarbonate to compensate)
C) Metabolic alkalosis
D) Respiratory alkalosis
Answer: B
Rationale: The pH is low (acidemia). The PaCO₂ is high (> 45 mmHg), indicating
respiratory acidosis. The HCO₃⁻ is high (> 26 mEq/L), indicating metabolic
compensation (the kidneys are retaining HCO₃⁻ to raise the pH).
4. The nurse is preparing to administer 0.9% Normal Saline (NS) IV to a patient
with hypovolemia. Which of the following is a key nursing consideration?
A) This is a hypotonic solution.
, Page |3
B) This is an isotonic solution that expands intravascular volume.
C) This is a hypertonic solution.
D) This solution should be used cautiously in patients with heart failure due to the
risk of fluid overload.
Answer: B
Rationale: 0.9% NS is an isotonic solution used to expand intravascular volume.
However, it must be used cautiously in patients with heart failure because it can
contribute to fluid overload.
5. The nurse is caring for a patient who is receiving an IV infusion of Lactated
Ringer's (LR). The nurse understands that LR is preferred over Normal Saline in
which of the following situations?
A) Hypovolemia
B) Metabolic acidosis (LR contains lactate, which is converted to bicarbonate in
the liver, helping to buffer acidosis)
C) Hyperkalemia
D) Hypernatremia
, Page |4
Answer: B
Rationale: Lactated Ringer's contains lactate, which is converted to bicarbonate in
the liver. This makes it a better choice for patients with metabolic acidosis.
6. A patient is experiencing severe diarrhea. The patient is at highest risk for
which of the following fluid and electrolyte imbalances?
A) Hyperkalemia and hypernatremia
B) Hypokalemia, hyponatremia, and dehydration
C) Hypercalcemia
D) Hypermagnesemia
Answer: B
Rationale: Diarrhea causes the loss of water, sodium, and potassium. The patient
is at risk for dehydration, hyponatremia, and hypokalemia.
7. The nurse is teaching a patient with heart failure about daily weight
monitoring. Which of the following statements by the patient indicates an
understanding of the teaching?
A) "I will weigh myself once a week."
B) "I will weigh myself daily at the same time each morning, after voiding, before
breakfast, and record the weight."
