NUR 2502 EXAM 2 — STUDY GUIDE | LATEST UPDATE
2026/2027 | ACTUAL EXAM | PRACTICE QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS | EXAM REVIEW | 100% CORRECT
ANSWERS | VERIFIED SOLUTIONS
1.
A patient has a serum potassium level of 2.8 mEq/L. Which of the
following ECG changes is most likely?
A) Tall, peaked T waves
B) Prominent U waves and flattened T waves
C) Widened QRS complex only
D) Shortened QT interval
Correct Answer: B
Hypokalemia (K+ <3.5 mEq/L) causes flattened T waves, prominent U
waves, and ST depression. Tall peaked T waves occur with hyperkalemia;
widened QRS and shortened QT are not classic hypokalemia findings.
2.
Which of the following is the normal range for serum sodium?
A) 125–135 mEq/L
B) 135–145 mEq/L
C) 145–155 mEq/L
D) 150–160 mEq/L
Correct Answer: B
Normal serum sodium is 135–145 mEq/L. Values below 135 indicate
,hyponatremia; above 145 indicate hypernatremia. Options A, C, and D
are outside normal limits.
3.
A patient with heart failure is receiving furosemide. Which laboratory
value should the nurse monitor most closely?
A) Serum calcium
B) Serum potassium
C) Serum glucose
D) Serum creatinine only
Correct Answer: B
Furosemide is a loop diuretic that causes potassium loss, leading to
hypokalemia, which increases the risk of arrhythmias. Serum potassium
must be monitored closely. Calcium and glucose are less affected;
creatinine is also monitored but potassium is priority for diuretic
therapy.
4.
Which of the following arterial blood gas results indicates metabolic
acidosis?
A) pH 7.30, PaCO₂ 35 mm Hg, HCO₃⁻ 18 mEq/L
B) pH 7.48, PaCO₂ 40 mm Hg, HCO₃⁻ 30 mEq/L
C) pH 7.35, PaCO₂ 60 mm Hg, HCO₃⁻ 26 mEq/L
D) pH 7.50, PaCO₂ 30 mm Hg, HCO₃⁻ 24 mEq/L
Correct Answer: A
Metabolic acidosis is characterized by low pH and low HCO₃⁻ with
compensatory decreased PaCO₂. Option A shows pH 7.30, HCO₃⁻ 18,
,consistent with metabolic acidosis. Option B is metabolic alkalosis; C is
respiratory acidosis; D is respiratory alkalosis.
5.
A patient with nasogastric suction is at risk for which acid-base
imbalance?
A) Metabolic acidosis
B) Metabolic alkalosis
C) Respiratory acidosis
D) Respiratory alkalosis
Correct Answer: B
Loss of gastric acid through nasogastric suction causes metabolic
alkalosis due to loss of hydrogen and chloride ions. Options A, C, and D
are not the primary risk.
6.
What is the priority nursing intervention for a patient with a serum
sodium of 118 mEq/L?
A) Restrict oral fluids
B) Administer hypertonic saline as ordered and monitor neurologic
status
C) Encourage a high-sodium diet immediately
D) Give a loop diuretic without monitoring
Correct Answer: B
Severe hyponatremia (<120 mEq/L) can cause cerebral edema and
seizures. Hypertonic saline may be ordered, with careful monitoring of
neurologic status and sodium levels. Fluid restriction may be used in
, mild cases but not as priority; giving diuretics without monitoring is
unsafe.
7.
Which of the following findings is most characteristic of fluid volume
excess?
A) Poor skin turgor and dry mucous membranes
B) Crackles in the lungs and peripheral edema
C) Weak, rapid pulse and hypotension
D) Decreased urine output only
Correct Answer: B
Fluid volume excess (hypervolemia) presents with pulmonary crackles,
edema, weight gain, and distended neck veins. Poor skin turgor, dry
mucous membranes, weak pulse, and hypotension indicate deficit.
8.
The normal range for serum calcium is:
A) 4.0–5.5 mg/dL
B) 6.0–8.0 mg/dL
C) 8.5–10.5 mg/dL
D) 11.0–13.0 mg/dL
Correct Answer: C
Normal total serum calcium is 8.5–10.5 mg/dL. Values below 8.5
indicate hypocalcemia; above 10.5 indicate hypercalcemia. Options A
and B are low; D is high.
9.
2026/2027 | ACTUAL EXAM | PRACTICE QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS | EXAM REVIEW | 100% CORRECT
ANSWERS | VERIFIED SOLUTIONS
1.
A patient has a serum potassium level of 2.8 mEq/L. Which of the
following ECG changes is most likely?
A) Tall, peaked T waves
B) Prominent U waves and flattened T waves
C) Widened QRS complex only
D) Shortened QT interval
Correct Answer: B
Hypokalemia (K+ <3.5 mEq/L) causes flattened T waves, prominent U
waves, and ST depression. Tall peaked T waves occur with hyperkalemia;
widened QRS and shortened QT are not classic hypokalemia findings.
2.
Which of the following is the normal range for serum sodium?
A) 125–135 mEq/L
B) 135–145 mEq/L
C) 145–155 mEq/L
D) 150–160 mEq/L
Correct Answer: B
Normal serum sodium is 135–145 mEq/L. Values below 135 indicate
,hyponatremia; above 145 indicate hypernatremia. Options A, C, and D
are outside normal limits.
3.
A patient with heart failure is receiving furosemide. Which laboratory
value should the nurse monitor most closely?
A) Serum calcium
B) Serum potassium
C) Serum glucose
D) Serum creatinine only
Correct Answer: B
Furosemide is a loop diuretic that causes potassium loss, leading to
hypokalemia, which increases the risk of arrhythmias. Serum potassium
must be monitored closely. Calcium and glucose are less affected;
creatinine is also monitored but potassium is priority for diuretic
therapy.
4.
Which of the following arterial blood gas results indicates metabolic
acidosis?
A) pH 7.30, PaCO₂ 35 mm Hg, HCO₃⁻ 18 mEq/L
B) pH 7.48, PaCO₂ 40 mm Hg, HCO₃⁻ 30 mEq/L
C) pH 7.35, PaCO₂ 60 mm Hg, HCO₃⁻ 26 mEq/L
D) pH 7.50, PaCO₂ 30 mm Hg, HCO₃⁻ 24 mEq/L
Correct Answer: A
Metabolic acidosis is characterized by low pH and low HCO₃⁻ with
compensatory decreased PaCO₂. Option A shows pH 7.30, HCO₃⁻ 18,
,consistent with metabolic acidosis. Option B is metabolic alkalosis; C is
respiratory acidosis; D is respiratory alkalosis.
5.
A patient with nasogastric suction is at risk for which acid-base
imbalance?
A) Metabolic acidosis
B) Metabolic alkalosis
C) Respiratory acidosis
D) Respiratory alkalosis
Correct Answer: B
Loss of gastric acid through nasogastric suction causes metabolic
alkalosis due to loss of hydrogen and chloride ions. Options A, C, and D
are not the primary risk.
6.
What is the priority nursing intervention for a patient with a serum
sodium of 118 mEq/L?
A) Restrict oral fluids
B) Administer hypertonic saline as ordered and monitor neurologic
status
C) Encourage a high-sodium diet immediately
D) Give a loop diuretic without monitoring
Correct Answer: B
Severe hyponatremia (<120 mEq/L) can cause cerebral edema and
seizures. Hypertonic saline may be ordered, with careful monitoring of
neurologic status and sodium levels. Fluid restriction may be used in
, mild cases but not as priority; giving diuretics without monitoring is
unsafe.
7.
Which of the following findings is most characteristic of fluid volume
excess?
A) Poor skin turgor and dry mucous membranes
B) Crackles in the lungs and peripheral edema
C) Weak, rapid pulse and hypotension
D) Decreased urine output only
Correct Answer: B
Fluid volume excess (hypervolemia) presents with pulmonary crackles,
edema, weight gain, and distended neck veins. Poor skin turgor, dry
mucous membranes, weak pulse, and hypotension indicate deficit.
8.
The normal range for serum calcium is:
A) 4.0–5.5 mg/dL
B) 6.0–8.0 mg/dL
C) 8.5–10.5 mg/dL
D) 11.0–13.0 mg/dL
Correct Answer: C
Normal total serum calcium is 8.5–10.5 mg/dL. Values below 8.5
indicate hypocalcemia; above 10.5 indicate hypercalcemia. Options A
and B are low; D is high.
9.
