NSG 430 Exam 2 – Adult Health Nursing II 2026 UPDATE 2026 Update • Verified Answers
✓ VERIFIED • 2026 UPDATE • 100% ACCURATE
NSG 430 Exam 2 – Adult Health Nursing II 2026
UPDATE
Actual Exam Questions & Verified Answers
with Detailed Rationales
Document Type: Exam (Elaborations)
Academic Year:
Total Questions: 50 Multiple Choice
Includes: Correct Answers + Full Rationales
Status: Verified & Updated for 2026
Exam (Elaborations) • Actual Questions & Rationales Page 1
,NSG 430 Exam 2 – Adult Health Nursing II 2026 UPDATE 2026 Update • Verified Answers
Questions & Verified Answers
1. A patient with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) is on mechanical ventilation.
The nurse notices the Peak Inspiratory Pressure is increasing. Which action is the priority?
A. Suction the patient’s airway
B. Increase the PEEP setting
C. Decrease the tidal volume
D. Administer a sedative
Answer: A
Rationale: Increased Peak Inspiratory Pressure (PIP) often indicates secretions, biting the tube, or kinks.
Suctioning is the first nursing intervention to clear the airway. Applying this knowledge in clinical settings
supports safe, evidence-based practice and improves patient outcomes.
2. Which assessment finding is most indicative of the ‘Cold Phase’ of Septic Shock?
A. Tachycardia and flushed skin
B. Bounding pulses
C. Increased cardiac output
D. Hypotension and cool, clammy skin
Answer: D
Rationale: The late or cold phase of septic shock is characterized by decreased cardiac output, cool/clammy
skin, and hypotension due to profound vasodilation and hypovolemia. Exam questions often test the ability to
distinguish this concept from closely related distractors, making a clear rationale essential for mastery.
3. A patient is admitted with Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA). Which IV fluid should the nurse
anticipate administering first?
A. . Which IV fluid should the nurse anticipate administering first?
B. 0.45% Normal Saline
C. D5W
D. D5 1/2 Normal Saline
Answer: A
Rationale: Initial treatment of DKA focuses on volume repletion. 0.9% Normal Saline (isotonic) is used first to
restore circulatory volume. This is an important clinical concept because selecting the correct answer (A)
requires understanding both the pathophysiology and the practical nursing implications. Recognizing this
principle allows the nurse to prioritize care, anticipate complications, and provide accurate patient education.
Exam (Elaborations) • Actual Questions & Rationales Page 2
, NSG 430 Exam 2 – Adult Health Nursing II 2026 UPDATE 2026 Update • Verified Answers
4. A patient with a history of cirrhosis presents with hematemesis. Which medication does the
nurse expect to be ordered to reduce portal venous pressure?
A. Lactulose
B. Furosemide
C. Octreotide
D. Spironolactone
Answer: C
Rationale: Octreotide (Sandostatin) is commonly used in acute variceal bleeding to reduce portal venous
pressure and bleeding. Exam questions often test the ability to distinguish this concept from closely related
distractors, making a clear rationale essential for mastery. Applying this knowledge in clinical settings supports
safe, evidence-based practice and improves patient outcomes.
5. The nurse is caring for a patient with a chest tube. Bubbling in the water seal chamber that is
consistent and non-intermittent indicates:
A. A normal finding during expiration
B. An air leak in the system
C. The lung has fully re-expanded
D. Excessive suction pressure
Answer: B
Rationale: Continuous bubbling in the water seal chamber indicates a persistent air leak either in the patient’s
pleural space or the drainage system. Recognizing this principle allows the nurse to prioritize care, anticipate
complications, and provide accurate patient education. Exam questions often test the ability to distinguish this
concept from closely related distractors, making a clear rationale essential for mastery.
6. Which cardiac rhythm is characterized by a ‘sawtooth’ pattern of P-waves?
A. Atrial Fibrillation
B. Ventricular Tachycardia
C. Atrial Flutter
D. First-degree Heart Block
Answer: C
Rationale: Atrial flutter is classically identified by regular, sawtooth-shaped flutter waves (F-waves). This is an
important clinical concept because selecting the correct answer (C) requires understanding both the
pathophysiology and the practical nursing implications. Recognizing this principle allows the nurse to prioritize
care, anticipate complications, and provide accurate patient education.
Exam (Elaborations) • Actual Questions & Rationales Page 3
✓ VERIFIED • 2026 UPDATE • 100% ACCURATE
NSG 430 Exam 2 – Adult Health Nursing II 2026
UPDATE
Actual Exam Questions & Verified Answers
with Detailed Rationales
Document Type: Exam (Elaborations)
Academic Year:
Total Questions: 50 Multiple Choice
Includes: Correct Answers + Full Rationales
Status: Verified & Updated for 2026
Exam (Elaborations) • Actual Questions & Rationales Page 1
,NSG 430 Exam 2 – Adult Health Nursing II 2026 UPDATE 2026 Update • Verified Answers
Questions & Verified Answers
1. A patient with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) is on mechanical ventilation.
The nurse notices the Peak Inspiratory Pressure is increasing. Which action is the priority?
A. Suction the patient’s airway
B. Increase the PEEP setting
C. Decrease the tidal volume
D. Administer a sedative
Answer: A
Rationale: Increased Peak Inspiratory Pressure (PIP) often indicates secretions, biting the tube, or kinks.
Suctioning is the first nursing intervention to clear the airway. Applying this knowledge in clinical settings
supports safe, evidence-based practice and improves patient outcomes.
2. Which assessment finding is most indicative of the ‘Cold Phase’ of Septic Shock?
A. Tachycardia and flushed skin
B. Bounding pulses
C. Increased cardiac output
D. Hypotension and cool, clammy skin
Answer: D
Rationale: The late or cold phase of septic shock is characterized by decreased cardiac output, cool/clammy
skin, and hypotension due to profound vasodilation and hypovolemia. Exam questions often test the ability to
distinguish this concept from closely related distractors, making a clear rationale essential for mastery.
3. A patient is admitted with Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA). Which IV fluid should the nurse
anticipate administering first?
A. . Which IV fluid should the nurse anticipate administering first?
B. 0.45% Normal Saline
C. D5W
D. D5 1/2 Normal Saline
Answer: A
Rationale: Initial treatment of DKA focuses on volume repletion. 0.9% Normal Saline (isotonic) is used first to
restore circulatory volume. This is an important clinical concept because selecting the correct answer (A)
requires understanding both the pathophysiology and the practical nursing implications. Recognizing this
principle allows the nurse to prioritize care, anticipate complications, and provide accurate patient education.
Exam (Elaborations) • Actual Questions & Rationales Page 2
, NSG 430 Exam 2 – Adult Health Nursing II 2026 UPDATE 2026 Update • Verified Answers
4. A patient with a history of cirrhosis presents with hematemesis. Which medication does the
nurse expect to be ordered to reduce portal venous pressure?
A. Lactulose
B. Furosemide
C. Octreotide
D. Spironolactone
Answer: C
Rationale: Octreotide (Sandostatin) is commonly used in acute variceal bleeding to reduce portal venous
pressure and bleeding. Exam questions often test the ability to distinguish this concept from closely related
distractors, making a clear rationale essential for mastery. Applying this knowledge in clinical settings supports
safe, evidence-based practice and improves patient outcomes.
5. The nurse is caring for a patient with a chest tube. Bubbling in the water seal chamber that is
consistent and non-intermittent indicates:
A. A normal finding during expiration
B. An air leak in the system
C. The lung has fully re-expanded
D. Excessive suction pressure
Answer: B
Rationale: Continuous bubbling in the water seal chamber indicates a persistent air leak either in the patient’s
pleural space or the drainage system. Recognizing this principle allows the nurse to prioritize care, anticipate
complications, and provide accurate patient education. Exam questions often test the ability to distinguish this
concept from closely related distractors, making a clear rationale essential for mastery.
6. Which cardiac rhythm is characterized by a ‘sawtooth’ pattern of P-waves?
A. Atrial Fibrillation
B. Ventricular Tachycardia
C. Atrial Flutter
D. First-degree Heart Block
Answer: C
Rationale: Atrial flutter is classically identified by regular, sawtooth-shaped flutter waves (F-waves). This is an
important clinical concept because selecting the correct answer (C) requires understanding both the
pathophysiology and the practical nursing implications. Recognizing this principle allows the nurse to prioritize
care, anticipate complications, and provide accurate patient education.
Exam (Elaborations) • Actual Questions & Rationales Page 3
