NUR 2502 MULTIDIMENSIONAL CARE
PRACTICE EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
1. A patient with chronic kidney disease presents with a potassium level of 6.2 mEq/L. Which
EKG finding is the priority for the nurse to monitor?
A. Tall, peaked T waves
B. Prominent U waves
C. Prolonged ST segment
D. Shortened PR interval
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: Hyperkalemia (K+ > 5.0) causes characteristic EKG changes
including tall, peaked T waves, widened QRS complexes, and potentially cardiac arrest. U
waves are seen in hypokalemia.
2. A nurse is caring for a patient who had a thyroidectomy 6 hours ago. The patient reports
tingling in the fingers and around the mouth. Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Check the patient’s potassium level
,B. Assess for Trousseau’s sign
C. Administer a dose of levothyroxine
D. Notify the provider of potential hypercalcemia
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Post-thyroidectomy patients are at risk for accidental removal of
parathyroid glands, leading to hypocalcemia. Tingling (paresthesia) is an early sign.
Trousseau’s and Chvostek’s signs assess for neuromuscular irritability related to low
calcium.
3. Which arterial blood gas (ABG) result would the nurse expect in a patient with a massive
overdose of aspirin (salicylate toxicity)?
A. pH 7.48, PaCO2 30, HCO3 23
B. pH 7.30, PaCO2 50, HCO3 28
C. pH 7.50, PaCO2 48, HCO3 32
D. pH 7.28, PaCO2 38, HCO3 18
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Salicylate toxicity causes metabolic acidosis. Option C shows a
low pH and a low bicarbonate (HCO3), which is indicative of metabolic acidosis.
, 4. A patient with COPD is receiving oxygen at 2L/min via nasal cannula. The ABG results are:
pH 7.32, PaCO2 58, HCO3 30, PaO2 60. How should the nurse interpret these results?
A. Fully compensated respiratory acidosis
B. Uncompensated metabolic alkalosis
C. Partially compensated respiratory acidosis
D. Partially compensated metabolic acidosis
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: The pH is low (acidosis), the PaCO2 is high (respiratory cause),
and the HCO3 is high (attempting to compensate), but the pH is not yet normal, indicating
partial compensation.
5. A patient is admitted with a serum sodium level of 128 mEq/L. Which nursing intervention
is most appropriate?
A. Encourage increased fluid intake
B. Administer 0.45% Sodium Chloride IV
C. Implement seizure precautions
D. Restrict dietary salt intake
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Hyponatremia (Na < 135) can cause cerebral edema and
increased intracranial pressure, putting the patient at high risk for seizures and coma.
PRACTICE EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
1. A patient with chronic kidney disease presents with a potassium level of 6.2 mEq/L. Which
EKG finding is the priority for the nurse to monitor?
A. Tall, peaked T waves
B. Prominent U waves
C. Prolonged ST segment
D. Shortened PR interval
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: Hyperkalemia (K+ > 5.0) causes characteristic EKG changes
including tall, peaked T waves, widened QRS complexes, and potentially cardiac arrest. U
waves are seen in hypokalemia.
2. A nurse is caring for a patient who had a thyroidectomy 6 hours ago. The patient reports
tingling in the fingers and around the mouth. Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Check the patient’s potassium level
,B. Assess for Trousseau’s sign
C. Administer a dose of levothyroxine
D. Notify the provider of potential hypercalcemia
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Post-thyroidectomy patients are at risk for accidental removal of
parathyroid glands, leading to hypocalcemia. Tingling (paresthesia) is an early sign.
Trousseau’s and Chvostek’s signs assess for neuromuscular irritability related to low
calcium.
3. Which arterial blood gas (ABG) result would the nurse expect in a patient with a massive
overdose of aspirin (salicylate toxicity)?
A. pH 7.48, PaCO2 30, HCO3 23
B. pH 7.30, PaCO2 50, HCO3 28
C. pH 7.50, PaCO2 48, HCO3 32
D. pH 7.28, PaCO2 38, HCO3 18
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Salicylate toxicity causes metabolic acidosis. Option C shows a
low pH and a low bicarbonate (HCO3), which is indicative of metabolic acidosis.
, 4. A patient with COPD is receiving oxygen at 2L/min via nasal cannula. The ABG results are:
pH 7.32, PaCO2 58, HCO3 30, PaO2 60. How should the nurse interpret these results?
A. Fully compensated respiratory acidosis
B. Uncompensated metabolic alkalosis
C. Partially compensated respiratory acidosis
D. Partially compensated metabolic acidosis
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: The pH is low (acidosis), the PaCO2 is high (respiratory cause),
and the HCO3 is high (attempting to compensate), but the pH is not yet normal, indicating
partial compensation.
5. A patient is admitted with a serum sodium level of 128 mEq/L. Which nursing intervention
is most appropriate?
A. Encourage increased fluid intake
B. Administer 0.45% Sodium Chloride IV
C. Implement seizure precautions
D. Restrict dietary salt intake
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Hyponatremia (Na < 135) can cause cerebral edema and
increased intracranial pressure, putting the patient at high risk for seizures and coma.
