– Complete Diabetes & Hypoglycemia Management Questions with Detailed
Rationales | 100% Verified | Pass Guaranteed – A+ Graded
Section A: Patient Assessment & Clinical Data Collection
Q1: Juan Carlos Morales, a 68-year-old male, is admitted with heart failure exacerbation.
His vital signs are: BP 168/94 mmHg, HR 102 bpm (irregular), RR 24 breaths/min, oral
temperature 37.2°C, SpO2 89% on room air, and pain 7/10 substernal pressure. Based
on the ABC prioritization framework, which assessment finding requires the MOST
IMMEDIATE nursing intervention?
A. Hypertension with BP 168/94 mmHg
B. Substernal chest pain rated 7/10
C. SpO2 89% on room air [CORRECT]
D. Irregular heart rate of 102 bpm
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: SpO2 89% indicates hypoxemia and represents an immediate threat to the
Breathing component of the ABC framework. While hypertension, chest pain, and
dysrhythmia require urgent attention, compromised oxygenation takes precedence as
the highest physiological priority.
Q2: During the focused cardiovascular assessment, the nurse auscultates bilateral
basilar crackles, notes 2+ pitting edema in the bilateral lower extremities, and observes
,jugular venous distension +2 cm at 45 degrees. These findings are MOST consistent
with:
A. Right-sided heart failure in isolation
B. Left-sided heart failure with pulmonary and systemic fluid overload [CORRECT]
C. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation
D. Bilateral deep vein thrombosis
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Bilateral crackles indicate pulmonary congestion (left-sided failure), while
JVD and peripheral edema indicate systemic venous congestion. Right-sided failure
alone would not typically produce pulmonary crackles, and COPD or DVT do not explain
the full constellation of findings.
Q3: The nurse reviews Juan Carlos's laboratory results and notes a potassium level of
3.2 mEq/L. The nurse recognizes this finding as:
A. Within normal limits for a patient on diuretic therapy
B. Mildly elevated requiring dietary potassium restriction
C. Hypokalemia likely related to furosemide-induced renal potassium wasting
[CORRECT]
D. Hyperkalemia requiring immediate administration of calcium gluconate
Correct Answer: C
, Rationale: Normal serum potassium is 3.5–5.0 mEq/L; 3.2 mEq/L is hypokalemia. Loop
diuretics like furosemide increase renal excretion of potassium, making hypokalemia an
expected adverse effect that requires supplementation and cardiac monitoring.
Q4: Juan Carlos's BNP is 850 pg/mL and troponin I is 0.08 ng/mL. The nurse correctly
interprets these values as indicating:
A. Normal cardiac biomarkers with no acute process
B. Acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction requiring emergent catheterization
C. Heart failure exacerbation with possible demand ischemia or minor myocardial injury
[CORRECT]
D. Pulmonary embolism with right ventricular strain
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: BNP >100 pg/mL indicates ventricular stretch from heart failure. A mildly
elevated troponin in the setting of acute heart failure suggests demand ischemia or type
2 myocardial injury rather than acute STEMI, which would show marked troponin
elevation and ST changes.
Q5: Juan Carlos reports his weight increased 3 kg over the past week. The nurse
understands this acute weight gain represents approximately:
A. 1 liter of fluid retention
B. 2 liters of fluid retention
C. 3 liters of fluid retention [CORRECT]