,NSG 3800 Exam 1 Nursing Practice – Adult Health II Questions And
Answers 2026/2027 Galen College
Q1. Which component accounts for the largest proportion of total
body water?
A) Intracellular fluid
B) Plasma proteins
C) Interstitial fluid
D) Transcellular fluid
Correct Answer: A) Intracellular fluid
Rationale: Intracellular fluid is the fluid contained within cells and
represents the largest fluid compartment in the body.
Q2. Which electrolyte is the major cation of extracellular fluid?
A) Potassium
B) Sodium
C) Magnesium
D) Phosphate
Correct Answer: B) Sodium
Rationale: Sodium is the principal extracellular cation and plays a major
role in extracellular fluid volume, osmotic balance, and neuromuscular
function.
Q3. Which electrolyte is the major intracellular cation?
A) Calcium
B) Sodium
C) Potassium
D) Chloride
Correct Answer: C) Potassium
Rationale: Potassium is the major intracellular cation and is essential for
nerve impulse transmission, muscle contraction, and cardiac electrical
activity.
Q4. Which finding is most consistent with fluid-volume deficit?
A) Bounding pulse
B) Crackles
, C) Peripheral edema
D) Tachycardia
Correct Answer: D) Tachycardia
Rationale: Reduced circulating volume causes compensatory increases in
heart rate to maintain cardiac output and tissue perfusion.
Q5. Which finding is most characteristic of fluid-volume excess?
A) Edema and pulmonary crackles
B) Dry mucous membranes
C) Poor skin turgor
D) Flat neck veins
Correct Answer: A) Edema and pulmonary crackles
Rationale: Excess extracellular fluid commonly causes peripheral edema,
weight gain, jugular venous distention, and pulmonary congestion with
crackles.
Q6. Which measurement is one of the most sensitive indicators of
overall fluid balance?
A) Temperature
B) Daily weight
C) Respiratory depth
D) Pain score
Correct Answer: B) Daily weight
Rationale: Short-term changes in body weight closely reflect changes in
total body water. Approximately 1 kg of rapid weight change corresponds to
about 1 L of fluid.
Q7. A patient gains 2 kg over 48 hours. Which interpretation is most
appropriate?
A) The patient has gained approximately 2 L of lean tissue.
B) The patient has likely experienced approximately 2 L of fluid retention.
C) The change is expected regardless of clinical condition.
D) The patient has lost approximately 2 L of extracellular fluid.
Correct Answer: B) The patient has likely experienced approximately 2 L of
fluid retention.
Answers 2026/2027 Galen College
Q1. Which component accounts for the largest proportion of total
body water?
A) Intracellular fluid
B) Plasma proteins
C) Interstitial fluid
D) Transcellular fluid
Correct Answer: A) Intracellular fluid
Rationale: Intracellular fluid is the fluid contained within cells and
represents the largest fluid compartment in the body.
Q2. Which electrolyte is the major cation of extracellular fluid?
A) Potassium
B) Sodium
C) Magnesium
D) Phosphate
Correct Answer: B) Sodium
Rationale: Sodium is the principal extracellular cation and plays a major
role in extracellular fluid volume, osmotic balance, and neuromuscular
function.
Q3. Which electrolyte is the major intracellular cation?
A) Calcium
B) Sodium
C) Potassium
D) Chloride
Correct Answer: C) Potassium
Rationale: Potassium is the major intracellular cation and is essential for
nerve impulse transmission, muscle contraction, and cardiac electrical
activity.
Q4. Which finding is most consistent with fluid-volume deficit?
A) Bounding pulse
B) Crackles
, C) Peripheral edema
D) Tachycardia
Correct Answer: D) Tachycardia
Rationale: Reduced circulating volume causes compensatory increases in
heart rate to maintain cardiac output and tissue perfusion.
Q5. Which finding is most characteristic of fluid-volume excess?
A) Edema and pulmonary crackles
B) Dry mucous membranes
C) Poor skin turgor
D) Flat neck veins
Correct Answer: A) Edema and pulmonary crackles
Rationale: Excess extracellular fluid commonly causes peripheral edema,
weight gain, jugular venous distention, and pulmonary congestion with
crackles.
Q6. Which measurement is one of the most sensitive indicators of
overall fluid balance?
A) Temperature
B) Daily weight
C) Respiratory depth
D) Pain score
Correct Answer: B) Daily weight
Rationale: Short-term changes in body weight closely reflect changes in
total body water. Approximately 1 kg of rapid weight change corresponds to
about 1 L of fluid.
Q7. A patient gains 2 kg over 48 hours. Which interpretation is most
appropriate?
A) The patient has gained approximately 2 L of lean tissue.
B) The patient has likely experienced approximately 2 L of fluid retention.
C) The change is expected regardless of clinical condition.
D) The patient has lost approximately 2 L of extracellular fluid.
Correct Answer: B) The patient has likely experienced approximately 2 L of
fluid retention.
