,NUR 242 EXAM 2 Medical-Surgical Nursing Concepts Questions And
Answers 2026/2027 Galen College
Q1. Which assessment finding is most consistent with left-sided
heart failure?
A) Pulmonary crackles and dyspnea
B) Ascites without respiratory symptoms
C) Unilateral calf swelling
D) Enlarged liver without pulmonary findings
Correct Answer: A) Pulmonary crackles and dyspnea
Rationale: Left ventricular failure causes blood to back up into the
pulmonary circulation, producing pulmonary congestion, crackles, dyspnea,
and possibly pulmonary edema.
Q2. Which finding is most characteristic of right-sided heart failure?
A) Pink frothy sputum
B) Peripheral edema and jugular venous distention
C) Severe hemoptysis
D) Unilateral wheezing
Correct Answer: B) Peripheral edema and jugular venous distention
Rationale: Right-sided failure causes systemic venous congestion,
producing peripheral edema, jugular venous distention, hepatomegaly, and
weight gain.
Q3. Which heart sound is associated with ventricular filling and is
commonly heard in some patients with heart failure?
A) S1
B) S2
C) S3
D) S4
Correct Answer: C) S3
Rationale: An S3 occurs during rapid ventricular filling and may indicate
volume overload or ventricular dysfunction, particularly in heart failure.
Q4. Which heart sound is produced by closure of the mitral and
tricuspid valves?
, A) S1
B) S2
C) S3
D) S4
Correct Answer: A) S1
Rationale: S1 results primarily from closure of the atrioventricular valves at
the beginning of ventricular systole.
Q5. Which heart sound results primarily from closure of the aortic
and pulmonic valves?
A) S1
B) S2
C) S3
D) S4
Correct Answer: B) S2
Rationale: S2 marks the end of ventricular systole and results from closure
of the semilunar valves.
Q6. Which assessment technique is used to identify a pulse deficit?
A) Compare radial and apical pulse rates
B) Compare blood pressure in both legs
C) Compare respiratory and apical rates
D) Compare temperature at two sites
Correct Answer: A) Compare radial and apical pulse rates
Rationale: A pulse deficit occurs when not every ventricular contraction
produces a palpable peripheral pulse, so the apical and radial rates differ.
Q7. Which pulse characteristic describes the force of blood against
the arterial wall?
A) Rhythm
B) Rate
C) Amplitude
D) Location
Correct Answer: C) Amplitude
Rationale: Pulse amplitude describes the strength or force of the pulse and
provides information about peripheral circulation.
Answers 2026/2027 Galen College
Q1. Which assessment finding is most consistent with left-sided
heart failure?
A) Pulmonary crackles and dyspnea
B) Ascites without respiratory symptoms
C) Unilateral calf swelling
D) Enlarged liver without pulmonary findings
Correct Answer: A) Pulmonary crackles and dyspnea
Rationale: Left ventricular failure causes blood to back up into the
pulmonary circulation, producing pulmonary congestion, crackles, dyspnea,
and possibly pulmonary edema.
Q2. Which finding is most characteristic of right-sided heart failure?
A) Pink frothy sputum
B) Peripheral edema and jugular venous distention
C) Severe hemoptysis
D) Unilateral wheezing
Correct Answer: B) Peripheral edema and jugular venous distention
Rationale: Right-sided failure causes systemic venous congestion,
producing peripheral edema, jugular venous distention, hepatomegaly, and
weight gain.
Q3. Which heart sound is associated with ventricular filling and is
commonly heard in some patients with heart failure?
A) S1
B) S2
C) S3
D) S4
Correct Answer: C) S3
Rationale: An S3 occurs during rapid ventricular filling and may indicate
volume overload or ventricular dysfunction, particularly in heart failure.
Q4. Which heart sound is produced by closure of the mitral and
tricuspid valves?
, A) S1
B) S2
C) S3
D) S4
Correct Answer: A) S1
Rationale: S1 results primarily from closure of the atrioventricular valves at
the beginning of ventricular systole.
Q5. Which heart sound results primarily from closure of the aortic
and pulmonic valves?
A) S1
B) S2
C) S3
D) S4
Correct Answer: B) S2
Rationale: S2 marks the end of ventricular systole and results from closure
of the semilunar valves.
Q6. Which assessment technique is used to identify a pulse deficit?
A) Compare radial and apical pulse rates
B) Compare blood pressure in both legs
C) Compare respiratory and apical rates
D) Compare temperature at two sites
Correct Answer: A) Compare radial and apical pulse rates
Rationale: A pulse deficit occurs when not every ventricular contraction
produces a palpable peripheral pulse, so the apical and radial rates differ.
Q7. Which pulse characteristic describes the force of blood against
the arterial wall?
A) Rhythm
B) Rate
C) Amplitude
D) Location
Correct Answer: C) Amplitude
Rationale: Pulse amplitude describes the strength or force of the pulse and
provides information about peripheral circulation.
