NUR 265
Medical-Surgical Nursing Final Exam Review
Final Exam • Comprehensive Study Guide
UPDATE
Actual Questions & Verified Answers
with Detailed Clinical Rationales
Practice Questions with Rationales
Galen College of Nursing
NUR 265
✓ 100% Verified Answers
✓ Complete Rationales Included
Exam (elaborations)
Instant PDF Download • Ready for Study
,NUR 265 Medical-Surgical Nursing Final Exam Review 2026/2027 UPDATE – Galen
1. A patient in the ICU is being treated for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS).
Which of the following ventilator settings is most critical for improving oxygenation by
keeping alveoli open at the end of expiration?
A. Tidal Volume (Vt)
B. Fraction of Inspired Oxygen (FiO2)
C. Positive End-Expiratory Pressure (PEEP)
D. Inspiratory-to-Expiratory (I:E) Ratio
Answer: C
Rationale: PEEP prevents alveolar collapse at the end of expiration, increasing the
functional residual capacity and improving gas exchange in ARDS patients.
2. A patient with a T4 spinal cord injury suddenly reports a throbbing headache and has a
blood pressure of 190/100 mmHg. What is the priority nursing action?
A. Administer prescribed PRN hydralazine
B. Perform a digital rectal exam to check for impaction
C. Lower the head of the bed to a flat position
D. Check the patient’s urinary catheter for kinks or obstruction
, Answer: D
Rationale: Autonomic dysreflexia is a medical emergency usually triggered by bladder or
bowel distention. The first step is to sit the patient up and then identify/remove the
stimulus, starting with the bladder.
3. The nurse is caring for a patient in the compensatory stage of shock. Which clinical
manifestation should the nurse expect to find?
A. Cold, clammy skin and metabolic acidosis
B. Anuria and absent peripheral pulses
C. Listlessness and decreased mean arterial pressure (MAP) by 20 mmHg
D. Heart rate >100 bpm and increased respiratory rate
Answer: D
Rationale: In the compensatory stage, the body’s SNS is activated, leading to tachycardia
and tachypnea to maintain cardiac output and oxygenation.
4. A patient presents to the ED with a suspected Myocardial Infarction. The EKG shows ST-
segment elevation in leads II, III, and aVF. Which area of the heart is affected?
A. Anterior wall
B. Inferior wall
C. Lateral wall
D. Septal wall
Medical-Surgical Nursing Final Exam Review
Final Exam • Comprehensive Study Guide
UPDATE
Actual Questions & Verified Answers
with Detailed Clinical Rationales
Practice Questions with Rationales
Galen College of Nursing
NUR 265
✓ 100% Verified Answers
✓ Complete Rationales Included
Exam (elaborations)
Instant PDF Download • Ready for Study
,NUR 265 Medical-Surgical Nursing Final Exam Review 2026/2027 UPDATE – Galen
1. A patient in the ICU is being treated for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS).
Which of the following ventilator settings is most critical for improving oxygenation by
keeping alveoli open at the end of expiration?
A. Tidal Volume (Vt)
B. Fraction of Inspired Oxygen (FiO2)
C. Positive End-Expiratory Pressure (PEEP)
D. Inspiratory-to-Expiratory (I:E) Ratio
Answer: C
Rationale: PEEP prevents alveolar collapse at the end of expiration, increasing the
functional residual capacity and improving gas exchange in ARDS patients.
2. A patient with a T4 spinal cord injury suddenly reports a throbbing headache and has a
blood pressure of 190/100 mmHg. What is the priority nursing action?
A. Administer prescribed PRN hydralazine
B. Perform a digital rectal exam to check for impaction
C. Lower the head of the bed to a flat position
D. Check the patient’s urinary catheter for kinks or obstruction
, Answer: D
Rationale: Autonomic dysreflexia is a medical emergency usually triggered by bladder or
bowel distention. The first step is to sit the patient up and then identify/remove the
stimulus, starting with the bladder.
3. The nurse is caring for a patient in the compensatory stage of shock. Which clinical
manifestation should the nurse expect to find?
A. Cold, clammy skin and metabolic acidosis
B. Anuria and absent peripheral pulses
C. Listlessness and decreased mean arterial pressure (MAP) by 20 mmHg
D. Heart rate >100 bpm and increased respiratory rate
Answer: D
Rationale: In the compensatory stage, the body’s SNS is activated, leading to tachycardia
and tachypnea to maintain cardiac output and oxygenation.
4. A patient presents to the ED with a suspected Myocardial Infarction. The EKG shows ST-
segment elevation in leads II, III, and aVF. Which area of the heart is affected?
A. Anterior wall
B. Inferior wall
C. Lateral wall
D. Septal wall
