NU 185
Medical-Surgical Nursing II Exam 2
Exam 2 • Practice Questions & Rationales
UPDATE
Actual Questions & Verified Answers
with Detailed Clinical Rationales
Practice Questions with Rationales
Galen College of Nursing
NU 185
✓ 100% Verified Answers
✓ Complete Rationales Included
Exam (elaborations)
Instant PDF Download • Ready for Study
,NU 185 Medical-Surgical Nursing II Exam 2 2026/2027 UPDATE – Galen
1. A patient with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) is placed in the prone position.
What is the primary physiological benefit of this intervention?
A. It decreases the workload of the diaphragm.
B. It improves oxygenation by recruiting posterior alveoli and improving V/Q matching.
C. It reduces the risk of aspiration pneumonia.
D. It facilitates easier suctioning of the upper airway.
Answer: B
Rationale: Prone positioning in ARDS patients improves gas exchange by shifting
perfusion to areas of the lungs that are better ventilated and recruiting dorsal alveoli that
are often collapsed in the supine position.
2. A nurse is caring for a patient on mechanical ventilation. The high-pressure alarm sounds.
Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Decrease the tidal volume setting.
B. Silence the alarm and observe for 5 minutes.
C. Assess the patient’s breath sounds and check for tube obstruction.
D. Administer a sedative to prevent the patient from ‘fighting’ the vent.
, Answer: C
Rationale: High-pressure alarms indicate increased resistance. The nurse must first assess
the patient for causes like biting the tube, secretions, or a pneumothorax.
3. Which laboratory finding is most characteristic of a patient in the early stages of
Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC)?
A. Increased platelet count
B. Prolonged Prothrombin Time (PT) and Partial Thromboplastin Time (PTT)
C. Decreased D-dimer levels
D. Increased Fibrinogen levels
Answer: B
Rationale: DIC involves the consumption of clotting factors, leading to prolonged
coagulation times (PT/PTT) and elevated D-dimer as clots are broken down.
4. A patient with chronic kidney disease (CKD) has a serum potassium level of 6.8 mEq/L.
Which medication should the nurse expect to administer to stabilize the cardiac membrane?
A. Sodium polystyrene sulfonate (Kayexalate)
B. Furosemide (Lasix)
C. Regular Insulin and Dextrose
D. Calcium Gluconate
Answer: D
Medical-Surgical Nursing II Exam 2
Exam 2 • Practice Questions & Rationales
UPDATE
Actual Questions & Verified Answers
with Detailed Clinical Rationales
Practice Questions with Rationales
Galen College of Nursing
NU 185
✓ 100% Verified Answers
✓ Complete Rationales Included
Exam (elaborations)
Instant PDF Download • Ready for Study
,NU 185 Medical-Surgical Nursing II Exam 2 2026/2027 UPDATE – Galen
1. A patient with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) is placed in the prone position.
What is the primary physiological benefit of this intervention?
A. It decreases the workload of the diaphragm.
B. It improves oxygenation by recruiting posterior alveoli and improving V/Q matching.
C. It reduces the risk of aspiration pneumonia.
D. It facilitates easier suctioning of the upper airway.
Answer: B
Rationale: Prone positioning in ARDS patients improves gas exchange by shifting
perfusion to areas of the lungs that are better ventilated and recruiting dorsal alveoli that
are often collapsed in the supine position.
2. A nurse is caring for a patient on mechanical ventilation. The high-pressure alarm sounds.
Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Decrease the tidal volume setting.
B. Silence the alarm and observe for 5 minutes.
C. Assess the patient’s breath sounds and check for tube obstruction.
D. Administer a sedative to prevent the patient from ‘fighting’ the vent.
, Answer: C
Rationale: High-pressure alarms indicate increased resistance. The nurse must first assess
the patient for causes like biting the tube, secretions, or a pneumothorax.
3. Which laboratory finding is most characteristic of a patient in the early stages of
Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC)?
A. Increased platelet count
B. Prolonged Prothrombin Time (PT) and Partial Thromboplastin Time (PTT)
C. Decreased D-dimer levels
D. Increased Fibrinogen levels
Answer: B
Rationale: DIC involves the consumption of clotting factors, leading to prolonged
coagulation times (PT/PTT) and elevated D-dimer as clots are broken down.
4. A patient with chronic kidney disease (CKD) has a serum potassium level of 6.8 mEq/L.
Which medication should the nurse expect to administer to stabilize the cardiac membrane?
A. Sodium polystyrene sulfonate (Kayexalate)
B. Furosemide (Lasix)
C. Regular Insulin and Dextrose
D. Calcium Gluconate
Answer: D
