NU 185
Medical-Surgical Nursing II Exam 3 Practice
Exam 3 • 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)
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,NU 185 Medical-Surgical Nursing II Exam 3 Practice 2026/2027 UPDATED – Galen
1. A patient with chronic heart failure presents with orthopnea, crackles in the lung bases,
and an S3 gallop. Which condition is the patient most likely experiencing?
A. Right-sided heart failure
B. Hypovolemic shock
C. Left-sided heart failure
D. Cardiac tamponade
Answer: C
Rationale: Left-sided heart failure causes pulmonary congestion, leading to symptoms like
crackles, orthopnea, and dyspnea. Right-sided failure typically presents with systemic
edema (JVD, peripheral edema).
2. A nurse is reviewing the ABG results for a patient with COPD: pH 7.31, PaCO2 55, HCO3 28.
How should the nurse interpret these results?
A. Partially Compensated Respiratory Acidosis
B. Uncompensated Respiratory Acidosis
C. Compensated Metabolic Acidosis
D. Uncompensated Metabolic Alkalosis
, Answer: A
Rationale: The pH is acidic (<7.35), PaCO2 is high (acidic), and HCO3 is high
(basic/compensating). Because the pH is not within normal range but the bicarbonate has
moved to correct the acidity, it is partially compensated.
3. Which assessment finding is a classic sign of a patient experiencing a Thyroid Storm?
A. Severe tachycardia and hyperthermia
B. Bradycardia and cold intolerance
C. Hypotension and lethargy
D. Constipation and weight gain
Answer: A
Rationale: Thyroid storm is a life-threatening complication of hyperthyroidism
characterized by extreme tachycardia, high fever (hyperthermia), and altered mental
status.
4. A patient is admitted with Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA). Which of the following laboratory
values would the nurse expect to find?
A. Serum Glucose 110 mg/dL, pH 7.45
B. Serum Glucose 450 mg/dL, pH 7.20
C. Serum Glucose 800 mg/dL, pH 7.40
D. Serum Glucose 200 mg/dL, HCO3 26
Medical-Surgical Nursing II Exam 3 Practice
Exam 3 • 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 3 Practice 2026/2027 UPDATED – Galen
1. A patient with chronic heart failure presents with orthopnea, crackles in the lung bases,
and an S3 gallop. Which condition is the patient most likely experiencing?
A. Right-sided heart failure
B. Hypovolemic shock
C. Left-sided heart failure
D. Cardiac tamponade
Answer: C
Rationale: Left-sided heart failure causes pulmonary congestion, leading to symptoms like
crackles, orthopnea, and dyspnea. Right-sided failure typically presents with systemic
edema (JVD, peripheral edema).
2. A nurse is reviewing the ABG results for a patient with COPD: pH 7.31, PaCO2 55, HCO3 28.
How should the nurse interpret these results?
A. Partially Compensated Respiratory Acidosis
B. Uncompensated Respiratory Acidosis
C. Compensated Metabolic Acidosis
D. Uncompensated Metabolic Alkalosis
, Answer: A
Rationale: The pH is acidic (<7.35), PaCO2 is high (acidic), and HCO3 is high
(basic/compensating). Because the pH is not within normal range but the bicarbonate has
moved to correct the acidity, it is partially compensated.
3. Which assessment finding is a classic sign of a patient experiencing a Thyroid Storm?
A. Severe tachycardia and hyperthermia
B. Bradycardia and cold intolerance
C. Hypotension and lethargy
D. Constipation and weight gain
Answer: A
Rationale: Thyroid storm is a life-threatening complication of hyperthyroidism
characterized by extreme tachycardia, high fever (hyperthermia), and altered mental
status.
4. A patient is admitted with Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA). Which of the following laboratory
values would the nurse expect to find?
A. Serum Glucose 110 mg/dL, pH 7.45
B. Serum Glucose 450 mg/dL, pH 7.20
C. Serum Glucose 800 mg/dL, pH 7.40
D. Serum Glucose 200 mg/dL, HCO3 26
