PN 1200 IV Intravenous Therapy Quiz 2
| Questions and Answers | 2026/27
Updated | 100% Correct - Las Vegas
College.
Section 1: IV Fundamentals & Fluid Dynamics (Questions 1–30)
1. What is the primary purpose of intravenous (IV) therapy?
A. To provide nutrition only
B. To administer medications, fluids, and blood products directly into the
bloodstream
C. To remove waste products from the body
D. To replace oral intake entirely
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: IV therapy bypasses the digestive system, allowing for immediate
delivery of fluids, medications, and blood products into the circulatory system for
rapid therapeutic effect.
2. Which of the following is a crystalloid solution?
A. Albumin
B. Fresh frozen plasma
C. 0.9% Sodium Chloride (Normal Saline)
D. Packed Red Blood Cells
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Crystalloids are solutions containing small molecules that can easily
pass through semipermeable membranes. Normal Saline, Lactated Ringer's, and
Dextrose are common crystalloids. Albumin and blood products are colloids.
3. What is the osmolarity of 0.9% Sodium Chloride (Normal Saline)?
A. 154 mOsm/L
,B. 308 mOsm/L
C. 560 mOsm/L
D. 250 mOsm/L
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: 0.9% NaCl has an osmolarity of approximately 308 mOsm/L,
making it isotonic to plasma (which is roughly 275-295 mOsm/L).
4. Which IV solution is considered hypotonic?
A. 0.9% Sodium Chloride
B. Lactated Ringer's
C. 0.45% Sodium Chloride
D. 5% Dextrose in 0.9% Sodium Chloride
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: 0.45% NaCl (half-normal saline) has an osmolarity of 154 mOsm/L,
which is lower than plasma, making it hypotonic. It hydrates cells by moving fluid
into the intracellular space.
5. A patient requires fluid replacement for dehydration. Which isotonic solution
is most appropriate?
A. 3% Sodium Chloride
B. 0.45% Sodium Chloride
C. Lactated Ringer's (LR)
D. 10% Dextrose
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Lactated Ringer's is an isotonic crystalloid that expands the
extracellular fluid volume effectively, making it ideal for dehydration and
hypovolemia.
6. Which solution is contraindicated in patients with heart failure due to risk of
fluid overload?
A. 0.9% Sodium Chloride
B. 0.45% Sodium Chloride
,C. 5% Dextrose in Water (D5W)
D. Any sodium-containing isotonic solution
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Patients with heart failure are at high risk for pulmonary edema.
Isotonic sodium-containing solutions expand vascular volume, increasing preload
and potentially causing fluid overload.
7. What is the primary difference between a colloid and a crystalloid?
A. Colloids contain electrolytes; crystalloids do not
B. Colloids contain large molecules (e.g., proteins); crystalloids contain small
molecules
C. Crystalloids stay in the intravascular space longer than colloids
D. Colloids are only used for hydration
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Colloids contain large molecular weight substances (like albumin or
starches) that remain in the intravascular space longer, while crystalloids contain
small molecules that equilibrate across compartments.
8. Which of the following is a colloid?
A. 0.9% Sodium Chloride
B. 5% Albumin
C. Lactated Ringer's
D. 5% Dextrose in Water
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Albumin is a naturally occurring plasma protein colloid. It is used to
expand intravascular volume in patients with hypoproteinemia or hypovolemia.
9. What is the osmolarity of 3% Sodium Chloride?
A. 308 mOsm/L
B. 513 mOsm/L
C. 1026 mOsm/L
D. 154 mOsm/L
, Correct Answer: C
Rationale: 3% NaCl is a hypertonic solution with an osmolarity of
approximately 1026 mOsm/L. It is used cautiously to treat severe hyponatremia.
10. Which IV solution is used to treat severe hyponatremia?
A. 0.45% Sodium Chloride
B. 0.9% Sodium Chloride
C. 3% Sodium Chloride
D. 5% Dextrose in Water
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: 3% NaCl is hypertonic and draws water out of cells, increasing
serum sodium levels. It must be administered via a central line or with extreme
caution due to risk of vein irritation and fluid shifts.
11. What is the primary purpose of administering 5% Dextrose in Water (D5W)?
A. To provide sodium
B. To provide free water and calories
C. To expand intravascular volume rapidly
D. To replace clotting factors
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: D5W provides free water (after dextrose is metabolized) and some
calories. It is isotonic in the bag but becomes hypotonic in the body.
12. Which of the following is a hypertonic solution?
A. 0.45% Sodium Chloride
B. 0.9% Sodium Chloride
C. 5% Dextrose in 0.9% Sodium Chloride
D. Lactated Ringer's
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: D5NS has an osmolarity greater than plasma (approximately 560
mOsm/L), making it hypertonic. It is used to replace fluid and provide calories.
| Questions and Answers | 2026/27
Updated | 100% Correct - Las Vegas
College.
Section 1: IV Fundamentals & Fluid Dynamics (Questions 1–30)
1. What is the primary purpose of intravenous (IV) therapy?
A. To provide nutrition only
B. To administer medications, fluids, and blood products directly into the
bloodstream
C. To remove waste products from the body
D. To replace oral intake entirely
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: IV therapy bypasses the digestive system, allowing for immediate
delivery of fluids, medications, and blood products into the circulatory system for
rapid therapeutic effect.
2. Which of the following is a crystalloid solution?
A. Albumin
B. Fresh frozen plasma
C. 0.9% Sodium Chloride (Normal Saline)
D. Packed Red Blood Cells
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Crystalloids are solutions containing small molecules that can easily
pass through semipermeable membranes. Normal Saline, Lactated Ringer's, and
Dextrose are common crystalloids. Albumin and blood products are colloids.
3. What is the osmolarity of 0.9% Sodium Chloride (Normal Saline)?
A. 154 mOsm/L
,B. 308 mOsm/L
C. 560 mOsm/L
D. 250 mOsm/L
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: 0.9% NaCl has an osmolarity of approximately 308 mOsm/L,
making it isotonic to plasma (which is roughly 275-295 mOsm/L).
4. Which IV solution is considered hypotonic?
A. 0.9% Sodium Chloride
B. Lactated Ringer's
C. 0.45% Sodium Chloride
D. 5% Dextrose in 0.9% Sodium Chloride
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: 0.45% NaCl (half-normal saline) has an osmolarity of 154 mOsm/L,
which is lower than plasma, making it hypotonic. It hydrates cells by moving fluid
into the intracellular space.
5. A patient requires fluid replacement for dehydration. Which isotonic solution
is most appropriate?
A. 3% Sodium Chloride
B. 0.45% Sodium Chloride
C. Lactated Ringer's (LR)
D. 10% Dextrose
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Lactated Ringer's is an isotonic crystalloid that expands the
extracellular fluid volume effectively, making it ideal for dehydration and
hypovolemia.
6. Which solution is contraindicated in patients with heart failure due to risk of
fluid overload?
A. 0.9% Sodium Chloride
B. 0.45% Sodium Chloride
,C. 5% Dextrose in Water (D5W)
D. Any sodium-containing isotonic solution
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Patients with heart failure are at high risk for pulmonary edema.
Isotonic sodium-containing solutions expand vascular volume, increasing preload
and potentially causing fluid overload.
7. What is the primary difference between a colloid and a crystalloid?
A. Colloids contain electrolytes; crystalloids do not
B. Colloids contain large molecules (e.g., proteins); crystalloids contain small
molecules
C. Crystalloids stay in the intravascular space longer than colloids
D. Colloids are only used for hydration
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Colloids contain large molecular weight substances (like albumin or
starches) that remain in the intravascular space longer, while crystalloids contain
small molecules that equilibrate across compartments.
8. Which of the following is a colloid?
A. 0.9% Sodium Chloride
B. 5% Albumin
C. Lactated Ringer's
D. 5% Dextrose in Water
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Albumin is a naturally occurring plasma protein colloid. It is used to
expand intravascular volume in patients with hypoproteinemia or hypovolemia.
9. What is the osmolarity of 3% Sodium Chloride?
A. 308 mOsm/L
B. 513 mOsm/L
C. 1026 mOsm/L
D. 154 mOsm/L
, Correct Answer: C
Rationale: 3% NaCl is a hypertonic solution with an osmolarity of
approximately 1026 mOsm/L. It is used cautiously to treat severe hyponatremia.
10. Which IV solution is used to treat severe hyponatremia?
A. 0.45% Sodium Chloride
B. 0.9% Sodium Chloride
C. 3% Sodium Chloride
D. 5% Dextrose in Water
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: 3% NaCl is hypertonic and draws water out of cells, increasing
serum sodium levels. It must be administered via a central line or with extreme
caution due to risk of vein irritation and fluid shifts.
11. What is the primary purpose of administering 5% Dextrose in Water (D5W)?
A. To provide sodium
B. To provide free water and calories
C. To expand intravascular volume rapidly
D. To replace clotting factors
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: D5W provides free water (after dextrose is metabolized) and some
calories. It is isotonic in the bag but becomes hypotonic in the body.
12. Which of the following is a hypertonic solution?
A. 0.45% Sodium Chloride
B. 0.9% Sodium Chloride
C. 5% Dextrose in 0.9% Sodium Chloride
D. Lactated Ringer's
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: D5NS has an osmolarity greater than plasma (approximately 560
mOsm/L), making it hypertonic. It is used to replace fluid and provide calories.
