,NUS 210 Final Exam Healthcare Foundations Questions And Answers
2026/2027 Jersey College
Q1. Which body-fluid compartment contains the largest proportion
of total body water in a healthy adult?
A) Intravascular fluid
B) Intracellular fluid
C) Interstitial fluid
D) Transcellular fluid
Correct Answer: B) Intracellular fluid
Rationale: Most body water is located inside cells, making intracellular fluid
the largest fluid compartment.
Q2. Which process moves water across a selectively permeable
membrane from an area of lower solute concentration toward an
area of higher solute concentration?
A) Filtration
B) Active transport
C) Osmosis
D) Diffusion of solute
Correct Answer: C) Osmosis
Rationale: Osmosis is the passive movement of water across a membrane
in response to differences in solute concentration.
Q3. Which finding most strongly suggests fluid-volume deficit?
A) Tachycardia, dry mucous membranes, and decreased urine output
B) Bounding pulses and peripheral edema
C) Crackles and rapid weight gain
D) Jugular venous distention
Correct Answer: A) Tachycardia, dry mucous membranes, and decreased
urine output
Rationale: Reduced circulating volume commonly produces compensatory
tachycardia, decreased renal perfusion, concentrated urine, and dry mucous
membranes.
Q4. Which assessment finding is most consistent with fluid-volume
excess?
,A) Flat neck veins
B) Sudden weight loss
C) Poor skin turgor
D) Peripheral edema and pulmonary crackles
Correct Answer: D) Peripheral edema and pulmonary crackles
Rationale: Excess extracellular fluid can accumulate in dependent tissues
and the lungs, producing edema and crackles.
Q5. Which measurement is generally the most useful for detecting
short-term changes in overall fluid balance?
A) Daily body weight measured under comparable conditions
B) Height
C) Pupil size
D) Hand-grip strength
Correct Answer: A) Daily body weight measured under comparable conditions
Rationale: Rapid weight changes commonly reflect changes in body water
and are useful for monitoring fluid gain or loss.
Q6. A patient has severe vomiting for two days. Which electrolyte
disturbance should be considered because of repeated
gastrointestinal losses?
A) Hypercalcemia only
B) Hyperphosphatemia only
C) Hypokalemia
D) Hypermagnesemia
Correct Answer: C) Hypokalemia
Rationale: Repeated vomiting and associated renal responses can
contribute to substantial potassium loss.
Q7. Which finding is most concerning in a patient with significant
hyperkalemia?
A) Dry skin
B) Cardiac rhythm abnormalities
C) Increased appetite
D) Mild thirst
Correct Answer: B) Cardiac rhythm abnormalities
, Rationale: Potassium strongly influences cardiac membrane excitability, so
severe hyperkalemia can cause life-threatening dysrhythmias.
Q8. A patient has sodium 118 mEq/L and develops confusion and
seizures. Which complication is most likely contributing to the
neurologic symptoms?
A) Cellular dehydration of the brain
B) Increased plasma oncotic pressure
C) Severe hyperglycemia only
D) Water movement into brain cells causing cerebral swelling
Correct Answer: D) Water movement into brain cells causing cerebral
swelling
Rationale: Severe hyponatremia lowers extracellular osmolality and can
cause water to enter brain cells, producing cerebral edema.
CHAPTER 2 — ACTIVITY, EXERCISE, AND IMMOBILITY
Q9. Which physiologic effect commonly occurs with regular
exercise?
A) Progressive loss of cardiovascular efficiency
B) Permanent reduction in muscle strength
C) Improved cardiovascular endurance and muscle function
D) Increased risk for venous stasis
Correct Answer: C) Improved cardiovascular endurance and muscle function
Rationale: Regular activity improves cardiovascular conditioning, muscular
strength, endurance, and functional capacity.
Q10. Which musculoskeletal consequence is expected with
prolonged immobility?
A) Disuse muscle atrophy
B) Increased bone density
C) Muscle hypertrophy
D) Increased joint flexibility
Correct Answer: A) Disuse muscle atrophy
Rationale: Reduced muscle use decreases muscle-fiber size and strength.
Q11. Why does prolonged immobility increase the risk for deep
venous thrombosis?
2026/2027 Jersey College
Q1. Which body-fluid compartment contains the largest proportion
of total body water in a healthy adult?
A) Intravascular fluid
B) Intracellular fluid
C) Interstitial fluid
D) Transcellular fluid
Correct Answer: B) Intracellular fluid
Rationale: Most body water is located inside cells, making intracellular fluid
the largest fluid compartment.
Q2. Which process moves water across a selectively permeable
membrane from an area of lower solute concentration toward an
area of higher solute concentration?
A) Filtration
B) Active transport
C) Osmosis
D) Diffusion of solute
Correct Answer: C) Osmosis
Rationale: Osmosis is the passive movement of water across a membrane
in response to differences in solute concentration.
Q3. Which finding most strongly suggests fluid-volume deficit?
A) Tachycardia, dry mucous membranes, and decreased urine output
B) Bounding pulses and peripheral edema
C) Crackles and rapid weight gain
D) Jugular venous distention
Correct Answer: A) Tachycardia, dry mucous membranes, and decreased
urine output
Rationale: Reduced circulating volume commonly produces compensatory
tachycardia, decreased renal perfusion, concentrated urine, and dry mucous
membranes.
Q4. Which assessment finding is most consistent with fluid-volume
excess?
,A) Flat neck veins
B) Sudden weight loss
C) Poor skin turgor
D) Peripheral edema and pulmonary crackles
Correct Answer: D) Peripheral edema and pulmonary crackles
Rationale: Excess extracellular fluid can accumulate in dependent tissues
and the lungs, producing edema and crackles.
Q5. Which measurement is generally the most useful for detecting
short-term changes in overall fluid balance?
A) Daily body weight measured under comparable conditions
B) Height
C) Pupil size
D) Hand-grip strength
Correct Answer: A) Daily body weight measured under comparable conditions
Rationale: Rapid weight changes commonly reflect changes in body water
and are useful for monitoring fluid gain or loss.
Q6. A patient has severe vomiting for two days. Which electrolyte
disturbance should be considered because of repeated
gastrointestinal losses?
A) Hypercalcemia only
B) Hyperphosphatemia only
C) Hypokalemia
D) Hypermagnesemia
Correct Answer: C) Hypokalemia
Rationale: Repeated vomiting and associated renal responses can
contribute to substantial potassium loss.
Q7. Which finding is most concerning in a patient with significant
hyperkalemia?
A) Dry skin
B) Cardiac rhythm abnormalities
C) Increased appetite
D) Mild thirst
Correct Answer: B) Cardiac rhythm abnormalities
, Rationale: Potassium strongly influences cardiac membrane excitability, so
severe hyperkalemia can cause life-threatening dysrhythmias.
Q8. A patient has sodium 118 mEq/L and develops confusion and
seizures. Which complication is most likely contributing to the
neurologic symptoms?
A) Cellular dehydration of the brain
B) Increased plasma oncotic pressure
C) Severe hyperglycemia only
D) Water movement into brain cells causing cerebral swelling
Correct Answer: D) Water movement into brain cells causing cerebral
swelling
Rationale: Severe hyponatremia lowers extracellular osmolality and can
cause water to enter brain cells, producing cerebral edema.
CHAPTER 2 — ACTIVITY, EXERCISE, AND IMMOBILITY
Q9. Which physiologic effect commonly occurs with regular
exercise?
A) Progressive loss of cardiovascular efficiency
B) Permanent reduction in muscle strength
C) Improved cardiovascular endurance and muscle function
D) Increased risk for venous stasis
Correct Answer: C) Improved cardiovascular endurance and muscle function
Rationale: Regular activity improves cardiovascular conditioning, muscular
strength, endurance, and functional capacity.
Q10. Which musculoskeletal consequence is expected with
prolonged immobility?
A) Disuse muscle atrophy
B) Increased bone density
C) Muscle hypertrophy
D) Increased joint flexibility
Correct Answer: A) Disuse muscle atrophy
Rationale: Reduced muscle use decreases muscle-fiber size and strength.
Q11. Why does prolonged immobility increase the risk for deep
venous thrombosis?
