,NUR 210 Exam 1 Medical-Surgical Nursing II Questions And Answers
2026/2027 Jersey College
Q1. A postoperative patient reports pain of 8/10 despite having
received an opioid 20 minutes ago. Which action should occur first?
A) Reassess the pain characteristics, sedation level, respiratory status, and
response to the medication
B) Administer another full opioid dose immediately
C) Explain that postoperative pain is unavoidable
D) Wait until the next scheduled medication time
Correct Answer: A) Reassess the pain characteristics, sedation level,
respiratory status, and response to the medication
Rationale: Evaluation of analgesic effectiveness and medication-related
adverse effects is necessary before additional intervention.
Q2. Which finding most strongly suggests fluid volume deficit?
A) Bounding pulses
B) Orthostatic hypotension with tachycardia
C) Jugular venous distention
D) Crackles in both lungs
Correct Answer: B) Orthostatic hypotension with tachycardia
Rationale: Reduced circulating volume commonly produces compensatory
tachycardia and a fall in blood pressure with position changes.
Q3. A patient with serum sodium of 119 mEq/L becomes confused
and develops a seizure. Which problem has priority?
A) Nutritional deficiency
B) Chronic pain
C) Severe symptomatic hyponatremia
D) Mild dehydration
Correct Answer: C) Severe symptomatic hyponatremia
Rationale: Severe hyponatremia can produce cerebral edema, altered
consciousness, and seizures.
Q4. A patient has a potassium level of 6.7 mEq/L. Which assessment
is most important?
,A) Hearing acuity
B) Visual fields
C) Bowel pattern
D) Cardiac rhythm
Correct Answer: D) Cardiac rhythm
Rationale: Severe hyperkalemia can cause dangerous conduction
disturbances and fatal dysrhythmias.
Q5. Which electrocardiographic finding is commonly associated with
significant hyperkalemia?
A) Peaked T waves
B) Prolonged QT interval only
C) U waves
D) Persistent sinus tachycardia only
Correct Answer: A) Peaked T waves
Rationale: Rising serum potassium can produce tall peaked T waves and
progressive conduction abnormalities.
Q6. A patient receiving loop-diuretic therapy develops muscle
weakness and frequent premature ventricular contractions. Which
electrolyte imbalance should be suspected?
A) Hypernatremia
B) Hypokalemia
C) Hypercalcemia
D) Hypermagnesemia
Correct Answer: B) Hypokalemia
Rationale: Loop diuretics can increase potassium loss, and hypokalemia can
cause muscle weakness and dysrhythmias.
Q7. Which finding is most consistent with hypocalcemia?
A) Decreased neuromuscular excitability
B) Severe constipation only
C) Tingling with muscle spasms and hyperreflexia
D) Profound lethargy with diminished reflexes
Correct Answer: C) Tingling with muscle spasms and hyperreflexia
, Rationale: Low calcium increases neuromuscular excitability and can
produce paresthesias, tetany, and hyperreflexia.
Q8. A patient with heart failure has gained 2.5 kg in three days and
has bilateral crackles and dependent edema. Which interpretation is
most appropriate?
A) Severe dehydration
B) Improved cardiac function
C) Normal aging
D) Fluid volume excess
Correct Answer: D) Fluid volume excess
Rationale: Rapid weight gain, pulmonary crackles, and peripheral edema
indicate fluid retention.
Q9. Which assessment provides the most useful daily indicator of
fluid-balance change?
A) Daily weight under consistent conditions
B) Height
C) Mid-arm circumference
D) Skin color
Correct Answer: A) Daily weight under consistent conditions
Rationale: Short-term weight changes closely reflect gains or losses of body
fluid.
Q10. A patient with severe pain becomes difficult to arouse after IV
opioid administration and has respirations of 7/min. Which action
has priority?
A) Ask the patient to rate the pain
B) Support ventilation and initiate treatment for opioid-induced respiratory
depression
C) Offer oral fluids
D) Reassess in one hour
Correct Answer: B) Support ventilation and initiate treatment for opioid-
induced respiratory depression
Rationale: Respiratory depression after opioid therapy threatens airway and
oxygenation and requires immediate intervention.
2026/2027 Jersey College
Q1. A postoperative patient reports pain of 8/10 despite having
received an opioid 20 minutes ago. Which action should occur first?
A) Reassess the pain characteristics, sedation level, respiratory status, and
response to the medication
B) Administer another full opioid dose immediately
C) Explain that postoperative pain is unavoidable
D) Wait until the next scheduled medication time
Correct Answer: A) Reassess the pain characteristics, sedation level,
respiratory status, and response to the medication
Rationale: Evaluation of analgesic effectiveness and medication-related
adverse effects is necessary before additional intervention.
Q2. Which finding most strongly suggests fluid volume deficit?
A) Bounding pulses
B) Orthostatic hypotension with tachycardia
C) Jugular venous distention
D) Crackles in both lungs
Correct Answer: B) Orthostatic hypotension with tachycardia
Rationale: Reduced circulating volume commonly produces compensatory
tachycardia and a fall in blood pressure with position changes.
Q3. A patient with serum sodium of 119 mEq/L becomes confused
and develops a seizure. Which problem has priority?
A) Nutritional deficiency
B) Chronic pain
C) Severe symptomatic hyponatremia
D) Mild dehydration
Correct Answer: C) Severe symptomatic hyponatremia
Rationale: Severe hyponatremia can produce cerebral edema, altered
consciousness, and seizures.
Q4. A patient has a potassium level of 6.7 mEq/L. Which assessment
is most important?
,A) Hearing acuity
B) Visual fields
C) Bowel pattern
D) Cardiac rhythm
Correct Answer: D) Cardiac rhythm
Rationale: Severe hyperkalemia can cause dangerous conduction
disturbances and fatal dysrhythmias.
Q5. Which electrocardiographic finding is commonly associated with
significant hyperkalemia?
A) Peaked T waves
B) Prolonged QT interval only
C) U waves
D) Persistent sinus tachycardia only
Correct Answer: A) Peaked T waves
Rationale: Rising serum potassium can produce tall peaked T waves and
progressive conduction abnormalities.
Q6. A patient receiving loop-diuretic therapy develops muscle
weakness and frequent premature ventricular contractions. Which
electrolyte imbalance should be suspected?
A) Hypernatremia
B) Hypokalemia
C) Hypercalcemia
D) Hypermagnesemia
Correct Answer: B) Hypokalemia
Rationale: Loop diuretics can increase potassium loss, and hypokalemia can
cause muscle weakness and dysrhythmias.
Q7. Which finding is most consistent with hypocalcemia?
A) Decreased neuromuscular excitability
B) Severe constipation only
C) Tingling with muscle spasms and hyperreflexia
D) Profound lethargy with diminished reflexes
Correct Answer: C) Tingling with muscle spasms and hyperreflexia
, Rationale: Low calcium increases neuromuscular excitability and can
produce paresthesias, tetany, and hyperreflexia.
Q8. A patient with heart failure has gained 2.5 kg in three days and
has bilateral crackles and dependent edema. Which interpretation is
most appropriate?
A) Severe dehydration
B) Improved cardiac function
C) Normal aging
D) Fluid volume excess
Correct Answer: D) Fluid volume excess
Rationale: Rapid weight gain, pulmonary crackles, and peripheral edema
indicate fluid retention.
Q9. Which assessment provides the most useful daily indicator of
fluid-balance change?
A) Daily weight under consistent conditions
B) Height
C) Mid-arm circumference
D) Skin color
Correct Answer: A) Daily weight under consistent conditions
Rationale: Short-term weight changes closely reflect gains or losses of body
fluid.
Q10. A patient with severe pain becomes difficult to arouse after IV
opioid administration and has respirations of 7/min. Which action
has priority?
A) Ask the patient to rate the pain
B) Support ventilation and initiate treatment for opioid-induced respiratory
depression
C) Offer oral fluids
D) Reassess in one hour
Correct Answer: B) Support ventilation and initiate treatment for opioid-
induced respiratory depression
Rationale: Respiratory depression after opioid therapy threatens airway and
oxygenation and requires immediate intervention.
