NUR 257 CHRONIC CONDITIONS
EXAM 4 | GALEN COLLEGE OF
NURSING | ACADEMIC YEAR
2026/2027 | 100 PRACTICE MCQS,
ANSWERS & RATIONALES | ALREADY
GRADED A+ | MOST RECENT!!
NUR 257 Chronic Conditions — Practice Questions 1–100
1. Which finding is most characteristic of chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease (COPD)?
A. Reversible airway obstruction
B. Persistent airflow limitation
C. Acute pulmonary edema
D. Sudden pleuritic chest pain
Answer: B. Persistent airflow limitation.
Rationale: COPD is characterized by persistent respiratory symptoms
and airflow limitation resulting from airway and/or alveolar
abnormalities.
2. Which intervention is most important for a patient with COPD
who continues to smoke?
A. Increasing dietary sodium
B. Smoking cessation
C. Limiting all physical activity
D. Increasing fluid restriction
Answer: B. Smoking cessation.
,Rationale: Smoking cessation is the most important intervention for
slowing COPD progression and reducing continued exposure to
airway irritants.
3. Which symptom is commonly associated with COPD?
A. Chronic cough
B. Sudden paralysis
C. Severe abdominal rigidity
D. Acute hearing loss
Answer: A. Chronic cough.
Rationale: Chronic cough, sputum production, dyspnea, and activity
intolerance are common manifestations of COPD.
4. Which breathing technique can help a patient with COPD
improve ventilation?
A. Pursed-lip breathing
B. Rapid shallow breathing
C. Breath holding
D. Continuous hyperventilation
Answer: A. Pursed-lip breathing.
Rationale: Pursed-lip breathing prolongs exhalation and can help
reduce airway collapse and air trapping.
5. Which position is generally helpful for a patient experiencing
dyspnea from chronic lung disease?
A. Flat supine
B. Upright
,C. Trendelenburg
D. Prone with the head flat
Answer: B. Upright.
Rationale: Upright positioning promotes lung expansion and can
reduce the work of breathing.
6. Which finding is commonly associated with left-sided heart
failure?
A. Pulmonary crackles
B. Increased appetite
C. Warm, dry skin only
D. Increased urine output
Answer: A. Pulmonary crackles.
Rationale: Left-sided heart failure can cause pulmonary congestion
and fluid accumulation, resulting in crackles, dyspnea, and
orthopnea.
7. Which symptom should a patient with heart failure report
promptly?
A. Sudden increase in shortness of breath
B. Mild hunger before lunch
C. Occasional thirst
D. Stable weight
Answer: A. Sudden increase in shortness of breath.
Rationale: Sudden worsening dyspnea may indicate increasing
pulmonary congestion or acute decompensation of heart failure.
, 8. Why are daily weights important for patients with heart
failure?
A. They measure muscle strength
B. They help detect fluid retention
C. They determine oxygen saturation
D. They diagnose infection
Answer: B. They help detect fluid retention.
Rationale: Rapid weight gain can reflect fluid accumulation before
more obvious symptoms of worsening heart failure develop.
9. Which dietary modification is commonly recommended for
many patients with heart failure?
A. Increased sodium intake
B. Sodium restriction
C. Increased processed foods
D. Elimination of all carbohydrates
Answer: B. Sodium restriction.
Rationale: Excess sodium promotes fluid retention and can worsen
edema and congestion in heart failure.
10. Which medication is a loop diuretic commonly used to reduce
fluid overload?
A. Furosemide
B. Levothyroxine
C. Metformin
D. Omeprazole
Answer: A. Furosemide.
EXAM 4 | GALEN COLLEGE OF
NURSING | ACADEMIC YEAR
2026/2027 | 100 PRACTICE MCQS,
ANSWERS & RATIONALES | ALREADY
GRADED A+ | MOST RECENT!!
NUR 257 Chronic Conditions — Practice Questions 1–100
1. Which finding is most characteristic of chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease (COPD)?
A. Reversible airway obstruction
B. Persistent airflow limitation
C. Acute pulmonary edema
D. Sudden pleuritic chest pain
Answer: B. Persistent airflow limitation.
Rationale: COPD is characterized by persistent respiratory symptoms
and airflow limitation resulting from airway and/or alveolar
abnormalities.
2. Which intervention is most important for a patient with COPD
who continues to smoke?
A. Increasing dietary sodium
B. Smoking cessation
C. Limiting all physical activity
D. Increasing fluid restriction
Answer: B. Smoking cessation.
,Rationale: Smoking cessation is the most important intervention for
slowing COPD progression and reducing continued exposure to
airway irritants.
3. Which symptom is commonly associated with COPD?
A. Chronic cough
B. Sudden paralysis
C. Severe abdominal rigidity
D. Acute hearing loss
Answer: A. Chronic cough.
Rationale: Chronic cough, sputum production, dyspnea, and activity
intolerance are common manifestations of COPD.
4. Which breathing technique can help a patient with COPD
improve ventilation?
A. Pursed-lip breathing
B. Rapid shallow breathing
C. Breath holding
D. Continuous hyperventilation
Answer: A. Pursed-lip breathing.
Rationale: Pursed-lip breathing prolongs exhalation and can help
reduce airway collapse and air trapping.
5. Which position is generally helpful for a patient experiencing
dyspnea from chronic lung disease?
A. Flat supine
B. Upright
,C. Trendelenburg
D. Prone with the head flat
Answer: B. Upright.
Rationale: Upright positioning promotes lung expansion and can
reduce the work of breathing.
6. Which finding is commonly associated with left-sided heart
failure?
A. Pulmonary crackles
B. Increased appetite
C. Warm, dry skin only
D. Increased urine output
Answer: A. Pulmonary crackles.
Rationale: Left-sided heart failure can cause pulmonary congestion
and fluid accumulation, resulting in crackles, dyspnea, and
orthopnea.
7. Which symptom should a patient with heart failure report
promptly?
A. Sudden increase in shortness of breath
B. Mild hunger before lunch
C. Occasional thirst
D. Stable weight
Answer: A. Sudden increase in shortness of breath.
Rationale: Sudden worsening dyspnea may indicate increasing
pulmonary congestion or acute decompensation of heart failure.
, 8. Why are daily weights important for patients with heart
failure?
A. They measure muscle strength
B. They help detect fluid retention
C. They determine oxygen saturation
D. They diagnose infection
Answer: B. They help detect fluid retention.
Rationale: Rapid weight gain can reflect fluid accumulation before
more obvious symptoms of worsening heart failure develop.
9. Which dietary modification is commonly recommended for
many patients with heart failure?
A. Increased sodium intake
B. Sodium restriction
C. Increased processed foods
D. Elimination of all carbohydrates
Answer: B. Sodium restriction.
Rationale: Excess sodium promotes fluid retention and can worsen
edema and congestion in heart failure.
10. Which medication is a loop diuretic commonly used to reduce
fluid overload?
A. Furosemide
B. Levothyroxine
C. Metformin
D. Omeprazole
Answer: A. Furosemide.
