Maryville NURS 623 Exam
Questions With Complete
Solutions
1. Question: A patient with chronic heart failure is prescribed furosemide.
Which laboratory value should be monitored closely during treatment?
a) Hemoglobin
b) Potassium
c) White blood cell count
d) Calcium
Answer:
b) Potassium
Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that can lead to hypokalemia (low potassium levels).
Monitoring potassium levels is critical to prevent complications like arrhythmias.
2. Question: Which of the following best describes the purpose of a beta-
blocker in treating hypertension?
a) To decrease fluid retention
b) To reduce peripheral vascular resistance
c) To slow heart rate and reduce cardiac workload
d) To increase vasoconstriction and raise blood pressure
Answer:
c) To slow heart rate and reduce cardiac workload
Rationale: Beta-blockers block beta-adrenergic receptors, which reduce heart rate, decrease
myocardial oxygen demand, and lower blood pressure, making them effective for managing
hypertension and heart disease.
3. Question: A patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
is prescribed tiotropium. The nurse should teach the patient that this
medication works by:
a) Reducing airway inflammation
b) Dilating bronchioles and improving airflow
,c) Reducing mucus production
d) Preventing respiratory infections
Answer:
b) Dilating bronchioles and improving airflow
Rationale: Tiotropium is a long-acting anticholinergic that dilates the bronchioles by inhibiting
the muscarinic receptors in the smooth muscle, which helps improve airflow in COPD patients.
4. Question: A patient is being treated for diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).
Which of the following would be the priority intervention?
a) Administering insulin
b) Monitoring blood glucose levels
c) Rehydration with IV fluids
d) Monitoring for signs of infection
Answer:
c) Rehydration with IV fluids
Rationale: The initial management of DKA focuses on rehydrating the patient with intravenous
fluids to address dehydration. Insulin is administered after fluid resuscitation has started.
5. Question: A patient is started on an angiotensin-converting enzyme
(ACE) inhibitor for hypertension. Which of the following adverse effects
should the nurse monitor for?
a) Bradycardia
b) Hyperkalemia
c) Hypoglycemia
d) Increased blood pressure
Answer:
b) Hyperkalemia
Rationale: ACE inhibitors can reduce aldosterone secretion, leading to potassium retention and
the risk of hyperkalemia.
6. Question: In caring for a patient with a pulmonary embolism (PE), which
of the following is the primary goal of anticoagulation therapy?
a) Dissolve the existing clot
b) Prevent the formation of new clots
c) Increase oxygenation levels
d) Reduce inflammation in the lungs
Answer:
b) Prevent the formation of new clots
Rationale: Anticoagulation therapy in PE helps prevent the development of new clots, although
it does not actively dissolve the existing clot. It reduces the risk of additional clots forming and
spreading.
, 7. Question: A patient on long-term corticosteroid therapy is at increased
risk for which complication?
a) Hypotension
b) Osteoporosis
c) Hyperkalemia
d) Hypoglycemia
Answer:
b) Osteoporosis
Rationale: Long-term corticosteroid use can lead to decreased bone density and increased risk
of osteoporosis due to the inhibition of calcium absorption and decreased bone formation.
8. Question: A patient with atrial fibrillation is prescribed warfarin. Which
test should be routinely monitored to ensure therapeutic effectiveness?
a) Platelet count
b) Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT)
c) Prothrombin time/International normalized ratio (PT/INR)
d) Bleeding time
Answer:
c) Prothrombin time/International normalized ratio (PT/INR)
Rationale: Warfarin is monitored using PT/INR to ensure that the blood is thin enough to
prevent clots but not so thin as to cause bleeding complications.
9. Question: Which of the following is the most appropriate nursing
intervention for a patient experiencing a hypoglycemic episode?
a) Administering insulin
b) Giving an IV bolus of 50% dextrose
c) Encouraging the patient to drink water
d) Administering glucagon by mouth
Answer:
b) Giving an IV bolus of 50% dextrose
Rationale: In cases of severe hypoglycemia, IV dextrose is administered to rapidly increase
blood glucose levels, especially if the patient is unconscious or unable to swallow.
10. Question: A patient has been diagnosed with hypothyroidism and is
prescribed levothyroxine. Which of the following statements indicates that
the patient understands how to take the medication?
a) "I will take the medication with breakfast."
b) "I should take this medication in the evening with dinner."
c) "I will take the medication first thing in the morning on an empty stomach."
d) "I should take this medication only when I feel tired."
Questions With Complete
Solutions
1. Question: A patient with chronic heart failure is prescribed furosemide.
Which laboratory value should be monitored closely during treatment?
a) Hemoglobin
b) Potassium
c) White blood cell count
d) Calcium
Answer:
b) Potassium
Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that can lead to hypokalemia (low potassium levels).
Monitoring potassium levels is critical to prevent complications like arrhythmias.
2. Question: Which of the following best describes the purpose of a beta-
blocker in treating hypertension?
a) To decrease fluid retention
b) To reduce peripheral vascular resistance
c) To slow heart rate and reduce cardiac workload
d) To increase vasoconstriction and raise blood pressure
Answer:
c) To slow heart rate and reduce cardiac workload
Rationale: Beta-blockers block beta-adrenergic receptors, which reduce heart rate, decrease
myocardial oxygen demand, and lower blood pressure, making them effective for managing
hypertension and heart disease.
3. Question: A patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
is prescribed tiotropium. The nurse should teach the patient that this
medication works by:
a) Reducing airway inflammation
b) Dilating bronchioles and improving airflow
,c) Reducing mucus production
d) Preventing respiratory infections
Answer:
b) Dilating bronchioles and improving airflow
Rationale: Tiotropium is a long-acting anticholinergic that dilates the bronchioles by inhibiting
the muscarinic receptors in the smooth muscle, which helps improve airflow in COPD patients.
4. Question: A patient is being treated for diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).
Which of the following would be the priority intervention?
a) Administering insulin
b) Monitoring blood glucose levels
c) Rehydration with IV fluids
d) Monitoring for signs of infection
Answer:
c) Rehydration with IV fluids
Rationale: The initial management of DKA focuses on rehydrating the patient with intravenous
fluids to address dehydration. Insulin is administered after fluid resuscitation has started.
5. Question: A patient is started on an angiotensin-converting enzyme
(ACE) inhibitor for hypertension. Which of the following adverse effects
should the nurse monitor for?
a) Bradycardia
b) Hyperkalemia
c) Hypoglycemia
d) Increased blood pressure
Answer:
b) Hyperkalemia
Rationale: ACE inhibitors can reduce aldosterone secretion, leading to potassium retention and
the risk of hyperkalemia.
6. Question: In caring for a patient with a pulmonary embolism (PE), which
of the following is the primary goal of anticoagulation therapy?
a) Dissolve the existing clot
b) Prevent the formation of new clots
c) Increase oxygenation levels
d) Reduce inflammation in the lungs
Answer:
b) Prevent the formation of new clots
Rationale: Anticoagulation therapy in PE helps prevent the development of new clots, although
it does not actively dissolve the existing clot. It reduces the risk of additional clots forming and
spreading.
, 7. Question: A patient on long-term corticosteroid therapy is at increased
risk for which complication?
a) Hypotension
b) Osteoporosis
c) Hyperkalemia
d) Hypoglycemia
Answer:
b) Osteoporosis
Rationale: Long-term corticosteroid use can lead to decreased bone density and increased risk
of osteoporosis due to the inhibition of calcium absorption and decreased bone formation.
8. Question: A patient with atrial fibrillation is prescribed warfarin. Which
test should be routinely monitored to ensure therapeutic effectiveness?
a) Platelet count
b) Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT)
c) Prothrombin time/International normalized ratio (PT/INR)
d) Bleeding time
Answer:
c) Prothrombin time/International normalized ratio (PT/INR)
Rationale: Warfarin is monitored using PT/INR to ensure that the blood is thin enough to
prevent clots but not so thin as to cause bleeding complications.
9. Question: Which of the following is the most appropriate nursing
intervention for a patient experiencing a hypoglycemic episode?
a) Administering insulin
b) Giving an IV bolus of 50% dextrose
c) Encouraging the patient to drink water
d) Administering glucagon by mouth
Answer:
b) Giving an IV bolus of 50% dextrose
Rationale: In cases of severe hypoglycemia, IV dextrose is administered to rapidly increase
blood glucose levels, especially if the patient is unconscious or unable to swallow.
10. Question: A patient has been diagnosed with hypothyroidism and is
prescribed levothyroxine. Which of the following statements indicates that
the patient understands how to take the medication?
a) "I will take the medication with breakfast."
b) "I should take this medication in the evening with dinner."
c) "I will take the medication first thing in the morning on an empty stomach."
d) "I should take this medication only when I feel tired."
