NUR 221 EXAM 3 | 212 ACTUAL QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS |
SCORED A+ | NEW UPDATE 2025
The nurse is caring for a patient admitted with hypovolemic shock. The nurse
palpates thready brachial pulses but is unable to auscultate a blood pressure.
What is the best nursing action?
A. Assess the blood pressure palpation
B. Estimate the systolic pressure as 60 mm Hg.
C. Obtain an electronic blood pressure monitor.
D. Record the blood pressure as "not assessable." - ANSWER A. Assess the
blood pressure palpation
The nurse has just completed an infusion of a 1000 mL bolus of 0.9% normal
saline in a patient with severe sepsis. One hour later, which laboratory result
requires immediate nursing action?
A. Creatinine 1.0 mg/dL
B. Lactate 6 mmol/L
C. Potassium 3.8 mEq/L
D. Sodium 140 mEq/L - ANSWER B. Lactate 6 mmol/L
,The nurse has been administering 0.9% normal saline intravenous fluids as part of
early goal- directed therapy protocols in a patient with severe sepsis. To evaluate
the effectiveness of fluid therapy, which physiological parameters would be most
important for the nurse to assess?
A. Breath sounds and capillary refill
B. Blood pressure and oral temperature
C. Oral temperature and capillary refill
D. Right atrial pressure and urine output - ANSWER D. Right atrial pressure
and urine output
A patient is admitted to the critical care unit following coronary artery bypass
surgery. Two hours postoperatively, the nurse assesses the following information:
pulse is 120 beats/min; blood pressure is 70/50 mm Hg; pulmonary artery
diastolic pressure is 2 mm Hg; cardiac output is 4 L/min; urine output is 250
mL/hr; chest drainage is 200 mL/hr. What is the best interpretation by the nurse?
A. The assessed values are within normal limits.
B. The patient is at risk for developing cardiogenic shock.
C. The patient is at risk for developing fluid volume overload.
D. The patient is at risk for developing hypovolemic shock. - ANSWER D. The
patient is at risk for developing hypovolemic shock.
A patient is admitted after collapsing at the end of a summer marathon. She is
lethargic, with a heart rate of 110 beats/min, respiratory rate of 30 breaths/min,
,and a blood pressure of 78/46 mm Hg. The nurse anticipates administering which
therapeutic intervention?
A. Human albumin infusion
B. Hypotonic saline solution
C. Lactated Ringer's bolus
D. Packed red blood cells - ANSWER C. Lactated Ringer's bolus
The nurse is caring for a patient in the early stages of septic shock. The patient is
slightly confused and flushed, with bounding peripheral pulses. Which
hemodynamic values is the nurse most likely to assess?
A. High pulmonary artery occlusive pressure and high cardiac output
B. High systemic vascular resistance and low cardiac output
C. Low pulmonary artery occlusive pressure and low cardiac output
D. Low systemic vascular resistance and high cardiac output - ANSWER D. Low
systemic vascular resistance and high cardiac output
The nurse is caring for a patient admitted with severe sepsis. Vital signs assessed
by the nurse include blood pressure 80/50 mm Hg, heart rate 120 beats/min,
respirations 28 breaths/min, oral temperature of 102° F, and a right atrial pressure
(RAP) of 1 mm Hg. Assuming physician orders, which intervention should the
nurse carry out first?
A. Acetaminophen suppository
, B. Blood cultures from two sites
C. IV antibiotic administration
D. Isotonic fluid challenge - ANSWER D. Isotonic fluid challenge
Which patient being cared for in the emergency department is most at risk for
developing hypovolemic shock?
A. A patient admitted with abdominal pain and an elevated white blood cell count
B. A patient with a temperature of 102° F and a general dermal rash
C. A patient with a 2-day history of nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
D. A patient with slight rectal bleeding from inflamed hemorrhoids - ANSWER
C. A patient with a 2-day history of nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
The nurse is caring for a patient admitted with cardiogenic shock. Hemodynamic
readings obtained with a pulmonary artery catheter include a pulmonary artery
occlusion pressure (PAOP) of 18 mm Hg and a cardiac index (CI) of 1.0 L/min/m 2 .
What is the priority pharmacological intervention?
A. Dobutamine
B. Furosemide
C. Phenylephrine
D. Sodium nitroprusside - ANSWER A. Dobutamine
AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS |
SCORED A+ | NEW UPDATE 2025
The nurse is caring for a patient admitted with hypovolemic shock. The nurse
palpates thready brachial pulses but is unable to auscultate a blood pressure.
What is the best nursing action?
A. Assess the blood pressure palpation
B. Estimate the systolic pressure as 60 mm Hg.
C. Obtain an electronic blood pressure monitor.
D. Record the blood pressure as "not assessable." - ANSWER A. Assess the
blood pressure palpation
The nurse has just completed an infusion of a 1000 mL bolus of 0.9% normal
saline in a patient with severe sepsis. One hour later, which laboratory result
requires immediate nursing action?
A. Creatinine 1.0 mg/dL
B. Lactate 6 mmol/L
C. Potassium 3.8 mEq/L
D. Sodium 140 mEq/L - ANSWER B. Lactate 6 mmol/L
,The nurse has been administering 0.9% normal saline intravenous fluids as part of
early goal- directed therapy protocols in a patient with severe sepsis. To evaluate
the effectiveness of fluid therapy, which physiological parameters would be most
important for the nurse to assess?
A. Breath sounds and capillary refill
B. Blood pressure and oral temperature
C. Oral temperature and capillary refill
D. Right atrial pressure and urine output - ANSWER D. Right atrial pressure
and urine output
A patient is admitted to the critical care unit following coronary artery bypass
surgery. Two hours postoperatively, the nurse assesses the following information:
pulse is 120 beats/min; blood pressure is 70/50 mm Hg; pulmonary artery
diastolic pressure is 2 mm Hg; cardiac output is 4 L/min; urine output is 250
mL/hr; chest drainage is 200 mL/hr. What is the best interpretation by the nurse?
A. The assessed values are within normal limits.
B. The patient is at risk for developing cardiogenic shock.
C. The patient is at risk for developing fluid volume overload.
D. The patient is at risk for developing hypovolemic shock. - ANSWER D. The
patient is at risk for developing hypovolemic shock.
A patient is admitted after collapsing at the end of a summer marathon. She is
lethargic, with a heart rate of 110 beats/min, respiratory rate of 30 breaths/min,
,and a blood pressure of 78/46 mm Hg. The nurse anticipates administering which
therapeutic intervention?
A. Human albumin infusion
B. Hypotonic saline solution
C. Lactated Ringer's bolus
D. Packed red blood cells - ANSWER C. Lactated Ringer's bolus
The nurse is caring for a patient in the early stages of septic shock. The patient is
slightly confused and flushed, with bounding peripheral pulses. Which
hemodynamic values is the nurse most likely to assess?
A. High pulmonary artery occlusive pressure and high cardiac output
B. High systemic vascular resistance and low cardiac output
C. Low pulmonary artery occlusive pressure and low cardiac output
D. Low systemic vascular resistance and high cardiac output - ANSWER D. Low
systemic vascular resistance and high cardiac output
The nurse is caring for a patient admitted with severe sepsis. Vital signs assessed
by the nurse include blood pressure 80/50 mm Hg, heart rate 120 beats/min,
respirations 28 breaths/min, oral temperature of 102° F, and a right atrial pressure
(RAP) of 1 mm Hg. Assuming physician orders, which intervention should the
nurse carry out first?
A. Acetaminophen suppository
, B. Blood cultures from two sites
C. IV antibiotic administration
D. Isotonic fluid challenge - ANSWER D. Isotonic fluid challenge
Which patient being cared for in the emergency department is most at risk for
developing hypovolemic shock?
A. A patient admitted with abdominal pain and an elevated white blood cell count
B. A patient with a temperature of 102° F and a general dermal rash
C. A patient with a 2-day history of nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
D. A patient with slight rectal bleeding from inflamed hemorrhoids - ANSWER
C. A patient with a 2-day history of nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
The nurse is caring for a patient admitted with cardiogenic shock. Hemodynamic
readings obtained with a pulmonary artery catheter include a pulmonary artery
occlusion pressure (PAOP) of 18 mm Hg and a cardiac index (CI) of 1.0 L/min/m 2 .
What is the priority pharmacological intervention?
A. Dobutamine
B. Furosemide
C. Phenylephrine
D. Sodium nitroprusside - ANSWER A. Dobutamine
