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, MEDICAL-SURGICAL NURSING FINAL EXAM TEST BANK (2024/25 EDITION) |
200 NCLEX-STYLE QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS & EXPLANATIONS
BASED ON OPENSTAX MEDICAL-SURGICAL NURSING BY BOWEN ET AL.
Covers the most tested Topics in exam
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Unit Topic Chapters Questions
Unit 1 Fluid & Electrolyte Imbalances Chapter 10 Q1–20
Unit 2 Cardiovascular Disorders Chapter 12 Q21–40
Respiratory Disorders (Asthma, COPD, Pneumonia,
Unit 3 Chapter 11 Q41–60
TB)
Unit 4 Endocrine Disorders (Diabetes, Thyroid, Adrenal) Chapter 21 Q61–80
Unit 5 Neurological Disorders (Stroke, ICP, Seizures) Chapters 15 & 17 Q81–100
Q101–
Unit 6 Infectious Diseases & Sepsis Chapters 22–23
120
Pain Management, Cancer Pain, & Palliative Chapters 7, 31– Q121–
Unit 7
Symptoms 32 140
Q141–
Unit 8 Preoperative & Postoperative Care Chapters 25–27
160
Q161–
Unit 9 Cancer Care & Palliative Care Chapters 31–32
180
Unit Q181–
Legal, Ethical, & Evidence-Based Nursing Practice Chapters 1 & 5
10 200
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,UNIT 1: FLUID & ELECTROLYTE IMBALANCES
1. A patient is admitted with confusion and seizures. Laboratory results reveal a serum sodium
level of 118 mEq/L. Which is the priority nursing intervention?
A. Administer 0.9% normal saline
B. Restrict fluid intake
C. Encourage oral water intake
D. Administer hypertonic saline (3% NaCl)
Answer: D
Rationale: Severe hyponatremia (<120 mEq/L) with neurological symptoms requires cautious
administration of hypertonic saline to raise sodium levels quickly.
2. Which of the following electrolyte imbalances is most likely to cause cardiac dysrhythmias?
A. Hypernatremia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hypocalcemia
D. Hypochloremia
Answer: B
Rationale: Hypokalemia disrupts cardiac conduction and increases the risk of life-threatening
dysrhythmias.
3. A patient with prolonged vomiting is most at risk for which acid-base imbalance?
A. Metabolic acidosis
B. Respiratory acidosis
C. Metabolic alkalosis
D. Respiratory alkalosis
Answer: C
Rationale: Loss of gastric acid from vomiting leads to a buildup of bicarbonate, resulting in
metabolic alkalosis.
4. Which assessment finding is most consistent with fluid volume overload?
A. Dry mucous membranes
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, B. Hypotension
C. Jugular vein distension
D. Poor skin turgor
Answer: C
Rationale: Jugular vein distension is a hallmark of hypervolemia due to increased venous
pressure.
5. Which electrolyte is critical for neuromuscular and cardiac function and should be monitored
during diuretic therapy?
A. Sodium
B. Potassium
C. Chloride
D. Phosphate
Answer: B
Rationale: Potassium is often depleted with diuretic use and must be closely monitored to
prevent complications.
6. What is the normal range for serum calcium?
A. 1.8–2.2 mEq/L
B. 2.5–4.5 mEq/L
C. 8.5–10.5 mg/dL
D. 135–145 mEq/L
Answer: C
Rationale: Normal serum calcium levels range between 8.5–10.5 mg/dL.
7. A client with chronic kidney disease is likely to develop which electrolyte imbalance?
A. Hypophosphatemia
B. Hypermagnesemia
C. Hypernatremia
D. Hypokalemia
Answer: B
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, MEDICAL-SURGICAL NURSING FINAL EXAM TEST BANK (2024/25 EDITION) |
200 NCLEX-STYLE QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS & EXPLANATIONS
BASED ON OPENSTAX MEDICAL-SURGICAL NURSING BY BOWEN ET AL.
Covers the most tested Topics in exam
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Unit Topic Chapters Questions
Unit 1 Fluid & Electrolyte Imbalances Chapter 10 Q1–20
Unit 2 Cardiovascular Disorders Chapter 12 Q21–40
Respiratory Disorders (Asthma, COPD, Pneumonia,
Unit 3 Chapter 11 Q41–60
TB)
Unit 4 Endocrine Disorders (Diabetes, Thyroid, Adrenal) Chapter 21 Q61–80
Unit 5 Neurological Disorders (Stroke, ICP, Seizures) Chapters 15 & 17 Q81–100
Q101–
Unit 6 Infectious Diseases & Sepsis Chapters 22–23
120
Pain Management, Cancer Pain, & Palliative Chapters 7, 31– Q121–
Unit 7
Symptoms 32 140
Q141–
Unit 8 Preoperative & Postoperative Care Chapters 25–27
160
Q161–
Unit 9 Cancer Care & Palliative Care Chapters 31–32
180
Unit Q181–
Legal, Ethical, & Evidence-Based Nursing Practice Chapters 1 & 5
10 200
2|Page
,UNIT 1: FLUID & ELECTROLYTE IMBALANCES
1. A patient is admitted with confusion and seizures. Laboratory results reveal a serum sodium
level of 118 mEq/L. Which is the priority nursing intervention?
A. Administer 0.9% normal saline
B. Restrict fluid intake
C. Encourage oral water intake
D. Administer hypertonic saline (3% NaCl)
Answer: D
Rationale: Severe hyponatremia (<120 mEq/L) with neurological symptoms requires cautious
administration of hypertonic saline to raise sodium levels quickly.
2. Which of the following electrolyte imbalances is most likely to cause cardiac dysrhythmias?
A. Hypernatremia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hypocalcemia
D. Hypochloremia
Answer: B
Rationale: Hypokalemia disrupts cardiac conduction and increases the risk of life-threatening
dysrhythmias.
3. A patient with prolonged vomiting is most at risk for which acid-base imbalance?
A. Metabolic acidosis
B. Respiratory acidosis
C. Metabolic alkalosis
D. Respiratory alkalosis
Answer: C
Rationale: Loss of gastric acid from vomiting leads to a buildup of bicarbonate, resulting in
metabolic alkalosis.
4. Which assessment finding is most consistent with fluid volume overload?
A. Dry mucous membranes
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, B. Hypotension
C. Jugular vein distension
D. Poor skin turgor
Answer: C
Rationale: Jugular vein distension is a hallmark of hypervolemia due to increased venous
pressure.
5. Which electrolyte is critical for neuromuscular and cardiac function and should be monitored
during diuretic therapy?
A. Sodium
B. Potassium
C. Chloride
D. Phosphate
Answer: B
Rationale: Potassium is often depleted with diuretic use and must be closely monitored to
prevent complications.
6. What is the normal range for serum calcium?
A. 1.8–2.2 mEq/L
B. 2.5–4.5 mEq/L
C. 8.5–10.5 mg/dL
D. 135–145 mEq/L
Answer: C
Rationale: Normal serum calcium levels range between 8.5–10.5 mg/dL.
7. A client with chronic kidney disease is likely to develop which electrolyte imbalance?
A. Hypophosphatemia
B. Hypermagnesemia
C. Hypernatremia
D. Hypokalemia
Answer: B
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