ADULT HEALTH THEORY III EXAM PRACTICE QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT EXPLAINED ANSWERS 2026|| 100%
GUARANTEED PASS!! <RECENT VERSION>
1. 1. A 78-kg patient with septic shock has a urine output of 30 mL/hr for the
past 3 hours. The pulse rate is 120/minute and the central venous pressure
and pulmonary artery wedge pressure are low. Which order by the health care
provider will the nurse question?
a. Give PRN furosemide (Lasix) 40 mg IV.
b. Increase normal saline infusion to 250 mL/hr.
c. Administer hydrocortisone (Solu-Cortef) 100 mg IV.
d. Titrate norepinephrine (Levophed) to keep systolic BP >90 mm Hg.-CORRECT ANSWER- a. Give
PRN
furosemide (Lasix) 40 mg IV.
Furosemide will lower the filling pressures and renal perfusion further for the patient with
septic shock. The other orders
are appropriate.
2. 2. A nurse is caring for a patient with shock of unknown etiology whose hemo
dynamic monitoring indicates BP 92/54, pulse 64, and an elevated pulmonary
artery wedge pressure. Which collaborative intervention ordered by the health
care provider should the nurse question?
Infuse normal saline at 250 mL/hr.
Keep head of bed elevated to 30 degrees.
Hold nitroprusside (Nipride) if systolic BP <90 mm Hg.
,Titrate dobutamine (Dobutrex) to keep systolic BP >90 mm Hg.-CORRECT ANSWER- Infuse
normal saline
at 250 mL/hr.
The patients elevated pulmonary artery wedge pressure indicates volume excess. A saline
infusion at 250 mL/hr will
exacerbate the volume excess. The other actions are appropriate for the patient.
3. 3. A 19-year-old patient with massive trauma and possible spinal cord injury
is admitted to the emergency department (ED). Which assessment finding by
the nurse will help confirm a diagnosis of neurogenic shock?
Adult Health Theory III Exam Practice Questions
Study online at https-CORRECT ANSWER-//quizlet.com/_dkn2zx
Inspiratory crackles.
Cool, clammy extremities.
Apical heart rate 45 beats/min.
Temperature 101.2 F (38.4 C).-CORRECT ANSWER- Apical heart rate 45 beats/min.
Neurogenic shock is characterized by hypotension and bradycardia. The other findings would be
more consistent with
other types of shock.
4. 4. An older patient with cardiogenic shock is cool and clammy and hemody
namic monitoring indicates a high systemic vascular resistance (SVR). Which
intervention should the nurse anticipate doing next?
Increase the rate for the dopamine (Intropin) infusion.
Decrease the rate for the nitroglycerin (Tridil) infusion.
Increase the rate for the sodium nitroprusside (Nipride) infusion.
Decrease the rate for the 5% dextrose in normal saline (D5/.9 NS) infusion.-CORRECT ANSWER-
In
,crease the rate for the sodium nitroprusside (Nipride) infusion.
Nitroprusside is an arterial vasodilator and will decrease the SVR and afterload, which will
improve cardiac output.
Changes in the D5/.9 NS and nitroglycerin infusions will not directly decrease SVR. Increasing
the dopamine will tend
to increase SVR.
5. 5. After receiving 2 L of normal saline, the central venous pressure for a
patient who has septic shock is 10 mm Hg, but the blood pressure is still 82/40
mm Hg. The nurse will anticipate an order for
nitroglycerine (Tridil).
norepinephrine (Levophed).
sodium nitroprusside (Nipride).
methylprednisolone (Solu-Medrol).-CORRECT ANSWER- norepinephrine (Levophed).
When fluid resuscitation is unsuccessful, vasopressor drugs are administered to increase the
systemic vascular resis
tance (SVR) and blood pressure, and improve tissue perfusion. Nitroglycerin would decrease the
preload and further
drop cardiac output and BP. Methylprednisolone (Solu-Medrol) is considered if blood pressure
does not respond first
to fluids and vasopressors. Nitroprusside is an arterial vasodilator and would further decrease
SVR.
Adult Health Theory III Exam Practice Questions
Study online at https-CORRECT ANSWER-//quizlet.com/_dkn2zx
6. 6. To evaluate the effectiveness of the pantoprazole (Protonix) ordered for a
patient with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), which assess
ment will the nurse perform?
Auscultate bowel sounds.
, Palpate for abdominal pain.
Ask the patient about nausea.
Check stools for occult blood.-CORRECT ANSWER- Check stools for occult blood.
Proton pump inhibitors are given to decrease the risk for stress ulcers in critically ill patients.
The other assessments
also will be done, but these will not help in determining the effectiveness of the pantoprazole
administration.
7. 7. A patient with cardiogenic shock has the following vital signs-CORRECT ANSWER- BP
102/50,
pulse 128, respirations 28. The pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP) is
increased and cardiac output is low. The nurse will anticipate an order for which
medication?
5% human albumin
Furosemide (Lasix) IV
Epinephrine (Adrenalin) drip
Hydrocortisone (Solu-Cortef)-CORRECT ANSWER- Furosemide (Lasix) IV
The PAWP indicates that the patients preload is elevated, and furosemide is indicated to reduce
the preload and improve
cardiac output. Epinephrine would further increase heart rate and myocardial oxygen demand.
5% human albumin
would also increase the PAWP. Hydrocortisone might be considered for septic or anaphylactic
shock.
8. 8. The emergency department (ED) nurse receives report that a patient in
volved in a motor vehicle crash is being transported to the facility with an
estimated arrival in 1 minute. In preparation for the patients arrival, the nurse
will obtain
hypothermia blanket.
lactated Ringers solution.
AND CORRECT EXPLAINED ANSWERS 2026|| 100%
GUARANTEED PASS!! <RECENT VERSION>
1. 1. A 78-kg patient with septic shock has a urine output of 30 mL/hr for the
past 3 hours. The pulse rate is 120/minute and the central venous pressure
and pulmonary artery wedge pressure are low. Which order by the health care
provider will the nurse question?
a. Give PRN furosemide (Lasix) 40 mg IV.
b. Increase normal saline infusion to 250 mL/hr.
c. Administer hydrocortisone (Solu-Cortef) 100 mg IV.
d. Titrate norepinephrine (Levophed) to keep systolic BP >90 mm Hg.-CORRECT ANSWER- a. Give
PRN
furosemide (Lasix) 40 mg IV.
Furosemide will lower the filling pressures and renal perfusion further for the patient with
septic shock. The other orders
are appropriate.
2. 2. A nurse is caring for a patient with shock of unknown etiology whose hemo
dynamic monitoring indicates BP 92/54, pulse 64, and an elevated pulmonary
artery wedge pressure. Which collaborative intervention ordered by the health
care provider should the nurse question?
Infuse normal saline at 250 mL/hr.
Keep head of bed elevated to 30 degrees.
Hold nitroprusside (Nipride) if systolic BP <90 mm Hg.
,Titrate dobutamine (Dobutrex) to keep systolic BP >90 mm Hg.-CORRECT ANSWER- Infuse
normal saline
at 250 mL/hr.
The patients elevated pulmonary artery wedge pressure indicates volume excess. A saline
infusion at 250 mL/hr will
exacerbate the volume excess. The other actions are appropriate for the patient.
3. 3. A 19-year-old patient with massive trauma and possible spinal cord injury
is admitted to the emergency department (ED). Which assessment finding by
the nurse will help confirm a diagnosis of neurogenic shock?
Adult Health Theory III Exam Practice Questions
Study online at https-CORRECT ANSWER-//quizlet.com/_dkn2zx
Inspiratory crackles.
Cool, clammy extremities.
Apical heart rate 45 beats/min.
Temperature 101.2 F (38.4 C).-CORRECT ANSWER- Apical heart rate 45 beats/min.
Neurogenic shock is characterized by hypotension and bradycardia. The other findings would be
more consistent with
other types of shock.
4. 4. An older patient with cardiogenic shock is cool and clammy and hemody
namic monitoring indicates a high systemic vascular resistance (SVR). Which
intervention should the nurse anticipate doing next?
Increase the rate for the dopamine (Intropin) infusion.
Decrease the rate for the nitroglycerin (Tridil) infusion.
Increase the rate for the sodium nitroprusside (Nipride) infusion.
Decrease the rate for the 5% dextrose in normal saline (D5/.9 NS) infusion.-CORRECT ANSWER-
In
,crease the rate for the sodium nitroprusside (Nipride) infusion.
Nitroprusside is an arterial vasodilator and will decrease the SVR and afterload, which will
improve cardiac output.
Changes in the D5/.9 NS and nitroglycerin infusions will not directly decrease SVR. Increasing
the dopamine will tend
to increase SVR.
5. 5. After receiving 2 L of normal saline, the central venous pressure for a
patient who has septic shock is 10 mm Hg, but the blood pressure is still 82/40
mm Hg. The nurse will anticipate an order for
nitroglycerine (Tridil).
norepinephrine (Levophed).
sodium nitroprusside (Nipride).
methylprednisolone (Solu-Medrol).-CORRECT ANSWER- norepinephrine (Levophed).
When fluid resuscitation is unsuccessful, vasopressor drugs are administered to increase the
systemic vascular resis
tance (SVR) and blood pressure, and improve tissue perfusion. Nitroglycerin would decrease the
preload and further
drop cardiac output and BP. Methylprednisolone (Solu-Medrol) is considered if blood pressure
does not respond first
to fluids and vasopressors. Nitroprusside is an arterial vasodilator and would further decrease
SVR.
Adult Health Theory III Exam Practice Questions
Study online at https-CORRECT ANSWER-//quizlet.com/_dkn2zx
6. 6. To evaluate the effectiveness of the pantoprazole (Protonix) ordered for a
patient with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), which assess
ment will the nurse perform?
Auscultate bowel sounds.
, Palpate for abdominal pain.
Ask the patient about nausea.
Check stools for occult blood.-CORRECT ANSWER- Check stools for occult blood.
Proton pump inhibitors are given to decrease the risk for stress ulcers in critically ill patients.
The other assessments
also will be done, but these will not help in determining the effectiveness of the pantoprazole
administration.
7. 7. A patient with cardiogenic shock has the following vital signs-CORRECT ANSWER- BP
102/50,
pulse 128, respirations 28. The pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP) is
increased and cardiac output is low. The nurse will anticipate an order for which
medication?
5% human albumin
Furosemide (Lasix) IV
Epinephrine (Adrenalin) drip
Hydrocortisone (Solu-Cortef)-CORRECT ANSWER- Furosemide (Lasix) IV
The PAWP indicates that the patients preload is elevated, and furosemide is indicated to reduce
the preload and improve
cardiac output. Epinephrine would further increase heart rate and myocardial oxygen demand.
5% human albumin
would also increase the PAWP. Hydrocortisone might be considered for septic or anaphylactic
shock.
8. 8. The emergency department (ED) nurse receives report that a patient in
volved in a motor vehicle crash is being transported to the facility with an
estimated arrival in 1 minute. In preparation for the patients arrival, the nurse
will obtain
hypothermia blanket.
lactated Ringers solution.
