Med Surg Exam Study Guide –
Practice Questions with
Answers. Updated 2026
For which conditions would the nurse include plan of care interventions related
to the potential development of hypophosphatemia? Select all that apply.
1
Renal failure
2
Respiratory alkalosis
3
Diabetic ketoacidosis
4
Tumor lysis syndrome
5
Malabsorption syndrome - Ans✔✔-2 respiratory alkalosis
3 diabetic ketoacidosis
5 malabsorption syndrome
The nurse would include interventions to address hypophosphatemia when
providing care to patients with respiratory alkalosis, diabetic ketoacidosis, and
malabsorption syndrome. The nurse should create a care plan for
,hyperphosphatemia when providing care to patients with renal failure and
tumor lysis syndrome.
Which patient disorder has a potential complication of developing increased
extracellular fluids?
1 Osmotic diuresis
2
Renal impairment
3
Intestinal obstruction
4
Drainage from a rectal fistula - Ans✔✔-2 renal impairment
Extracellular fluid accounts for one third of total body fluids, which consist of
interstitial fluid, plasma, and transcellular fluid. The extracellular fluid may
become excessive when the elimination of water is impaired, especially during
kidney failure. Conditions such as fistula drainage, osmotic diuresis, and
intestinal obstruction result in a loss of body fluid.
Which clinical manifestations would the nurse observe when assessing
cardiovascular changes in a patient suspected of having a medical diagnosis of
fluid volume excess? Select all that apply.
1
Full, bounding pulse
2
Distended neck veins
3
,Orthostatic hypotension
4
Increase in the heart rate
5
Presence of an S3 heart sound - Ans✔✔-1, 2, 5
Fluid volume excess results in a full, bounding pulse; presence of an S3 heart
sound; and jugular venous distention (distended neck veins). Orthostatic
hypotension and an increased heart rate are clinical manifestations of deficient,
not excess, fluid volume.
The patient presents with a one-time prescription for potassium chloride 20
mEq in 250 mL of normal saline IV, to be given immediately. Upon reviewing a
more recent potassium level, which result would trigger the nurse to seek
clarification of the patient's prescription?
1
1.7 mEq/L
2
2.9 mEq/L
3
3.6 mEq/L
4
4.5 mEq/L - Ans✔✔-4
The normal range for serum potassium is 3.5 to 5 mEq/L. The IV prescription
provides a substantial amount of potassium, so the patient's potassium level
must be low. A level of 4.5 mEq/L would not warrant this medication.
, Which medical diagnosis would cause the nurse to include nursing
interventions appropriate for hyponatremia in the plan of care?
1
Diabetes insipidus
2
Cushing syndrome
3
Congestive heart failure
4
Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus - Ans✔✔-3
Congestive heart failure increases the patient's risk for developing
hyponatremia due to inefficient pumping of excessive fluids; therefore this
diagnosis would cause the nurse to include interventions specific to
hyponatremia in the plan of care. Diabetes insipidus, Cushing syndrome, and
uncontrolled diabetes mellitus increase the patient's risk for hypernatremia,
not hyponatremia.
To prevent a recurrence of hypocalcemia, the nurse would encourage the
patient to increase intake of which foods?
1
Fish
2
Lean meat
3
Dairy products
Practice Questions with
Answers. Updated 2026
For which conditions would the nurse include plan of care interventions related
to the potential development of hypophosphatemia? Select all that apply.
1
Renal failure
2
Respiratory alkalosis
3
Diabetic ketoacidosis
4
Tumor lysis syndrome
5
Malabsorption syndrome - Ans✔✔-2 respiratory alkalosis
3 diabetic ketoacidosis
5 malabsorption syndrome
The nurse would include interventions to address hypophosphatemia when
providing care to patients with respiratory alkalosis, diabetic ketoacidosis, and
malabsorption syndrome. The nurse should create a care plan for
,hyperphosphatemia when providing care to patients with renal failure and
tumor lysis syndrome.
Which patient disorder has a potential complication of developing increased
extracellular fluids?
1 Osmotic diuresis
2
Renal impairment
3
Intestinal obstruction
4
Drainage from a rectal fistula - Ans✔✔-2 renal impairment
Extracellular fluid accounts for one third of total body fluids, which consist of
interstitial fluid, plasma, and transcellular fluid. The extracellular fluid may
become excessive when the elimination of water is impaired, especially during
kidney failure. Conditions such as fistula drainage, osmotic diuresis, and
intestinal obstruction result in a loss of body fluid.
Which clinical manifestations would the nurse observe when assessing
cardiovascular changes in a patient suspected of having a medical diagnosis of
fluid volume excess? Select all that apply.
1
Full, bounding pulse
2
Distended neck veins
3
,Orthostatic hypotension
4
Increase in the heart rate
5
Presence of an S3 heart sound - Ans✔✔-1, 2, 5
Fluid volume excess results in a full, bounding pulse; presence of an S3 heart
sound; and jugular venous distention (distended neck veins). Orthostatic
hypotension and an increased heart rate are clinical manifestations of deficient,
not excess, fluid volume.
The patient presents with a one-time prescription for potassium chloride 20
mEq in 250 mL of normal saline IV, to be given immediately. Upon reviewing a
more recent potassium level, which result would trigger the nurse to seek
clarification of the patient's prescription?
1
1.7 mEq/L
2
2.9 mEq/L
3
3.6 mEq/L
4
4.5 mEq/L - Ans✔✔-4
The normal range for serum potassium is 3.5 to 5 mEq/L. The IV prescription
provides a substantial amount of potassium, so the patient's potassium level
must be low. A level of 4.5 mEq/L would not warrant this medication.
, Which medical diagnosis would cause the nurse to include nursing
interventions appropriate for hyponatremia in the plan of care?
1
Diabetes insipidus
2
Cushing syndrome
3
Congestive heart failure
4
Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus - Ans✔✔-3
Congestive heart failure increases the patient's risk for developing
hyponatremia due to inefficient pumping of excessive fluids; therefore this
diagnosis would cause the nurse to include interventions specific to
hyponatremia in the plan of care. Diabetes insipidus, Cushing syndrome, and
uncontrolled diabetes mellitus increase the patient's risk for hypernatremia,
not hyponatremia.
To prevent a recurrence of hypocalcemia, the nurse would encourage the
patient to increase intake of which foods?
1
Fish
2
Lean meat
3
Dairy products
