Nursing Fundamentals Week 9 Study Guide Quiz 2026 |Galen College
1. Which process involves the movement of water from an area of lower solute
concentration to an area of higher solute concentration?
A. Diffusion
B. Filtration
C. Active Transport
D. Osmosis
Answer: D
Rationale: Osmosis is specifically the movement of water across a semipermeable
membrane from low to high solute concentration.
2. What is the primary extracellular cation responsible for maintaining fluid
volume?
A. Potassium
B. Calcium
C. Magnesium
D. Sodium
Answer: D
Rationale: Sodium is the major cation of the extracellular fluid and plays a key role in
water balance.
,3. A patient has a serum potassium level of 2.8 mEq/L. Which clinical
manifestation should the nurse monitor for?
A. Tall peaked T-waves
B. Hyperactive bowel sounds
C. Muscle tetany
D. Cardiac dysrhythmias
Answer: D
Rationale: Hypokalemia (low potassium) significantly affects cardiac conduction, leading
to potentially fatal dysrhythmias.
4. Which intravenous fluid is considered isotonic?
A. 0.9% Normal Saline
B. 3% Sodium Chloride
C. 0.45% Normal Saline
D. Dextrose 10% in Water
Answer: A
Rationale: 0.9% Normal Saline is isotonic as it has the same osmolality as blood plasma.
5. The nurse observes swelling, coolness, and pallor at a peripheral IV site.
Which complication is the patient likely experiencing?
A. Phlebitis
B. Infiltration
C. Extravasation
D. Infection
Answer: B
Rationale: Infiltration is characterized by the leaking of non-vesicant fluid into tissues,
causing coolness and swelling.
, 6. Which acid-base imbalance is characterized by a pH of 7.30 and a PaCO2 of 55
mmHg?
A. Respiratory Acidosis
B. Respiratory Alkalosis
C. Metabolic Alkalosis
D. Metabolic Acidosis
Answer: A
Rationale: A low pH (<7.35) combined with a high PaCO2 (>45) indicates respiratory
acidosis.
7. What is the positive Chvostek’s sign an indicator of?
A. Hypokalemia
B. Hypermagnesemia
C. Hypocalcemia
D. Hypernatremia
Answer: C
Rationale: A twitch of the facial muscles when the facial nerve is tapped (Chvostek’s sign)
indicates hypocalcemia.
8. During the preoperative phase, whose primary responsibility is it to obtain
informed consent?
A. The circulating nurse
B. The anesthesiologist
C. The surgeon
D. The scrub technician
Answer: C
Rationale: The surgeon performing the procedure is responsible for explaining the
risks/benefits and obtaining the signed consent.
1. Which process involves the movement of water from an area of lower solute
concentration to an area of higher solute concentration?
A. Diffusion
B. Filtration
C. Active Transport
D. Osmosis
Answer: D
Rationale: Osmosis is specifically the movement of water across a semipermeable
membrane from low to high solute concentration.
2. What is the primary extracellular cation responsible for maintaining fluid
volume?
A. Potassium
B. Calcium
C. Magnesium
D. Sodium
Answer: D
Rationale: Sodium is the major cation of the extracellular fluid and plays a key role in
water balance.
,3. A patient has a serum potassium level of 2.8 mEq/L. Which clinical
manifestation should the nurse monitor for?
A. Tall peaked T-waves
B. Hyperactive bowel sounds
C. Muscle tetany
D. Cardiac dysrhythmias
Answer: D
Rationale: Hypokalemia (low potassium) significantly affects cardiac conduction, leading
to potentially fatal dysrhythmias.
4. Which intravenous fluid is considered isotonic?
A. 0.9% Normal Saline
B. 3% Sodium Chloride
C. 0.45% Normal Saline
D. Dextrose 10% in Water
Answer: A
Rationale: 0.9% Normal Saline is isotonic as it has the same osmolality as blood plasma.
5. The nurse observes swelling, coolness, and pallor at a peripheral IV site.
Which complication is the patient likely experiencing?
A. Phlebitis
B. Infiltration
C. Extravasation
D. Infection
Answer: B
Rationale: Infiltration is characterized by the leaking of non-vesicant fluid into tissues,
causing coolness and swelling.
, 6. Which acid-base imbalance is characterized by a pH of 7.30 and a PaCO2 of 55
mmHg?
A. Respiratory Acidosis
B. Respiratory Alkalosis
C. Metabolic Alkalosis
D. Metabolic Acidosis
Answer: A
Rationale: A low pH (<7.35) combined with a high PaCO2 (>45) indicates respiratory
acidosis.
7. What is the positive Chvostek’s sign an indicator of?
A. Hypokalemia
B. Hypermagnesemia
C. Hypocalcemia
D. Hypernatremia
Answer: C
Rationale: A twitch of the facial muscles when the facial nerve is tapped (Chvostek’s sign)
indicates hypocalcemia.
8. During the preoperative phase, whose primary responsibility is it to obtain
informed consent?
A. The circulating nurse
B. The anesthesiologist
C. The surgeon
D. The scrub technician
Answer: C
Rationale: The surgeon performing the procedure is responsible for explaining the
risks/benefits and obtaining the signed consent.
