NUR 282 Advanced Clinical / Transition Nursing Exam 2 Practice 2026
|Galen College
1. A patient’s ABG results are pH 7.31, PaCO2 50 mmHg, and HCO3 24 mEq/L.
Which condition does the nurse suspect?
A. Metabolic Acidosis
B. Respiratory Alkalosis
C. Metabolic Alkalosis
D. Respiratory Acidosis
Answer: D
Rationale: The pH is low (acidosis) and the PaCO2 is high (respiratory), while the
bicarbonate is normal, indicating uncompensated respiratory acidosis.
2. Which clinical manifestation is most characteristic of left-sided heart failure?
A. Peripheral edema
B. Jugular venous distension
C. Hepatosplenomegaly
D. Crackles in the lungs
Answer: D
Rationale: Left-sided heart failure leads to pulmonary congestion, causing respiratory
symptoms like crackles, dyspnea, and orthopnea.
,3. A patient is receiving Digoxin. The nurse should monitor for which sign of
toxicity?
A. Visual disturbances such as yellow halos
B. Hyperkalemia
C. Increased appetite
D. Tachycardia
Answer: A
Rationale: Visual changes (blurred or yellow-tinged vision), nausea, and bradycardia are
classic signs of Digoxin toxicity.
4. When administering Heparin, which laboratory value should the nurse
primarily monitor?
A. Prothrombin Time (PT)
B. Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (aPTT)
C. International Normalized Ratio (INR)
D. Platelet count only
Answer: B
Rationale: The aPTT is used to monitor the effectiveness and safety of Heparin therapy.
5. A patient has a potassium level of 6.2 mEq/L. Which EKG change is the nurse
most likely to see?
A. Prominent U waves
B. ST-segment depression
C. Tall, peaked T waves
D. Prolonged PR interval
Answer: C
Rationale: Hyperkalemia (K+ > 5.0) typically causes tall, peaked T waves on an EKG.
, 6. Which assessment finding requires immediate intervention for a patient with
a chest tube?
A. Intermittent bubbling in the water seal chamber during coughing
B. Continuous bubbling in the water seal chamber
C. Tidaling in the water seal chamber with respiration
D. 50 mL of serosanguinous drainage in 4 hours
Answer: B
Rationale: Continuous bubbling in the water seal chamber indicates an air leak in the
system, which requires immediate troubleshooting.
7. A patient is diagnosed with Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA). Which acid-base
imbalance is expected?
A. Respiratory Acidosis
B. Metabolic Alkalosis
C. Respiratory Alkalosis
D. Metabolic Acidosis
Answer: D
Rationale: DKA involves the buildup of ketones (acids), leading to a drop in bicarbonate
and a low pH, representing metabolic acidosis.
8. The nurse is caring for a patient with COPD. What is the recommended
oxygen flow rate to prevent respiratory depression?
A. 10-15 L/min via Non-rebreather
B. 5-8 L/min via Simple Mask
C. 1-2 L/min via Nasal Cannula
D. Venturi mask at 50%
Answer: C
Rationale: Patients with COPD may rely on a hypoxic drive; high levels of oxygen can
suppress their stimulus to breathe.
|Galen College
1. A patient’s ABG results are pH 7.31, PaCO2 50 mmHg, and HCO3 24 mEq/L.
Which condition does the nurse suspect?
A. Metabolic Acidosis
B. Respiratory Alkalosis
C. Metabolic Alkalosis
D. Respiratory Acidosis
Answer: D
Rationale: The pH is low (acidosis) and the PaCO2 is high (respiratory), while the
bicarbonate is normal, indicating uncompensated respiratory acidosis.
2. Which clinical manifestation is most characteristic of left-sided heart failure?
A. Peripheral edema
B. Jugular venous distension
C. Hepatosplenomegaly
D. Crackles in the lungs
Answer: D
Rationale: Left-sided heart failure leads to pulmonary congestion, causing respiratory
symptoms like crackles, dyspnea, and orthopnea.
,3. A patient is receiving Digoxin. The nurse should monitor for which sign of
toxicity?
A. Visual disturbances such as yellow halos
B. Hyperkalemia
C. Increased appetite
D. Tachycardia
Answer: A
Rationale: Visual changes (blurred or yellow-tinged vision), nausea, and bradycardia are
classic signs of Digoxin toxicity.
4. When administering Heparin, which laboratory value should the nurse
primarily monitor?
A. Prothrombin Time (PT)
B. Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (aPTT)
C. International Normalized Ratio (INR)
D. Platelet count only
Answer: B
Rationale: The aPTT is used to monitor the effectiveness and safety of Heparin therapy.
5. A patient has a potassium level of 6.2 mEq/L. Which EKG change is the nurse
most likely to see?
A. Prominent U waves
B. ST-segment depression
C. Tall, peaked T waves
D. Prolonged PR interval
Answer: C
Rationale: Hyperkalemia (K+ > 5.0) typically causes tall, peaked T waves on an EKG.
, 6. Which assessment finding requires immediate intervention for a patient with
a chest tube?
A. Intermittent bubbling in the water seal chamber during coughing
B. Continuous bubbling in the water seal chamber
C. Tidaling in the water seal chamber with respiration
D. 50 mL of serosanguinous drainage in 4 hours
Answer: B
Rationale: Continuous bubbling in the water seal chamber indicates an air leak in the
system, which requires immediate troubleshooting.
7. A patient is diagnosed with Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA). Which acid-base
imbalance is expected?
A. Respiratory Acidosis
B. Metabolic Alkalosis
C. Respiratory Alkalosis
D. Metabolic Acidosis
Answer: D
Rationale: DKA involves the buildup of ketones (acids), leading to a drop in bicarbonate
and a low pH, representing metabolic acidosis.
8. The nurse is caring for a patient with COPD. What is the recommended
oxygen flow rate to prevent respiratory depression?
A. 10-15 L/min via Non-rebreather
B. 5-8 L/min via Simple Mask
C. 1-2 L/min via Nasal Cannula
D. Venturi mask at 50%
Answer: C
Rationale: Patients with COPD may rely on a hypoxic drive; high levels of oxygen can
suppress their stimulus to breathe.
