NURS 420
FINAL EXAM
ACTUAL Questions with Answers
(Health and Illness Concepts III)
Drexel University
This Document Description:
• This document contains a collection of Verified
questions with accurate Answers.
• It covers core topics assessed in the course and
reflects the actual exam format and question style.
Ideal for exam preparation and concept reinforcement.
,1.1 The biggest concern related to compartment syndrome is?
A. Low pressures in the compartment can cause blood pooling and increased clotting
B. That the clot will embolize
C. High pressures in the compartment from swelling can cause ischemia and necrosis
D. Bleeding can occur
Answer:
C. High pressures in the compartment from swelling can cause ischemia and
necrosis
Rationale:
In compartment syndrome, rising pressure within a confined fascial compartment
compromises perfusion. This leads rapidly to ischemia, nerve damage, and muscle
necrosis—making limb loss and permanent dysfunction the primary concern.
1.2 When a patient has a spinal cord injury many processes can be disrupted. If a
patient suddenly becomes hypertensive and bradycardic with facial flushing and a
headache and you see their foley bag is kinked you suspect they have which of the
following complications of a spinal cord injury?
A. Spinal Shock
B. Autonomic Dysreflexia
C. Neurogenic Shock
D. Neurogenic Bladder
Answer:
B. Autonomic Dysreflexia
Rationale:
Autonomic dysreflexia occurs in SCI at or above T6 and is triggered by noxious stimuli
(e.g., bladder distention from kinked Foley). It causes severe hypertension, bradycardia,
flushing, and headache due to uncontrolled sympathetic outflow.
1.3 You walk into the room to meet your patient. Their eyes are closed when you
walk in the room but they wake up when you say their name a few times. They are
oriented to themselves but are confused to time and place. When you ask them to
move around so you can perform your assessment, they do what you ask. What is
their GCS?
, A. 11
B. 14
C. 13
D. 12
Answer:
C. 13
Rationale:
Eye opening to voice = 3, confused verbal response = 4, and obeys commands = 6. Total
GCS = 3 + 4 + 6 = 13, indicating mild brain injury.
1.4 The nurse notices bubbling in the air leak meter or water seal chamber. What
should their next course of action be?
A. Continue to observe the patient
B. Reposition the patient
C. Call for a chest x-ray
D. Notify the physician
Answer:
C. Call for a chest x-ray
Rationale:
Bubbling in the water seal/air leak chamber suggests an air leak from lung or system.
After quickly checking tubing and connections, a chest x-ray helps assess lung expansion
and possible pneumothorax or leak source.
1.5 A ventilator is beeping for low pressure. What is the most common cause of a
low pressure alarm?
A. Patient biting the ETT
B. Ventilator malfunction
C. Water accumulation in the ventilator tubing
D. Disconnection
Answer:
D. Disconnection
Rationale:
Low-pressure alarms usually indicate loss of circuit pressure—most commonly from
disconnection of tubing, loose connections, or ETT cuff leak. It’s a priority to quickly
reconnect and assess the patient.
FINAL EXAM
ACTUAL Questions with Answers
(Health and Illness Concepts III)
Drexel University
This Document Description:
• This document contains a collection of Verified
questions with accurate Answers.
• It covers core topics assessed in the course and
reflects the actual exam format and question style.
Ideal for exam preparation and concept reinforcement.
,1.1 The biggest concern related to compartment syndrome is?
A. Low pressures in the compartment can cause blood pooling and increased clotting
B. That the clot will embolize
C. High pressures in the compartment from swelling can cause ischemia and necrosis
D. Bleeding can occur
Answer:
C. High pressures in the compartment from swelling can cause ischemia and
necrosis
Rationale:
In compartment syndrome, rising pressure within a confined fascial compartment
compromises perfusion. This leads rapidly to ischemia, nerve damage, and muscle
necrosis—making limb loss and permanent dysfunction the primary concern.
1.2 When a patient has a spinal cord injury many processes can be disrupted. If a
patient suddenly becomes hypertensive and bradycardic with facial flushing and a
headache and you see their foley bag is kinked you suspect they have which of the
following complications of a spinal cord injury?
A. Spinal Shock
B. Autonomic Dysreflexia
C. Neurogenic Shock
D. Neurogenic Bladder
Answer:
B. Autonomic Dysreflexia
Rationale:
Autonomic dysreflexia occurs in SCI at or above T6 and is triggered by noxious stimuli
(e.g., bladder distention from kinked Foley). It causes severe hypertension, bradycardia,
flushing, and headache due to uncontrolled sympathetic outflow.
1.3 You walk into the room to meet your patient. Their eyes are closed when you
walk in the room but they wake up when you say their name a few times. They are
oriented to themselves but are confused to time and place. When you ask them to
move around so you can perform your assessment, they do what you ask. What is
their GCS?
, A. 11
B. 14
C. 13
D. 12
Answer:
C. 13
Rationale:
Eye opening to voice = 3, confused verbal response = 4, and obeys commands = 6. Total
GCS = 3 + 4 + 6 = 13, indicating mild brain injury.
1.4 The nurse notices bubbling in the air leak meter or water seal chamber. What
should their next course of action be?
A. Continue to observe the patient
B. Reposition the patient
C. Call for a chest x-ray
D. Notify the physician
Answer:
C. Call for a chest x-ray
Rationale:
Bubbling in the water seal/air leak chamber suggests an air leak from lung or system.
After quickly checking tubing and connections, a chest x-ray helps assess lung expansion
and possible pneumothorax or leak source.
1.5 A ventilator is beeping for low pressure. What is the most common cause of a
low pressure alarm?
A. Patient biting the ETT
B. Ventilator malfunction
C. Water accumulation in the ventilator tubing
D. Disconnection
Answer:
D. Disconnection
Rationale:
Low-pressure alarms usually indicate loss of circuit pressure—most commonly from
disconnection of tubing, loose connections, or ETT cuff leak. It’s a priority to quickly
reconnect and assess the patient.
