NUR 200 PRACTICE EXAM QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT ANSWERS WITH
DETAILED EXPLANATIONS
1. A patient with a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is receiving
oxygen at 2L/min via nasal cannula. The nurse notes the patient is becoming increasingly
lethargic and difficult to arouse. Which physiological mechanism is most likely responsible?
A. Reduced oxygen-carrying capacity of hemoglobin
B. Increased metabolic rate leading to hypercapnia
C. Suppression of the peripheral chemoreceptors due to high PaO2
D. Right-sided heart failure leading to decreased cerebral perfusion
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: In some COPD patients with chronic hypercapnia, the
respiratory drive shifts from CO2 levels to low oxygen levels (hypoxic drive). Increasing
oxygen can suppress the peripheral chemoreceptors, leading to decreased ventilation and
further CO2 retention.
,2. When assessing a patient with suspected hypocalcemia, the nurse inflates a blood pressure
cuff on the patient’s arm and observes carpal spasm. How should the nurse document this
finding?
A. Positive Babinski sign
B. Positive Trousseau sign
C. Positive Chvostek sign
D. Positive Homans sign
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Trousseau sign is a classic indicator of hypocalcemia
characterized by carpopedal spasm induced by inflating a blood pressure cuff above
systolic pressure for 3 minutes.
3. Which electrolyte imbalance is a patient most at risk for when taking a loop diuretic such
as Furosemide along with Digoxin?
A. Hypernatremia
B. Hyperkalemia
C. Hypokalemia
D. Hypomagnesemia
Answer: C
, Conceptual Explanation: Loop diuretics promote potassium excretion. Hypokalemia
increases the risk of digoxin toxicity because potassium and digoxin compete for the same
binding sites on the Na+/K+ ATPase pump.
4. A nurse is caring for a patient who is 24 hours post-abdominal surgery. The patient’s
wound has eviscerated. Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Cover the protruding organs with sterile gauze moistened with sterile normal saline
B. Call the surgeon immediately
C. Place the patient in a High-Fowler position
D. Attempt to gently push the organs back into the abdominal cavity
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: Evisceration is a surgical emergency. The first priority is to
protect the exposed organs from drying and infection using sterile saline-soaked dressings
before notifying the surgeon.
5. A patient’s Arterial Blood Gas (ABG) results are: pH 7.31, PaCO2 50 mmHg, HCO3 25 mEq/L.
Which acid-base imbalance does the nurse identify?
A. Uncompensated Metabolic Acidosis
B. Uncompensated Respiratory Acidosis
C. Partially Compensated Respiratory Alkalosis
D. Fully Compensated Metabolic Alkalosis
AND CORRECT ANSWERS WITH
DETAILED EXPLANATIONS
1. A patient with a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is receiving
oxygen at 2L/min via nasal cannula. The nurse notes the patient is becoming increasingly
lethargic and difficult to arouse. Which physiological mechanism is most likely responsible?
A. Reduced oxygen-carrying capacity of hemoglobin
B. Increased metabolic rate leading to hypercapnia
C. Suppression of the peripheral chemoreceptors due to high PaO2
D. Right-sided heart failure leading to decreased cerebral perfusion
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: In some COPD patients with chronic hypercapnia, the
respiratory drive shifts from CO2 levels to low oxygen levels (hypoxic drive). Increasing
oxygen can suppress the peripheral chemoreceptors, leading to decreased ventilation and
further CO2 retention.
,2. When assessing a patient with suspected hypocalcemia, the nurse inflates a blood pressure
cuff on the patient’s arm and observes carpal spasm. How should the nurse document this
finding?
A. Positive Babinski sign
B. Positive Trousseau sign
C. Positive Chvostek sign
D. Positive Homans sign
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Trousseau sign is a classic indicator of hypocalcemia
characterized by carpopedal spasm induced by inflating a blood pressure cuff above
systolic pressure for 3 minutes.
3. Which electrolyte imbalance is a patient most at risk for when taking a loop diuretic such
as Furosemide along with Digoxin?
A. Hypernatremia
B. Hyperkalemia
C. Hypokalemia
D. Hypomagnesemia
Answer: C
, Conceptual Explanation: Loop diuretics promote potassium excretion. Hypokalemia
increases the risk of digoxin toxicity because potassium and digoxin compete for the same
binding sites on the Na+/K+ ATPase pump.
4. A nurse is caring for a patient who is 24 hours post-abdominal surgery. The patient’s
wound has eviscerated. Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Cover the protruding organs with sterile gauze moistened with sterile normal saline
B. Call the surgeon immediately
C. Place the patient in a High-Fowler position
D. Attempt to gently push the organs back into the abdominal cavity
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: Evisceration is a surgical emergency. The first priority is to
protect the exposed organs from drying and infection using sterile saline-soaked dressings
before notifying the surgeon.
5. A patient’s Arterial Blood Gas (ABG) results are: pH 7.31, PaCO2 50 mmHg, HCO3 25 mEq/L.
Which acid-base imbalance does the nurse identify?
A. Uncompensated Metabolic Acidosis
B. Uncompensated Respiratory Acidosis
C. Partially Compensated Respiratory Alkalosis
D. Fully Compensated Metabolic Alkalosis
