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100 ITEM MEDICAL SURGICAL NURSING EXAMINATION CORRECT ANSWERS AND RATIONALES
MEDICAL SURGICAL NURSING
DISCLAIMER : Care has been taken to verify that all answers and rationale below are accurate.
Please comment up if you noticed any errors or contradictions to maintain accuracy and precision of
the answers as not to mislead the readers.
DEGREE OF QUESTION DIFFICULTY
4 – Very hard question, 25% Chance of answering correctly
3 – Hard question, 50% Chance of answering correctly
2 – Moderately hard question, 75% of answering correctly
1 – Easy question, 99% will answer the question correctly
SITUATION : Dervid, A registered nurse, witnessed an old woman hit by a motorcycle while
crossing a train railway. The old woman fell at the railway. Dervid Rushed at the scene.
1. As a registered nurse, Dervid knew that the first thing that he will do at the scene is [3]
A. Stay with the person, Encourage her to remain still and Immobilize the leg while
While waiting for the ambulance.
B. Leave the person for a few moments to call for help.
C. Reduce the fracture manually.
D. Move the person to a safer place.
* The old woman is in the middle of a train railway. It is very unsafe to immobilize here legs and
remain still at the middle of a railway considering that a train might come anytime while waiting for
an ambulance. Safety is the utmost importance at this point. If letter D is not among the choices and
the situation is a little less dangerous, the answer will be A. Remember that in all cases of
emergencies, removing the victim from the scene to a much safer place is a priority.
2. Dervid suspects a hip fracture when he noticed that the old woman’s leg is [4]
A. Lengthened, Abducted and Internally Rotated.
B. Shortened, Abducted and Externally Rotated.
C. Shortened, Adducted and Internally Rotated.
D. Shortened, Adducted and Externally Rotated.
* SADDER should be your keyword. A hip fracture will produce a SHORTENED, ADDUCTED
AND EXTERNALLY ROTATED extremity. Treatment will evolve in casting the leg and putting it
in a EXTENSION, NEUTRALLY POSITIONED and SLIGHT INTERNAL ROTATION. In Hip
prosthesis, The nurse should maintain the client’s leg in FLEXION, EXTERNAL ROTATION and
ABDUCTION to prevent the dislocation of the prosthesis from the acetabulum. Take note of the
difference because I mistakenly answered the LATTER in casting a hip fracture thinking that it is
, twitter: @nursehooman
telegram: @zxggeh
similar to a the leg positioning in hip dislocation. Just imagine a patient with a cast that has his leg
in ABDUCTION, EXTERNAL ROTATION AND FLEXION. It will cause flexion contractures.
3. The old woman complains of pain. John noticed that the knee is reddened, warm to touch and
swollen. John interprets that this signs and symptoms are likely related to [2]
A. Infection
C. Thrombophlebitis
B. Inflammation
D. Degenerative disease
* After a trauma, Inflammation will start almost instantly. Infection occurse 24-48 hours after bone
fracture and not immediately. Thrombophlebitis occurs within 4 to 7 days of hospitalization after
prolonged immobilization. There is no evidence that the client has a degenerative disease and
degenerative diseases will manifest in variety of ways and not after a trauma.
4. The old woman told John that she has osteoporosis; Dervid knew that all of the following factors
would contribute to osteoporosis except [4]
A. Hypothyroidism
B. End stage renal disease
C. Cushing’s Disease
D. Taking Furosemide and Phenytoin.
* B,C,D all contributes to bone deminiralization except HYPOTHYROIDISM. Hyperthyroidism
will contribute to bone deminiralization as well as Hyperparathyroidism due to the increase in PTH,
It will cause the movement of calcium from the bone to the blood causing HYPERCALCEMIA.
ESRD will cause increase in PHOPHSATE due to its poor excretion. The amount of phosphate is
inversely proportional to the amount of calcium. Cushing disease promotes bone demineralization
as well as medications like diuretics and anti convulsants.
5. Martha, The old woman was now Immobilized and brought to the emergency room. The X-ray
shows a fractured femur and pelvis. The ER Nurse would carefully monitor Martha for which of the
following sign and symptoms? [3]
A. Tachycardia and Hypotension
B. Fever and Bradycardia
C. Bradycardia and Hypertension
D. Fever and Hypertension
* hemorrhage results in severing of the vascular supply of the bone of the femur and the pelvis due
to the fracture leading to bleeding causing the s/s of tachycardia and hypotension.
SITUATION: Mr. D. Rojas, An obese 35 year old MS Professor of OLFU Lagro is admitted due to
pain in his weight bearing joint. The diagnosis was Osteoarthritis.
6. As a nurse, you instructed Mr. Rojas how to use a cane. Mr. Rojas has a weakness on his right leg
, twitter: @nursehooman
telegram: @zxggeh
due to self immobilization and guarding. You plan to teach Mr. Rojas to hold the cane [4]
A. On his left hand, because his right side is weak.
B. On his left hand, because of reciprocal motion.
C. On his right hand, to support the right leg.
D. On his right hand, because only his right leg is weak.
* Reciprocal motion is a very important aspect of rehabilitation. Mr. Rojas has a weakness on his
right leg. If a human moves his right leg, the left arm will accompany the movement of the right leg.
That is what you call RECIPROCAL MOTION which is innate, natural and required to maintain
balance. Mr. Rojas has weakness in his RIGHT LEG. If we put the cane on his right arm, The client
will then be left UNSUPPORTED when he use his stronger leg [LEFT LEG] and stand with his
weaker leg [RIGHT LEG] due to the fact that the opposite arm must accompany the movement of
the opposite leg [RIGHT ARM]. In a more easier term, Always put the cane on the opposite of the
weaker side. A is not correct because the client is NOT hemiplegic and will never be correct to
reason out why the cane must always be at the opposite of the weaker side, it will always be due to
reciprocal motion.
7. You also told Mr. Rojas to hold the cane [4]
A. 1 Inches in front of the foot.
B. 3 Inches at the lateral side of the foot.
c. 6 Inches at the lateral side of the foot.
D. 12 Inches at the lateral side of the foot.
* Remove option A, the client will kick off the cane if it was in the front of the foot. Remove option
D because that is too far and will cause the cane to poorly support the client because the side, not
the tip, is touching the ground. At 3 inches, imagine how short it is and will cause a very poor
supporting base. The correct answer is anywhere from 6 to 10 inches for both crutches and cane.
8. Mr. Rojas was discharged and 6 months later, he came back to the emergency room of the
hospital because he suffered a mild stroke. The right side of the brain was affected. At the
rehabilitative phase of your nursing care, you observe Mr. Rojas use a cane and you intervene if you
see him [4]
A. Moves the cane when the right leg is moved.
B. Leans on the cane when the right leg swings through.
C. keeps the cane 6 Inches out to the side of the right foot.
D. Holds the cane on the right side.
* If the right side of the brain is affected, weakness will always be CONTRALATERAL and
therefore, Mr. Rojas will have weakness on his left side. Earlier I told you that cane is held on the
opposite side of the weaker side, which in this situation, will be on the RIGHT. Imagine if the client
moves his RIGHT LEG together witht the RIGHT CANE, it already violated the LAW OF
RECIPROCAL MOTION. Moving the right leg will require Mr. Rojas to move his left arm and not
the cane, which is on his right.
telegram: @zxggeh
100 ITEM MEDICAL SURGICAL NURSING EXAMINATION CORRECT ANSWERS AND RATIONALES
MEDICAL SURGICAL NURSING
DISCLAIMER : Care has been taken to verify that all answers and rationale below are accurate.
Please comment up if you noticed any errors or contradictions to maintain accuracy and precision of
the answers as not to mislead the readers.
DEGREE OF QUESTION DIFFICULTY
4 – Very hard question, 25% Chance of answering correctly
3 – Hard question, 50% Chance of answering correctly
2 – Moderately hard question, 75% of answering correctly
1 – Easy question, 99% will answer the question correctly
SITUATION : Dervid, A registered nurse, witnessed an old woman hit by a motorcycle while
crossing a train railway. The old woman fell at the railway. Dervid Rushed at the scene.
1. As a registered nurse, Dervid knew that the first thing that he will do at the scene is [3]
A. Stay with the person, Encourage her to remain still and Immobilize the leg while
While waiting for the ambulance.
B. Leave the person for a few moments to call for help.
C. Reduce the fracture manually.
D. Move the person to a safer place.
* The old woman is in the middle of a train railway. It is very unsafe to immobilize here legs and
remain still at the middle of a railway considering that a train might come anytime while waiting for
an ambulance. Safety is the utmost importance at this point. If letter D is not among the choices and
the situation is a little less dangerous, the answer will be A. Remember that in all cases of
emergencies, removing the victim from the scene to a much safer place is a priority.
2. Dervid suspects a hip fracture when he noticed that the old woman’s leg is [4]
A. Lengthened, Abducted and Internally Rotated.
B. Shortened, Abducted and Externally Rotated.
C. Shortened, Adducted and Internally Rotated.
D. Shortened, Adducted and Externally Rotated.
* SADDER should be your keyword. A hip fracture will produce a SHORTENED, ADDUCTED
AND EXTERNALLY ROTATED extremity. Treatment will evolve in casting the leg and putting it
in a EXTENSION, NEUTRALLY POSITIONED and SLIGHT INTERNAL ROTATION. In Hip
prosthesis, The nurse should maintain the client’s leg in FLEXION, EXTERNAL ROTATION and
ABDUCTION to prevent the dislocation of the prosthesis from the acetabulum. Take note of the
difference because I mistakenly answered the LATTER in casting a hip fracture thinking that it is
, twitter: @nursehooman
telegram: @zxggeh
similar to a the leg positioning in hip dislocation. Just imagine a patient with a cast that has his leg
in ABDUCTION, EXTERNAL ROTATION AND FLEXION. It will cause flexion contractures.
3. The old woman complains of pain. John noticed that the knee is reddened, warm to touch and
swollen. John interprets that this signs and symptoms are likely related to [2]
A. Infection
C. Thrombophlebitis
B. Inflammation
D. Degenerative disease
* After a trauma, Inflammation will start almost instantly. Infection occurse 24-48 hours after bone
fracture and not immediately. Thrombophlebitis occurs within 4 to 7 days of hospitalization after
prolonged immobilization. There is no evidence that the client has a degenerative disease and
degenerative diseases will manifest in variety of ways and not after a trauma.
4. The old woman told John that she has osteoporosis; Dervid knew that all of the following factors
would contribute to osteoporosis except [4]
A. Hypothyroidism
B. End stage renal disease
C. Cushing’s Disease
D. Taking Furosemide and Phenytoin.
* B,C,D all contributes to bone deminiralization except HYPOTHYROIDISM. Hyperthyroidism
will contribute to bone deminiralization as well as Hyperparathyroidism due to the increase in PTH,
It will cause the movement of calcium from the bone to the blood causing HYPERCALCEMIA.
ESRD will cause increase in PHOPHSATE due to its poor excretion. The amount of phosphate is
inversely proportional to the amount of calcium. Cushing disease promotes bone demineralization
as well as medications like diuretics and anti convulsants.
5. Martha, The old woman was now Immobilized and brought to the emergency room. The X-ray
shows a fractured femur and pelvis. The ER Nurse would carefully monitor Martha for which of the
following sign and symptoms? [3]
A. Tachycardia and Hypotension
B. Fever and Bradycardia
C. Bradycardia and Hypertension
D. Fever and Hypertension
* hemorrhage results in severing of the vascular supply of the bone of the femur and the pelvis due
to the fracture leading to bleeding causing the s/s of tachycardia and hypotension.
SITUATION: Mr. D. Rojas, An obese 35 year old MS Professor of OLFU Lagro is admitted due to
pain in his weight bearing joint. The diagnosis was Osteoarthritis.
6. As a nurse, you instructed Mr. Rojas how to use a cane. Mr. Rojas has a weakness on his right leg
, twitter: @nursehooman
telegram: @zxggeh
due to self immobilization and guarding. You plan to teach Mr. Rojas to hold the cane [4]
A. On his left hand, because his right side is weak.
B. On his left hand, because of reciprocal motion.
C. On his right hand, to support the right leg.
D. On his right hand, because only his right leg is weak.
* Reciprocal motion is a very important aspect of rehabilitation. Mr. Rojas has a weakness on his
right leg. If a human moves his right leg, the left arm will accompany the movement of the right leg.
That is what you call RECIPROCAL MOTION which is innate, natural and required to maintain
balance. Mr. Rojas has weakness in his RIGHT LEG. If we put the cane on his right arm, The client
will then be left UNSUPPORTED when he use his stronger leg [LEFT LEG] and stand with his
weaker leg [RIGHT LEG] due to the fact that the opposite arm must accompany the movement of
the opposite leg [RIGHT ARM]. In a more easier term, Always put the cane on the opposite of the
weaker side. A is not correct because the client is NOT hemiplegic and will never be correct to
reason out why the cane must always be at the opposite of the weaker side, it will always be due to
reciprocal motion.
7. You also told Mr. Rojas to hold the cane [4]
A. 1 Inches in front of the foot.
B. 3 Inches at the lateral side of the foot.
c. 6 Inches at the lateral side of the foot.
D. 12 Inches at the lateral side of the foot.
* Remove option A, the client will kick off the cane if it was in the front of the foot. Remove option
D because that is too far and will cause the cane to poorly support the client because the side, not
the tip, is touching the ground. At 3 inches, imagine how short it is and will cause a very poor
supporting base. The correct answer is anywhere from 6 to 10 inches for both crutches and cane.
8. Mr. Rojas was discharged and 6 months later, he came back to the emergency room of the
hospital because he suffered a mild stroke. The right side of the brain was affected. At the
rehabilitative phase of your nursing care, you observe Mr. Rojas use a cane and you intervene if you
see him [4]
A. Moves the cane when the right leg is moved.
B. Leans on the cane when the right leg swings through.
C. keeps the cane 6 Inches out to the side of the right foot.
D. Holds the cane on the right side.
* If the right side of the brain is affected, weakness will always be CONTRALATERAL and
therefore, Mr. Rojas will have weakness on his left side. Earlier I told you that cane is held on the
opposite side of the weaker side, which in this situation, will be on the RIGHT. Imagine if the client
moves his RIGHT LEG together witht the RIGHT CANE, it already violated the LAW OF
RECIPROCAL MOTION. Moving the right leg will require Mr. Rojas to move his left arm and not
the cane, which is on his right.
