MEDICAL SURGICAL NURSING- EXAM
2 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED
A+ 2026
Extracellular Fluid Volume Imbalances - ANS Fluid volume deficits and fluid volume excess
Sodium Imbalances - ANS hypernatremia and hyponatremia
Potassium Imbalances - ANS hyperkalemia and hypokalemia
water - ANS The more fat content in the body, the less what?
50% to 60% - ANS Water content in an adult constitutes for what percent of body weight?
interstitial - ANS fluid in the spaces between cells within the tissue
Intravascular (plasma) - ANS fluid portion of the blood
Transcellular - ANS small amounts of fluid contained in specialized cavities that is not easily
exchanged
@COPYRIGHT 2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED 1
,2.2 lbs - ANS 1 L of water weighs how many pounds?
Electrolytes - ANS substances whose molecules dissociate into ions when placed into water
Ions - ANS electrically charged particles
Cations - ANS positively charged ions
Anions - ANS negatively charged ions
Cations and anions - ANS What two things combine within the body fluids to maintain
electroneutrality?
Potassium - ANS The main cation in the ICF is what?
Sodium - ANS The main cation in the ECF is what?
Edema - ANS Plasma to interstitial fluid shift results in what?
First spacing - ANS Normal distribution fluid spacing
Second Spacing - ANS adnormal (edema) fluid spacing
@COPYRIGHT 2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED 2
,Third Spacing - ANS fluid acculation in part of the body where it is not easily exchanged with
ECF
ECF Volume Deficit (Hypovolemia) - ANS Abnormal loss of normal body fluids, inadequate
intake or plasma to interstitial fluid shift
Lactated Ringers - ANS These will replace water and electrolytes
0.9% NaCl - ANS isotonic solution and is helpful for rapid volume replacement
Fluid Volume Excess (Hypervolemia) - ANS excessive intake of fluids, abnormal retention of
fluids/sodium, or interstitial to plasma fluid shift
Labs Showing Hypervolemia - ANS decreased Hct, BUN, creatine, electrolytes.
Sodium - ANS plays a major role in maintaining the concentration, volume of ECF, and
influencing water distribution between ECF and ICF
Hypernatremia - ANS elevated serum sodium occurring with water loss or sodium gain
Hyponatremia - ANS Results from loss of sodium-containing fluids or from water excess
Hypoosmolarity - ANS water moves from the ECF to the ICF and causes cells to swell
Hypercalcemia - ANS High levels of serum calcium
@COPYRIGHT 2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED 3
, Hypocalcemia - ANS Low serum calcium levels
Hyperphosphatemia - ANS high serum PO4 3-
Hypophosphatemia - ANS low serum PO4 3-
Hypermagnesemia - ANS high serum Mg
Hypomagensemia - ANS low serum Mg
C - ANS When a patient is admitted to the PACU, what are the priority interventions the nurse
performs?
A. Assess the surgical site, noting presence and character of drainage.
B. Assess the amount of urine output and the presence of bladder distention.
C. Assess the airway potency and quality of respirations. Obtain vital signs.
D. Review results of intraoperative laboratory values and medications received.
C - ANS A patient admitted to the PACU after major abdominal surgery. During the initial
assessment the patient tells the nurse he thinks he is going to throw up. A priority nursing
intervention would be to what?
A. Increase the rate of the IV fluids
@COPYRIGHT 2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED 4
2 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED
A+ 2026
Extracellular Fluid Volume Imbalances - ANS Fluid volume deficits and fluid volume excess
Sodium Imbalances - ANS hypernatremia and hyponatremia
Potassium Imbalances - ANS hyperkalemia and hypokalemia
water - ANS The more fat content in the body, the less what?
50% to 60% - ANS Water content in an adult constitutes for what percent of body weight?
interstitial - ANS fluid in the spaces between cells within the tissue
Intravascular (plasma) - ANS fluid portion of the blood
Transcellular - ANS small amounts of fluid contained in specialized cavities that is not easily
exchanged
@COPYRIGHT 2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED 1
,2.2 lbs - ANS 1 L of water weighs how many pounds?
Electrolytes - ANS substances whose molecules dissociate into ions when placed into water
Ions - ANS electrically charged particles
Cations - ANS positively charged ions
Anions - ANS negatively charged ions
Cations and anions - ANS What two things combine within the body fluids to maintain
electroneutrality?
Potassium - ANS The main cation in the ICF is what?
Sodium - ANS The main cation in the ECF is what?
Edema - ANS Plasma to interstitial fluid shift results in what?
First spacing - ANS Normal distribution fluid spacing
Second Spacing - ANS adnormal (edema) fluid spacing
@COPYRIGHT 2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED 2
,Third Spacing - ANS fluid acculation in part of the body where it is not easily exchanged with
ECF
ECF Volume Deficit (Hypovolemia) - ANS Abnormal loss of normal body fluids, inadequate
intake or plasma to interstitial fluid shift
Lactated Ringers - ANS These will replace water and electrolytes
0.9% NaCl - ANS isotonic solution and is helpful for rapid volume replacement
Fluid Volume Excess (Hypervolemia) - ANS excessive intake of fluids, abnormal retention of
fluids/sodium, or interstitial to plasma fluid shift
Labs Showing Hypervolemia - ANS decreased Hct, BUN, creatine, electrolytes.
Sodium - ANS plays a major role in maintaining the concentration, volume of ECF, and
influencing water distribution between ECF and ICF
Hypernatremia - ANS elevated serum sodium occurring with water loss or sodium gain
Hyponatremia - ANS Results from loss of sodium-containing fluids or from water excess
Hypoosmolarity - ANS water moves from the ECF to the ICF and causes cells to swell
Hypercalcemia - ANS High levels of serum calcium
@COPYRIGHT 2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED 3
, Hypocalcemia - ANS Low serum calcium levels
Hyperphosphatemia - ANS high serum PO4 3-
Hypophosphatemia - ANS low serum PO4 3-
Hypermagnesemia - ANS high serum Mg
Hypomagensemia - ANS low serum Mg
C - ANS When a patient is admitted to the PACU, what are the priority interventions the nurse
performs?
A. Assess the surgical site, noting presence and character of drainage.
B. Assess the amount of urine output and the presence of bladder distention.
C. Assess the airway potency and quality of respirations. Obtain vital signs.
D. Review results of intraoperative laboratory values and medications received.
C - ANS A patient admitted to the PACU after major abdominal surgery. During the initial
assessment the patient tells the nurse he thinks he is going to throw up. A priority nursing
intervention would be to what?
A. Increase the rate of the IV fluids
@COPYRIGHT 2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED 4
