Introduction to Medical Surgical Nursing Week 7 Quiz (Latest Update
) Introduction to Medical Surgical Nursing | Questions and
Answers | 100% Correct | Grade A - WCU
1. When is the best time to provide preoperative teaching to a patient
scheduled for elective surgery?
A. During the recovery phase in the PACU
B. Several days before the surgery or during the pre-admission visit
C. Immediately before the patient is administered anesthesia
D. While the patient is being transported to the operating room
Answer: B
Rationale: Preoperative teaching is most effective when done before the day of surgery, as
the patient is less anxious and better able to retain information.
2. A nurse is caring for a patient with a potassium level of 2.8 mEq/L. Which
assessment finding should the nurse prioritize?
A. Irregular heart rhythm
B. Hyperactive bowel sounds
C. Increased muscle strength
D. Flushed skin
Answer: A
Rationale: Hypokalemia (low potassium) can cause life-threatening cardiac dysrhythmias
and changes in the EKG.
,3. The nurse observes a patient’s surgical wound and notes that the edges are
separated and internal organs are protruding. What is the immediate priority
action?
A. Push the organs back into the abdominal cavity
B. Call the family to provide support
C. Cover the wound with sterile dressings moistened with sterile normal saline
D. Apply a tight abdominal binder
Answer: C
Rationale: Evisceration is a medical emergency; the protruding organs must be kept moist
with sterile saline until the surgeon arrives.
4. A patient’s arterial blood gas (ABG) results are: pH 7.30, PaCO2 55, HCO3 24.
How should the nurse interpret these results?
A. Respiratory Acidosis
B. Respiratory Alkalosis
C. Metabolic Alkalosis
D. Metabolic Acidosis
Answer: A
Rationale: The pH is low (<7.35) indicating acidosis, and the PaCO2 is high (>45)
indicating a respiratory cause.
5. Which member of the surgical team is responsible for maintaining the sterile
field and passing instruments to the surgeon?
A. Circulating Nurse
B. Nursing Assistant
C. Anesthesiologist
D. Scrub Nurse
Answer: D
, Rationale: The scrub nurse or surgical technologist works within the sterile field, while the
circulating nurse works outside of it.
6. Which of the following is a sign of fluid volume deficit?
A. Poor skin turgor
B. Bounding pulse
C. Distended neck veins
D. Crackles in the lungs
Answer: A
Rationale: Poor skin turgor, or ‘tenting,’ is a classic sign of dehydration or fluid volume
deficit.
7. A patient is receiving a blood transfusion and begins to complain of back pain
and chills. What is the nurse’s first action?
A. Slow the infusion rate
B. Stop the infusion immediately
C. Administer diphenhydramine
D. Take the patient’s temperature
Answer: B
Rationale: At the first sign of a transfusion reaction, the infusion must be stopped to
prevent further exposure to the blood product.
8. What is the primary purpose of having a patient use an incentive spirometer
postoperatively?
A. To prevent atelectasis and pneumonia
B. To reduce the risk of deep vein thrombosis
C. To increase the patient’s pain tolerance
D. To monitor the patient’s oxygen saturation
Answer: A
) Introduction to Medical Surgical Nursing | Questions and
Answers | 100% Correct | Grade A - WCU
1. When is the best time to provide preoperative teaching to a patient
scheduled for elective surgery?
A. During the recovery phase in the PACU
B. Several days before the surgery or during the pre-admission visit
C. Immediately before the patient is administered anesthesia
D. While the patient is being transported to the operating room
Answer: B
Rationale: Preoperative teaching is most effective when done before the day of surgery, as
the patient is less anxious and better able to retain information.
2. A nurse is caring for a patient with a potassium level of 2.8 mEq/L. Which
assessment finding should the nurse prioritize?
A. Irregular heart rhythm
B. Hyperactive bowel sounds
C. Increased muscle strength
D. Flushed skin
Answer: A
Rationale: Hypokalemia (low potassium) can cause life-threatening cardiac dysrhythmias
and changes in the EKG.
,3. The nurse observes a patient’s surgical wound and notes that the edges are
separated and internal organs are protruding. What is the immediate priority
action?
A. Push the organs back into the abdominal cavity
B. Call the family to provide support
C. Cover the wound with sterile dressings moistened with sterile normal saline
D. Apply a tight abdominal binder
Answer: C
Rationale: Evisceration is a medical emergency; the protruding organs must be kept moist
with sterile saline until the surgeon arrives.
4. A patient’s arterial blood gas (ABG) results are: pH 7.30, PaCO2 55, HCO3 24.
How should the nurse interpret these results?
A. Respiratory Acidosis
B. Respiratory Alkalosis
C. Metabolic Alkalosis
D. Metabolic Acidosis
Answer: A
Rationale: The pH is low (<7.35) indicating acidosis, and the PaCO2 is high (>45)
indicating a respiratory cause.
5. Which member of the surgical team is responsible for maintaining the sterile
field and passing instruments to the surgeon?
A. Circulating Nurse
B. Nursing Assistant
C. Anesthesiologist
D. Scrub Nurse
Answer: D
, Rationale: The scrub nurse or surgical technologist works within the sterile field, while the
circulating nurse works outside of it.
6. Which of the following is a sign of fluid volume deficit?
A. Poor skin turgor
B. Bounding pulse
C. Distended neck veins
D. Crackles in the lungs
Answer: A
Rationale: Poor skin turgor, or ‘tenting,’ is a classic sign of dehydration or fluid volume
deficit.
7. A patient is receiving a blood transfusion and begins to complain of back pain
and chills. What is the nurse’s first action?
A. Slow the infusion rate
B. Stop the infusion immediately
C. Administer diphenhydramine
D. Take the patient’s temperature
Answer: B
Rationale: At the first sign of a transfusion reaction, the infusion must be stopped to
prevent further exposure to the blood product.
8. What is the primary purpose of having a patient use an incentive spirometer
postoperatively?
A. To prevent atelectasis and pneumonia
B. To reduce the risk of deep vein thrombosis
C. To increase the patient’s pain tolerance
D. To monitor the patient’s oxygen saturation
Answer: A
