Week 6 Quiz: Introduction to Medical Surgical Nursing Introduction to
Medical Surgical Nursing | Questions and Answers | 100% Correct |
Grade A - WCU
1. A patient is admitted with a serum sodium level of 125 mEq/L. Which nursing
intervention is the highest priority?
A. Encouraging increased fluid intake
B. Administering a diuretic as ordered
C. Implementing seizure precautions
D. Providing a high-salt diet
Answer: C
Rationale: Hyponatremia (sodium < 135 mEq/L) can lead to cerebral edema and seizures.
Safety through seizure precautions is the priority.
2. Which of the following is a classic clinical manifestation of hypocalcemia?
A. Positive Trousseau’s sign
B. Constipation
C. Depressed deep tendon reflexes
D. Polyuria
Answer: A
Rationale: Hypocalcemia increases neuromuscular excitability, leading to signs like
Trousseau’s (carpal spasm) and Chvostek’s signs.
,3. The nurse is caring for a patient with a potassium level of 2.8 mEq/L. Which
ECG change should the nurse monitor for?
A. Presence of U waves
B. Tall, peaked T waves
C. Widened QRS complex
D. Shortened ST segment
Answer: A
Rationale: Hypokalemia often results in the presence of U waves, ST-segment depression,
and flat or inverted T waves.
4. Which fluid is classified as a hypotonic solution?
A. 0.9% Normal Saline
B. Lactated Ringer’s
C. 0.45% Sodium Chloride
D. 5% Dextrose in 0.9% Saline
Answer: C
Rationale: 0.45% Sodium Chloride is half-normal saline, which is hypotonic. 0.9% NS and
LR are isotonic.
5. A patient’s ABG results are: pH 7.30, PaCO2 55 mmHg, and HCO3 24 mEq/L.
How does the nurse interpret these results?
A. Metabolic Acidosis
B. Respiratory Acidosis
C. Metabolic Alkalosis
D. Respiratory Alkalosis
Answer: B
Rationale: The pH is low (<7.35) and the PaCO2 is high (>45), indicating respiratory
acidosis.
, 6. What is the primary goal of the ‘Time Out’ procedure in the operating room?
A. To verify the correct patient, site, and procedure
B. To ensure the surgeon is ready
C. To allow the anesthesia to take effect
D. To document the start time of the surgery
Answer: A
Rationale: The ‘Time Out’ is a safety measure to prevent wrong-site, wrong-procedure, and
wrong-person surgery.
7. A postoperative patient has not voided for 8 hours. What is the nurse’s first
action?
A. Perform a bladder scan
B. Insert a Foley catheter
C. Encourage oral fluid intake
D. Notify the surgeon immediately
Answer: A
Rationale: The bladder scan is a non-invasive assessment tool to determine the amount of
urine in the bladder before deciding on further interventions.
8. Which of the following is an early sign of hypoxia?
A. Cyanosis
B. Bradycardia
C. Hypotension
D. Restlessness
Answer: D
Rationale: Restlessness, agitation, and apprehension are early signs of hypoxia as the brain
responds to decreased oxygen.
Medical Surgical Nursing | Questions and Answers | 100% Correct |
Grade A - WCU
1. A patient is admitted with a serum sodium level of 125 mEq/L. Which nursing
intervention is the highest priority?
A. Encouraging increased fluid intake
B. Administering a diuretic as ordered
C. Implementing seizure precautions
D. Providing a high-salt diet
Answer: C
Rationale: Hyponatremia (sodium < 135 mEq/L) can lead to cerebral edema and seizures.
Safety through seizure precautions is the priority.
2. Which of the following is a classic clinical manifestation of hypocalcemia?
A. Positive Trousseau’s sign
B. Constipation
C. Depressed deep tendon reflexes
D. Polyuria
Answer: A
Rationale: Hypocalcemia increases neuromuscular excitability, leading to signs like
Trousseau’s (carpal spasm) and Chvostek’s signs.
,3. The nurse is caring for a patient with a potassium level of 2.8 mEq/L. Which
ECG change should the nurse monitor for?
A. Presence of U waves
B. Tall, peaked T waves
C. Widened QRS complex
D. Shortened ST segment
Answer: A
Rationale: Hypokalemia often results in the presence of U waves, ST-segment depression,
and flat or inverted T waves.
4. Which fluid is classified as a hypotonic solution?
A. 0.9% Normal Saline
B. Lactated Ringer’s
C. 0.45% Sodium Chloride
D. 5% Dextrose in 0.9% Saline
Answer: C
Rationale: 0.45% Sodium Chloride is half-normal saline, which is hypotonic. 0.9% NS and
LR are isotonic.
5. A patient’s ABG results are: pH 7.30, PaCO2 55 mmHg, and HCO3 24 mEq/L.
How does the nurse interpret these results?
A. Metabolic Acidosis
B. Respiratory Acidosis
C. Metabolic Alkalosis
D. Respiratory Alkalosis
Answer: B
Rationale: The pH is low (<7.35) and the PaCO2 is high (>45), indicating respiratory
acidosis.
, 6. What is the primary goal of the ‘Time Out’ procedure in the operating room?
A. To verify the correct patient, site, and procedure
B. To ensure the surgeon is ready
C. To allow the anesthesia to take effect
D. To document the start time of the surgery
Answer: A
Rationale: The ‘Time Out’ is a safety measure to prevent wrong-site, wrong-procedure, and
wrong-person surgery.
7. A postoperative patient has not voided for 8 hours. What is the nurse’s first
action?
A. Perform a bladder scan
B. Insert a Foley catheter
C. Encourage oral fluid intake
D. Notify the surgeon immediately
Answer: A
Rationale: The bladder scan is a non-invasive assessment tool to determine the amount of
urine in the bladder before deciding on further interventions.
8. Which of the following is an early sign of hypoxia?
A. Cyanosis
B. Bradycardia
C. Hypotension
D. Restlessness
Answer: D
Rationale: Restlessness, agitation, and apprehension are early signs of hypoxia as the brain
responds to decreased oxygen.
