Introduction to Medical Surgical Nursing | Questions & Answers |
Grade A | 100% Correct - WCU
1. Which nursing action is most important when a patient is providing informed
consent for surgery?
A. Explaining the risks and benefits of the procedure
B. Determining which surgical approach is best
C. Witnessing the patient’s signature on the consent form
D. Ensuring the patient has been NPO for 8 hours
Answer: C
Rationale: The nurse’s primary role in informed consent is to witness the signature and
ensure the patient is competent; the surgeon is responsible for explaining risks and
benefits.
2. A postoperative patient is encouraged to use an incentive spirometer to
prevent which complication?
A. Pulmonary embolism
B. Atelectasis
C. Deep vein thrombosis
D. Wound dehiscence
Answer: B
Rationale: Incentive spirometry promotes alveolar expansion and helps prevent
atelectasis, which can lead to pneumonia.
,3. Which clinical manifestation is a classic sign of localized inflammation?
A. Edema
B. Leukocytosis
C. Fever
D. Anorexia
Answer: A
Rationale: Edema, redness, heat, and pain are localized signs of inflammation, whereas
fever and leukocytosis are systemic signs.
4. A patient with a wound that is healing by primary intention would typically
have:
A. Surgical incisions with edges approximated
B. Large irregular wounds with tissue loss
C. Wounds left open to heal from the bottom up
D. Infected wounds requiring debridement
Answer: A
Rationale: Primary intention occurs when wound edges are neatly approximated, such as
with a surgical incision.
5. What is the first priority nursing action when a nurse notices wound
evisceration?
A. Cover the protruding organs with sterile saline-soaked gauze
B. Call the surgeon immediately
C. Push the organs back into the abdominal cavity
D. Administer pain medication
Answer: A
Rationale: Covering the organs with sterile saline-soaked gauze prevents drying and
infection; this must be done before calling the surgeon.
, 6. Which electrolyte imbalance is a patient at risk for if they are taking a loop
diuretic like Furosemide?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hyponatremia
C. Hypercalcemia
D. Hypokalemia
Answer: D
Rationale: Loop diuretics cause the kidneys to excrete potassium, often leading to
hypokalemia.
7. A patient presents with a serum potassium level of 6.2 mEq/L. Which
assessment is the priority?
A. Cardiac rhythm monitoring
B. Bowel sounds
C. Deep tendon reflexes
D. Oxygen saturation
Answer: A
Rationale: Hyperkalemia (potassium > 5.0) can cause lethal cardiac dysrhythmias;
monitoring the heart is the highest priority.
8. Which acid-base imbalance is most likely in a patient who is hyperventilating
due to anxiety?
A. Respiratory acidosis
B. Respiratory alkalosis
C. Metabolic acidosis
D. Metabolic alkalosis
Answer: B
Rationale: Hyperventilation results in the excessive loss of CO2, leading to respiratory
alkalosis.