Medical-Surgical LPN/RN Assessment: Practice
Exam Questions & Answers Guide
________________________________________________
**Question 1**
Which assessment finding is most concerning in a post-op patient and should be
reported immediately?
o Pain rated 7/10 at the incision site
o Temperature 99.8°F (37.7°C) on post-op day 1
☑ New onset shortness of breath with oxygen saturation 88% on room air
o Small amount of serosanguineous drainage on the dressing
________________________________________________
**Question 2**
Which vital sign change is an early indicator of shock?
o Bradycardia
☑ Tachycardia
o Increased blood pressure
o Decreased respiratory rate
________________________________________________
**Question 3**
A patient with type 1 diabetes is diaphoretic, shaky, and confused. What is the priority
action?
,o Administer insulin per sliding scale
☑ Check blood glucose and give 15 g rapid-acting carbohydrate if able to swallow
o Encourage the patient to ambulate
o Restrict fluids
________________________________________________
**Question 4**
Which finding is most consistent with hypoglycemia?
o Fruity breath odor
o Deep, rapid respirations (Kussmaul)
☑ Sweating, tremor, and irritability
o Warm, dry skin and bradycardia
________________________________________________
**Question 5**
Which assessment finding is most consistent with fluid volume overload?
o Dry mucous membranes
o Orthostatic hypotension
☑ Crackles in the lungs and peripheral edema
o Poor skin turgor and concentrated urine
________________________________________________
**Question 6**
Which lab value is most important to monitor for a patient receiving IV furosemide?
o Sodium
☑ Potassium
o Calcium
, o Platelets
________________________________________________
**Question 7**
Which sign suggests hypokalemia?
o Peaked T waves on ECG
o Bradycardia with widened QRS
☑ Muscle weakness and U waves on ECG
o Bounding pulses and hypertension
________________________________________________
**Question 8**
Which ECG change is most commonly associated with hyperkalemia?
o U waves
☑ Tall, peaked T waves
o ST elevation
o Prolonged PR with narrow QRS only
________________________________________________
**Question 9**
A patient on warfarin therapy should be monitored with which lab test?
o aPTT
☑ INR
o Platelet count
o Troponin
________________________________________________
Exam Questions & Answers Guide
________________________________________________
**Question 1**
Which assessment finding is most concerning in a post-op patient and should be
reported immediately?
o Pain rated 7/10 at the incision site
o Temperature 99.8°F (37.7°C) on post-op day 1
☑ New onset shortness of breath with oxygen saturation 88% on room air
o Small amount of serosanguineous drainage on the dressing
________________________________________________
**Question 2**
Which vital sign change is an early indicator of shock?
o Bradycardia
☑ Tachycardia
o Increased blood pressure
o Decreased respiratory rate
________________________________________________
**Question 3**
A patient with type 1 diabetes is diaphoretic, shaky, and confused. What is the priority
action?
,o Administer insulin per sliding scale
☑ Check blood glucose and give 15 g rapid-acting carbohydrate if able to swallow
o Encourage the patient to ambulate
o Restrict fluids
________________________________________________
**Question 4**
Which finding is most consistent with hypoglycemia?
o Fruity breath odor
o Deep, rapid respirations (Kussmaul)
☑ Sweating, tremor, and irritability
o Warm, dry skin and bradycardia
________________________________________________
**Question 5**
Which assessment finding is most consistent with fluid volume overload?
o Dry mucous membranes
o Orthostatic hypotension
☑ Crackles in the lungs and peripheral edema
o Poor skin turgor and concentrated urine
________________________________________________
**Question 6**
Which lab value is most important to monitor for a patient receiving IV furosemide?
o Sodium
☑ Potassium
o Calcium
, o Platelets
________________________________________________
**Question 7**
Which sign suggests hypokalemia?
o Peaked T waves on ECG
o Bradycardia with widened QRS
☑ Muscle weakness and U waves on ECG
o Bounding pulses and hypertension
________________________________________________
**Question 8**
Which ECG change is most commonly associated with hyperkalemia?
o U waves
☑ Tall, peaked T waves
o ST elevation
o Prolonged PR with narrow QRS only
________________________________________________
**Question 9**
A patient on warfarin therapy should be monitored with which lab test?
o aPTT
☑ INR
o Platelet count
o Troponin
________________________________________________
