NUR 209 Medical Surgical Nursing II Review
Questions and Answers Graded A+
Cardiovascular
1. A patient with heart failure reports sudden weight gain of 5 lbs in 2 days. What
does this indicate? Answer: Fluid retention.
2. Which lab value is most important to monitor in a patient on digoxin? Answer:
Potassium.
3. A client with atrial fibrillation is prescribed warfarin. Which lab test guides
therapy? Answer: INR.
4. Which finding in a patient with pericarditis requires immediate intervention?
Answer: Jugular vein distension and muffled heart sounds (possible cardiac
tamponade).
5. What is the priority nursing action for a patient with chest pain unrelieved by
nitroglycerin? Answer: Call emergency services/activate rapid response.
Respiratory
6. A COPD patient is receiving oxygen at 4 L/min. Which symptom requires urgent
action? Answer: Decreased level of consciousness.
7. What breathing technique helps COPD patients eliminate CO₂? Answer:
Pursed-lip breathing.
8. Which position improves oxygenation in ARDS? Answer: Prone position.
9. A patient with pneumonia develops confusion. What does this likely indicate?
Answer: Hypoxemia.
, 10. Which lab confirms TB diagnosis? Answer: Positive acid-fast bacillus
smear/culture.
Renal
11. A patient with chronic kidney disease has a potassium of 6.5 mEq/L. What is the
priority intervention? Answer: Administer Kayexalate or dialysis.
12. Which diagnostic test measures proteinuria? Answer: 24-hour urine collection.
13. What dietary restriction is essential for a patient with renal failure? Answer: Limit
potassium and phosphorus.
14. Which symptom suggests uremic encephalopathy? Answer: Confusion and
decreased alertness.
15. What is the normal creatinine range? Answer: 0.6–1.3 mg/dL.
Gastrointestinal
16. A patient with peptic ulcer disease reports sudden severe abdominal pain. What
is suspected? Answer: Perforation.
17. Which diet is recommended for cirrhosis with ascites? Answer: Low sodium.
18. What is the priority nursing action for a patient with esophageal varices?
Answer: Monitor for bleeding and maintain airway.
19. Which lab finding is expected in pancreatitis? Answer: Elevated serum amylase
and lipase.
20. What is the most common complication of ulcerative colitis? Answer: Toxic
megacolon.
, Endocrine
21. A patient with type 1 diabetes is found unconscious. What is the nurse’s first
action? Answer: Administer glucagon IM or subcutaneously.
22. Which lab result indicates poor glycemic control? Answer: Hemoglobin A1c of
9%.
23. What is the priority teaching for a patient starting insulin therapy? Answer:
Rotate injection sites to prevent lipodystrophy.
24. Which symptom is most concerning in a patient with diabetic ketoacidosis
(DKA)? Answer: Kussmaul respirations.
25. A patient with hypothyroidism is prescribed levothyroxine. Which teaching is
correct? Answer: Take the medication in the morning on an empty stomach.
Neurological
26. A client with increased intracranial pressure (ICP) is restless and confused. What
is the priority intervention? Answer: Elevate head of bed to 30 degrees and
maintain airway.
27. Which finding in a stroke patient requires immediate action? Answer: Sudden
onset of unequal pupil size.
28. What is the priority nursing action for a patient experiencing a tonic-clonic
seizure? Answer: Protect airway and prevent injury.
29. Which medication is used to treat status epilepticus? Answer: IV lorazepam or
diazepam.
Questions and Answers Graded A+
Cardiovascular
1. A patient with heart failure reports sudden weight gain of 5 lbs in 2 days. What
does this indicate? Answer: Fluid retention.
2. Which lab value is most important to monitor in a patient on digoxin? Answer:
Potassium.
3. A client with atrial fibrillation is prescribed warfarin. Which lab test guides
therapy? Answer: INR.
4. Which finding in a patient with pericarditis requires immediate intervention?
Answer: Jugular vein distension and muffled heart sounds (possible cardiac
tamponade).
5. What is the priority nursing action for a patient with chest pain unrelieved by
nitroglycerin? Answer: Call emergency services/activate rapid response.
Respiratory
6. A COPD patient is receiving oxygen at 4 L/min. Which symptom requires urgent
action? Answer: Decreased level of consciousness.
7. What breathing technique helps COPD patients eliminate CO₂? Answer:
Pursed-lip breathing.
8. Which position improves oxygenation in ARDS? Answer: Prone position.
9. A patient with pneumonia develops confusion. What does this likely indicate?
Answer: Hypoxemia.
, 10. Which lab confirms TB diagnosis? Answer: Positive acid-fast bacillus
smear/culture.
Renal
11. A patient with chronic kidney disease has a potassium of 6.5 mEq/L. What is the
priority intervention? Answer: Administer Kayexalate or dialysis.
12. Which diagnostic test measures proteinuria? Answer: 24-hour urine collection.
13. What dietary restriction is essential for a patient with renal failure? Answer: Limit
potassium and phosphorus.
14. Which symptom suggests uremic encephalopathy? Answer: Confusion and
decreased alertness.
15. What is the normal creatinine range? Answer: 0.6–1.3 mg/dL.
Gastrointestinal
16. A patient with peptic ulcer disease reports sudden severe abdominal pain. What
is suspected? Answer: Perforation.
17. Which diet is recommended for cirrhosis with ascites? Answer: Low sodium.
18. What is the priority nursing action for a patient with esophageal varices?
Answer: Monitor for bleeding and maintain airway.
19. Which lab finding is expected in pancreatitis? Answer: Elevated serum amylase
and lipase.
20. What is the most common complication of ulcerative colitis? Answer: Toxic
megacolon.
, Endocrine
21. A patient with type 1 diabetes is found unconscious. What is the nurse’s first
action? Answer: Administer glucagon IM or subcutaneously.
22. Which lab result indicates poor glycemic control? Answer: Hemoglobin A1c of
9%.
23. What is the priority teaching for a patient starting insulin therapy? Answer:
Rotate injection sites to prevent lipodystrophy.
24. Which symptom is most concerning in a patient with diabetic ketoacidosis
(DKA)? Answer: Kussmaul respirations.
25. A patient with hypothyroidism is prescribed levothyroxine. Which teaching is
correct? Answer: Take the medication in the morning on an empty stomach.
Neurological
26. A client with increased intracranial pressure (ICP) is restless and confused. What
is the priority intervention? Answer: Elevate head of bed to 30 degrees and
maintain airway.
27. Which finding in a stroke patient requires immediate action? Answer: Sudden
onset of unequal pupil size.
28. What is the priority nursing action for a patient experiencing a tonic-clonic
seizure? Answer: Protect airway and prevent injury.
29. Which medication is used to treat status epilepticus? Answer: IV lorazepam or
diazepam.
