NURS 480 Weeks 1 & 2 Exam Advanced
Medical Surgical Nursing | Questions and
Answers | 2026 Updates | 100% correct
When the low-pressure alarm on the ventilator sounds, what does this indicate? - ANSWER-
-The low-pressure alarm means that the ventilator has a leak. Either the ventilator tubing
has come apart or the tubing detached from the client.
A client is receiving mechanical ventilation and develops acute respiratory distress. What is the
priority? - ANSWER- -Initiate bag-valve-mask ventilation
A client comes into the ER in severe respiratory distress following left-sided blunt chest trauma.
The nurse notes absent breath sounds on the clients left side and a tracheal shift to the right.
What procedure should the nurse prepare for? - ANSWER- -Chest tube insertion.
The client's manifestations indicate pneumothorax.
A nurse is reviewing a client's lab report. The client's ABG levels are pH 7.5, PaCO2 32mmHg,
and HCO3 24mEq/L. The nurse should determine that the client has which acid-base imbalance?
- ANSWER- -respiratory alkalosis
A nurse is preparing to assist a provider with an arterial blood withdrawal from a clients radial
artery for ABG measurement. Which of the following actions should the nurse plan to take? -
ANSWER- -Perform an Allen's test prior to obtaining the specimen
,A nurse is caring for a client who is extremely anxious and is hyperventilating. The clients ABG
results are pH 7.50, PaCO2 27mmHg, and HCO3 25mEq/l. The nurse should identify that the
client has which of the following acid-base imbalances? - ANSWER- -Respiratory alkalosis
A nurse is caring for a client who has a pelvic fracture. The client reports sudden SOB, stabbing
chest pain, and feelings of doom. The client is experiencing which complication? - ANSWER- -
pulmonary embolus
A nurse is caring for a client who is scheduled to have his chest tube removed. which of the
following actions should the nurse take? - ANSWER- -Instruct the client to perform the
Valsalva maneuver during removal.
This maintains the appropriate amount of negative pressure in the chest in order to prevent air
entry into the pleural space.
A nurse is planning care for a client following placement of a chest tube 1 hr ago. Which of the
following actions should the nurse include in the plan of care? - ANSWER- -Tape all
connections between the chest tube and drainage system.
This ensures that the system is airtight and prevents the chest tubing from accidentally
disconnecting.
How often should you turn a patient to prevent skin breakdown? - ANSWER- -Q2 hours
Why should you assess skin under tubes and devices? - ANSWER- -To access for skin
breakdown
What nursing interventions help prevent infection for a patient on a ventilator? - ANSWER- -
Hand hygiene
suction oral/bronchial secretions
, oral care
assess for VAP (ventilator associated pneumonia)
How to prevent venous thromboembolism (VTE) - ANSWER- -anticoagulants
compression devices
How can the nurse avoid alarm fatigue? - ANSWER- -Ask the provider to put in orders that
allow alarm settings to tailor to the client's condition. Example: if patients heart rate stays
between 55-65 and the alarm is set to go off when the heart rate is <60, the RN can ask the
provider to have the settings changed to alarm <55 instead
What is CVP? - ANSWER- -Central Venous Pressure: The amount of blood going back into the
heart
What does it mean when CVP is high? - ANSWER- -Over hydration.
What does it mean when CVP is low? - ANSWER- -Severe dehydration.
What is cardiac output? - ANSWER- -Volume of blood ejected by the heart in one minute:
cardiac output = heart rate x stroke volume
What is systemic vascular resistance? - ANSWER- -Resistance to blood flow by all systemic
vasculature
What does it mean to have low SVR? - ANSWER- -vasodilation
What does it mean to have high SVR? - ANSWER- -vasoconstriction
Medical Surgical Nursing | Questions and
Answers | 2026 Updates | 100% correct
When the low-pressure alarm on the ventilator sounds, what does this indicate? - ANSWER-
-The low-pressure alarm means that the ventilator has a leak. Either the ventilator tubing
has come apart or the tubing detached from the client.
A client is receiving mechanical ventilation and develops acute respiratory distress. What is the
priority? - ANSWER- -Initiate bag-valve-mask ventilation
A client comes into the ER in severe respiratory distress following left-sided blunt chest trauma.
The nurse notes absent breath sounds on the clients left side and a tracheal shift to the right.
What procedure should the nurse prepare for? - ANSWER- -Chest tube insertion.
The client's manifestations indicate pneumothorax.
A nurse is reviewing a client's lab report. The client's ABG levels are pH 7.5, PaCO2 32mmHg,
and HCO3 24mEq/L. The nurse should determine that the client has which acid-base imbalance?
- ANSWER- -respiratory alkalosis
A nurse is preparing to assist a provider with an arterial blood withdrawal from a clients radial
artery for ABG measurement. Which of the following actions should the nurse plan to take? -
ANSWER- -Perform an Allen's test prior to obtaining the specimen
,A nurse is caring for a client who is extremely anxious and is hyperventilating. The clients ABG
results are pH 7.50, PaCO2 27mmHg, and HCO3 25mEq/l. The nurse should identify that the
client has which of the following acid-base imbalances? - ANSWER- -Respiratory alkalosis
A nurse is caring for a client who has a pelvic fracture. The client reports sudden SOB, stabbing
chest pain, and feelings of doom. The client is experiencing which complication? - ANSWER- -
pulmonary embolus
A nurse is caring for a client who is scheduled to have his chest tube removed. which of the
following actions should the nurse take? - ANSWER- -Instruct the client to perform the
Valsalva maneuver during removal.
This maintains the appropriate amount of negative pressure in the chest in order to prevent air
entry into the pleural space.
A nurse is planning care for a client following placement of a chest tube 1 hr ago. Which of the
following actions should the nurse include in the plan of care? - ANSWER- -Tape all
connections between the chest tube and drainage system.
This ensures that the system is airtight and prevents the chest tubing from accidentally
disconnecting.
How often should you turn a patient to prevent skin breakdown? - ANSWER- -Q2 hours
Why should you assess skin under tubes and devices? - ANSWER- -To access for skin
breakdown
What nursing interventions help prevent infection for a patient on a ventilator? - ANSWER- -
Hand hygiene
suction oral/bronchial secretions
, oral care
assess for VAP (ventilator associated pneumonia)
How to prevent venous thromboembolism (VTE) - ANSWER- -anticoagulants
compression devices
How can the nurse avoid alarm fatigue? - ANSWER- -Ask the provider to put in orders that
allow alarm settings to tailor to the client's condition. Example: if patients heart rate stays
between 55-65 and the alarm is set to go off when the heart rate is <60, the RN can ask the
provider to have the settings changed to alarm <55 instead
What is CVP? - ANSWER- -Central Venous Pressure: The amount of blood going back into the
heart
What does it mean when CVP is high? - ANSWER- -Over hydration.
What does it mean when CVP is low? - ANSWER- -Severe dehydration.
What is cardiac output? - ANSWER- -Volume of blood ejected by the heart in one minute:
cardiac output = heart rate x stroke volume
What is systemic vascular resistance? - ANSWER- -Resistance to blood flow by all systemic
vasculature
What does it mean to have low SVR? - ANSWER- -vasodilation
What does it mean to have high SVR? - ANSWER- -vasoconstriction
