CERTIFIED MEDICAL-SURGICAL REGISTERED NURSE MOSTLY
TESTED EXAM SAMPLE QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS NEW
UPDATED SOLUTION A GRADED SOLUTION
Christine Warren, 45 years old, has a long history of ulcerative colitis, and non-
surgical treatment no longer relieved her symptoms. She underwent a total
proctocolectomy and a permanent ileostomy 12 hours ago.
The nurse should contact the physician immediately if Mrs. Warren has which of
these findings?
1) The stoma appears pale and dry.
2) The stoma appears red and shiny.
3) There is 200 mL of dark green output from the stoma.
4) There is 50 mL of serosanguinous drainage from the stoma. -1) The stoma
appears pale and dry.
Rationale: If there is an adequate blood supply to the stoma, the color is pink or
red, and the stoma is moist as a result of mucous production. A pale dry color
suggests ischemia of the stoma or bowel and must be reported immediately to the
physician. With an ileostomy initially after surgery, the output is a loose, dark
green liquid that may contain some blood. The ileostomy usually begins to drain
within 24 of surgery at more than one liter per day.
When changing Mrs. Warren's ileostomy bag, the nurse notices that the
peristomal skin is irritated.
Which of these actions by the nurse would be appropriate before reapplying the
appliance?
1) Wash the area with antiseptic soap and water.
2) Clean the site with Dakin's solution.
3) Use a solid skin barrier.
4) Obtain an order for a topical antibiotic. -3) Use a solid skin barrier.
Rationale: The drainage from the stoma can quickly irritate the surrounding
tissue. Therefore, a solid skin barrier, with a pectin base or karaya wafer that has
a measurable thickness and hydrocolloid adhesive properties, should be applied.
Which of these comments, if made by Mrs. Warren before her surgery, would
indicate that she had concerns about her body image?
1) "I will have to stop my aerobics classes."
,2) "I'm so afraid I may not survive the surgery."
3) "I need to go shopping for some loose, baggy clothes."
4) "I'm concerned that this may be only the first of many surgeries." -3) "I need to
go shopping for some loose, baggy clothes."
Rationale:Body image refers to a person's perception of self and determines how
the person interacts with others. One does not need to purchase special clothing
after ileostomy surgery, although some minor adjustments may be needed for
comfort, e.g., stretch underwear or pantyhose for support.
Lewis Palmer, 45 years old, has a history of multiple myocardial infarctions and is
a heavy smoker. He takes warfarin sodium (Coumadin) daily. Two weeks ago, he
had a right femoral-popliteal bypass, which became occluded 24 hours ago. He is
admitted following an angioplasty of the femoral-popliteal bypass graft. Mr.
Palmer is receiving continuous IV heparin.
Because Mr. Palmer is receiving heparin, it is essential for the nurse to
1) monitor his prothrombin time.
2) observe him for signs of pulmonary embolism.
3) limit his intake of foods high in vitamin K.
4) check the femoral puncture site at frequent intervals. -4) check the femoral
puncture site at frequent intervals.
Rationale: Since bleeding is a common side effect of heparin, it is vital to check the
operative site, the femoral puncture area, for signs of bleeding.
Attempts to revascularize Mr. Palmer's leg are unsuccessful, and Mr. Palmer has
a below-knee amputation (BKA) of his right extremity and is returned to the
medical-surgical unit with an intravenous infusion in place. His orders include:
heparin drip, morphine sulfate 10 mg IV push q4h prn for pain, and ampicillin
sodium g 1 IV q6h.
Twelve hours postoperatively, Mr. Palmer is found to be short of breath and
diaphoretic. He says, "My chest hurts." His pulse is 140/min, compared to a
baseline of 80/min. His blood pressure is105/60 mm Hg, compared to a baseline
of 138/70 mm Hg. His respirations are 32/min, compared to a baseline of
16/min. His O2 saturation is 85%. The nurse immediately calls for help. Which of
the following questions is most important for the nurse to ask?
1) "Have you ever had this type of chest pain before?"
2) "How long have you had this pain?"
3) "What pain medication do you usually take?"
4) "What were you doing before the pain began?" -1) "Have you ever had this
type of chest pain before?"
,Rationale: Because of the patient's symptoms and his history of myocardial
infarctions, the nurse should find out if the patient has had this time of pain
previously.
The nurse receives all of the following stat orders for Mr. Palmer. Which one
should the nurse question?
1) Oxygen per nasal cannula at 4 L per minute.
2) Enoxaparin (Lovenox) 40 mg subcutaneously.
3) Troponin level.
4) Computed tomography (CT) angiogram. -Rationale: The nurse should
questions the order for Lovenox because the patient is receiving a heparin drip.
Maggie Clark, a 42-year-old female, was admitted with newly diagnosed type 2
diabetes mellitus. Her blood glucose has been stabilized, and the nurse is
preparing her for discharge. Her discharge orders will include metformin
(Glucophage). Mrs. Clark is also being treated for hypertension.
Because Mrs. Clark is to take Glucophage on a regular basis it is important to
1) monitor her glomerular filtration rate.
2) check her serum amylase routinely.
3) obtain her red blood cell count periodically.
4) examine her urine for casts. -1) monitor her glomerular filtration rate.
Rationale: The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) is one way to measure
the adequacy of kidney function. Glucophage is excreted by the kidney and the
risk of lactic acidosis increases in patients with impaired kidney function. The
drug may be used if the eGFR is between 45 and 60 mL/min/1.73 m2, i.e., in
mild chronic kidney disease. Glucophage is absolutely contraindicated if the
eGFR is below 30 mL/min/1.73 m2.
Mrs. Clark is prescribed metoprolol tartrate (Lopressor) for hypertension. Which
symptom of hypoglycemia would be masked by Lopressor?
1) Diaphoresis.
2) Tingling.
3) Diplopia.
4) Tachycardia. -4) Tachycardia.
Rationale: A side effect of Lopressor, a beta blocker, is bradycardia. The
Lopressor-induced bradycardia can mask tachycardia, a symptom of
hypoglycemia.
, Charles Haverford is diagnosed with prostate cancer and is to have a radical
prostatectomy.
Mr. Haverford has been researching his diagnosis and now asks the nurse to
recommend a reliable web source for accurate prostate cancer information. The
nurse should identify which of these websites as most reliable?
1) www.wikipedia.org.
2) www.cancer.gov.
3) www.caringbridge.org.
4) www.google.com. -2) www.cancer.gov.
Rationale: When a patient asks about researching information on the internet, the
patient should be instructed to look at reliable sites. Sites that are most reliable
are those sponsored by the government (.gov).
Mr. Haverford has the planned surgery and immediately postoperatively he has a
urinary catheter inserted. After the urinary catheter is removed Mr. Haverford is
urinating normally, however he is experiencing occasional incontinence with
dribbling. Mr. Haverford is to be discharged.
Mr. Haverford says to the nurse, "I'm so embarrassed. What will my wife think
about this dribbling?" In addition to acknowledging his feelings, the nurse should
encourage the patient to
1) limit oral intake of fluids before bedtime.
2) palpate his bladder to check for distention three times a day.
3) perform pelvic floor exercises several times daily.
4) avoid interrupting the urinary stream during voiding. -3) perform pelvic floor
exercises several times daily.
Rationale: It is not unusual for a patient who has had a prostatectomy, to
complain of not having complete bladder control after catheter removal. To help
the patient regain urinary control, pelvic floor strengthening exercises are
recommended.
A patient's wife is visibly upset and says to the nurse, "I thought my husband
only broke his hip, but the doctor thinks he might have had a stroke." Which of
the following would be an appropriate response by the nurse?
1) "It's really too early to be concerned about that. Let's wait until the test results
come back."
2) "If it is a stroke, your husband is in the right hospital for treatment."
TESTED EXAM SAMPLE QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS NEW
UPDATED SOLUTION A GRADED SOLUTION
Christine Warren, 45 years old, has a long history of ulcerative colitis, and non-
surgical treatment no longer relieved her symptoms. She underwent a total
proctocolectomy and a permanent ileostomy 12 hours ago.
The nurse should contact the physician immediately if Mrs. Warren has which of
these findings?
1) The stoma appears pale and dry.
2) The stoma appears red and shiny.
3) There is 200 mL of dark green output from the stoma.
4) There is 50 mL of serosanguinous drainage from the stoma. -1) The stoma
appears pale and dry.
Rationale: If there is an adequate blood supply to the stoma, the color is pink or
red, and the stoma is moist as a result of mucous production. A pale dry color
suggests ischemia of the stoma or bowel and must be reported immediately to the
physician. With an ileostomy initially after surgery, the output is a loose, dark
green liquid that may contain some blood. The ileostomy usually begins to drain
within 24 of surgery at more than one liter per day.
When changing Mrs. Warren's ileostomy bag, the nurse notices that the
peristomal skin is irritated.
Which of these actions by the nurse would be appropriate before reapplying the
appliance?
1) Wash the area with antiseptic soap and water.
2) Clean the site with Dakin's solution.
3) Use a solid skin barrier.
4) Obtain an order for a topical antibiotic. -3) Use a solid skin barrier.
Rationale: The drainage from the stoma can quickly irritate the surrounding
tissue. Therefore, a solid skin barrier, with a pectin base or karaya wafer that has
a measurable thickness and hydrocolloid adhesive properties, should be applied.
Which of these comments, if made by Mrs. Warren before her surgery, would
indicate that she had concerns about her body image?
1) "I will have to stop my aerobics classes."
,2) "I'm so afraid I may not survive the surgery."
3) "I need to go shopping for some loose, baggy clothes."
4) "I'm concerned that this may be only the first of many surgeries." -3) "I need to
go shopping for some loose, baggy clothes."
Rationale:Body image refers to a person's perception of self and determines how
the person interacts with others. One does not need to purchase special clothing
after ileostomy surgery, although some minor adjustments may be needed for
comfort, e.g., stretch underwear or pantyhose for support.
Lewis Palmer, 45 years old, has a history of multiple myocardial infarctions and is
a heavy smoker. He takes warfarin sodium (Coumadin) daily. Two weeks ago, he
had a right femoral-popliteal bypass, which became occluded 24 hours ago. He is
admitted following an angioplasty of the femoral-popliteal bypass graft. Mr.
Palmer is receiving continuous IV heparin.
Because Mr. Palmer is receiving heparin, it is essential for the nurse to
1) monitor his prothrombin time.
2) observe him for signs of pulmonary embolism.
3) limit his intake of foods high in vitamin K.
4) check the femoral puncture site at frequent intervals. -4) check the femoral
puncture site at frequent intervals.
Rationale: Since bleeding is a common side effect of heparin, it is vital to check the
operative site, the femoral puncture area, for signs of bleeding.
Attempts to revascularize Mr. Palmer's leg are unsuccessful, and Mr. Palmer has
a below-knee amputation (BKA) of his right extremity and is returned to the
medical-surgical unit with an intravenous infusion in place. His orders include:
heparin drip, morphine sulfate 10 mg IV push q4h prn for pain, and ampicillin
sodium g 1 IV q6h.
Twelve hours postoperatively, Mr. Palmer is found to be short of breath and
diaphoretic. He says, "My chest hurts." His pulse is 140/min, compared to a
baseline of 80/min. His blood pressure is105/60 mm Hg, compared to a baseline
of 138/70 mm Hg. His respirations are 32/min, compared to a baseline of
16/min. His O2 saturation is 85%. The nurse immediately calls for help. Which of
the following questions is most important for the nurse to ask?
1) "Have you ever had this type of chest pain before?"
2) "How long have you had this pain?"
3) "What pain medication do you usually take?"
4) "What were you doing before the pain began?" -1) "Have you ever had this
type of chest pain before?"
,Rationale: Because of the patient's symptoms and his history of myocardial
infarctions, the nurse should find out if the patient has had this time of pain
previously.
The nurse receives all of the following stat orders for Mr. Palmer. Which one
should the nurse question?
1) Oxygen per nasal cannula at 4 L per minute.
2) Enoxaparin (Lovenox) 40 mg subcutaneously.
3) Troponin level.
4) Computed tomography (CT) angiogram. -Rationale: The nurse should
questions the order for Lovenox because the patient is receiving a heparin drip.
Maggie Clark, a 42-year-old female, was admitted with newly diagnosed type 2
diabetes mellitus. Her blood glucose has been stabilized, and the nurse is
preparing her for discharge. Her discharge orders will include metformin
(Glucophage). Mrs. Clark is also being treated for hypertension.
Because Mrs. Clark is to take Glucophage on a regular basis it is important to
1) monitor her glomerular filtration rate.
2) check her serum amylase routinely.
3) obtain her red blood cell count periodically.
4) examine her urine for casts. -1) monitor her glomerular filtration rate.
Rationale: The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) is one way to measure
the adequacy of kidney function. Glucophage is excreted by the kidney and the
risk of lactic acidosis increases in patients with impaired kidney function. The
drug may be used if the eGFR is between 45 and 60 mL/min/1.73 m2, i.e., in
mild chronic kidney disease. Glucophage is absolutely contraindicated if the
eGFR is below 30 mL/min/1.73 m2.
Mrs. Clark is prescribed metoprolol tartrate (Lopressor) for hypertension. Which
symptom of hypoglycemia would be masked by Lopressor?
1) Diaphoresis.
2) Tingling.
3) Diplopia.
4) Tachycardia. -4) Tachycardia.
Rationale: A side effect of Lopressor, a beta blocker, is bradycardia. The
Lopressor-induced bradycardia can mask tachycardia, a symptom of
hypoglycemia.
, Charles Haverford is diagnosed with prostate cancer and is to have a radical
prostatectomy.
Mr. Haverford has been researching his diagnosis and now asks the nurse to
recommend a reliable web source for accurate prostate cancer information. The
nurse should identify which of these websites as most reliable?
1) www.wikipedia.org.
2) www.cancer.gov.
3) www.caringbridge.org.
4) www.google.com. -2) www.cancer.gov.
Rationale: When a patient asks about researching information on the internet, the
patient should be instructed to look at reliable sites. Sites that are most reliable
are those sponsored by the government (.gov).
Mr. Haverford has the planned surgery and immediately postoperatively he has a
urinary catheter inserted. After the urinary catheter is removed Mr. Haverford is
urinating normally, however he is experiencing occasional incontinence with
dribbling. Mr. Haverford is to be discharged.
Mr. Haverford says to the nurse, "I'm so embarrassed. What will my wife think
about this dribbling?" In addition to acknowledging his feelings, the nurse should
encourage the patient to
1) limit oral intake of fluids before bedtime.
2) palpate his bladder to check for distention three times a day.
3) perform pelvic floor exercises several times daily.
4) avoid interrupting the urinary stream during voiding. -3) perform pelvic floor
exercises several times daily.
Rationale: It is not unusual for a patient who has had a prostatectomy, to
complain of not having complete bladder control after catheter removal. To help
the patient regain urinary control, pelvic floor strengthening exercises are
recommended.
A patient's wife is visibly upset and says to the nurse, "I thought my husband
only broke his hip, but the doctor thinks he might have had a stroke." Which of
the following would be an appropriate response by the nurse?
1) "It's really too early to be concerned about that. Let's wait until the test results
come back."
2) "If it is a stroke, your husband is in the right hospital for treatment."
