NUR 430: MED SURG 3 EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED
A+
A patient who has vague symptoms of fatigue, headaches, and a positive test for
human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibodies using an enzyme immunoassay (EIA)
test. What instructions should the nurse give to
this patient?
a. The EIA test will need to be repeated to verify the results.
b. A viral culture will be done to determine the progression of the disease.
c. It will probably be 10 or more years before you develop acquired immunodeficiency
syndrome
(AIDS).
d. The Western blot test will be done to determine whether acquired immunodeficiency
syndrome
(AIDS) has developed
(Correct answer) a. The EIA test will need to be repeated to verify the results.
A patient who has a positive test for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibodies is
admitted to the hospital with
Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PCP) and a CD4+ T-cell count of less than 200
cells/mL. Based on diagnostic criteria established by the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC), which statement by the nurse is correct?
a. The patient meets the criteria for a diagnosis of an acute HIV infection.
b. The patient will be diagnosed with asymptomatic chronic HIV infection.
c. The patient has developed acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
d. The patient will develop symptomatic chronic HIV infection in less than a year
(Correct answer) c. The patient has developed acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
(AIDS).
A patient with a positive rapid antibody test result for human immunodeficiency virus
(HIV) is anxious and does not appear to hear what the nurse is saying. What action by
the nurse is most important at this time?
a. Teach the patient about the medications available for treatment.
b. Inform the patient how to protect sexual and needle-sharing partners.
c. Remind the patient about the need to return for retesting to verify the results.
,d. Ask the patient to notify individuals who have had risky contact with the patient
(Correct answer) c. Remind the patient about the need to return for retesting to verify
the results.
A patient who is diagnosed with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) tells the
nurse, I feel obsessed with thoughts about dying. Do you think I am just being morbid?
Which response by the nurse is best?
a. Thinking about dying will not improve the course of AIDS.
b. It is important to focus on the good things about your life now.
c. Do you think that taking an antidepressant might be helpful to you?
d. Can you tell me more about the kind of thoughts that you are having?
(Correct answer) d. Can you tell me more about the kind of thoughts that you are
having?
A pregnant woman with a history of asymptomatic chronic human immunodeficiency
virus (HIV) infection is seen at the clinic. The patient states, I am very nervous about
making my baby sick. Which information will
the nurse includes when teaching the patient?
a. The antiretroviral medications used to treat HIV infection are teratogenic.
b. Most infants born to HIV-positive mothers are not infected with the virus.
c. Because she is at an early stage of HIV infection, the infant will not contract HIV.
d. It is likely that her newborn will become infected with HIV unless she uses
antiretroviral therapy (ART).
(Correct answer) b. Most infants born to HIV-positive mothers are not infected with the
virus
Which patient exposure by the nurse is most likely to require post exposure prophylaxis
when the patient’s human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) status is unknown?
a. Needle stick with a needle and syringe used to draw blood
b. Splash into the eyes when emptying a bedpan containing stool
c. Contamination of open skin lesions with patient vaginal secretions
d. Needle stick injury with a suture needle during a surgical procedure
(Correct answer) a. Needle stick with a needle and syringe used to draw blood
A young adult female patient who is human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive has a
new prescription for efavirenz (Sustiva). Which information is
most important to include in the medication teaching plan?
a. Driving is allowed when starting this medication.
b. Report any bizarre dreams to the health care provider.
, c. Continue to use contraception while on this medication.
d. Take this medication in the morning on an empty stomach.
(Correct answer) c. Continue to use contraception while on this medication.
A patient who is human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected has a CD4+ cell count of
400/L. Which factor is most important for the nurse to determine before the initiation of
antiretroviral therapy (ART) for this patient?
a. HIV genotype and phenotype
b. Patients social support system
c. Potential medication side effects
d. Patients ability to comply with ART schedule
(Correct answer) d. Patients ability to comply with ART schedule
The nurse will most likely prepare a medication teaching plan about antiretroviral
therapy (ART) for which patient?
a. Patient who is currently HIV negative but has unprotected sex with multiple partners
b. Patient who was infected with HIV 15 years ago and now has a CD4+ count of 840/L
c. HIV-positive patient with a CD4+ count of 160/L who drinks a fifth of whiskey daily
d. Patient who tested positive for HIV 2 years ago and now has cytomegalovirus (CMV)
retinitis
(Correct answer) d. Patient who tested positive for HIV 2 years ago and now has
cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis
The nurse palpates enlarged cervical lymph nodes on a patient diagnosed with acute
human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Which action would be most appropriate
for the nurse to take?
a. Instruct the patient to apply ice to the neck.
b. Advise the patient that this is probably the flu.
c. Explain to the patient that this is an expected finding.
d. Request that an antibiotic be prescribed for the patient
(Correct answer) c. Explain to the patient that this is an expected finding.
Which information would be most important to help the nurse determine if the patient
needs human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing?
a. Patient age
b. Patient lifestyle
c. Patient symptoms
d. Patient sexual orientation
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED
A+
A patient who has vague symptoms of fatigue, headaches, and a positive test for
human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibodies using an enzyme immunoassay (EIA)
test. What instructions should the nurse give to
this patient?
a. The EIA test will need to be repeated to verify the results.
b. A viral culture will be done to determine the progression of the disease.
c. It will probably be 10 or more years before you develop acquired immunodeficiency
syndrome
(AIDS).
d. The Western blot test will be done to determine whether acquired immunodeficiency
syndrome
(AIDS) has developed
(Correct answer) a. The EIA test will need to be repeated to verify the results.
A patient who has a positive test for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibodies is
admitted to the hospital with
Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PCP) and a CD4+ T-cell count of less than 200
cells/mL. Based on diagnostic criteria established by the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC), which statement by the nurse is correct?
a. The patient meets the criteria for a diagnosis of an acute HIV infection.
b. The patient will be diagnosed with asymptomatic chronic HIV infection.
c. The patient has developed acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
d. The patient will develop symptomatic chronic HIV infection in less than a year
(Correct answer) c. The patient has developed acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
(AIDS).
A patient with a positive rapid antibody test result for human immunodeficiency virus
(HIV) is anxious and does not appear to hear what the nurse is saying. What action by
the nurse is most important at this time?
a. Teach the patient about the medications available for treatment.
b. Inform the patient how to protect sexual and needle-sharing partners.
c. Remind the patient about the need to return for retesting to verify the results.
,d. Ask the patient to notify individuals who have had risky contact with the patient
(Correct answer) c. Remind the patient about the need to return for retesting to verify
the results.
A patient who is diagnosed with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) tells the
nurse, I feel obsessed with thoughts about dying. Do you think I am just being morbid?
Which response by the nurse is best?
a. Thinking about dying will not improve the course of AIDS.
b. It is important to focus on the good things about your life now.
c. Do you think that taking an antidepressant might be helpful to you?
d. Can you tell me more about the kind of thoughts that you are having?
(Correct answer) d. Can you tell me more about the kind of thoughts that you are
having?
A pregnant woman with a history of asymptomatic chronic human immunodeficiency
virus (HIV) infection is seen at the clinic. The patient states, I am very nervous about
making my baby sick. Which information will
the nurse includes when teaching the patient?
a. The antiretroviral medications used to treat HIV infection are teratogenic.
b. Most infants born to HIV-positive mothers are not infected with the virus.
c. Because she is at an early stage of HIV infection, the infant will not contract HIV.
d. It is likely that her newborn will become infected with HIV unless she uses
antiretroviral therapy (ART).
(Correct answer) b. Most infants born to HIV-positive mothers are not infected with the
virus
Which patient exposure by the nurse is most likely to require post exposure prophylaxis
when the patient’s human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) status is unknown?
a. Needle stick with a needle and syringe used to draw blood
b. Splash into the eyes when emptying a bedpan containing stool
c. Contamination of open skin lesions with patient vaginal secretions
d. Needle stick injury with a suture needle during a surgical procedure
(Correct answer) a. Needle stick with a needle and syringe used to draw blood
A young adult female patient who is human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive has a
new prescription for efavirenz (Sustiva). Which information is
most important to include in the medication teaching plan?
a. Driving is allowed when starting this medication.
b. Report any bizarre dreams to the health care provider.
, c. Continue to use contraception while on this medication.
d. Take this medication in the morning on an empty stomach.
(Correct answer) c. Continue to use contraception while on this medication.
A patient who is human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected has a CD4+ cell count of
400/L. Which factor is most important for the nurse to determine before the initiation of
antiretroviral therapy (ART) for this patient?
a. HIV genotype and phenotype
b. Patients social support system
c. Potential medication side effects
d. Patients ability to comply with ART schedule
(Correct answer) d. Patients ability to comply with ART schedule
The nurse will most likely prepare a medication teaching plan about antiretroviral
therapy (ART) for which patient?
a. Patient who is currently HIV negative but has unprotected sex with multiple partners
b. Patient who was infected with HIV 15 years ago and now has a CD4+ count of 840/L
c. HIV-positive patient with a CD4+ count of 160/L who drinks a fifth of whiskey daily
d. Patient who tested positive for HIV 2 years ago and now has cytomegalovirus (CMV)
retinitis
(Correct answer) d. Patient who tested positive for HIV 2 years ago and now has
cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis
The nurse palpates enlarged cervical lymph nodes on a patient diagnosed with acute
human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Which action would be most appropriate
for the nurse to take?
a. Instruct the patient to apply ice to the neck.
b. Advise the patient that this is probably the flu.
c. Explain to the patient that this is an expected finding.
d. Request that an antibiotic be prescribed for the patient
(Correct answer) c. Explain to the patient that this is an expected finding.
Which information would be most important to help the nurse determine if the patient
needs human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing?
a. Patient age
b. Patient lifestyle
c. Patient symptoms
d. Patient sexual orientation
