Medical-Surgical LPN/RN
Assessment 1ShiftKey
1. A patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is admitted to the
hospital with worsening dyspnea. Which of the following interventions should the
nurse prioritize?
A) Administer oxygen therapy as prescribed
B) Encourage fluid intake to thin secretions
C) Teach the patient about home oxygen use
D) Assess the patient's sleep patterns
Answer: A) Administer oxygen therapy as prescribed
2. When assessing a patient with a suspected myocardial infarction (MI), which
symptom is most characteristic of this condition?
A) Sharp, stabbing chest pain relieved by rest
B) Sudden onset of shortness of breath without chest pain
C) Deep, aching chest pain radiating to the left arm
D) Intermittent, mild chest discomfort with exertion
Answer: C) Deep, aching chest pain radiating to the left arm
3. A nurse is monitoring a patient who is receiving intravenous heparin. Which
laboratory test should the nurse monitor to evaluate the effectiveness of the
medication?
A) Complete blood count (CBC)
B) Prothrombin time (PT)
C) Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT)
D) International normalized ratio (INR)
,Answer: C) Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT)
4. A patient who has undergone abdominal surgery is at risk for developing a
postoperative infection. Which of the following signs should the nurse monitor for to
identify a potential infection?
A) Wound edges approximated without redness
B) Decreased temperature and increased appetite
C) Elevated temperature and purulent wound drainage
D) Decreased pain at the surgical site and normal white blood cell count
Answer: C) Elevated temperature and purulent wound drainage
5. A patient with congestive heart failure (CHF) is being discharged with a new
medication regimen. Which instruction should the nurse include to help manage the
patient's condition?
A) "Take your diuretic medication at bedtime to reduce nocturia."
B) "Monitor your daily weight and report any sudden changes."
C) "Limit your intake of high-fiber foods to prevent bloating."
D) "Avoid any form of physical exercise to prevent fatigue."
Answer: B) "Monitor your daily weight and report any sudden changes."
6. Which of the following assessments is most critical for a patient with a new
diagnosis of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)?
A) Blood glucose level
B) Serum potassium level
C) Urine output
D) Respiratory rate
,Answer: B) Serum potassium level
7. A patient with liver cirrhosis is at risk for developing ascites. Which assessment
finding is most indicative of ascites?
A) Decreased blood pressure
B) Increased abdominal girth
C) Dullness to percussion in the lung fields
D) Elevated blood glucose levels
Answer: B) Increased abdominal girth
8. The nurse is caring for a patient with a newly inserted central venous catheter
(CVC). Which of the following actions should the nurse take to prevent catheter-
related infections?
A) Perform hand hygiene before and after catheter care
B) Use the catheter for blood sampling only
C) Change the dressing around the catheter site every 72 hours
D) Flush the catheter with saline once a week
Answer: A) Perform hand hygiene before and after catheter care
9. A patient is admitted with a suspected deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Which of the
following symptoms is most consistent with DVT?
A) Severe headache and neck stiffness
B) Sudden onset of shortness of breath and pleuritic chest pain
C) Swelling and redness in one leg, with warmth to the touch
D) Bilateral joint pain and a rash on the trunk
, Answer: C) Swelling and redness in one leg, with warmth to the touch
10. Which of the following nursing interventions is most appropriate for a patient
with a nasogastric tube (NG tube) to prevent complications?
A) Reposition the tube every 24 hours
B) Administer medications through the tube without flushing
C) Check the tube placement before each use
D) Clamp the tube for 1 hour after feeding
Answer: C) Check the tube placement before each use
11. A patient undergoing chemotherapy complains of nausea and vomiting. Which of
the following medications should the nurse expect to be prescribed to manage these
symptoms?
A) Loperamide (Imodium)
B) Ondansetron (Zofran)
C) Metformin (Glucophage)
D) Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
Answer: B) Ondansetron (Zofran)
12. In caring for a patient with chronic renal failure, which of the following lab values
would most likely be elevated?
A) Sodium
B) Hemoglobin
C) Calcium
D) Potassium
Answer: D) Potassium
Assessment 1ShiftKey
1. A patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is admitted to the
hospital with worsening dyspnea. Which of the following interventions should the
nurse prioritize?
A) Administer oxygen therapy as prescribed
B) Encourage fluid intake to thin secretions
C) Teach the patient about home oxygen use
D) Assess the patient's sleep patterns
Answer: A) Administer oxygen therapy as prescribed
2. When assessing a patient with a suspected myocardial infarction (MI), which
symptom is most characteristic of this condition?
A) Sharp, stabbing chest pain relieved by rest
B) Sudden onset of shortness of breath without chest pain
C) Deep, aching chest pain radiating to the left arm
D) Intermittent, mild chest discomfort with exertion
Answer: C) Deep, aching chest pain radiating to the left arm
3. A nurse is monitoring a patient who is receiving intravenous heparin. Which
laboratory test should the nurse monitor to evaluate the effectiveness of the
medication?
A) Complete blood count (CBC)
B) Prothrombin time (PT)
C) Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT)
D) International normalized ratio (INR)
,Answer: C) Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT)
4. A patient who has undergone abdominal surgery is at risk for developing a
postoperative infection. Which of the following signs should the nurse monitor for to
identify a potential infection?
A) Wound edges approximated without redness
B) Decreased temperature and increased appetite
C) Elevated temperature and purulent wound drainage
D) Decreased pain at the surgical site and normal white blood cell count
Answer: C) Elevated temperature and purulent wound drainage
5. A patient with congestive heart failure (CHF) is being discharged with a new
medication regimen. Which instruction should the nurse include to help manage the
patient's condition?
A) "Take your diuretic medication at bedtime to reduce nocturia."
B) "Monitor your daily weight and report any sudden changes."
C) "Limit your intake of high-fiber foods to prevent bloating."
D) "Avoid any form of physical exercise to prevent fatigue."
Answer: B) "Monitor your daily weight and report any sudden changes."
6. Which of the following assessments is most critical for a patient with a new
diagnosis of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)?
A) Blood glucose level
B) Serum potassium level
C) Urine output
D) Respiratory rate
,Answer: B) Serum potassium level
7. A patient with liver cirrhosis is at risk for developing ascites. Which assessment
finding is most indicative of ascites?
A) Decreased blood pressure
B) Increased abdominal girth
C) Dullness to percussion in the lung fields
D) Elevated blood glucose levels
Answer: B) Increased abdominal girth
8. The nurse is caring for a patient with a newly inserted central venous catheter
(CVC). Which of the following actions should the nurse take to prevent catheter-
related infections?
A) Perform hand hygiene before and after catheter care
B) Use the catheter for blood sampling only
C) Change the dressing around the catheter site every 72 hours
D) Flush the catheter with saline once a week
Answer: A) Perform hand hygiene before and after catheter care
9. A patient is admitted with a suspected deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Which of the
following symptoms is most consistent with DVT?
A) Severe headache and neck stiffness
B) Sudden onset of shortness of breath and pleuritic chest pain
C) Swelling and redness in one leg, with warmth to the touch
D) Bilateral joint pain and a rash on the trunk
, Answer: C) Swelling and redness in one leg, with warmth to the touch
10. Which of the following nursing interventions is most appropriate for a patient
with a nasogastric tube (NG tube) to prevent complications?
A) Reposition the tube every 24 hours
B) Administer medications through the tube without flushing
C) Check the tube placement before each use
D) Clamp the tube for 1 hour after feeding
Answer: C) Check the tube placement before each use
11. A patient undergoing chemotherapy complains of nausea and vomiting. Which of
the following medications should the nurse expect to be prescribed to manage these
symptoms?
A) Loperamide (Imodium)
B) Ondansetron (Zofran)
C) Metformin (Glucophage)
D) Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
Answer: B) Ondansetron (Zofran)
12. In caring for a patient with chronic renal failure, which of the following lab values
would most likely be elevated?
A) Sodium
B) Hemoglobin
C) Calcium
D) Potassium
Answer: D) Potassium
