MEDSURG FINAL EXAM WITH
CORRECT QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
2025
A client who has septic shock is admitted to the hospital. What priority
intervention does the nurse implement first?
a. Obtain two sets of blood cultures.
b. Administer the prescribed IV vancomycin (Vancocin).
c. Obtain central venous pressure (CVP) measurements.
d. Administer the prescribed IV norepinephrine (Levophed) - CORRECT-
ANSWERSa. Obtain two sets of blood cultures.
Blood cultures should be obtained before IV antibiotics are started. If
hypotension occurs, fluid resuscitation is used first. CVP monitoring and
vasopressor therapy are started if hypotension persists.
The emergency department nurse is triaging clients. Which client does the
nurse assess most carefully for hypovolemic shock?
a. 15-year-old adolescent who plays high school basketball
b. 24-year-old computer specialist who has bulimia
c. 48-year-old truck driver who has a 40-pack-year history of smoking
d. 62-year-old business executive who travels frequently - CORRECT-
ANSWERSb. 24-year-old computer specialist who has bulimia
,Hypovolemic shock can be caused by dehydration. A client who has bulimia
is at highest risk for dehydration owing to excessive vomiting. Basketball,
smoking, and traveling do not put the client at risk for hypovolemic shock.
A client with epilepsy develops stiffening of the muscles of the arms and
legs, followed by an immediate loss of consciousness and jerking of all
extremities. How does the nurse document this seizure activity?
a. Atonic seizure
b. Absence seizure
c. Myoclonic seizure
d. Tonic-clonic seizure - CORRECT-ANSWERSd. Tonic-clonic seizure
Seizure activity that begins with stiffening of the arms and legs, followed by
loss of consciousness and jerking of all extremities, is characteristic of a
tonic-clonic seizure. The other seizures do not manifest in this manner.
The nurse is assessing a client with a history of absence seizures. Which
clinical manifestation does the nurse assess for?
a. Automatisms
b. Intermittent rigidity
c. Sudden loss of muscle tone
d. Brief jerking of the extremities - CORRECT-ANSWERSa. Automatisms
, Automatisms are characteristic of absence seizures. These behaviors consist
of lip smacking, patting, and picking at clothing. The other manifestations do
not correlate with absence seizures.
The nurse is caring for a client with a history of epilepsy who suddenly
begins to experience a tonic-clonic seizure and loses consciousness. What is
the nurse's priority action?
a. Restrain the client's extremities.
b. Turn the client's head to the side.
c. Take the client's blood pressure.
d. Place an airway into the client's mouth. - CORRECT-ANSWERSb. Turn the
client's head to the side.
A client is actively experiencing status epilepticus. Which prescribed
medication does the nurse prepare to administer?
a. Atropine
b. Lorazepam (Ativan)
c. Phenytoin (Dilantin)
d. Morphine sulfate - CORRECT-ANSWERSb. Lorazepam (Ativan)
The nurse is teaching a client who is newly diagnosed with epilepsy. Which
statement by the client indicates a need for further teaching concerning the
drug regimen?
CORRECT QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
2025
A client who has septic shock is admitted to the hospital. What priority
intervention does the nurse implement first?
a. Obtain two sets of blood cultures.
b. Administer the prescribed IV vancomycin (Vancocin).
c. Obtain central venous pressure (CVP) measurements.
d. Administer the prescribed IV norepinephrine (Levophed) - CORRECT-
ANSWERSa. Obtain two sets of blood cultures.
Blood cultures should be obtained before IV antibiotics are started. If
hypotension occurs, fluid resuscitation is used first. CVP monitoring and
vasopressor therapy are started if hypotension persists.
The emergency department nurse is triaging clients. Which client does the
nurse assess most carefully for hypovolemic shock?
a. 15-year-old adolescent who plays high school basketball
b. 24-year-old computer specialist who has bulimia
c. 48-year-old truck driver who has a 40-pack-year history of smoking
d. 62-year-old business executive who travels frequently - CORRECT-
ANSWERSb. 24-year-old computer specialist who has bulimia
,Hypovolemic shock can be caused by dehydration. A client who has bulimia
is at highest risk for dehydration owing to excessive vomiting. Basketball,
smoking, and traveling do not put the client at risk for hypovolemic shock.
A client with epilepsy develops stiffening of the muscles of the arms and
legs, followed by an immediate loss of consciousness and jerking of all
extremities. How does the nurse document this seizure activity?
a. Atonic seizure
b. Absence seizure
c. Myoclonic seizure
d. Tonic-clonic seizure - CORRECT-ANSWERSd. Tonic-clonic seizure
Seizure activity that begins with stiffening of the arms and legs, followed by
loss of consciousness and jerking of all extremities, is characteristic of a
tonic-clonic seizure. The other seizures do not manifest in this manner.
The nurse is assessing a client with a history of absence seizures. Which
clinical manifestation does the nurse assess for?
a. Automatisms
b. Intermittent rigidity
c. Sudden loss of muscle tone
d. Brief jerking of the extremities - CORRECT-ANSWERSa. Automatisms
, Automatisms are characteristic of absence seizures. These behaviors consist
of lip smacking, patting, and picking at clothing. The other manifestations do
not correlate with absence seizures.
The nurse is caring for a client with a history of epilepsy who suddenly
begins to experience a tonic-clonic seizure and loses consciousness. What is
the nurse's priority action?
a. Restrain the client's extremities.
b. Turn the client's head to the side.
c. Take the client's blood pressure.
d. Place an airway into the client's mouth. - CORRECT-ANSWERSb. Turn the
client's head to the side.
A client is actively experiencing status epilepticus. Which prescribed
medication does the nurse prepare to administer?
a. Atropine
b. Lorazepam (Ativan)
c. Phenytoin (Dilantin)
d. Morphine sulfate - CORRECT-ANSWERSb. Lorazepam (Ativan)
The nurse is teaching a client who is newly diagnosed with epilepsy. Which
statement by the client indicates a need for further teaching concerning the
drug regimen?
