NUR242 Medical Surgical Nursing Concepts Exam 1
Questions and Correct Answers with Rationale | Newest
Update | Galen College of Nursing
1. Which member of the surgical team is responsible for obtaining the patient’s
informed consent?
A. The circulating nurse
B. The surgeon
C. The anesthesiologist
D. The scrub technician
Answer: B
Rationale: The surgeon is legally responsible for explaining the procedure and obtaining
informed consent; the nurse’s role is to witness the signature and verify the patient’s
understanding.
2. A patient in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) has a respiratory rate of 8
breaths per minute. What is the nurse’s priority action?
A. Document the finding as normal post-op sedation
B. Stimulate the patient and encourage deep breathing
C. Administer a bolus of intravenous fluids
D. Check the patient’s surgical dressing for bleeding
Answer: B
,Rationale: A respiratory rate below 10 indicates respiratory depression. The nurse must
stimulate the patient to breathe deeply and monitor oxygen saturation.
3. What is the primary rationale for keeping a patient NPO after midnight before
surgery?
A. To prevent electrolyte imbalances during surgery
B. To reduce the risk of postoperative constipation
C. To decrease the risk of aspiration during anesthesia
D. To ensure the patient has an empty bladder
Answer: C
Rationale: NPO status reduces gastric volume to minimize the risk of vomiting and
aspiration during induction of general anesthesia.
4. A nurse identifies that a patient has a positive Trousseau’s sign. Which
electrolyte imbalance does this indicate?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hyponatremia
C. Hypermagnesemia
D. Hypocalcemia
Answer: D
Rationale: Trousseau’s sign (carpal spasm induced by inflating a blood pressure cuff) and
Chvostek’s sign are classic indicators of hypocalcemia.
, 5. Which assessment finding is most characteristic of Malignant Hyperthermia?
A. Hypotension and bradycardia
B. Hyperactive bowel sounds and diarrhea
C. Muscle rigidity and increased end-tidal CO2
D. Bradypnea and pinpoint pupils
Answer: C
Rationale: Malignant Hyperthermia is a life-threatening reaction to anesthesia
characterized by muscle rigidity, tachycardia, and a rapid rise in body temperature and
CO2.
6. A patient’s arterial blood gas (ABG) results are: pH 7.30, PaCO2 52 mmHg,
HCO3 24 mEq/L. How should the nurse interpret these results?
A. Respiratory Acidosis
B. Respiratory Alkalosis
C. Metabolic Alkalosis
D. Metabolic Acidosis
Answer: A
Rationale: A pH below 7.35 indicates acidosis, and a PaCO2 above 45 mmHg indicates a
respiratory cause for the acidosis.
Questions and Correct Answers with Rationale | Newest
Update | Galen College of Nursing
1. Which member of the surgical team is responsible for obtaining the patient’s
informed consent?
A. The circulating nurse
B. The surgeon
C. The anesthesiologist
D. The scrub technician
Answer: B
Rationale: The surgeon is legally responsible for explaining the procedure and obtaining
informed consent; the nurse’s role is to witness the signature and verify the patient’s
understanding.
2. A patient in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) has a respiratory rate of 8
breaths per minute. What is the nurse’s priority action?
A. Document the finding as normal post-op sedation
B. Stimulate the patient and encourage deep breathing
C. Administer a bolus of intravenous fluids
D. Check the patient’s surgical dressing for bleeding
Answer: B
,Rationale: A respiratory rate below 10 indicates respiratory depression. The nurse must
stimulate the patient to breathe deeply and monitor oxygen saturation.
3. What is the primary rationale for keeping a patient NPO after midnight before
surgery?
A. To prevent electrolyte imbalances during surgery
B. To reduce the risk of postoperative constipation
C. To decrease the risk of aspiration during anesthesia
D. To ensure the patient has an empty bladder
Answer: C
Rationale: NPO status reduces gastric volume to minimize the risk of vomiting and
aspiration during induction of general anesthesia.
4. A nurse identifies that a patient has a positive Trousseau’s sign. Which
electrolyte imbalance does this indicate?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hyponatremia
C. Hypermagnesemia
D. Hypocalcemia
Answer: D
Rationale: Trousseau’s sign (carpal spasm induced by inflating a blood pressure cuff) and
Chvostek’s sign are classic indicators of hypocalcemia.
, 5. Which assessment finding is most characteristic of Malignant Hyperthermia?
A. Hypotension and bradycardia
B. Hyperactive bowel sounds and diarrhea
C. Muscle rigidity and increased end-tidal CO2
D. Bradypnea and pinpoint pupils
Answer: C
Rationale: Malignant Hyperthermia is a life-threatening reaction to anesthesia
characterized by muscle rigidity, tachycardia, and a rapid rise in body temperature and
CO2.
6. A patient’s arterial blood gas (ABG) results are: pH 7.30, PaCO2 52 mmHg,
HCO3 24 mEq/L. How should the nurse interpret these results?
A. Respiratory Acidosis
B. Respiratory Alkalosis
C. Metabolic Alkalosis
D. Metabolic Acidosis
Answer: A
Rationale: A pH below 7.35 indicates acidosis, and a PaCO2 above 45 mmHg indicates a
respiratory cause for the acidosis.
