Week 8 Quiz: Introduction to Medical Surgical
Nursing (Latest Update ) Introduction to
Medical Surgical Nursing | Questions and Answers |
100% Correct | Grade A - WCU
1. Which nursing action is the highest priority when a patient returns from
surgery to the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU)?
A. Assessing the surgical site for drainage
B. Checking the patient’s level of consciousness
C. Maintaining a patent airway and adequate ventilation
D. Monitoring urine output and fluid balance
Answer: C
Rationale: Airway management is always the priority in the immediate postoperative
period to ensure adequate oxygenation and prevent respiratory complications.
2. A patient is scheduled for elective surgery. Who is legally responsible for
obtaining the patient’s informed consent?
A. The primary care nurse
B. The unit manager
C. The anesthesiologist
D. The surgeon
Answer: D
Rationale: While nurses may witness the signature, the legal responsibility for explaining
the procedure and obtaining informed consent lies with the surgeon performing the
procedure.
,3. Which assessment finding is a hallmark early sign of malignant hyperthermia
during general anesthesia?
A. Profuse sweating and low glucose
B. Extreme hypothermia
C. Bradycardia and hypotension
D. Muscle rigidity and increased end-tidal CO2
Answer: D
Rationale: Malignant hyperthermia is a life-threatening emergency characterized by
muscle rigidity, rapid rise in temperature (late sign), and increased end-tidal carbon
dioxide levels.
4. To prevent postoperative atelectasis, the nurse should teach the patient
which of the following interventions?
A. Restricting fluid intake to 1 liter per day
B. Incentive spirometry and deep breathing
C. Keeping the head of the bed flat at all times
D. Avoiding coughing to protect the incision
Answer: B
Rationale: Incentive spirometry and deep breathing help expand the alveoli and clear
secretions, reducing the risk of atelectasis and pneumonia.
5. A patient’s abdominal wound has eviscerated. What is the immediate nursing
action?
A. Push the organs back into the abdominal cavity
B. Apply a dry sterile dressing tightly
C. Ask the patient to cough to clear the airway
D. Cover the wound with sterile saline-soaked dressings
Answer: D
, Rationale: Evisceration is a medical emergency. The organs must be kept moist with
sterile saline-soaked dressings until the patient can be taken back to surgery.
6. Which medication is typically withheld on the morning of surgery unless
specifically ordered otherwise?
A. Beta-blockers
B. Insulin for Type 1 Diabetes
C. Warfarin (anticoagulant)
D. Thyroid hormone replacement
Answer: C
Rationale: Anticoagulants like warfarin increase the risk of surgical bleeding and are
usually discontinued several days before an elective procedure.
7. A patient with fluid volume deficit is most likely to exhibit which of the
following signs?
A. Tachycardia and poor skin turgor
B. Weight gain and edema
C. Distended neck veins
D. Crackles in the lungs
Answer: A
Rationale: Fluid volume deficit results in decreased circulating volume, leading to
compensatory tachycardia and decreased skin elasticity (turgor).
8. The nurse monitors a patient for signs of hypokalemia. Which symptom is
characteristic of this electrolyte imbalance?
A. Peaked T-waves on EKG
B. Muscle weakness and leg cramps
C. Positive Chvostek’s sign
D. Numbness and tingling
Answer: B
Nursing (Latest Update ) Introduction to
Medical Surgical Nursing | Questions and Answers |
100% Correct | Grade A - WCU
1. Which nursing action is the highest priority when a patient returns from
surgery to the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU)?
A. Assessing the surgical site for drainage
B. Checking the patient’s level of consciousness
C. Maintaining a patent airway and adequate ventilation
D. Monitoring urine output and fluid balance
Answer: C
Rationale: Airway management is always the priority in the immediate postoperative
period to ensure adequate oxygenation and prevent respiratory complications.
2. A patient is scheduled for elective surgery. Who is legally responsible for
obtaining the patient’s informed consent?
A. The primary care nurse
B. The unit manager
C. The anesthesiologist
D. The surgeon
Answer: D
Rationale: While nurses may witness the signature, the legal responsibility for explaining
the procedure and obtaining informed consent lies with the surgeon performing the
procedure.
,3. Which assessment finding is a hallmark early sign of malignant hyperthermia
during general anesthesia?
A. Profuse sweating and low glucose
B. Extreme hypothermia
C. Bradycardia and hypotension
D. Muscle rigidity and increased end-tidal CO2
Answer: D
Rationale: Malignant hyperthermia is a life-threatening emergency characterized by
muscle rigidity, rapid rise in temperature (late sign), and increased end-tidal carbon
dioxide levels.
4. To prevent postoperative atelectasis, the nurse should teach the patient
which of the following interventions?
A. Restricting fluid intake to 1 liter per day
B. Incentive spirometry and deep breathing
C. Keeping the head of the bed flat at all times
D. Avoiding coughing to protect the incision
Answer: B
Rationale: Incentive spirometry and deep breathing help expand the alveoli and clear
secretions, reducing the risk of atelectasis and pneumonia.
5. A patient’s abdominal wound has eviscerated. What is the immediate nursing
action?
A. Push the organs back into the abdominal cavity
B. Apply a dry sterile dressing tightly
C. Ask the patient to cough to clear the airway
D. Cover the wound with sterile saline-soaked dressings
Answer: D
, Rationale: Evisceration is a medical emergency. The organs must be kept moist with
sterile saline-soaked dressings until the patient can be taken back to surgery.
6. Which medication is typically withheld on the morning of surgery unless
specifically ordered otherwise?
A. Beta-blockers
B. Insulin for Type 1 Diabetes
C. Warfarin (anticoagulant)
D. Thyroid hormone replacement
Answer: C
Rationale: Anticoagulants like warfarin increase the risk of surgical bleeding and are
usually discontinued several days before an elective procedure.
7. A patient with fluid volume deficit is most likely to exhibit which of the
following signs?
A. Tachycardia and poor skin turgor
B. Weight gain and edema
C. Distended neck veins
D. Crackles in the lungs
Answer: A
Rationale: Fluid volume deficit results in decreased circulating volume, leading to
compensatory tachycardia and decreased skin elasticity (turgor).
8. The nurse monitors a patient for signs of hypokalemia. Which symptom is
characteristic of this electrolyte imbalance?
A. Peaked T-waves on EKG
B. Muscle weakness and leg cramps
C. Positive Chvostek’s sign
D. Numbness and tingling
Answer: B
