MED SURG 201 FINAL PAPER 2026 QUESTIONS
WITH SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◉ The nurse is providing care to a patient who is diagnosed with
pneumonia. The patient admits to smoking one pack of cigarettes
per day. Which respiratory defense mechanism may have failed to
cause the patient's diagnosis?
1) Cough reflex
2) Filtration of air
3) Alveolar macrophages
4) Mucociliary clearance system. Answer: Alveolar macrophages
Alveolar macrophages rapidly phagocytize inhaled foreign particles
such as bacteria and often fail as a result of cigarette smoking.
◉ The nurse receives a phone call from the parent of a child who is
prescribed rifampin (Rimactane) for treatment of tuberculosis
because she saw that the child's urine was orange. Which response
by the nurse is accurate?
1) "Encourage your child to drink cranberry juice."
,2) "An orange discoloration of urine is expected while your child is
on this medication."
3) "Bring your child to the clinic for a urinalysis."
4) "Bring your child to the clinic for a radiograph of the kidneys.".
Answer: "An orange discoloration of urine is expected while your
child is on this medication."
Orange urine does not mean the child has a urinary tract infection,
and a urinalysis, radiograph, and encouragement of cranberry juice
would not be options.
◉ Chapter 29: Coordinating Care for Patients With Cardiac
Dysrhythmia. Answer: ---
◉ A patient's heart rate is 48 beats per minute. Which structure is
most likely generating this heart rate?
1) Purkinje fibers
2) Sinoatrial node
3) Atrioventricular node
4) Ventricular pacer cells. Answer: Atrioventricular node
The Purkinje fibers can generate a ventricular rate of 20 beats per
minute (bpm) or less.
,The sinoatrial (SA) node can generate impulses at a rate of 60 to 100
bpm.
The AV node can generate impulses at a rate of 40 to 60 bpm.
The ventricular pacer cells can generate impulses at a rate of 40 bpm
or less.
◉ The nurse is concerned that a patient is at risk for pulseless
electrical activity. What information from the assessment did the
nurse use to make this clinical decision?
1) Blood pH 7.30
2) Temperature 100.5°F
3) Serum glucose level 170 mg/dL
4) Serum potassium level 4.1 mEq/L. Answer: Blood pH 7.30
Causes of pulseless electrical activity include acidosis, which is
reflected in a blood pH less than 7.35.
◉ A patient asks why cardiac leads are being placed on the chest.
What should the nurse respond to this patient?
, 1) "It shows where the heart vessels are blocked."
2) "It is used to evaluate the effectiveness of dietary changes."
3) "It provides a graphic picture of the heart's electrical activity."
4) "It determines which medications are needed to improve heart
function.". Answer: "It provides a graphic picture of the heart's
electrical activity."
◉ When analyzing a patient's electrocardiogram, the nurse notes
that the P wave is normal. What criteria did the nurse use to make
this decision?
1) Pointed and skinny in width
2) Small and rounded in lead II
3) Upright and rounded in lead II
4) Length 0.10 seconds and height 2.5 mm. Answer: Length 0.10
seconds and height 2.5 mm
The P wave itself should not be longer than 0.10 sec in length and no
higher than 2.5 mm
◉ The nurse is observed marching out the rhythm on a patient's
cardiac monitor tracing. What is this nurse assessing?
1) Rate
WITH SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◉ The nurse is providing care to a patient who is diagnosed with
pneumonia. The patient admits to smoking one pack of cigarettes
per day. Which respiratory defense mechanism may have failed to
cause the patient's diagnosis?
1) Cough reflex
2) Filtration of air
3) Alveolar macrophages
4) Mucociliary clearance system. Answer: Alveolar macrophages
Alveolar macrophages rapidly phagocytize inhaled foreign particles
such as bacteria and often fail as a result of cigarette smoking.
◉ The nurse receives a phone call from the parent of a child who is
prescribed rifampin (Rimactane) for treatment of tuberculosis
because she saw that the child's urine was orange. Which response
by the nurse is accurate?
1) "Encourage your child to drink cranberry juice."
,2) "An orange discoloration of urine is expected while your child is
on this medication."
3) "Bring your child to the clinic for a urinalysis."
4) "Bring your child to the clinic for a radiograph of the kidneys.".
Answer: "An orange discoloration of urine is expected while your
child is on this medication."
Orange urine does not mean the child has a urinary tract infection,
and a urinalysis, radiograph, and encouragement of cranberry juice
would not be options.
◉ Chapter 29: Coordinating Care for Patients With Cardiac
Dysrhythmia. Answer: ---
◉ A patient's heart rate is 48 beats per minute. Which structure is
most likely generating this heart rate?
1) Purkinje fibers
2) Sinoatrial node
3) Atrioventricular node
4) Ventricular pacer cells. Answer: Atrioventricular node
The Purkinje fibers can generate a ventricular rate of 20 beats per
minute (bpm) or less.
,The sinoatrial (SA) node can generate impulses at a rate of 60 to 100
bpm.
The AV node can generate impulses at a rate of 40 to 60 bpm.
The ventricular pacer cells can generate impulses at a rate of 40 bpm
or less.
◉ The nurse is concerned that a patient is at risk for pulseless
electrical activity. What information from the assessment did the
nurse use to make this clinical decision?
1) Blood pH 7.30
2) Temperature 100.5°F
3) Serum glucose level 170 mg/dL
4) Serum potassium level 4.1 mEq/L. Answer: Blood pH 7.30
Causes of pulseless electrical activity include acidosis, which is
reflected in a blood pH less than 7.35.
◉ A patient asks why cardiac leads are being placed on the chest.
What should the nurse respond to this patient?
, 1) "It shows where the heart vessels are blocked."
2) "It is used to evaluate the effectiveness of dietary changes."
3) "It provides a graphic picture of the heart's electrical activity."
4) "It determines which medications are needed to improve heart
function.". Answer: "It provides a graphic picture of the heart's
electrical activity."
◉ When analyzing a patient's electrocardiogram, the nurse notes
that the P wave is normal. What criteria did the nurse use to make
this decision?
1) Pointed and skinny in width
2) Small and rounded in lead II
3) Upright and rounded in lead II
4) Length 0.10 seconds and height 2.5 mm. Answer: Length 0.10
seconds and height 2.5 mm
The P wave itself should not be longer than 0.10 sec in length and no
higher than 2.5 mm
◉ The nurse is observed marching out the rhythm on a patient's
cardiac monitor tracing. What is this nurse assessing?
1) Rate
