NURS 120 - Introduction to Medical Surgical Nursing: Week 3 Quiz
2026 – WCU
1. A nurse is preparing a patient for surgery. What is the nurse’s primary
responsibility regarding the informed consent document?
A. Explaining the risks and benefits of the surgical procedure
B. Witnessing the patient’s signature on the consent form
C. Determining the patient’s capacity to undergo the surgery
D. Discussing alternative treatment options with the patient
Answer: B
Rationale: The surgeon is responsible for explaining the procedure and risks; the nurse’s
role is to witness the patient’s signature and ensure the signed form is in the chart.
2. A postoperative patient reports sudden chest pain and shortness of breath.
Which complication should the nurse suspect first?
A. Hypovolemic shock
B. Pneumonia
C. Pulmonary embolism
D. Atelectasis
Answer: C
Rationale: Sudden onset of chest pain and dyspnea in a postoperative patient are classic
signs of a pulmonary embolism, a medical emergency.
,3. A patient’s laboratory results show a serum potassium level of 2.8 mEq/L.
Which assessment finding is most consistent with this result?
A. Muscle weakness and leg cramps
B. Hyperactive bowel sounds
C. Peaked T waves on ECG
D. Tingly sensation in the fingers
Answer: A
Rationale: Hypokalemia (low potassium) often manifests as muscle weakness, leg cramps,
and decreased deep tendon reflexes.
4. Which intravenous fluid is considered isotonic and commonly used for
volume expansion?
A. 0.45% Normal Saline
B. 0.9% Sodium Chloride
C. 3% Sodium Chloride
D. 10% Dextrose in Water
Answer: B
Rationale: 0.9% Sodium Chloride (Normal Saline) is an isotonic solution that stays in the
intravascular space, making it ideal for volume expansion.
5. A patient is 24 hours postoperative. The nurse notes a temperature of 100.2 F
(37.9 C). What is the most likely cause?
A. Wound infection
B. Atelectasis
C. Urinary tract infection
D. Septicemia
Answer: B
Rationale: Mild fever within the first 24-48 hours postoperatively is most commonly
caused by atelectasis (collapse of alveoli).
, 6. The nurse is assessing a patient for Trousseau’s sign. Which electrolyte
imbalance is this test used to identify?
A. Hypokalemia
B. Hypermagnesemia
C. Hypocalcemia
D. Hypernatremia
Answer: C
Rationale: Trousseau’s sign (carpal spasm induced by inflating a blood pressure cuff) is a
classic sign of hypocalcemia.
7. Which arterial blood gas (ABG) result indicates compensated respiratory
acidosis?
A. pH 7.50, PaCO2 30, HCO3 22
B. pH 7.25, PaCO2 55, HCO3 24
C. pH 7.36, PaCO2 50, HCO3 30
D. pH 7.42, PaCO2 40, HCO3 24
Answer: C
Rationale: Compensated respiratory acidosis shows a pH in the normal range (7.35-7.45)
with an elevated PaCO2 and a high HCO3 indicating renal compensation.
8. When assessing a surgical wound, the nurse notes the protrusion of internal
organs through the incision. What is this called?
A. Dehiscence
B. Evisceration
C. Fistula
D. Adhesion
Answer: B
Rationale: Evisceration is the protrusion of internal organs through a wound or surgical
incision. Dehiscence is just the separation of wound edges.
2026 – WCU
1. A nurse is preparing a patient for surgery. What is the nurse’s primary
responsibility regarding the informed consent document?
A. Explaining the risks and benefits of the surgical procedure
B. Witnessing the patient’s signature on the consent form
C. Determining the patient’s capacity to undergo the surgery
D. Discussing alternative treatment options with the patient
Answer: B
Rationale: The surgeon is responsible for explaining the procedure and risks; the nurse’s
role is to witness the patient’s signature and ensure the signed form is in the chart.
2. A postoperative patient reports sudden chest pain and shortness of breath.
Which complication should the nurse suspect first?
A. Hypovolemic shock
B. Pneumonia
C. Pulmonary embolism
D. Atelectasis
Answer: C
Rationale: Sudden onset of chest pain and dyspnea in a postoperative patient are classic
signs of a pulmonary embolism, a medical emergency.
,3. A patient’s laboratory results show a serum potassium level of 2.8 mEq/L.
Which assessment finding is most consistent with this result?
A. Muscle weakness and leg cramps
B. Hyperactive bowel sounds
C. Peaked T waves on ECG
D. Tingly sensation in the fingers
Answer: A
Rationale: Hypokalemia (low potassium) often manifests as muscle weakness, leg cramps,
and decreased deep tendon reflexes.
4. Which intravenous fluid is considered isotonic and commonly used for
volume expansion?
A. 0.45% Normal Saline
B. 0.9% Sodium Chloride
C. 3% Sodium Chloride
D. 10% Dextrose in Water
Answer: B
Rationale: 0.9% Sodium Chloride (Normal Saline) is an isotonic solution that stays in the
intravascular space, making it ideal for volume expansion.
5. A patient is 24 hours postoperative. The nurse notes a temperature of 100.2 F
(37.9 C). What is the most likely cause?
A. Wound infection
B. Atelectasis
C. Urinary tract infection
D. Septicemia
Answer: B
Rationale: Mild fever within the first 24-48 hours postoperatively is most commonly
caused by atelectasis (collapse of alveoli).
, 6. The nurse is assessing a patient for Trousseau’s sign. Which electrolyte
imbalance is this test used to identify?
A. Hypokalemia
B. Hypermagnesemia
C. Hypocalcemia
D. Hypernatremia
Answer: C
Rationale: Trousseau’s sign (carpal spasm induced by inflating a blood pressure cuff) is a
classic sign of hypocalcemia.
7. Which arterial blood gas (ABG) result indicates compensated respiratory
acidosis?
A. pH 7.50, PaCO2 30, HCO3 22
B. pH 7.25, PaCO2 55, HCO3 24
C. pH 7.36, PaCO2 50, HCO3 30
D. pH 7.42, PaCO2 40, HCO3 24
Answer: C
Rationale: Compensated respiratory acidosis shows a pH in the normal range (7.35-7.45)
with an elevated PaCO2 and a high HCO3 indicating renal compensation.
8. When assessing a surgical wound, the nurse notes the protrusion of internal
organs through the incision. What is this called?
A. Dehiscence
B. Evisceration
C. Fistula
D. Adhesion
Answer: B
Rationale: Evisceration is the protrusion of internal organs through a wound or surgical
incision. Dehiscence is just the separation of wound edges.
