NURS 120 Week 7 Introduction to Medical-Surgical Nursing Quiz 2026
– WCU
1. A patient is admitted with symptoms of fluid volume excess. Which clinical
manifestation should the nurse expect to find?
A. Tachycardia and flat neck veins
B. Crackles in the lungs and distended neck veins
C. Dry mucous membranes and tenting skin
D. Increased hematocrit and BUN levels
Answer: B
Rationale: Fluid volume excess typically presents with symptoms such as crackles in the
lungs due to pulmonary edema and jugular vein distention (distended neck veins) from
increased venous pressure.
2. Which electrolyte imbalance is most commonly associated with a positive
Chvostek’s sign?
A. Hypocalcemia
B. Hyponatremia
C. Hyperkalemia
D. Hypomagnesemia
Answer: A
Rationale: A positive Chvostek’s sign (facial twitching when the facial nerve is tapped) is a
clinical indicator of hypocalcemia, indicating neuromuscular irritability.
,3. In the preoperative phase, whose primary responsibility is it to obtain
informed consent for surgery?
A. The scrub nurse
B. The circulating nurse
C. The anesthesiologist
D. The surgeon
Answer: D
Rationale: The surgeon is legally responsible for explaining the procedure, risks, and
benefits to the patient. The nurse’s role is typically to witness the signature.
4. A postoperative patient is experiencing a sudden drop in blood pressure and
an increase in heart rate. What should be the nurse’s first action?
A. Administer pain medication
B. Assess the surgical site for bleeding
C. Place the patient in Trendelenburg position
D. Increase the IV fluid rate according to protocol
Answer: B
Rationale: Hypotension and tachycardia are signs of shock or hemorrhage. The nurse must
first assess the patient for active bleeding to determine the cause before intervention.
5. Which laboratory value is the most accurate indicator of a patient’s long-term
glucose control?
A. Fasting blood glucose
B. Hemoglobin A1c
C. Postprandial glucose level
D. Oral glucose tolerance test
Answer: B
Rationale: Hemoglobin A1c measures the average blood glucose over the past 2 to 3
months, making it the best indicator for long-term control.
, 6. A patient with COPD is receiving oxygen therapy. Why is it important to avoid
high concentrations of oxygen in this patient population?
A. It may cause oxygen toxicity in the brain
B. It will cause excessive drying of the mucosa
C. It may suppress the patient’s drive to breathe
D. It increases the risk of pneumothorax
Answer: C
Rationale: In some COPD patients, the respiratory drive is triggered by low oxygen levels
(hypoxic drive) rather than high CO2 levels. Providing too much oxygen can decrease their
stimulus to breathe.
7. What is the priority assessment for a patient in the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit
(PACU)?
A. Pain level
B. Airway patency
C. Urine output
D. Surgical dressing status
Answer: B
Rationale: Airway, Breathing, and Circulation (ABCs) are always the priority. Maintaining
a patent airway is the most critical immediate concern following anesthesia.
8. A nurse is caring for a patient with a potassium level of 6.2 mEq/L. Which
cardiac change should the nurse monitor for on the EKG?
A. Tall, peaked T waves
B. ST-segment depression
C. U waves
D. Prolonged QT interval
Answer: A
– WCU
1. A patient is admitted with symptoms of fluid volume excess. Which clinical
manifestation should the nurse expect to find?
A. Tachycardia and flat neck veins
B. Crackles in the lungs and distended neck veins
C. Dry mucous membranes and tenting skin
D. Increased hematocrit and BUN levels
Answer: B
Rationale: Fluid volume excess typically presents with symptoms such as crackles in the
lungs due to pulmonary edema and jugular vein distention (distended neck veins) from
increased venous pressure.
2. Which electrolyte imbalance is most commonly associated with a positive
Chvostek’s sign?
A. Hypocalcemia
B. Hyponatremia
C. Hyperkalemia
D. Hypomagnesemia
Answer: A
Rationale: A positive Chvostek’s sign (facial twitching when the facial nerve is tapped) is a
clinical indicator of hypocalcemia, indicating neuromuscular irritability.
,3. In the preoperative phase, whose primary responsibility is it to obtain
informed consent for surgery?
A. The scrub nurse
B. The circulating nurse
C. The anesthesiologist
D. The surgeon
Answer: D
Rationale: The surgeon is legally responsible for explaining the procedure, risks, and
benefits to the patient. The nurse’s role is typically to witness the signature.
4. A postoperative patient is experiencing a sudden drop in blood pressure and
an increase in heart rate. What should be the nurse’s first action?
A. Administer pain medication
B. Assess the surgical site for bleeding
C. Place the patient in Trendelenburg position
D. Increase the IV fluid rate according to protocol
Answer: B
Rationale: Hypotension and tachycardia are signs of shock or hemorrhage. The nurse must
first assess the patient for active bleeding to determine the cause before intervention.
5. Which laboratory value is the most accurate indicator of a patient’s long-term
glucose control?
A. Fasting blood glucose
B. Hemoglobin A1c
C. Postprandial glucose level
D. Oral glucose tolerance test
Answer: B
Rationale: Hemoglobin A1c measures the average blood glucose over the past 2 to 3
months, making it the best indicator for long-term control.
, 6. A patient with COPD is receiving oxygen therapy. Why is it important to avoid
high concentrations of oxygen in this patient population?
A. It may cause oxygen toxicity in the brain
B. It will cause excessive drying of the mucosa
C. It may suppress the patient’s drive to breathe
D. It increases the risk of pneumothorax
Answer: C
Rationale: In some COPD patients, the respiratory drive is triggered by low oxygen levels
(hypoxic drive) rather than high CO2 levels. Providing too much oxygen can decrease their
stimulus to breathe.
7. What is the priority assessment for a patient in the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit
(PACU)?
A. Pain level
B. Airway patency
C. Urine output
D. Surgical dressing status
Answer: B
Rationale: Airway, Breathing, and Circulation (ABCs) are always the priority. Maintaining
a patent airway is the most critical immediate concern following anesthesia.
8. A nurse is caring for a patient with a potassium level of 6.2 mEq/L. Which
cardiac change should the nurse monitor for on the EKG?
A. Tall, peaked T waves
B. ST-segment depression
C. U waves
D. Prolonged QT interval
Answer: A
