Introduction to Medical-Surgical Nursing Practicum - Week 14 Quiz
2026 |WCU
1. A nurse is caring for a patient who is 6 hours postoperative. Which of the
following findings is the priority to report to the provider?
A. Report of incisional pain rated 6 on a 1-10 scale
B. Urinary output of 20 mL/hr over the last two hours
C. Serosanguineous drainage on the surgical dressing
D. Body temperature of 37.2°C (99.0°F)
Answer: B
Rationale: Urinary output less than 30 mL/hr can indicate dehydration, hypovolemia, or
renal failure and requires immediate intervention. Pain and serosanguineous drainage are
expected findings, and the temperature is within normal limits.
2. During a surgical procedure, the patient develops a heart rate of 130 bpm and
a rapidly rising core temperature. Which medication should the nurse expect to
be administered?
A. Epinephrine
B. Atropine
C. Dantrolene sodium
D. Digoxin
Answer: C
Rationale: Malignant hyperthermia is a surgical emergency characterized by tachycardia
and hyperthermia. Dantrolene sodium is the specific skeletal muscle relaxant used to treat
it.
,3. A nurse is monitoring a client for signs of hypovolemic shock. Which of the
following is an early clinical manifestation?
A. Bradycardia
B. Decreased respiratory rate
C. Increased heart rate
D. Peripheral edema
Answer: C
Rationale: The body compensates for decreased blood volume by increasing the heart rate
(tachycardia) to maintain cardiac output.
4. A client is scheduled for an elective surgery. Who is legally responsible for
obtaining informed consent?
A. The circulating nurse
B. The anesthesiologist
C. The surgeon
D. The charge nurse
Answer: C
Rationale: The surgeon is responsible for explaining the procedure, risks, and benefits.
The nurse’s role is to witness the signature and verify the patient’s understanding.
5. Which of the following nursing actions is most effective in preventing
postoperative atelectasis?
A. Encouraging the use of an incentive spirometer every hour while awake
B. Ensuring the patient remains on bed rest for 48 hours
C. Administering prophylactic antibiotics
D. Restricting fluid intake to 1000 mL per day
Answer: A
Rationale: Incentive spirometry promotes deep breathing and lung expansion, which
prevents alveolar collapse (atelectasis). Early ambulation and hydration also help.
, 6. A nurse is assessing a surgical wound and notices the protrusion of internal
organs through the incision. Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Notify the surgeon immediately
B. Reinsert the organs gently into the abdominal cavity
C. Position the client with knees flexed in a low-Fowler’s position
D. Cover the wound with a sterile dressing moistened with normal saline
Answer: D
Rationale: Evisceration is a medical emergency. The first priority is to protect the exposed
organs by covering them with a sterile, saline-moistened dressing to prevent drying and
infection.
7. A patient has a serum potassium level of 6.2 mEq/L. Which of the following
EKG changes should the nurse expect to see?
A. Shortened PR interval
B. Flattened T waves
C. Prominent U waves
D. Tall, peaked T waves
Answer: D
Rationale: Hyperkalemia (potassium > 5.0 mEq/L) typically causes tall, peaked T waves
and widening of the QRS complex.
8. A nurse is preparing to administer 0.9% Normal Saline at 125 mL/hr. The drop
factor is 15 gtt/mL. How many drops per minute should the nurse set?
A. 25 gtt/min
B. 42 gtt/min
C. 31 gtt/min
D. 15 gtt/min
Answer: C
Rationale: (125 mL / 60 min) x 15 gtt/mL = 31.25, which rounds to 31 gtt/min.
2026 |WCU
1. A nurse is caring for a patient who is 6 hours postoperative. Which of the
following findings is the priority to report to the provider?
A. Report of incisional pain rated 6 on a 1-10 scale
B. Urinary output of 20 mL/hr over the last two hours
C. Serosanguineous drainage on the surgical dressing
D. Body temperature of 37.2°C (99.0°F)
Answer: B
Rationale: Urinary output less than 30 mL/hr can indicate dehydration, hypovolemia, or
renal failure and requires immediate intervention. Pain and serosanguineous drainage are
expected findings, and the temperature is within normal limits.
2. During a surgical procedure, the patient develops a heart rate of 130 bpm and
a rapidly rising core temperature. Which medication should the nurse expect to
be administered?
A. Epinephrine
B. Atropine
C. Dantrolene sodium
D. Digoxin
Answer: C
Rationale: Malignant hyperthermia is a surgical emergency characterized by tachycardia
and hyperthermia. Dantrolene sodium is the specific skeletal muscle relaxant used to treat
it.
,3. A nurse is monitoring a client for signs of hypovolemic shock. Which of the
following is an early clinical manifestation?
A. Bradycardia
B. Decreased respiratory rate
C. Increased heart rate
D. Peripheral edema
Answer: C
Rationale: The body compensates for decreased blood volume by increasing the heart rate
(tachycardia) to maintain cardiac output.
4. A client is scheduled for an elective surgery. Who is legally responsible for
obtaining informed consent?
A. The circulating nurse
B. The anesthesiologist
C. The surgeon
D. The charge nurse
Answer: C
Rationale: The surgeon is responsible for explaining the procedure, risks, and benefits.
The nurse’s role is to witness the signature and verify the patient’s understanding.
5. Which of the following nursing actions is most effective in preventing
postoperative atelectasis?
A. Encouraging the use of an incentive spirometer every hour while awake
B. Ensuring the patient remains on bed rest for 48 hours
C. Administering prophylactic antibiotics
D. Restricting fluid intake to 1000 mL per day
Answer: A
Rationale: Incentive spirometry promotes deep breathing and lung expansion, which
prevents alveolar collapse (atelectasis). Early ambulation and hydration also help.
, 6. A nurse is assessing a surgical wound and notices the protrusion of internal
organs through the incision. Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Notify the surgeon immediately
B. Reinsert the organs gently into the abdominal cavity
C. Position the client with knees flexed in a low-Fowler’s position
D. Cover the wound with a sterile dressing moistened with normal saline
Answer: D
Rationale: Evisceration is a medical emergency. The first priority is to protect the exposed
organs by covering them with a sterile, saline-moistened dressing to prevent drying and
infection.
7. A patient has a serum potassium level of 6.2 mEq/L. Which of the following
EKG changes should the nurse expect to see?
A. Shortened PR interval
B. Flattened T waves
C. Prominent U waves
D. Tall, peaked T waves
Answer: D
Rationale: Hyperkalemia (potassium > 5.0 mEq/L) typically causes tall, peaked T waves
and widening of the QRS complex.
8. A nurse is preparing to administer 0.9% Normal Saline at 125 mL/hr. The drop
factor is 15 gtt/mL. How many drops per minute should the nurse set?
A. 25 gtt/min
B. 42 gtt/min
C. 31 gtt/min
D. 15 gtt/min
Answer: C
Rationale: (125 mL / 60 min) x 15 gtt/mL = 31.25, which rounds to 31 gtt/min.
