NURS 121L-B Medical-Surgical Nursing Practicum Week 9
Comprehensive Quiz 2026 |WCU
1. A nurse is caring for a patient who is 24 hours post-abdominal surgery. Which
of the following findings should the nurse identify as a priority to report to the
provider?
A. Occasional fine crackles at the lung bases
B. Pain level of 6 on a 10-point scale
C. Serosanguinous drainage on the dressing
D. Urine output of 20 mL/hr for the last 2 hours
Answer: D
Rationale: Urine output less than 30 mL/hr indicates poor renal perfusion and is a priority
finding that must be reported to the provider immediately.
2. Which of the following ECG changes is a classic sign of hyperkalemia?
A. ST-segment depression
B. Prolonged QT interval
C. Prominent U-waves
D. Tall, peaked T-waves
Answer: D
Rationale: Hyperkalemia causes repolarization abnormalities, most notably tall, peaked T-
waves. U-waves are associated with hypokalemia.
,3. A patient has just returned from surgery and the nurse notes the abdominal
wound has eviscerated. What is the immediate priority action?
A. Cover the wound with sterile gauze moistened with sterile normal saline
B. Push the protruding organs back into the abdominal cavity
C. Place the patient in a High-Fowler position
D. Assess the patient’s blood pressure and heart rate
Answer: A
Rationale: Evisceration is a medical emergency. The nurse should cover the exposed
organs with sterile, saline-soaked dressings to prevent drying and infection, then notify the
surgeon.
4. When assessing a patient with Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA), which respiratory
pattern does the nurse expect to observe?
A. Cheyne-Stokes respirations
B. Bradypnea
C. Apneustic breathing
D. Kussmaul respirations
Answer: D
Rationale: Kussmaul respirations are deep, rapid breaths that occur as the body attempts
to blow off excess CO2 to compensate for metabolic acidosis in DKA.
5. A patient receiving a heparin infusion has an Activated Partial
Thromboplastin Time (aPTT) of 120 seconds. What medication should the nurse
anticipate administering?
A. Vitamin K
B. Enoxaparin
C. Protamine sulfate
D. Aminocaproic acid
Answer: C
, Rationale: Protamine sulfate is the specific antidote used to reverse the effects of heparin.
Vitamin K is the antidote for Warfarin.
6. Which laboratory value is the most specific indicator of myocardial infarction
(MI) damage?
A. Creatine kinase (CK-MB)
B. Myoglobin
C. C-reactive protein
D. Troponin I
Answer: D
Rationale: Troponins are proteins released only when cardiac muscle dies. Troponin I is
highly specific to cardiac tissue and stays elevated longer than CK-MB.
7. A patient with heart failure is prescribed Digoxin. Which of the following signs
should indicate to the nurse that the patient is experiencing digoxin toxicity?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Visual disturbances such as yellow halos
C. Increased appetite
D. Tachycardia
Answer: B
Rationale: Classic signs of digoxin toxicity include gastrointestinal upset
(nausea/vomiting) and visual changes, particularly yellow-green halos or blurred vision.
8. A nurse is teaching a patient with COPD about oxygen therapy. Why is it
important to maintain oxygen flow at a low rate (usually 1-2 L/min)?
A. To prevent oxygen toxicity to the retinas
B. High flow rates increase the risk of spontaneous pneumothorax
C. High flow rates can suppress the patient’s hypoxic drive to breathe
D. To minimize the drying effect on the nasal mucosa
Answer: C
Comprehensive Quiz 2026 |WCU
1. A nurse is caring for a patient who is 24 hours post-abdominal surgery. Which
of the following findings should the nurse identify as a priority to report to the
provider?
A. Occasional fine crackles at the lung bases
B. Pain level of 6 on a 10-point scale
C. Serosanguinous drainage on the dressing
D. Urine output of 20 mL/hr for the last 2 hours
Answer: D
Rationale: Urine output less than 30 mL/hr indicates poor renal perfusion and is a priority
finding that must be reported to the provider immediately.
2. Which of the following ECG changes is a classic sign of hyperkalemia?
A. ST-segment depression
B. Prolonged QT interval
C. Prominent U-waves
D. Tall, peaked T-waves
Answer: D
Rationale: Hyperkalemia causes repolarization abnormalities, most notably tall, peaked T-
waves. U-waves are associated with hypokalemia.
,3. A patient has just returned from surgery and the nurse notes the abdominal
wound has eviscerated. What is the immediate priority action?
A. Cover the wound with sterile gauze moistened with sterile normal saline
B. Push the protruding organs back into the abdominal cavity
C. Place the patient in a High-Fowler position
D. Assess the patient’s blood pressure and heart rate
Answer: A
Rationale: Evisceration is a medical emergency. The nurse should cover the exposed
organs with sterile, saline-soaked dressings to prevent drying and infection, then notify the
surgeon.
4. When assessing a patient with Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA), which respiratory
pattern does the nurse expect to observe?
A. Cheyne-Stokes respirations
B. Bradypnea
C. Apneustic breathing
D. Kussmaul respirations
Answer: D
Rationale: Kussmaul respirations are deep, rapid breaths that occur as the body attempts
to blow off excess CO2 to compensate for metabolic acidosis in DKA.
5. A patient receiving a heparin infusion has an Activated Partial
Thromboplastin Time (aPTT) of 120 seconds. What medication should the nurse
anticipate administering?
A. Vitamin K
B. Enoxaparin
C. Protamine sulfate
D. Aminocaproic acid
Answer: C
, Rationale: Protamine sulfate is the specific antidote used to reverse the effects of heparin.
Vitamin K is the antidote for Warfarin.
6. Which laboratory value is the most specific indicator of myocardial infarction
(MI) damage?
A. Creatine kinase (CK-MB)
B. Myoglobin
C. C-reactive protein
D. Troponin I
Answer: D
Rationale: Troponins are proteins released only when cardiac muscle dies. Troponin I is
highly specific to cardiac tissue and stays elevated longer than CK-MB.
7. A patient with heart failure is prescribed Digoxin. Which of the following signs
should indicate to the nurse that the patient is experiencing digoxin toxicity?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Visual disturbances such as yellow halos
C. Increased appetite
D. Tachycardia
Answer: B
Rationale: Classic signs of digoxin toxicity include gastrointestinal upset
(nausea/vomiting) and visual changes, particularly yellow-green halos or blurred vision.
8. A nurse is teaching a patient with COPD about oxygen therapy. Why is it
important to maintain oxygen flow at a low rate (usually 1-2 L/min)?
A. To prevent oxygen toxicity to the retinas
B. High flow rates increase the risk of spontaneous pneumothorax
C. High flow rates can suppress the patient’s hypoxic drive to breathe
D. To minimize the drying effect on the nasal mucosa
Answer: C
