Page 1 of 18
Medical-Surgical Nursing Final Exam:
Key Concepts & Priorities Practice Q&A
2026 Guaranteed Pass
What is a Pulmonary Embolism (PE)? -VERIFIED ANSWERA blood
clot that travels to the lungs, blocking blood flow and causing hypoxia.
What are the components of Virchow's Triad? -VERIFIED
ANSWERStasis (immobility), Endothelial Injury (trauma/surgery),
Hypercoagulability (clotting disorders).
What is the gold standard for diagnosing a Pulmonary Embolism? -
VERIFIED ANSWERCT Pulmonary Angiography (CTPA).
What is the first-line treatment for Pulmonary Embolism? -VERIFIED
ANSWERAnticoagulation with Heparin, transitioning to warfarin or
DOACs.
What are classic signs and symptoms of a Pulmonary Embolism? -
VERIFIED ANSWERSudden dyspnea, tachycardia, pleuritic chest
pain, tachypnea, anxiety.
What is the antidote for Heparin? -VERIFIED ANSWERProtamine
Sulfate.
What is a tension pneumothorax? -VERIFIED ANSWERA condition
where air enters the pleural space and cannot escape, leading to
mediastinal shift and is an emergency.
What are the signs of a tension pneumothorax? -VERIFIED
ANSWERTracheal deviation away from the affected side, absent breath
sounds, hypotension, JVD.
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What is the treatment for a hemothorax? -VERIFIED ANSWERChest
tube insertion to drain blood and possible surgical intervention.
What are expected findings for oxygenation in normal ABG values? -
VERIFIED ANSWERpH: 7.35-7.45, PaCO2: 35-45 mmHg, HCO3:
22-26 mEq/L, PaO2: 80-100 mmHg, SaO2: 95-100%.
What causes respiratory alkalosis? -VERIFIED
ANSWERHyperventilation, such as in anxiety or pulmonary embolism.
What is Multiple Sclerosis (MS)? -VERIFIED ANSWERA
demyelinating autoimmune disease of the CNS where the immune
system attacks the myelin sheath.
What are common symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis? -VERIFIED
ANSWERWeakness, spasticity, ataxia, visual disturbances, fatigue, and
cognitive changes.
What is the gold standard for diagnosing Multiple Sclerosis? -
VERIFIED ANSWERMRI showing plaques of demyelination.
What are Disease-Modifying Therapies (DMTs) for MS? -VERIFIED
ANSWERInterferon beta and Glatiramer, which reduce relapse
frequency and slow progression.
What is the purpose of corticosteroids in MS treatment? -VERIFIED
ANSWERTo shorten the duration of acute relapses.
What is the Uhthoff phenomenon? -VERIFIED ANSWERWorsening
of MS symptoms with heat exposure.
What nursing priority should be taken for a patient with a Pulmonary
Embolism? -VERIFIED ANSWERAdminister high-flow oxygen and
position the patient upright.
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What is the expected tidaling in a chest tube? -VERIFIED
ANSWERWater rises with inhalation and falls with exhalation,
indicating the system is working.
What should be done if a chest tube dislodges? -VERIFIED
ANSWERCover the site with petroleum gauze, taped on three sides to
create a flutter valve effect.
What is the significance of continuous bubbling in the water seal of a
chest tube? -VERIFIED ANSWERIt indicates an air leak; check
connections.
What are the signs of hypovolemic shock in a hemothorax? -VERIFIED
ANSWERTachycardia, hypotension, and decreased breath sounds on
the affected side.
What is the nursing intervention for a patient with sudden dyspnea and
chest pain? -VERIFIED ANSWERApply oxygen first, then notify the
provider and prepare for anticoagulation.
What are the risk factors for developing a Pulmonary Embolism? -
VERIFIED ANSWERImmobility, trauma/surgery, clotting disorders,
pregnancy, and cancer.
What is the role of an IVC filter in PE management? -VERIFIED
ANSWERTo catch clots before they reach the lungs in patients who
cannot be anticoagulated.
What are the common medications used for spasticity in MS? -
VERIFIED ANSWERBaclofen and Tizanidine.
What is the expected respiratory rate for a healthy adult? -VERIFIED
ANSWER12-20 breaths per minute.
Medical-Surgical Nursing Final Exam:
Key Concepts & Priorities Practice Q&A
2026 Guaranteed Pass
What is a Pulmonary Embolism (PE)? -VERIFIED ANSWERA blood
clot that travels to the lungs, blocking blood flow and causing hypoxia.
What are the components of Virchow's Triad? -VERIFIED
ANSWERStasis (immobility), Endothelial Injury (trauma/surgery),
Hypercoagulability (clotting disorders).
What is the gold standard for diagnosing a Pulmonary Embolism? -
VERIFIED ANSWERCT Pulmonary Angiography (CTPA).
What is the first-line treatment for Pulmonary Embolism? -VERIFIED
ANSWERAnticoagulation with Heparin, transitioning to warfarin or
DOACs.
What are classic signs and symptoms of a Pulmonary Embolism? -
VERIFIED ANSWERSudden dyspnea, tachycardia, pleuritic chest
pain, tachypnea, anxiety.
What is the antidote for Heparin? -VERIFIED ANSWERProtamine
Sulfate.
What is a tension pneumothorax? -VERIFIED ANSWERA condition
where air enters the pleural space and cannot escape, leading to
mediastinal shift and is an emergency.
What are the signs of a tension pneumothorax? -VERIFIED
ANSWERTracheal deviation away from the affected side, absent breath
sounds, hypotension, JVD.
, Page 2 of 18
What is the treatment for a hemothorax? -VERIFIED ANSWERChest
tube insertion to drain blood and possible surgical intervention.
What are expected findings for oxygenation in normal ABG values? -
VERIFIED ANSWERpH: 7.35-7.45, PaCO2: 35-45 mmHg, HCO3:
22-26 mEq/L, PaO2: 80-100 mmHg, SaO2: 95-100%.
What causes respiratory alkalosis? -VERIFIED
ANSWERHyperventilation, such as in anxiety or pulmonary embolism.
What is Multiple Sclerosis (MS)? -VERIFIED ANSWERA
demyelinating autoimmune disease of the CNS where the immune
system attacks the myelin sheath.
What are common symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis? -VERIFIED
ANSWERWeakness, spasticity, ataxia, visual disturbances, fatigue, and
cognitive changes.
What is the gold standard for diagnosing Multiple Sclerosis? -
VERIFIED ANSWERMRI showing plaques of demyelination.
What are Disease-Modifying Therapies (DMTs) for MS? -VERIFIED
ANSWERInterferon beta and Glatiramer, which reduce relapse
frequency and slow progression.
What is the purpose of corticosteroids in MS treatment? -VERIFIED
ANSWERTo shorten the duration of acute relapses.
What is the Uhthoff phenomenon? -VERIFIED ANSWERWorsening
of MS symptoms with heat exposure.
What nursing priority should be taken for a patient with a Pulmonary
Embolism? -VERIFIED ANSWERAdminister high-flow oxygen and
position the patient upright.
, Page 3 of 18
What is the expected tidaling in a chest tube? -VERIFIED
ANSWERWater rises with inhalation and falls with exhalation,
indicating the system is working.
What should be done if a chest tube dislodges? -VERIFIED
ANSWERCover the site with petroleum gauze, taped on three sides to
create a flutter valve effect.
What is the significance of continuous bubbling in the water seal of a
chest tube? -VERIFIED ANSWERIt indicates an air leak; check
connections.
What are the signs of hypovolemic shock in a hemothorax? -VERIFIED
ANSWERTachycardia, hypotension, and decreased breath sounds on
the affected side.
What is the nursing intervention for a patient with sudden dyspnea and
chest pain? -VERIFIED ANSWERApply oxygen first, then notify the
provider and prepare for anticoagulation.
What are the risk factors for developing a Pulmonary Embolism? -
VERIFIED ANSWERImmobility, trauma/surgery, clotting disorders,
pregnancy, and cancer.
What is the role of an IVC filter in PE management? -VERIFIED
ANSWERTo catch clots before they reach the lungs in patients who
cannot be anticoagulated.
What are the common medications used for spasticity in MS? -
VERIFIED ANSWERBaclofen and Tizanidine.
What is the expected respiratory rate for a healthy adult? -VERIFIED
ANSWER12-20 breaths per minute.
