Cotc NURS-117 Exam 1 Questions with Correct Answers (Grade A+)
Question 1: What is the difference between IV push (IVP) and IV piggyback (IVPB) medication
administration?
Answer: IV push (IVP) medications are administered directly into the bloodstream over a short time, while
IV piggyback (IVPB) medications are diluted in a small IV bag and infused over a longer period through a
secondary line.
Question 2: Why must the nurse check IV site patency berbre administering an IVP medication?
Answer: The nurse checks IV patency to ensure the catheter is in the vein and Functioning properly so the
medication does not infiltrate into surrounding tissue.
Question 3: What is the primary safety concern when administering IVP medications too quickly?
Answer: Administering IVP medications too quickly can cause severe adverse effects such as hypotension,
respiratory depression, cardiac dysrhythmias, or toxicity.
Question 4: A nurse is administering an IVPB antibiotic. What should the nurse assess first before
starting the infusion?
Answer: The nurse should first assess the IV site for patency and signs of infiltration or phlebitis before
starting the IVPB infusion.
Question 5: Why are IVPB medications often connected to a primary IV line?
Answer: IVPB medications are connected to a primary IV line so the medication can infuse safely using the
existing venous access and flush completely into the patient afterward.
Question 6: What assessment findings may indicate IV infiltration during an IV infusion?
Answer: Findings of infiltration include swelling, coolness, pallor, pain, leaking at the site, and slowed
infusion rate.
Question 7: What is the normal serum sodium range?
Answer: The normal serum sodium range is 135-145 mEq/L.
Question 8: What neurological symptoms may occur in severe hyponatremia?
Answer: Severe hyponatremia can cause headache, confusion, lethargy, seizures, decreased level of
consciousness, and coma.
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, Question 9: Why should sodium levels be corrected slowly in a patient with chronic hyponatremia?
Answer: Sodium must be corrected slowly to prevent osmotic demyelination syndrome, which can cause
permanent neurological damage.
Question 10: What are common causes of hypernatremia in hospitalized patients?
Answer: Common causes of Hypernatremia include dehydration, inadequate water intake, excessive fluid
loss, fever, diarrhea, diabetes insipidus, and tube feedings without enough free water.
Question 11: A patient with hypernatremia is extremely thirsty and restless. What does this indicate
about fluid balance?
Answer: This indicates a fluid volume deficit/dehydration, meaning the body has too little water relative to
sodium levels.
Question 12: What is a cataract, and how does it affect vision?
Answer: A cataract is a clouding of the eye's lens that causes blurry vision, glare sensitivity, faded colors,
and decreased visual acuity.
Question 13: A patient prescribed glaucoma eye drops asks how to administer them correctly. What
teaching should the nurse provide about applying the drops safely and preventing contamination?
Answer: The nurse should teach the patient to wash hands first, avoid touching the dropper tip to the eye,
pull down the lower eyelid to create a conjunctival sac, instill the drop, close the eye gently, and apply
pressure to the inner canthus for 1-2 minutes to reduce systemic absorption. using multiple eye drops, wait
at least 5 minutes between medications.
Question 14: What is glaucoma, and why can it lead to blindness if untreated?
Answer: Glaucoma is a group of eye disorders that damage the optic nerve, usually from increased
intraocular pressure. If untreated, it can cause permanent vision loss and blindness.
Question 15: A patient with acute angle-closure glaucoma reports severe eye pain and halos around
lights. What is the nurse's priority action?
Answer: The nurse's priority action is to treat this as an emergency by notifying the provider immediately
and preparing the patient for rapid reduction of lintraocular pressure to prevent permanent vision loss.
Question 16: What is the underlying pathophysiology of multiple sclerosis (MS)?
Answer: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks the myelin
sheath covering nerve fibers in the central nervous system, disrupting nerve transmission.
Page 2
Question 1: What is the difference between IV push (IVP) and IV piggyback (IVPB) medication
administration?
Answer: IV push (IVP) medications are administered directly into the bloodstream over a short time, while
IV piggyback (IVPB) medications are diluted in a small IV bag and infused over a longer period through a
secondary line.
Question 2: Why must the nurse check IV site patency berbre administering an IVP medication?
Answer: The nurse checks IV patency to ensure the catheter is in the vein and Functioning properly so the
medication does not infiltrate into surrounding tissue.
Question 3: What is the primary safety concern when administering IVP medications too quickly?
Answer: Administering IVP medications too quickly can cause severe adverse effects such as hypotension,
respiratory depression, cardiac dysrhythmias, or toxicity.
Question 4: A nurse is administering an IVPB antibiotic. What should the nurse assess first before
starting the infusion?
Answer: The nurse should first assess the IV site for patency and signs of infiltration or phlebitis before
starting the IVPB infusion.
Question 5: Why are IVPB medications often connected to a primary IV line?
Answer: IVPB medications are connected to a primary IV line so the medication can infuse safely using the
existing venous access and flush completely into the patient afterward.
Question 6: What assessment findings may indicate IV infiltration during an IV infusion?
Answer: Findings of infiltration include swelling, coolness, pallor, pain, leaking at the site, and slowed
infusion rate.
Question 7: What is the normal serum sodium range?
Answer: The normal serum sodium range is 135-145 mEq/L.
Question 8: What neurological symptoms may occur in severe hyponatremia?
Answer: Severe hyponatremia can cause headache, confusion, lethargy, seizures, decreased level of
consciousness, and coma.
Page 1
, Question 9: Why should sodium levels be corrected slowly in a patient with chronic hyponatremia?
Answer: Sodium must be corrected slowly to prevent osmotic demyelination syndrome, which can cause
permanent neurological damage.
Question 10: What are common causes of hypernatremia in hospitalized patients?
Answer: Common causes of Hypernatremia include dehydration, inadequate water intake, excessive fluid
loss, fever, diarrhea, diabetes insipidus, and tube feedings without enough free water.
Question 11: A patient with hypernatremia is extremely thirsty and restless. What does this indicate
about fluid balance?
Answer: This indicates a fluid volume deficit/dehydration, meaning the body has too little water relative to
sodium levels.
Question 12: What is a cataract, and how does it affect vision?
Answer: A cataract is a clouding of the eye's lens that causes blurry vision, glare sensitivity, faded colors,
and decreased visual acuity.
Question 13: A patient prescribed glaucoma eye drops asks how to administer them correctly. What
teaching should the nurse provide about applying the drops safely and preventing contamination?
Answer: The nurse should teach the patient to wash hands first, avoid touching the dropper tip to the eye,
pull down the lower eyelid to create a conjunctival sac, instill the drop, close the eye gently, and apply
pressure to the inner canthus for 1-2 minutes to reduce systemic absorption. using multiple eye drops, wait
at least 5 minutes between medications.
Question 14: What is glaucoma, and why can it lead to blindness if untreated?
Answer: Glaucoma is a group of eye disorders that damage the optic nerve, usually from increased
intraocular pressure. If untreated, it can cause permanent vision loss and blindness.
Question 15: A patient with acute angle-closure glaucoma reports severe eye pain and halos around
lights. What is the nurse's priority action?
Answer: The nurse's priority action is to treat this as an emergency by notifying the provider immediately
and preparing the patient for rapid reduction of lintraocular pressure to prevent permanent vision loss.
Question 16: What is the underlying pathophysiology of multiple sclerosis (MS)?
Answer: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks the myelin
sheath covering nerve fibers in the central nervous system, disrupting nerve transmission.
Page 2
