Medical-Surgical Nursing III EXAM 3 LATEST
2024/2025 EXAM QUESTION ANSWER GRADED A+
WITH RATIONALE
1. The nurse assesses a patient who has numerous petechiae on both arms. Which
question would the nurse ask the patient?
a. "Are you taking any oral contraceptives?"
b. "Have you been prescribed antiseizure drugs?"
c. "Do you take medication containing salicylates?"
d. "How long have you taken antihypertensive drugs?"
c. "Do you take medication containing salicylates?"
A nurse reviews the laboratory data for an older adult. Which finding would be of the
most concern to the nurse?
a. Hematocrit of 35%
b. Hemoglobin of 11.8 g/dL
c. Platelet count of 410,000/L
d. White blood cell count of 2800/L
d. White blood cell count of 2800/L
Rationales: Because the total white blood cell (WBC) count is not usually affected by
aging, the low WBC count in this patient would indicate that the patient's immune
function may be compromised, and the underlying cause of the problem needs to be
investigated. The platelet count is just over the high end of normal. The slight decrease in
hemoglobin and hematocrit are not unusual for an older patient.
A patient with pancytopenia will have a bone marrow aspiration from the left posterior
iliac crest. Which action would the nurse take after the procedure?
a. Elevate the head of the bed to 45 degrees.
b. Apply a sterile pressure dressing to the site.
c. Use a 1⁄2-in sterile gauze to pack the wound.
d. Have the patient lie in prone position for 1 hour.
,b. Apply a sterile pressure dressing to the site.
Rationale: A pressure dressing is used to cover the aspiration site and decrease the risk for
bleeding. After a bone marrow biopsy, the wound is small and will not be packed with
gauze. There is no indication to elevate the patient's head or have the patient lie prone,
however, if bleeding is present, have the patient lie supine for 30 to 60 minutes to keep
pressure on the site.
The nurse assesses a patient who has pernicious anemia. Which finding would the nurse
expect?
a. Report of bone pain
b. Yellow-tinged sclerae
c. Tender, bleeding gums
d. Numbness of extremities
d. Numbness of extremities
A patient's complete blood count (CBC) shows a hemoglobin of 19 g/dL and a hematocrit
of 54%. Which question would the nurse ask to determine possible causes of this finding?
a. "Have you had a recent weight loss?"
b. "Do you have a history of lung disease?"
c. "What is your dietary intake of protein?"
d. "Have you noticed any dark or bloody stools?"
b. "Do you have a history of lung disease?"
The nurse is reviewing laboratory results and notes a patient's activated partial
thromboplastin time (aPTT) level is 28 seconds. The nurse would notify the health care
provider in anticipation of adjusting which medication?
a. Aspirin
b. Heparin
,c. Warfarin
d. Erythropoietin
b. Heparin
The nurse notes pallor of the skin and nail beds in a newly admitted patient. The nurse
would plan to review which laboratory test result?
a. Platelet count
b. Neutrophil count
c. Hemoglobin level
d. White blood cell count
c. Hemoglobin level
The nurse examines the lymph nodes of a patient during a physical assessment. Which
finding would be of most concern to the nurse?
a. A 2-cm nontender supraclavicular node
b. A 1-cm mobile and nontender axillary node
c. An inability to palpate any superficial lymph nodes
d. Firm inguinal nodes in a patient with an infected foot
a. A 2-cm nontender supraclavicular node
A patient who had a total hip replacement had an intraoperative hemorrhage 14 hours
ago. Which laboratory test result would the nurse expect?
a. Hematocrit of 46%
b. Hemoglobin of 13.8 g/dL
c. Elevated reticulocyte count
d. Decreased white blood cell count
c. Elevated reticulocyte count
, The complete blood count (CBC) indicates that a patient is thrombocytopenic. Which
action would the nurse include in the plan of care?
a. Avoid intramuscular injections.
b. Encourage increased oral fluids.
c. Check temperature every 4 hours.
d. Increase intake of iron-rich foods.
a. Avoid intramuscular injections.
The health care provider's progress note for a patient states that the complete blood
count (CBC) shows increased polymorphonuclear neutrophils (bands). Which assessment
finding would the nurse expect?
a. Cool extremities
b. Pallor and weakness
c. Elevated temperature
d. Low oxygen saturation
c. Elevated temperature
The health care provider orders a liver and spleen ultrasound scan for a patient who has
been in a motor vehicle crash. Which action would the nurse take to prepare the patient
for this procedure?
a. Insert a urinary catheter.
b. Check for an iodine allergy.
c. Administer prescribed sedatives.
d. Assist the patient to a flat position.
d. Assist the patient to a flat position
The nurse is preparing a patient with pancytopenia of unknown origin for diagnostic tests.
Which test will require a signed consent form?
a. Bone marrow biopsy
2024/2025 EXAM QUESTION ANSWER GRADED A+
WITH RATIONALE
1. The nurse assesses a patient who has numerous petechiae on both arms. Which
question would the nurse ask the patient?
a. "Are you taking any oral contraceptives?"
b. "Have you been prescribed antiseizure drugs?"
c. "Do you take medication containing salicylates?"
d. "How long have you taken antihypertensive drugs?"
c. "Do you take medication containing salicylates?"
A nurse reviews the laboratory data for an older adult. Which finding would be of the
most concern to the nurse?
a. Hematocrit of 35%
b. Hemoglobin of 11.8 g/dL
c. Platelet count of 410,000/L
d. White blood cell count of 2800/L
d. White blood cell count of 2800/L
Rationales: Because the total white blood cell (WBC) count is not usually affected by
aging, the low WBC count in this patient would indicate that the patient's immune
function may be compromised, and the underlying cause of the problem needs to be
investigated. The platelet count is just over the high end of normal. The slight decrease in
hemoglobin and hematocrit are not unusual for an older patient.
A patient with pancytopenia will have a bone marrow aspiration from the left posterior
iliac crest. Which action would the nurse take after the procedure?
a. Elevate the head of the bed to 45 degrees.
b. Apply a sterile pressure dressing to the site.
c. Use a 1⁄2-in sterile gauze to pack the wound.
d. Have the patient lie in prone position for 1 hour.
,b. Apply a sterile pressure dressing to the site.
Rationale: A pressure dressing is used to cover the aspiration site and decrease the risk for
bleeding. After a bone marrow biopsy, the wound is small and will not be packed with
gauze. There is no indication to elevate the patient's head or have the patient lie prone,
however, if bleeding is present, have the patient lie supine for 30 to 60 minutes to keep
pressure on the site.
The nurse assesses a patient who has pernicious anemia. Which finding would the nurse
expect?
a. Report of bone pain
b. Yellow-tinged sclerae
c. Tender, bleeding gums
d. Numbness of extremities
d. Numbness of extremities
A patient's complete blood count (CBC) shows a hemoglobin of 19 g/dL and a hematocrit
of 54%. Which question would the nurse ask to determine possible causes of this finding?
a. "Have you had a recent weight loss?"
b. "Do you have a history of lung disease?"
c. "What is your dietary intake of protein?"
d. "Have you noticed any dark or bloody stools?"
b. "Do you have a history of lung disease?"
The nurse is reviewing laboratory results and notes a patient's activated partial
thromboplastin time (aPTT) level is 28 seconds. The nurse would notify the health care
provider in anticipation of adjusting which medication?
a. Aspirin
b. Heparin
,c. Warfarin
d. Erythropoietin
b. Heparin
The nurse notes pallor of the skin and nail beds in a newly admitted patient. The nurse
would plan to review which laboratory test result?
a. Platelet count
b. Neutrophil count
c. Hemoglobin level
d. White blood cell count
c. Hemoglobin level
The nurse examines the lymph nodes of a patient during a physical assessment. Which
finding would be of most concern to the nurse?
a. A 2-cm nontender supraclavicular node
b. A 1-cm mobile and nontender axillary node
c. An inability to palpate any superficial lymph nodes
d. Firm inguinal nodes in a patient with an infected foot
a. A 2-cm nontender supraclavicular node
A patient who had a total hip replacement had an intraoperative hemorrhage 14 hours
ago. Which laboratory test result would the nurse expect?
a. Hematocrit of 46%
b. Hemoglobin of 13.8 g/dL
c. Elevated reticulocyte count
d. Decreased white blood cell count
c. Elevated reticulocyte count
, The complete blood count (CBC) indicates that a patient is thrombocytopenic. Which
action would the nurse include in the plan of care?
a. Avoid intramuscular injections.
b. Encourage increased oral fluids.
c. Check temperature every 4 hours.
d. Increase intake of iron-rich foods.
a. Avoid intramuscular injections.
The health care provider's progress note for a patient states that the complete blood
count (CBC) shows increased polymorphonuclear neutrophils (bands). Which assessment
finding would the nurse expect?
a. Cool extremities
b. Pallor and weakness
c. Elevated temperature
d. Low oxygen saturation
c. Elevated temperature
The health care provider orders a liver and spleen ultrasound scan for a patient who has
been in a motor vehicle crash. Which action would the nurse take to prepare the patient
for this procedure?
a. Insert a urinary catheter.
b. Check for an iodine allergy.
c. Administer prescribed sedatives.
d. Assist the patient to a flat position.
d. Assist the patient to a flat position
The nurse is preparing a patient with pancytopenia of unknown origin for diagnostic tests.
Which test will require a signed consent form?
a. Bone marrow biopsy
