Med-Surg 1 Final Exam Version 1&2 questions
And Answers with Complete Solutions 100%
UPDATED 2025
Med-Surg 1 Final Exam Version 1
1. Where is the best place to begin to select a vein for an initial intravenous
(IV) site in a left-handed patient?
Right forearm
Antecubital vein of the left arm
Left forearm
Antecubital vein of the right arm
Ans... Right Forearm
RATIONALE Unless other reasons are identified, IV sites should be started in the
most distal portion of the nondominant arm or hand.
2. A nurse assesses an area where an intravenous (IV) line had been recently
removed. The area has redness, swelling, and warmth. What should the nurse
suspect as the cause?
Blood loss and hemorrhage
Embolus from the former catheter
Inflammation and possible phlebitis
,Infiltration and air embolus
Ans... Inflammation and possible phlebitis
RATIONALE IV sites may show signs of inflammation or infection or both after an
IV line has been removed.
3. The K+ laboratory report shows a level of 5.2 mEq/L. What is the most
important assessment for the nurse to make?
Excessive thirst
Frightening hallucinations
Irregular heartbeat
Swelling of ankles
Ans... Irregular heartbeat
RATIONALE Arrhythmias can be triggered by hyperkalemia.
4. A small child is hospitalized with severe metabolic acidosis after ingesting
a whole bottle of baby aspirin approximately 8 hours earlier. In addition to
providing reassurance to the patient, which nursing action is the most appro-
priate?
Inducing vomiting
Frequently assessing the mental and neurologic status
Taking daily weights and vital signs
Ans... Frequently assessing the mental and neu- rologic status
,RATIONALE The baby aspirin was ingested too long ago to have vomiting or stom-
ach aspiration be of any use. The child requires frequent assessment of neurologic
function because the child may need mechanical ventilation.
5. When the water absorption in the renal tubules becomes greater than
normal, what assessment finding should a nurse anticipate?
Less concentrated urine
More concentrated urine
Less alkaline urine
More alkaline urine
Ans... More concentrated urine
RATIONALE When more water is kept back in the body, the water left to form urine
is less; therefore, the urine is more concentrated.
6. A patient has renal damage because of diabetes. What is the highest risk for
this patient?
Hypokalemia
Hypercalcemia
Hyperkalemia Hypocalcemia
Ans... Hyperkalemia
RATIONALE When the renal system cannot rid the body of enough K+, this elec-
trolyte builds up and a condition called hyperkalemia develops.
7. A nurse understands that fluid balance is mainly monitored in the body by
which two systems?
Respiratory and circulatory
Renal and gastrointestinal
Circulatory and renal
Hepatic and lymphatic Ans... Circulatory and renal
, RATIONALE Ans... The monitoring of basic fluid balance in the body is performed b
the renal and circulatory systems.
8. What is usually associated with hyperchloremia?
Respiratory acidosis
Respiratory alkalosis
Metabolic acidosis
And Answers with Complete Solutions 100%
UPDATED 2025
Med-Surg 1 Final Exam Version 1
1. Where is the best place to begin to select a vein for an initial intravenous
(IV) site in a left-handed patient?
Right forearm
Antecubital vein of the left arm
Left forearm
Antecubital vein of the right arm
Ans... Right Forearm
RATIONALE Unless other reasons are identified, IV sites should be started in the
most distal portion of the nondominant arm or hand.
2. A nurse assesses an area where an intravenous (IV) line had been recently
removed. The area has redness, swelling, and warmth. What should the nurse
suspect as the cause?
Blood loss and hemorrhage
Embolus from the former catheter
Inflammation and possible phlebitis
,Infiltration and air embolus
Ans... Inflammation and possible phlebitis
RATIONALE IV sites may show signs of inflammation or infection or both after an
IV line has been removed.
3. The K+ laboratory report shows a level of 5.2 mEq/L. What is the most
important assessment for the nurse to make?
Excessive thirst
Frightening hallucinations
Irregular heartbeat
Swelling of ankles
Ans... Irregular heartbeat
RATIONALE Arrhythmias can be triggered by hyperkalemia.
4. A small child is hospitalized with severe metabolic acidosis after ingesting
a whole bottle of baby aspirin approximately 8 hours earlier. In addition to
providing reassurance to the patient, which nursing action is the most appro-
priate?
Inducing vomiting
Frequently assessing the mental and neurologic status
Taking daily weights and vital signs
Ans... Frequently assessing the mental and neu- rologic status
,RATIONALE The baby aspirin was ingested too long ago to have vomiting or stom-
ach aspiration be of any use. The child requires frequent assessment of neurologic
function because the child may need mechanical ventilation.
5. When the water absorption in the renal tubules becomes greater than
normal, what assessment finding should a nurse anticipate?
Less concentrated urine
More concentrated urine
Less alkaline urine
More alkaline urine
Ans... More concentrated urine
RATIONALE When more water is kept back in the body, the water left to form urine
is less; therefore, the urine is more concentrated.
6. A patient has renal damage because of diabetes. What is the highest risk for
this patient?
Hypokalemia
Hypercalcemia
Hyperkalemia Hypocalcemia
Ans... Hyperkalemia
RATIONALE When the renal system cannot rid the body of enough K+, this elec-
trolyte builds up and a condition called hyperkalemia develops.
7. A nurse understands that fluid balance is mainly monitored in the body by
which two systems?
Respiratory and circulatory
Renal and gastrointestinal
Circulatory and renal
Hepatic and lymphatic Ans... Circulatory and renal
, RATIONALE Ans... The monitoring of basic fluid balance in the body is performed b
the renal and circulatory systems.
8. What is usually associated with hyperchloremia?
Respiratory acidosis
Respiratory alkalosis
Metabolic acidosis
