Med Surg Exam Exam
Med Surg Exam 1 Practice Predictor Exam
VERIFIED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Test
Bank with 350 QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
DETAILED ANSWERS & RATIONALES |graded
A+
A patient is prescribed dexamethasone (Decadron) to reduce cerebral edema after a motor
vehicle accident. Which of the following assessment findings should the nurse expect if this
treatment is effective?
a) Increased response to stimuli
b) decreased urine output
c) respiration rate of 12
d) Increased blood pressure
A BOMB 1
, Med Surg Exam Exam
a) Increased response to stimuli
rationale: Dexamethasone (Decadron) is a corticosteroid that reduces inflammation in the
brain. When effectivness is achieved, the patient's neurological status should improve.
-Decadron has little effect on blood pressure, respiration rate, and urine output.
The nurse is assessing a client who is bedfast and refuses to turn or move from a supine
position. How should the nurse assess the client for possible dependent edema?
A) Compress the flank and upper buttocks.
B) Measure the client's abdominal girth.
C) Gently palpate the lower abdomen.
D) Apply light pressure over the shins.
A) Compress the flank and upper buttocks.
Rationale: Dependent edema collects in dependent areas, such as the flank and upper
buttocks (A) of the client who is persistently flat in bed. (B) provides data about ascites (fluid
collection in the abdomen), rather than dependent edema, and (C) provides data about
abdominal distention. (D) provides data about the collection of dependent edema for a client
whose lower extremities are often in a dependent position, such as when sitting in a chair.
A male client with chronic atrial fibrillation and a slow ventricular response is scheduled for
surgical placement of a permanent pacemaker. The client asks the nurse how this devise will
help him. How should the nurse explain the action of a synchronous pacemaker?
A) Ventricular irritability is prevented by the constant rate setting of pacemaker.
B) Ectopic stimulus in the atria is suppressed by the device usurping depolarization.
C) An impulse is fired every second to maintain a heart rate of 60 beats per minute.
D) An electrical stimulus is discharged when no ventricular response is sensed.
A BOMB 2
, Med Surg Exam Exam
D) An electrical stimulus is discharged when no ventricular response is sensed.
Rationale: The artificial cardiac pacemaker is an electronic device used to pace the heart when
the normal conduction pathway is damaged or diseased, such as a symptomatic dysrhythmias
like atrial fibrillation with a slow ventricular response. Pacing modes that are synchronous
(impulse generated on demand or as needed according to the patient's intrinsic rhythm) send
an electrical signal from the pacemaker to the wall of the myocardium stimulating it to
contract when no ventricular depolarization is sensed (D). (A, B, and C) do not provide
accurate information.
The unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) reports that an 87-year-old female client who is
sitting in a chair at the bedside has an oral temperature of 97.2° F. Which intervention should
the nurse implement?
A) Document the temperature reading on the vital sign graphic sheet.
B) Report the temperature to the healthcare provider immediately.
C) Instruct the UAP to take the client's temperature again in 30 minutes.
D) Advise the UAP to assist the client in returning to her bed.
A) Document the temperature reading on the vital sign graphic sheet.
Rationale: A subnormal temperature of 97.2° F (orally) is a common finding in elderly clients,
so the nurse should document the findings (A) and continue with the plan of care. (B, C, and
D) are not indicated unless the temperature falls below 97° F or if other symptoms occur.
The nurse is completing the health assessment of a 79-year-old male client who denies any
significant health problems. Which finding requires the most immediate follow-up
assessment?
A) Kyphosis with a reduction in height.
B) Dilated superficial veins on both legs.
A BOMB 3
, Med Surg Exam Exam
C) External hemorrhoids with itching.
D) Yellowish discoloration of the sclerae.
D) Yellowish discoloration of the sclerae.
Rationale: Jaundice, a yellowish discoloration of the sclerae (D), may indicate liver damage
and requires further assessment. Kyphosis and height reduction (A) due to bone loss,
varicose veins (B), and external hemorrhoids with itching (C) are common findings in the
elderly that do not require immediate intervention.
Which finding should the nurse report to the healthcare provider for a client with a
circumferential extremity burn?
A) Full thickness burns rather than partial thickness.
B) Supinates extremity but unable to fully pronate the extremity.
C) Slow capillary refill in the digits with absent distal pulse points.
D) Inability to distinguish sharp versus dull sensations in the extremity.
C) Slow capillary refill in the digits with absent distal pulse points
Rationale: A circumferential burn can form an eschar that results from burn exudate fluid that
dries and acts as a tourniquet as fluid shifts occur in the interstitial tissue. As edema increases
tissue pressure, blood flow to the distal extremity is compromised, which is manifested by
slow capillary refill and absent distal pulses (C), so the healthcare provider should be notified
about any compromised circulation that requires escharotomy. Although eschar formation
occurs more readily over full thickness burns (A), the circumferential location of the burn is
most likely to constrict underlying structures. Limited movement (B) is often due to pain. (D)
may be related to the depth of the burn.
The nurse completes visual inspection of a client's abdomen. What technique should the
nurse perform next in the abdominal examination?
A) Percussion.
B) Auscultation.
A BOMB 4
Med Surg Exam 1 Practice Predictor Exam
VERIFIED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Test
Bank with 350 QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
DETAILED ANSWERS & RATIONALES |graded
A+
A patient is prescribed dexamethasone (Decadron) to reduce cerebral edema after a motor
vehicle accident. Which of the following assessment findings should the nurse expect if this
treatment is effective?
a) Increased response to stimuli
b) decreased urine output
c) respiration rate of 12
d) Increased blood pressure
A BOMB 1
, Med Surg Exam Exam
a) Increased response to stimuli
rationale: Dexamethasone (Decadron) is a corticosteroid that reduces inflammation in the
brain. When effectivness is achieved, the patient's neurological status should improve.
-Decadron has little effect on blood pressure, respiration rate, and urine output.
The nurse is assessing a client who is bedfast and refuses to turn or move from a supine
position. How should the nurse assess the client for possible dependent edema?
A) Compress the flank and upper buttocks.
B) Measure the client's abdominal girth.
C) Gently palpate the lower abdomen.
D) Apply light pressure over the shins.
A) Compress the flank and upper buttocks.
Rationale: Dependent edema collects in dependent areas, such as the flank and upper
buttocks (A) of the client who is persistently flat in bed. (B) provides data about ascites (fluid
collection in the abdomen), rather than dependent edema, and (C) provides data about
abdominal distention. (D) provides data about the collection of dependent edema for a client
whose lower extremities are often in a dependent position, such as when sitting in a chair.
A male client with chronic atrial fibrillation and a slow ventricular response is scheduled for
surgical placement of a permanent pacemaker. The client asks the nurse how this devise will
help him. How should the nurse explain the action of a synchronous pacemaker?
A) Ventricular irritability is prevented by the constant rate setting of pacemaker.
B) Ectopic stimulus in the atria is suppressed by the device usurping depolarization.
C) An impulse is fired every second to maintain a heart rate of 60 beats per minute.
D) An electrical stimulus is discharged when no ventricular response is sensed.
A BOMB 2
, Med Surg Exam Exam
D) An electrical stimulus is discharged when no ventricular response is sensed.
Rationale: The artificial cardiac pacemaker is an electronic device used to pace the heart when
the normal conduction pathway is damaged or diseased, such as a symptomatic dysrhythmias
like atrial fibrillation with a slow ventricular response. Pacing modes that are synchronous
(impulse generated on demand or as needed according to the patient's intrinsic rhythm) send
an electrical signal from the pacemaker to the wall of the myocardium stimulating it to
contract when no ventricular depolarization is sensed (D). (A, B, and C) do not provide
accurate information.
The unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) reports that an 87-year-old female client who is
sitting in a chair at the bedside has an oral temperature of 97.2° F. Which intervention should
the nurse implement?
A) Document the temperature reading on the vital sign graphic sheet.
B) Report the temperature to the healthcare provider immediately.
C) Instruct the UAP to take the client's temperature again in 30 minutes.
D) Advise the UAP to assist the client in returning to her bed.
A) Document the temperature reading on the vital sign graphic sheet.
Rationale: A subnormal temperature of 97.2° F (orally) is a common finding in elderly clients,
so the nurse should document the findings (A) and continue with the plan of care. (B, C, and
D) are not indicated unless the temperature falls below 97° F or if other symptoms occur.
The nurse is completing the health assessment of a 79-year-old male client who denies any
significant health problems. Which finding requires the most immediate follow-up
assessment?
A) Kyphosis with a reduction in height.
B) Dilated superficial veins on both legs.
A BOMB 3
, Med Surg Exam Exam
C) External hemorrhoids with itching.
D) Yellowish discoloration of the sclerae.
D) Yellowish discoloration of the sclerae.
Rationale: Jaundice, a yellowish discoloration of the sclerae (D), may indicate liver damage
and requires further assessment. Kyphosis and height reduction (A) due to bone loss,
varicose veins (B), and external hemorrhoids with itching (C) are common findings in the
elderly that do not require immediate intervention.
Which finding should the nurse report to the healthcare provider for a client with a
circumferential extremity burn?
A) Full thickness burns rather than partial thickness.
B) Supinates extremity but unable to fully pronate the extremity.
C) Slow capillary refill in the digits with absent distal pulse points.
D) Inability to distinguish sharp versus dull sensations in the extremity.
C) Slow capillary refill in the digits with absent distal pulse points
Rationale: A circumferential burn can form an eschar that results from burn exudate fluid that
dries and acts as a tourniquet as fluid shifts occur in the interstitial tissue. As edema increases
tissue pressure, blood flow to the distal extremity is compromised, which is manifested by
slow capillary refill and absent distal pulses (C), so the healthcare provider should be notified
about any compromised circulation that requires escharotomy. Although eschar formation
occurs more readily over full thickness burns (A), the circumferential location of the burn is
most likely to constrict underlying structures. Limited movement (B) is often due to pain. (D)
may be related to the depth of the burn.
The nurse completes visual inspection of a client's abdomen. What technique should the
nurse perform next in the abdominal examination?
A) Percussion.
B) Auscultation.
A BOMB 4
