KAPLAN MEDICAL SURGICAL COMP IEN A 2025/2026
EXAM QUESTION AND ANSWER Exam Ace your Kaplan
Medical-Surgical Comprehensive IEN A Exam
What can the nurse do for the patient with Bell's Palsy? - answer :-comfort measures such as protecting
head from cold or drafts, administer analgesics and appropriate diet
-improve facial muscle tone by assisting with electric stimulation, teach isometric exercises of face
-provide emotional support for altered body image
-prevent corneal abrasions
How can Bell's Palsy be treated? - answer :-electrical stimulation
-analgesics
-steroid therapy
What are signs/symptoms of a head injury? - answer :Battle's sign, raccoon eyes, rhinorrhea, otorrhea
What are Battle's Signs? - answer :ecchymosis over mastoid bone that may indicate a lower skull
fracture
What are Raccoon eyes? - answer :bruising around the eyes
What are signs/symptoms of a concussion? - answer :-transient mental confusion or loss of
consciousness
-headache
-no residual neurological deficit
-possible loss of memory surrounding event
,-long-term effects (lack of concentration, personality changes)
What are signs/symptoms of a contusion? - answer :-varies from slight depression of consciousness to
coma
-decorticate posturing or decerebrate posturing (indicates deeper dysfunction)
-generalized cerebral edema
What is decorticate posturing? - answer :flexion and internal rotation of forearms and hands
What is decerebrate posturing? - answer :extension of arms and legs, pronation of arms, plantar flexion,
opisthotonos
What are the signs/symptoms of epidural hemorrhage/hematoma? - answer :-short period of
unconsciousness
-followed by lucid interval with ipsilateral pupillary dilation
-weakness of contralateral extremities
-rapid neurologic deterioration
What are the signs/symptoms of subdural hemorrhage/hematoma? - answer :-decreased LOC
-ipsilateral pupillary dilation
-contralateral weakness
-personality changes
What increases the risk of subdural hemorrhage/hematoma? - answer :-aging
-chronic alcohol consumption
What causes a brain dysfunction? - answer :sudden increase in brain tissue, blood or CSF
What effect does drugs and alcohol have on a head injury? - answer :they may delay manifestations of
symptoms of damage
,How can a minor head injury be treated? - answer :-repair CSF leak and scalp lacerations
How can penetrating head injuries be treated? - answer :-surgical repair
-antibiotics
-anticonvulsants
How can moderate to severe head injuries be treated? - answer :-supportive care of the unconscious
client
-prophylactic anticonvulsants
-prevent and control intracranial hypertension
-prevent secondary brain damage from hypotension
-prevent anemia
-increased arterial carbon dioxide levels
How can the nurse manage head injuries? - answer :-management of increased ICP and cerebral edema
-neurological assessment
-administer glucocorticoids (dexamethasone, mannitol, furosemide)
-hypothermia to decrease metabolic demands
-barbiturate therapy to decrease cerebral metabolic rate
-minimal procedures such as suctioning, turning, positioning in acute phase
-prevention of complications of immobility
How should the bed be positioned for a patient with a head injury? - answer :the head of the bed should
be elevated at 30 degrees or more
A client is diagnosed with HTN. The client says, "I have trouble remembering to take my medications,
but I am now only smoking 5 cigarettes a day instead of 2 packs." Which response by the nurse is best?
, a. "Ask your spouse to help you remember the medications. The smoking needs to be reduced even
more."
b. "It is good that your smoking has decreased. Let's talk about ways to remember the medication."
c. "You must take the medication, and the smoking habit needs to stop very soon."
d. "It sounds like you are trying to adhere to the plan. Tell me about your current diet." - answer :b. "It is
good that your smoking has decreased. Let's talk about ways to remember the medication."
A client is diagnosed with myasthenia gravis. The client says, "I am tired all the time and I don't want to
live any more. If I stop taking my medication, I can stop breathing." Which is the nurse's best response?
a. Ask client about feelings of hopelessness
b. Give client information about a myasthenia gravis group
c. Place client on suicide watch
d. Teach client about the new medication - answer :a. Ask client about feelings of hopelessness
The nurse suctions a client's tracheostomy. Which technique does the nurse use? (select all)
a. Routinely instills sterile normal saline before suctioning
b. Applies suction when inserting the catheter
c. Suctions the client every hour
d. Uses sterile technique when suctioning
e. Rotates the catheter when withdrawing
f. Uses intermittent suctioning - answer :a. Routinely instills sterile normal saline before suctioning
d. Uses sterile technique when suctioning
e. Rotates the catheter when withdrawing
f. Uses intermittent suctioning
A client is diagnosed with epilepsy following a series of seizures. The nurse identifies which client goal as
the priority?
EXAM QUESTION AND ANSWER Exam Ace your Kaplan
Medical-Surgical Comprehensive IEN A Exam
What can the nurse do for the patient with Bell's Palsy? - answer :-comfort measures such as protecting
head from cold or drafts, administer analgesics and appropriate diet
-improve facial muscle tone by assisting with electric stimulation, teach isometric exercises of face
-provide emotional support for altered body image
-prevent corneal abrasions
How can Bell's Palsy be treated? - answer :-electrical stimulation
-analgesics
-steroid therapy
What are signs/symptoms of a head injury? - answer :Battle's sign, raccoon eyes, rhinorrhea, otorrhea
What are Battle's Signs? - answer :ecchymosis over mastoid bone that may indicate a lower skull
fracture
What are Raccoon eyes? - answer :bruising around the eyes
What are signs/symptoms of a concussion? - answer :-transient mental confusion or loss of
consciousness
-headache
-no residual neurological deficit
-possible loss of memory surrounding event
,-long-term effects (lack of concentration, personality changes)
What are signs/symptoms of a contusion? - answer :-varies from slight depression of consciousness to
coma
-decorticate posturing or decerebrate posturing (indicates deeper dysfunction)
-generalized cerebral edema
What is decorticate posturing? - answer :flexion and internal rotation of forearms and hands
What is decerebrate posturing? - answer :extension of arms and legs, pronation of arms, plantar flexion,
opisthotonos
What are the signs/symptoms of epidural hemorrhage/hematoma? - answer :-short period of
unconsciousness
-followed by lucid interval with ipsilateral pupillary dilation
-weakness of contralateral extremities
-rapid neurologic deterioration
What are the signs/symptoms of subdural hemorrhage/hematoma? - answer :-decreased LOC
-ipsilateral pupillary dilation
-contralateral weakness
-personality changes
What increases the risk of subdural hemorrhage/hematoma? - answer :-aging
-chronic alcohol consumption
What causes a brain dysfunction? - answer :sudden increase in brain tissue, blood or CSF
What effect does drugs and alcohol have on a head injury? - answer :they may delay manifestations of
symptoms of damage
,How can a minor head injury be treated? - answer :-repair CSF leak and scalp lacerations
How can penetrating head injuries be treated? - answer :-surgical repair
-antibiotics
-anticonvulsants
How can moderate to severe head injuries be treated? - answer :-supportive care of the unconscious
client
-prophylactic anticonvulsants
-prevent and control intracranial hypertension
-prevent secondary brain damage from hypotension
-prevent anemia
-increased arterial carbon dioxide levels
How can the nurse manage head injuries? - answer :-management of increased ICP and cerebral edema
-neurological assessment
-administer glucocorticoids (dexamethasone, mannitol, furosemide)
-hypothermia to decrease metabolic demands
-barbiturate therapy to decrease cerebral metabolic rate
-minimal procedures such as suctioning, turning, positioning in acute phase
-prevention of complications of immobility
How should the bed be positioned for a patient with a head injury? - answer :the head of the bed should
be elevated at 30 degrees or more
A client is diagnosed with HTN. The client says, "I have trouble remembering to take my medications,
but I am now only smoking 5 cigarettes a day instead of 2 packs." Which response by the nurse is best?
, a. "Ask your spouse to help you remember the medications. The smoking needs to be reduced even
more."
b. "It is good that your smoking has decreased. Let's talk about ways to remember the medication."
c. "You must take the medication, and the smoking habit needs to stop very soon."
d. "It sounds like you are trying to adhere to the plan. Tell me about your current diet." - answer :b. "It is
good that your smoking has decreased. Let's talk about ways to remember the medication."
A client is diagnosed with myasthenia gravis. The client says, "I am tired all the time and I don't want to
live any more. If I stop taking my medication, I can stop breathing." Which is the nurse's best response?
a. Ask client about feelings of hopelessness
b. Give client information about a myasthenia gravis group
c. Place client on suicide watch
d. Teach client about the new medication - answer :a. Ask client about feelings of hopelessness
The nurse suctions a client's tracheostomy. Which technique does the nurse use? (select all)
a. Routinely instills sterile normal saline before suctioning
b. Applies suction when inserting the catheter
c. Suctions the client every hour
d. Uses sterile technique when suctioning
e. Rotates the catheter when withdrawing
f. Uses intermittent suctioning - answer :a. Routinely instills sterile normal saline before suctioning
d. Uses sterile technique when suctioning
e. Rotates the catheter when withdrawing
f. Uses intermittent suctioning
A client is diagnosed with epilepsy following a series of seizures. The nurse identifies which client goal as
the priority?
