Med-Surg 1 Final Exam Test Questions with Answers Graded A+
Where is the best place to begin to select a vein for an
initial intravenous (IV) site in a left-handed patient? Right Forearm
Right forearm RATIONALE: Unless other reasons are identified, IV sites
Antecubital vein of the left arm should be started in the most distal portion of the non-
Left forearm dominant arm or hand.
Antecubital vein of the right arm
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
Inflammation and possible phlebitis
the cause?
RATIONALE: IV sites may show signs of inflammation or
Blood loss and hemorrhage
infection or both after an IV line has been removed.
Embolus from the former catheter
Inflammation and possible phlebitis
Infiltration and air embolus
The K+ laboratory report shows a level of 5.2 mEq/L. What
is the most important assessment for the nurse to make?
Irregular heartbeat
Excessive thirst
RATIONALE: Arrhythmias can be triggered by hyper-
Frightening hallucinations
kalemia.
Irregular heartbeat
Swelling of ankles
A small child is hospitalized with severe metabolic acidosis
Frequently assessing the mental and neurologic status
after ingesting a whole bottle of baby aspirin approxi-
mately 8 hours earlier. In addition to providing reassur- RATIONALE: The baby aspirin was ingested too long ago
ance to the patient, which nursing action is the most to have vomiting or stomach aspiration be of any use. The
appropriate? child requires frequent assessment of neurologic function
because the child may need mechanical ventilation.
Inducing vomiting
,Med-Surg 1 Final Exam Test Questions with Answers Graded A+
Frequently assessing the mental and neurologic status
Taking daily weights and vital signs
When the water absorption in the renal tubules becomes
greater than normal, what assessment finding should a
More concentrated urine
nurse anticipate?
RATIONALE: When more water is kept back in the body, the
Less concentrated urine
water left to form urine is less; therefore, the urine is more
More concentrated urine
concentrated.
Less alkaline urine
More alkaline urine
A patient has renal damage because of diabetes. What is
the highest risk for this patient? Hyperkalemia
Hypokalemia RATIONALE: When the renal system cannot rid the body
Hypercalcemia of enough K+, this electrolyte builds up and a condition
Hyperkalemia called hyperkalemia develops.
Hypocalcemia
A nurse understands that fluid balance is mainly moni-
tored in the body by which two systems?
Circulatory and renal
Respiratory and circulatory
RATIONALE: The monitoring of basic fluid balance in the
Renal and gastrointestinal
body is performed by the renal and circulatory systems.
Circulatory and renal
Hepatic and lymphatic
What is usually associated with hyperchloremia?
Metabolic acidosis
Respiratory acidosis
Respiratory alkalosis RATIONALE: Chlorides bind with positively charged ions
Metabolic acidosis such as K+ in the patient with metabolic acidosis.
Metabolic alkalosis
, Med-Surg 1 Final Exam Test Questions with Answers Graded A+
Each compartment of the body has a water-fluid distribu-
tion movement of its own. What is the process allowing
Osmosis
these fluids to move and distribute themselves among
compartments? RATIONALE: The intracellular and extracellular compart-
ments contain water and dissolved substances. The water
Active transport
filters back and forth as needed to maintain homeostasis
Osmosis
via osmolarity.
Filtration
Dittusion
Which order should be clarified by a nurse when tran-
Potassium chloride, 40 mEq IV in 10 mL D5W IV push
scribing orders?
RATIONALE: Potassium chloride is never given by intra-
Potassium chloride, 80 mEq in 1000 mL D5W in 24 hours
venous push in such a small amount of diluent. Potassium
Potassium chloride, 40 mEq IV in 10 mL D5W IV push
chloride is always dissolved in D5W and should be infused
Potassium chloride, 80 mEq in 1000 mL D5W in 12 hours
at no more than 10 mEq/hr.
Potassium chloride, 50 mEq in 500 mL D5W in 4 hours
What is the source of calories in IV solutions?
Dextrose Dextrose
Water
RATIONALE: Dextrose is sugar and the source of calories.
Vitamins
Electrolytes
An older adult patient is quite ill and confused and begins
to cry pitifully when a nurse approaches the bed to start
an intravenous (IV) line. What is the best action for the Keep the infusion equipment out of sight as much as pos-
nurse at this time? sible, talk slowly, and divert the attention of the patient.
Give an analgesic as ordered, wait a few minutes, and then RATIONALE: Confusion during a bout of illness in older
proceed. adults is common. Distraction and reassurance usually
Inform the patient that the physician has ordered the IV
and calmly continue to prepare the site and start the IV.
Where is the best place to begin to select a vein for an
initial intravenous (IV) site in a left-handed patient? Right Forearm
Right forearm RATIONALE: Unless other reasons are identified, IV sites
Antecubital vein of the left arm should be started in the most distal portion of the non-
Left forearm dominant arm or hand.
Antecubital vein of the right arm
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
Inflammation and possible phlebitis
the cause?
RATIONALE: IV sites may show signs of inflammation or
Blood loss and hemorrhage
infection or both after an IV line has been removed.
Embolus from the former catheter
Inflammation and possible phlebitis
Infiltration and air embolus
The K+ laboratory report shows a level of 5.2 mEq/L. What
is the most important assessment for the nurse to make?
Irregular heartbeat
Excessive thirst
RATIONALE: Arrhythmias can be triggered by hyper-
Frightening hallucinations
kalemia.
Irregular heartbeat
Swelling of ankles
A small child is hospitalized with severe metabolic acidosis
Frequently assessing the mental and neurologic status
after ingesting a whole bottle of baby aspirin approxi-
mately 8 hours earlier. In addition to providing reassur- RATIONALE: The baby aspirin was ingested too long ago
ance to the patient, which nursing action is the most to have vomiting or stomach aspiration be of any use. The
appropriate? child requires frequent assessment of neurologic function
because the child may need mechanical ventilation.
Inducing vomiting
,Med-Surg 1 Final Exam Test Questions with Answers Graded A+
Frequently assessing the mental and neurologic status
Taking daily weights and vital signs
When the water absorption in the renal tubules becomes
greater than normal, what assessment finding should a
More concentrated urine
nurse anticipate?
RATIONALE: When more water is kept back in the body, the
Less concentrated urine
water left to form urine is less; therefore, the urine is more
More concentrated urine
concentrated.
Less alkaline urine
More alkaline urine
A patient has renal damage because of diabetes. What is
the highest risk for this patient? Hyperkalemia
Hypokalemia RATIONALE: When the renal system cannot rid the body
Hypercalcemia of enough K+, this electrolyte builds up and a condition
Hyperkalemia called hyperkalemia develops.
Hypocalcemia
A nurse understands that fluid balance is mainly moni-
tored in the body by which two systems?
Circulatory and renal
Respiratory and circulatory
RATIONALE: The monitoring of basic fluid balance in the
Renal and gastrointestinal
body is performed by the renal and circulatory systems.
Circulatory and renal
Hepatic and lymphatic
What is usually associated with hyperchloremia?
Metabolic acidosis
Respiratory acidosis
Respiratory alkalosis RATIONALE: Chlorides bind with positively charged ions
Metabolic acidosis such as K+ in the patient with metabolic acidosis.
Metabolic alkalosis
, Med-Surg 1 Final Exam Test Questions with Answers Graded A+
Each compartment of the body has a water-fluid distribu-
tion movement of its own. What is the process allowing
Osmosis
these fluids to move and distribute themselves among
compartments? RATIONALE: The intracellular and extracellular compart-
ments contain water and dissolved substances. The water
Active transport
filters back and forth as needed to maintain homeostasis
Osmosis
via osmolarity.
Filtration
Dittusion
Which order should be clarified by a nurse when tran-
Potassium chloride, 40 mEq IV in 10 mL D5W IV push
scribing orders?
RATIONALE: Potassium chloride is never given by intra-
Potassium chloride, 80 mEq in 1000 mL D5W in 24 hours
venous push in such a small amount of diluent. Potassium
Potassium chloride, 40 mEq IV in 10 mL D5W IV push
chloride is always dissolved in D5W and should be infused
Potassium chloride, 80 mEq in 1000 mL D5W in 12 hours
at no more than 10 mEq/hr.
Potassium chloride, 50 mEq in 500 mL D5W in 4 hours
What is the source of calories in IV solutions?
Dextrose Dextrose
Water
RATIONALE: Dextrose is sugar and the source of calories.
Vitamins
Electrolytes
An older adult patient is quite ill and confused and begins
to cry pitifully when a nurse approaches the bed to start
an intravenous (IV) line. What is the best action for the Keep the infusion equipment out of sight as much as pos-
nurse at this time? sible, talk slowly, and divert the attention of the patient.
Give an analgesic as ordered, wait a few minutes, and then RATIONALE: Confusion during a bout of illness in older
proceed. adults is common. Distraction and reassurance usually
Inform the patient that the physician has ordered the IV
and calmly continue to prepare the site and start the IV.
