med surg nursing for exam 1 Questions and Answers With Verified Solutions
2025
The primary health care provider prescribes IV administration of 100 ml of 20% glucose along with 20
unites of insulin. Which condition would the nurse expect the patient to have?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hyperglycemia
C. Hypernatremia
D. Hypercalcemia - ✔✔A
A patient who recently experienced an anterior neck injury reports frequent and painful muscle spasms
in the calf during sleep. Which condition would the nurse suspect?
A. Hypokalemia
B. Hypocalcemia
C. Hyponatremia
D. Hypophosphatemia - ✔✔B
Which patient is at high risk for hypernatremia?
A. 30-year-old on a low-salt diet
B. 42-year-old receiving hypotonic fluids
C. 54-year-old who is sweating profusely
D. 17-year-old with a serum blood glucose level of 189 mg/dl - ✔✔C
Which assessment parameter is useful for identifying magnesium toxicity during IV magnesium
administration?
A. Measuring urine output
B. Monitoring serum calcium levels
C. Checking deep tendon reflexes
D. Asking the patient about mood changes - ✔✔C
,Which newly written prescription does the nurse administer first?
A. oral calcium supplements to a patient with severe osteoporosis
B. Oral phosphorus supplements to a patient with acute hypophosphatemia
C. IV normal saline to a patient with serum sodium level of 134 mEq/L
D. Oral potassium chloride to a patient whose serum potassium level is 3 mEq/L - ✔✔D
A patient is receiving insulin and glucose infusion therapy for hyperkalemia now has a serum potassium
level of 3.6 mEq/L. Which action would the nurse take?
A. Stop the infusion immediately.
B. Continue the infusion at the prescribed rate
C. Assess the patient's heart rate, rhythm, and respiratory status
D. Slow the infusion, and increase the frequency of the vital sign assessment. - ✔✔C
A patient with mild hypokalemia caused by a diuretic used is discharged home. Which intervention
would the RN delegate to the home health aide.
A. Instruction on proper use of the drugs
B. Education about potassium-rich foods
C. Assessment of muscle tone and strength
D. Measurement of the patient's urine output - ✔✔D
The nurse is reviewing serum electrolytes and blood chemistry for a newly admitted patient. Which
result is of concern?
A. Glucose: 97 mb/dL
B. Sodium 145 mEq/L
C Potassium 5.9 mEq/L
D. Magnesium 2.1 mEq/L - ✔✔C
A patient has a low serum potassium level and is prescribed a dose of parenteral potassium chloride
(KCl). Which administration method would the nurse use?
, A. Infuse 10 mEq over a 1-hour period
B. Administer 5 mEq IM.
C. Push 5 mEq through a central access line
D. Dilute 200 mEq in 1L of normal saline, and infused at 100ml/hr. - ✔✔A
Which nursing action for a patient with hypocalcemia is appropriate to delegate to assistive personnel?
A. Evaluating the patient's laboratory results
B. Implementing seizure precautions for the patient
C. Transferring the patient from the bed to a stretcher using a lift sheet
D. collaborating with the dietitian to prescribe calcium-rich foods for this patient - ✔✔C
Which ECG finding is consistent with hyperkalemia?
A. Absent T waves
B. Elevated P waves
C. Prolonged PR intervals
D. Shortened QRS complexes - ✔✔C
Which nursing intervention is consistent with safe administration of IV potassium to a patient with
hypokalemia? Select all that apply, letter only.
A. Evaluate the heart rate and regularity
B. Establish and evaluate the patency of a large vein
C. Obtain an IV controller device (pump)
D. Plan to assess the respiratory rate and oxygen saturation every hour
E. Prepare to administer potassium IV push to reduce the risk for infiltration
F. Encourage the patient to ambulate independently to relieve muscle cramps. - ✔✔A, B, C, D
The healthcare provider writes prescriptions for a patient who is admitted with a serum potassium (K)
level of 6.9 mEq/L. Which action would the nurse implement first?
A. Place the patient on a cardiac monitor
2025
The primary health care provider prescribes IV administration of 100 ml of 20% glucose along with 20
unites of insulin. Which condition would the nurse expect the patient to have?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hyperglycemia
C. Hypernatremia
D. Hypercalcemia - ✔✔A
A patient who recently experienced an anterior neck injury reports frequent and painful muscle spasms
in the calf during sleep. Which condition would the nurse suspect?
A. Hypokalemia
B. Hypocalcemia
C. Hyponatremia
D. Hypophosphatemia - ✔✔B
Which patient is at high risk for hypernatremia?
A. 30-year-old on a low-salt diet
B. 42-year-old receiving hypotonic fluids
C. 54-year-old who is sweating profusely
D. 17-year-old with a serum blood glucose level of 189 mg/dl - ✔✔C
Which assessment parameter is useful for identifying magnesium toxicity during IV magnesium
administration?
A. Measuring urine output
B. Monitoring serum calcium levels
C. Checking deep tendon reflexes
D. Asking the patient about mood changes - ✔✔C
,Which newly written prescription does the nurse administer first?
A. oral calcium supplements to a patient with severe osteoporosis
B. Oral phosphorus supplements to a patient with acute hypophosphatemia
C. IV normal saline to a patient with serum sodium level of 134 mEq/L
D. Oral potassium chloride to a patient whose serum potassium level is 3 mEq/L - ✔✔D
A patient is receiving insulin and glucose infusion therapy for hyperkalemia now has a serum potassium
level of 3.6 mEq/L. Which action would the nurse take?
A. Stop the infusion immediately.
B. Continue the infusion at the prescribed rate
C. Assess the patient's heart rate, rhythm, and respiratory status
D. Slow the infusion, and increase the frequency of the vital sign assessment. - ✔✔C
A patient with mild hypokalemia caused by a diuretic used is discharged home. Which intervention
would the RN delegate to the home health aide.
A. Instruction on proper use of the drugs
B. Education about potassium-rich foods
C. Assessment of muscle tone and strength
D. Measurement of the patient's urine output - ✔✔D
The nurse is reviewing serum electrolytes and blood chemistry for a newly admitted patient. Which
result is of concern?
A. Glucose: 97 mb/dL
B. Sodium 145 mEq/L
C Potassium 5.9 mEq/L
D. Magnesium 2.1 mEq/L - ✔✔C
A patient has a low serum potassium level and is prescribed a dose of parenteral potassium chloride
(KCl). Which administration method would the nurse use?
, A. Infuse 10 mEq over a 1-hour period
B. Administer 5 mEq IM.
C. Push 5 mEq through a central access line
D. Dilute 200 mEq in 1L of normal saline, and infused at 100ml/hr. - ✔✔A
Which nursing action for a patient with hypocalcemia is appropriate to delegate to assistive personnel?
A. Evaluating the patient's laboratory results
B. Implementing seizure precautions for the patient
C. Transferring the patient from the bed to a stretcher using a lift sheet
D. collaborating with the dietitian to prescribe calcium-rich foods for this patient - ✔✔C
Which ECG finding is consistent with hyperkalemia?
A. Absent T waves
B. Elevated P waves
C. Prolonged PR intervals
D. Shortened QRS complexes - ✔✔C
Which nursing intervention is consistent with safe administration of IV potassium to a patient with
hypokalemia? Select all that apply, letter only.
A. Evaluate the heart rate and regularity
B. Establish and evaluate the patency of a large vein
C. Obtain an IV controller device (pump)
D. Plan to assess the respiratory rate and oxygen saturation every hour
E. Prepare to administer potassium IV push to reduce the risk for infiltration
F. Encourage the patient to ambulate independently to relieve muscle cramps. - ✔✔A, B, C, D
The healthcare provider writes prescriptions for a patient who is admitted with a serum potassium (K)
level of 6.9 mEq/L. Which action would the nurse implement first?
A. Place the patient on a cardiac monitor
