NURS 120 Medical-Surgical Nursing Week 4 Comprehensive Quiz 2026
|WCU
1. A patient is admitted with a serum sodium level of 125 mEq/L. Which nursing
intervention is most appropriate to prevent complications from this condition?
A. Administer 0.45% normal saline intravenously
B. Implement seizure precautions
C. Encourage increased oral water intake
D. Administer furosemide (Lasix) as ordered
Answer: B
Rationale: Severe hyponatremia (below 130 mEq/L) puts the patient at high risk for
cerebral edema and seizures; seizure precautions are a priority safety intervention.
2. Which arterial blood gas (ABG) result is most indicative of a patient suffering
from an acute exacerbation of COPD?
A. pH 7.25, PaCO2 35, HCO3 18
B. pH 7.48, PaCO2 30, HCO3 22
C. pH 7.35, PaCO2 40, HCO3 24
D. pH 7.32, PaCO2 55, HCO3 28
Answer: D
Rationale: COPD patients often experience respiratory acidosis due to CO2 retention; pH
7.32 (acidotic) and PaCO2 55 (high) with a slightly elevated HCO3 indicates partially
compensated respiratory acidosis.
,3. When assessing a patient with hypocalcemia, which clinical manifestation
should the nurse anticipate?
A. Depressed deep tendon reflexes
B. Positive Trousseau’s sign
C. Shortened QT interval on ECG
D. Constipation and muscle weakness
Answer: B
Rationale: Hypocalcemia increases neuromuscular excitability, leading to signs like
Trousseau’s sign (carpal spasm) and Chvostek’s sign.
4. A postoperative patient has developed a surgical wound evisceration. Which
action should the nurse take first?
A. Cover the wound with sterile towels soaked in sterile normal saline
B. Notify the surgeon immediately
C. Place the patient in a High-Fowler’s position
D. Push the protruding organs back into the abdominal cavity
Answer: A
Rationale: Evisceration is a medical emergency. The nurse must first protect the organs
from drying and infection by using sterile, saline-soaked dressings before notifying the
surgeon.
5. Which intravenous fluid is considered hypotonic and is used to treat cellular
dehydration?
A. 0.9% Normal Saline
B. Lactated Ringer’s
C. 0.45% Normal Saline
D. 5% Dextrose in 0.9% Normal Saline
Answer: C
, Rationale: 0.45% Normal Saline is hypotonic, meaning it has a lower osmolarity than
plasma, causing fluid to shift from the vascular space into the cells.
6. A patient with persistent vomiting for two days is at risk for which acid-base
imbalance?
A. Metabolic Alkalosis
B. Metabolic Acidosis
C. Respiratory Acidosis
D. Respiratory Alkalosis
Answer: A
Rationale: Vomiting results in the loss of hydrochloric acid from the stomach, which leads
to an increase in serum bicarbonate and metabolic alkalosis.
7. During the preoperative assessment, a patient reports an allergy to bananas
and avocados. Which action is most important for the nurse to take?
A. Document the food allergy and proceed with standard care
B. Suggest the patient take an antihistamine before surgery
C. Ask if the patient is also allergic to shellfish
D. Notify the surgical team of a potential latex allergy
Answer: D
Rationale: There is a known cross-sensitivity between certain fruits (bananas, avocados,
kiwis) and latex; this patient is at high risk for a latex allergy reaction during surgery.
8. A patient’s ECG shows tall, peaked T waves. Which electrolyte imbalance
does the nurse suspect?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hypernatremia
C. Hypokalemia
D. Hypocalcemia
Answer: A
|WCU
1. A patient is admitted with a serum sodium level of 125 mEq/L. Which nursing
intervention is most appropriate to prevent complications from this condition?
A. Administer 0.45% normal saline intravenously
B. Implement seizure precautions
C. Encourage increased oral water intake
D. Administer furosemide (Lasix) as ordered
Answer: B
Rationale: Severe hyponatremia (below 130 mEq/L) puts the patient at high risk for
cerebral edema and seizures; seizure precautions are a priority safety intervention.
2. Which arterial blood gas (ABG) result is most indicative of a patient suffering
from an acute exacerbation of COPD?
A. pH 7.25, PaCO2 35, HCO3 18
B. pH 7.48, PaCO2 30, HCO3 22
C. pH 7.35, PaCO2 40, HCO3 24
D. pH 7.32, PaCO2 55, HCO3 28
Answer: D
Rationale: COPD patients often experience respiratory acidosis due to CO2 retention; pH
7.32 (acidotic) and PaCO2 55 (high) with a slightly elevated HCO3 indicates partially
compensated respiratory acidosis.
,3. When assessing a patient with hypocalcemia, which clinical manifestation
should the nurse anticipate?
A. Depressed deep tendon reflexes
B. Positive Trousseau’s sign
C. Shortened QT interval on ECG
D. Constipation and muscle weakness
Answer: B
Rationale: Hypocalcemia increases neuromuscular excitability, leading to signs like
Trousseau’s sign (carpal spasm) and Chvostek’s sign.
4. A postoperative patient has developed a surgical wound evisceration. Which
action should the nurse take first?
A. Cover the wound with sterile towels soaked in sterile normal saline
B. Notify the surgeon immediately
C. Place the patient in a High-Fowler’s position
D. Push the protruding organs back into the abdominal cavity
Answer: A
Rationale: Evisceration is a medical emergency. The nurse must first protect the organs
from drying and infection by using sterile, saline-soaked dressings before notifying the
surgeon.
5. Which intravenous fluid is considered hypotonic and is used to treat cellular
dehydration?
A. 0.9% Normal Saline
B. Lactated Ringer’s
C. 0.45% Normal Saline
D. 5% Dextrose in 0.9% Normal Saline
Answer: C
, Rationale: 0.45% Normal Saline is hypotonic, meaning it has a lower osmolarity than
plasma, causing fluid to shift from the vascular space into the cells.
6. A patient with persistent vomiting for two days is at risk for which acid-base
imbalance?
A. Metabolic Alkalosis
B. Metabolic Acidosis
C. Respiratory Acidosis
D. Respiratory Alkalosis
Answer: A
Rationale: Vomiting results in the loss of hydrochloric acid from the stomach, which leads
to an increase in serum bicarbonate and metabolic alkalosis.
7. During the preoperative assessment, a patient reports an allergy to bananas
and avocados. Which action is most important for the nurse to take?
A. Document the food allergy and proceed with standard care
B. Suggest the patient take an antihistamine before surgery
C. Ask if the patient is also allergic to shellfish
D. Notify the surgical team of a potential latex allergy
Answer: D
Rationale: There is a known cross-sensitivity between certain fruits (bananas, avocados,
kiwis) and latex; this patient is at high risk for a latex allergy reaction during surgery.
8. A patient’s ECG shows tall, peaked T waves. Which electrolyte imbalance
does the nurse suspect?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hypernatremia
C. Hypokalemia
D. Hypocalcemia
Answer: A
