NURS 120 | Introduction to Medical-Surgical Nursing | Week 2 Quiz
2026 |WCU
1. A nurse is reviewing the preoperative checklist for a client scheduled for an
exploratory laparotomy. Which of the following findings should the nurse report
to the surgeon immediately?
A. The client had a small sip of water 4 hours ago.
B. The client’s serum potassium level is 3.2 mEq/L.
C. The client signed the informed consent after receiving midazolam.
D. The client reports being nervous about the procedure.
Answer: C
Rationale: Informed consent must be obtained before the client receives any sedative or
mind-altering medications. A signature obtained after midazolam administration is not
legally valid.
2. A client is in the operating room undergoing general anesthesia. The
anesthesiologist notes a sudden rise in end-tidal carbon dioxide levels and
muscle rigidity. Which medication should the nurse prepare?
A. Epinephrine
B. Dantrolene sodium
C. Naloxone
D. Atropine sulfate
Answer: B
Rationale: Muscle rigidity and rising CO2 levels are early signs of malignant hyperthermia,
a life-threatening complication of general anesthesia. Dantrolene is the specific muscle
relaxant used to treat it.
,3. During the intraoperative phase, the circulating nurse is responsible for which
of the following tasks?
A. Assisting with the application of sterile drapes.
B. Coordinating the movement of the client and personnel in the OR.
C. Maintaining the sterile field by scrubbing in.
D. Passing surgical instruments to the surgeon.
Answer: B
Rationale: The circulating nurse manages the operating room, ensures safety, documents
the procedure, and coordinates the surgical team’s activities outside the sterile field.
4. A nurse is assessing a postoperative client who had abdominal surgery 6
hours ago. The client has a heart rate of 115 bpm, blood pressure of 90/58
mmHg, and urine output of 20 mL/hr. What is the nurse’s priority action?
A. Increase the IV fluid rate according to standing orders.
B. Encourage the client to use an incentive spirometer.
C. Administer prescribed PRN pain medication.
D. Perform a bladder scan to check for urinary retention.
Answer: A
Rationale: Tachycardia, hypotension, and low urine output are signs of hypovolemia or
shock. The priority is to restore circulating volume.
5. Which laboratory value is the most critical for the nurse to evaluate before a
client undergoes a major surgical procedure involving significant blood loss?
A. Hemoglobin and Hematocrit
B. Serum sodium
C. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN)
D. Serum albumin
Answer: A
, Rationale: Hemoglobin and hematocrit levels indicate the blood’s oxygen-carrying
capacity and provide a baseline for monitoring intraoperative and postoperative blood loss.
6. A client in the PACU is difficult to arouse and has a respiratory rate of 8
breaths/min. The client received morphine IV for pain 30 minutes ago. Which
medication should the nurse anticipate administering?
A. Flumazenil
B. Dextrose 50%
C. Protamine sulfate
D. Naloxone
Answer: D
Rationale: Naloxone is an opioid antagonist used to reverse respiratory depression caused
by opioid analgesics like morphine.
7. A nurse is providing discharge instructions to a client who had a inguinal
hernia repair. Which statement by the client indicates a need for further
teaching?
A. ‘I will use a pillow to splint my incision when I cough.’
B. ‘I will stop taking my stool softeners if I haven’t had a bowel movement in 2 days.’
C. ‘I should not lift anything heavier than 10 pounds for 6 weeks.’
D. ‘I need to call the doctor if I notice redness or drainage from the site.’
Answer: B
Rationale: Clients should continue stool softeners as prescribed to prevent straining,
which can stress the surgical site. Stopping them because of no movement in 2 days is
incorrect; they prevent constipation.
2026 |WCU
1. A nurse is reviewing the preoperative checklist for a client scheduled for an
exploratory laparotomy. Which of the following findings should the nurse report
to the surgeon immediately?
A. The client had a small sip of water 4 hours ago.
B. The client’s serum potassium level is 3.2 mEq/L.
C. The client signed the informed consent after receiving midazolam.
D. The client reports being nervous about the procedure.
Answer: C
Rationale: Informed consent must be obtained before the client receives any sedative or
mind-altering medications. A signature obtained after midazolam administration is not
legally valid.
2. A client is in the operating room undergoing general anesthesia. The
anesthesiologist notes a sudden rise in end-tidal carbon dioxide levels and
muscle rigidity. Which medication should the nurse prepare?
A. Epinephrine
B. Dantrolene sodium
C. Naloxone
D. Atropine sulfate
Answer: B
Rationale: Muscle rigidity and rising CO2 levels are early signs of malignant hyperthermia,
a life-threatening complication of general anesthesia. Dantrolene is the specific muscle
relaxant used to treat it.
,3. During the intraoperative phase, the circulating nurse is responsible for which
of the following tasks?
A. Assisting with the application of sterile drapes.
B. Coordinating the movement of the client and personnel in the OR.
C. Maintaining the sterile field by scrubbing in.
D. Passing surgical instruments to the surgeon.
Answer: B
Rationale: The circulating nurse manages the operating room, ensures safety, documents
the procedure, and coordinates the surgical team’s activities outside the sterile field.
4. A nurse is assessing a postoperative client who had abdominal surgery 6
hours ago. The client has a heart rate of 115 bpm, blood pressure of 90/58
mmHg, and urine output of 20 mL/hr. What is the nurse’s priority action?
A. Increase the IV fluid rate according to standing orders.
B. Encourage the client to use an incentive spirometer.
C. Administer prescribed PRN pain medication.
D. Perform a bladder scan to check for urinary retention.
Answer: A
Rationale: Tachycardia, hypotension, and low urine output are signs of hypovolemia or
shock. The priority is to restore circulating volume.
5. Which laboratory value is the most critical for the nurse to evaluate before a
client undergoes a major surgical procedure involving significant blood loss?
A. Hemoglobin and Hematocrit
B. Serum sodium
C. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN)
D. Serum albumin
Answer: A
, Rationale: Hemoglobin and hematocrit levels indicate the blood’s oxygen-carrying
capacity and provide a baseline for monitoring intraoperative and postoperative blood loss.
6. A client in the PACU is difficult to arouse and has a respiratory rate of 8
breaths/min. The client received morphine IV for pain 30 minutes ago. Which
medication should the nurse anticipate administering?
A. Flumazenil
B. Dextrose 50%
C. Protamine sulfate
D. Naloxone
Answer: D
Rationale: Naloxone is an opioid antagonist used to reverse respiratory depression caused
by opioid analgesics like morphine.
7. A nurse is providing discharge instructions to a client who had a inguinal
hernia repair. Which statement by the client indicates a need for further
teaching?
A. ‘I will use a pillow to splint my incision when I cough.’
B. ‘I will stop taking my stool softeners if I haven’t had a bowel movement in 2 days.’
C. ‘I should not lift anything heavier than 10 pounds for 6 weeks.’
D. ‘I need to call the doctor if I notice redness or drainage from the site.’
Answer: B
Rationale: Clients should continue stool softeners as prescribed to prevent straining,
which can stress the surgical site. Stopping them because of no movement in 2 days is
incorrect; they prevent constipation.
