MEDICAL SURGICAL TELEMETRY B EXAM COMPLETE
QUESTIONS WITH 100% VERIFIED ANSWERS AND
RATIONALE:
1. The physician has ordered for your COPD patient to receive 80mg of
Solu-Medrol IV every 8 hours. The medication is supplied as 125
milligrams in a 2ml vial. How much of the medication should the nurse
administer to ensure the ordered dose is given?
A. 0.8ml
B. 2.5ml
C. 1.3ml
D. 1.5ml
Correct Answer: C. 1.3ml
Rationale: Use ratio proportion: 125mg/2ml = 80mg/x ml. Cross
multiply: 125x = 160, x = 160/125 = 1.28ml, rounded to 1.3ml. The
wrong answer 1.5ml would deliver 93.75mg, which is an overdose.
2. Which of the following PPE is required for the staff entering a
patient's room who has been diagnosed with pneumonia and is
positive for MRSA?
A. Gown and mask
B. Gloves and gown
C. N95 respirator, gloves, and gown
D. Mask and gloves
,Correct Answer: C. N95 respirator, gloves, and gown
Rationale: MRSA requires contact precautions (gloves and gown).
Pneumonia requires droplet precautions (mask). Since the patient has
both, the staff must use N95 respirator (for airborne/droplet), gloves,
and gown.
3. You enter your patient's room and find the patient unresponsive
and without a pulse. What should be your FIRST action?
A. Check the patient's airway
B. Begin chest compressions
C. Call for help
D. Check for breathing
Correct Answer: B. Begin chest compressions
Rationale: In an unresponsive patient without a pulse, immediate CPR
should begin with chest compressions. The correct sequence is
compressions first (C-A-B) according to current AHA guidelines.
4. You are caring for a diabetic patient admitted for uncontrolled
blood sugar. You observe that the patient is non-compliant with her
diet, complains of the meals offered by the hospital, and saw her eat 3
large cookies brought in from home. You know the patient needs
further education when she states:
A. "I will just take extra units of my insulin"
B. "I should ask the dietitian for help with meal planning"
C. "I need to count carbohydrates in my meals"
D. "I should limit my intake of sugary foods"
,Correct Answer: A. "I will just take extra units of my insulin"
Rationale: Taking extra insulin to cover poor dietary choices is
dangerous and can lead to hypoglycemia. The patient needs education
on consistent carbohydrate intake and appropriate insulin dosing.
5. You are caring for a patient admitted with diverticulitis. The patient
has NKDA. Which of the following admission orders would you expect
for this patient?
A. NPO, antibiotic, anticholinergic
B. Clear liquid diet, antibiotic, anticholinergic
C. NPO, antibiotic, analgesic
D. High-fiber diet, antibiotic, analgesic
Correct Answer: C. NPO, antibiotic, analgesic
Rationale: Diverticulitis is treated with bowel rest (NPO), antibiotics,
and analgesics for pain. Anticholinergics are not typically ordered and
would decrease bowel motility, which is not desired.
6. You are caring for a patient with a lower GI bleed. Which of the
following is characteristic of this diagnosis?
A. Black tarry stools
B. Bright red blood in stool
C. Coffee-ground emesis
D. Bloody nasogastric aspirate
Correct Answer: B. Bright red blood in stool
, Rationale: Lower GI bleeds (from the colon or rectum) typically present
with bright red or maroon blood per rectum (hematochezia). Black tarry
stools (melena) are characteristic of upper GI bleeds.
7. Your patient who was admitted 5 days ago begins to have diarrhea.
After notifying the physician, what action should you take NEXT?
A. Give prescribed imodium
B. Obtain a stool specimen for culture
C. Place the patient on contact precautions
D. Increase fluid intake
Correct Answer: C. Place the patient on contact precautions
Rationale: Diarrhea in a hospitalized patient can indicate C. difficile
infection. Contact precautions should be initiated immediately to
prevent transmission to other patients while awaiting further orders.
8. Your patient has dysphagia. Which of the following should be
implemented?
A. NPO status
B. Thickened liquids and pureed foods
C. Place patient in supine position during feeding
D. Normal diet with small bites
Correct Answer: B. Thickened liquids and pureed foods
Rationale: Dysphagia management includes thickened liquids and
pureed foods to reduce aspiration risk. NPO status is too restrictive and
QUESTIONS WITH 100% VERIFIED ANSWERS AND
RATIONALE:
1. The physician has ordered for your COPD patient to receive 80mg of
Solu-Medrol IV every 8 hours. The medication is supplied as 125
milligrams in a 2ml vial. How much of the medication should the nurse
administer to ensure the ordered dose is given?
A. 0.8ml
B. 2.5ml
C. 1.3ml
D. 1.5ml
Correct Answer: C. 1.3ml
Rationale: Use ratio proportion: 125mg/2ml = 80mg/x ml. Cross
multiply: 125x = 160, x = 160/125 = 1.28ml, rounded to 1.3ml. The
wrong answer 1.5ml would deliver 93.75mg, which is an overdose.
2. Which of the following PPE is required for the staff entering a
patient's room who has been diagnosed with pneumonia and is
positive for MRSA?
A. Gown and mask
B. Gloves and gown
C. N95 respirator, gloves, and gown
D. Mask and gloves
,Correct Answer: C. N95 respirator, gloves, and gown
Rationale: MRSA requires contact precautions (gloves and gown).
Pneumonia requires droplet precautions (mask). Since the patient has
both, the staff must use N95 respirator (for airborne/droplet), gloves,
and gown.
3. You enter your patient's room and find the patient unresponsive
and without a pulse. What should be your FIRST action?
A. Check the patient's airway
B. Begin chest compressions
C. Call for help
D. Check for breathing
Correct Answer: B. Begin chest compressions
Rationale: In an unresponsive patient without a pulse, immediate CPR
should begin with chest compressions. The correct sequence is
compressions first (C-A-B) according to current AHA guidelines.
4. You are caring for a diabetic patient admitted for uncontrolled
blood sugar. You observe that the patient is non-compliant with her
diet, complains of the meals offered by the hospital, and saw her eat 3
large cookies brought in from home. You know the patient needs
further education when she states:
A. "I will just take extra units of my insulin"
B. "I should ask the dietitian for help with meal planning"
C. "I need to count carbohydrates in my meals"
D. "I should limit my intake of sugary foods"
,Correct Answer: A. "I will just take extra units of my insulin"
Rationale: Taking extra insulin to cover poor dietary choices is
dangerous and can lead to hypoglycemia. The patient needs education
on consistent carbohydrate intake and appropriate insulin dosing.
5. You are caring for a patient admitted with diverticulitis. The patient
has NKDA. Which of the following admission orders would you expect
for this patient?
A. NPO, antibiotic, anticholinergic
B. Clear liquid diet, antibiotic, anticholinergic
C. NPO, antibiotic, analgesic
D. High-fiber diet, antibiotic, analgesic
Correct Answer: C. NPO, antibiotic, analgesic
Rationale: Diverticulitis is treated with bowel rest (NPO), antibiotics,
and analgesics for pain. Anticholinergics are not typically ordered and
would decrease bowel motility, which is not desired.
6. You are caring for a patient with a lower GI bleed. Which of the
following is characteristic of this diagnosis?
A. Black tarry stools
B. Bright red blood in stool
C. Coffee-ground emesis
D. Bloody nasogastric aspirate
Correct Answer: B. Bright red blood in stool
, Rationale: Lower GI bleeds (from the colon or rectum) typically present
with bright red or maroon blood per rectum (hematochezia). Black tarry
stools (melena) are characteristic of upper GI bleeds.
7. Your patient who was admitted 5 days ago begins to have diarrhea.
After notifying the physician, what action should you take NEXT?
A. Give prescribed imodium
B. Obtain a stool specimen for culture
C. Place the patient on contact precautions
D. Increase fluid intake
Correct Answer: C. Place the patient on contact precautions
Rationale: Diarrhea in a hospitalized patient can indicate C. difficile
infection. Contact precautions should be initiated immediately to
prevent transmission to other patients while awaiting further orders.
8. Your patient has dysphagia. Which of the following should be
implemented?
A. NPO status
B. Thickened liquids and pureed foods
C. Place patient in supine position during feeding
D. Normal diet with small bites
Correct Answer: B. Thickened liquids and pureed foods
Rationale: Dysphagia management includes thickened liquids and
pureed foods to reduce aspiration risk. NPO status is too restrictive and
