IGNATAVICIUS MEDICAL SURGICAL
NURSING COMPREHENSIVE EXAM PREP
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS VERIFIED
STUDY RESOURCE
●● What is the most common site of origin for a clot to occur, causing a
pulmonary embolism?
a. Right side of the heart
b. Deep veins of the legs and pelvis
c. Antecubital vein in the upper extremities
d. Subclavian veins
Answer: b. Deep veins of the legs and pelvis
●● What is the most common cause of an embolism?
a. Amniotic fluid
b. Bolus of air
c. Blood clot
d. Arterial plaque
Answer: c. Blood clot
,●● Which conditions define respiratory failure? Select all that apply.
a. Ventilatory failure
b. Circulatory failure
c. Oxygenation failure
d. Severe anemia
e. Combination of ventilatory and oxygenation failure
f. Chronic emphysema
Answer: a. Ventilatory failure
c. Oxygenation failure
e. Combination of ventilatory and oxygenation failure
●● A patient in the hospital is receiving a continuous infusion of heparin
for a pulmonary embolism. When the nurse enters the room, the patient
has blood on the front of his chest and is holding a tissue saturated with
blood to his nose. What is the first priority action the nurse must take?
a. Have the patient sit up and lean forward, pinching the nostrils.
b. Have a UAP set up oral suctioning to suction excess blood from the
patient's mouth.
c. Stop the heparin IV solution
d. Obtain laboratory results for prothrombin time and complete blood
count.
,Answer: c. Stop the heparin IV solution
●● The nurse's young neighbor who smokes is going on an overseas
flight. The neighbor knows he is at risk for DVT and PE, and asks the
nurse for advice. What does the nurse suggest?
a. Exercise regularly and walk around before boarding the flight
b. Get a prescription for heparin therapy and take it before the flight
c. Drink water and get up every hour for at least 5 mins during the flight.
d. Elevate the legs as much as possible during and after the flight.
Answer: c. Drink water and get up every hour for at least 5 mins during
the flight
●● The nurse is caring for several post-operative patients at risk for
developing pulmonary embolism. Which interventions does the nurse
use to help prevent the development of PE in these patients? Select all
that apply.
a. Start passive and active ROM exercises for the extremities.
b. Ambulate postoperative patients soon after surgery.
c. Use antiembolism devices postoperatively
d. Elevate legs in an extended position
e. Change patient position every 4-6 hours.
f. Administer stool softeners to prevent constipation.
, Answer: a. Start passive and active ROM exercises for the extremities.
b. Ambulate postoperative patients soon after surgery
c. Use antiembolism devices postoperatively
f. Administer stool softeners to prevent constipation.
●● The nurse suspects a patient has a pulmonary embolism and notifies
the provider, who orders an ABG. The HCP is one the way to the
facility. The nurse anticipates and prepares the patient for which
additional diagnostic test?
a. Ultrasound
b. Pulmonary angiography
c. 12-lead ECG
d. Venous dopplers
Answer: b. Pulmonary angiography
●● The healthcare provider orders heparin therapy for a patient with a
relatively small pulmonary embolism. THe patient states, "I didn't tell
the doctor my complete medical history." Which condition may affect
the healthcare provider's decision to immediately start heparin therapy?
a. Type 2 diabetes mellitus
b. Recent cerebral hemorrhage
c. Newly diagnosed osteoarthritis
NURSING COMPREHENSIVE EXAM PREP
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS VERIFIED
STUDY RESOURCE
●● What is the most common site of origin for a clot to occur, causing a
pulmonary embolism?
a. Right side of the heart
b. Deep veins of the legs and pelvis
c. Antecubital vein in the upper extremities
d. Subclavian veins
Answer: b. Deep veins of the legs and pelvis
●● What is the most common cause of an embolism?
a. Amniotic fluid
b. Bolus of air
c. Blood clot
d. Arterial plaque
Answer: c. Blood clot
,●● Which conditions define respiratory failure? Select all that apply.
a. Ventilatory failure
b. Circulatory failure
c. Oxygenation failure
d. Severe anemia
e. Combination of ventilatory and oxygenation failure
f. Chronic emphysema
Answer: a. Ventilatory failure
c. Oxygenation failure
e. Combination of ventilatory and oxygenation failure
●● A patient in the hospital is receiving a continuous infusion of heparin
for a pulmonary embolism. When the nurse enters the room, the patient
has blood on the front of his chest and is holding a tissue saturated with
blood to his nose. What is the first priority action the nurse must take?
a. Have the patient sit up and lean forward, pinching the nostrils.
b. Have a UAP set up oral suctioning to suction excess blood from the
patient's mouth.
c. Stop the heparin IV solution
d. Obtain laboratory results for prothrombin time and complete blood
count.
,Answer: c. Stop the heparin IV solution
●● The nurse's young neighbor who smokes is going on an overseas
flight. The neighbor knows he is at risk for DVT and PE, and asks the
nurse for advice. What does the nurse suggest?
a. Exercise regularly and walk around before boarding the flight
b. Get a prescription for heparin therapy and take it before the flight
c. Drink water and get up every hour for at least 5 mins during the flight.
d. Elevate the legs as much as possible during and after the flight.
Answer: c. Drink water and get up every hour for at least 5 mins during
the flight
●● The nurse is caring for several post-operative patients at risk for
developing pulmonary embolism. Which interventions does the nurse
use to help prevent the development of PE in these patients? Select all
that apply.
a. Start passive and active ROM exercises for the extremities.
b. Ambulate postoperative patients soon after surgery.
c. Use antiembolism devices postoperatively
d. Elevate legs in an extended position
e. Change patient position every 4-6 hours.
f. Administer stool softeners to prevent constipation.
, Answer: a. Start passive and active ROM exercises for the extremities.
b. Ambulate postoperative patients soon after surgery
c. Use antiembolism devices postoperatively
f. Administer stool softeners to prevent constipation.
●● The nurse suspects a patient has a pulmonary embolism and notifies
the provider, who orders an ABG. The HCP is one the way to the
facility. The nurse anticipates and prepares the patient for which
additional diagnostic test?
a. Ultrasound
b. Pulmonary angiography
c. 12-lead ECG
d. Venous dopplers
Answer: b. Pulmonary angiography
●● The healthcare provider orders heparin therapy for a patient with a
relatively small pulmonary embolism. THe patient states, "I didn't tell
the doctor my complete medical history." Which condition may affect
the healthcare provider's decision to immediately start heparin therapy?
a. Type 2 diabetes mellitus
b. Recent cerebral hemorrhage
c. Newly diagnosed osteoarthritis
