MEDICAL SURGICAL NURSING TEST
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT ANSWERS AND
RATIONALES
◉ A patient with mitral valve disease is admitted to a medical unit
with fever, chills, SOB, malaise and a newly developed cardiac
murmur. Based on the patient's new diagnosis of endocarditis, the
nurse will begin preparing him for discharge by teaching about:
a. lifestyle modifications.
b. warfarin (Coumadin) therapy.
c. self-administration of IV antibiotics.
d. the need for fluid restrictions.. Answer: c. self-administration of IV
antibiotics.
◉ A patient with hypercholesterolemia was prescribed pravastatin
(Prevachol). The nurse should teach the patent about which of the
following side effects for this medication?
a. Muscle weakness
b. Flushing
c. Itching
d. Hypotension. Answer: a. Muscle weakness
◉ Ms. Parsons, age 65, is transferred to a medical telemetry unit after
several days in the coronary care unit for treatment of an acute MI.
Ms. Parsons remains very anxious, with occasional episodes of chest
pressure. Which medication does the nurse prepare for Ms. Parsons to
decrease her anxiety and improve cardiac output?
a. Nitroprusside (Nipride)
, b. Diazepam (Valium)
c. Morphine sulfate (MS)
d. Dopamine (Intropin). Answer: c. Morphine sulfate (MS)
◉ The nurse's assessment of Mr. Harrison's response to digoxin will
include which of the following as the most common early indicator of
toxicity.
a. Anorexia
b. Diarrhea
c. Headache
d. Confusion. Answer: a. Anorexia
◉ The nurse is also aware that some of Mr. Harrison's medications
can increase serum digitalis concentrations and thus the risk for
digoxin toxicity. These include:
a. calcium carbonate (Tums)
b. cholestyramine (Questran)
c. sulfasalazine (Azulfidine)
d. amiodarone (Cordarone). Answer: d. amiodarone (Cordarone)
◉ The nurse teaches Ms. Pratt about the use of nitroglycerin.
Following teaching, it is most important for the patient to:
a. indicate she will call for help if three nitroglycerin tablets don not
relieve her chest pain.
b. identify flushing and dizziness as common side effects of the drug.
c. verbalize understanding that nitroglycerin will help prevent her
from having a myocardial infarction (MI)
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT ANSWERS AND
RATIONALES
◉ A patient with mitral valve disease is admitted to a medical unit
with fever, chills, SOB, malaise and a newly developed cardiac
murmur. Based on the patient's new diagnosis of endocarditis, the
nurse will begin preparing him for discharge by teaching about:
a. lifestyle modifications.
b. warfarin (Coumadin) therapy.
c. self-administration of IV antibiotics.
d. the need for fluid restrictions.. Answer: c. self-administration of IV
antibiotics.
◉ A patient with hypercholesterolemia was prescribed pravastatin
(Prevachol). The nurse should teach the patent about which of the
following side effects for this medication?
a. Muscle weakness
b. Flushing
c. Itching
d. Hypotension. Answer: a. Muscle weakness
◉ Ms. Parsons, age 65, is transferred to a medical telemetry unit after
several days in the coronary care unit for treatment of an acute MI.
Ms. Parsons remains very anxious, with occasional episodes of chest
pressure. Which medication does the nurse prepare for Ms. Parsons to
decrease her anxiety and improve cardiac output?
a. Nitroprusside (Nipride)
, b. Diazepam (Valium)
c. Morphine sulfate (MS)
d. Dopamine (Intropin). Answer: c. Morphine sulfate (MS)
◉ The nurse's assessment of Mr. Harrison's response to digoxin will
include which of the following as the most common early indicator of
toxicity.
a. Anorexia
b. Diarrhea
c. Headache
d. Confusion. Answer: a. Anorexia
◉ The nurse is also aware that some of Mr. Harrison's medications
can increase serum digitalis concentrations and thus the risk for
digoxin toxicity. These include:
a. calcium carbonate (Tums)
b. cholestyramine (Questran)
c. sulfasalazine (Azulfidine)
d. amiodarone (Cordarone). Answer: d. amiodarone (Cordarone)
◉ The nurse teaches Ms. Pratt about the use of nitroglycerin.
Following teaching, it is most important for the patient to:
a. indicate she will call for help if three nitroglycerin tablets don not
relieve her chest pain.
b. identify flushing and dizziness as common side effects of the drug.
c. verbalize understanding that nitroglycerin will help prevent her
from having a myocardial infarction (MI)
