MDC IV COMPREHENSIVE EXAM STUDY
GUIDE WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
●● B. Notify the physician immediately.
Answer: It has been 12 hours since a patient has been admitted for burns
to the face and neck with associated inhalation injuries. The patient had
been wheezing audibly and the wheezing has now stopped. What
nursing action is appropriate?
A. Check the patient's Spo2 level.
B. Notify the physician immediately.
C. Re-assess breathing in 1 hour.
D. Document improvement in patient's condition.
●● D. Possible allergic reaction to silver sulfadiazine (Silvadene)
Answer: A patient has been receiving dressing changes with silver
sulfadiazine (Silvadene) for burn injuries over both lower arms. The
nurse notices that the patient's white blood cell count has dropped
significantly over the past 4 days. How does the nurse interpret this
finding?
A. Electrolyte imbalance
B. Infection is improving
,C. Impending kidney disease
D. Possible allergic reaction to silver sulfadiazine (Silvadene)
●● A. 24-year-old male admitted with blunt chest trauma and aspiration
Answer: Which patient is at greatest risk of developing acute respiratory
distress syndrome (ARDS)?
A. 24-year-old male admitted with blunt chest trauma and aspiration
B. 56-year-old male with a history of alcohol abuse and chronic
pancreatitis
C. 72-year-old male post heart valve surgery receiving 1 unit of packed
red blood cells
D. 82-year-old female on antibiotics for pneumonia
●● B. "I should eat more green leafy vegetables like spinach."
Answer: A patient is being discharged to home on warfarin (Coumadin)
therapy to manage an acute pulmonary embolism. Which patient
response indicates a need for further teaching by the nurse?
A. "I should limit my alcohol consumption."
B. "I should eat more green leafy vegetables like spinach."
C. "I should take the medication at the same time every day."
D. "I should make a doctor's appointment for weekly blood draws."
, ●● D. Opioid analgesic overdose
Answer: A patient in acute respiratory failure is classified as having
ventilatory failure. The nurse understands that which finding is a
potential cause of ventilatory failure?
A. Pulmonary edema
B. Hypovolemic shock
C. Pulmonary embolus
D. Opioid analgesic overdose
●● B. Initiate intravenous fluid resuscitation.
Answer: A 37-year-old male is admitted with a severely abscessed tooth,
BP 90/42, HR 136, RR 28, Spo2 90% on room air, temperature 38.7º C.
The nurse suspects that the patient has developed sepsis. What is the
priority nursing intervention?
A. Insert an indwelling urinary catheter.
B. Initiate intravenous fluid resuscitation.
C. Obtain a complete chemistry for laboratory analysis.
D. Administer prescribed antibiotics prior to blood cultures.
●● B. Increased heart rate
GUIDE WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
●● B. Notify the physician immediately.
Answer: It has been 12 hours since a patient has been admitted for burns
to the face and neck with associated inhalation injuries. The patient had
been wheezing audibly and the wheezing has now stopped. What
nursing action is appropriate?
A. Check the patient's Spo2 level.
B. Notify the physician immediately.
C. Re-assess breathing in 1 hour.
D. Document improvement in patient's condition.
●● D. Possible allergic reaction to silver sulfadiazine (Silvadene)
Answer: A patient has been receiving dressing changes with silver
sulfadiazine (Silvadene) for burn injuries over both lower arms. The
nurse notices that the patient's white blood cell count has dropped
significantly over the past 4 days. How does the nurse interpret this
finding?
A. Electrolyte imbalance
B. Infection is improving
,C. Impending kidney disease
D. Possible allergic reaction to silver sulfadiazine (Silvadene)
●● A. 24-year-old male admitted with blunt chest trauma and aspiration
Answer: Which patient is at greatest risk of developing acute respiratory
distress syndrome (ARDS)?
A. 24-year-old male admitted with blunt chest trauma and aspiration
B. 56-year-old male with a history of alcohol abuse and chronic
pancreatitis
C. 72-year-old male post heart valve surgery receiving 1 unit of packed
red blood cells
D. 82-year-old female on antibiotics for pneumonia
●● B. "I should eat more green leafy vegetables like spinach."
Answer: A patient is being discharged to home on warfarin (Coumadin)
therapy to manage an acute pulmonary embolism. Which patient
response indicates a need for further teaching by the nurse?
A. "I should limit my alcohol consumption."
B. "I should eat more green leafy vegetables like spinach."
C. "I should take the medication at the same time every day."
D. "I should make a doctor's appointment for weekly blood draws."
, ●● D. Opioid analgesic overdose
Answer: A patient in acute respiratory failure is classified as having
ventilatory failure. The nurse understands that which finding is a
potential cause of ventilatory failure?
A. Pulmonary edema
B. Hypovolemic shock
C. Pulmonary embolus
D. Opioid analgesic overdose
●● B. Initiate intravenous fluid resuscitation.
Answer: A 37-year-old male is admitted with a severely abscessed tooth,
BP 90/42, HR 136, RR 28, Spo2 90% on room air, temperature 38.7º C.
The nurse suspects that the patient has developed sepsis. What is the
priority nursing intervention?
A. Insert an indwelling urinary catheter.
B. Initiate intravenous fluid resuscitation.
C. Obtain a complete chemistry for laboratory analysis.
D. Administer prescribed antibiotics prior to blood cultures.
●● B. Increased heart rate
