V-SIM APPENDICITIS EXAM QUESTIONS
WITH COMPLETE ANSWERS
An adolescent patient has been admitted with a diagnosis of appendicitis, and the family
has been told surgery will be scheduled. How will the nurse respond when asked, "What
kind of surgery are we talking about? - Answer-The two choices are open or
laparoscopic surgery, and the decision will be made by the surgeon.
What assessment information will serve as a baseline for the pain management
provided by the nursing staff of a medical-surgical unit? (Select all that apply.) -
Answer--Pain began 18 hours ago
-The patient states, "Nothing I do makes it hurt less."
-Pain is described as sharp and stabbing.
A nurse is assessing the abdomen of a patient reporting pain and constipation. Which
interventions would best help minimize barriers to the auscultation of the patient's
abdomen? (Select all that apply.) - Answer--Select an environment that is quiet
-Use a properly fitted stethoscope
A patient diagnosed with appendicitis is scheduled for surgery. How will the nurse best
ensure that the patient's data, obtained through nursing assessment, monitoring, and
care interventions are appropriately shared with interdisciplinary care team members? -
Answer-Add appropriate, inclusive documentation to the patient's medical record
A patient diagnosed with acute appendicitis is experiencing abdominal pain and asks for
a heating pad, stating, "Heat always makes me feel better when I have cramps before I
menstruate." What is the nurse's response to the patient's request? - Answer-I'm sorry
but in this situation the heat from the heating pad might cause your appendix to rupture.
Which patients under a nurse's care require a comprehensive pain assessment? (Select
all that apply.) - Answer--A patient being admitted to the unit
-A patient medicated with morphine sulfate 20 minutes ago
-A patient who is being prepared for postoperative physical therapy
-A patient transferred from intensive care unit to a medical unit
A patient is demonstrating signs and symptoms associated with appendicitis. Which
laboratory result supports the diagnosis of appendicitis? - Answer-A white blood cell
(WBC) count of 24,000 cells/mcL
A potentially serious complication of appendicitis is peritonitis. Which changes in
assessment data compared with admission values would indicate the development of
this complication and thus should be monitored for by the nurse? (Select all that apply.)
- Answer--Increase in temperature to 37.8°C (100.0°F)
-Increase in white blood cell (WBC) count to 24,000 cells/mcL
WITH COMPLETE ANSWERS
An adolescent patient has been admitted with a diagnosis of appendicitis, and the family
has been told surgery will be scheduled. How will the nurse respond when asked, "What
kind of surgery are we talking about? - Answer-The two choices are open or
laparoscopic surgery, and the decision will be made by the surgeon.
What assessment information will serve as a baseline for the pain management
provided by the nursing staff of a medical-surgical unit? (Select all that apply.) -
Answer--Pain began 18 hours ago
-The patient states, "Nothing I do makes it hurt less."
-Pain is described as sharp and stabbing.
A nurse is assessing the abdomen of a patient reporting pain and constipation. Which
interventions would best help minimize barriers to the auscultation of the patient's
abdomen? (Select all that apply.) - Answer--Select an environment that is quiet
-Use a properly fitted stethoscope
A patient diagnosed with appendicitis is scheduled for surgery. How will the nurse best
ensure that the patient's data, obtained through nursing assessment, monitoring, and
care interventions are appropriately shared with interdisciplinary care team members? -
Answer-Add appropriate, inclusive documentation to the patient's medical record
A patient diagnosed with acute appendicitis is experiencing abdominal pain and asks for
a heating pad, stating, "Heat always makes me feel better when I have cramps before I
menstruate." What is the nurse's response to the patient's request? - Answer-I'm sorry
but in this situation the heat from the heating pad might cause your appendix to rupture.
Which patients under a nurse's care require a comprehensive pain assessment? (Select
all that apply.) - Answer--A patient being admitted to the unit
-A patient medicated with morphine sulfate 20 minutes ago
-A patient who is being prepared for postoperative physical therapy
-A patient transferred from intensive care unit to a medical unit
A patient is demonstrating signs and symptoms associated with appendicitis. Which
laboratory result supports the diagnosis of appendicitis? - Answer-A white blood cell
(WBC) count of 24,000 cells/mcL
A potentially serious complication of appendicitis is peritonitis. Which changes in
assessment data compared with admission values would indicate the development of
this complication and thus should be monitored for by the nurse? (Select all that apply.)
- Answer--Increase in temperature to 37.8°C (100.0°F)
-Increase in white blood cell (WBC) count to 24,000 cells/mcL
