UNDERSTANDING MEDICAL SURGICAL
NURSING
Actual Questions and Answers
Expert-Verified Explanation
This Exam contains:
✪ Multiple-choice and True/False Format
✪ Expert-Verified Explanations
✪ Verified with Trusted Textbooks
1. A patient presents with chest pain radiating to the left arm and jaw. What should the nurse do
first?
A. Administer nitroglycerin
B. Call the rapid response team
C. Administer oxygen and obtain vital signs
D. Perform a full head-to-toe assessment
Answer: C
EXPLANATION: Administering oxygen and obtaining vital signs are priority actions to address
hypoxia and monitor for hemodynamic instability.
2. A nurse is assessing a patient with peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Which finding is expected?
A. Warm, flushed legs
B. Diminished or absent pedal pulses
C. Bounding pedal pulses
D. Leg edema
Answer: B
EXPLANATION: PAD reduces blood flow, resulting in weak or absent peripheral pulses.
3. Which lab value most directly indicates myocardial injury?
A. BNP
B. CK-MM
C. Troponin I
D. Myoglobin
Answer: C
EXPLANATION: Troponin I is the most specific and sensitive marker of myocardial injury.
4. A patient with stable angina takes nitroglycerin for chest pain. Which instruction is correct?
A. Take after meals
B. Take one tablet every 5 minutes up to three doses
C. Take only if chest pain lasts more than 30 minutes
D. Take with milk
Answer: B
EXPLANATION: Standard protocol is one nitroglycerin tablet every 5 minutes up to three doses.
5. Which are signs of acute arterial occlusion? (Select all that apply)
, A. Bradycardia
B. Pulselessness
C. Paresthesia
D. Pallor
E. Paralysis
Answer: B, C, D, E
EXPLANATION: The 6 P's (Pain, Pallor, Pulselessness, Paresthesia, Paralysis, Poikilothermia) are
classic signs of arterial occlusion.
6. A patient who had a stent placed 2 days ago reports chest pain. What is the priority action?
A. Notify the provider immediately
B. Administer morphine
C. Reassess in 30 minutes
D. Encourage rest
Answer: A
EXPLANATION: Chest pain post-stenting may indicate stent thrombosis or re-occlusion, which is an
emergency.
7. Which symptom is most typical of intermittent claudication?
A. Numbness at rest
B. Edema
C. Leg pain with walking that stops at rest
D. Constant leg pain
Answer: C
EXPLANATION: This is a hallmark symptom of PAD.
8. Which statement indicates understanding of risk reduction for coronary artery disease?
A. "I'll eat more red meat."
B. "I'll stop smoking."
C. "I'll rest more and avoid exercise."
D. "I don't need to change my habits if I feel fine."
Answer: B
EXPLANATION: Smoking is a major modifiable risk factor for coronary artery disease.
9. What is the purpose of aspirin therapy in atherosclerosis?
A. Reduce LDL cholesterol
B. Prevent blood clots
C. Lower blood pressure
D. Increase HDL
Answer: B
EXPLANATION: Aspirin inhibits platelet aggregation, reducing clot formation.
10. A patient reports taking sildenafil. Which medication should the nurse question?
A. Metoprolol
B. Furosemide
C. Nitroglycerin
D. Lisinopril
NURSING
Actual Questions and Answers
Expert-Verified Explanation
This Exam contains:
✪ Multiple-choice and True/False Format
✪ Expert-Verified Explanations
✪ Verified with Trusted Textbooks
1. A patient presents with chest pain radiating to the left arm and jaw. What should the nurse do
first?
A. Administer nitroglycerin
B. Call the rapid response team
C. Administer oxygen and obtain vital signs
D. Perform a full head-to-toe assessment
Answer: C
EXPLANATION: Administering oxygen and obtaining vital signs are priority actions to address
hypoxia and monitor for hemodynamic instability.
2. A nurse is assessing a patient with peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Which finding is expected?
A. Warm, flushed legs
B. Diminished or absent pedal pulses
C. Bounding pedal pulses
D. Leg edema
Answer: B
EXPLANATION: PAD reduces blood flow, resulting in weak or absent peripheral pulses.
3. Which lab value most directly indicates myocardial injury?
A. BNP
B. CK-MM
C. Troponin I
D. Myoglobin
Answer: C
EXPLANATION: Troponin I is the most specific and sensitive marker of myocardial injury.
4. A patient with stable angina takes nitroglycerin for chest pain. Which instruction is correct?
A. Take after meals
B. Take one tablet every 5 minutes up to three doses
C. Take only if chest pain lasts more than 30 minutes
D. Take with milk
Answer: B
EXPLANATION: Standard protocol is one nitroglycerin tablet every 5 minutes up to three doses.
5. Which are signs of acute arterial occlusion? (Select all that apply)
, A. Bradycardia
B. Pulselessness
C. Paresthesia
D. Pallor
E. Paralysis
Answer: B, C, D, E
EXPLANATION: The 6 P's (Pain, Pallor, Pulselessness, Paresthesia, Paralysis, Poikilothermia) are
classic signs of arterial occlusion.
6. A patient who had a stent placed 2 days ago reports chest pain. What is the priority action?
A. Notify the provider immediately
B. Administer morphine
C. Reassess in 30 minutes
D. Encourage rest
Answer: A
EXPLANATION: Chest pain post-stenting may indicate stent thrombosis or re-occlusion, which is an
emergency.
7. Which symptom is most typical of intermittent claudication?
A. Numbness at rest
B. Edema
C. Leg pain with walking that stops at rest
D. Constant leg pain
Answer: C
EXPLANATION: This is a hallmark symptom of PAD.
8. Which statement indicates understanding of risk reduction for coronary artery disease?
A. "I'll eat more red meat."
B. "I'll stop smoking."
C. "I'll rest more and avoid exercise."
D. "I don't need to change my habits if I feel fine."
Answer: B
EXPLANATION: Smoking is a major modifiable risk factor for coronary artery disease.
9. What is the purpose of aspirin therapy in atherosclerosis?
A. Reduce LDL cholesterol
B. Prevent blood clots
C. Lower blood pressure
D. Increase HDL
Answer: B
EXPLANATION: Aspirin inhibits platelet aggregation, reducing clot formation.
10. A patient reports taking sildenafil. Which medication should the nurse question?
A. Metoprolol
B. Furosemide
C. Nitroglycerin
D. Lisinopril
