MED SURG CERTIFICATION PRACTICE
QUESTIONS AND ALLVERIFIED CORRECT
ANSWERS.
For the patient with a new tracheostomy, the nurse must be alert to which
early complication?
a) Decannulation
b) Infection
c) Bleeding
d) Tracheomalacia - CorreCt Answers -C
Common acute risks of tracheostomy include bleeding, airway loss, damage
to adjacent structures, and failure of the chosen technique to achieve
successful airway
EVERYTHING 24 HR POST SURGERY, FIRST COMPLICATION IS
BLEEDING. Infection comes 2-3 days later.
When a pulse oximetry monitor indicates that a patient has a drop in SpO2
from 96% to 85% over 4 hours, the nurse will first:
1. Request an order for stat ABGs
2. Start the patient on oxygen by NC at 2L/minute
3. Notify the physician of the change
,4. Check the position of the probe on patient's finger or earlobe - CorreCt
Answers -4
Pulse oximetry is inaccurate if the probe is loose, or in the presence of poor
circulation, nail polish, or dark skin pigmentation.
To decrease a patient's shortness of breath and a sense of impending doom
during an asthma attack, the nurse will:
A. Place the patient on a cardiac monitor and observe from the nurses'
station.
B. Let the patient rest alone in a quiet, calm environment.
C. Reassure the patient that the doctor will arrive soon
D. Stay with the patient and encourage pursed-lip breathing. - CorreCt
Answers -D
The patient experiencing an acute asthma exacerbation will be fearful and
anxious. It is important for the nurse to stay with the patient for ongoing
assessment and to provide a calm environment. Helping the patient breathe
with pursed lips will facilitate the expiration of trapped air and help the
patient regain control of his or her breathing.
A 68 year old woman is admitted to the surgical unit after a gastric
resection for gastric cancer. She states that she doesn't want anyone to see
her in this condition, even her husband. This nurse's best response is:
A."Patients' rights protect your privacy. I won't allow anyone in."
,B."I've seen gastric cancer patients who look much worse. Don't worry."
C."Would you like to talk to a social worker?"
D."What about your condition worries you?" - CorreCt Answers -D
The nurse should allow the patient to share her concerns and express her
feelings in a nonjudgmental environment.
If there is psych/behavioral component- AFFIRM AND VALIDATE, NO
PROBING
A patient with a tricuspid valve disorder will have impaired blood flow
between the:
A. Vena cava and right atrium
B. Left atrium and left ventricle
C. Right atrium and right ventricle
D. Right ventricle and pulmonary artery - CorreCt Answers -C
Tricuspid valve is located between right atrium and right ventricle
MITRAL VALVE- left atrium and left ventricle
If the Purkinje system is damaged, conduction of the electrical impulse is
impaired through the:
, A. Atria
B. AV node
C. Ventricles
D. Bundle of His - CorreCt Answers -C
Purkinje fibers provide a high-speed distribution of excitation throughout
the ventricular myocardium; if the pattern of contraction is disrupted, the
ventricles will not efficiently eject blood
Order of impulse is SA node to AV node to Bundle of His to bundle branch
to purkinje fibers
The P-wave on an EKG is representative of:
A. Ventricular depolarization
B. Atrial depolarization
C. Atrial repolarization
D. Ventricular repolarization - CorreCt Answers -B. Atrial depolarization
Ventricular repolarization is represented by the QRS There is no distinctly
visible wave representing atrial repolarization in the ECG because it occurs
during ventricular depolarization, ventricular repolarization is shown as the
interval between the start of the QRS complex and the end of the T wave
A patient admitted with an abscess in her left thigh undergoes incision and
drainage. 3 days later, she develops fever (temperature of 103°F), chills,
QUESTIONS AND ALLVERIFIED CORRECT
ANSWERS.
For the patient with a new tracheostomy, the nurse must be alert to which
early complication?
a) Decannulation
b) Infection
c) Bleeding
d) Tracheomalacia - CorreCt Answers -C
Common acute risks of tracheostomy include bleeding, airway loss, damage
to adjacent structures, and failure of the chosen technique to achieve
successful airway
EVERYTHING 24 HR POST SURGERY, FIRST COMPLICATION IS
BLEEDING. Infection comes 2-3 days later.
When a pulse oximetry monitor indicates that a patient has a drop in SpO2
from 96% to 85% over 4 hours, the nurse will first:
1. Request an order for stat ABGs
2. Start the patient on oxygen by NC at 2L/minute
3. Notify the physician of the change
,4. Check the position of the probe on patient's finger or earlobe - CorreCt
Answers -4
Pulse oximetry is inaccurate if the probe is loose, or in the presence of poor
circulation, nail polish, or dark skin pigmentation.
To decrease a patient's shortness of breath and a sense of impending doom
during an asthma attack, the nurse will:
A. Place the patient on a cardiac monitor and observe from the nurses'
station.
B. Let the patient rest alone in a quiet, calm environment.
C. Reassure the patient that the doctor will arrive soon
D. Stay with the patient and encourage pursed-lip breathing. - CorreCt
Answers -D
The patient experiencing an acute asthma exacerbation will be fearful and
anxious. It is important for the nurse to stay with the patient for ongoing
assessment and to provide a calm environment. Helping the patient breathe
with pursed lips will facilitate the expiration of trapped air and help the
patient regain control of his or her breathing.
A 68 year old woman is admitted to the surgical unit after a gastric
resection for gastric cancer. She states that she doesn't want anyone to see
her in this condition, even her husband. This nurse's best response is:
A."Patients' rights protect your privacy. I won't allow anyone in."
,B."I've seen gastric cancer patients who look much worse. Don't worry."
C."Would you like to talk to a social worker?"
D."What about your condition worries you?" - CorreCt Answers -D
The nurse should allow the patient to share her concerns and express her
feelings in a nonjudgmental environment.
If there is psych/behavioral component- AFFIRM AND VALIDATE, NO
PROBING
A patient with a tricuspid valve disorder will have impaired blood flow
between the:
A. Vena cava and right atrium
B. Left atrium and left ventricle
C. Right atrium and right ventricle
D. Right ventricle and pulmonary artery - CorreCt Answers -C
Tricuspid valve is located between right atrium and right ventricle
MITRAL VALVE- left atrium and left ventricle
If the Purkinje system is damaged, conduction of the electrical impulse is
impaired through the:
, A. Atria
B. AV node
C. Ventricles
D. Bundle of His - CorreCt Answers -C
Purkinje fibers provide a high-speed distribution of excitation throughout
the ventricular myocardium; if the pattern of contraction is disrupted, the
ventricles will not efficiently eject blood
Order of impulse is SA node to AV node to Bundle of His to bundle branch
to purkinje fibers
The P-wave on an EKG is representative of:
A. Ventricular depolarization
B. Atrial depolarization
C. Atrial repolarization
D. Ventricular repolarization - CorreCt Answers -B. Atrial depolarization
Ventricular repolarization is represented by the QRS There is no distinctly
visible wave representing atrial repolarization in the ECG because it occurs
during ventricular depolarization, ventricular repolarization is shown as the
interval between the start of the QRS complex and the end of the T wave
A patient admitted with an abscess in her left thigh undergoes incision and
drainage. 3 days later, she develops fever (temperature of 103°F), chills,
