Med-Surg HIV and AIDS Exam With
Questions And Answers
The nurse clarifies that a patient with HIV does not necessarily have AIDS until:
A. CD4 cell level drops to 200.
B. Two or more opportunistic infections are diagnosed.
C. Kaposi sarcoma appears.
D. Tested positive for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). - Answer A. CD4
cell level drops to 200.
A patient is concerned about telling others he has HIV infection. In discussing his
concerns, which response by the nurse is most appropriate?
A. There is no reason to hide his disease.
B. His diagnosis will be obvious to most people with whom he will come into contact.
C. Care providers and sexual partners should be told about his diagnosis.
D. Secrecy is a poor idea because it will lower his self-esteem. - Answer C. Care
providers and sexual partners should be told about his diagnosis.
The nurse caring for a patient with HIV infection who is taking Retrovir, a nucleoside
antiviral that is a reverse transcriptase inhibitor, should be especially observant for side
effects of:
A. Granulocytopenia
B. Hypertensive episodes
C. Decreased urine output
D. Edema of the face - Answer A. Granulocytopenia
A patient has just been told by his physician that he is HIV-positive. He asks the nurse,
"When will I get AIDS?" The nurse's response should be
A. "You can expect to develop signs and symptoms of AIDS within 6 months."
B. "Most people get AIDS within 3-12 weeks after they are infected with HIV."
C. "Don't worry. You may never get AIDS if you eat properly, exercise, and get plenty of
rest."
D. "It varies with every individual, but the average time is 8-10 years from the time a
person is infected, and some go much longer." - Answer D. "It varies with every
individual, but the average time is 8-10 years from the time a person is infected, and
some go much longer."
, The nurse includes in the teaching plan for a patient with HIV who has been diagnosed
with microsporidiosis that the patient should:
A. Include milk products with every meal.
B. Limit protein intake to reduce serum ammonia levels.
C. Drink 3 quarts of fluid a day to combat dehydration.
D. Consume liberal amounts of fat for increased energy. - Answer C. Drink 3 quarts of
fluid a day to combat dehydration.
The school nurse uses a chart to demonstrate that, according to statistics from the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the population with the greatest
incidence of human immunodeficiency viral (HIV) infection in the United States is:
A. Whites
B. Latinos
C. Asian Americans
D. African Americans - Answer D. African Americans
Kaposi's sarcoma is a common problem in patients with AIDS. The nurse should instruct
the patient who is diagnosed with AIDS to report which of the following signs of Kaposi's
sarcoma?
A. Watery diarrhea
B. Reddish-purple skin lesions
C. Blood-tinged sputum
D. Open, bleeding skin lesions - Answer B. Reddish-purple skin lesions
While teaching community groups about AIDS, the nurse informs people that the most
common method of transmission of the HIV virus currently is:
A. perinatal transmission.
B. exposure to contaminated blood.
C. nonsexual exposure to saliva and tears.
D. sexual contact with an HIV-infected partner. - Answer D. sexual contact with an HIV-
infected partner.
HIV patients who are suffering from depression should be frequently assessed for:
A. suicidal ideation.
B. fear of death.
C. physical decline.
D. support systems. - Answer A. suicidal ideation.
A patient, age 25, has just been admitted to the unit with a diagnosis of AIDS. The
nurse's colleague says, "I'm pregnant. It is not safe for me or my baby if I am assigned
to his case." The nurse's response should be
Questions And Answers
The nurse clarifies that a patient with HIV does not necessarily have AIDS until:
A. CD4 cell level drops to 200.
B. Two or more opportunistic infections are diagnosed.
C. Kaposi sarcoma appears.
D. Tested positive for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). - Answer A. CD4
cell level drops to 200.
A patient is concerned about telling others he has HIV infection. In discussing his
concerns, which response by the nurse is most appropriate?
A. There is no reason to hide his disease.
B. His diagnosis will be obvious to most people with whom he will come into contact.
C. Care providers and sexual partners should be told about his diagnosis.
D. Secrecy is a poor idea because it will lower his self-esteem. - Answer C. Care
providers and sexual partners should be told about his diagnosis.
The nurse caring for a patient with HIV infection who is taking Retrovir, a nucleoside
antiviral that is a reverse transcriptase inhibitor, should be especially observant for side
effects of:
A. Granulocytopenia
B. Hypertensive episodes
C. Decreased urine output
D. Edema of the face - Answer A. Granulocytopenia
A patient has just been told by his physician that he is HIV-positive. He asks the nurse,
"When will I get AIDS?" The nurse's response should be
A. "You can expect to develop signs and symptoms of AIDS within 6 months."
B. "Most people get AIDS within 3-12 weeks after they are infected with HIV."
C. "Don't worry. You may never get AIDS if you eat properly, exercise, and get plenty of
rest."
D. "It varies with every individual, but the average time is 8-10 years from the time a
person is infected, and some go much longer." - Answer D. "It varies with every
individual, but the average time is 8-10 years from the time a person is infected, and
some go much longer."
, The nurse includes in the teaching plan for a patient with HIV who has been diagnosed
with microsporidiosis that the patient should:
A. Include milk products with every meal.
B. Limit protein intake to reduce serum ammonia levels.
C. Drink 3 quarts of fluid a day to combat dehydration.
D. Consume liberal amounts of fat for increased energy. - Answer C. Drink 3 quarts of
fluid a day to combat dehydration.
The school nurse uses a chart to demonstrate that, according to statistics from the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the population with the greatest
incidence of human immunodeficiency viral (HIV) infection in the United States is:
A. Whites
B. Latinos
C. Asian Americans
D. African Americans - Answer D. African Americans
Kaposi's sarcoma is a common problem in patients with AIDS. The nurse should instruct
the patient who is diagnosed with AIDS to report which of the following signs of Kaposi's
sarcoma?
A. Watery diarrhea
B. Reddish-purple skin lesions
C. Blood-tinged sputum
D. Open, bleeding skin lesions - Answer B. Reddish-purple skin lesions
While teaching community groups about AIDS, the nurse informs people that the most
common method of transmission of the HIV virus currently is:
A. perinatal transmission.
B. exposure to contaminated blood.
C. nonsexual exposure to saliva and tears.
D. sexual contact with an HIV-infected partner. - Answer D. sexual contact with an HIV-
infected partner.
HIV patients who are suffering from depression should be frequently assessed for:
A. suicidal ideation.
B. fear of death.
C. physical decline.
D. support systems. - Answer A. suicidal ideation.
A patient, age 25, has just been admitted to the unit with a diagnosis of AIDS. The
nurse's colleague says, "I'm pregnant. It is not safe for me or my baby if I am assigned
to his case." The nurse's response should be
