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KAPLAN MED SURG 1 QUESTIONS WITH
DETAILED VERIFIED ANSWERS
A patient is admitted to the hospital after sustaining severe electrical
burn. A tracheostomy is performed, and the patient is unable to use
either hand. It is MOST important for the nurse to take which of the
following actions?
1. Obtain a closed-circuit video monitor
2. Pad the side rails of the bed
3. Obtain and blow-touch call bell
4. Transfer the patient with a Hoyer lift Ans: Answer: Obtain a blow
touch call bell.
The patient is unable to use either hand, so the most appropriate way for
him to summon the nurse is with a blow-touch call bell.
The nurse expects which of the following modes of mechanical ventilation
to be ordered for a patient with severe Guillain-Barre syndrome?
1. Controlled ventilation (CV)
2. Assist-control ventilation (AC)
3. Synchronized intermittent mandatory
ventilation (SIMV)
4. Continuous positive airway pressure
(CPAP) Ans: Answer: Controlled ventilation (CV)
Patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome have flaccidity or weakness that
progresses upward from the lower extremities and often includes the
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trunk, with resultant respiratory compromise and possible failure; motor
deficits can progress to total quadriplegia; controlled ventilation is used
for patients who are unable to initiate a breath, such as patients with
polio or Guillian-Barre; it delivers a set tidal volume of oxygen at a set
rate; this is the simplest mode, but is used less frequently than others.
Immediately following thoracentesis, the nurse notices a progressive
swelling on the right side of the patient's chest and neck. The nurse
knows which of the following conditions is the MOST likely cause of the
swelling?
1. Pneumothroax post-thoracentesis
2. Subcutaneous emphysema
3. Lipoma
4. Hematoma formation Ans: Answer: Subcutaneous emphysema
Subuctaneous emphysema is a complication of thoracentesis in which air
leaks into subcutaneous tissue and cuases swelling; as more air enters
the tissue, the swelling progresses. Crepitus is felt as a crackling
sensation beneath the fingertips.
A patient is scheduled for rhinoplasty. Postoperatively, it is MOST
important for the nurse to place the patient in which of the following
positions?
1. Supine
2. Left Sims
3. Modifed Trenedelenburg's
4. Semi-Fowlers Ans: Answer: Semi-Fowlers
The patient should be placed in a semi-Fowler's position to decreased
edema, promote drainage, and facilitate breathing.
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An adult is eating lunch and suddenly starts to choke, gasp for breath,
and grab the throat. Which of the following actions should the nurse
take?
1. Instruct the patient lean forward and administer back blows.
2. Offer the patient water to drink
3. Ask the patient to speak
4. Finger sweep the patient's mouth. Ans: Answer: Ask the patient to
speak
Assessment if patient is able speak, airway is only partially obstructed;
instruct her to take a deep breath and try to cough up object; if patient is
unable to speak, airway is obstructed; begin abdominal-thrust maneuver.
The nurse observes a student nurse suction the right bronchus of a
patient via tracheostomy. The nurse determines care is appropriate if the
student nurse places the patient's head in which positions?
1. The patient's head turned to the left
2. The patient's head turned to the right
3. The patient's head titled toward the
chest
4. The patient's head tilted backward
even with the shoulders. Ans: Answer: The patient's head turned to the
left
When a tracheostomy is suctioned, the head should be positioned to the
side opposite form that of the bronchus being suctioned; learning the
right bronchus is therefore accomplished by turning patient's head to the
left.
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A patient is started on rifampin and isoniazid. Which of the following
explanations concerning these medications is Most appropriate for the
nurse to give?
1. You will have to take these medicines
for the rest of your life.
2. You must isolate yourself from your
family while on this medicine.
3. You will have to take this medicine
about a year.
4. You will need to take this medicine
only when you have symptoms. Ans: Answer: You will have have to take
this medicine about a year.
These medications are used to treat patients with Tuberculosis. Duration
of treatment necessary to eradicate the organism and to prevent relapse;
due to drug-resistant strains, multiple drugs are prescribed; drugs used
include isoniazid (INH), rifampin, streptomycin, pyazinamide,
ethambutol; important to instruct patient and family about the
medication and the importance of adhering to the medication regimen.
The nurse understands which of the following is the cause of respiratory
alkalosis?
1. Hyperglycemia
2. Hyperventilation
3. Fluid loss
4. Airway compromise Ans: Answer: Hyperventilation
KAPLAN MED SURG 1 QUESTIONS WITH
DETAILED VERIFIED ANSWERS
A patient is admitted to the hospital after sustaining severe electrical
burn. A tracheostomy is performed, and the patient is unable to use
either hand. It is MOST important for the nurse to take which of the
following actions?
1. Obtain a closed-circuit video monitor
2. Pad the side rails of the bed
3. Obtain and blow-touch call bell
4. Transfer the patient with a Hoyer lift Ans: Answer: Obtain a blow
touch call bell.
The patient is unable to use either hand, so the most appropriate way for
him to summon the nurse is with a blow-touch call bell.
The nurse expects which of the following modes of mechanical ventilation
to be ordered for a patient with severe Guillain-Barre syndrome?
1. Controlled ventilation (CV)
2. Assist-control ventilation (AC)
3. Synchronized intermittent mandatory
ventilation (SIMV)
4. Continuous positive airway pressure
(CPAP) Ans: Answer: Controlled ventilation (CV)
Patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome have flaccidity or weakness that
progresses upward from the lower extremities and often includes the
, Page | 2
trunk, with resultant respiratory compromise and possible failure; motor
deficits can progress to total quadriplegia; controlled ventilation is used
for patients who are unable to initiate a breath, such as patients with
polio or Guillian-Barre; it delivers a set tidal volume of oxygen at a set
rate; this is the simplest mode, but is used less frequently than others.
Immediately following thoracentesis, the nurse notices a progressive
swelling on the right side of the patient's chest and neck. The nurse
knows which of the following conditions is the MOST likely cause of the
swelling?
1. Pneumothroax post-thoracentesis
2. Subcutaneous emphysema
3. Lipoma
4. Hematoma formation Ans: Answer: Subcutaneous emphysema
Subuctaneous emphysema is a complication of thoracentesis in which air
leaks into subcutaneous tissue and cuases swelling; as more air enters
the tissue, the swelling progresses. Crepitus is felt as a crackling
sensation beneath the fingertips.
A patient is scheduled for rhinoplasty. Postoperatively, it is MOST
important for the nurse to place the patient in which of the following
positions?
1. Supine
2. Left Sims
3. Modifed Trenedelenburg's
4. Semi-Fowlers Ans: Answer: Semi-Fowlers
The patient should be placed in a semi-Fowler's position to decreased
edema, promote drainage, and facilitate breathing.
, Page | 3
An adult is eating lunch and suddenly starts to choke, gasp for breath,
and grab the throat. Which of the following actions should the nurse
take?
1. Instruct the patient lean forward and administer back blows.
2. Offer the patient water to drink
3. Ask the patient to speak
4. Finger sweep the patient's mouth. Ans: Answer: Ask the patient to
speak
Assessment if patient is able speak, airway is only partially obstructed;
instruct her to take a deep breath and try to cough up object; if patient is
unable to speak, airway is obstructed; begin abdominal-thrust maneuver.
The nurse observes a student nurse suction the right bronchus of a
patient via tracheostomy. The nurse determines care is appropriate if the
student nurse places the patient's head in which positions?
1. The patient's head turned to the left
2. The patient's head turned to the right
3. The patient's head titled toward the
chest
4. The patient's head tilted backward
even with the shoulders. Ans: Answer: The patient's head turned to the
left
When a tracheostomy is suctioned, the head should be positioned to the
side opposite form that of the bronchus being suctioned; learning the
right bronchus is therefore accomplished by turning patient's head to the
left.
, Page | 4
A patient is started on rifampin and isoniazid. Which of the following
explanations concerning these medications is Most appropriate for the
nurse to give?
1. You will have to take these medicines
for the rest of your life.
2. You must isolate yourself from your
family while on this medicine.
3. You will have to take this medicine
about a year.
4. You will need to take this medicine
only when you have symptoms. Ans: Answer: You will have have to take
this medicine about a year.
These medications are used to treat patients with Tuberculosis. Duration
of treatment necessary to eradicate the organism and to prevent relapse;
due to drug-resistant strains, multiple drugs are prescribed; drugs used
include isoniazid (INH), rifampin, streptomycin, pyazinamide,
ethambutol; important to instruct patient and family about the
medication and the importance of adhering to the medication regimen.
The nurse understands which of the following is the cause of respiratory
alkalosis?
1. Hyperglycemia
2. Hyperventilation
3. Fluid loss
4. Airway compromise Ans: Answer: Hyperventilation
