MED SURG 1 FINAL EXAM 2025-2026
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
Where is the best place to begin to select a vein for an initial intravenous (IV) site
in a left-handed patient?
Right forearm
Antecubital vein of the left arm
Left forearm
Antecubital vein of the right arm
Right Forearm
EXPLANATION: Unless other reasons are identified, IV sites should be started in
the most distal portion of the nondominant arm or hand.
A nurse assesses an area where an intravenous (IV) line had been recently
removed. The area has redness, swelling, and warmth. What should the nurse
suspect as the cause?
Blood loss and hemorrhage
,Embolus from the former catheter
Inflammation and possible phlebitis
Infiltration and air embolus
Inflammation and possible phlebitis
EXPLANATION: IV sites may show signs of inflammation or infection or both
after an IV line has been removed.
The K+ laboratory report shows a level of 5.2 mEq/L. What is the most important
assessment for the nurse to make?
Excessive thirst
Frightening hallucinations
Irregular heartbeat
Swelling of ankles
Irregular heartbeat
EXPLANATION: Arrhythmias can be triggered by hyperkalemia.
A small child is hospitalized with severe metabolic acidosis after ingesting a whole
bottle of baby aspirin approximately 8 hours earlier. In addition to providing
reassurance to the patient, which nursing action is the most appropriate?
,Inducing vomiting
Frequently assessing the mental and neurologic status
Taking daily weights and vital signs
Frequently assessing the mental and neurologic status
EXPLANATION: The baby aspirin was ingested too long ago to have vomiting or
stomach aspiration be of any use. The child requires frequent assessment of
neurologic function because the child may need mechanical ventilation.
When the water absorption in the renal tubules becomes greater than normal, what
assessment finding should a nurse anticipate?
Less concentrated urine
More concentrated urine
Less alkaline urine
More alkaline urine
More concentrated urine
EXPLANATION: When more water is kept back in the body, the water left to
form urine is less; therefore, the urine is more concentrated.
, A patient has renal damage because of diabetes. What is the highest risk for this
patient?
Hypokalemia
Hypercalcemia
Hyperkalemia
Hypocalcemia
Hyperkalemia
EXPLANATION: When the renal system cannot rid the body of enough K+, this
electrolyte builds up and a condition called hyperkalemia develops.
A nurse understands that fluid balance is mainly monitored in the body by which
two systems?
Respiratory and circulatory
Renal and gastrointestinal
Circulatory and renal
Hepatic and lymphatic
Circulatory and renal
EXPLANATION: The monitoring of basic fluid balance in the body is performed
by the renal and circulatory systems.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
Where is the best place to begin to select a vein for an initial intravenous (IV) site
in a left-handed patient?
Right forearm
Antecubital vein of the left arm
Left forearm
Antecubital vein of the right arm
Right Forearm
EXPLANATION: Unless other reasons are identified, IV sites should be started in
the most distal portion of the nondominant arm or hand.
A nurse assesses an area where an intravenous (IV) line had been recently
removed. The area has redness, swelling, and warmth. What should the nurse
suspect as the cause?
Blood loss and hemorrhage
,Embolus from the former catheter
Inflammation and possible phlebitis
Infiltration and air embolus
Inflammation and possible phlebitis
EXPLANATION: IV sites may show signs of inflammation or infection or both
after an IV line has been removed.
The K+ laboratory report shows a level of 5.2 mEq/L. What is the most important
assessment for the nurse to make?
Excessive thirst
Frightening hallucinations
Irregular heartbeat
Swelling of ankles
Irregular heartbeat
EXPLANATION: Arrhythmias can be triggered by hyperkalemia.
A small child is hospitalized with severe metabolic acidosis after ingesting a whole
bottle of baby aspirin approximately 8 hours earlier. In addition to providing
reassurance to the patient, which nursing action is the most appropriate?
,Inducing vomiting
Frequently assessing the mental and neurologic status
Taking daily weights and vital signs
Frequently assessing the mental and neurologic status
EXPLANATION: The baby aspirin was ingested too long ago to have vomiting or
stomach aspiration be of any use. The child requires frequent assessment of
neurologic function because the child may need mechanical ventilation.
When the water absorption in the renal tubules becomes greater than normal, what
assessment finding should a nurse anticipate?
Less concentrated urine
More concentrated urine
Less alkaline urine
More alkaline urine
More concentrated urine
EXPLANATION: When more water is kept back in the body, the water left to
form urine is less; therefore, the urine is more concentrated.
, A patient has renal damage because of diabetes. What is the highest risk for this
patient?
Hypokalemia
Hypercalcemia
Hyperkalemia
Hypocalcemia
Hyperkalemia
EXPLANATION: When the renal system cannot rid the body of enough K+, this
electrolyte builds up and a condition called hyperkalemia develops.
A nurse understands that fluid balance is mainly monitored in the body by which
two systems?
Respiratory and circulatory
Renal and gastrointestinal
Circulatory and renal
Hepatic and lymphatic
Circulatory and renal
EXPLANATION: The monitoring of basic fluid balance in the body is performed
by the renal and circulatory systems.
