Week 2 Quiz: Introduction to Medical Surgical Nursing Introduction to
Medical Surgical Nursing | Questions and Answers | 100% Correct |
Grade A - WCU
1. A nurse is caring for a patient who is 24 hours postoperative. Which of the
following findings should the nurse identify as a priority?
A. Urine output of 20 mL/hr over the last 2 hours
B. Report of pain as 7 on a scale of 0 to 10
C. Serosanguineous drainage on the dressing
D. Presence of bowel sounds in all four quadrants
Answer: A
Rationale: Urine output less than 30 mL/hr can indicate decreased renal perfusion or
hypovolemia and is a priority finding that requires immediate notification of the provider.
2. Which electrolyte imbalance is most associated with the presence of
Chvostek’s sign?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hyponatremia
C. Hypermagnesemia
D. Hypocalcemia
Answer: D
Rationale: Chvostek’s sign (facial twitching when the facial nerve is tapped) is a classic
sign of hypocalcemia due to increased neuromuscular excitability.
,3. What is the primary goal of the ‘Time-Out’ procedure in the operating room?
A. To verify the correct patient, site, and procedure
B. To ensure the surgical team has had a break
C. To confirm the patient’s insurance coverage
D. To allow the surgeon to review the medical history
Answer: A
Rationale: The Universal Protocol ‘Time-Out’ is a safety measure to prevent wrong-site,
wrong-procedure, and wrong-person surgery.
4. A patient presents with a potassium level of 6.2 mEq/L. Which of the
following is the priority assessment?
A. Muscle strength evaluation
B. Cardiac rhythm monitoring
C. Bowel sound auscultation
D. Skin turgor assessment
Answer: B
Rationale: Hyperkalemia (K+ > 5.0 mEq/L) can cause life-threatening cardiac
dysrhythmias; therefore, cardiac monitoring is the priority.
5. Which of the following describes the ‘Nurse’s Role’ in obtaining informed
consent for surgery?
A. Explaining the risks and benefits of the procedure
B. Describing alternative treatments to the patient
C. Determining the patient’s level of sedation
D. Witnessing the patient’s signature on the consent form
Answer: D
Rationale: The surgeon is responsible for explaining the procedure and risks; the nurse’s
role is typically to witness the signature and ensure the patient is competent to sign.
, 6. A patient is experiencing respiratory acidosis. Which of the following lab
values is consistent with this diagnosis?
A. pH 7.48, PaCO2 30 mmHg
B. pH 7.32, HCO3 18 mEq/L
C. pH 7.30, PaCO2 50 mmHg
D. pH 7.50, HCO3 30 mEq/L
Answer: C
Rationale: Respiratory acidosis is characterized by a low pH (<7.35) and a high PaCO2
(>45 mmHg).
7. What type of pain is characterized by being short-term and having a
protective purpose?
A. Chronic pain
B. Acute pain
C. Neuropathic pain
D. Idiopathic pain
Answer: B
Rationale: Acute pain is sudden in onset, usually subsides when the injury heals, and
serves as a warning sign of tissue damage.
8. A nurse is assessing a patient with fluid volume deficit. Which finding should
the nurse expect?
A. Distended neck veins
B. Increased blood pressure
C. Crackles in the lungs
D. Tachycardia
Answer: D
Rationale: Tachycardia is a compensatory mechanism for decreased blood volume in fluid
volume deficit (dehydration).
Medical Surgical Nursing | Questions and Answers | 100% Correct |
Grade A - WCU
1. A nurse is caring for a patient who is 24 hours postoperative. Which of the
following findings should the nurse identify as a priority?
A. Urine output of 20 mL/hr over the last 2 hours
B. Report of pain as 7 on a scale of 0 to 10
C. Serosanguineous drainage on the dressing
D. Presence of bowel sounds in all four quadrants
Answer: A
Rationale: Urine output less than 30 mL/hr can indicate decreased renal perfusion or
hypovolemia and is a priority finding that requires immediate notification of the provider.
2. Which electrolyte imbalance is most associated with the presence of
Chvostek’s sign?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hyponatremia
C. Hypermagnesemia
D. Hypocalcemia
Answer: D
Rationale: Chvostek’s sign (facial twitching when the facial nerve is tapped) is a classic
sign of hypocalcemia due to increased neuromuscular excitability.
,3. What is the primary goal of the ‘Time-Out’ procedure in the operating room?
A. To verify the correct patient, site, and procedure
B. To ensure the surgical team has had a break
C. To confirm the patient’s insurance coverage
D. To allow the surgeon to review the medical history
Answer: A
Rationale: The Universal Protocol ‘Time-Out’ is a safety measure to prevent wrong-site,
wrong-procedure, and wrong-person surgery.
4. A patient presents with a potassium level of 6.2 mEq/L. Which of the
following is the priority assessment?
A. Muscle strength evaluation
B. Cardiac rhythm monitoring
C. Bowel sound auscultation
D. Skin turgor assessment
Answer: B
Rationale: Hyperkalemia (K+ > 5.0 mEq/L) can cause life-threatening cardiac
dysrhythmias; therefore, cardiac monitoring is the priority.
5. Which of the following describes the ‘Nurse’s Role’ in obtaining informed
consent for surgery?
A. Explaining the risks and benefits of the procedure
B. Describing alternative treatments to the patient
C. Determining the patient’s level of sedation
D. Witnessing the patient’s signature on the consent form
Answer: D
Rationale: The surgeon is responsible for explaining the procedure and risks; the nurse’s
role is typically to witness the signature and ensure the patient is competent to sign.
, 6. A patient is experiencing respiratory acidosis. Which of the following lab
values is consistent with this diagnosis?
A. pH 7.48, PaCO2 30 mmHg
B. pH 7.32, HCO3 18 mEq/L
C. pH 7.30, PaCO2 50 mmHg
D. pH 7.50, HCO3 30 mEq/L
Answer: C
Rationale: Respiratory acidosis is characterized by a low pH (<7.35) and a high PaCO2
(>45 mmHg).
7. What type of pain is characterized by being short-term and having a
protective purpose?
A. Chronic pain
B. Acute pain
C. Neuropathic pain
D. Idiopathic pain
Answer: B
Rationale: Acute pain is sudden in onset, usually subsides when the injury heals, and
serves as a warning sign of tissue damage.
8. A nurse is assessing a patient with fluid volume deficit. Which finding should
the nurse expect?
A. Distended neck veins
B. Increased blood pressure
C. Crackles in the lungs
D. Tachycardia
Answer: D
Rationale: Tachycardia is a compensatory mechanism for decreased blood volume in fluid
volume deficit (dehydration).
