Med Surge Final Exam Questions and Answers With Rationale

1…. A nurse is reviewing the laboratory data of a client who has acute pancreatitis. The nurse should expect to find an elevation of which of following values? Amylase Rational Amylase is an enzyme that changes complex sugars into simple sugars that can be used by the body. It is produced by the pancreas and salivary glands and released into the mouth, stomach, and intestines to aid in digestion. The amylase level of a client who has acute pancreatitis usually increases within 12 to 24 hr and can remain elevated for 2 to 3 days. 2…. A nurse in a clinic is interviewing a client who has a possible diagnosis of endometriosis. Which of the following findings in the client's history should the nurse recognize as consistent with a diagnosis of endometriosis? Dysmenorrhea that is unresponsive to NSAIDs. Rational Endometriosis is a condition in which the type of tissue that lines the uterus implants in locations outside the uterus. This typically causes pelvic pain around the time of the menstrual period but can cause pain at other times in the cycle. The discomfort is often unrelieved by the use of NSAIDs. 3…. A rehabilitation nurse is caring for a client who has had a spinal cord injury that resulted in paraplegia. After a week on the unit, the nurse notes that the client is withdrawn and increasingly resistant to rehabilitative efforts by the staff. Which of the following actions should the nurse take? Establish a plan of care with the client that sets attainable goals. Rational The nurse should develop a plan of care for this client with mutually set goals. This action invests the client in the rehabilitation process, which encourages feelings of ownership for it, and sees the goals as more attainable 4….A nurse in a burn treatment center is caring for a client who is admitted with severe burns to both lower extremities and is scheduled for an escharotomy. The client's spouse asks the nurse what the procedure entails. Which of the following nursing statements is appropriate? Large incisions will be made in the eschar to improve circulation. Rational An escharotomy is a surgical incision made to release pressure and improve circulation in a part of the body that has a deep burn and is experiencing excessive swelling. Burn injuries that encircle a body part, such as an arm or the chest, can cause swelling and tightness in the affected area, resulting in reduced circulation. Making surgical incisions into the burned tissue allows the skin to expand, reduces tightness and pressure, and improves circulation. 5….A nurse is caring for a client who has suspected cholecystitis. The nurse should expect the client's urine to appear which of the following colors? Dark and foamy Rational The nurse should expect the client to have dark and foamy urine, which indicates the kidneys are filtering excess bilirubin from the blood. 6….A nurse is caring for an older adult client who has rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and is taking aspirin 650 mg every 4 hours. Which of the following diagnostic tests should the nurse monitor to evaluate the effectiveness of this medication? Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) Rational Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease. ESR is useful in detecting and monitoring tissue inflammation in clients with RA. As the disease improves the ESR decreases. 7….A nurse is providing dietary teaching to a client who has a history of recurring calcium oxalate kidney stones. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include in the teaching? Drink 3 L of fluid every day. Rational The nurse should instruct the client to drink at least 3 to 4 L of fluid every day to dilute the urine and reduce the risk for stone formation. 8….A nurse is assessing a client who has disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Which of the following findings should the nurse expect? Excessive thrombosis and bleeding Rational The nurse should expect excessive thrombosis and bleeding of mucous membranes because both DIC impairs both coagulation and anticoagulation pathways. 9….A nurse is caring for a middle adult client who has just received the diagnosis of endometrial cancer. In taking a nursing history, which of the following manifestations is likely to be reported by this client? Postmenopausal bleeding Rational Endometrial cancer involves cancerous growth of the endometrium (lining of the uterus). The most common manifestation of endometrial cancer is abnormal uterine bleeding, including postmenopausal bleeding and bleeding between normal periods in premenopausal women. 10…A nurse is giving a presentation to a community group about preventing atherosclerosis. Which of the following should the nurse include as a modifiable risk factor for this disorder? (Select all that apply.) Hypercholesterolemia Hypertension Obesity Smoking 11…A nurse is admitting a client who has active tuberculosis to a room on a medical-surgical unit. Which of the following room assignmentsshould the nurse make for the client? A room with air exhaust directly to the outdoor environment Rational A room with air exhaust directly to the outside environment eliminates contamination of other client-care areas. This type of ventilation system is referred to as an airborne infection isolation room. 12…A nurse is caring for a client who has Cushing's syndrome. Which of the following interventionsshould the nurse expect to perform? (Select all that apply.) Assess blood glucose level Assess for neck vein distention Incorrect. Monitor for an irregular heart rate Incorrect. Monitor for postural hypotension Weigh the client daily 13…A nurse is teaching a client about risk factors for osteoporosis. Which of the following factors should the nurse include in the teaching? (Select all that apply.) Sedentary lifestyle Incorrect. Obesity Aging Caffeine intake Secondhand smoke Sedentary lifestyle is correct. Immobility depletes bone. Obesity isincorrect. Women who are obese have a greater capacity for storing estrogen to help maintain acceptable levels of calcium. Aging is correct. Women lose bone due to estrogen depletion after menopause. Caffeine intake is correct. Excessive caffeine intake causes calcium loss in the urine. Secondhand smoke is correct. Smoking is a risk factor for osteoporosis, both active and passive (secondhand) smoking. 14…A nurse is caring for a client who has a history of exposure to TB and symptoms of night sweats and hemoptysis. Which of the following tests should the nurse realize is the most reliable to confirm the diagnosis of active pulmonary TB? Sputum culture for acid-fast bacillus Rational Although the Mantoux (skin test) and the chest x-ray may be useful screening tools for TB, the presence of acid-fast bacillus noted in the client's sputum, secretions, or tissues is the only method that can actually confirm the diagnosis. 15…A nurse is caring for a client who has emphysema. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect to assess in this client? (Select all that apply.) Dyspnea Incorrect. Bradycardia Barrel chest Clubbing of the fingers Incorrect. Deep respirations Rational Dyspnea is correct. Emphysema is a lung disease involving damage to the alveoli in which they become weakened and collapse. Dyspnea is seen in clients with emphysema as the lungs try to increase the amount of oxygen available to the tissues. Bradycardia isincorrect. With emphysema, the heart rate will increase as the heart tries to compensate for less oxygen to the tissues. Barrel chest is correct. Clients with emphysema lose lung elasticity; the diaphragm becomes permanently flattened by hyperinflation of the lungs; the muscles of the rib cage become rigid; and the ribs flare outward. This produces the barrel chest typical of emphysema clients. Clubbing of the fingers is correct. Clubbing results from chronic low arterialoxygen levels. The tips of the fingers enlarge and the nails become extremely curved from front to back. Deep respirations is incorrect. Clients with emphysema lose lung elasticity and have muscle fatigue; consequently, respirations become increasingly shallow. 16…A nurse in an emergency room is caring a the client who sustained partialthickness burns to both lower legs, chest, face, and both forearms. Which of the following is the priority action the nurse should take? Inspect the mouth for signs of inhalation injuries. Rational Since the client sustained burns to the chest and face, there is a possibility that flames and smoke from the client's burning clothes could have caused an inhalation injury. The nurse should inspect the mouth and throat for soot and swelling. Using the airway, breathing, circulation (ABC) priority-setting framework, is the priority concern at this time 17…A nurse is planning care for a client who is being treated with chemotherapy and radiation for metastatic breast cancer, and who has neutropenia. The nurse should include which of the following restrictions in the client's plan of care? Fresh flowers and potted plantsin the room 18…A nurse is preparing dietary instructions for a client who has episodes of biliary colic from chronic cholecystitis. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include in the teaching plan? Avoid foods high in fat. Rational The nurse should instruct the client to follow a low-fat diet to decrease episodes of biliary colic. A client who has chronic cholecystitis has intolerance to fatty foods 19…A nurse is providing preoperative teaching for a client who is scheduled for a gastrectomy. Which of the following information regarding prevention of postoperative compl...................................................................................................CONTINUED