CMSRN FREE Medical Surgical Nurse Questions and Answers 3

Question 1

A patient is admitted with acute pancreatitis. Which laboratory value is most consistent with this diagnosis?

Accepted Answer

Elevated serum lipase

Answer

Decreased white blood cell count

Answer

Low serum amylase

Answer

Elevated serum albumin

Question 2

The nurse is caring for a patient in skeletal traction. Which assessment finding warrants immediate notification of the healthcare provider?

Accepted Answer

The patient reports numbness and tingling distal to the fracture site

Answer

The weights are hanging freely off the bed

Answer

The pin sites have small amounts of clear drainage

Answer

The patient requests repositioning for comfort

Question 3

A patient with cirrhosis develops asterixis. The nurse recognizes this as a sign of which complication?

Accepted Answer

Hepatic encephalopathy

Answer

Portal hypertension

Answer

Hepatorenal syndrome

Answer

Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis

Question 4

Which nursing intervention is most important for preventing ventilator-associated pneumonia in an intubated patient?

Accepted Answer

Maintaining the head of the bed at 30 to 45 degrees

Answer

Performing endotracheal suctioning every hour

Answer

Administering prophylactic broad-spectrum antibiotics

Answer

Keeping the endotracheal tube cuff fully deflated

Question 5

A patient with a new colostomy asks why the stoma appears dark red and moist. What is the best nursing response?

Accepted Answer

This is normal because the stoma is made of intestinal mucosa which is naturally red and moist

Answer

The stoma is showing signs of poor blood supply and needs assessment

Answer

The redness indicates an allergic reaction to the ostomy appliance

Answer

The stoma will gradually turn pale as it heals over the next few weeks

Question 6

A nurse is assessing a patient admitted with Addisonian crisis. Which set of vital signs is most consistent with this condition?

Accepted Answer

Hypotension, tachycardia, and hypothermia

Answer

Hypertension, bradycardia, and fever

Answer

Hypertension, tachycardia, and hyperthermia

Answer

Normal blood pressure, bradycardia, and hypothermia