CMSRN FREE Medical-Surgical Nursing Questions and Answers 2

Question 1

A patient with chronic kidney disease has a potassium level of 6.2 mEq/L. Which intervention should the nurse implement first?

Accepted Answer

Place the patient on continuous cardiac monitoring

Answer

Administer sodium polystyrene sulfonate as ordered

Answer

Restrict dietary potassium intake

Answer

Obtain a repeat blood sample to confirm the result

Question 2

A nurse is caring for a patient 12 hours after a total hip arthroplasty. Which finding requires immediate intervention?

Accepted Answer

The affected leg appears shorter and externally rotated

Answer

Moderate incisional pain rated 5 out of 10

Answer

Serosanguineous drainage on the surgical dressing

Answer

A hemoglobin drop from 12.0 to 10.8 g/dL

Question 3

Which assessment finding in a patient receiving heparin therapy should prompt the nurse to notify the provider immediately?

Accepted Answer

A platelet count that dropped from 240,000 to 95,000 over 5 days

Answer

An aPTT of 68 seconds with a target range of 60-80 seconds

Answer

Slight bruising at the subcutaneous injection site

Answer

A hemoglobin of 13.2 g/dL

Question 4

A patient with cirrhosis develops increasing abdominal girth and a fluid wave on examination. Which laboratory value should the nurse monitor most closely?

Accepted Answer

Serum albumin

Answer

Serum glucose

Answer

Hemoglobin A1C

Answer

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate

Question 5

A nurse is teaching a patient newly diagnosed with myasthenia gravis. Which statement by the patient indicates correct understanding of the disease?

Accepted Answer

I need to plan activities early in the day when I have the most strength

Answer

I should take my pyridostigmine after meals to reduce nausea

Answer

My muscle weakness will be worst in the morning when I first wake up

Answer

I can safely stop my medication once my symptoms improve

Question 6

A patient with type 2 diabetes is admitted with a blood glucose of 748 mg/dL, serum osmolality of 340 mOsm/kg, and minimal ketones. What is the priority nursing intervention?

Accepted Answer

Initiate aggressive intravenous fluid resuscitation

Answer

Administer a bolus of regular insulin per protocol

Answer

Begin a sodium bicarbonate infusion

Answer

Prepare for emergent hemodialysis