CMSRN - Medical-Surgical Nursing Cardiovascular and Hematological Care Questions and Answers

Question 1

A nurse is creating a discharge plan for a 68-year-old patient who underwent a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG).
Which instruction is most important to include to prevent complications related to the sternotomy?

Accepted Answer

"Use a pillow to splint your chest when you cough or take deep breaths."

Answer

"You can resume driving as soon as you feel you are no longer taking opioid pain medication."

Answer

"It is acceptable to lift objects up to 20 pounds for the first 2 weeks."

Answer

"Take a full bath daily to keep the incision clean."

Question 2

A patient with a history of atrial fibrillation is being treated with warfarin. The nurse reviews the patient's morning labs and notes an INR of 4.5. The patient has no active bleeding. Which of the following is the nurse's priority action?

Accepted Answer

Notify the healthcare provider and hold the next dose of warfarin.

Answer

Administer the next scheduled dose of warfarin.

Answer

Prepare to administer protamine sulfate.

Answer

Instruct the patient to increase their intake of leafy green vegetables.

Question 3

A medical-surgical nurse is caring for a patient admitted with an acute exacerbation of heart failure. Which of the following nursing diagnoses is the highest priority?

Accepted Answer

Excess Fluid Volume related to compromised regulatory mechanisms.

Answer

Activity Intolerance related to fatigue and dyspnea.

Answer

Anxiety related to breathlessness and fear of death.

Answer

Knowledge Deficit related to the disease process and self-care.

Question 4

A 24-year-old patient is admitted to the medical-surgical unit in a sickle cell vaso-occlusive crisis. The patient is reporting severe pain (10/10) in their extremities and back. Which of the following interventions is the highest priority for the nurse to implement?

Accepted Answer

Administering intravenous fluids.

Answer

Applying cold compresses to painful joints.

Answer

Encouraging frequent ambulation to promote circulation.

Answer

Administering prophylactic antibiotics.

Question 5

A nurse is providing education to a patient newly diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) who is being discharged on enoxaparin. Which statement by the patient indicates a need for further teaching?

Accepted Answer

"I will have my INR checked weekly to make sure the medication is working."

Answer

"I should use an electric razor to reduce my risk of getting cut."

Answer

"I will report any signs of unusual bleeding or bruising to my doctor right away."

Answer

"I need to rotate the injection sites on my abdomen."

Question 6

A patient is admitted with a suspected pulmonary embolism (PE). The nurse should prioritize which of the following assessments?

Accepted Answer

Monitoring oxygen saturation and respiratory rate.

Answer

Assessing for a positive Homans' sign.

Answer

Checking for peripheral edema and skin discoloration.

Answer

Measuring calf circumference daily.