FREE CMSRN Medical-Surgical Nursing Questions and Answers Flashcards
6 cards from real CMSRN practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 FREE CMSRN Medical-Surgical Nursing Questions and Answers flashcards as text
A nurse is managing a patient with syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH). Which laboratory finding confirms this diagnosis?
Answer: Serum sodium of 125 mEq/L with concentrated urine
SIADH causes dilutional hyponatremia with inappropriately concentrated urine due to excess water retention.
Which complication should the nurse monitor for in a patient receiving a massive blood transfusion of 10 units of packed red blood cells?
Answer: Hypocalcemia from citrate toxicity
Citrate in stored blood binds calcium, and massive transfusion can cause clinically significant hypocalcemia.
A patient with myasthenia gravis is experiencing increased weakness. How does the nurse differentiate a myasthenic crisis from a cholinergic crisis?
Answer: Administer edrophonium; improvement indicates myasthenic crisis
Edrophonium (Tensilon) temporarily improves symptoms in myasthenic crisis but worsens or does not change symptoms in cholinergic crisis.
A patient with a chest tube has continuous bubbling in the water seal chamber. What should the nurse do first?
Answer: Check all tubing connections for air leaks
Continuous bubbling in the water seal chamber indicates an air leak, and the nurse should systematically check connections before escalating.
Which position should the nurse place a patient in immediately after a liver biopsy?
Answer: Right lateral with a pillow under the costal margin
Right lateral positioning applies pressure to the biopsy site via the body's weight, reducing the risk of hemorrhage.
A patient with a pulmonary embolism suddenly becomes restless with a SpO2 of 84%. Which intervention takes priority?
Answer: Administer high-flow oxygen via non-rebreather mask
Immediate oxygenation is the priority for acute hypoxemia to prevent organ damage while other interventions are initiated.