FREE 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 Medical-Surgical Nursing Questions and Answers flashcards as text
A patient is admitted with acute pancreatitis. Which position should the nurse assist the patient into for pain relief?
Answer: Side-lying with knees drawn toward the chest
The fetal position (side-lying with knees flexed toward the chest) reduces tension on the abdominal muscles and decreases pressure on the inflamed pancreas.
A nurse is caring for a patient with a chest tube connected to a water-seal drainage system. Which finding indicates a need for immediate action?
Answer: Continuous bubbling in the water-seal chamber
Continuous bubbling in the water-seal chamber indicates an air leak in the system or from the patient, which requires immediate assessment and intervention.
A patient receiving a blood transfusion develops fever, flank pain, and dark urine 15 minutes into the infusion. What should the nurse do first?
Answer: Stop the transfusion immediately and keep the IV line open with normal saline
These symptoms indicate an acute hemolytic transfusion reaction, and the nurse must immediately stop the transfusion to prevent further hemolysis and potential renal failure.
A patient with heart failure is prescribed carvedilol. Which assessment finding should the nurse report before administering the medication?
Answer: Heart rate of 48 beats per minute
Carvedilol is a beta-blocker that further reduces heart rate, and a pulse of 48 bpm is below the safe threshold for administration.
A nurse is assessing a patient 24 hours after a thyroidectomy. Which finding is the highest priority to report?
Answer: A positive Chvostek sign
A positive Chvostek sign indicates hypocalcemia from inadvertent parathyroid gland removal or damage, which can progress to tetany and laryngospasm.
A patient with COPD on 2 L nasal cannula has an SpO2 of 91%. The nurse should recognize this value as which of the following?
Answer: Within the acceptable target range for this patient population
For patients with COPD, a target SpO2 of 88-92% is recommended to prevent suppression of the hypoxic respiratory drive.