Medical-Surgical Nursing Flashcards
6 cards from real BSN practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Medical-Surgical Nursing flashcards as text
A patient with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) asks what position helps relieve rest pain in the legs. The nurse correctly advises the patient to:
Answer: Dangle the legs over the side of the bed
In PAD, gravity assists arterial flow; dangling the legs increases perfusion pressure and relieves ischemic rest pain.
A patient is admitted with acute pancreatitis. Which position will the nurse place the patient in to reduce abdominal pain?
Answer: Fetal position (knees drawn to chest)
The fetal position reduces tension on the inflamed pancreas and peritoneum, providing pain relief in acute pancreatitis.
Which laboratory result is the most specific indicator of myocardial infarction (MI)?
Answer: Troponin I elevation
Troponin I is highly specific to cardiac muscle; its elevation is the gold standard for diagnosing acute myocardial injury.
A patient is scheduled for a colonoscopy. Which bowel preparation instruction is most important to emphasize?
Answer: Consume only clear liquids the day before the procedure and complete the full bowel prep
An adequate bowel prep with clear liquids and the prescribed laxative solution ensures visualization of the colon mucosa and prevents procedure cancellation.
A patient with a urinary tract infection (UTI) is prescribed trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX). Which instruction should the nurse include in discharge teaching?
Answer: Drink at least 8 glasses of water per day and complete the full course of antibiotics
Adequate hydration prevents crystalluria (crystal formation in urine) from sulfonamides, and completing the full course prevents resistance.
A patient post-hip replacement surgery asks why they must avoid crossing their legs. The nurse's best response is:
Answer: Crossing the legs can dislocate the new hip joint
Adduction and internal rotation of the hip—as occurs when crossing the legs—can displace the prosthetic femoral head from the acetabular cup.