CMSRN FREE CMSRN Medical-Surgical Nursing Questions and Answers 3

Question 1

A nurse is managing a patient with syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH). Which laboratory finding confirms this diagnosis?

Accepted Answer

Serum sodium of 125 mEq/L with concentrated urine

Answer

Serum sodium of 155 mEq/L with dilute urine

Answer

Serum potassium of 5.8 mEq/L with metabolic acidosis

Answer

Serum calcium of 12.5 mg/dL with bone pain

Question 2

Which complication should the nurse monitor for in a patient receiving a massive blood transfusion of 10 units of packed red blood cells?

Accepted Answer

Hypocalcemia from citrate toxicity

Answer

Hyperkalemia from iron overload

Answer

Metabolic alkalosis from lactate conversion

Answer

Hypernatremia from preservative solutions

Question 3

A patient with myasthenia gravis is experiencing increased weakness. How does the nurse differentiate a myasthenic crisis from a cholinergic crisis?

Accepted Answer

Administer edrophonium; improvement indicates myasthenic crisis

Answer

Check pupil size; dilated pupils indicate cholinergic crisis

Answer

Assess for bradycardia; its presence confirms myasthenic crisis

Answer

Measure peak expiratory flow; low values confirm cholinergic crisis

Question 4

A patient with a chest tube has continuous bubbling in the water seal chamber. What should the nurse do first?

Accepted Answer

Check all tubing connections for air leaks

Answer

Clamp the chest tube at the insertion site

Answer

Increase the suction pressure

Answer

Notify the healthcare provider immediately

Question 5

Which position should the nurse place a patient in immediately after a liver biopsy?

Accepted Answer

Right lateral with a pillow under the costal margin

Answer

Left lateral with the head elevated 30 degrees

Answer

Supine with legs elevated on pillows

Answer

Prone with arms above the head

Question 6

A patient with a pulmonary embolism suddenly becomes restless with a SpO2 of 84%. Which intervention takes priority?

Accepted Answer

Administer high-flow oxygen via non-rebreather mask

Answer

Start a heparin drip per protocol

Answer

Obtain a stat CT pulmonary angiography

Answer

Elevate the head of the bed to 45 degrees