CMSRN FREE Medical-Surgical Nursing Questions and Answers 3

Question 1

A patient is admitted with acute pancreatitis. Which position should the nurse assist the patient into for pain relief?

Accepted Answer

Side-lying with knees drawn toward the chest

Answer

Supine with legs elevated on two pillows

Answer

Right lateral with the head of bed flat

Answer

Prone with a pillow under the abdomen

Question 2

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?

Accepted Answer

Continuous bubbling in the water-seal chamber

Answer

Tidaling observed in the water-seal chamber during breathing

Answer

Continuous vigorous bubbling in the suction control chamber

Answer

A total of 75 mL of sanguineous drainage over the past hour

Question 3

A patient receiving a blood transfusion develops fever, flank pain, and dark urine 15 minutes into the infusion. What should the nurse do first?

Accepted Answer

Stop the transfusion immediately and keep the IV line open with normal saline

Answer

Slow the transfusion rate and administer acetaminophen

Answer

Obtain a blood sample for a direct Coombs test

Answer

Administer diphenhydramine and continue monitoring

Question 4

A patient with heart failure is prescribed carvedilol. Which assessment finding should the nurse report before administering the medication?

Accepted Answer

Heart rate of 48 beats per minute

Answer

Blood pressure of 142/88 mmHg

Answer

Respiratory rate of 18 breaths per minute

Answer

Oxygen saturation of 95% on room air

Question 5

A nurse is assessing a patient 24 hours after a thyroidectomy. Which finding is the highest priority to report?

Accepted Answer

A positive Chvostek sign

Answer

Hoarseness when speaking

Answer

Sore throat and difficulty swallowing

Answer

Mild swelling at the incision site

Question 6

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?

Accepted Answer

Within the acceptable target range for this patient population

Answer

Critically low and requiring immediate intervention

Answer

Indicative of impending respiratory failure

Answer

A sign that the oxygen flow rate should be increased to 6 L