Free CMSRN Medical-Surgical Nursing MCQ Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Treatment for acute glomerulonephritis primarily aims to:
- Teach intermittent urinary catheterization
- Encourage activity
- Encourage high protein intake
- Maintain fluid balance (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Maintain fluid balance
Explanation: <br> The main goal of treatment for acute glomerulonephritis is not specifically focused on maintaining fluid balance, although that is an important aspect of management.
Question 2: The main ways that nursing diagnoses differ from medical diagnoses are as follows:
- Primarily concerned with psychosocial parameters, while medical diagnoses are primarily concerned with physiologic parameters
- Dependent upon medical diagnoses for the direction of appropriate interventions
- Primarily concerned with human response, while medical diagnoses are primarily concerned with pathology (Correct answer)
- Primarily concerned with caring, while medical diagnoses are primarily concerned with curing
Correct answer: Primarily concerned with human response, while medical diagnoses are primarily concerned with pathology
Explanation: <br> Nursing diagnoses differ from medical diagnoses in that nursing diagnoses focus on the patient's response to a health condition or disease, rather than solely on the pathological or medical aspects of the condition. Nursing diagnoses are formulated based on the patient's signs, symptoms, and individualized assessment data, considering their physical, emotional, social, and environmental factors. Nursing diagnoses help nurses identify actual or potential health problems that require nursing interventions to promote the patient's well-being and recovery. Medical diagnoses, on the other hand, focus on identifying and classifying diseases or medical conditions based on their signs, symptoms, and underlying pathology. Medical diagnoses guide the medical management and treatment of the disease or condition.
Question 3: After being moved to the surgical unit for one and a half hours, a patient who underwent spinal anesthesia four hours earlier during surgery now complains of excruciating incisional pain. The patient's temperature is 99°F (37.2°C), pulse is 108 beats per minute, blood pressure is 170/90 mm Hg, and respirations are 30 breaths per minute. The surgical dressing is dry and in tact, and the patient has pale skin. The best course of nursing action is to:
- Report the findings to the provider
- Medicate the patient for pain (Correct answer)
- Place the patient in a high Fowler position and administer oxygen
- Place the patient in a reverse Trendelenburg position and open the IV line
Correct answer: Medicate the patient for pain
Explanation: <br> The most appropriate nursing intervention would indeed be to medicate the patient for pain. The patient is reporting severe incisional pain, which indicates a need for pain relief. In addition, the elevated blood pressure, increased pulse rate, and rapid respirations may be signs of pain and discomfort.
Question 4: Patients using the medication are advised to: in order to prevent a typical side effect of prolonged usage of phenytoin sodium (Dilantin):
- Practice good dental hygiene and report gum swelling or bleeding (Correct answer)
- Eat a potassium-rich, low sodium diet
- Drink at least 2 L of fluids daily, including 8 to 10 glasses of water
- Avoid crowds and obtain an annual influenza vaccination
Correct answer: Practice good dental hygiene and report gum swelling or bleeding
Explanation: <br> To prevent a common adverse effect of prolonged use of phenytoin sodium (Dilantin), patients taking the drug are instructed to practice good dental hygiene and report gum swelling or bleeding. Phenytoin can cause gingival hyperplasia, which is an overgrowth of gum tissue.
Question 5: The most typical abdominal surgery problem that can be avoided is:
- Fluid and electrolyte imbalance
- Thrombophlebitis
- Atelectasis (Correct answer)
- Urinary retention
Correct answer: Atelectasis
Explanation: <br> The most common preventable complication of abdominal surgery is actually postoperative surgical site infection (SSI). Surgical site infections occur when bacteria or other pathogens enter the surgical incision and cause an infection. These infections can lead to significant morbidity, prolonged hospital stays, and increased healthcare costs.
Question 6: After receiving therapy for a heart illness, a 78-year-old patient is due to be discharged to their home. The patient will receive treatment at home from the patient's spouse, who has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The partner claims that their close adult children will lend a hand. Planning for discharge is best done by:
- Discuss community resources with the spouse and offer to make referrals (Correct answer)
- Arrange nursing home placement for the couple
- Consult the spouse's healthcare provider about the spouse's ability to care for the patient
- Contact the children to ascertain their commitment to help
Correct answer: Discuss community resources with the spouse and offer to make referrals
Explanation: <br> The best approach to discharge planning in this case would be to discuss community resources with the spouse and offer to make referrals. It is important to assess the spouse's ability to provide care and support considering their own health condition of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Additionally, involving the grown children who live nearby can be beneficial for providing additional support.
Question 7: The medical-surgical nurse evaluates a patient who suffered a head injury 24 hours earlier and observes the emergence of slurred speech and a loss of sense of time and location. The nurse's first move is to:
- Prepare the patient for emergency surgery
- Continue the hourly neurologic assessments
- Recheck the patient's neurologic status in 15 minutes
- Inform the neurosurgeon of the patient's status (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Inform the neurosurgeon of the patient's status
Explanation: <br> In the given scenario, where a patient who sustained a head injury 24 hours ago is showing new symptoms such as slurred speech and disorientation, the nurse's initial action should be to inform the neurosurgeon of the patient's status.
Question 8: Which of the patient's statements accurately reflects their knowledge of herbal supplements?
- "There is no standardization among the manufacturers of herbs in this country." (Correct answer)
- The Food and Drug Administration regulates herbs and allows advertising.
- Herbs may interact with prescribed medications but not other herbs."
- "Most herbs have been tested and found to be safe and therapeutic."
Correct answer: "There is no standardization among the manufacturers of herbs in this country."
This claim draws attention to a crucial point about herbal supplements: their production techniques aren't standardized. Different brands or sources of herbal items may differ in terms of potency, purity, and general quality as a result of this lack of standardization.
Question 9: The medical-surgical nurse believes that the following actions will be taken in the patient's immediate care after doing a comprehensive neurological and physical assessment on an admitted patient who is suspected of having had a stroke:
- preparing for carotid Doppler ultrasonography.
- administering tissue plasminogen activator.
- obtaining a computed tomography scan of the head without contrast. (Correct answer)
- obtaining a neurosurgical consultation.
Correct answer: obtaining a computed tomography scan of the head without contrast.
When a patient is admitted for suspected stroke, the next proper step in their urgent care is usually to get a computed tomography (CT) scan of their head without contrast. This is essential for determining the kind, extent, and site of the stroke in addition to ruling out other possible explanations for the symptoms. When treating acute ischemic strokes, tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), a drug that breaks up clots, may be recommended for the patient based on the results of the CT scan.
Question 10: In order for the process of evaluation and feedback to be successful, the management medical-surgical nurse must:
- provides goals for staff members to meet.
- conducts weekly meetings with staff members.
- considers staff members' interests and abilities when delegating tasks.
- informs staff members regularly of how well they are performing their jobs. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: informs staff members regularly of how well they are performing their jobs.
tells employees on a regular basis how well they are doing their tasks. Staff members need regular feedback sessions that include constructive criticism and achievement recognition in order to be encouraged to grow professionally. This method gives staff members opportunity for self-evaluation and growth while also keeping them informed about their performance.
Question 11: The IV sedative is given by the medical-surgical nurse to the patient on the unit in order to get them ready for the bronchoscopic operation. The registered practical/vocational nurse is then directed by the nurse to:
- measure the patient's blood pressure and pulse readings. (Correct answer)
- educate the patient about the pending procedure.
- take the patient to the bathroom one more time.
- give the patient small sips of water only.
Correct answer: measure the patient's blood pressure and pulse readings.
Take the patient's pulse and blood pressure readings. Prior to the bronchoscopic surgery, it is imperative to check the patient's vital signs and verify their stability. It assists in detecting any possible side effects or complications from the sedative drug that was given.
Treatment for acute glomerulonephritis primarily aims to: