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

SIADH causes dilutional hyponatremia with inappropriately concentrated urine due to excess water retention.

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

Citrate in stored blood binds calcium, and massive transfusion can cause clinically significant hypocalcemia.

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

Edrophonium (Tensilon) temporarily improves symptoms in myasthenic crisis but worsens or does not change symptoms in 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

Continuous bubbling in the water seal chamber indicates an air leak, and the nurse should systematically check connections before escalating.

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

Right lateral positioning applies pressure to the biopsy site via the body's weight, reducing the risk of hemorrhage.

CMSRN - Medical-Surgical Nursing Practice Test