Med-surg: cardiovascular & respiratory worksheet with answers

Free printable Med-surg: cardiovascular & respiratory worksheet: 8 problems from easy to exam level, with an answer key. Print it or save it as a PDF.

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Name: ____________________   Date: ____________

1.Easy

Which organism causes tuberculosis?

  1. AMycobacterium tuberculosis
  2. BPseudomonas aeruginosa
  3. CCorynebacterium diphtheriae
  4. DStaphylococcus aureus
2.Easy

What does "hypovolaemia" mean?

  1. AA high level of fluid in the tissues
  2. BA low level of sodium in the blood
  3. CA reduced volume of blood in the circulation
  4. DA low level of haemoglobin with a normal blood volume
3.Easy

Rust-coloured sputum is classically linked with which infection?

  1. APneumococcal pneumonia
  2. BOral thrush
  3. CA viral common cold
  4. DAllergic rhinitis
4.Medium

Why should a long-acting beta-2 agonist (LABA) never be used alone in asthma?

  1. AIt always causes immediate severe bronchospasm when used on its own
  2. BIt cannot be inhaled without a nebuliser
  3. CIt works only when it is taken together with a course of antibiotics
  4. DWithout an inhaled steroid, it is linked with severe and fatal attacks
5.Medium

A patient's capillary refill time at the fingertip is 4 seconds. What does this suggest?

  1. ANormal peripheral perfusion
  2. BA high haemoglobin level
  3. CAn unusually strong cardiac output
  4. DReduced peripheral perfusion
6.Medium

Which exercise advice is recommended for intermittent claudication?

  1. AComplete bed rest until the leg pain has gone for at least a month
  2. BSupervised walking until pain is near maximal, then rest and repeat
  3. CStopping walking at the very first twinge of pain each time
  4. DWalking only on days when the legs feel warm and painless
7.Hard

A patient with COPD who is known to retain CO₂ arrives on 15 L/min oxygen. They are now drowsy with SpO₂ 99%. What is the most appropriate action?

  1. AReduce the oxygen to aim for 88–92% and get a blood gas
  2. BGive a sedative to help the patient rest
  3. CRemove the oxygen completely and observe
  4. DKeep the oxygen at 15 L/min because the saturation is excellent
8.Hard

A patient with a COPD exacerbation has been on NIV for two hours. They are now more drowsy, and the pH has fallen further despite a good mask fit. What should the nurse do?

  1. AGive a sedative to help the patient tolerate the mask
  2. BContinue NIV unchanged and repeat the blood gas tomorrow morning
  3. CRemove the mask and give nebulised bronchodilators only from now on
  4. DEscalate urgently for review of intubation or a ceiling of care

Answer key

  1. 1. A · Mycobacterium tuberculosis
  2. 2. C · A reduced volume of blood in the circulation
  3. 3. A · Pneumococcal pneumonia
  4. 4. D · Without an inhaled steroid, it is linked with severe and fatal attacks
  5. 5. D · Reduced peripheral perfusion
  6. 6. B · Supervised walking until pain is near maximal, then rest and repeat
  7. 7. A · Reduce the oxygen to aim for 88–92% and get a blood gas
  8. 8. D · Escalate urgently for review of intubation or a ceiling of care

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