Med-surg: GI, perioperative & oncology worksheet with answers

Radiotherapy to the pelvis commonly causes which side effects?

1. ACough and breathlessness
2. BDry mouth and changes in taste for many months afterwards
3. CHair loss from the scalp
4. DDiarrhoea and frequent, painful passing of urine

What is neutropenia?

1. AA high white cell count
2. BA low platelet count
3. CA low red cell count
4. DA low neutrophil count

What is diverticulosis?

1. AA tumour growing inside the rectum
2. BInflammation of the whole small bowel wall
3. CSmall pouches in the wall of the colon
4. DA twist of the sigmoid colon on itself

A patient on warfarin is booked for elective surgery with a high bleeding risk. What is usual practice?

1. ADouble the dose for a week so the blood is ready for surgery
2. BSwap to aspirin on the morning of surgery
3. CTake the usual dose on the morning of surgery
4. DStop it about 5 days before and check the INR

Which finding means a patient is usually ready to leave recovery for the ward?

1. AAwake, with a clear airway, stable observations and controlled pain
2. BSystolic BP falling steadily over the last hour, with a rising pulse rate
3. CPain score 9/10 and vomiting repeatedly
4. DStill drowsy and needing a jaw thrust to breathe

A routine wound swab grows bacteria, but the wound shows no signs of infection. What does this usually mean?

1. AThe wound is colonised; antibiotics are not usually needed
2. BThe patient needs IV antibiotics straight away, whatever the wound looks like
3. CThe wound must be closed with sutures again
4. DThe swab result means the wound is infected

Which preoperative blood result should the nurse report to the team before elective surgery?

1. ASodium 139 mmol/L
2. BPotassium 2.9 mmol/L
3. CFasting glucose 5.4 mmol/L (97 mg/dL)
4. DHaemoglobin 138 g/L (13.8 g/dL) in a man

A patient with haematemesis becomes drowsy and starts to vomit blood again. What is the immediate priority?

1. AComplete the admission paperwork and medication history
2. BGive a large glass of iced water to slow the bleeding
3. CTurn the patient onto their side to protect the airway
4. DSend a stool sample for faecal occult blood testing