Med-surg: neuro, endocrine & renal worksheet with answers

Free printable Med-surg: neuro, endocrine & renal 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

What is Trousseau's sign?

  1. AHand spasm when a BP cuff is inflated on the arm
  2. BTwitching of the face when the cheek is tapped
  3. CPain in the calf when the foot is bent upwards
  4. DBruising around the eyes after a head injury
2.Easy

Which finding is typical of diabetes insipidus?

  1. AFluid retention with a low serum sodium
  2. BSmall volumes of very concentrated urine
  3. CLarge volumes of dilute urine and great thirst
  4. DHigh blood glucose with large amounts of glucose in the urine
3.Easy

Which action must be avoided on the arm with a haemodialysis fistula?

  1. AMoving the arm in a normal way
  2. BFeeling gently over the fistula for the thrill
  3. CBlood pressure cuffs or blood samples
  4. DWashing it with soap and water
4.Medium

Why should long-term steroid treatment not be stopped suddenly?

  1. AThe steroids build up and become toxic after they are stopped
  2. BStopping suddenly makes the bones grow too quickly and then fracture
  3. CStopping causes the blood glucose to fall sharply
  4. DThe suppressed adrenal glands cannot make enough cortisol at once
5.Medium

Why is levodopa combined with carbidopa (or benserazide)?

  1. ATo stop levodopa being converted to dopamine outside the brain
  2. BTo add a separate effect that reduces the resting tremor directly
  3. CTo make levodopa cross into the brain more slowly and evenly
  4. DTo prevent tolerance from developing to levodopa over time
6.Medium

A patient has Cushing's syndrome. Which nursing assessment is especially important?

  1. AChecking for low blood pressure
  2. BRegular blood glucose checks
  3. CWatching for weight loss
  4. DMonitoring for a high potassium
7.Hard

A patient with lung cancer is confused, dehydrated and constipated, with a corrected calcium of 3.4 mmol/L (about 13.6 mg/dL). What is usually the first treatment?

  1. AA fluid restriction
  2. BOral calcium tablets
  3. CIV fluids to rehydrate the patient
  4. DIV calcium gluconate and vitamin D
8.Hard

An older patient with type 2 diabetes has glucose 48 mmol/L, osmolality 365 mOsm/kg, no significant ketones and confusion. What is the first priority?

  1. AOral glucose to prevent hypoglycaemia during treatment
  2. BStrict fluid restriction to avoid cerebral oedema
  3. CA large IV insulin bolus to bring glucose to normal within an hour
  4. DCareful IV fluids with close checks of osmolality, sodium and glucose

Answer key

  1. 1. A · Hand spasm when a BP cuff is inflated on the arm
  2. 2. C · Large volumes of dilute urine and great thirst
  3. 3. C · Blood pressure cuffs or blood samples
  4. 4. D · The suppressed adrenal glands cannot make enough cortisol at once
  5. 5. A · To stop levodopa being converted to dopamine outside the brain
  6. 6. B · Regular blood glucose checks
  7. 7. C · IV fluids to rehydrate the patient
  8. 8. D · Careful IV fluids with close checks of osmolality, sodium and glucose

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