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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1.Easy

Which head position is generally used for a patient with raised intracranial pressure?

  1. AHead lower than the body (Trendelenburg)
  2. BHead raised to about 30°, with the neck straight
  3. CLying flat, with the head turned well to one side
  4. DSitting upright, with the neck bent forward
2.Easy

Where should a urinary catheter drainage bag be kept?

  1. AAbove the bladder so urine flows faster
  2. BOn the bed next to the patient's pillow
  3. CBelow the level of the bladder and off the floor
  4. DOn the floor under the bed, out of the way
3.Easy

Which finding is a common reason for urgent dialysis?

  1. AA single episode of itching
  2. BA haemoglobin of 105 g/L (10.5 g/dL) with mild tiredness
  3. CHyperkalaemia that does not respond to treatment
  4. DA mildly raised creatinine with no symptoms
4.Medium

A patient with Alzheimer's disease starts donepezil. Which side effects should the nurse look for?

  1. AA persistent dry cough and a raised potassium
  2. BWeight gain, high glucose and swollen ankles
  3. CNausea, diarrhoea and a slow heart rate
  4. DDry mouth, constipation and a fast heart rate
5.Medium

A patient taking dapagliflozin (an SGLT2 inhibitor) is vomiting, with blood ketones of 4.5 mmol/L but a glucose of only 11 mmol/L. What should be suspected?

  1. AEuglycaemic diabetic ketoacidosis
  2. BHyperosmolar hyperglycaemic state
  3. CA normal side effect needing no action
  4. DHypoglycaemia caused by the vomiting
6.Medium

Why may a person with long-standing diabetes have a heart attack without typical chest pain?

  1. AHigh glucose protects the heart from pain
  2. BInsulin acts as a strong painkiller
  3. CNerve damage can blunt the pain signals
  4. DPeople with diabetes do not have heart attacks
7.Hard

A patient with type 1 diabetes is nil by mouth before surgery tomorrow. Which plan is safest?

  1. AGive insulin only if the urine ketones become strongly positive overnight
  2. BStop all insulin until the patient is eating and drinking normally again
  3. CContinue some insulin (basal or a variable-rate IV infusion) with glucose checks
  4. DGive the usual meal-time insulin, even though no meals will be eaten
8.Hard

A patient on a variable rate IV insulin infusion is nil by mouth. Why is a glucose-containing IV fluid usually given alongside it?

  1. ATo replace the potassium lost from the cells
  2. BTo speed up the action of the insulin in the muscles
  3. CTo stop the insulin sticking to the IV tubing
  4. DTo prevent hypoglycaemia while insulin is running

Answer key

  1. 1. B · Head raised to about 30°, with the neck straight
  2. 2. C · Below the level of the bladder and off the floor
  3. 3. C · Hyperkalaemia that does not respond to treatment
  4. 4. C · Nausea, diarrhoea and a slow heart rate
  5. 5. A · Euglycaemic diabetic ketoacidosis
  6. 6. C · Nerve damage can blunt the pain signals
  7. 7. C · Continue some insulin (basal or a variable-rate IV infusion) with glucose checks
  8. 8. D · To prevent hypoglycaemia while insulin is running

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