Medical Surgical Nursing Concepts and Practice Test Bank

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Patients with hypothyroidism often exhibit rough, dry skin as a result of decreased thyroid hormone levels impacting the skin's ability to retain moisture. This condition, known as myxedema, can lead to skin changes such as dryness, scaling, and thickening. The skin may also appear pale or yellowish due to reduced blood flow. Therefore, the nurse should expect the patient with newly diagnosed hypothyroidism to present with rough, dry skin during assessment.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Morning headaches that extend into the neck and subside as the day progresses can be indicative of elevated blood pressure, which is a common cause of morning headaches. Increased blood pressure can cause headaches that are usually worse in the morning due to the body's natural circadian rhythms. Monitoring the client's blood pressure and assessing for other signs of hypertension would be important in this case. Tachycardia, otitis media, and swollen lymph nodes are less likely to be associated with the described symptoms.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Phantom limb sensation is a common phenomenon where a patient perceives sensations such as cramping, itching, or pain in the limb that has been amputated. This occurs because the brain continues to receive signals from the nerves that originally innervated the amputated limb, leading to the perception of sensation in the absent body part. In this case, the patient's complaint of toes cramping in the amputated foot is indicative of phantom limb sensation rather than contractures, attention-seeking behavior, or chronic stump pain. It is important for the nurse to educate the patient about this phenomenon and provide appropriate support and reassurance.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Bladder cancer is a health problem that can result from a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Genetic mutations can predispose individuals to developing bladder cancer, while environmental factors such as smoking, exposure to certain chemicals, and chronic bladder irritation can also contribute to the development of the disease. Hematuria (blood in the urine) can be a symptom of bladder cancer, but it is not specific to this type of cancer and can also occur in other renal system disorders. Incontinence and kidney infections are not typically associated with genetic predisposition as much as bladder cancer.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The most common clinical manifestation of coronary artery disease is chest pain, also known as angina pectoris. This pain is typically described as a pressure, squeezing, tightness, or heaviness in the chest that may radiate to the arms, neck, jaw, shoulders, or back. It is usually triggered by physical exertion or emotional stress and is relieved by rest or medications such as nitroglycerin. Chest pain occurs due to reduced blood flow to the heart muscles caused by atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries. While dyspnea (shortness of breath), irritability, and tachycardia (rapid heart rate) can also be associated with coronary artery disease, chest pain is the hallmark symptom that often prompts individuals to seek medical attention for further evaluation.