A resident with left-sided weakness after a stroke needs help moving from bed to chair. Which technique is safest?
Hold under the resident's arms and lift
Pull on the weak arm to bring the resident up
Apply a gait belt snugly at the waist, lock the brakes and position the chair on the resident's stronger side
Ask the resident to put both arms around the nurse's neck
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: C. Apply a gait belt snugly at the waist, lock the brakes and position the chair on the resident's stronger side
Topic: Safe transfers with a gait belt
A gait belt over clothing gives a secure hold point, brakes must be locked, and the resident moves toward the stronger side. Lifting under the arms, pulling a weak limb or neck holds risk injury to both resident and nurse.
Why the others are wrong
A – Lifting under the arms risks shoulder injury and falls.
B – Pulling a weak arm can injure the shoulder.
D – Neck holds risk injury to both people.
Written for the Medical Exam YouTube channel and answered blind by a second AI model before publication.
2Question
A nurse prepares to give liquid acetaminophen through a gastrostomy tube. Which equipment should the nurse use to measure and give the medication?
A syringe with an enteral connector designed for tube use
A luer-tip syringe with the needle removed
An insulin syringe with the cap removed
Any syringe, joined to the tube with a needleless IV adapter
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: A. A syringe with an enteral connector designed for tube use
Topic: enteral syringes and tubing misconnections
Syringes and tubing with enteral-only connectors cannot be joined to intravenous lines, which prevents a wrong-route error in which a liquid meant for the stomach is given into a vein. Luer-tip syringes can be connected to IV access, so they are not used for enteral medications.
Why the others are wrong
B – A luer-tip syringe can attach to IV ports, so it carries a risk of injecting enteral liquid into a vein.
C – An insulin syringe is for subcutaneous insulin only and is a luer-compatible device that could be misconnected.
D – Using an adapter to fit a syringe defeats the safety design of enteral connectors and invites a misconnection.
Written for the Medical Exam YouTube channel and answered blind by a second AI model before publication.
3Question
A nurse is transporting a client on a stretcher to radiology with oxygen running from a portable cylinder. How should the nurse secure the cylinder?
Upright in a holder or cart attached to the stretcher
Lying flat at the client's feet, wedged with a blanket
Leaning against the rail on the side of the stretcher
On top of the client's legs, held by the transport staff
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: A. Upright in a holder or cart attached to the stretcher
Topic: oxygen cylinder transport
Oxygen cylinders hold gas under high pressure. If one falls and the valve breaks off, the cylinder can become a projectile and cause serious injury. It is kept upright and secured in a holder or cart whenever it is stored or moved.
Why the others are wrong
B – A loose cylinder can roll when the stretcher moves, and a damaged valve could release gas under high pressure.
C – A cylinder leaning on the rail can fall as the stretcher moves or turns.
D – Placing a heavy cylinder on the client risks injury and can still fall off during transport.
Written for the Medical Exam YouTube channel and answered blind by a second AI model before publication.
4Question
A client who had cardiac surgery has temporary epicardial pacing wires that are not connected to the pacemaker generator at present. How should the nurse manage the exposed wire ends?
Leave the ends uncovered and open to the air so that the wire stays dry
Cover each end with a dry nonconductive cap and tape it to the chest
Tape the ends to the metal bed frame so that they stay out of the way
Wrap each end in gauze moistened with normal saline to keep it clean
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: B. Cover each end with a dry nonconductive cap and tape it to the chest
Topic: microshock and temporary pacing wires
Epicardial wires lead directly to the heart muscle, so even a very small stray current (microshock) can trigger a dangerous arrhythmia. Unused wire ends are covered with a dry, nonconductive material and secured, and the nurse wears dry gloves when handling them.
Why the others are wrong
A – Bare wire ends can pick up stray current from people and equipment and carry it to the heart.
C – A metal bed frame conducts stray current, which could then reach the heart through the wires.
D – Saline is a conductor, so moist gauze makes the path for current worse.
Written for the Medical Exam YouTube channel and answered blind by a second AI model before publication.
5Question
A nurse is preparing a client for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of the lumbar spine. Which actions does the nurse take?
Select all that apply.
Screen the client for a pacemaker, aneurysm clips, cochlear implants and metal fragments
Have the client remove jewelry, hairpins and clothing that contains metal
Bring the oxygen cylinder and IV pole from the unit into the scan room
Explain that the scanner makes loud tapping noises and offer ear protection
Let the client keep credit cards and a hearing aid in a pocket
Tell the client the magnet is switched off between scans
Show the answers and explanation
Answers: A, B and D.
A – Screen the client for a pacemaker, aneurysm clips, cochlear implants and metal fragments
B – Have the client remove jewelry, hairpins and clothing that contains metal
D – Explain that the scanner makes loud tapping noises and offer ear protection
Topic: MRI safety preparation
The MRI magnet is always on and pulls on ferromagnetic metal, so the client is screened for implants and metal, and metal items are removed. The scanner is loud, so ear protection is offered. Standard oxygen cylinders and IV poles are attracted to the magnet and are never taken into the scan room.
Why the others are wrong
C – Ordinary oxygen cylinders and IV poles are ferromagnetic and can be pulled into the magnet like projectiles; MRI-safe equipment is used.
E – Magnetic cards can be erased and a hearing aid can be damaged or heated; both are removed.
F – The magnet is on all the time, even when no scan is under way.
Written for the Medical Exam YouTube channel and answered blind by a second AI model before publication.
6Question
A nurse must remove intravenous tubing from an electronic infusion pump to reload it. Which action should the nurse take before opening the pump door?
Pause the pump from the keypad and leave the roller clamp open
Turn the pump off at the power switch and open the door
Lower the solution container below the level of the insertion site
Close the roller clamp on the tubing
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: D. Close the roller clamp on the tubing
When tubing is released from the pump, gravity can let the solution run in freely. Closing the roller clamp first stops flow, so the client cannot receive a dangerous unintended bolus of fluid or drug.
Why the others are wrong
A – Pausing the pump while the roller clamp is open still leaves the line open to free flow once the door is opened.
B – Turning off the pump does not close the line, so fluid can run freely when the door opens.
C – Lowering the container below the insertion site invites blood to flow back into the tubing and does not stop the infusion.
Written for the Medical Exam YouTube channel and answered blind by a second AI model before publication.
7Question
On a telemetry unit, cardiac monitor alarms sound frequently, and most are not clinically important. Some staff have started silencing them. Which action by the nurse best supports safe alarm management?
Individualize alarm limits as the protocol allows and recheck electrode placement
Widen the alarm limits for every client on the unit so that fewer alarms sound
Silence alarms for clients who have been stable over the past 24 hours
Turn the volume to its lowest setting at the central station so staff can concentrate
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: A. Individualize alarm limits as the protocol allows and recheck electrode placement
Topic: alarm fatigue and clinical alarm management
Alarm fatigue arises when too many non-actionable alarms desensitize staff, so important alarms are missed. The safe response is to reduce false alarms by good skin preparation, correct electrode placement and alarm limits fitted to each client within protocol and orders, never by silencing or lowering alarms.
Why the others are wrong
B – Widening limits for everyone ignores each client's condition and can hide real deterioration.
C – Silencing alarms for stable clients removes the warning if the client's condition changes.
D – Lowering the volume makes real alarms easier to miss and does not address why false alarms occur.
Written for the Medical Exam YouTube channel and answered blind by a second AI model before publication.
8Question
A nurse is helping a client move from the bed to a wheelchair using a stand-pivot transfer. Which action is essential before the client is asked to stand?
Leave the wheelchair brakes unlocked so the chair can be adjusted easily
Raise the bed to its highest position to protect the nurse's back
Lock the wheelchair brakes and move the footrests out of the way
Place the wheelchair on the client's weaker side
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: C. Lock the wheelchair brakes and move the footrests out of the way
Topic: wheelchair transfer safety
A wheelchair that rolls or a footrest in the way can cause the client to fall when weight is placed on the legs. The brakes are locked and the footrests moved aside before the client stands. The bed is lowered so the client's feet rest flat on the floor, and the chair is placed on the client's stronger side.
Why the others are wrong
A – An unlocked wheelchair can roll away as the client's weight shifts onto it.
B – A high bed leaves the client's feet off the floor, making the stand unstable; the bed is lowered for the transfer.
D – The chair is placed on the client's stronger side so that the stronger leg bears weight.
Written for the Medical Exam YouTube channel and answered blind by a second AI model before publication.
9Question
A client is scheduled for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and is currently using a steel oxygen cylinder and an IV infusion pump. Which nurse actions are appropriate?
Select all that apply.
Screen the client for implanted devices such as a pacemaker, aneurysm clips, or a cochlear implant
Leave the transdermal medication patch in place because it lies on the skin and cannot affect the scan
Replace the steel oxygen cylinder and IV pump with MRI-safe or MRI-conditional equipment before entering the scanner room
Allow the client to keep jewelry and credit cards in a gown pocket because they are small
Allow staff to bring a standard wheelchair into the scanner room to transport the client
Show the answers and explanation
Answers: A and C.
A – Screen the client for implanted devices such as a pacemaker, aneurysm clips, or a cochlear implant
C – Replace the steel oxygen cylinder and IV pump with MRI-safe or MRI-conditional equipment before entering the scanner room
Topic: magnetic resonance imaging safety
The magnetic field can move ferromagnetic objects with great force and can disturb or heat implanted devices, so clients are screened for implants and ferromagnetic equipment stays out of the scanner room. Some patches have metallic backing that can heat and burn the skin, so patches are checked with the imaging team before the scan.
Why the others are wrong
B – Some patches have metallic backing that can heat and burn the skin; they are checked or removed per the imaging protocol.
D – Jewelry and magnetic strip cards can become projectiles or be damaged, and metal can burn the skin.
E – A standard wheelchair is ferromagnetic and could be pulled toward the magnet; an MRI-safe chair is used.
Written for the Medical Exam YouTube channel and answered blind by a second AI model before publication.
10Question
While adjusting an infusion pump that is delivering IV fluid to a client, the nurse feels a tingling sensation in the hand that touches the pump. Which action should the nurse take first?
Change the infusion to another pump and unplug the faulty one
Attach a 'do not use' tag to the pump and send it to the biomedical department
Complete an incident report describing what happened
Ask a colleague to touch the pump to confirm the sensation
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: A. Change the infusion to another pump and unplug the faulty one
Topic: faulty equipment
A tingling sensation from electrical equipment indicates current leakage, which can cause shock or burns to the client and staff. The first action is to remove the hazard from the client by taking the device out of use; tagging it, sending it for inspection and reporting follow.
Why the others are wrong
B – Tagging and sending the pump for inspection is required, but only after it is no longer connected to the client.
C – The report is completed after the client is safe and the equipment is out of service.
D – Deliberately exposing a colleague to a suspected electrical fault is unsafe and delays action.
Written for the Medical Exam YouTube channel and answered blind by a second AI model before publication.
11Question
A charge nurse is observing staff use electrical equipment at the bedside. Which actions follow electrical safety principles?
Select all that apply.
Removing a plug from the wall outlet by pulling on the cord
Taking a suction machine with a frayed cord out of use and tagging it for repair
Using an adapter so that a three-prong plug fits a two-slot outlet
Keeping power cords out from under the wheels of the bed and away from wet floors
Continuing to use a monitor with a cracked casing because it still displays readings
Show the answers and explanation
Answers: B and D.
B – Taking a suction machine with a frayed cord out of use and tagging it for repair
D – Keeping power cords out from under the wheels of the bed and away from wet floors
Topic: electrical safety
Electrical safety depends on intact insulation and grounding: damaged equipment is removed from service, and cords are protected from crushing and moisture. Pulling on cords damages the wiring, and bypassing the grounding prong removes the path that protects against shock.
Why the others are wrong
A – Pulling on the cord can break the wires inside; the plug itself is grasped.
C – The third prong is the ground; an adapter that bypasses it removes protection against shock.
E – A cracked casing can expose internal parts and allow fluid in; the device is removed from use even if it appears to work.
Written for the Medical Exam YouTube channel and answered blind by a second AI model before publication.
12Question
A nurse programs a smart infusion pump for a high-alert medication. The pump displays an alert that the programmed rate is higher than the limit in its drug library. Which action should the nurse take?
Override the alert because a second nurse checked the medication when it was prepared
Stop and recheck the prescription, the concentration and the programmed values before going further
Program the pump in basic mode so that the drug library is not applied
Lower the rate to just under the limit and start the infusion
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: B. Stop and recheck the prescription, the concentration and the programmed values before going further
Topic: smart infusion pump alerts
A dose-limit alert is a safety check designed to catch programming, concentration or prescribing errors. The nurse treats it as a signal to stop and verify the prescription against what was entered, and clarifies with the prescriber or pharmacist if the prescribed dose itself exceeds the limit.
Why the others are wrong
A – The earlier check covered preparation, not the pump programming; overriding without rechecking defeats the safeguard.
C – Bypassing the drug library removes dose-error protection for a high-alert medication.
D – Choosing a different rate is giving an unprescribed dose and does not find the cause of the alert.
Written for the Medical Exam YouTube channel and answered blind by a second AI model before publication.
13Question
A client is being prepared for removal of a neck mass under sedation with oxygen by face mask. The skin was just prepped with an alcohol-based solution, and the circulating nurse sees liquid pooled in the hollow of the neck and a damp towel under the shoulder. The surgeon asks for the drapes and the electrosurgical pencil. Which action should the nurse take first?
Speak up to hold draping and electrosurgery until the damp materials are removed and the prep has fully dried
Hand over the drapes and place a basin of sterile saline within the scrub person's reach
Ask the anesthesia provider to increase the oxygen flow while the drapes are applied
Have a fire extinguisher brought into the room and then continue with draping
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: A. Speak up to hold draping and electrosurgery until the damp materials are removed and the prep has fully dried
Topic: operating room fire prevention
A surgical fire needs fuel, an oxidizer and an ignition source. Pooled alcohol prep and soaked linen are fuel, oxygen collecting under drapes near the head and neck is the oxidizer, and the electrosurgical pencil is the ignition source. The only step that removes the hazard is to stop, remove the wet materials and wait until the prep is completely dry before draping.
Why the others are wrong
B – Saline at hand is a sensible precaution, but draping over pooled alcohol traps vapor; it does not remove the hazard.
C – Raising the oxygen flow enriches the space under the drapes and increases the fire risk.
D – An extinguisher is a response measure; continuing to drape over wet prep leaves the fuel in place.
Written for the Medical Exam YouTube channel and answered blind by a second AI model before publication.
14Question
A nurse checks a client's capillary blood glucose with the unit's shared meter. No blood is visible on the meter afterwards. Which action should the nurse take before the meter is used for the next client?
Return the meter to its docking station, since no blood is visible on it
Clean and disinfect the meter with the approved disinfectant wipe, keeping the surface wet for the stated contact time
Wipe the meter with the alcohol pad used to prepare the client's finger
Place the meter in a clean glove for the next use and disinfect it at the end of the shift
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: B. Clean and disinfect the meter with the approved disinfectant wipe, keeping the surface wet for the stated contact time
Topic: cleaning shared equipment
Shared blood glucose meters have carried hepatitis B between clients through amounts of blood too small to see. A shared meter is cleaned and disinfected after every use according to the manufacturer's instructions, with the disinfectant left wet for its full contact time; fingerstick devices are never shared.
Why the others are wrong
A – Invisible traces of blood transmit bloodborne viruses; disinfection does not depend on visible soil.
C – A skin-prep alcohol pad is not the disinfectant validated for the meter and dries before it can work.
D – A glove over the meter is not a barrier method, and disinfecting once a shift leaves the meter contaminated between clients.
Written for the Medical Exam YouTube channel and answered blind by a second AI model before publication.
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