NUR 377 Medical-Surgical & Critical Care Nursing | Exam 1 (2026) | 100 Questions with Answers | Pain, Pneumothorax, Chest Tubes, ARDS

This expertly verified resource for NUR 377 – Medical-Surgical & Critical Care Nursing offers 100 comprehensive practice questions and answers aligned with Exam 1 content for the 2026 academic year. Structured in a high-yield Q&A format, this document reviews foundational and advanced topics in adult and critical care nursing, with detailed clinical reasoning and nursing interventions. Key topics include: Pain Management: Acute vs. chronic pain signs and symptoms, opioid pharmacology (morphine, fentanyl, hydromorphone), adjuvant use (gabapentin), and patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) protocols. Safety measures like VS monitoring, fall prevention, and naloxone usage are emphasized. Pulmonary Disorders: Extensive content on pleural conditions including pleural effusion, pneumothorax (open, closed, spontaneous, tension), hemothorax, and flail chest. Includes causes, hallmark symptoms (e.g., absent breath sounds), and emergency interventions like needle decompression and chest tube placement. Chest Tube Management: Full breakdown of components and function—suction control, water seal chamber, air leak monitor, and drainage system. Nursing responsibilities, complications (air leaks, infections, tube dislodgement), and emergency responses are covered in detail. Respiratory Failure & Ventilation: Includes criteria and causes of acute respiratory failure (hypoxemic and hypercapnic), ARDS stages and interventions (PEEP, prone positioning, ECMO), and non-invasive support (CPAP, BiPAP). Ventilator modes (AC, SIMV), settings (PEEP), and nursing protocols (e.g., sedation vacations, HOB 30°) are also explored. ABGs & V/Q Ratios: Interpretation of pH, PaCO2, and HCO3 values with compensatory mechanisms, plus explanations of ventilation-perfusion mismatches (shunt, dead space, silent shunt). Who is this document for? BSN and ADN nursing students Students enrolled in Advanced Medical-Surgical or Critical Care Nursing Learners preparing for NCLEX-RN or ICU clinical placements This document provides a strong clinical foundation and prepares students to handle high-acuity respiratory emergencies and complex pharmacologic interventions. It’s essential for excelling in med-surg and critical care exams. Keywords: NUR 377, medical surgical nursing, critical care nursing, pain management, opioids, PCA, pneumothorax, pleural effusion, chest tubes, hemothorax, ARDS, ventilator modes, CPAP, BiPAP, ABG interpretation, respiratory failure, NCLEX prep, VQ mismatch, emergency nursing