NUR 377 Medical-Surgical & Critical Care Nursing | Exam 4 (2026) | 115 Questions with Answers | Trauma, Burns, Hepatitis, Meningitis, Pancreatitis

This expertly verified study resource for NUR 377 – Medical-Surgical and Critical Care Nursing includes 115 high-level practice questions and answers designed for Exam 4 of the 2026 curriculum. It provides a thorough review of multisystem trauma care, gastrointestinal emergencies, infectious conditions, and critical liver/pancreatic pathologies—all structured in a clinical Q&A format optimized for nursing exam prep and real-world application. Key topics include: Trauma & Emergency Triage: Reviews types of injury (penetrating, blunt, MVC, impalement), the primary (ABCDE) and secondary surveys, trauma resuscitation priorities, spinal precautions, hemorrhage control, and neuro assessment using GCS. Triage color coding (Red, Yellow, Green, Black) and field assessment tools such as RPM 30-2-Can Do are explained clearly. Burn Injuries: Covers classification from first-degree to fourth-degree burns, including pathophysiology, symptoms, and treatment phases (emergent, acute, rehabilitative). Detailed interventions for smoke inhalation, electrical burns, rhabdomyolysis, fluid resuscitation (Parkland formula), and burn complications like cardiac issues and hypovolemia. Pancreatitis & Hepatobiliary Disorders: Acute and necrotizing pancreatitis: pathophysiology, Cullen’s and Grey Turner’s signs, diagnostic labs (amylase, lipase), and management strategies including NPO status, pain control, insulin, and H2/PPI therapy. Cholecystitis and Cholelithiasis: symptoms (RUQ pain, clay-colored stool), diagnostics (ultrasound, ERCP), labs (WBC, bilirubin, CRP), and treatments (cholecystectomy, ursodeoxycholic acid). Peritonitis and Ascites: management of abdominal rigidity, hypovolemia, and infection risk. Liver Disorders & Hepatitis: Covers viral hepatitis types A–E, transmission routes, signs (jaundice, dark urine), and liver involvement. Acute Liver Failure & Hepatic Encephalopathy: pathogenesis, neurological complications, ammonia management, and transplant indications. Treatments include TIPS procedure, antidotes (N-acetylcysteine), lactulose therapy, and ICP precautions (mannitol). Neurological Emergencies: Meningitis: Signs (headache, nuchal rigidity, high temp), diagnostic tests (Brudzinski, Kernig, LP, CT), and nursing interventions (droplet precautions, neuro monitoring, fluid management). Distinctions between bacterial and viral meningitis using LP findings are included. Who is this document for? BSN and ADN nursing students Students enrolled in Critical Care, Emergency/Trauma, GI, or Neuro-focused nursing modules NCLEX-RN candidates preparing for systems-based clinical emergencies and prioritization With rich detail and practical focus, this resource is ideal for mastering trauma protocols, burn care, infectious disease management, and organ failure nursing—all critical for success in advanced med-surg exams and high-acuity clinical settings. Keywords: NUR 377, trauma nursing, burn injuries, fluid resuscitation, cholecystitis, pancreatitis, meningitis, hepatitis, acute liver failure, TIPS procedure, hepatic encephalopathy, Parkland formula, triage, RPM 30-2-Can Do, NCLEX prep, critical care nursing