Test Bank for Brunner & Suddarth’s Textbook of Medical-
Surgical Nursing – Exam Questions and Answers
1.A child with asthma is treated for acute exacerbation in the emergency department. The
nurse caring for the child should monitor for which sign, knowing that it indicates worsening of
the condition.
A.) Decreased wheezing
B.) Pulse rate of 90 bpm
C.) Respirations of 18 bpm
D.) Warm, dry skin - Correct answer A.) Decreased wheezing
2.A client with asthma states, "I want to play some sports like my friends. What can I do?" The
nurse responds to the child based on the understanding of which of the following?
A.) Physical activities are inappropriate for children with asthma
B.) Children with asthma must be excluded from team sports
C.) Vigorous physical exercise frequently precipitates an asthmatic episode
D.) Most children with asthma can participate in sports if the asthma is controlled - Correct
answer D.) Most children with asthma can participate in sports if the asthma is controlled
3.The nurse is assessing a 72 year old client with end stage chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease (COPD) for admission into a palliative care program. The client shared concerns about
,the effects of ending treatment and the possibility of increasing symptoms. What is the best
response by the nurse?
A.) "You will be educated on pain reducing methods."
B.) "We will manage your symptoms to increase your quality of life."
C.) "Are you worried you will feel short of breath."
D.) "Are you having second thoughts regarding stopping treatment." - Correct answer B.) "We
will manage your symptoms to increase your quality of life."
4.The nurse is receiving report from night shift. What client would the nurse see first?
A.) The client with new bilateral crackles
B.) The client who has a barrel shaped chest
C.) The client with a frequent productive cough
D.) The client with clubbing on both fingers - Correct answer A.) The client with new bilateral
crackles
5.The nurse is caring for a client who has been diagnosed with stage I cancer of the colon. When
assessing the need for psychological support, which question by the nurse will provide the most
information?
A.) "How long ago were you diagnosed with this cancer?"
B.) "Do you have any concerns about body image changes?"
C.) "Can you tell me what has been helpful to you in the past when coping with stressful
events?"
D.) "Are you familiar with the stages of emotional adjustment to a diagnosis like cancer of the
colon? - Correct answer C.) "Can you tell me what has been helpful to you in the past when
coping with stressful events."
6.The nurse is caring for a lung cancer client in the induction stage of chemotherapy. The client
experiences tumor lysis syndrome. Which of the following metabolic disturbances can occur
because of tumor lysis syndrome?
A.) Hypoglycemia
B.) Hypokalemia
C.) Hyperuricemia
,D.) Hypercalcemia - Correct answer C.) Hyperuricemia
7.The nurse is caring for a child with leukemia who is receiving chemotherapy. The child is on
neutropenic precautions. Friends of the child come to the desk and ask for a vase for flowers
they have picked from their garden. Which of the following is the nurse's best response?
A.) "As soon as I can wash a vase, I will put the flowers in it and bring it to the room."
B.) "Get rid of the flowers immediately. You could harm the child."
C.) "I will get you a special vase that we use on this unit."
D.) "The flowers from your garden are beautiful but should not be placed in the room at this
time." - Correct answer D.) "The flowers from your garden are beautiful but should not be
placed in the room at this time."
8.The nurse is caring for clients on an oncology unit and is checking the am lab results. Which
client would the nurse see first?
A.) A client with nausea and vomiting with potassium level of 3.0 mEq/l.
B.) A nosebleed client with a platelet count of 32,000/mm3.
C.) A client who has a WBC count of 3,000 cells/mcL after chemotherapy.
D.) A client with fatigue and a hemoglobin of 8 g/dL - Correct answer B.) A nosebleed client with
a platelet count of 32,000/mm3
9.If the client receiving chemotherapy is at high risk for infection, which measure is the most
important to take to minimize the occurrence?
A.) Client should wear a mask in own hospital room
B.) Encouraging daily personal hygiene, oral care and perineal care
C.) Flushing all lumens of central line access device every eight hours
D.) Limit foods to commercially canned products only - Correct answer B.) Encouraging daily
personal hygiene, oral care and perineal care
10.A client is scheduled for baseline pulmonary function testing. Which action should the nurse
take to prepare the client for this procedure?
A.) Administer oral corticosteroids 2 hours before the procedure.
B.) Ensure that the client has been NPO for several hours before the test.
C.) Give the rescue medication immediately before testing.
, D.) Withhold bronchodilators for 6 to 12 hours before the examination. - Correct answer D.)
Withhold bronchodilators for 6 to 12 hours before the examination.
Rationale: Any bronchodilator will affect the results and true lung capacities are being tested.
Oral and rescue medication could also alter the results.
11.The nurse is caring for a client on a non-selective beta blocker for tachycardia. What
assessment would be most concerning to the nurse?
A.) Wheezes in lungs bilaterally
B.) Productive sputum
C.) Increased urine output
D.) Heart Rate is 62 BPM/L - Correct answer A.) Wheezes in lungs bilaterally
Rationale: A non selective beta blocker may cause bronchospasm. And wheezes would be a
concerning finding.
12.When caring for the client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). When the
nurse identifies a nursing diagnosis of impaired gas exchange, what finding will be most useful
in evaluating the effectiveness of treatment?
A.) Absence of wheezes, rhonchi, or crackles
B.) Even, unlabored respirations
C.) Pulse oximetry reading of 92%
D.) Respiratory rate of 18 breaths/minute - Correct answer C.) Pulse oximetry reading of 92%
Rationale: Rationale: A goal of impaired gas exchange is to have adequate perfusion to the
capillary beds. A pulse ox of 92% would indicate this.
The nurse is caring for a client with COPD who is receiving an albuterol per nebulizer. The nurse
understands the client is experiencing a side effect of this medication by noting which
assessment?
A.) The client is jittery with tachycardia.
B.) The client has urinary incontinence.
Surgical Nursing – Exam Questions and Answers
1.A child with asthma is treated for acute exacerbation in the emergency department. The
nurse caring for the child should monitor for which sign, knowing that it indicates worsening of
the condition.
A.) Decreased wheezing
B.) Pulse rate of 90 bpm
C.) Respirations of 18 bpm
D.) Warm, dry skin - Correct answer A.) Decreased wheezing
2.A client with asthma states, "I want to play some sports like my friends. What can I do?" The
nurse responds to the child based on the understanding of which of the following?
A.) Physical activities are inappropriate for children with asthma
B.) Children with asthma must be excluded from team sports
C.) Vigorous physical exercise frequently precipitates an asthmatic episode
D.) Most children with asthma can participate in sports if the asthma is controlled - Correct
answer D.) Most children with asthma can participate in sports if the asthma is controlled
3.The nurse is assessing a 72 year old client with end stage chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease (COPD) for admission into a palliative care program. The client shared concerns about
,the effects of ending treatment and the possibility of increasing symptoms. What is the best
response by the nurse?
A.) "You will be educated on pain reducing methods."
B.) "We will manage your symptoms to increase your quality of life."
C.) "Are you worried you will feel short of breath."
D.) "Are you having second thoughts regarding stopping treatment." - Correct answer B.) "We
will manage your symptoms to increase your quality of life."
4.The nurse is receiving report from night shift. What client would the nurse see first?
A.) The client with new bilateral crackles
B.) The client who has a barrel shaped chest
C.) The client with a frequent productive cough
D.) The client with clubbing on both fingers - Correct answer A.) The client with new bilateral
crackles
5.The nurse is caring for a client who has been diagnosed with stage I cancer of the colon. When
assessing the need for psychological support, which question by the nurse will provide the most
information?
A.) "How long ago were you diagnosed with this cancer?"
B.) "Do you have any concerns about body image changes?"
C.) "Can you tell me what has been helpful to you in the past when coping with stressful
events?"
D.) "Are you familiar with the stages of emotional adjustment to a diagnosis like cancer of the
colon? - Correct answer C.) "Can you tell me what has been helpful to you in the past when
coping with stressful events."
6.The nurse is caring for a lung cancer client in the induction stage of chemotherapy. The client
experiences tumor lysis syndrome. Which of the following metabolic disturbances can occur
because of tumor lysis syndrome?
A.) Hypoglycemia
B.) Hypokalemia
C.) Hyperuricemia
,D.) Hypercalcemia - Correct answer C.) Hyperuricemia
7.The nurse is caring for a child with leukemia who is receiving chemotherapy. The child is on
neutropenic precautions. Friends of the child come to the desk and ask for a vase for flowers
they have picked from their garden. Which of the following is the nurse's best response?
A.) "As soon as I can wash a vase, I will put the flowers in it and bring it to the room."
B.) "Get rid of the flowers immediately. You could harm the child."
C.) "I will get you a special vase that we use on this unit."
D.) "The flowers from your garden are beautiful but should not be placed in the room at this
time." - Correct answer D.) "The flowers from your garden are beautiful but should not be
placed in the room at this time."
8.The nurse is caring for clients on an oncology unit and is checking the am lab results. Which
client would the nurse see first?
A.) A client with nausea and vomiting with potassium level of 3.0 mEq/l.
B.) A nosebleed client with a platelet count of 32,000/mm3.
C.) A client who has a WBC count of 3,000 cells/mcL after chemotherapy.
D.) A client with fatigue and a hemoglobin of 8 g/dL - Correct answer B.) A nosebleed client with
a platelet count of 32,000/mm3
9.If the client receiving chemotherapy is at high risk for infection, which measure is the most
important to take to minimize the occurrence?
A.) Client should wear a mask in own hospital room
B.) Encouraging daily personal hygiene, oral care and perineal care
C.) Flushing all lumens of central line access device every eight hours
D.) Limit foods to commercially canned products only - Correct answer B.) Encouraging daily
personal hygiene, oral care and perineal care
10.A client is scheduled for baseline pulmonary function testing. Which action should the nurse
take to prepare the client for this procedure?
A.) Administer oral corticosteroids 2 hours before the procedure.
B.) Ensure that the client has been NPO for several hours before the test.
C.) Give the rescue medication immediately before testing.
, D.) Withhold bronchodilators for 6 to 12 hours before the examination. - Correct answer D.)
Withhold bronchodilators for 6 to 12 hours before the examination.
Rationale: Any bronchodilator will affect the results and true lung capacities are being tested.
Oral and rescue medication could also alter the results.
11.The nurse is caring for a client on a non-selective beta blocker for tachycardia. What
assessment would be most concerning to the nurse?
A.) Wheezes in lungs bilaterally
B.) Productive sputum
C.) Increased urine output
D.) Heart Rate is 62 BPM/L - Correct answer A.) Wheezes in lungs bilaterally
Rationale: A non selective beta blocker may cause bronchospasm. And wheezes would be a
concerning finding.
12.When caring for the client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). When the
nurse identifies a nursing diagnosis of impaired gas exchange, what finding will be most useful
in evaluating the effectiveness of treatment?
A.) Absence of wheezes, rhonchi, or crackles
B.) Even, unlabored respirations
C.) Pulse oximetry reading of 92%
D.) Respiratory rate of 18 breaths/minute - Correct answer C.) Pulse oximetry reading of 92%
Rationale: Rationale: A goal of impaired gas exchange is to have adequate perfusion to the
capillary beds. A pulse ox of 92% would indicate this.
The nurse is caring for a client with COPD who is receiving an albuterol per nebulizer. The nurse
understands the client is experiencing a side effect of this medication by noting which
assessment?
A.) The client is jittery with tachycardia.
B.) The client has urinary incontinence.
