Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification
Practice Test v1 Exam Questions and
Rationales
Introduction:
This document contains 150 multiple-choice questions with detailed
rationales designed for medical-surgical nursing certification
preparation. It covers key topics such as cardiovascular,
respiratory, endocrine, renal, neurological, and gastrointestinal
disorders.
The material is structured for exam revision and self-assessment,
helping learners strengthen clinical knowledge and critical thinking
skills. It aligns with nursing board standards and provides
comprehensive review content for effective exam preparation.
Exam Questions and Answers with Rationales
1. You are monitoring a patient with a junctional rhythm. You
understand that with a junctional rhythm, which of the following is
true?
A. The rhythm can cause a QRS complex that's narrower than
normal.
B. The rhythm originates from the AV node
,C. The rhythm originates from the SA node
D. The rhythm can cause inverted T waves: -Answer:-The rhythm
originates from the AV node
Rationale:-Junctional rhythms originate from the AV node, not the
SA node. Junctional rhythms do not cause changes to the QRS
complex. Junctional rhythms can cause inverted P waves, not
inverted T waves
2. A patient with herpes zoster is newly admitted to the hospital.
Based on your nursing knowledge of this disease, which statement
is correct?
A. The virus is located in the basement membrane zone of the
skin
B. Herpes zoster can appear in a healthy person at any time
C. If a person has not had chicken pox, they could contract
herpes zoster
D. Herpes zoster can only be diagnosed by skin stains: -Answer:-
If a person has not had chicken pox, they could contract herpes
zoster
,Rationale:-Herpes zoster (shingles) is caused by the reactivation of
varicella virus which has remained dormant in nerve root ganglion,
not in the basement membrane zone of the skin until reactivated.
However, the herpes zoster virus can be spread from a person with
the virus to someone who has never had chickenpox.
Skin cultures and antinuclear antibody tests can also diagnose
shingles (not just skin stains). The risk of contracting herpes zoster
tends to increase with age and immunosuppression, and is more
likely to appear in individuals who have had a history of
chickenpox; rarely in a healthy person.
3. Metabolic syndrome is identified by the presence of all of the
following except:
A. Fasting glucose >100 mg/dL
B. Elevated BP
C. Elevated HDL cholesterol
D. Elevated waist circumference: -Answer:-Elevated HDL
cholesterol
Rationale:-The most widely used criteria for metabolic syndrome,
characterized by a group of risk factors for cardio- vascular disease
and type 2 diabetes present in one person, are proposed by the U.S.
Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood
, Cholesterol in Adults (Adult Treatment Panel III). This syndrome is
identified by the presence of three or more of the following
components:
-Elevated waist circumference (men > 40 inches and women > 35
inches)
-Elevated triglycerides ( > 150 mg/dL)
-Reduced (not elevated) HDL cholesterol (men < 40 mg/dL and
women < 50 mg/dL)
-Elevated blood pressure ( > 130/85)
-Fasting glucose > 100 mg/dL
4. A patient with severe left upper quadrant pain has been
diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis. The patient asks the nurse,
"Will I ever feel better?" Which response by the nurse is the best?
A. "With treatment, the pain will eventually go away and should
not come back. However, there may be some lasting damage to your
pancreas."
B. "Are you contemplating suicide?"
C. Unfortunately, the pain will get slowly and progressively
worse."
Practice Test v1 Exam Questions and
Rationales
Introduction:
This document contains 150 multiple-choice questions with detailed
rationales designed for medical-surgical nursing certification
preparation. It covers key topics such as cardiovascular,
respiratory, endocrine, renal, neurological, and gastrointestinal
disorders.
The material is structured for exam revision and self-assessment,
helping learners strengthen clinical knowledge and critical thinking
skills. It aligns with nursing board standards and provides
comprehensive review content for effective exam preparation.
Exam Questions and Answers with Rationales
1. You are monitoring a patient with a junctional rhythm. You
understand that with a junctional rhythm, which of the following is
true?
A. The rhythm can cause a QRS complex that's narrower than
normal.
B. The rhythm originates from the AV node
,C. The rhythm originates from the SA node
D. The rhythm can cause inverted T waves: -Answer:-The rhythm
originates from the AV node
Rationale:-Junctional rhythms originate from the AV node, not the
SA node. Junctional rhythms do not cause changes to the QRS
complex. Junctional rhythms can cause inverted P waves, not
inverted T waves
2. A patient with herpes zoster is newly admitted to the hospital.
Based on your nursing knowledge of this disease, which statement
is correct?
A. The virus is located in the basement membrane zone of the
skin
B. Herpes zoster can appear in a healthy person at any time
C. If a person has not had chicken pox, they could contract
herpes zoster
D. Herpes zoster can only be diagnosed by skin stains: -Answer:-
If a person has not had chicken pox, they could contract herpes
zoster
,Rationale:-Herpes zoster (shingles) is caused by the reactivation of
varicella virus which has remained dormant in nerve root ganglion,
not in the basement membrane zone of the skin until reactivated.
However, the herpes zoster virus can be spread from a person with
the virus to someone who has never had chickenpox.
Skin cultures and antinuclear antibody tests can also diagnose
shingles (not just skin stains). The risk of contracting herpes zoster
tends to increase with age and immunosuppression, and is more
likely to appear in individuals who have had a history of
chickenpox; rarely in a healthy person.
3. Metabolic syndrome is identified by the presence of all of the
following except:
A. Fasting glucose >100 mg/dL
B. Elevated BP
C. Elevated HDL cholesterol
D. Elevated waist circumference: -Answer:-Elevated HDL
cholesterol
Rationale:-The most widely used criteria for metabolic syndrome,
characterized by a group of risk factors for cardio- vascular disease
and type 2 diabetes present in one person, are proposed by the U.S.
Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood
, Cholesterol in Adults (Adult Treatment Panel III). This syndrome is
identified by the presence of three or more of the following
components:
-Elevated waist circumference (men > 40 inches and women > 35
inches)
-Elevated triglycerides ( > 150 mg/dL)
-Reduced (not elevated) HDL cholesterol (men < 40 mg/dL and
women < 50 mg/dL)
-Elevated blood pressure ( > 130/85)
-Fasting glucose > 100 mg/dL
4. A patient with severe left upper quadrant pain has been
diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis. The patient asks the nurse,
"Will I ever feel better?" Which response by the nurse is the best?
A. "With treatment, the pain will eventually go away and should
not come back. However, there may be some lasting damage to your
pancreas."
B. "Are you contemplating suicide?"
C. Unfortunately, the pain will get slowly and progressively
worse."
