MEDICAL SURGICAL NURSING 7TH
EDITION 2026 STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
⩥ The nurse is caring for a client infected with Rocky Mountain spotted
fever. The nurse should ask if the client has experienced which of the
following?
Answer: Was bitten by a tick
⩥ The nurse is caring for a client with a protozoa infection. Which is the
most likely mode of transmission?
Answer: Ingestion of contaminated food or water
⩥ The nurse is caring for a client who is recovering from an allergic
reaction. Which leukocyte level would the nurse expect to be the most
elevated?
Answer: Eosinophils
⩥ The nurse is caring for a client who has an infected wound on the
great toe that is red with a purulent exudate. The nurse expects that this
client has which type of infection?
Answer: Localized
,⩥ The client experienced a fall. Nursing assessment reveals that the
client is experiencing tachycardia, hypotension, confusion, tachypnea,
and flat jugular veins. What should be the nurse's first response?
Answer: Administer oxygen.
⩥ The family wants to know why the nurse is putting a urinary catheter
in a client experiencing shock. What is the nurse's best response?
Answer: "It will help monitor how much urine the kidneys are able to
produce."
⩥ A client experiencing shock has had a urinary output of 250 mL in the
last 10 hours. What is the nurse's most appropriate response?
Answer: Notify the physician.
⩥ Which client is most likely to be experiencing hypovolemic shock?
Answer: A client who had surgery 24 hours ago and who also has a
nasogastric tube
⩥ The physician has ordered arterial blood gases for a client
experiencing shock. The nurse knows that which value indicates shock?
Answer: pH 7.32
⩥ A 63-year-old Arab American male states his left leg is "hot." What is
the nurse's best first response?
,Answer: Assess for pain
⩥ The client is complaining of excruciating pain in a foot that has been
amputated. The family tells the nurse that the client is just addicted to
pain medications. What is the nurse's best response?
Answer: "He is experiencing phantom limb pain."
⩥ A client has had abdominal surgery and has orders to be ambulated
three times a day. Oral pain medication has been ordered for the client.
What should the nurse do to facilitate ambulation?
Answer: Mediate 1 hour prior to ambulating the client.
⩥ The client reports frequent use of acetaminophen. How should the
nurse best respond?
Answer: "Do you drink alcohol?"
⩥ A client with chronic pain has been admitted with a fever. The nursing
assessment reveals that the client has a decreased level of consciousness.
What should the nurse ask the family about?
Answer: What medications the client has taken
⩥ The practical nurse is reviewing the social history from a client
diagnosed with small cell carcinoma of the lung. Which information is
significant for this disease?
, Answer: The client has smoked two (2) packs of cigarettes a day for 20
years
⩥ The practical nurse and an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) are
caring for a group of clients on a medical unit. Which information
provided by the UAP warrants immediate intervention by the practical
nurse?
Answer: The client receiving Procrit (epoetin alfa) has a T 99.2˚F, P 68,
R 24, and BP of 198/102
⩥ The client diagnosed with lung cancer has been told the cancer has
metastasized to the brain. Which intervention should the practical nurse
expect to implement?
Answer: Discuss implementing an advance directive
⩥ The client diagnosed with lung cancer is being discharged. Which
statement made by the client indicates a reiteration of information is
required?
Answer: "It doesn't matter if I smoke now. I already have cancer."
⩥ The practical nurse is interviewing clients at the clinic. Which
information provided by a client warrants further investigation?
Answer: The client has been coughing up blood in the mornings
EDITION 2026 STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
⩥ The nurse is caring for a client infected with Rocky Mountain spotted
fever. The nurse should ask if the client has experienced which of the
following?
Answer: Was bitten by a tick
⩥ The nurse is caring for a client with a protozoa infection. Which is the
most likely mode of transmission?
Answer: Ingestion of contaminated food or water
⩥ The nurse is caring for a client who is recovering from an allergic
reaction. Which leukocyte level would the nurse expect to be the most
elevated?
Answer: Eosinophils
⩥ The nurse is caring for a client who has an infected wound on the
great toe that is red with a purulent exudate. The nurse expects that this
client has which type of infection?
Answer: Localized
,⩥ The client experienced a fall. Nursing assessment reveals that the
client is experiencing tachycardia, hypotension, confusion, tachypnea,
and flat jugular veins. What should be the nurse's first response?
Answer: Administer oxygen.
⩥ The family wants to know why the nurse is putting a urinary catheter
in a client experiencing shock. What is the nurse's best response?
Answer: "It will help monitor how much urine the kidneys are able to
produce."
⩥ A client experiencing shock has had a urinary output of 250 mL in the
last 10 hours. What is the nurse's most appropriate response?
Answer: Notify the physician.
⩥ Which client is most likely to be experiencing hypovolemic shock?
Answer: A client who had surgery 24 hours ago and who also has a
nasogastric tube
⩥ The physician has ordered arterial blood gases for a client
experiencing shock. The nurse knows that which value indicates shock?
Answer: pH 7.32
⩥ A 63-year-old Arab American male states his left leg is "hot." What is
the nurse's best first response?
,Answer: Assess for pain
⩥ The client is complaining of excruciating pain in a foot that has been
amputated. The family tells the nurse that the client is just addicted to
pain medications. What is the nurse's best response?
Answer: "He is experiencing phantom limb pain."
⩥ A client has had abdominal surgery and has orders to be ambulated
three times a day. Oral pain medication has been ordered for the client.
What should the nurse do to facilitate ambulation?
Answer: Mediate 1 hour prior to ambulating the client.
⩥ The client reports frequent use of acetaminophen. How should the
nurse best respond?
Answer: "Do you drink alcohol?"
⩥ A client with chronic pain has been admitted with a fever. The nursing
assessment reveals that the client has a decreased level of consciousness.
What should the nurse ask the family about?
Answer: What medications the client has taken
⩥ The practical nurse is reviewing the social history from a client
diagnosed with small cell carcinoma of the lung. Which information is
significant for this disease?
, Answer: The client has smoked two (2) packs of cigarettes a day for 20
years
⩥ The practical nurse and an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) are
caring for a group of clients on a medical unit. Which information
provided by the UAP warrants immediate intervention by the practical
nurse?
Answer: The client receiving Procrit (epoetin alfa) has a T 99.2˚F, P 68,
R 24, and BP of 198/102
⩥ The client diagnosed with lung cancer has been told the cancer has
metastasized to the brain. Which intervention should the practical nurse
expect to implement?
Answer: Discuss implementing an advance directive
⩥ The client diagnosed with lung cancer is being discharged. Which
statement made by the client indicates a reiteration of information is
required?
Answer: "It doesn't matter if I smoke now. I already have cancer."
⩥ The practical nurse is interviewing clients at the clinic. Which
information provided by a client warrants further investigation?
Answer: The client has been coughing up blood in the mornings
