Page 1 of 93
MED SURG EXAM QUESTIONS NURSING
COMPREHENSIVE 2026 QUESTIONS EXAM LATEST
VERSION SOLVED QUESTIONS & ANSWERS VERIFIED
100 %
An older adult is brought to the emergency department because of sudden
onset of confusion. After the client is stabilized and comfortable, what
assessment by the nurse is most important?
Assess for orthostatic hypotension.
Determine if there are new medications.
Evaluate the client for gait abnormalities.
Perform a delirium screening test.
Determine if there are new medications.
Medication side effects and adverse effects are common in the older population.
Something as simple as a new antibiotic can cause confusion and memory loss. The
nurse would determine if the client is taking any new medications. Assessments for
orthostatic hypotension, gait abnormalities, and delirium may be important once
more is known about the client's condition.
An older adult client takes medication three times a day and becomes
confused about which medication should be taken at which time. The client
refuses to use a pill sorter with slots for different times, saying "Those are for
old people." What action by the nurse would be most helpful?
Arrange medications by time in a drawer.
Encourage the client to use easy-open tops.
Put color-coded stickers on the bottle caps.
Write a list of when to take each medication.
Put color-coded stickers on the bottle caps.
, Page 2 of 93
Color-coded stickers are a fast, easy-to-remember system. One color is for morning
meds, one for evening meds, and the third color is for nighttime meds. Arranging
medications by time in a drawer might be helpful if the person doesn't accidentally
put them back in the wrong spot. Easy-open tops are not related. Writing a list might
be helpful, but not if it gets misplaced. With stickers on the medication bottles
themselves, the reminder is always with the medication.
An older adult client is in the hospital. The client is ambulatory and
independent. What intervention by the nurse would be most helpful in
preventing falls in this client?
Keep the light on in the bathroom at night.
Order a bedside commode for the client.
Put the client on a toileting schedule.
Use side rails to keep the client in bed.
Keep the light on in the bathroom at night.
Although this older adult is independent and ambulatory, being hospitalized can
create confusion. Getting up in a dark, unfamiliar environment can contribute to falls.
Keeping the light on in the bathroom will help reduce the likelihood of falling. The
client does not need a commode or a toileting schedule. Side rails used to keep the
client in bed are considered restraints and would not be used in that fashion.
An older client had hip replacement surgery and the surgeon prescribed
morphine sulfate for pain. The client is allergic to morphine and reports pain
and muscle spasms. When the nurse calls the surgeon, which medication
would he or she suggest in place of the morphine?
Cyclobenzaprine
Hydromorphone hydrochloride
Ketorolac
Meperidine
Hydromorphone hydrochloride
Cyclobenzaprine (used for muscle spasms), ketorolac, and meperidine (both used
for pain) are all on the Beers list of potentially inappropriate medications for use in
older adults and would not be suggested. The nurse would suggest hydromorphone
hydrochloride.
, Page 3 of 93
A nurse admits an older adult from a home environment. The client lives with
an adult son and daughter-in-law. The client has urine burns on the skin, no
dentures, and several pressure injuries. What action by the nurse is most
appropriate?
Ask the family how these problems occurred.
Call the police department and file a report.
Notify Adult Protective Services.
Report the findings as per agency policy.
Report the findings as per agency policy.
These findings are suspicious for abuse. Health care providers are mandatory
reporters for suspected abuse. The nurse would notify social work, case
management, or whomever is designated in facility policies. That person can then
assess the situation further. If the police need to be notified, that is the person who
will notify them. Adult Protective Services is notified in the community setting.
A nurse caring for an older client in the hospital is concerned the client is not
competent to give consent for upcoming surgery. What action by the nurse is
best?
Call Adult Protective Services.
Discuss concerns with the health care team.
Do not allow the client to sign the consent.
Have the client's family sign the consent.
Discuss concerns with the health care team
In this situation, each facility will have a policy designed for assessing competence.
The nurse would bring these concerns to an interprofessional care team meeting.
There may be physiologic reasons for the client to be temporarily too confused or
incompetent to give consent. If an acute condition is ruled out, the staff would follow
the legal procedure and policies in their facility and state for determining
competence. The key is to bring the concerns forward. Calling Adult Protective
Services is not appropriate at this time. Signing the consent would wait until
competence is determined unless it is an emergency, in which case the next of kin
can sign if there are grave doubts as to the client's ability to provide consent. Simply
not allowing the client to sign does not address the problem.
, Page 4 of 93
A nurse working in an Acute Care of the Elderly unit learns that frailty in the
older population includes which components? (Select all that apply.)
Dementia
Exhaustion
Slowed physical activity
Weakness
Weight gain
Frequent illness
Exhaustion, slowed physical activity, weakness
Frailty is a syndrome consisting of unintentional weight loss, slowed physical activity
and exhaustion, and weakness. Weight gain and dementia are not part of this
syndrome. Frequent illness could occur due to frailty, but is also not part of the
syndrome.
A home health care nurse assesses an older adult for the intake of nutrients
needed in larger amounts than in younger adults. Which foods found in an
older adult's kitchen might indicate an adequate intake of these nutrients?
(Select all that apply.)
1% milk
Carrots
Lean ground beef
Oranges
Vitamin D supplements
Cheese sticks
1% milk, carrots, oranges, vitamin D supplements
Older adults need increased amounts of calcium; vitamins A, C, and D; and fiber.
Milk and cheese have calcium; carrots have vitamin A; vitamin D supplement has
vitamin D; and oranges have vitamin C. Lean ground beef is healthier than more
fatty cuts, but does not contain these needed nutrients
A nurse working with older adults assesses them for common potential
adverse medication effects. For what does the nurse assess? (Select all that
apply.)
Constipation
MED SURG EXAM QUESTIONS NURSING
COMPREHENSIVE 2026 QUESTIONS EXAM LATEST
VERSION SOLVED QUESTIONS & ANSWERS VERIFIED
100 %
An older adult is brought to the emergency department because of sudden
onset of confusion. After the client is stabilized and comfortable, what
assessment by the nurse is most important?
Assess for orthostatic hypotension.
Determine if there are new medications.
Evaluate the client for gait abnormalities.
Perform a delirium screening test.
Determine if there are new medications.
Medication side effects and adverse effects are common in the older population.
Something as simple as a new antibiotic can cause confusion and memory loss. The
nurse would determine if the client is taking any new medications. Assessments for
orthostatic hypotension, gait abnormalities, and delirium may be important once
more is known about the client's condition.
An older adult client takes medication three times a day and becomes
confused about which medication should be taken at which time. The client
refuses to use a pill sorter with slots for different times, saying "Those are for
old people." What action by the nurse would be most helpful?
Arrange medications by time in a drawer.
Encourage the client to use easy-open tops.
Put color-coded stickers on the bottle caps.
Write a list of when to take each medication.
Put color-coded stickers on the bottle caps.
, Page 2 of 93
Color-coded stickers are a fast, easy-to-remember system. One color is for morning
meds, one for evening meds, and the third color is for nighttime meds. Arranging
medications by time in a drawer might be helpful if the person doesn't accidentally
put them back in the wrong spot. Easy-open tops are not related. Writing a list might
be helpful, but not if it gets misplaced. With stickers on the medication bottles
themselves, the reminder is always with the medication.
An older adult client is in the hospital. The client is ambulatory and
independent. What intervention by the nurse would be most helpful in
preventing falls in this client?
Keep the light on in the bathroom at night.
Order a bedside commode for the client.
Put the client on a toileting schedule.
Use side rails to keep the client in bed.
Keep the light on in the bathroom at night.
Although this older adult is independent and ambulatory, being hospitalized can
create confusion. Getting up in a dark, unfamiliar environment can contribute to falls.
Keeping the light on in the bathroom will help reduce the likelihood of falling. The
client does not need a commode or a toileting schedule. Side rails used to keep the
client in bed are considered restraints and would not be used in that fashion.
An older client had hip replacement surgery and the surgeon prescribed
morphine sulfate for pain. The client is allergic to morphine and reports pain
and muscle spasms. When the nurse calls the surgeon, which medication
would he or she suggest in place of the morphine?
Cyclobenzaprine
Hydromorphone hydrochloride
Ketorolac
Meperidine
Hydromorphone hydrochloride
Cyclobenzaprine (used for muscle spasms), ketorolac, and meperidine (both used
for pain) are all on the Beers list of potentially inappropriate medications for use in
older adults and would not be suggested. The nurse would suggest hydromorphone
hydrochloride.
, Page 3 of 93
A nurse admits an older adult from a home environment. The client lives with
an adult son and daughter-in-law. The client has urine burns on the skin, no
dentures, and several pressure injuries. What action by the nurse is most
appropriate?
Ask the family how these problems occurred.
Call the police department and file a report.
Notify Adult Protective Services.
Report the findings as per agency policy.
Report the findings as per agency policy.
These findings are suspicious for abuse. Health care providers are mandatory
reporters for suspected abuse. The nurse would notify social work, case
management, or whomever is designated in facility policies. That person can then
assess the situation further. If the police need to be notified, that is the person who
will notify them. Adult Protective Services is notified in the community setting.
A nurse caring for an older client in the hospital is concerned the client is not
competent to give consent for upcoming surgery. What action by the nurse is
best?
Call Adult Protective Services.
Discuss concerns with the health care team.
Do not allow the client to sign the consent.
Have the client's family sign the consent.
Discuss concerns with the health care team
In this situation, each facility will have a policy designed for assessing competence.
The nurse would bring these concerns to an interprofessional care team meeting.
There may be physiologic reasons for the client to be temporarily too confused or
incompetent to give consent. If an acute condition is ruled out, the staff would follow
the legal procedure and policies in their facility and state for determining
competence. The key is to bring the concerns forward. Calling Adult Protective
Services is not appropriate at this time. Signing the consent would wait until
competence is determined unless it is an emergency, in which case the next of kin
can sign if there are grave doubts as to the client's ability to provide consent. Simply
not allowing the client to sign does not address the problem.
, Page 4 of 93
A nurse working in an Acute Care of the Elderly unit learns that frailty in the
older population includes which components? (Select all that apply.)
Dementia
Exhaustion
Slowed physical activity
Weakness
Weight gain
Frequent illness
Exhaustion, slowed physical activity, weakness
Frailty is a syndrome consisting of unintentional weight loss, slowed physical activity
and exhaustion, and weakness. Weight gain and dementia are not part of this
syndrome. Frequent illness could occur due to frailty, but is also not part of the
syndrome.
A home health care nurse assesses an older adult for the intake of nutrients
needed in larger amounts than in younger adults. Which foods found in an
older adult's kitchen might indicate an adequate intake of these nutrients?
(Select all that apply.)
1% milk
Carrots
Lean ground beef
Oranges
Vitamin D supplements
Cheese sticks
1% milk, carrots, oranges, vitamin D supplements
Older adults need increased amounts of calcium; vitamins A, C, and D; and fiber.
Milk and cheese have calcium; carrots have vitamin A; vitamin D supplement has
vitamin D; and oranges have vitamin C. Lean ground beef is healthier than more
fatty cuts, but does not contain these needed nutrients
A nurse working with older adults assesses them for common potential
adverse medication effects. For what does the nurse assess? (Select all that
apply.)
Constipation
