Page 1 of 41
MEDICAL-SURGICAL ASSIGNMENT EXAM (PRACTICE
2026-2027 ALL QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS EXAM 2026
LATEST EDITION SOLVED QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
VERIFIED
The nurse is caring for a client with a small bowel obstruction. The client is
vomiting foul smelling fecal-like material. What action should the nurse
implement?
Administer antiemetics every 2 to 3 hours.
Position on the left side with knees drawn up.
Encourage ice chips sparingly.
Give IV fluids with electrolytes.
Give IV fluids with electrolytes.
Rationale
When the bowel is obstructed, electrolytes and fluids are not absorbed, so
parenteral fluids with sodium chloride, bicarbonate, and potassium should be
administered to prevent electrolyte imbalance and dehydration.
A man who smokes two packs of cigarettes a day wants to know if smoking is
contributing to the difficulty that he and his wife are having getting pregnant.
What information is best for the nurse to provide? (Select all that apply.)
Only marijuana cigarettes affect sperm count.
Smoking can decrease the quantity and quality of sperm.
The first semen analysis should be repeated to confirm sperm counts.
Cessation of smoking improves general health and fertility.
Sperm specimens should be collected in 2 subsequent days.
Smoking can decrease the quantity and quality of sperm.
Cessation of smoking improves general health and fertility.
The first semen analysis should be repeated to confirm sperm counts.
Rationale
, Page 2 of 41
The use of tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana may affect a man's sperm counts.
A client with rheumatoid arthritis is prescribed piroxicam (Feldene), a
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Which effect is characteristic of
(NSAIDs) used for treating rheumatoid arthritis?
Production of replacement cartilage is stimulated.
Further destruction of the articular cartilage is prevented.
Inflammation is reduced by inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis.
Bradykinin is inhibited, thereby reducing acute and chronic pain.
Inflammation is reduced by inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis.
Rationale
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), used for treating rheumatoid
arthritis, by inhibiting the synthesis of prostaglandins and providing relief
from the associated pain.
The nurse is caring for a client with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
infection who develops Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC). What is the
most significant desired outcome for this client?
Free from injury of drug side effects.
Return to pre-illness weight.
Adequate oxygenation.
Maintenance of intact perineal skin.
Return to pre-illness weight.
Rationale
MAC is an opportunistic infection that presents as a tuberculosis-like
pulmonary process. MAC is a major contributing factor to the development of
wasting syndrome, so the most significant desired outcome is the client's
return to a pre-illness weight using oral, enteral, or parenteral supplementation
as needed.
What assessment finding should the nurse identify that indicates a client with
an acute asthma exacerbation is beginning to improve after treatment?
Wheezing becomes louder.
Cough remains unproductive.
Vesicular breath sounds decrease.
Bronchodilators stimulate coughing.
Wheezing becomes louder.
, Page 3 of 41
Rationale
In an acute asthma attack, air flow may be so significantly restricted that
breath sounds and wheezing is diminished. If the client is successfully
responding to bronchodilators and respiratory treatments, wheezing should
become louder as the air flow increases in the airways. As the airways open
and mucous is mobilized in response to treatment, the cough should become
more productive.
A client with a recent history of blood in his stools is scheduled for a
proctosigmoidoscopy. The nurse should implement which protocols to
prepare the client for this procedure? (Select all that apply.)
Obtain consent for the procedure.
Initiate preoperative sedation.
Begin fast the morning of the procedure.
Administer an enema before the procedure.
Provide a clear-liquid diet 48 hours before the procedure.
Obtain consent for the procedure.
Administer an enema before the procedure.
Provide a clear-liquid diet 48 hours before the procedure.
Rationale
The usual preoperative preparation for proctosigmoidoscopy entails obtaining
the client's consent to the procedure, a clear-liquid diet for 24 to 48 hours prior
to the procedure, administration of an enema, and fasting on the morning of
the procedure.
The PET (positron emission tomography) scan is commonly used with
oncology clients to provide for which diagnostic information?
A description of inflammation, infection, and tumors.
Continuous visualization of intracranial neoplasms.
Imaging of tumors without exposure to radiation.
An image that describes metastatic sites of cancer.
An image that describes metastatic sites of cancer.
Rationale
PET scans provide information regarding certain diseases of the heart
(determination of tissue viability), brain (dementia, Parkinson's disease), and
early detection of tumors and their metastasis.
, Page 4 of 41
The nurse is caring for a client receiving tamoxifen (Nolvadex) for the
treatment of breast cancer. Which action should the nurse include in the
client's plan of care?
Increase fluid intake.
Monitor sodium chloride intake.
Assist the client in coping with hot flashes.
Encourage milk products to increase calcium intake.
Assist the client in coping with hot flashes.
Rationale
Tamoxifen, an estrogen receptor blocking agent, can cause hot flashes, so
client education regarding menopausal-like symptoms should be included in
the plan of care.
Based on an analysis of the client's rhythm, atrial fibrillation, the nurse should
prepare the client for which treatment protocol?
Diuretic therapy.
Pacemaker implantation.
Anticoagulation therapy.
Cardiac catheterization.
Anticoagulation therapy.
Rationale
The client is experiencing atrial fibrillation, and the nurse should prepare the
client for anticoagulation therapy which should be prescribed before rhythm
control therapies to prevent cardioembolic events which result from blood
pooling in the fibrillating atria.
A client is admitted after blunt abdominal injury. Which assessment finding
requires immediate action by the nurse?
Radiating abdominal pain with left lower quadrant palpation.
Grimacing after palpation of the right hypochondriac region.
Rebound tenderness with abdominal palpation.
Bluish periumbilical skin discoloration.
Bluish periumbilical skin discoloration.
Rationale
immediate action is indicated for intraperitoneal hemorrhage which causes
periumbilical discoloration (D) and indicates the presence of a splenic rupture,
MEDICAL-SURGICAL ASSIGNMENT EXAM (PRACTICE
2026-2027 ALL QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS EXAM 2026
LATEST EDITION SOLVED QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
VERIFIED
The nurse is caring for a client with a small bowel obstruction. The client is
vomiting foul smelling fecal-like material. What action should the nurse
implement?
Administer antiemetics every 2 to 3 hours.
Position on the left side with knees drawn up.
Encourage ice chips sparingly.
Give IV fluids with electrolytes.
Give IV fluids with electrolytes.
Rationale
When the bowel is obstructed, electrolytes and fluids are not absorbed, so
parenteral fluids with sodium chloride, bicarbonate, and potassium should be
administered to prevent electrolyte imbalance and dehydration.
A man who smokes two packs of cigarettes a day wants to know if smoking is
contributing to the difficulty that he and his wife are having getting pregnant.
What information is best for the nurse to provide? (Select all that apply.)
Only marijuana cigarettes affect sperm count.
Smoking can decrease the quantity and quality of sperm.
The first semen analysis should be repeated to confirm sperm counts.
Cessation of smoking improves general health and fertility.
Sperm specimens should be collected in 2 subsequent days.
Smoking can decrease the quantity and quality of sperm.
Cessation of smoking improves general health and fertility.
The first semen analysis should be repeated to confirm sperm counts.
Rationale
, Page 2 of 41
The use of tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana may affect a man's sperm counts.
A client with rheumatoid arthritis is prescribed piroxicam (Feldene), a
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Which effect is characteristic of
(NSAIDs) used for treating rheumatoid arthritis?
Production of replacement cartilage is stimulated.
Further destruction of the articular cartilage is prevented.
Inflammation is reduced by inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis.
Bradykinin is inhibited, thereby reducing acute and chronic pain.
Inflammation is reduced by inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis.
Rationale
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), used for treating rheumatoid
arthritis, by inhibiting the synthesis of prostaglandins and providing relief
from the associated pain.
The nurse is caring for a client with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
infection who develops Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC). What is the
most significant desired outcome for this client?
Free from injury of drug side effects.
Return to pre-illness weight.
Adequate oxygenation.
Maintenance of intact perineal skin.
Return to pre-illness weight.
Rationale
MAC is an opportunistic infection that presents as a tuberculosis-like
pulmonary process. MAC is a major contributing factor to the development of
wasting syndrome, so the most significant desired outcome is the client's
return to a pre-illness weight using oral, enteral, or parenteral supplementation
as needed.
What assessment finding should the nurse identify that indicates a client with
an acute asthma exacerbation is beginning to improve after treatment?
Wheezing becomes louder.
Cough remains unproductive.
Vesicular breath sounds decrease.
Bronchodilators stimulate coughing.
Wheezing becomes louder.
, Page 3 of 41
Rationale
In an acute asthma attack, air flow may be so significantly restricted that
breath sounds and wheezing is diminished. If the client is successfully
responding to bronchodilators and respiratory treatments, wheezing should
become louder as the air flow increases in the airways. As the airways open
and mucous is mobilized in response to treatment, the cough should become
more productive.
A client with a recent history of blood in his stools is scheduled for a
proctosigmoidoscopy. The nurse should implement which protocols to
prepare the client for this procedure? (Select all that apply.)
Obtain consent for the procedure.
Initiate preoperative sedation.
Begin fast the morning of the procedure.
Administer an enema before the procedure.
Provide a clear-liquid diet 48 hours before the procedure.
Obtain consent for the procedure.
Administer an enema before the procedure.
Provide a clear-liquid diet 48 hours before the procedure.
Rationale
The usual preoperative preparation for proctosigmoidoscopy entails obtaining
the client's consent to the procedure, a clear-liquid diet for 24 to 48 hours prior
to the procedure, administration of an enema, and fasting on the morning of
the procedure.
The PET (positron emission tomography) scan is commonly used with
oncology clients to provide for which diagnostic information?
A description of inflammation, infection, and tumors.
Continuous visualization of intracranial neoplasms.
Imaging of tumors without exposure to radiation.
An image that describes metastatic sites of cancer.
An image that describes metastatic sites of cancer.
Rationale
PET scans provide information regarding certain diseases of the heart
(determination of tissue viability), brain (dementia, Parkinson's disease), and
early detection of tumors and their metastasis.
, Page 4 of 41
The nurse is caring for a client receiving tamoxifen (Nolvadex) for the
treatment of breast cancer. Which action should the nurse include in the
client's plan of care?
Increase fluid intake.
Monitor sodium chloride intake.
Assist the client in coping with hot flashes.
Encourage milk products to increase calcium intake.
Assist the client in coping with hot flashes.
Rationale
Tamoxifen, an estrogen receptor blocking agent, can cause hot flashes, so
client education regarding menopausal-like symptoms should be included in
the plan of care.
Based on an analysis of the client's rhythm, atrial fibrillation, the nurse should
prepare the client for which treatment protocol?
Diuretic therapy.
Pacemaker implantation.
Anticoagulation therapy.
Cardiac catheterization.
Anticoagulation therapy.
Rationale
The client is experiencing atrial fibrillation, and the nurse should prepare the
client for anticoagulation therapy which should be prescribed before rhythm
control therapies to prevent cardioembolic events which result from blood
pooling in the fibrillating atria.
A client is admitted after blunt abdominal injury. Which assessment finding
requires immediate action by the nurse?
Radiating abdominal pain with left lower quadrant palpation.
Grimacing after palpation of the right hypochondriac region.
Rebound tenderness with abdominal palpation.
Bluish periumbilical skin discoloration.
Bluish periumbilical skin discoloration.
Rationale
immediate action is indicated for intraperitoneal hemorrhage which causes
periumbilical discoloration (D) and indicates the presence of a splenic rupture,
