MEDICAL
SURGICAL EXAMS
1-4 LATEST
REVIEW WINTER
2022
, MED SURG FINAL EXAM
EXAM 1
1. A nurse performs a skin screening for a client who has numerous skin lesions. Which lesion
does the nurse evaluate first? Irregular blue mole with white specks on the lower
leg
2. The nurse is caring for a client with an acute burn injury. Which action should the nurse take
to prevent infection by autocontamination?Change gloves between wound care on
different parts of the client's body.
3. A client has a leg wound that is in the second stage of the inflammatory response. For
what manifestation does the nurse assess?Purulent drainage
4. A nurse is caring for a client with systemic sclerosis. The client’s facial skin is very
taut, limiting the client’s ability to open the mouth. After consulting with a registered
dietitian for appropriate nutrition, what other consultation should the nurse facilitate?
With limited ability to open the mouth, dental hygiene may be lacking. The
nurse should encourage the client to see a dentist. The other referrals are
not related to the mouth.
5. A student nurse asks the nursing instructor what “apoptosis” means. What response by the
instructor is best? Apoptosis is programmed cell death. With this
characteristic, organs and tissues function with cells that are at their peak
of performance. Growth by cells enlarging is hyperplasia. Having the
normal number of chromosomes is euploidy. Inhibition of cell growth is
contact inhibition.
6. A preoperative nurse is assessing a client prior to surgery. Which information would
be most important for the nurse to relay to the surgical team? Use of multiple
herbs and supplements
7. Which statement about carcinogenesis is accurate? Tumor cells need to develop
their own blood supply.
8. A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving an epidural infusion for pain
management. Which assessment finding requires immediate intervention from the
nurse? Report of headache and stiff neck
9. The nurse caring for oncology clients knows that which form of metastasis is the
most common? Bloodborne
10. A nurse prepares to administer intravenous cimetidine (Tagamet) to a client who has a
new burn injury. The client asks, “Why am I taking this medication?” How should the
nurse respond? "It helps prevent stomach ulcers, which are common after
burns."
11. A nurse is orienting a new client and family to the inpatient unit. What information
does the nurse provide to help the client promote his or her own safety? Encourage
the client and family to be active partners.
12. A nurse assesses a client who has burn injuries and notes crackles in bilateral lung bases, a
respiratory rate of 40 breaths/min, and a productive cough with blood-tinged sputum. Which
action should the nurse take next? Place the client in an upright position.
13. A nurse is caring for a client who has a spinal cord injury at level T3. Which
, intervention should the nurse implement to assist with bladder dysfunction? Use the
Credé maneuver every 3 hours.
14. A nurse plans care for a client who is immobile. Which interventions should the nurse
include in this client’s plan of care to prevent pressure sores? (Select all that apply.)
Place a small pillow between bony surfaces. Use a lift sheet to assist with
re-positioning. Keep the client's heels off the bed surfaces.
15. A nurse assesses an older adult’s skin. Which findings require immediate referral?
(Select all that apply. Lesion with various colors Asymmetric 6-mm dark
lesion on forehead
16. A nurse reads on a hospitalized client’s chart that the client is receiving teletherapy.
What action by the nurse is best? Coordinate continuation of the therapy.
17. A nurse cares for a dying client. Which manifestation of dying should the nurse treat first?
Pain
18. A postoperative client vomited. After cleaning and comforting the client, which action by the
nurse is most important? Auscultate lung sounds.
19. A nurse cares for a client who is prescribed vancomycin (Vancocin) 500 mg IV every 6 hours
for a methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection. Which action should the
nurse take? Assess the IV site at least every 2 hours for thrombophlebitis.
20. A nurse is caring for a client who has a pressure ulcer on the right ankle. Which action
should the nurse take first? Assess the right leg for pulses, skin color, and
temperature
21. A nurse assesses a client who is prescribed a medication that inhibits angiotensin I from
converting into angiotensin II (angiotensin-converting enzyme [ACE] inhibitor). For which
expected therapeutic effect should the nurse assess? Blood pressure decrease from
180/72 mm Hg to 144/50 mm Hg
22. A client is hospitalized with Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia. The client reports shortness of
breath with activity and extreme fatigue. What intervention is best to promote comfort? Pace
activities, allowing for adequate rest.
23. A nurse is assessing clients on a medical-surgical unit. Which adult client should the
nurse identify as being at greatest risk for insensible water loss? Anxious client
who has tachypnea
24. A nurse plans care for a client who has a wound that is not healing. Which focused
assessments should the nurse complete to develop the client’s plan of care? (Select
all that apply.) Height, Alcohol use, Prealbumin laboratory results
25. A client is in the oncology clinic for a first visit since being diagnosed with cancer. The nurse
reads in the client’s chart that the cancer classification is TISN0M0. What does the nurse
conclude about this client’s cancer? There are no distant metastases noted in the
report.
26. A nurse is working with a community group promoting healthy aging. What
recommendation is best to help prevent osteoarthritis (OA)? Lose weight if needed
27. The nurse working in the orthopedic clinic knows that a client with which factor has
an absolute contraindication for having a total joint replacement?Severe
osteoporosis
28. After teaching a client about advance directives, a nurse assesses the client’s
understanding. Which statement indicates the client correctly understands the teaching?
SURGICAL EXAMS
1-4 LATEST
REVIEW WINTER
2022
, MED SURG FINAL EXAM
EXAM 1
1. A nurse performs a skin screening for a client who has numerous skin lesions. Which lesion
does the nurse evaluate first? Irregular blue mole with white specks on the lower
leg
2. The nurse is caring for a client with an acute burn injury. Which action should the nurse take
to prevent infection by autocontamination?Change gloves between wound care on
different parts of the client's body.
3. A client has a leg wound that is in the second stage of the inflammatory response. For
what manifestation does the nurse assess?Purulent drainage
4. A nurse is caring for a client with systemic sclerosis. The client’s facial skin is very
taut, limiting the client’s ability to open the mouth. After consulting with a registered
dietitian for appropriate nutrition, what other consultation should the nurse facilitate?
With limited ability to open the mouth, dental hygiene may be lacking. The
nurse should encourage the client to see a dentist. The other referrals are
not related to the mouth.
5. A student nurse asks the nursing instructor what “apoptosis” means. What response by the
instructor is best? Apoptosis is programmed cell death. With this
characteristic, organs and tissues function with cells that are at their peak
of performance. Growth by cells enlarging is hyperplasia. Having the
normal number of chromosomes is euploidy. Inhibition of cell growth is
contact inhibition.
6. A preoperative nurse is assessing a client prior to surgery. Which information would
be most important for the nurse to relay to the surgical team? Use of multiple
herbs and supplements
7. Which statement about carcinogenesis is accurate? Tumor cells need to develop
their own blood supply.
8. A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving an epidural infusion for pain
management. Which assessment finding requires immediate intervention from the
nurse? Report of headache and stiff neck
9. The nurse caring for oncology clients knows that which form of metastasis is the
most common? Bloodborne
10. A nurse prepares to administer intravenous cimetidine (Tagamet) to a client who has a
new burn injury. The client asks, “Why am I taking this medication?” How should the
nurse respond? "It helps prevent stomach ulcers, which are common after
burns."
11. A nurse is orienting a new client and family to the inpatient unit. What information
does the nurse provide to help the client promote his or her own safety? Encourage
the client and family to be active partners.
12. A nurse assesses a client who has burn injuries and notes crackles in bilateral lung bases, a
respiratory rate of 40 breaths/min, and a productive cough with blood-tinged sputum. Which
action should the nurse take next? Place the client in an upright position.
13. A nurse is caring for a client who has a spinal cord injury at level T3. Which
, intervention should the nurse implement to assist with bladder dysfunction? Use the
Credé maneuver every 3 hours.
14. A nurse plans care for a client who is immobile. Which interventions should the nurse
include in this client’s plan of care to prevent pressure sores? (Select all that apply.)
Place a small pillow between bony surfaces. Use a lift sheet to assist with
re-positioning. Keep the client's heels off the bed surfaces.
15. A nurse assesses an older adult’s skin. Which findings require immediate referral?
(Select all that apply. Lesion with various colors Asymmetric 6-mm dark
lesion on forehead
16. A nurse reads on a hospitalized client’s chart that the client is receiving teletherapy.
What action by the nurse is best? Coordinate continuation of the therapy.
17. A nurse cares for a dying client. Which manifestation of dying should the nurse treat first?
Pain
18. A postoperative client vomited. After cleaning and comforting the client, which action by the
nurse is most important? Auscultate lung sounds.
19. A nurse cares for a client who is prescribed vancomycin (Vancocin) 500 mg IV every 6 hours
for a methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection. Which action should the
nurse take? Assess the IV site at least every 2 hours for thrombophlebitis.
20. A nurse is caring for a client who has a pressure ulcer on the right ankle. Which action
should the nurse take first? Assess the right leg for pulses, skin color, and
temperature
21. A nurse assesses a client who is prescribed a medication that inhibits angiotensin I from
converting into angiotensin II (angiotensin-converting enzyme [ACE] inhibitor). For which
expected therapeutic effect should the nurse assess? Blood pressure decrease from
180/72 mm Hg to 144/50 mm Hg
22. A client is hospitalized with Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia. The client reports shortness of
breath with activity and extreme fatigue. What intervention is best to promote comfort? Pace
activities, allowing for adequate rest.
23. A nurse is assessing clients on a medical-surgical unit. Which adult client should the
nurse identify as being at greatest risk for insensible water loss? Anxious client
who has tachypnea
24. A nurse plans care for a client who has a wound that is not healing. Which focused
assessments should the nurse complete to develop the client’s plan of care? (Select
all that apply.) Height, Alcohol use, Prealbumin laboratory results
25. A client is in the oncology clinic for a first visit since being diagnosed with cancer. The nurse
reads in the client’s chart that the cancer classification is TISN0M0. What does the nurse
conclude about this client’s cancer? There are no distant metastases noted in the
report.
26. A nurse is working with a community group promoting healthy aging. What
recommendation is best to help prevent osteoarthritis (OA)? Lose weight if needed
27. The nurse working in the orthopedic clinic knows that a client with which factor has
an absolute contraindication for having a total joint replacement?Severe
osteoporosis
28. After teaching a client about advance directives, a nurse assesses the client’s
understanding. Which statement indicates the client correctly understands the teaching?
