NUR 242 EXAM 1
Medical-Surgical Nursing Concepts
Galen College of Nursing
High-Yield Qs to mirror the Exam
Verified Answers with Rationales
This Exam Features:
NUR 242 Exam 1 Mental Health Nursing (Galen
College) including 50 high-yield questions
written to mirror actual course exams. Covers
core Medical-Surgical Nursing Concepts with clear,
accurate, and student-friendly explanations. Perfect for mastering
high-priority topics and boosting exam confidence.
,1.
A client has a wound infection to the right arm. What comfort measure can the
nurse delegate to the unlicensed assistive personal?
A. Apply prescription antibiotic ointment
B. Elevate the arm above the heart
C. Perform sterile wound irrigation
D. Assess circulation and document findings
Correct Answer: B. Elevate the arm above the heart
Expert rationale: UAP can perform basic comfort/positioning tasks. Sterile
procedures, medication administration, and assessment/documentation require
the nurse.
2.
Patricia is an RN working at a rehabilitation center and witnesses a nurse aid
struggling to lift and reposition an elderly, bed ridden patient. She explains to
the nurse aide that there is a No Lift Policy in place in the establishment. What
does this policy entail?:
A. Staff must manually lift patients to improve mobility
B. Only RNs may lift and reposition dependent patients
C. A pledge from administrators that proper equipment, adequately maintained
and in sufficient numbers, will be available to reduce risks associated with manual
patient handling
D. Patients must assist with all repositioning to reduce staff injury
Correct Answer: C.
Expert rationale: A “no-lift” policy emphasizes mechanical lifting devices and safe
patient-handling equipment with administrative support (availability,
maintenance, training) to reduce caregiver injuries and patient harm.
,3.
True or False: Nurses should do skin assessments once a week.:
A. True
B. False
Correct Answer: B. False
Expert rationale: High-risk patients require frequent skin assessment (commonly
once per shift or per policy), because pressure injuries can develop quickly and
early detection prevents progression.
4.
A pt goes to the ER for swelling and pain in her right calf. The PT states that it
occurred after she accidentally cut herself. Based on her symptoms, what skin
condition might the nurse suspect the patient has?:
A. Impetigo
B. Cellulitis
C. Psoriasis
D. Contact dermatitis
Correct Answer: B. Cellulitis
Expert rationale: Cellulitis is a bacterial infection of the dermis/subcutaneous
tissue, often following a break in the skin, presenting with localized pain,
swelling, warmth, erythema and may progress systemically.
5.
,Pt A is admitted from a nursing home with a stage 3 pressure ulcer. When
creating his plan of care, who else would be involved besides the primary care
physician?:
A. Wound care nurse, dietician, physical therapist
B. Respiratory therapist only
C. Pharmacy only
D. Social work only
Correct Answer: A. Wound care nurse, dietician, physical therapist
Expert rationale: Stage 3 injuries require interdisciplinary management: wound
care for staging/treatment, nutrition to support healing (protein/calories), and
PT/OT to optimize mobility, offloading, and function.
6.
An 85 year old woman is admitted to the hospital. When doing the initial
assessment, what are some factors that you know put her at risk for pressure
injuries?:
A. Immobility
B. Incontinence
C. Comorbidities (diabetes/PVD)
D. Malnutrition/dehydration
E. Decreased sensory perception
F. All of the above
Correct Answer: F. All of the above
Expert rationale: Pressure injury risk rises with impaired mobility, moisture, poor
perfusion, poor nutrition/hydration, and reduced sensation—all contribute to
tissue ischemia and delayed healing.
7.
,The nurse notices a localized red area that is nonblanchable on the the patient's
coccyx. What stage pressure injury is this recognized as?:
A. Stage 1
B. Stage 2
C. Stage 3
D. Stage 4
Correct Answer: A. Stage 1
Expert rationale: Stage 1 = intact skin with nonblanchable erythema over a bony
prominence.
8.
A pt asks you why what he eats has anything to do with wound healing. What is
your response?:
A. “Food doesn’t impact wound healing; only dressings do.”
B. “Successful healing depends on adequate intake of calories, protein, vitamins,
minerals, and water.”
C. “Only vitamin C matters for healing.”
D. “You should reduce protein to protect your kidneys.”
Correct Answer: B.
Expert rationale: Wound healing requires energy (calories), protein for tissue
repair, micronutrients (e.g., vitamin C, zinc), and hydration to support circulation
and collagen formation.
9.
After receiving shift report, the night nurse looks at the lab values for a patient
with cellulitis. What abnormal lab values might you see?:
A. Elevated WBC
, B. Low albumin
C. Low bicarbonate
D. Elevated creatinine
E. Low calcium
F. All of the above
Correct Answer: F. All of the above
Expert rationale: Cellulitis/infection may show leukocytosis. Systemic
illness/dehydration can elevate creatinine. Inflammatory states may show low
albumin; severe illness may lower bicarbonate (metabolic acidosis). Calcium can
be low in critical illness and hypoalbuminemia.
10.
What pain rating scale might you use for a child or a nonverbal patient?:
A. Numeric (0–10) scale
B. Wong Baker-Faces Scale
C. Glasgow Coma Scale
D. Braden Scale
Correct Answer: B. Wong Baker-Faces Scale
Expert rationale: Faces scales are appropriate for children and patients with
limited verbal communication who can indicate pain via facial representations.
11.
When assessing a pt's pain. He tells you that the pain comes and goes. What
part of the pain assessment is he describing?
A. Quality
B. Intensity
Medical-Surgical Nursing Concepts
Galen College of Nursing
High-Yield Qs to mirror the Exam
Verified Answers with Rationales
This Exam Features:
NUR 242 Exam 1 Mental Health Nursing (Galen
College) including 50 high-yield questions
written to mirror actual course exams. Covers
core Medical-Surgical Nursing Concepts with clear,
accurate, and student-friendly explanations. Perfect for mastering
high-priority topics and boosting exam confidence.
,1.
A client has a wound infection to the right arm. What comfort measure can the
nurse delegate to the unlicensed assistive personal?
A. Apply prescription antibiotic ointment
B. Elevate the arm above the heart
C. Perform sterile wound irrigation
D. Assess circulation and document findings
Correct Answer: B. Elevate the arm above the heart
Expert rationale: UAP can perform basic comfort/positioning tasks. Sterile
procedures, medication administration, and assessment/documentation require
the nurse.
2.
Patricia is an RN working at a rehabilitation center and witnesses a nurse aid
struggling to lift and reposition an elderly, bed ridden patient. She explains to
the nurse aide that there is a No Lift Policy in place in the establishment. What
does this policy entail?:
A. Staff must manually lift patients to improve mobility
B. Only RNs may lift and reposition dependent patients
C. A pledge from administrators that proper equipment, adequately maintained
and in sufficient numbers, will be available to reduce risks associated with manual
patient handling
D. Patients must assist with all repositioning to reduce staff injury
Correct Answer: C.
Expert rationale: A “no-lift” policy emphasizes mechanical lifting devices and safe
patient-handling equipment with administrative support (availability,
maintenance, training) to reduce caregiver injuries and patient harm.
,3.
True or False: Nurses should do skin assessments once a week.:
A. True
B. False
Correct Answer: B. False
Expert rationale: High-risk patients require frequent skin assessment (commonly
once per shift or per policy), because pressure injuries can develop quickly and
early detection prevents progression.
4.
A pt goes to the ER for swelling and pain in her right calf. The PT states that it
occurred after she accidentally cut herself. Based on her symptoms, what skin
condition might the nurse suspect the patient has?:
A. Impetigo
B. Cellulitis
C. Psoriasis
D. Contact dermatitis
Correct Answer: B. Cellulitis
Expert rationale: Cellulitis is a bacterial infection of the dermis/subcutaneous
tissue, often following a break in the skin, presenting with localized pain,
swelling, warmth, erythema and may progress systemically.
5.
,Pt A is admitted from a nursing home with a stage 3 pressure ulcer. When
creating his plan of care, who else would be involved besides the primary care
physician?:
A. Wound care nurse, dietician, physical therapist
B. Respiratory therapist only
C. Pharmacy only
D. Social work only
Correct Answer: A. Wound care nurse, dietician, physical therapist
Expert rationale: Stage 3 injuries require interdisciplinary management: wound
care for staging/treatment, nutrition to support healing (protein/calories), and
PT/OT to optimize mobility, offloading, and function.
6.
An 85 year old woman is admitted to the hospital. When doing the initial
assessment, what are some factors that you know put her at risk for pressure
injuries?:
A. Immobility
B. Incontinence
C. Comorbidities (diabetes/PVD)
D. Malnutrition/dehydration
E. Decreased sensory perception
F. All of the above
Correct Answer: F. All of the above
Expert rationale: Pressure injury risk rises with impaired mobility, moisture, poor
perfusion, poor nutrition/hydration, and reduced sensation—all contribute to
tissue ischemia and delayed healing.
7.
,The nurse notices a localized red area that is nonblanchable on the the patient's
coccyx. What stage pressure injury is this recognized as?:
A. Stage 1
B. Stage 2
C. Stage 3
D. Stage 4
Correct Answer: A. Stage 1
Expert rationale: Stage 1 = intact skin with nonblanchable erythema over a bony
prominence.
8.
A pt asks you why what he eats has anything to do with wound healing. What is
your response?:
A. “Food doesn’t impact wound healing; only dressings do.”
B. “Successful healing depends on adequate intake of calories, protein, vitamins,
minerals, and water.”
C. “Only vitamin C matters for healing.”
D. “You should reduce protein to protect your kidneys.”
Correct Answer: B.
Expert rationale: Wound healing requires energy (calories), protein for tissue
repair, micronutrients (e.g., vitamin C, zinc), and hydration to support circulation
and collagen formation.
9.
After receiving shift report, the night nurse looks at the lab values for a patient
with cellulitis. What abnormal lab values might you see?:
A. Elevated WBC
, B. Low albumin
C. Low bicarbonate
D. Elevated creatinine
E. Low calcium
F. All of the above
Correct Answer: F. All of the above
Expert rationale: Cellulitis/infection may show leukocytosis. Systemic
illness/dehydration can elevate creatinine. Inflammatory states may show low
albumin; severe illness may lower bicarbonate (metabolic acidosis). Calcium can
be low in critical illness and hypoalbuminemia.
10.
What pain rating scale might you use for a child or a nonverbal patient?:
A. Numeric (0–10) scale
B. Wong Baker-Faces Scale
C. Glasgow Coma Scale
D. Braden Scale
Correct Answer: B. Wong Baker-Faces Scale
Expert rationale: Faces scales are appropriate for children and patients with
limited verbal communication who can indicate pain via facial representations.
11.
When assessing a pt's pain. He tells you that the pain comes and goes. What
part of the pain assessment is he describing?
A. Quality
B. Intensity
