MEDICAL SURGICAL ASSESSMENT A EXAM QUESTION AND
CORRECT VERIFIED ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE 2025
Question 1
A nurse is reviewing the laboratory results of a client who is scheduled for a CT scan with an IV contrast
agent. Which of the following laboratory findings should the nurse report to the provider prior to the
procedure?
A) Sodium 136 mEq/L
B) Potassium 4.8 mEq/L
C) Creatinine 1.9 mg/dL
D) Calcium 10 mg/dL
C) Creatinine 1.9 mg/dL
Creatinine 1.9 mg/dL is not within the expected reference range. Therefore, the nurse should report
the finding to the provider before the client has a CT scan with an IV contrast agent. This finding
places the client at risk for developing contrast-induced nephropathy.
Question 2
A nurse is monitoring a client who is taking acarbose. Which of the following findings should the nurse
identify as an adverse effect of the medication?
A) Polyuria
B) Abdominal cramps
C) Renal insufficiency
MEDICAL SURGICAL ASSESSMENT A
,D) Insomnia
B) Abdominal cramps
Acarbose affects the gastrointestinal system. Therefore, the nurse should monitor the client for
abdominal cramping, rumbling bowel sounds, and diarrhea as adverse effects of this medication.
Question 3
A nurse is assisting with the care of a client who had a cardiac catheterization via the right femoral
artery. Which of the following actions should the nurse take to prevent postprocedure complications?
(Select all)
A) Monitor the insertion site for bleeding
B) Position the affected extremity at a 45 degree angle
C) Restrict the client's fluid intake
D) Maintain the pressure dressing
E) Check the client's peripheral pulses
A) Monitor the insertion site for bleeding
The nurse should monitor the client's insertion site for manifestations of hemorrhaging.
D) Maintain the pressure dressing.
The nurse should maintain the client's pressure dressing to prevent hemorrhaging and allow for the
cannulation site to heal.
E) Check the client's peripheral pulses.
The nurse should assess the client's peripheral pulses to help identify signs of arterial occlusion.
Question 4
MEDICAL SURGICAL ASSESSMENT A
,A nurse is contributing to the plan of care for a client who has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD) and is dyspneic. Which of the following interventions should the nurse include in the plan?
A) Encourage abdominal breathing
B) Direct the client to inhale with pursed lips
C) Set the oxygen therapy at 5L/min
D) Instruct the client to lean back while coughing
A) Encourage abdominal breathing
The nurse should encourage abdominal breathing, which reduces the workload on the accessory
muscles of respiration during dyspneic episodes.
Question 5
A nurse is preparing to administer phytonadione 7 mg subcutaneously to a client who has an INR of 4.
Available is phytonadione 10 mg/mL. How many mL should the nurse administer? (Round the answer to
the nearest tenth. Use a leading zero is it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.
7mg/10 mg *1mL= 0.7 mL
Question 6
A nurse is examining a client's IV site and notes a red line up his arm. The client reports a throbbing,
burning pain at the IV site. The nurse should identify that the client's manifestations indicate which of
the following complications of IV therapy?
A) Thrombophlebitis
B) Infiltration
C) Hematoma
D) Venous spasms
A) Thrombophlebitis
The nurse should identify pain, warmth, and a red streak up the arm as indications of
thrombophlebitis.
MEDICAL SURGICAL ASSESSMENT A
, Question 7
A nurse is reinforcing teaching about management of constipation with a client who has
hypothyroidism. Which of the following should the nurse include in the teaching?
A) Increase intake of fiber-rich foods
B) Take a laxative every morning
C) Maintain a fluid intake of 1200 mL per day
D) Limit activity to preserve energy
A) Increase intake of fiber-rich foods
The nurse should instruct the client to increase the amount of fiber-rich foods in his diet. Dried beans
and brown rice are examples of fiber-rich foods.
Question 8
A nurse is caring for a client who has a compound fracture of the femur and was placed in balanced
suspension skeletal traction 4 days ago. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A) Perform pin site care daily
B) Remove the overbed trapeze
C) Remove the boot every 2 hr
D) Keep the weights on a stable, flat surface
A) Perform pin site care daily
The nurse should perform pin site care daily with chlorhexidine solution or use a solution according to
facility protocol. The nurse should also monitor the pin sites for manifestations of infection.
Question 9
A nurse observes a client who is lying in bed experiencing a tonic-clonic seizure. Which of the following
actions should the nurse take?
MEDICAL SURGICAL ASSESSMENT A
CORRECT VERIFIED ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE 2025
Question 1
A nurse is reviewing the laboratory results of a client who is scheduled for a CT scan with an IV contrast
agent. Which of the following laboratory findings should the nurse report to the provider prior to the
procedure?
A) Sodium 136 mEq/L
B) Potassium 4.8 mEq/L
C) Creatinine 1.9 mg/dL
D) Calcium 10 mg/dL
C) Creatinine 1.9 mg/dL
Creatinine 1.9 mg/dL is not within the expected reference range. Therefore, the nurse should report
the finding to the provider before the client has a CT scan with an IV contrast agent. This finding
places the client at risk for developing contrast-induced nephropathy.
Question 2
A nurse is monitoring a client who is taking acarbose. Which of the following findings should the nurse
identify as an adverse effect of the medication?
A) Polyuria
B) Abdominal cramps
C) Renal insufficiency
MEDICAL SURGICAL ASSESSMENT A
,D) Insomnia
B) Abdominal cramps
Acarbose affects the gastrointestinal system. Therefore, the nurse should monitor the client for
abdominal cramping, rumbling bowel sounds, and diarrhea as adverse effects of this medication.
Question 3
A nurse is assisting with the care of a client who had a cardiac catheterization via the right femoral
artery. Which of the following actions should the nurse take to prevent postprocedure complications?
(Select all)
A) Monitor the insertion site for bleeding
B) Position the affected extremity at a 45 degree angle
C) Restrict the client's fluid intake
D) Maintain the pressure dressing
E) Check the client's peripheral pulses
A) Monitor the insertion site for bleeding
The nurse should monitor the client's insertion site for manifestations of hemorrhaging.
D) Maintain the pressure dressing.
The nurse should maintain the client's pressure dressing to prevent hemorrhaging and allow for the
cannulation site to heal.
E) Check the client's peripheral pulses.
The nurse should assess the client's peripheral pulses to help identify signs of arterial occlusion.
Question 4
MEDICAL SURGICAL ASSESSMENT A
,A nurse is contributing to the plan of care for a client who has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD) and is dyspneic. Which of the following interventions should the nurse include in the plan?
A) Encourage abdominal breathing
B) Direct the client to inhale with pursed lips
C) Set the oxygen therapy at 5L/min
D) Instruct the client to lean back while coughing
A) Encourage abdominal breathing
The nurse should encourage abdominal breathing, which reduces the workload on the accessory
muscles of respiration during dyspneic episodes.
Question 5
A nurse is preparing to administer phytonadione 7 mg subcutaneously to a client who has an INR of 4.
Available is phytonadione 10 mg/mL. How many mL should the nurse administer? (Round the answer to
the nearest tenth. Use a leading zero is it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.
7mg/10 mg *1mL= 0.7 mL
Question 6
A nurse is examining a client's IV site and notes a red line up his arm. The client reports a throbbing,
burning pain at the IV site. The nurse should identify that the client's manifestations indicate which of
the following complications of IV therapy?
A) Thrombophlebitis
B) Infiltration
C) Hematoma
D) Venous spasms
A) Thrombophlebitis
The nurse should identify pain, warmth, and a red streak up the arm as indications of
thrombophlebitis.
MEDICAL SURGICAL ASSESSMENT A
, Question 7
A nurse is reinforcing teaching about management of constipation with a client who has
hypothyroidism. Which of the following should the nurse include in the teaching?
A) Increase intake of fiber-rich foods
B) Take a laxative every morning
C) Maintain a fluid intake of 1200 mL per day
D) Limit activity to preserve energy
A) Increase intake of fiber-rich foods
The nurse should instruct the client to increase the amount of fiber-rich foods in his diet. Dried beans
and brown rice are examples of fiber-rich foods.
Question 8
A nurse is caring for a client who has a compound fracture of the femur and was placed in balanced
suspension skeletal traction 4 days ago. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A) Perform pin site care daily
B) Remove the overbed trapeze
C) Remove the boot every 2 hr
D) Keep the weights on a stable, flat surface
A) Perform pin site care daily
The nurse should perform pin site care daily with chlorhexidine solution or use a solution according to
facility protocol. The nurse should also monitor the pin sites for manifestations of infection.
Question 9
A nurse observes a client who is lying in bed experiencing a tonic-clonic seizure. Which of the following
actions should the nurse take?
MEDICAL SURGICAL ASSESSMENT A
