MED SURG EXAM 3
MED SURG EXAM 3 (2025) Complete Study
Guide Questions with Correct Detailed Answers
Graded A+ 100%
After a patient has undergone a rhinoplasty, which nursing intervention will be included
in theplan of care?
a. Educate the patient about how to safely remove and reapply nasal packing.
b. Reassure the patient that the nose will look normal when the swelling subsides.
c. Instruct the patient to keep the head elevated for 48 hours to minimize swelling and
pain.
d. Teach the patient to use nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for pain
control. -Correct Answer ✔ANS: C
Rationale : Maintaining the head in an elevated position will decrease the amount of
nasal swelling. NSAIDs increase the risk for postoperative bleeding and should not be
used postoperatively. The patient would not be taught to remove or reapply nasal
packing, which is usually removed by thesurgeon on the day after surgery. Although
return to a preinjury appearance is the goal of thesurgery, it is not always possible to
achieve this result.
After discussing management of upper respiratory infections (URI) with a patient who
has acuteviral rhinitis, the nurse determines that additional teaching is needed when the
patient says
a. I can take acetaminophen (Tylenol) to treat discomfort.‖
b. I will drink lots of juices and other fluids to stay hydrated.‖
c. I can use my nasal decongestant spray until the congestion is all gone.‖
d. I will watch for changes in nasal secretions or the sputum that I cough up.‖ -Correct
Answer ✔ANS: C
Rationale: The nurse should clarify that nasal decongestant sprays should be used for
no more than 3 days to prevent rebound vasodilation and congestion. The other
responses indicate that the teaching has been effective.
The nurse is obtaining a health history from a 67-year-old patient with a 40 pack-year
smoking history, complaints of hoarseness and tightness in the throat, and difficulty
swallowing. Which question is most important for the nurse to ask?
a. How much alcohol do you drink in an average week?‖
b. Do you have a family history of head or neck cancer?‖
c. Have you had frequent streptococcal throat infections?‖
d. Do you use antihistamines for upper airway congestion?‖ -Correct Answer ✔ANS: A
Rationale: Prolonged alcohol use and smoking are associated with the development of
laryngeal cancer,
which the patient's symptoms and history suggest. Family history is not a risk factor for
head or neck cancer. Frequent antihistamine use would be asked about if the nurse
suspected allergic rhinitis, but the patient's symptoms are not suggestive of this
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, MED SURG EXAM 3
diagnosis. Streptococcal throat infections also may cause these clinical manifestations,
but patients also will complain of pain and fever.
Which of these patients in the respiratory disease clinic should the nurse assess first?
a. A 23-year-old, complaining of a sore throat, who has a hot potato voice
b. A 34-year-old who has a scratchy throat‖ and a positive rapid strep antigen test
c. A 55-year-old who is receiving radiation for throat cancer and has severe fatigue
d. A 72-year-old with a history of a total laryngectomy whose stoma is red and inflamed
-Correct Answer ✔ANS: A
Rationale: The patient's clinical manifestation of a hot potato voice suggests a possible
peritonsillar abscess that could lead to an airway obstruction requiring rapid assessment
and potential treatment. The other patients do not have diagnoses or symptoms that
indicate any life-threatening problems
The nurse obtains the following assessment data in a 76-year-old patient who has
influenza. Which information will be most important to communicate to the health care
provider?
a. Fever of 100.4° F (38° C)
b. Diffuse crackles in the lungs
c. Sore throat and frequent cough
d. Myalgia and persistent headache -Correct Answer ✔ANS: B
Rationale: The crackles indicate that the patient may be developing pneumonia, a
common complication of influenza, which would require aggressive treatment. Myalgia,
headache, mild temperature elevation, and sore throat with cough are typical symptoms
of influenza and are treated with supportive care measures such as over-the-counter
(OTC) pain relievers and increased fluid intake
Which of these nursing actions can the RN working in a long-term care facility delegate
to an experienced LPN or LVN who is caring for a patient with a permanent
tracheostomy?
a. Assessing the patient's risk for aspiration
b. Suctioning the tracheostomy when needed
c. Educating the patient about self-care of the tracheostomy
d. Determining the need for replacement of the tracheostomy tube -Correct Answer
✔ANS: B
Rationale: Suctioning of a stable patient can be delegated to LPN or LVNs.
Assessments and patient teaching should be done by the RN
The nurse is caring for a hospitalized 82-year-old patient who has nasal packing in
place to treat a nosebleed. Which of the following assessment findings will require the
most immediate action by the nurse?
a. The oxygen saturation is 89%.
b. The nose appears red and swollen.
c. The patient's temperature is 100.1° F (37.8° C).
d. The patient complains of level 7 (0 to 10 scale) pain. -Correct Answer ✔ANS: A
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MED SURG EXAM 3 (2025) Complete Study
Guide Questions with Correct Detailed Answers
Graded A+ 100%
After a patient has undergone a rhinoplasty, which nursing intervention will be included
in theplan of care?
a. Educate the patient about how to safely remove and reapply nasal packing.
b. Reassure the patient that the nose will look normal when the swelling subsides.
c. Instruct the patient to keep the head elevated for 48 hours to minimize swelling and
pain.
d. Teach the patient to use nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for pain
control. -Correct Answer ✔ANS: C
Rationale : Maintaining the head in an elevated position will decrease the amount of
nasal swelling. NSAIDs increase the risk for postoperative bleeding and should not be
used postoperatively. The patient would not be taught to remove or reapply nasal
packing, which is usually removed by thesurgeon on the day after surgery. Although
return to a preinjury appearance is the goal of thesurgery, it is not always possible to
achieve this result.
After discussing management of upper respiratory infections (URI) with a patient who
has acuteviral rhinitis, the nurse determines that additional teaching is needed when the
patient says
a. I can take acetaminophen (Tylenol) to treat discomfort.‖
b. I will drink lots of juices and other fluids to stay hydrated.‖
c. I can use my nasal decongestant spray until the congestion is all gone.‖
d. I will watch for changes in nasal secretions or the sputum that I cough up.‖ -Correct
Answer ✔ANS: C
Rationale: The nurse should clarify that nasal decongestant sprays should be used for
no more than 3 days to prevent rebound vasodilation and congestion. The other
responses indicate that the teaching has been effective.
The nurse is obtaining a health history from a 67-year-old patient with a 40 pack-year
smoking history, complaints of hoarseness and tightness in the throat, and difficulty
swallowing. Which question is most important for the nurse to ask?
a. How much alcohol do you drink in an average week?‖
b. Do you have a family history of head or neck cancer?‖
c. Have you had frequent streptococcal throat infections?‖
d. Do you use antihistamines for upper airway congestion?‖ -Correct Answer ✔ANS: A
Rationale: Prolonged alcohol use and smoking are associated with the development of
laryngeal cancer,
which the patient's symptoms and history suggest. Family history is not a risk factor for
head or neck cancer. Frequent antihistamine use would be asked about if the nurse
suspected allergic rhinitis, but the patient's symptoms are not suggestive of this
1|Page
, MED SURG EXAM 3
diagnosis. Streptococcal throat infections also may cause these clinical manifestations,
but patients also will complain of pain and fever.
Which of these patients in the respiratory disease clinic should the nurse assess first?
a. A 23-year-old, complaining of a sore throat, who has a hot potato voice
b. A 34-year-old who has a scratchy throat‖ and a positive rapid strep antigen test
c. A 55-year-old who is receiving radiation for throat cancer and has severe fatigue
d. A 72-year-old with a history of a total laryngectomy whose stoma is red and inflamed
-Correct Answer ✔ANS: A
Rationale: The patient's clinical manifestation of a hot potato voice suggests a possible
peritonsillar abscess that could lead to an airway obstruction requiring rapid assessment
and potential treatment. The other patients do not have diagnoses or symptoms that
indicate any life-threatening problems
The nurse obtains the following assessment data in a 76-year-old patient who has
influenza. Which information will be most important to communicate to the health care
provider?
a. Fever of 100.4° F (38° C)
b. Diffuse crackles in the lungs
c. Sore throat and frequent cough
d. Myalgia and persistent headache -Correct Answer ✔ANS: B
Rationale: The crackles indicate that the patient may be developing pneumonia, a
common complication of influenza, which would require aggressive treatment. Myalgia,
headache, mild temperature elevation, and sore throat with cough are typical symptoms
of influenza and are treated with supportive care measures such as over-the-counter
(OTC) pain relievers and increased fluid intake
Which of these nursing actions can the RN working in a long-term care facility delegate
to an experienced LPN or LVN who is caring for a patient with a permanent
tracheostomy?
a. Assessing the patient's risk for aspiration
b. Suctioning the tracheostomy when needed
c. Educating the patient about self-care of the tracheostomy
d. Determining the need for replacement of the tracheostomy tube -Correct Answer
✔ANS: B
Rationale: Suctioning of a stable patient can be delegated to LPN or LVNs.
Assessments and patient teaching should be done by the RN
The nurse is caring for a hospitalized 82-year-old patient who has nasal packing in
place to treat a nosebleed. Which of the following assessment findings will require the
most immediate action by the nurse?
a. The oxygen saturation is 89%.
b. The nose appears red and swollen.
c. The patient's temperature is 100.1° F (37.8° C).
d. The patient complains of level 7 (0 to 10 scale) pain. -Correct Answer ✔ANS: A
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