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MED SURG EXAM | MEDICAL SURGICAL
NURSING EXAM 1 PRACTICE QUESTIONS
GRADED A+ WITH VERIFIED SOLUTIONS
A patient having surgery has a degree of risk associated with the surgery. The nurse would
evaluate which patient-related factors as contributing to a high degree of risk associated with
surgery? Select all that apply.
a) Type of institution where surgery is performed
b) Involvement of vital organs
c) Average nutritional status
d) Low likelihood of procedure complications
e) A history of respiratory disease and diabetes -- ANSWER--b) Involvement of vital organs
e) A history of respiratory disease and diabetes
A patient has just entered the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) from surgery. For which
priority needs should the nurse immediately assess the postoperative patient?
a) Vital signs, level of consciousness, presence of pain
b) Skin coloring, surgical incision, limb movements
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c) Skin temperature, blood pressure, mental status
d) Temperature, emotional status, wound drainage -- ANSWER--a) Vital signs, level of
consciousness, presence of pain
The nurse in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) is assessing a postoperative patient. Which
indicators suggest to the nurse an alteration in tissue perfusion? Select all that apply. a)
Pallor or cyanosis
b) Difficulty with mobility
c) Pain in the incision area
d) Fluid loss
e) Decreased urinary output -- ANSWER--a) Pallor or cyanosis
d) Fluid loss
e) Decreased urinary output
After surgery, the nurse encourages the patient to move from side to side at least every 2
hours. The patient questions this activity. How does the nurse explain the purpose of this
intervention?
a) Assist peristalsis to return more quickly
b) Lessen muscle weakness
c) Increase patient's ability to sleep
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d) Let the lungs alternatively achieve maximum expansion -- ANSWER--d) Let the lungs
alternatively achieve maximum expansion
A 86-year-old female has recent changes in her mental status, reports having no appetite, and
is running a low grade fever. The nurse suspects:
a) Delirium
b) Dementia
c) Urinary tract infection
d) Hypokalemia -- ANSWER--c) Urinary tract infection
Ted is a 76-year-old male who fell at home and sustained a fracture of his right hip. He is
being admitted to your unit and will have surgery in the morning. Ted has a past medical
history of urinary calculi, benign prostatic hypertrophy, and hypertension. When he arrived to
the medical-surgical unit, he has a strong body odor and visible dirt on his body. An
indwelling urinary catheter was placed in the ED. Ted is at greatest risk for a UTI is related
to:
a) History of benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH)
b) Poor hygiene
c) Indwelling urinary catheter
d) History of urinary calculi
e) His age -- ANSWER--c) Indwelling urinary catheter
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A nurse knows that the patient teaching on the pneumococcal vaccine to a 65-year-old patient
has been effective when the patient states:
a) "The injection will protect me from the flu this year"
b) "I am now protected from getting pneumonia during my lifetime"
c) "I will need re-vaccination in five years"
d) "Now I won't need antibiotics when I get pneumonia" -- ANSWER--c) "I will need
revaccination in five years"
A patient is 14 hours postop from a surgical decompression for compartment syndrome at the
site of an ORIF on the left femur. On assessment, the urine output is 100mL in 8 hours, and
has a dark, reddish brown color. Based on this assessment finding, the nurse will:
a) Check to see if the myoglobin levels decreased
b) Administer an ordered prn fluid bolus to reverse fluid volume deficit
c) Nothing; this is an expected finding following surgery
d) Assess the patient for signs of acute kidney injury -- ANSWER--d) Assess the patient for
signs of acute kidney injury
The nurse is creating a plan of care for a postoperative patient. The nursing diagnosis in acute
pain. What would be appropriate outcomes for this patient? Select all that apply.
a) Balanced fluid intake and output
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MED SURG EXAM | MEDICAL SURGICAL
NURSING EXAM 1 PRACTICE QUESTIONS
GRADED A+ WITH VERIFIED SOLUTIONS
A patient having surgery has a degree of risk associated with the surgery. The nurse would
evaluate which patient-related factors as contributing to a high degree of risk associated with
surgery? Select all that apply.
a) Type of institution where surgery is performed
b) Involvement of vital organs
c) Average nutritional status
d) Low likelihood of procedure complications
e) A history of respiratory disease and diabetes -- ANSWER--b) Involvement of vital organs
e) A history of respiratory disease and diabetes
A patient has just entered the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) from surgery. For which
priority needs should the nurse immediately assess the postoperative patient?
a) Vital signs, level of consciousness, presence of pain
b) Skin coloring, surgical incision, limb movements
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c) Skin temperature, blood pressure, mental status
d) Temperature, emotional status, wound drainage -- ANSWER--a) Vital signs, level of
consciousness, presence of pain
The nurse in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) is assessing a postoperative patient. Which
indicators suggest to the nurse an alteration in tissue perfusion? Select all that apply. a)
Pallor or cyanosis
b) Difficulty with mobility
c) Pain in the incision area
d) Fluid loss
e) Decreased urinary output -- ANSWER--a) Pallor or cyanosis
d) Fluid loss
e) Decreased urinary output
After surgery, the nurse encourages the patient to move from side to side at least every 2
hours. The patient questions this activity. How does the nurse explain the purpose of this
intervention?
a) Assist peristalsis to return more quickly
b) Lessen muscle weakness
c) Increase patient's ability to sleep
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d) Let the lungs alternatively achieve maximum expansion -- ANSWER--d) Let the lungs
alternatively achieve maximum expansion
A 86-year-old female has recent changes in her mental status, reports having no appetite, and
is running a low grade fever. The nurse suspects:
a) Delirium
b) Dementia
c) Urinary tract infection
d) Hypokalemia -- ANSWER--c) Urinary tract infection
Ted is a 76-year-old male who fell at home and sustained a fracture of his right hip. He is
being admitted to your unit and will have surgery in the morning. Ted has a past medical
history of urinary calculi, benign prostatic hypertrophy, and hypertension. When he arrived to
the medical-surgical unit, he has a strong body odor and visible dirt on his body. An
indwelling urinary catheter was placed in the ED. Ted is at greatest risk for a UTI is related
to:
a) History of benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH)
b) Poor hygiene
c) Indwelling urinary catheter
d) History of urinary calculi
e) His age -- ANSWER--c) Indwelling urinary catheter
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A nurse knows that the patient teaching on the pneumococcal vaccine to a 65-year-old patient
has been effective when the patient states:
a) "The injection will protect me from the flu this year"
b) "I am now protected from getting pneumonia during my lifetime"
c) "I will need re-vaccination in five years"
d) "Now I won't need antibiotics when I get pneumonia" -- ANSWER--c) "I will need
revaccination in five years"
A patient is 14 hours postop from a surgical decompression for compartment syndrome at the
site of an ORIF on the left femur. On assessment, the urine output is 100mL in 8 hours, and
has a dark, reddish brown color. Based on this assessment finding, the nurse will:
a) Check to see if the myoglobin levels decreased
b) Administer an ordered prn fluid bolus to reverse fluid volume deficit
c) Nothing; this is an expected finding following surgery
d) Assess the patient for signs of acute kidney injury -- ANSWER--d) Assess the patient for
signs of acute kidney injury
The nurse is creating a plan of care for a postoperative patient. The nursing diagnosis in acute
pain. What would be appropriate outcomes for this patient? Select all that apply.
a) Balanced fluid intake and output
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