MED SURG III FINAL EXAM 2025/2026
MED SURG III FINAL EXAM / NSG233 FINAL
EXAM 2025/2026 COMPLETE VERIFIED
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES
|GRADED A+||BRAND NEW VERSION
GUARANTEED PASS
Pdf Download
MED SURG III FINAL EXAM
The nurse assesses a patient with shortness of breath for evidence of long-
standing hypoxemia by inspecting:
A. Chest excursion
B. Spinal curvatures
C. The respiratory pattern
D. The fingernail and its base - Answer ✓✓D.
MED SURG III 1
, MED SURG III FINAL EXAM 2025/2026
The fingernail and its base Clubbing, a sign of long-standing hypoxemia, is
evidenced by an increase in the angle between the base of the nail and the
fingernail to 180 degrees or more, usually accompanied by an increase in the
depth, bulk, and sponginess of the end of the finger.
2. The nurse is caring for a patient with COPD and pneumonia who has an order
for arterial blood gases to be drawn. Which of the following is the minimum length
of time the nurse should plan to hold pressure on the puncture site?
A. 2 minutes
B. 5 minutes
C. 10 minutes
D. 15 minutes - Answer ✓✓B.
5 minutes Following obtaining an arterial blood gas, the nurse should hold
pressure on the puncture site for 5 minutes by the clock to be sure that bleeding
has stopped. An artery is an elastic vessel under higher pressure than veins, and
significant blood loss or hematoma formation could occur if the time is
insufficient.
3. The nurse notices clear nasal drainage in a patient newly admitted with facial
trauma, including a nasal fracture. The nurse should:
A. test the drainage for the presence of glucose.
B. suction the nose to maintain airway clearance.
C. document the findings and continue monitoring.
D. apply a drip pad and reassure the patient this is normal. - Answer ✓✓A.
test the drainage for the presence of glucose. Clear nasal drainage suggests
leakage of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The drainage should be tested for the
presence of glucose, which would indicate the presence of CSF.
4. When caring for a patient who is 3 hours postoperative laryngectomy, the
nurse's highest priority assessment would be:
MED SURG III 2
, MED SURG III FINAL EXAM 2025/2026
A. Airway patency
B. Patient comfort
C. Incisional drainage
D. Blood pressure and heart rate - Answer ✓✓A.
Airway patency Remember ABCs with prioritization. Airway patency is always the
highest priority and is essential for a patient undergoing surgery surrounding the
upper respiratory system.
5. When initially teaching a patient the supraglottic swallow following a radical
neck dissection, with which of the following foods should the nurse begin?
A. Cola
B. Applesauce
C. French fries
D. White grape juice - Answer ✓✓A.
ColaWhen learning the supraglottic swallow, it may be helpful to start with
carbonated beverages because the effervescence provides clues about the liquid's
position. Thin, watery fluids should be avoided because they are difficult to
swallow and increase the risk of aspiration. Nonpourable pureed foods, such as
applesauce, would decrease the risk of aspiration, but carbonated beverages are
the better choice to start with.
6. The nurse is caring for a patient admitted to the hospital with pneumonia. Upon
assessment, the nurse notes a temperature of 101.4° F, a productive cough with
yellow sputum and a respiratory rate of 20. Which of the following nursing
diagnosis is most appropriate based upon this assessment? A. Hyperthermia related
to infectious illness
B. Ineffective thermoregulation related to chilling
C. Ineffective breathing pattern related to pneumonia
D. Ineffective airway clearance related to thick secretions - Answer ✓✓A.
MED SURG III 3
, MED SURG III FINAL EXAM 2025/2026
Hyperthermia related to infectious illness Because the patient has spiked a
temperature and has a diagnosis of pneumonia, the logical nursing diagnosis is
hyperthermia related to infectious illness. There is no evidence of a chill, and her
breathing pattern is within normal limits at 20 breaths per minute. There is no
evidence of ineffective airway clearance from the information given because the
patient is expectorating sputum.
7. Which of the following physical assessment findings in a patient with pneumonia
best supports the nursing diagnosis of ineffective airway clearance? A. Oxygen
saturation of 85%
B. Respiratory rate of 28
C. Presence of greenish sputum
D. Basilar crackles - Answer ✓✓D.
Basilar crackles The presence of adventitious breath sounds indicates that there is
accumulation of secretions in the lower airways. This would be consistent with a
nursing diagnosis of ineffective airway clearance because the patient is retaining
secretions.
8. Which of the following clinical manifestations would the nurse expect to find
during assessment of a patient admitted with pneumococcal pneumonia? A.
Hyperresonance on percussion
B. Fine crackles in all lobes on auscultation
C. Increased vocal fremitus on palpation D. Vesicular breath sounds in all lobes -
Answer ✓✓C
. Increased vocal fremitus on palpation. A typical physical examination finding for
a patient with pneumonia is increased vocal fremitus on palpation. Other signs of
pulmonary consolidation include dullness to percussion, bronchial breath sounds,
and crackles in the affected area.
9. Which of the following nursing interventions is of the highest priority in helping
a patient expectorate thick secretions related to pneumonia?
MED SURG III 4
MED SURG III FINAL EXAM / NSG233 FINAL
EXAM 2025/2026 COMPLETE VERIFIED
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES
|GRADED A+||BRAND NEW VERSION
GUARANTEED PASS
Pdf Download
MED SURG III FINAL EXAM
The nurse assesses a patient with shortness of breath for evidence of long-
standing hypoxemia by inspecting:
A. Chest excursion
B. Spinal curvatures
C. The respiratory pattern
D. The fingernail and its base - Answer ✓✓D.
MED SURG III 1
, MED SURG III FINAL EXAM 2025/2026
The fingernail and its base Clubbing, a sign of long-standing hypoxemia, is
evidenced by an increase in the angle between the base of the nail and the
fingernail to 180 degrees or more, usually accompanied by an increase in the
depth, bulk, and sponginess of the end of the finger.
2. The nurse is caring for a patient with COPD and pneumonia who has an order
for arterial blood gases to be drawn. Which of the following is the minimum length
of time the nurse should plan to hold pressure on the puncture site?
A. 2 minutes
B. 5 minutes
C. 10 minutes
D. 15 minutes - Answer ✓✓B.
5 minutes Following obtaining an arterial blood gas, the nurse should hold
pressure on the puncture site for 5 minutes by the clock to be sure that bleeding
has stopped. An artery is an elastic vessel under higher pressure than veins, and
significant blood loss or hematoma formation could occur if the time is
insufficient.
3. The nurse notices clear nasal drainage in a patient newly admitted with facial
trauma, including a nasal fracture. The nurse should:
A. test the drainage for the presence of glucose.
B. suction the nose to maintain airway clearance.
C. document the findings and continue monitoring.
D. apply a drip pad and reassure the patient this is normal. - Answer ✓✓A.
test the drainage for the presence of glucose. Clear nasal drainage suggests
leakage of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The drainage should be tested for the
presence of glucose, which would indicate the presence of CSF.
4. When caring for a patient who is 3 hours postoperative laryngectomy, the
nurse's highest priority assessment would be:
MED SURG III 2
, MED SURG III FINAL EXAM 2025/2026
A. Airway patency
B. Patient comfort
C. Incisional drainage
D. Blood pressure and heart rate - Answer ✓✓A.
Airway patency Remember ABCs with prioritization. Airway patency is always the
highest priority and is essential for a patient undergoing surgery surrounding the
upper respiratory system.
5. When initially teaching a patient the supraglottic swallow following a radical
neck dissection, with which of the following foods should the nurse begin?
A. Cola
B. Applesauce
C. French fries
D. White grape juice - Answer ✓✓A.
ColaWhen learning the supraglottic swallow, it may be helpful to start with
carbonated beverages because the effervescence provides clues about the liquid's
position. Thin, watery fluids should be avoided because they are difficult to
swallow and increase the risk of aspiration. Nonpourable pureed foods, such as
applesauce, would decrease the risk of aspiration, but carbonated beverages are
the better choice to start with.
6. The nurse is caring for a patient admitted to the hospital with pneumonia. Upon
assessment, the nurse notes a temperature of 101.4° F, a productive cough with
yellow sputum and a respiratory rate of 20. Which of the following nursing
diagnosis is most appropriate based upon this assessment? A. Hyperthermia related
to infectious illness
B. Ineffective thermoregulation related to chilling
C. Ineffective breathing pattern related to pneumonia
D. Ineffective airway clearance related to thick secretions - Answer ✓✓A.
MED SURG III 3
, MED SURG III FINAL EXAM 2025/2026
Hyperthermia related to infectious illness Because the patient has spiked a
temperature and has a diagnosis of pneumonia, the logical nursing diagnosis is
hyperthermia related to infectious illness. There is no evidence of a chill, and her
breathing pattern is within normal limits at 20 breaths per minute. There is no
evidence of ineffective airway clearance from the information given because the
patient is expectorating sputum.
7. Which of the following physical assessment findings in a patient with pneumonia
best supports the nursing diagnosis of ineffective airway clearance? A. Oxygen
saturation of 85%
B. Respiratory rate of 28
C. Presence of greenish sputum
D. Basilar crackles - Answer ✓✓D.
Basilar crackles The presence of adventitious breath sounds indicates that there is
accumulation of secretions in the lower airways. This would be consistent with a
nursing diagnosis of ineffective airway clearance because the patient is retaining
secretions.
8. Which of the following clinical manifestations would the nurse expect to find
during assessment of a patient admitted with pneumococcal pneumonia? A.
Hyperresonance on percussion
B. Fine crackles in all lobes on auscultation
C. Increased vocal fremitus on palpation D. Vesicular breath sounds in all lobes -
Answer ✓✓C
. Increased vocal fremitus on palpation. A typical physical examination finding for
a patient with pneumonia is increased vocal fremitus on palpation. Other signs of
pulmonary consolidation include dullness to percussion, bronchial breath sounds,
and crackles in the affected area.
9. Which of the following nursing interventions is of the highest priority in helping
a patient expectorate thick secretions related to pneumonia?
MED SURG III 4
