Med-Surg Success Questions
1. The 44-year-old female client calls the clinic and tells the nurse she felt a
lump while performing breast self-examination (BSE). Which question should
the nurse ask the client?
1. "Are you taking birth control pills?"
2. "Do you eat a lot of chocolate?"
3. "When was your last period?"
4. "Are you sexually active?":
During the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause, variations in breast tissue occur
and must be distinguished from pathological disease. BSE is best performed on days five
(5) to seven (7) after menses, counting the first day of menses as day one (1).
2. Which problem is priority for the 24-year-old client diagnosed with
endometriosis who is admitted to the gynecological unit?
1. Hemorrhage.
2. Pain.
3. Constipation.
4. Dyspareunia.:
Pain is the primary complaint of the client; the pain occurs as a result of ectopic tissue
bleeding into the abdominal cavity during menses.
3. The 28-year-old client diagnosed with testicular cancer is scheduled for a
unilateral orchiectomy. Which intervention should have priority in the client's
plan of care?
1. Encourage the client to bank his sperm.
2. Discuss completing an advance directive.
3. Explain follow-up chemotherapy and radiation.
4. Allow the client to express his feelings regarding having cancer: 1. With a remaining
,Med-Surg Success Questions
testicle, the client will be able to maintain sexual potency, but radiation and chemotherapy
may cause the client to become sterile. Therefore, banking his sperm will allow him to
father a child later in life.
4. The nurse is teaching a class on sexually transmitted diseases to high school
sophomores. Which information should be included in the discussion?
1. Oral sex decreases the chance of transmitting a sexual disease.
2. Sexual activity during menses decreases transmission of diseases.
3. Frequent sexual activity is necessary to transmit a sexual disease.
4. Unprotected sex puts the individual at risk for many diseases.: 4. According to
developmental theories, adolescents think they are invincible and nothing will happen to
them. This attitude leads adolescents to participate in high-risk behaviors without regard
to consequences.
5. The nurse has taught Kegel exercises to the client who is para 5, gravida 5.
Which information indicates the exercises have been effective?
1. The client reports no SOB when walking up stairs.
2. The client has no complaints of stress incontinence.
3. The client denies being pregnant at this time.
4. The client has lost 10 lb in the last two (2) months.: 2. Kegel exercises are exercises that
strengthen the perineal muscles. Multiple pregnancies weaken the pelvic muscles,
resulting in bladder incontinence; a report of no stress incontinence indicates the Kegel
exercises are effective.
6. Which diagnostic procedure does the nurse anticipate being ordered for the
27-year-old female client who is reporting irregular menses and complaining of
lower left abdominal pain during menses?
1. Pelvic sonogram.
2. Complete blood count (CBC).
,Med-Surg Success Questions
3. Kidney, ureter, bladder (KUB) x-ray.
4. Computed tomography (CT) of ab-
domen.: 6. 1. The pelvic sonogram, which visualizes the ovary using sound waves, is a
diagnostic test for an ovarian cyst, which would be suspected with the client's
signs/symptoms.
7. The client diagnosed with Stage IV prostate cancer is receiving
chemotherapy. Which laboratory value should the nurse assess prior to
administering the chemotherapy?
1. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA).
2. Serum calcium level.
3. Complete blood count (CBC).
4. Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP).: 3. The CBC is monitored to determine if the client is at risk for
developing an infection or bleeding as a result of side effects of the chemotherapy
medications. The chemotherapy could be held or decreased based on these results.
8. Which client should the charge nurse of the day surgery unit assign to a new
graduate nurse in orientation?
1. The client who had an arthroscopy with an AP of 110 and BP of 94/60.
2. The client with open reduction of the ankle who is confused.
3. The client with a total hip replacement who is being transferred to the ICU.
4. The client diagnosed with low back pain who has had a myelogram.: 4. A
myelogram is a routine diagnostic test. With minimal instruction, an inexperienced nurse
could care for this client.
9. The client in the long-term care facility has severe osteoarthritis. Which
nursing task should the nurse delegate to the unlicensed assistive personnel
(UAP)?
, Med-Surg Success Questions
1. Feed the client the breakfast meal. 2. Give the client Maalox, an antacid. 3. Monitor the
client's INR results.
4. Assist the client to the shower room.: 4. The UAP could assist the client to ambulate
to the shower room and assist with morning care.
10. The primary nurse is applying antiembolism hose to the client who had a
total hip replacement. Which situation warrants immediate intervention by
the charge nurse?
1. Two fingers can be placed under the top of the band.
2. The peripheral capillary refill time is less than three (3) seconds.
3. There are wrinkles in the hose behind the knees.
4. The nurse does not place a hose on the foot with a venous ulcer.: 3. There should
be no wrinkles in the hose after application. Wrinkles could cause constriction in the area,
resulting in clot formation or skin breakdown; therefore, this would warrant immediate
intervention by the charge nurse.
11. The 54-year-old female client is diagnosed with osteoporosis. Which
interventions should the nurse discuss with the client? Select all that apply.
1. Instruct the client to swim 30 minutes every day.
2. Encourage drinking milk with added vitamin D.
3. Determine if the client smokes cigarettes.
4. Recommend the client not go outside.
5. Teach about safety and fall precautions.: 2. Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium. 3.
Smoking interferes with estrogen's protective effects on bones, promoting bone loss.
5. The client is at risk for fractures; therefore, a fall could result in serious complications.
12. The 33-year-old client had a traumatic amputation of the right forearm as a
result of a work-related injury. Which referral by the rehabilitation nurse is
most appropriate?
1. The 44-year-old female client calls the clinic and tells the nurse she felt a
lump while performing breast self-examination (BSE). Which question should
the nurse ask the client?
1. "Are you taking birth control pills?"
2. "Do you eat a lot of chocolate?"
3. "When was your last period?"
4. "Are you sexually active?":
During the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause, variations in breast tissue occur
and must be distinguished from pathological disease. BSE is best performed on days five
(5) to seven (7) after menses, counting the first day of menses as day one (1).
2. Which problem is priority for the 24-year-old client diagnosed with
endometriosis who is admitted to the gynecological unit?
1. Hemorrhage.
2. Pain.
3. Constipation.
4. Dyspareunia.:
Pain is the primary complaint of the client; the pain occurs as a result of ectopic tissue
bleeding into the abdominal cavity during menses.
3. The 28-year-old client diagnosed with testicular cancer is scheduled for a
unilateral orchiectomy. Which intervention should have priority in the client's
plan of care?
1. Encourage the client to bank his sperm.
2. Discuss completing an advance directive.
3. Explain follow-up chemotherapy and radiation.
4. Allow the client to express his feelings regarding having cancer: 1. With a remaining
,Med-Surg Success Questions
testicle, the client will be able to maintain sexual potency, but radiation and chemotherapy
may cause the client to become sterile. Therefore, banking his sperm will allow him to
father a child later in life.
4. The nurse is teaching a class on sexually transmitted diseases to high school
sophomores. Which information should be included in the discussion?
1. Oral sex decreases the chance of transmitting a sexual disease.
2. Sexual activity during menses decreases transmission of diseases.
3. Frequent sexual activity is necessary to transmit a sexual disease.
4. Unprotected sex puts the individual at risk for many diseases.: 4. According to
developmental theories, adolescents think they are invincible and nothing will happen to
them. This attitude leads adolescents to participate in high-risk behaviors without regard
to consequences.
5. The nurse has taught Kegel exercises to the client who is para 5, gravida 5.
Which information indicates the exercises have been effective?
1. The client reports no SOB when walking up stairs.
2. The client has no complaints of stress incontinence.
3. The client denies being pregnant at this time.
4. The client has lost 10 lb in the last two (2) months.: 2. Kegel exercises are exercises that
strengthen the perineal muscles. Multiple pregnancies weaken the pelvic muscles,
resulting in bladder incontinence; a report of no stress incontinence indicates the Kegel
exercises are effective.
6. Which diagnostic procedure does the nurse anticipate being ordered for the
27-year-old female client who is reporting irregular menses and complaining of
lower left abdominal pain during menses?
1. Pelvic sonogram.
2. Complete blood count (CBC).
,Med-Surg Success Questions
3. Kidney, ureter, bladder (KUB) x-ray.
4. Computed tomography (CT) of ab-
domen.: 6. 1. The pelvic sonogram, which visualizes the ovary using sound waves, is a
diagnostic test for an ovarian cyst, which would be suspected with the client's
signs/symptoms.
7. The client diagnosed with Stage IV prostate cancer is receiving
chemotherapy. Which laboratory value should the nurse assess prior to
administering the chemotherapy?
1. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA).
2. Serum calcium level.
3. Complete blood count (CBC).
4. Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP).: 3. The CBC is monitored to determine if the client is at risk for
developing an infection or bleeding as a result of side effects of the chemotherapy
medications. The chemotherapy could be held or decreased based on these results.
8. Which client should the charge nurse of the day surgery unit assign to a new
graduate nurse in orientation?
1. The client who had an arthroscopy with an AP of 110 and BP of 94/60.
2. The client with open reduction of the ankle who is confused.
3. The client with a total hip replacement who is being transferred to the ICU.
4. The client diagnosed with low back pain who has had a myelogram.: 4. A
myelogram is a routine diagnostic test. With minimal instruction, an inexperienced nurse
could care for this client.
9. The client in the long-term care facility has severe osteoarthritis. Which
nursing task should the nurse delegate to the unlicensed assistive personnel
(UAP)?
, Med-Surg Success Questions
1. Feed the client the breakfast meal. 2. Give the client Maalox, an antacid. 3. Monitor the
client's INR results.
4. Assist the client to the shower room.: 4. The UAP could assist the client to ambulate
to the shower room and assist with morning care.
10. The primary nurse is applying antiembolism hose to the client who had a
total hip replacement. Which situation warrants immediate intervention by
the charge nurse?
1. Two fingers can be placed under the top of the band.
2. The peripheral capillary refill time is less than three (3) seconds.
3. There are wrinkles in the hose behind the knees.
4. The nurse does not place a hose on the foot with a venous ulcer.: 3. There should
be no wrinkles in the hose after application. Wrinkles could cause constriction in the area,
resulting in clot formation or skin breakdown; therefore, this would warrant immediate
intervention by the charge nurse.
11. The 54-year-old female client is diagnosed with osteoporosis. Which
interventions should the nurse discuss with the client? Select all that apply.
1. Instruct the client to swim 30 minutes every day.
2. Encourage drinking milk with added vitamin D.
3. Determine if the client smokes cigarettes.
4. Recommend the client not go outside.
5. Teach about safety and fall precautions.: 2. Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium. 3.
Smoking interferes with estrogen's protective effects on bones, promoting bone loss.
5. The client is at risk for fractures; therefore, a fall could result in serious complications.
12. The 33-year-old client had a traumatic amputation of the right forearm as a
result of a work-related injury. Which referral by the rehabilitation nurse is
most appropriate?
