Med Surg Final Exam Question Bank 2026 | Latest
Updated Version | 100% Verified Questions &
Correct Answers | Graded A+ | Comprehensive
Nursing Study Guide
1. A patient has received atropine before surgery and complains of dry
mouth. Which action by the nurse is best? Answer: Tell the patient
dry mouth is an expected side effect.
2. A patient arrives at the ambulatory surgery center for a
scheduled laparoscopy procedure in outpatient surgery. Which
information is of most concern to the nurse? Answer: The patient
is planning to drive home after surgery.
3. As the nurse prepares a patient the morning of surgery, the patient
refuses to remove a wedding ring, saying, "I have never taken it off
since the day I was married." Which response by the nurse is best?
Answer: Suggest that the patient give the ring to a family member to
keep.
4. The outpatient surgery nurse reviews the complete blood cell (CBC)
count results for a patient who is scheduled for surgery in a few days.
The results are white blood cell (WBC) count 10.2 × 103/µL;
hemoglobin 15 g/dL; hematocrit 45%; platelets 150 × 103/µL. Which
action should the nurse take? Answer: Continue to prepare the
patient for the surgical procedure.
,5. A 36-year-old female is admitted for an elective surgical procedure.
Which information obtained by the nurse during the preoperative
assessment is most important to report to the anesthesiologist
before surgery? Answer: The patient's statement that her last
menstrual period was 8 weeks ago
6. Which information in the preoperative patient's medication history
is most important to communicate to the health care provider?
Answer: The patient takes garlic capsules daily.
,7. A patient who takes a diuretic and a β-blocker to control blood
pressure is scheduled for breast reconstruction surgery. Which
patient information is most important to communicate to the health
care provider before surgery? Answer: Serum potassium 3.2 mEq/L
8. Monitored anesthesia care (MAC) is going to be used for a closed,
manual reduction of a dislocated shoulder. What does the nurse
anticipate? Answer: Starting an IV in the patient’s unaffected arm.
9. While in the holding area, a patient reveals to the nurse that his
father had a high fever after surgery. What action by the nurse is a
priority? Answer: Alert the anesthesia care provider of the family
member’s reaction to surgery
10. The nurse facilitates student clinical experiences in the
surgical suite. Which action, if performed by a student, would
require the nurse to intervene? Answer: The student wears street
clothed in the semi-restricted area.
11. The operating room nurse is providing orientation to a student
nurse. Which action would the nurse list as a major responsibility of a
scrub nurse? Answer: Keep both hands above the operating table
level
, 12. A patient in surgery receives a neuromuscular blocking agent
as an adjunct to general anesthesia. While in the PACU, what
assessment finding is most important for the nurse to report?
Answer: Weak chest movement
13. Which action in the perioperative patient plan of care can the
charge nurse delegate to a surgical technologist? Answer: Pass
sterile instruments and supplies to the surgeon and scrub technician
14. When caring for a patient who has received general
anesthetic, the circulating nurse notes red, raised wheals on the
patient’s arms. Which action should the nurse take? Answer:
Notify the ACP
15. The NG tube is removed 2nd day postop, pt is placed on a clear,
liquid diet. 4 hrs later the pt complains of sharp, cramping gas pains.
What action by the RN is most appropriate? Answer: assist the
patient to ambulate
16. On admission of a patient to the postanesthesia care unit
(PACU), the blood pressure (BP) is 122/72. Thirty minutes after
admission, the BP falls to 114/62, with a pulse of 74 and warm, dry
skin. Which action by the nurse is most appropriate? Answer:
Continue to take vital signs every 15 minutes.
17. A postop patient has not voided for 8 hrs after surgery…. what
action should the nurse take first? Answer: Bladder scan
18. A patient is transferred from the postanesthesia care unit
(PACU) to the clinical unit. Which action by the nurse on the
clinical unit should be performed first? Answer: Take the patient's
vital signs.
19. A postop pt has a nursing dx of ineffective airway clearance.
The nurse determines that interventions for this nursing diagnosis
Updated Version | 100% Verified Questions &
Correct Answers | Graded A+ | Comprehensive
Nursing Study Guide
1. A patient has received atropine before surgery and complains of dry
mouth. Which action by the nurse is best? Answer: Tell the patient
dry mouth is an expected side effect.
2. A patient arrives at the ambulatory surgery center for a
scheduled laparoscopy procedure in outpatient surgery. Which
information is of most concern to the nurse? Answer: The patient
is planning to drive home after surgery.
3. As the nurse prepares a patient the morning of surgery, the patient
refuses to remove a wedding ring, saying, "I have never taken it off
since the day I was married." Which response by the nurse is best?
Answer: Suggest that the patient give the ring to a family member to
keep.
4. The outpatient surgery nurse reviews the complete blood cell (CBC)
count results for a patient who is scheduled for surgery in a few days.
The results are white blood cell (WBC) count 10.2 × 103/µL;
hemoglobin 15 g/dL; hematocrit 45%; platelets 150 × 103/µL. Which
action should the nurse take? Answer: Continue to prepare the
patient for the surgical procedure.
,5. A 36-year-old female is admitted for an elective surgical procedure.
Which information obtained by the nurse during the preoperative
assessment is most important to report to the anesthesiologist
before surgery? Answer: The patient's statement that her last
menstrual period was 8 weeks ago
6. Which information in the preoperative patient's medication history
is most important to communicate to the health care provider?
Answer: The patient takes garlic capsules daily.
,7. A patient who takes a diuretic and a β-blocker to control blood
pressure is scheduled for breast reconstruction surgery. Which
patient information is most important to communicate to the health
care provider before surgery? Answer: Serum potassium 3.2 mEq/L
8. Monitored anesthesia care (MAC) is going to be used for a closed,
manual reduction of a dislocated shoulder. What does the nurse
anticipate? Answer: Starting an IV in the patient’s unaffected arm.
9. While in the holding area, a patient reveals to the nurse that his
father had a high fever after surgery. What action by the nurse is a
priority? Answer: Alert the anesthesia care provider of the family
member’s reaction to surgery
10. The nurse facilitates student clinical experiences in the
surgical suite. Which action, if performed by a student, would
require the nurse to intervene? Answer: The student wears street
clothed in the semi-restricted area.
11. The operating room nurse is providing orientation to a student
nurse. Which action would the nurse list as a major responsibility of a
scrub nurse? Answer: Keep both hands above the operating table
level
, 12. A patient in surgery receives a neuromuscular blocking agent
as an adjunct to general anesthesia. While in the PACU, what
assessment finding is most important for the nurse to report?
Answer: Weak chest movement
13. Which action in the perioperative patient plan of care can the
charge nurse delegate to a surgical technologist? Answer: Pass
sterile instruments and supplies to the surgeon and scrub technician
14. When caring for a patient who has received general
anesthetic, the circulating nurse notes red, raised wheals on the
patient’s arms. Which action should the nurse take? Answer:
Notify the ACP
15. The NG tube is removed 2nd day postop, pt is placed on a clear,
liquid diet. 4 hrs later the pt complains of sharp, cramping gas pains.
What action by the RN is most appropriate? Answer: assist the
patient to ambulate
16. On admission of a patient to the postanesthesia care unit
(PACU), the blood pressure (BP) is 122/72. Thirty minutes after
admission, the BP falls to 114/62, with a pulse of 74 and warm, dry
skin. Which action by the nurse is most appropriate? Answer:
Continue to take vital signs every 15 minutes.
17. A postop patient has not voided for 8 hrs after surgery…. what
action should the nurse take first? Answer: Bladder scan
18. A patient is transferred from the postanesthesia care unit
(PACU) to the clinical unit. Which action by the nurse on the
clinical unit should be performed first? Answer: Take the patient's
vital signs.
19. A postop pt has a nursing dx of ineffective airway clearance.
The nurse determines that interventions for this nursing diagnosis
