Medical-Surgical Nursing Exam 1 Study
Guide – Med Surg I – Nursing Program –
Comprehensive Practice Questions and
Answer Review
Introduction:
This document contains a comprehensive set of medical-
surgical nursing practice questions with detailed answers,
focused on Exam 1 content. Topics include diabetes
management, insulin administration, diabetic ketoacidosis,
respiratory disorders, tuberculosis, COPD, pneumonia,
perioperative care, anesthesia, and postoperative
complications.
The study guide is designed to reinforce key nursing concepts,
clinical decision-making, and NCLEX-style reasoning
commonly tested in early medical-surgical nursing exams.
Exam Questions and Answers:
1. A hospital patient has been ordered a sliding scale of
Humulin R for the duration of her admission. The patient's
medication administration record specifies the first
administration time of the day at 08:00 and the nurse knows
,that breakfast trays typically arrive on the unit between 07:45
and 07:50. When should the nurse administer the patient's
insulin?
A. 07:30
B. 07:45
C. 08:00
D. 08:15-Answer:- A. 07:30
Short acting insulin delivered 20-30 mins before a meal
2. Which of the following is an age-related change that may
affect diabetes? Select all that apply.
Decreased renal function Taste changes Decreased vision
Increased bowel motility
Increased proprioception-Answer:- Decreased renal function
Taste changes
Decreased vision
3. During a routine medical evaluation, a client is found to
have a random blood glucose level of 210 mg/dL. Which client
statement(s) made by the client are concerning to the nurse?
Select all that apply.
"At times my vision is blurry."
"I have to void nearly every hour."
,"I cannot seem to quench my thirst." "I sleep at least 8 hours
each night."
"I have lost 10 pounds without even trying.".-Answer:- "At
times my vision is blurry." "I have to void nearly every hour."
"I cannot seem to quench my thirst."
"I have lost 10 pounds without even trying."
4. A nurse is inspecting the feet of a client with diabetes and
finds a tack sticking in the sole of one foot. The client denies
feeling anything unusual in the foot. Which is the best
rationale for this finding?
A. In diabetes, the autonomic nerves are affected.
B. Motor neuropathy causes muscles to weaken and atrophy.
C. High blood sugar decreases blood circulation to nerves.
D. Nephropathy is a common complication of diabetes
mellitus.-Answer:- C. High blood sugar decreases blood
circulation to nerves.
This is called peripheral neuropathy
5. The nurse is describing the action of insulin in the body to
a client newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Which of the
following would the nurse explain as being the primary action?
A. It carries glucose into body cells.
B. It aids in the process of gluconeogenesis.
, C. It stimulates the pancreatic beta cells.
D. It decreases the intestinal absorption of glucose.-
Answer:- A. It carries glucose into body cells.
6. A nurse is collecting data from a client who is suspected
of having an endocrine disorder and is scheduled for
diagnostic testing that involves the use of a contrast medium.
The nurse would inform the physician if the client stated
which of the following?
A. "My father had diabetes when he got older."
B. "I have an allergy to shrimp and shellfish."
C. "I take a multivitamin every day."
D. "Years ago, I took a steroid for my asthma."-Answer:- B.
"I have an allergy to shrimp and shellfish."
Allergy to iodine, a component of contrast medium
**Report this to physician
7. What medication should the nurse prepare to administer
in the event the client has malignant hyperthermia?
A. Dantrolene sodium
B. Fentanyl citrate
C. Naloxone
D. Thiopental sodium-Answer:- A. Dantrolene sodium
Guide – Med Surg I – Nursing Program –
Comprehensive Practice Questions and
Answer Review
Introduction:
This document contains a comprehensive set of medical-
surgical nursing practice questions with detailed answers,
focused on Exam 1 content. Topics include diabetes
management, insulin administration, diabetic ketoacidosis,
respiratory disorders, tuberculosis, COPD, pneumonia,
perioperative care, anesthesia, and postoperative
complications.
The study guide is designed to reinforce key nursing concepts,
clinical decision-making, and NCLEX-style reasoning
commonly tested in early medical-surgical nursing exams.
Exam Questions and Answers:
1. A hospital patient has been ordered a sliding scale of
Humulin R for the duration of her admission. The patient's
medication administration record specifies the first
administration time of the day at 08:00 and the nurse knows
,that breakfast trays typically arrive on the unit between 07:45
and 07:50. When should the nurse administer the patient's
insulin?
A. 07:30
B. 07:45
C. 08:00
D. 08:15-Answer:- A. 07:30
Short acting insulin delivered 20-30 mins before a meal
2. Which of the following is an age-related change that may
affect diabetes? Select all that apply.
Decreased renal function Taste changes Decreased vision
Increased bowel motility
Increased proprioception-Answer:- Decreased renal function
Taste changes
Decreased vision
3. During a routine medical evaluation, a client is found to
have a random blood glucose level of 210 mg/dL. Which client
statement(s) made by the client are concerning to the nurse?
Select all that apply.
"At times my vision is blurry."
"I have to void nearly every hour."
,"I cannot seem to quench my thirst." "I sleep at least 8 hours
each night."
"I have lost 10 pounds without even trying.".-Answer:- "At
times my vision is blurry." "I have to void nearly every hour."
"I cannot seem to quench my thirst."
"I have lost 10 pounds without even trying."
4. A nurse is inspecting the feet of a client with diabetes and
finds a tack sticking in the sole of one foot. The client denies
feeling anything unusual in the foot. Which is the best
rationale for this finding?
A. In diabetes, the autonomic nerves are affected.
B. Motor neuropathy causes muscles to weaken and atrophy.
C. High blood sugar decreases blood circulation to nerves.
D. Nephropathy is a common complication of diabetes
mellitus.-Answer:- C. High blood sugar decreases blood
circulation to nerves.
This is called peripheral neuropathy
5. The nurse is describing the action of insulin in the body to
a client newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Which of the
following would the nurse explain as being the primary action?
A. It carries glucose into body cells.
B. It aids in the process of gluconeogenesis.
, C. It stimulates the pancreatic beta cells.
D. It decreases the intestinal absorption of glucose.-
Answer:- A. It carries glucose into body cells.
6. A nurse is collecting data from a client who is suspected
of having an endocrine disorder and is scheduled for
diagnostic testing that involves the use of a contrast medium.
The nurse would inform the physician if the client stated
which of the following?
A. "My father had diabetes when he got older."
B. "I have an allergy to shrimp and shellfish."
C. "I take a multivitamin every day."
D. "Years ago, I took a steroid for my asthma."-Answer:- B.
"I have an allergy to shrimp and shellfish."
Allergy to iodine, a component of contrast medium
**Report this to physician
7. What medication should the nurse prepare to administer
in the event the client has malignant hyperthermia?
A. Dantrolene sodium
B. Fentanyl citrate
C. Naloxone
D. Thiopental sodium-Answer:- A. Dantrolene sodium
