Med Surg 1 Questions with Accurate Answers
1. A patient is being admitted to the hospital on the day before a scheduled
surgery. What is the most appropriate initial question for the nurse to ask this
preoperative patient?
a) "What did your surgeon say to you about the type of surgery you are having?"
b) "What questions do you have about your surgery?"
c) "What type of surgery are you having and why are you having it done?"
d) "What do you know about what will be done to you?" correct answer c) "What
type of surgery are you having and why are you having it done?"
10. The patient has been in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) for one hour. The
patient is now groggy but able to respond to voice commands. While assessing
the patient, for what reason would the nurse check the bedclothes underneath
the patient?
a) Determine drainage from tubes or drains
b) Assess for fluid balance
c) Detect for possible hemorrhage
d) Monitor perspiration correct answer c) Detect for possible hemorrhage
11. A 65-year-old was diagnosed and treated for right lower lobe pneumonia 4
days ago. Today, the patient came to the ED reporting abrupt onset of chest pain
that is worse with inspiration. The nurse knows that the symptoms are consistent
with:
a) Pleurisy
b) Stable angina
c) Bacteremia
d) Meningitis correct answer a) Pleurisy
,12. The ED nurse is caring for Ginny, a 45-year-old female with a recent history of
sexual assault. Ginny came to the ED crying and shaking and stated that she had
dyspnea, feeling like she was choking and couldn't breathe, chest pain, and
sweating. Ginny reports that the symptoms started about 15 minutes before she
came to the ED. Ginny's symptoms are consistent with:
a) Myocardial Infarction
b) Pneumonia
c) Panic Attack
d) Influenza correct answer c) Panic Attack
13. 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 correct answer c) Urinary tract infection
14. 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 correct answer c) Indwelling urinary catheter
15. 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" correct answer c) "I will
need re-vaccination in five years"
16. 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 correct answer d) Assess the
patient for signs of acute kidney injury
17. A nurse has completed cast care teaching following the application of a
plaster cast. The nurse knows that patient teaching has been effective when the
patient states:
a) "I can shower and then pat the cast dry."
b) "If I wrap my cast in plastic, it will last longer."
c) "I will call my physician if I have an increase in pain or swelling."
, d) "I will apply ice on the cast over the fracture site for the next 48 hours." correct
answer c) "I will call my physician if I have an increase in pain or swelling."
18. A 75-year-old male with a history of heart failure (HF) and diabetes mellitus
type 2 presents to the ED with abdominal pain. A CT scan with contrast reveals a
bowel obstruction that requires surgical resection. On post-operative day 1, the
patient develops a severe headache and mental status changes. The resident
orders a CT scan with contrast of the head. Before sending the patient to the CT
scan, what action is a priority for the nurse?
a) Perform a complete neurological assessment before sending the patient to the
CT scan
b) Evaluate the morning creatinine and BUN lab results
c) Contact the on-call cardiologist for immediate evaluation of the patient's
cardiac output
d) Hold IV fluids for 4 hours prior to the CT scan correct answer b) Evaluate the
morning creatinine and BUN lab results
19. A 75-year-old male with a history of heart failure (HF) and diabetes mellitus
type 2 presents to the ED with abdominal pain. A CT scan with contrast reveals a
bowel obstruction that requires surgical resection. On post-operative day 1, the
patient develops a severe headache and mental status changes. The resident
orders a CT scan with contrast of the head.
Identify ways to prevent contrast-induced nephropathy. Select all that apply.
a) Use of low-osmolar contrast
b) Insert a urinary catheter to accurately measure urine output
c) Avoid multiple procedures over a 24-48 hour time period
d) Hydrate the patient before and after the procedure
e) Administer high-dose NSAIDS prior to the procedure correct answer a) Use of
low-osmolar contrast
1. A patient is being admitted to the hospital on the day before a scheduled
surgery. What is the most appropriate initial question for the nurse to ask this
preoperative patient?
a) "What did your surgeon say to you about the type of surgery you are having?"
b) "What questions do you have about your surgery?"
c) "What type of surgery are you having and why are you having it done?"
d) "What do you know about what will be done to you?" correct answer c) "What
type of surgery are you having and why are you having it done?"
10. The patient has been in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) for one hour. The
patient is now groggy but able to respond to voice commands. While assessing
the patient, for what reason would the nurse check the bedclothes underneath
the patient?
a) Determine drainage from tubes or drains
b) Assess for fluid balance
c) Detect for possible hemorrhage
d) Monitor perspiration correct answer c) Detect for possible hemorrhage
11. A 65-year-old was diagnosed and treated for right lower lobe pneumonia 4
days ago. Today, the patient came to the ED reporting abrupt onset of chest pain
that is worse with inspiration. The nurse knows that the symptoms are consistent
with:
a) Pleurisy
b) Stable angina
c) Bacteremia
d) Meningitis correct answer a) Pleurisy
,12. The ED nurse is caring for Ginny, a 45-year-old female with a recent history of
sexual assault. Ginny came to the ED crying and shaking and stated that she had
dyspnea, feeling like she was choking and couldn't breathe, chest pain, and
sweating. Ginny reports that the symptoms started about 15 minutes before she
came to the ED. Ginny's symptoms are consistent with:
a) Myocardial Infarction
b) Pneumonia
c) Panic Attack
d) Influenza correct answer c) Panic Attack
13. 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 correct answer c) Urinary tract infection
14. 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 correct answer c) Indwelling urinary catheter
15. 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" correct answer c) "I will
need re-vaccination in five years"
16. 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 correct answer d) Assess the
patient for signs of acute kidney injury
17. A nurse has completed cast care teaching following the application of a
plaster cast. The nurse knows that patient teaching has been effective when the
patient states:
a) "I can shower and then pat the cast dry."
b) "If I wrap my cast in plastic, it will last longer."
c) "I will call my physician if I have an increase in pain or swelling."
, d) "I will apply ice on the cast over the fracture site for the next 48 hours." correct
answer c) "I will call my physician if I have an increase in pain or swelling."
18. A 75-year-old male with a history of heart failure (HF) and diabetes mellitus
type 2 presents to the ED with abdominal pain. A CT scan with contrast reveals a
bowel obstruction that requires surgical resection. On post-operative day 1, the
patient develops a severe headache and mental status changes. The resident
orders a CT scan with contrast of the head. Before sending the patient to the CT
scan, what action is a priority for the nurse?
a) Perform a complete neurological assessment before sending the patient to the
CT scan
b) Evaluate the morning creatinine and BUN lab results
c) Contact the on-call cardiologist for immediate evaluation of the patient's
cardiac output
d) Hold IV fluids for 4 hours prior to the CT scan correct answer b) Evaluate the
morning creatinine and BUN lab results
19. A 75-year-old male with a history of heart failure (HF) and diabetes mellitus
type 2 presents to the ED with abdominal pain. A CT scan with contrast reveals a
bowel obstruction that requires surgical resection. On post-operative day 1, the
patient develops a severe headache and mental status changes. The resident
orders a CT scan with contrast of the head.
Identify ways to prevent contrast-induced nephropathy. Select all that apply.
a) Use of low-osmolar contrast
b) Insert a urinary catheter to accurately measure urine output
c) Avoid multiple procedures over a 24-48 hour time period
d) Hydrate the patient before and after the procedure
e) Administer high-dose NSAIDS prior to the procedure correct answer a) Use of
low-osmolar contrast
