Med Surg 2 Exam 1 Test Bank Ques ons
and Answers 2026 – Study Smarter &
Pass Faster
A pa ent has been on opioids for 3 months to control pain caused by injuries from a motor
vehicle crash. The pa ent asks about the risk of withdrawal symptoms when the drugs are no
longer needed. How should the nurse respond to the pa ent? - ANSWER "As long as you
taper the drug dose down slowly, you should not experience withdrawal symptoms."
The nurse is caring for a pa ent with lung cancer who has been receiving morphine for 2 weeks
and reports the medica on is no longer effec ve. Which is the pa ent likely experiencing? -
ANSWER Tolerance
A pa ent with chronic pain is on a sustained-release opioid that is ordered every 12 hours. A er
6 hours, the pa ent complains of increasing pain. Which interven on by the nurse is
appropriate? - ANSWER Obtain an order for an immediate-release opioid for
breakthrough pain
The nurse is preparing to provide an opioid medica on for a pa ent's postopera ve pain. Which
ac on should the nurse take first? - ANSWER Determine the respiratory rate.
A pa ent with peripheral neuropathy states, "I don't know why the doctor put me on an
an depressant. I am not depressed!" Which response by the nurse is best? -
ANSWER "An depressants are some mes used to treat nerve pain such as you are
experiencing."
,A pa ent receiving large doses of opioids is lethargic and difficult to arouse, with a respiratory
rate of 6 per minute and constricted pupils. Which medica on should the nurse an cipate being
prescribed? - ANSWER Naloxone (Narcan)
A physician writes an order to give a saline injec on to a pa ent who has been reques ng
frequent meperidine (Demerol) shots. Which ini al response by the licensed prac cal nurse
(LPN) is best? - ANSWER Tell the physician about feeling uncomfortable administering
saline if the pa ent thinks it is Demerol.
A pa ent with chronic back pain has a new order for a fentanyl (Duragesic) patch. As the nurse
applies the patch, the pa ent states, "I'm really glad to get that patch on. I am really hur ng
bad." Which response by the nurse is correct? - ANSWER "The patch may take a while to
work. Would you like a pain shot in the mean me?"
The nurse enters a room just as a pa ent's daughter pushes the bu on of his IV pa ent
controlled analgesia (PCA) pump. Which response by the nurse is appropriate? -
ANSWER "It is dangerous for anyone but your dad to push the bu on. Remind him to
push it
himself if he needs it."
The nurse is performing a pain assessment on a newly admi ed pa ent. Which ques on best
assesses the severity of pain? - ANSWER "Can you please rate your pain on a scale of 0 to
10?"
A pa ent who has just returned from abdominal surgery states, "I learned relaxa on exercises,
so I won't need any drugs." Which statement about relaxa on therapy should the nurse use to
guide care for this pa ent? - ANSWER Relaxa on therapy is an excellent adjunct
treatment for pain when used with analgesics
, The nurse is having difficulty assessing the pain of a mentally impaired pa ent who has an
approximate func onal level of a 4-year-old child. Which method should the nurse use to
determine the pa ent's pain level? - ANSWER Use the FACES scale
The nurse is caring for a group of pa ents. Which pa ent is experiencing chronic pain? -
ANSWER A pa ent who fell off a ladder 6 months ago and injured his back
The nurse is caring for a pa ent who is receiving morphine via PCA. Which finding would be of
most concern to the nurse? - ANSWER Respira ons 10 breaths/min
A pa ent reports that she has been having bloody stools for the past month. Which medica on
can the nurse expect to note on the medica on history? - ANSWER Naproxen (Aleve)
The nurse is reviewing orders for a pa ent with diabe c neuropathy. Which medica on should
the nurse expect to administer? - ANSWER Carbamazepine (Tegretol)
The nurse is caring for a pa ent who underwent an amputa on of the le arm. The pa ent
reports level 9 pain on a 0-to-10 scale. Which ac on should the nurse take? -
ANSWER Administer 4 mg of morphine intravenously as prescribed
The nurse is caring for a pa ent who was in a motor vehicle accident and has mul ple fractures.
The pa ent reports level 9 pain on a 0-to-10 scale. Which route should the nurse use to
administer the medica on for quickest relief of pain? - ANSWER IV
The nurse is caring for a pa ent with metasta c cancer. The pa ent is receiving 4 mg of
morphine intravenously every 6 hours as needed and 5 mg hydrocodone/acetaminophen
(Lortab) every 6 hours orally as needed for breakthrough pain. The pa ent reports the
medica on is effec ve, but the medica on wears off before the dose is due. The nurse no fies
the health care provider. Which order should the nurse an cipate? - ANSWER Changing
medica ons to an around-the-clock schedule
and Answers 2026 – Study Smarter &
Pass Faster
A pa ent has been on opioids for 3 months to control pain caused by injuries from a motor
vehicle crash. The pa ent asks about the risk of withdrawal symptoms when the drugs are no
longer needed. How should the nurse respond to the pa ent? - ANSWER "As long as you
taper the drug dose down slowly, you should not experience withdrawal symptoms."
The nurse is caring for a pa ent with lung cancer who has been receiving morphine for 2 weeks
and reports the medica on is no longer effec ve. Which is the pa ent likely experiencing? -
ANSWER Tolerance
A pa ent with chronic pain is on a sustained-release opioid that is ordered every 12 hours. A er
6 hours, the pa ent complains of increasing pain. Which interven on by the nurse is
appropriate? - ANSWER Obtain an order for an immediate-release opioid for
breakthrough pain
The nurse is preparing to provide an opioid medica on for a pa ent's postopera ve pain. Which
ac on should the nurse take first? - ANSWER Determine the respiratory rate.
A pa ent with peripheral neuropathy states, "I don't know why the doctor put me on an
an depressant. I am not depressed!" Which response by the nurse is best? -
ANSWER "An depressants are some mes used to treat nerve pain such as you are
experiencing."
,A pa ent receiving large doses of opioids is lethargic and difficult to arouse, with a respiratory
rate of 6 per minute and constricted pupils. Which medica on should the nurse an cipate being
prescribed? - ANSWER Naloxone (Narcan)
A physician writes an order to give a saline injec on to a pa ent who has been reques ng
frequent meperidine (Demerol) shots. Which ini al response by the licensed prac cal nurse
(LPN) is best? - ANSWER Tell the physician about feeling uncomfortable administering
saline if the pa ent thinks it is Demerol.
A pa ent with chronic back pain has a new order for a fentanyl (Duragesic) patch. As the nurse
applies the patch, the pa ent states, "I'm really glad to get that patch on. I am really hur ng
bad." Which response by the nurse is correct? - ANSWER "The patch may take a while to
work. Would you like a pain shot in the mean me?"
The nurse enters a room just as a pa ent's daughter pushes the bu on of his IV pa ent
controlled analgesia (PCA) pump. Which response by the nurse is appropriate? -
ANSWER "It is dangerous for anyone but your dad to push the bu on. Remind him to
push it
himself if he needs it."
The nurse is performing a pain assessment on a newly admi ed pa ent. Which ques on best
assesses the severity of pain? - ANSWER "Can you please rate your pain on a scale of 0 to
10?"
A pa ent who has just returned from abdominal surgery states, "I learned relaxa on exercises,
so I won't need any drugs." Which statement about relaxa on therapy should the nurse use to
guide care for this pa ent? - ANSWER Relaxa on therapy is an excellent adjunct
treatment for pain when used with analgesics
, The nurse is having difficulty assessing the pain of a mentally impaired pa ent who has an
approximate func onal level of a 4-year-old child. Which method should the nurse use to
determine the pa ent's pain level? - ANSWER Use the FACES scale
The nurse is caring for a group of pa ents. Which pa ent is experiencing chronic pain? -
ANSWER A pa ent who fell off a ladder 6 months ago and injured his back
The nurse is caring for a pa ent who is receiving morphine via PCA. Which finding would be of
most concern to the nurse? - ANSWER Respira ons 10 breaths/min
A pa ent reports that she has been having bloody stools for the past month. Which medica on
can the nurse expect to note on the medica on history? - ANSWER Naproxen (Aleve)
The nurse is reviewing orders for a pa ent with diabe c neuropathy. Which medica on should
the nurse expect to administer? - ANSWER Carbamazepine (Tegretol)
The nurse is caring for a pa ent who underwent an amputa on of the le arm. The pa ent
reports level 9 pain on a 0-to-10 scale. Which ac on should the nurse take? -
ANSWER Administer 4 mg of morphine intravenously as prescribed
The nurse is caring for a pa ent who was in a motor vehicle accident and has mul ple fractures.
The pa ent reports level 9 pain on a 0-to-10 scale. Which route should the nurse use to
administer the medica on for quickest relief of pain? - ANSWER IV
The nurse is caring for a pa ent with metasta c cancer. The pa ent is receiving 4 mg of
morphine intravenously every 6 hours as needed and 5 mg hydrocodone/acetaminophen
(Lortab) every 6 hours orally as needed for breakthrough pain. The pa ent reports the
medica on is effec ve, but the medica on wears off before the dose is due. The nurse no fies
the health care provider. Which order should the nurse an cipate? - ANSWER Changing
medica ons to an around-the-clock schedule
