Med Surg Exam 4 Questions with
Guaranteed Pass solutions 2025-2026
Updated.
A 30-year-old patient with ulcerative colitis is scheduled for a proctosigmoidoscopy. Which
finding should cause the nurse to clarify routine preparation orders with the physician - Answer
Presence of severe diarrhea
The nurse is caring for a patient who is placed on a modified bland diet. Which should be
removed before serving the patient's dinner tray - Answer pepper
The nurse is preparing to initiate a tube feeding through a patient's nasogastric (NG) tube. Prior
to initiating this feeding what should the nurse use to irrigate the tube? - Answer normal
saline
The nurse is inspecting a patient's oral cavity. What is the most important safety reason for the
nurse to inspect for loose teeth when collecting data on the oral cavity of a patient? - Answer
Loose teeth can be aspirated into the airway.
The nurse is collecting data from a patient who is scheduled for an ileostomy. Which technique
should the nurse use to help identify optimal stoma placement? - Answer inspection
A licensed practical nurse (LPN) who typically works on a medical unit has been assigned to
cover staffing deficits on a surgical unit. After obtaining report, the nurse realizes that one of the
assigned patients is currently receiving parenteral nutrition (PN). Which action should the nurse
take - Answer Notify the charge nurse that an adjustment in the patient assignment is
necessary.
The nurse is collecting data from a patient who reports right upper abdominal quadrant warmth
and tenderness. When the nurse touches the area lightly to assess for warmth and tenderness,
what data collection technique is being used? - Answer Palpation
The nurse is caring for a patient whose NG tube, attached to low intermittent suction to
decompress a bowel obstruction, is not draining. After checking placement, which action should
the nurse take? - Answer Irrigate the NG tube with 30 milliliters of normal saline.
A patient receiving 70 mL of tube feeding per hour has a residual amount of 120 mL. What
action should the nurse take - Answer Hold the feeding, and notify the physician.
,The nurse is auscultating bowel sounds and hears two bowel sounds over 5 minutes. How
should the nurse document this finding? - Answer hypoactive
A patient receiving a tube feeding at 60 mL/hr has a residual of 10 mL. What action should the
nurse take? - Answer Continue the feeding as ordered.
While providing care for a patient who has recently completed chemotherapy for colorectal
cancer, the nurse notes the patient has an elevated carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level. How
should the nurse interpret this test result? - Answer The patient has a residual or recurrent
tumor.
The nurse is reinforcing teaching for a patient who is scheduled for an upper GI series. Which
patient statement indicates teaching has been effective? - Answer "It is an x-ray of the
esophagus, stomach, and duodenum using barium."
A patient is being prepared for an upper GI series. Which statement indicates that the patient
understands the preparation for this test? - Answer "I can't have anything to eat or drink for
6 to 8 hours before the procedure."
The nurse is ready to begin a tube feeding via a nasogastric feeding tube for a patient who is
comatose. Which action should the nurse take? - Answer Place the patient in high Fowler's
position.
The nurse is ready to begin a tube feeding via an NG feeding tube for a patient who is comatose.
What action should the nurse take before starting the feeding - Answer Check the pH of
gastric aspirate.
The nurse is caring for a patient with cultural dietary needs. Which question should the nurse
include in a cultural dietary assessment? - Answer "Which foods do you most commonly
eat?"
A patient receiving tube feedings at 50 mL/hour has a residual volume of 250 mL of undigested
tube feeding. What action should the nurse take - Answer Return aspirated tube feeding to
the patient, and run feeding at a slower rate of 20 mL/hour.
The nurse is reviewing GI function with a patient. Which body structure should the nurse
emphasize as accomplishing mechanical digestion in the stomach - Answer Smooth muscle
layers
The nurse is reinforcing teaching provided to a patient with a peptic ulcer. Which patient
statement indicates understanding about the function of hydrochloric acid in gastric juice -
Answer Destruction of pathogens
, The nurse is caring for a patient who has a non-vented nasogastric tube. Which suction setting
should the nurse select - Answer Low intermittent suction
The nurse is assisting with the care of a patient who has PN infusing. Which data should be the
most concerning to the nurse? - Answer Blood glucose 260 mg/dL
The nurse is assisting with the care of a patient who has PN containing dextrose 50% infusing.
The patient asks why the rate keeps being increased. How should the nurse respond to this
patient? - Answer "It is started slowly and increased slowly to allow your pancreas to adjust
insulin levels."
The nurse is caring for a patient who has a permanent gastric feeding tube. What nursing action
would be most helpful to prevent aspiration during feedings - Answer Elevate head of bed at
least 30 degrees.
A patient's Levin NG tube inserted for decompression of the bowel, which is connected to low
intermittent suction, is not draining. The patient reports feeling full, uncomfortable, and
nauseous. After verifying tube placement, what action should the nurse take next? - Answer
Gently irrigate tube with normal saline.
The nurse is reinforcing teaching for a patient who is scheduled for an
esophagogastroduodenoscopy. Which patient statement indicates understanding of pre-
procedure diet instructions - Answer "I will have nothing to eat or drink 8 to 12 hours before
the procedure."
The nurse is preparing a patient for an NG tube insertion. To decrease the patient's anxiety
about insertion of a nasogastric tube, what should the nurse do - Answer Explain the
procedure.
The nurse is caring for a patient on a clear liquid diet. The nurse should recognize that the
patient requires further teaching if the patient requests which food - Answer Coffee with
cream
The nurse is caring for a patient on a full liquid diet. The nurse recognizes that the patient
understands teaching if the patient requests which food item? - Answer Milkshake
A patient recovering from GI surgery 4 hours ago is alert and oriented and complains of feeling
thirsty. Diet orders read, "clear liquids, advance as tolerated." Which action should the nurse
take? - Answer Allow the patient to take small sips of water.
Guaranteed Pass solutions 2025-2026
Updated.
A 30-year-old patient with ulcerative colitis is scheduled for a proctosigmoidoscopy. Which
finding should cause the nurse to clarify routine preparation orders with the physician - Answer
Presence of severe diarrhea
The nurse is caring for a patient who is placed on a modified bland diet. Which should be
removed before serving the patient's dinner tray - Answer pepper
The nurse is preparing to initiate a tube feeding through a patient's nasogastric (NG) tube. Prior
to initiating this feeding what should the nurse use to irrigate the tube? - Answer normal
saline
The nurse is inspecting a patient's oral cavity. What is the most important safety reason for the
nurse to inspect for loose teeth when collecting data on the oral cavity of a patient? - Answer
Loose teeth can be aspirated into the airway.
The nurse is collecting data from a patient who is scheduled for an ileostomy. Which technique
should the nurse use to help identify optimal stoma placement? - Answer inspection
A licensed practical nurse (LPN) who typically works on a medical unit has been assigned to
cover staffing deficits on a surgical unit. After obtaining report, the nurse realizes that one of the
assigned patients is currently receiving parenteral nutrition (PN). Which action should the nurse
take - Answer Notify the charge nurse that an adjustment in the patient assignment is
necessary.
The nurse is collecting data from a patient who reports right upper abdominal quadrant warmth
and tenderness. When the nurse touches the area lightly to assess for warmth and tenderness,
what data collection technique is being used? - Answer Palpation
The nurse is caring for a patient whose NG tube, attached to low intermittent suction to
decompress a bowel obstruction, is not draining. After checking placement, which action should
the nurse take? - Answer Irrigate the NG tube with 30 milliliters of normal saline.
A patient receiving 70 mL of tube feeding per hour has a residual amount of 120 mL. What
action should the nurse take - Answer Hold the feeding, and notify the physician.
,The nurse is auscultating bowel sounds and hears two bowel sounds over 5 minutes. How
should the nurse document this finding? - Answer hypoactive
A patient receiving a tube feeding at 60 mL/hr has a residual of 10 mL. What action should the
nurse take? - Answer Continue the feeding as ordered.
While providing care for a patient who has recently completed chemotherapy for colorectal
cancer, the nurse notes the patient has an elevated carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level. How
should the nurse interpret this test result? - Answer The patient has a residual or recurrent
tumor.
The nurse is reinforcing teaching for a patient who is scheduled for an upper GI series. Which
patient statement indicates teaching has been effective? - Answer "It is an x-ray of the
esophagus, stomach, and duodenum using barium."
A patient is being prepared for an upper GI series. Which statement indicates that the patient
understands the preparation for this test? - Answer "I can't have anything to eat or drink for
6 to 8 hours before the procedure."
The nurse is ready to begin a tube feeding via a nasogastric feeding tube for a patient who is
comatose. Which action should the nurse take? - Answer Place the patient in high Fowler's
position.
The nurse is ready to begin a tube feeding via an NG feeding tube for a patient who is comatose.
What action should the nurse take before starting the feeding - Answer Check the pH of
gastric aspirate.
The nurse is caring for a patient with cultural dietary needs. Which question should the nurse
include in a cultural dietary assessment? - Answer "Which foods do you most commonly
eat?"
A patient receiving tube feedings at 50 mL/hour has a residual volume of 250 mL of undigested
tube feeding. What action should the nurse take - Answer Return aspirated tube feeding to
the patient, and run feeding at a slower rate of 20 mL/hour.
The nurse is reviewing GI function with a patient. Which body structure should the nurse
emphasize as accomplishing mechanical digestion in the stomach - Answer Smooth muscle
layers
The nurse is reinforcing teaching provided to a patient with a peptic ulcer. Which patient
statement indicates understanding about the function of hydrochloric acid in gastric juice -
Answer Destruction of pathogens
, The nurse is caring for a patient who has a non-vented nasogastric tube. Which suction setting
should the nurse select - Answer Low intermittent suction
The nurse is assisting with the care of a patient who has PN infusing. Which data should be the
most concerning to the nurse? - Answer Blood glucose 260 mg/dL
The nurse is assisting with the care of a patient who has PN containing dextrose 50% infusing.
The patient asks why the rate keeps being increased. How should the nurse respond to this
patient? - Answer "It is started slowly and increased slowly to allow your pancreas to adjust
insulin levels."
The nurse is caring for a patient who has a permanent gastric feeding tube. What nursing action
would be most helpful to prevent aspiration during feedings - Answer Elevate head of bed at
least 30 degrees.
A patient's Levin NG tube inserted for decompression of the bowel, which is connected to low
intermittent suction, is not draining. The patient reports feeling full, uncomfortable, and
nauseous. After verifying tube placement, what action should the nurse take next? - Answer
Gently irrigate tube with normal saline.
The nurse is reinforcing teaching for a patient who is scheduled for an
esophagogastroduodenoscopy. Which patient statement indicates understanding of pre-
procedure diet instructions - Answer "I will have nothing to eat or drink 8 to 12 hours before
the procedure."
The nurse is preparing a patient for an NG tube insertion. To decrease the patient's anxiety
about insertion of a nasogastric tube, what should the nurse do - Answer Explain the
procedure.
The nurse is caring for a patient on a clear liquid diet. The nurse should recognize that the
patient requires further teaching if the patient requests which food - Answer Coffee with
cream
The nurse is caring for a patient on a full liquid diet. The nurse recognizes that the patient
understands teaching if the patient requests which food item? - Answer Milkshake
A patient recovering from GI surgery 4 hours ago is alert and oriented and complains of feeling
thirsty. Diet orders read, "clear liquids, advance as tolerated." Which action should the nurse
take? - Answer Allow the patient to take small sips of water.
