NUR 170 Med Surg Exam 4 Practice Exam WITH VERRIFIED
ANSWERS 2026
1. A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client with GERD. Which of the following statements by
the client indicates a need for further teaching?
A. "I will avoid eating chocolate and drinking coffee."
B. "I plan to elevate the head of my bed on 6-inch blocks."
C. "I should lie down for 30 minutes after eating to aid digestion."
D. "I will try to eat four to six small meals a day instead of three large ones."
Correct Answer: ✔️✔️✔️💜💜: [C]
2. A client is scheduled for a barium swallow. Which of the following is the priority nursing action after
the procedure?
A. Assess for rectal bleeding.
B. Place the client on a low-fiber diet.
C. Encourage increased fluid intake.
D. Maintain NPO status for 8 hours.
Correct Answer: ✔️✔️✔️💜💜: [C]
3. A nurse is caring for a client post-bariatric surgery. What is the most important nursing intervention
in the immediate postoperative period?
A. Administering enteric-coated medications.
B. Maintaining the nasogastric (NG) tube as ordered.
C. Positioning the client supine for comfort.
D. Encouraging clear liquids immediately.
Correct Answer: ✔️✔️✔️💜💜: [B]
4. A client with peptic ulcer disease (PUD) suddenly reports a sharp, severe upper abdominal pain that
radiates to the shoulder, followed by a rigid, board-like abdomen. The nurse should suspect:
A. Gastric outlet obstruction.
B. Gastrointestinal perforation.
C. Melena.
D. Hiatal hernia strangulation.
Correct Answer: ✔️✔️✔️💜💜: [B]
5. Which dietary modification is appropriate for a client experiencing an acute exacerbation of
inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) such as Crohn's disease or Ulcerative Colitis?
A. High-fiber diet with fresh fruits and vegetables.
B. Low-calorie, low-protein diet to rest the bowel.
C. High-protein, high-calorie, low-fiber diet.
D. Lactose-rich diet to increase calcium intake.
Correct Answer: ✔️✔️✔️💜💜: [C]
6. A nurse is assessing a client with a suspected small bowel obstruction. Which finding is most
consistent with this condition?
, A. Lower abdominal cramping and constipation.
B. Profuse vomiting and upper abdominal distention.
C. Absent bowel sounds from the onset.
D. Steatorrhea and weight loss.
Correct Answer: ✔️✔️✔️💜💜: [B]
7. A client is diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). The nurse knows that teaching has been
effective when the client states:
A. "I must avoid all dairy products for the rest of my life."
B. "My diarrhea may contain blood if the disease is active."
C. "Stress management techniques can help control my symptoms."
D. "This condition significantly increases my risk for colon cancer."
Correct Answer: ✔️✔️✔️💜💜: [C]
8. For a client with a new colostomy, the stoma appears beefy red and moist. The nurse should:
A. Notify the healthcare provider immediately.
B. Document this as a normal finding.
C. Apply a barrier ring to protect the skin.
D. Irrigate the stoma with normal saline.
Correct Answer: ✔️✔️✔️💜💜: [B]
9. A client with an NG tube connected to intermittent low suction asks why the tube is necessary after
bowel surgery. The nurse's best response is that the NG tube helps to:
A. Provide a route for liquid feedings.
B. Decompress the stomach and prevent nausea and vomiting.
C. Administer medications directly into the small intestine.
D. Measure gastric pH levels.
Correct Answer: ✔️✔️✔️💜💜: [B]
10. Which of the following clients is at the highest risk for developing a fungal urinary tract infection?
A. A 22-year-old woman who is sexually active.
B. A 48-year-old man with diabetes mellitus.
C. A 60-year-old man with an enlarged prostate.
D. A 30-year-old woman using a diaphragm for birth control.
Correct Answer: ✔️✔️✔️💜💜: [B]
11. The hospitalized client with an indwelling catheter has cystitis. What is the priority nursing
diagnosis for this client?
A. Risk for Infection
B. Disturbed Body Image
C. Risk for Urge Urinary Incontinence
D. Risk for Impaired Skin Integrity
Correct Answer: ✔️✔️✔️💜💜: [D]
12. Which client is at highest risk for developing a renal calculus?
A. A 64-year-old woman with mild congestive heart failure.
ANSWERS 2026
1. A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client with GERD. Which of the following statements by
the client indicates a need for further teaching?
A. "I will avoid eating chocolate and drinking coffee."
B. "I plan to elevate the head of my bed on 6-inch blocks."
C. "I should lie down for 30 minutes after eating to aid digestion."
D. "I will try to eat four to six small meals a day instead of three large ones."
Correct Answer: ✔️✔️✔️💜💜: [C]
2. A client is scheduled for a barium swallow. Which of the following is the priority nursing action after
the procedure?
A. Assess for rectal bleeding.
B. Place the client on a low-fiber diet.
C. Encourage increased fluid intake.
D. Maintain NPO status for 8 hours.
Correct Answer: ✔️✔️✔️💜💜: [C]
3. A nurse is caring for a client post-bariatric surgery. What is the most important nursing intervention
in the immediate postoperative period?
A. Administering enteric-coated medications.
B. Maintaining the nasogastric (NG) tube as ordered.
C. Positioning the client supine for comfort.
D. Encouraging clear liquids immediately.
Correct Answer: ✔️✔️✔️💜💜: [B]
4. A client with peptic ulcer disease (PUD) suddenly reports a sharp, severe upper abdominal pain that
radiates to the shoulder, followed by a rigid, board-like abdomen. The nurse should suspect:
A. Gastric outlet obstruction.
B. Gastrointestinal perforation.
C. Melena.
D. Hiatal hernia strangulation.
Correct Answer: ✔️✔️✔️💜💜: [B]
5. Which dietary modification is appropriate for a client experiencing an acute exacerbation of
inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) such as Crohn's disease or Ulcerative Colitis?
A. High-fiber diet with fresh fruits and vegetables.
B. Low-calorie, low-protein diet to rest the bowel.
C. High-protein, high-calorie, low-fiber diet.
D. Lactose-rich diet to increase calcium intake.
Correct Answer: ✔️✔️✔️💜💜: [C]
6. A nurse is assessing a client with a suspected small bowel obstruction. Which finding is most
consistent with this condition?
, A. Lower abdominal cramping and constipation.
B. Profuse vomiting and upper abdominal distention.
C. Absent bowel sounds from the onset.
D. Steatorrhea and weight loss.
Correct Answer: ✔️✔️✔️💜💜: [B]
7. A client is diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). The nurse knows that teaching has been
effective when the client states:
A. "I must avoid all dairy products for the rest of my life."
B. "My diarrhea may contain blood if the disease is active."
C. "Stress management techniques can help control my symptoms."
D. "This condition significantly increases my risk for colon cancer."
Correct Answer: ✔️✔️✔️💜💜: [C]
8. For a client with a new colostomy, the stoma appears beefy red and moist. The nurse should:
A. Notify the healthcare provider immediately.
B. Document this as a normal finding.
C. Apply a barrier ring to protect the skin.
D. Irrigate the stoma with normal saline.
Correct Answer: ✔️✔️✔️💜💜: [B]
9. A client with an NG tube connected to intermittent low suction asks why the tube is necessary after
bowel surgery. The nurse's best response is that the NG tube helps to:
A. Provide a route for liquid feedings.
B. Decompress the stomach and prevent nausea and vomiting.
C. Administer medications directly into the small intestine.
D. Measure gastric pH levels.
Correct Answer: ✔️✔️✔️💜💜: [B]
10. Which of the following clients is at the highest risk for developing a fungal urinary tract infection?
A. A 22-year-old woman who is sexually active.
B. A 48-year-old man with diabetes mellitus.
C. A 60-year-old man with an enlarged prostate.
D. A 30-year-old woman using a diaphragm for birth control.
Correct Answer: ✔️✔️✔️💜💜: [B]
11. The hospitalized client with an indwelling catheter has cystitis. What is the priority nursing
diagnosis for this client?
A. Risk for Infection
B. Disturbed Body Image
C. Risk for Urge Urinary Incontinence
D. Risk for Impaired Skin Integrity
Correct Answer: ✔️✔️✔️💜💜: [D]
12. Which client is at highest risk for developing a renal calculus?
A. A 64-year-old woman with mild congestive heart failure.
