ADVANCED CONCEPTS OF MEDICAL
SURGICAL NURSING GUIDE 2026
CERTIFICATION TEST QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS UPDATED
◉ Shortness of breath and chest pain response. Answer: Place the
patient on a cardiac monitor and pulse oximetry.
◉ Warfarin discharge comment for PE. Answer: My INR is to be
monitored frequently.
◉ ABG for newly developed PE. Answer: pH 7.60, PaO2 85, PaCO2
32, HCO3 23, SaO2 88 (Respiratory alkalosis)
◉ Priority patient with heparin. Answer: A patient on day 10 of
heparin with blood oozing from their Foley catheter.
◉ Chest tube bubbling in suction control chamber. Answer: No. This
is normal in the suction control chamber.
◉ Asymmetrical chest expansion with chest tube. Answer:
Absolutely! YES!!
, ◉ Chest tube drainage in one hour. Answer: Yes! It is >70 ml/hr.
◉ Visible eyelets of the chest tube. Answer: Yes! The tube is coming
out of the pleural space.
◉ Continuous bubbling in water seal chamber after 4 days. Answer:
Call the doctor to report a leak in the system.
◉ Patient with dyspnea and ABG values. Answer: Acute respiratory
failure.
◉ Greatest risk for ARDS. Answer: A burn victim receiving IV fluid
boluses.
◉ Priority patient on 100% oxygen therapy. Answer: A patient
receiving 100% oxygen therapy and their PAO2 is 55.
◉ Post-intubation priority for ARDS patient. Answer: Evaluate post-
intubation ABG from respiratory therapy (RT, 30-60 minute
window), and portable chest X-ray.
◉ Interdisciplinary care team need. Answer: A 19 y/o MVA victim
intubated & vented x 14 days ago for ARDS.
SURGICAL NURSING GUIDE 2026
CERTIFICATION TEST QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS UPDATED
◉ Shortness of breath and chest pain response. Answer: Place the
patient on a cardiac monitor and pulse oximetry.
◉ Warfarin discharge comment for PE. Answer: My INR is to be
monitored frequently.
◉ ABG for newly developed PE. Answer: pH 7.60, PaO2 85, PaCO2
32, HCO3 23, SaO2 88 (Respiratory alkalosis)
◉ Priority patient with heparin. Answer: A patient on day 10 of
heparin with blood oozing from their Foley catheter.
◉ Chest tube bubbling in suction control chamber. Answer: No. This
is normal in the suction control chamber.
◉ Asymmetrical chest expansion with chest tube. Answer:
Absolutely! YES!!
, ◉ Chest tube drainage in one hour. Answer: Yes! It is >70 ml/hr.
◉ Visible eyelets of the chest tube. Answer: Yes! The tube is coming
out of the pleural space.
◉ Continuous bubbling in water seal chamber after 4 days. Answer:
Call the doctor to report a leak in the system.
◉ Patient with dyspnea and ABG values. Answer: Acute respiratory
failure.
◉ Greatest risk for ARDS. Answer: A burn victim receiving IV fluid
boluses.
◉ Priority patient on 100% oxygen therapy. Answer: A patient
receiving 100% oxygen therapy and their PAO2 is 55.
◉ Post-intubation priority for ARDS patient. Answer: Evaluate post-
intubation ABG from respiratory therapy (RT, 30-60 minute
window), and portable chest X-ray.
◉ Interdisciplinary care team need. Answer: A 19 y/o MVA victim
intubated & vented x 14 days ago for ARDS.
