MED SURG FINAL EXAM QUESTION BANK.
MED SURG FINAL EXAM
QUESTION BANK (From
Exams 1-3 & ATI’s)
Exam 1
1. A patient has received atropine before surgery and complains of dry mouth. Which
action by the nurse is best? Answer: Tell the patient dry mouth is an expected side effect.
2. A patient arrives at the ambulatory surgery center for a scheduled laparoscopy
procedure in outpatient surgery. Which information is of most concern to the nurse?
Answer: The patient is planning to drive home after surgery.
3. As the nurse prepares a patient the morning of surgery, the patient refuses to remove a
wedding ring, saying, "I have never taken it off since the day I was married." Which
response by the nurse is best? Answer: Suggest that the patient give the ring to a family
member to keep.
4. The outpatient surgery nurse reviews the complete blood cell (CBC) count results for a
patient who is scheduled for surgery in a few days. The results are white blood cell
(WBC) count 10.2 × 103/µL; hemoglobin 15 g/dL; hematocrit 45%; platelets 150 ×
103/µL. Which action should the nurse take? Answer: Continue to prepare the patient for
the surgical procedure.
5. A 36-year-old female is admitted for an elective surgical procedure. Which information
obtained by the nurse during the preoperative assessment is most important to report to
the anesthesiologist before surgery? Answer: The patient's statement that her last
menstrual period was 8 weeks ago
6. Which information in the preoperative patient's medication history is most important to
communicate to the health care provider? Answer: The patient takes garlic capsules
daily.
,MED SURG FINAL EXAM QUESTION BANK.
7. A patient who takes a diuretic and a β-blocker to control blood pressure is scheduled for
breast reconstruction surgery. Which patient information is most important to
communicate to the health care provider before surgery? Answer: Serum potassium 3.2
mEq/L
8. Monitored anesthesia care (MAC) is going to be used for a closed, manual reduction of a
dislocated shoulder. What does the nurse anticipate? Answer: Starting an IV in the
patient’s unaffected arm.
9. While in the holding area, a patient reveals to the nurse that his father had a high fever
after surgery. What action by the nurse is a priority? Answer: Alert the anesthesia care
provider of the family member’s reaction to surgery
10. The nurse facilitates student clinical experiences in the surgical suite. Which action, if
performed by a student, would require the nurse to intervene? Answer: The student
wears street clothed in the semi-restricted area.
11. The operating room nurse is providing orientation to a student nurse. Which action would
the nurse list as a major responsibility of a scrub nurse? Answer: Keep both hands
above the operating table level
, MED SURG FINAL EXAM QUESTION BANK.
12. A patient in surgery receives a neuromuscular blocking agent as an adjunct to general
anesthesia. While in the PACU, what assessment finding is most important for the nurse
to report? Answer: Weak chest movement
13. Which action in the perioperative patient plan of care can the charge nurse delegate to a
surgical technologist? Answer: Pass sterile instruments and supplies to the surgeon and
scrub technician
14. When caring for a patient who has received general anesthetic, the circulating nurse
notes red, raised wheals on the patient’s arms. Which action should the nurse take?
Answer: Notify the ACP
15. The NG tube is removed 2nd day postop, pt is placed on a clear, liquid diet. 4 hrs later the
pt complains of sharp, cramping gas pains. What action by the RN is most appropriate?
Answer: assist the patient to ambulate
16. On admission of a patient to the postanesthesia care unit (PACU), the blood pressure
(BP) is 122/72. Thirty minutes after admission, the BP falls to 114/62, with a pulse of 74
and warm, dry skin. Which action by the nurse is most appropriate? Answer: Continue to
take vital signs every 15 minutes.
17. A postop patient has not voided for 8 hrs after surgery…. what action should the nurse
take first? Answer: Bladder scan
18. A patient is transferred from the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) to the clinical unit.
Which action by the nurse on the clinical unit should be performed first? Answer: Take
the patient's vital signs.
19. A postop pt has a nursing dx of ineffective airway clearance. The nurse determines that
interventions for this nursing diagnosis have been successful if which is observed?
Answer: Patients breath sounds are clear to auscultation
20. In the postanesthesia care unit (PACU), a patient's vital signs are blood pressure 116/72,
pulse 74, respirations 12, and SpO2 91%. The patient is sleepy but awakens easily.
Which action should the nurse take first? Answer: Encourage the patient to take deep
breaths.
21. Which action could the PACU nurse delegate to an UAP? Answer: Help with transfer
onto a stretcher
22. An older pt is being dc from the ambulatory surgical unit following L eye surgery. The pt
tells the nurse, “I don’t know if I can take care of myself once I’m home”. Which action by
the nurse is most appropriate? Answer: discuss specific concerns regarding self-care
23. A patient is admitted with possible botulism poisoning after eating home-canned green
beans. Which intervention ordered would the nurse question? Answer: Encourage oral
fluids to 3L/day
24. A 22-year-old patient who sustained a T2 spinal cord injury 10 days ago tells the nurse "i
want to be transferred to a hospital where the nurses know what they are doing"…
Answer: Request patient to take part in their care
MED SURG FINAL EXAM
QUESTION BANK (From
Exams 1-3 & ATI’s)
Exam 1
1. A patient has received atropine before surgery and complains of dry mouth. Which
action by the nurse is best? Answer: Tell the patient dry mouth is an expected side effect.
2. A patient arrives at the ambulatory surgery center for a scheduled laparoscopy
procedure in outpatient surgery. Which information is of most concern to the nurse?
Answer: The patient is planning to drive home after surgery.
3. As the nurse prepares a patient the morning of surgery, the patient refuses to remove a
wedding ring, saying, "I have never taken it off since the day I was married." Which
response by the nurse is best? Answer: Suggest that the patient give the ring to a family
member to keep.
4. The outpatient surgery nurse reviews the complete blood cell (CBC) count results for a
patient who is scheduled for surgery in a few days. The results are white blood cell
(WBC) count 10.2 × 103/µL; hemoglobin 15 g/dL; hematocrit 45%; platelets 150 ×
103/µL. Which action should the nurse take? Answer: Continue to prepare the patient for
the surgical procedure.
5. A 36-year-old female is admitted for an elective surgical procedure. Which information
obtained by the nurse during the preoperative assessment is most important to report to
the anesthesiologist before surgery? Answer: The patient's statement that her last
menstrual period was 8 weeks ago
6. Which information in the preoperative patient's medication history is most important to
communicate to the health care provider? Answer: The patient takes garlic capsules
daily.
,MED SURG FINAL EXAM QUESTION BANK.
7. A patient who takes a diuretic and a β-blocker to control blood pressure is scheduled for
breast reconstruction surgery. Which patient information is most important to
communicate to the health care provider before surgery? Answer: Serum potassium 3.2
mEq/L
8. Monitored anesthesia care (MAC) is going to be used for a closed, manual reduction of a
dislocated shoulder. What does the nurse anticipate? Answer: Starting an IV in the
patient’s unaffected arm.
9. While in the holding area, a patient reveals to the nurse that his father had a high fever
after surgery. What action by the nurse is a priority? Answer: Alert the anesthesia care
provider of the family member’s reaction to surgery
10. The nurse facilitates student clinical experiences in the surgical suite. Which action, if
performed by a student, would require the nurse to intervene? Answer: The student
wears street clothed in the semi-restricted area.
11. The operating room nurse is providing orientation to a student nurse. Which action would
the nurse list as a major responsibility of a scrub nurse? Answer: Keep both hands
above the operating table level
, MED SURG FINAL EXAM QUESTION BANK.
12. A patient in surgery receives a neuromuscular blocking agent as an adjunct to general
anesthesia. While in the PACU, what assessment finding is most important for the nurse
to report? Answer: Weak chest movement
13. Which action in the perioperative patient plan of care can the charge nurse delegate to a
surgical technologist? Answer: Pass sterile instruments and supplies to the surgeon and
scrub technician
14. When caring for a patient who has received general anesthetic, the circulating nurse
notes red, raised wheals on the patient’s arms. Which action should the nurse take?
Answer: Notify the ACP
15. The NG tube is removed 2nd day postop, pt is placed on a clear, liquid diet. 4 hrs later the
pt complains of sharp, cramping gas pains. What action by the RN is most appropriate?
Answer: assist the patient to ambulate
16. On admission of a patient to the postanesthesia care unit (PACU), the blood pressure
(BP) is 122/72. Thirty minutes after admission, the BP falls to 114/62, with a pulse of 74
and warm, dry skin. Which action by the nurse is most appropriate? Answer: Continue to
take vital signs every 15 minutes.
17. A postop patient has not voided for 8 hrs after surgery…. what action should the nurse
take first? Answer: Bladder scan
18. A patient is transferred from the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) to the clinical unit.
Which action by the nurse on the clinical unit should be performed first? Answer: Take
the patient's vital signs.
19. A postop pt has a nursing dx of ineffective airway clearance. The nurse determines that
interventions for this nursing diagnosis have been successful if which is observed?
Answer: Patients breath sounds are clear to auscultation
20. In the postanesthesia care unit (PACU), a patient's vital signs are blood pressure 116/72,
pulse 74, respirations 12, and SpO2 91%. The patient is sleepy but awakens easily.
Which action should the nurse take first? Answer: Encourage the patient to take deep
breaths.
21. Which action could the PACU nurse delegate to an UAP? Answer: Help with transfer
onto a stretcher
22. An older pt is being dc from the ambulatory surgical unit following L eye surgery. The pt
tells the nurse, “I don’t know if I can take care of myself once I’m home”. Which action by
the nurse is most appropriate? Answer: discuss specific concerns regarding self-care
23. A patient is admitted with possible botulism poisoning after eating home-canned green
beans. Which intervention ordered would the nurse question? Answer: Encourage oral
fluids to 3L/day
24. A 22-year-old patient who sustained a T2 spinal cord injury 10 days ago tells the nurse "i
want to be transferred to a hospital where the nurses know what they are doing"…
Answer: Request patient to take part in their care
