GALEN COLLEGE OF NURSING
Nursing Excellence · Evidence-Based Practice
MED SURG
EXAM 3
TEST BANK
EXAM COVERAGE
✦ Integumentary System — Skin, Hair & Nails
✦ Burns, Wounds & Skin Disorders
✦ Musculoskeletal System — Bones & Joints
✦ Muscle Function, Amputations & Fractures
✦ Arthritis, Gout & Connective Tissue Disorders
142 Questions | Multiple Choice & Fill-in-the-Blank
For Educational Purposes Only · Galen College of Nursing
,MED SURG EXAM 3 — GALEN COLLEGE OF NURSING TEST BANK
SECTION 1: MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS (Q1–Q20)
Q1 The nurse is gathering data from a client with a loss of melanin production from age-related changes. What
. observation made by the nurse correlates with this change?
a. White hair
b. Freckles on the nose and cheeks
c. Ridges on the skin surface
d. Thickened areas on the palms and heels
■ ANSWER: Answer: a – White hair
EXPLANATION: Melanocytes create pigment melanin. With aging, melanin production decreases, causing hair to turn
white. Freckles relate to increased melanin. Ridges on fingertips are fingerprints. Calluses on palms/heels relate to friction,
not melanin.
Q2 The nurse observes facial wrinkling on a 35-year-old client. What questions should the nurse ask pertaining
. to this finding? Select all that apply.
a. What type of moisturizer do you use?
b. Do you smoke?
c. Do you spend a lot of time outdoors?
d. Did either of your parents wrinkle prematurely?
e. Do you drink alcohol?
■ ANSWER: Answer: b, c, d
EXPLANATION: Wrinkles result from loss of elastic fibers and collagen. Cigarette smoking accelerates destruction of
elastic fibers. Sun exposure and genetics also contribute. Moisturizer and alcohol intake are not linked to premature
wrinkling.
Q3 A client lacks the DNA-repair enzyme that helps reverse UV damage. What should the nurse be sure to
. include with information related to this lack of enzyme?
a. Wear sunglasses when outdoors.
b. Avoid any activities that involve the outdoors.
c. Apply aloe vera after a sunburn.
d. Closely check skin for new or changes in moles.
■ ANSWER: Answer: d – Closely check skin for new or changes in moles
EXPLANATION: Without DNA-repair enzymes, the client is more susceptible to skin cancer, especially malignant
melanoma. It is important to monitor any new mole formation or changes in existing moles.
Galen College of Nursing | Confidential Study Material Page 2
, MED SURG EXAM 3 — GALEN COLLEGE OF NURSING TEST BANK
Q4 A client informs the nurse that a bookshelf fell on the client's toe and the toenail fell off. The client asks the
. nurse when to expect the toenail to regrow. What is the best response by the nurse?
a. 'You will not have regrowth of that toenail.'
b. 'You should have a new nail in about 3 months.'
c. 'You should have a new nail in about 12 to 18 months.'
d. 'The nail will be back in about 2 weeks.'
■ ANSWER: Answer: c – About 12 to 18 months
EXPLANATION: A fingernail lost through trauma takes 3–5 months to regrow; a toenail takes about 12–18 months. Nails
continue to regrow as long as live cells in the nail bed are undamaged.
Q5 What nursing action is essential in order to prevent heat loss through evaporation?
.
a. Apply blankets.
b. Move a space heater closer to the client.
c. Dry the client with a towel when perspiring.
d. Apply a warm cloth to the forehead.
■ ANSWER: Answer: c – Dry the client with a towel when perspiring
EXPLANATION: Water evaporation causes cooling. Drying perspiration prevents evaporative heat loss. Space heaters
can cause burns. Blankets without drying trap moisture. A warm cloth on the forehead does not address body perspiration.
Q6 The nurse is preparing to apply a moist dressing to a sacral pressure wound. What is a priority action by the
. nurse?
a. Medicate with analgesics one-half hour prior to the procedure.
b. Have the client sign a consent form to perform the procedure.
c. Document the procedure so that it won't be forgotten.
d. Remove the necrotic tissue with forceps.
■ ANSWER: Answer: a – Medicate with analgesics one-half hour prior
EXPLANATION: Premedicating minimizes pain during dressing changes, facilitates client cooperation, and promotes
healing. Consent forms are not required for dressing changes. Documentation should be done after, not before. Necrotic
tissue removal is not within nursing scope of practice.
Galen College of Nursing | Confidential Study Material Page 3
Nursing Excellence · Evidence-Based Practice
MED SURG
EXAM 3
TEST BANK
EXAM COVERAGE
✦ Integumentary System — Skin, Hair & Nails
✦ Burns, Wounds & Skin Disorders
✦ Musculoskeletal System — Bones & Joints
✦ Muscle Function, Amputations & Fractures
✦ Arthritis, Gout & Connective Tissue Disorders
142 Questions | Multiple Choice & Fill-in-the-Blank
For Educational Purposes Only · Galen College of Nursing
,MED SURG EXAM 3 — GALEN COLLEGE OF NURSING TEST BANK
SECTION 1: MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS (Q1–Q20)
Q1 The nurse is gathering data from a client with a loss of melanin production from age-related changes. What
. observation made by the nurse correlates with this change?
a. White hair
b. Freckles on the nose and cheeks
c. Ridges on the skin surface
d. Thickened areas on the palms and heels
■ ANSWER: Answer: a – White hair
EXPLANATION: Melanocytes create pigment melanin. With aging, melanin production decreases, causing hair to turn
white. Freckles relate to increased melanin. Ridges on fingertips are fingerprints. Calluses on palms/heels relate to friction,
not melanin.
Q2 The nurse observes facial wrinkling on a 35-year-old client. What questions should the nurse ask pertaining
. to this finding? Select all that apply.
a. What type of moisturizer do you use?
b. Do you smoke?
c. Do you spend a lot of time outdoors?
d. Did either of your parents wrinkle prematurely?
e. Do you drink alcohol?
■ ANSWER: Answer: b, c, d
EXPLANATION: Wrinkles result from loss of elastic fibers and collagen. Cigarette smoking accelerates destruction of
elastic fibers. Sun exposure and genetics also contribute. Moisturizer and alcohol intake are not linked to premature
wrinkling.
Q3 A client lacks the DNA-repair enzyme that helps reverse UV damage. What should the nurse be sure to
. include with information related to this lack of enzyme?
a. Wear sunglasses when outdoors.
b. Avoid any activities that involve the outdoors.
c. Apply aloe vera after a sunburn.
d. Closely check skin for new or changes in moles.
■ ANSWER: Answer: d – Closely check skin for new or changes in moles
EXPLANATION: Without DNA-repair enzymes, the client is more susceptible to skin cancer, especially malignant
melanoma. It is important to monitor any new mole formation or changes in existing moles.
Galen College of Nursing | Confidential Study Material Page 2
, MED SURG EXAM 3 — GALEN COLLEGE OF NURSING TEST BANK
Q4 A client informs the nurse that a bookshelf fell on the client's toe and the toenail fell off. The client asks the
. nurse when to expect the toenail to regrow. What is the best response by the nurse?
a. 'You will not have regrowth of that toenail.'
b. 'You should have a new nail in about 3 months.'
c. 'You should have a new nail in about 12 to 18 months.'
d. 'The nail will be back in about 2 weeks.'
■ ANSWER: Answer: c – About 12 to 18 months
EXPLANATION: A fingernail lost through trauma takes 3–5 months to regrow; a toenail takes about 12–18 months. Nails
continue to regrow as long as live cells in the nail bed are undamaged.
Q5 What nursing action is essential in order to prevent heat loss through evaporation?
.
a. Apply blankets.
b. Move a space heater closer to the client.
c. Dry the client with a towel when perspiring.
d. Apply a warm cloth to the forehead.
■ ANSWER: Answer: c – Dry the client with a towel when perspiring
EXPLANATION: Water evaporation causes cooling. Drying perspiration prevents evaporative heat loss. Space heaters
can cause burns. Blankets without drying trap moisture. A warm cloth on the forehead does not address body perspiration.
Q6 The nurse is preparing to apply a moist dressing to a sacral pressure wound. What is a priority action by the
. nurse?
a. Medicate with analgesics one-half hour prior to the procedure.
b. Have the client sign a consent form to perform the procedure.
c. Document the procedure so that it won't be forgotten.
d. Remove the necrotic tissue with forceps.
■ ANSWER: Answer: a – Medicate with analgesics one-half hour prior
EXPLANATION: Premedicating minimizes pain during dressing changes, facilitates client cooperation, and promotes
healing. Consent forms are not required for dressing changes. Documentation should be done after, not before. Necrotic
tissue removal is not within nursing scope of practice.
Galen College of Nursing | Confidential Study Material Page 3
