Med-Surg Certification Practice
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(2026) Questions and Correct Answers
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A ]newly ]diabetic ]patient ]will ]receive ]instructions ]from ]his ]nurse. ]Which ]of ]the ]following ]actions ]s
hould ]the ]nurse ]take ]first?
A. ]Provide ]the ]patient ]with ]brochures ]for ]making ]smart ]choices ]for ]cooking/baking.
B. ]Ask ]the ]patient ]what ]they ]know ]about ]diabetes.
C. ]Instruct ]the ]patient ]on ]exercise ]or ]activities ]that ]will ]increase ]their ]metabolism.
D. ]Teach ]them ]how ]to ]use ]the ]glucometer. ]- ]correct ]answer: ]B. ]
First ]ask ]the ]patient ]what ]they ]know ]about ]diabetes.
*ACTION ]questions ]ask ]for ]intervention, ]NOT ]assessment
The ]post ]hysterectomy ]patient ]with ]calls ]the ]clinic ]stating ]that ]she ]has ]been ]having ]difficulty ]wit
h ]incontinence. ]Which ]of ]the ]following ]statements ]if ]made ]by ]the ]patient, ]indicates ]that ]further ]
teaching ]is ]needed?
A. ]I ]drink ]8 ]oz. ]of ]fluid ]on ]the ]even ]hours ]while ]awake.
B. ]I ]will ]attempt ]to ]void ]30 ]minutes ]after ]drinking ]200 ]cc. ]of ]fluid
C. ]I ]will ]only ]drink ]fluid ]when ]I ]eat ]my ]meals
D. ]I ]will ]set ]the ]timer ]to ]remind ]me ]when ]to ]void ]- ]correct ]answer: ]C. ]
A ]patient ]saying ]that ]he ]or ]she ]will ]only ]drink ]fluids ]when ]eating ]meals ]indicates ]that ]they ]don't ]
know ]what ]to ]do ]in ]case ]of ]incontinence.
,FURTHER ]TEACHING ]indicates ]that ]the ]patient ]needs ]more ]information
An ]RN ]assesses ]a ]patient ]in ]the ]Cancer ]Center ]with ]a ]diagnosis ]of ]terminal ]cancer. ]The ]patient ]st
ates ]to ]the ]RN ]that ]he ]is ]short ]of ]breath, ]has ]no ]appetite ]and ]hurts ]everywhere. ]Which ]of ]the ]fol
lowing ]statements ]by ]the ]nurse ]is ]best?
A. ]Tell ]me ]how ]your ]family ]is ]coping
B. ]Show ]me ]where ]it ]does ]not ]hurt
C. ]I'll ]teach ]you ]relaxation ]techniques
D. ]Your ]physician ]should ]increase ]your ]pain ]medication ]- ]correct ]answer: ]C
A ]clinical ]nurse ]returns ]to ]the ]desk ]to ]find ]4 ]phone ]messages. ]Which ]of ]the ]following ]messages ]s
hould ]the ]nurse ]respond ]to ]first?
A. ]A ]post ]cervical ]laminectomy ]patient ]complaining ]of ]sudden ]difficulty ]talking.
B. ]A ]patient ]with ]multiple ]sclerosis ]complaining ]of ]change ]in ]peripheral ]vision.
C. ]A ]patient ]with ]a ]herniated ]disc ]complaining ]of ]consistent ]back ]pain.
D. ]A ]patient ]with ]a ]cast ]due ]to ]a ]fracture ]of ]the ]right ]tibial ]bone ]complaining ]of ]tingling ]toes. ]- ]co
rrect ]answer: ]A
B ]and ]C ]are ]expected ]symptoms ]of ]the ]patient's ]condition. ]A ]and ]D ]are ]unexpected. ]D ]is ]less ]criti
cal ]than ]A. ]Best ]answer ]is ]A.
A ]75 ]year ]old ]patient ]complains ]to ]the ]clinical ]nurse ]that ]he ]is ]having ]difficulty ]sleeping. ]Which ]o
f ]the ]following ]actions ]by ]the ]nurse ]is ]most ]appropriate?
A. ]Determine ]the ]patient's ]usual ]sleeping ]and ]waking ]patterns.
B. ]Suggest ]that ]the ]client ]abstain ]from ]alcohol ]and ]caffeine ]before ]bed ]time.
,C. ]Recommend ]that ]client ]establish ]a ]bedtime ]routine.
D. ]Ask ]how ]much ]sleep ]the ]client ]required ]before ]retirement. ]- ]correct ]answer: ]A
B ]and ]C ]are ]recommendations ]that ]the ]RN ]can ]share ]after
]he/she ]determines ]the ]patient's ]sleeping ]and ]waking ]patterns. ]So ]remove ]B ]and ]C. ]D ]is ]an ]inquir
y, ]but ]is ]concerned ]about ]the ]past ](when ]the ]person ]retired). ]Remove ]D. ]A ]is ]the ]best ]answer.
The ]nurse ]cares ]for ]a ]patient ]several ]hours ]after ]a ]thyroidectomy. ]The ]RN ]observes ]that ]the ]pati
ent ]is ]diaphoretic ]and ]confused. ]The ]vital ]signs ]are:
Temp ]= ]102° ]
(38.9 ]° ]C); ]BP ]is ]160/90; ]pulse ]is ]110, ]respiration ]is ]22. ]The ]nurse ]expects ]the ]physician ]to ]order ]
which ]of ]the ]following?
A. ]NPO, ]Dextran ]10 ]ml/kg. ]IV, ]02 ]4 ]L/min.
B. ]Propranolol ](Inderal) ]1 ]mg. ]IV, ]D5W ]125 ]cc/hr ]IV, ]propylthiaouracil ](PTU) ]200 ]mg ]po ]qld.
C. ]Levothyroxine ]Sodium ]
(Synthroid) ]100 ]mcg ]IV, ]Lactated ]Ringer's ]125 ]cc/hr ]IV, ]and ]ciprofloxacin ](cipro) ]500 ]mg. ]po ]bid.
D. ]Morphine ]sulfate ]2.5 ]mg. ]IV ]q. ]4 ]hrs. ]prn, ]0.9% ]NACl. ]- ]correct ]answer: ]B
A ]63 ]year ]old ]female ]patient ]contacts ]the ]clinic ]to ]report ]that ]she ]is ]has ]been ]extremely ]fatigued
, ]is ]sleeping ]12 ]hours ]a ]night, ]is ]always ]cold ]and ]her ]hair ]is ]falling ]out. ]Which ]of ]the ]following ]res
ponses ]by ]the ]nurse ]is ]most ]appropriate?
A. ]You ]will ]have ]more ]energy ]if ]you ]walk ]30 ]min ]every ]day.
B. ]You ]don't ]need ]to ]worry. ]Sleeping ]a ]lot ]is ]good ]for ]you.
C. ]Come ]in ]and ]see ]your ]health ]care ]provider ]today.
D. ]You ]should ]eat ]more ]green ]leafy ]vegetables. ]- ]correct ]answer: ]C
Need ]more ]info
, The ]RN ]performs ]blood ]pressure ]screening ]at ]the ]local ]community ]center. ]Which ]of ]the ]followin
g ]individuals ]is ]most ]likely ]to ]suffer ]from ]a ]cerebrovascular ]accident?
A. ]A ]30 ]year ]old ]man ]who ]is ]an ]account ]executive
B. ]A ]40 ]year ]old ]man ]who ]jogs ]four ]times ]a ]week.
C. ]A ]60 ]year ]old ]man ]whose ]father ]had ]a ]stroke.
D. ]A ]75 ]year ]old ]man ]who ]takes ]multi-vitamins. ]- ]correct ]answer: ]C
For ]the ]patient ]with ]a ]new ]tracheostomy, ]the ]nurse ]must ]be ]alert ]to ]which ]early ]complication?
a) ]Decannulation
b) ]Infection
c) ]Bleeding
d) ]Tracheomalacia ]- ]correct ]answer: ]C ]
Common ]acute ]risks ]of ]tracheostomy ]include ]bleeding, ]airway ]loss, ]damage ]to ]adjacent ]structur
es, ]and ]failure ]of ]the ]chosen ]technique ]to ]achieve ]successful ]airway
EVERYTHING ]24 ]HR ]POST ]SURGERY, ]FIRST ]COMPLICATION ]IS ]BLEEDING. ]Infection ]comes ]2-3 ]days
]later.
When ]a ]pulse ]oximetry ]monitor ]indicates ]that ]a ]patient ]has ]a ]drop ]in ]SpO2 ]from ]96% ]to ]85% ]ov
er ]4 ]hours, ]the ]nurse ]will ]first:
1. ]Request ]an ]order ]for ]stat ]ABGs
2. ]Start ]the ]patient ]on ]oxygen ]by ]NC ]at ]2L/minute
] ] ]
(2026) Questions and Correct Answers
]
] ] ] ]
A ]newly ]diabetic ]patient ]will ]receive ]instructions ]from ]his ]nurse. ]Which ]of ]the ]following ]actions ]s
hould ]the ]nurse ]take ]first?
A. ]Provide ]the ]patient ]with ]brochures ]for ]making ]smart ]choices ]for ]cooking/baking.
B. ]Ask ]the ]patient ]what ]they ]know ]about ]diabetes.
C. ]Instruct ]the ]patient ]on ]exercise ]or ]activities ]that ]will ]increase ]their ]metabolism.
D. ]Teach ]them ]how ]to ]use ]the ]glucometer. ]- ]correct ]answer: ]B. ]
First ]ask ]the ]patient ]what ]they ]know ]about ]diabetes.
*ACTION ]questions ]ask ]for ]intervention, ]NOT ]assessment
The ]post ]hysterectomy ]patient ]with ]calls ]the ]clinic ]stating ]that ]she ]has ]been ]having ]difficulty ]wit
h ]incontinence. ]Which ]of ]the ]following ]statements ]if ]made ]by ]the ]patient, ]indicates ]that ]further ]
teaching ]is ]needed?
A. ]I ]drink ]8 ]oz. ]of ]fluid ]on ]the ]even ]hours ]while ]awake.
B. ]I ]will ]attempt ]to ]void ]30 ]minutes ]after ]drinking ]200 ]cc. ]of ]fluid
C. ]I ]will ]only ]drink ]fluid ]when ]I ]eat ]my ]meals
D. ]I ]will ]set ]the ]timer ]to ]remind ]me ]when ]to ]void ]- ]correct ]answer: ]C. ]
A ]patient ]saying ]that ]he ]or ]she ]will ]only ]drink ]fluids ]when ]eating ]meals ]indicates ]that ]they ]don't ]
know ]what ]to ]do ]in ]case ]of ]incontinence.
,FURTHER ]TEACHING ]indicates ]that ]the ]patient ]needs ]more ]information
An ]RN ]assesses ]a ]patient ]in ]the ]Cancer ]Center ]with ]a ]diagnosis ]of ]terminal ]cancer. ]The ]patient ]st
ates ]to ]the ]RN ]that ]he ]is ]short ]of ]breath, ]has ]no ]appetite ]and ]hurts ]everywhere. ]Which ]of ]the ]fol
lowing ]statements ]by ]the ]nurse ]is ]best?
A. ]Tell ]me ]how ]your ]family ]is ]coping
B. ]Show ]me ]where ]it ]does ]not ]hurt
C. ]I'll ]teach ]you ]relaxation ]techniques
D. ]Your ]physician ]should ]increase ]your ]pain ]medication ]- ]correct ]answer: ]C
A ]clinical ]nurse ]returns ]to ]the ]desk ]to ]find ]4 ]phone ]messages. ]Which ]of ]the ]following ]messages ]s
hould ]the ]nurse ]respond ]to ]first?
A. ]A ]post ]cervical ]laminectomy ]patient ]complaining ]of ]sudden ]difficulty ]talking.
B. ]A ]patient ]with ]multiple ]sclerosis ]complaining ]of ]change ]in ]peripheral ]vision.
C. ]A ]patient ]with ]a ]herniated ]disc ]complaining ]of ]consistent ]back ]pain.
D. ]A ]patient ]with ]a ]cast ]due ]to ]a ]fracture ]of ]the ]right ]tibial ]bone ]complaining ]of ]tingling ]toes. ]- ]co
rrect ]answer: ]A
B ]and ]C ]are ]expected ]symptoms ]of ]the ]patient's ]condition. ]A ]and ]D ]are ]unexpected. ]D ]is ]less ]criti
cal ]than ]A. ]Best ]answer ]is ]A.
A ]75 ]year ]old ]patient ]complains ]to ]the ]clinical ]nurse ]that ]he ]is ]having ]difficulty ]sleeping. ]Which ]o
f ]the ]following ]actions ]by ]the ]nurse ]is ]most ]appropriate?
A. ]Determine ]the ]patient's ]usual ]sleeping ]and ]waking ]patterns.
B. ]Suggest ]that ]the ]client ]abstain ]from ]alcohol ]and ]caffeine ]before ]bed ]time.
,C. ]Recommend ]that ]client ]establish ]a ]bedtime ]routine.
D. ]Ask ]how ]much ]sleep ]the ]client ]required ]before ]retirement. ]- ]correct ]answer: ]A
B ]and ]C ]are ]recommendations ]that ]the ]RN ]can ]share ]after
]he/she ]determines ]the ]patient's ]sleeping ]and ]waking ]patterns. ]So ]remove ]B ]and ]C. ]D ]is ]an ]inquir
y, ]but ]is ]concerned ]about ]the ]past ](when ]the ]person ]retired). ]Remove ]D. ]A ]is ]the ]best ]answer.
The ]nurse ]cares ]for ]a ]patient ]several ]hours ]after ]a ]thyroidectomy. ]The ]RN ]observes ]that ]the ]pati
ent ]is ]diaphoretic ]and ]confused. ]The ]vital ]signs ]are:
Temp ]= ]102° ]
(38.9 ]° ]C); ]BP ]is ]160/90; ]pulse ]is ]110, ]respiration ]is ]22. ]The ]nurse ]expects ]the ]physician ]to ]order ]
which ]of ]the ]following?
A. ]NPO, ]Dextran ]10 ]ml/kg. ]IV, ]02 ]4 ]L/min.
B. ]Propranolol ](Inderal) ]1 ]mg. ]IV, ]D5W ]125 ]cc/hr ]IV, ]propylthiaouracil ](PTU) ]200 ]mg ]po ]qld.
C. ]Levothyroxine ]Sodium ]
(Synthroid) ]100 ]mcg ]IV, ]Lactated ]Ringer's ]125 ]cc/hr ]IV, ]and ]ciprofloxacin ](cipro) ]500 ]mg. ]po ]bid.
D. ]Morphine ]sulfate ]2.5 ]mg. ]IV ]q. ]4 ]hrs. ]prn, ]0.9% ]NACl. ]- ]correct ]answer: ]B
A ]63 ]year ]old ]female ]patient ]contacts ]the ]clinic ]to ]report ]that ]she ]is ]has ]been ]extremely ]fatigued
, ]is ]sleeping ]12 ]hours ]a ]night, ]is ]always ]cold ]and ]her ]hair ]is ]falling ]out. ]Which ]of ]the ]following ]res
ponses ]by ]the ]nurse ]is ]most ]appropriate?
A. ]You ]will ]have ]more ]energy ]if ]you ]walk ]30 ]min ]every ]day.
B. ]You ]don't ]need ]to ]worry. ]Sleeping ]a ]lot ]is ]good ]for ]you.
C. ]Come ]in ]and ]see ]your ]health ]care ]provider ]today.
D. ]You ]should ]eat ]more ]green ]leafy ]vegetables. ]- ]correct ]answer: ]C
Need ]more ]info
, The ]RN ]performs ]blood ]pressure ]screening ]at ]the ]local ]community ]center. ]Which ]of ]the ]followin
g ]individuals ]is ]most ]likely ]to ]suffer ]from ]a ]cerebrovascular ]accident?
A. ]A ]30 ]year ]old ]man ]who ]is ]an ]account ]executive
B. ]A ]40 ]year ]old ]man ]who ]jogs ]four ]times ]a ]week.
C. ]A ]60 ]year ]old ]man ]whose ]father ]had ]a ]stroke.
D. ]A ]75 ]year ]old ]man ]who ]takes ]multi-vitamins. ]- ]correct ]answer: ]C
For ]the ]patient ]with ]a ]new ]tracheostomy, ]the ]nurse ]must ]be ]alert ]to ]which ]early ]complication?
a) ]Decannulation
b) ]Infection
c) ]Bleeding
d) ]Tracheomalacia ]- ]correct ]answer: ]C ]
Common ]acute ]risks ]of ]tracheostomy ]include ]bleeding, ]airway ]loss, ]damage ]to ]adjacent ]structur
es, ]and ]failure ]of ]the ]chosen ]technique ]to ]achieve ]successful ]airway
EVERYTHING ]24 ]HR ]POST ]SURGERY, ]FIRST ]COMPLICATION ]IS ]BLEEDING. ]Infection ]comes ]2-3 ]days
]later.
When ]a ]pulse ]oximetry ]monitor ]indicates ]that ]a ]patient ]has ]a ]drop ]in ]SpO2 ]from ]96% ]to ]85% ]ov
er ]4 ]hours, ]the ]nurse ]will ]first:
1. ]Request ]an ]order ]for ]stat ]ABGs
2. ]Start ]the ]patient ]on ]oxygen ]by ]NC ]at ]2L/minute
