RN ADULT MEDICAL SURGICAL NURSING EDITION 11.0 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
(VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A |LATEST EXAM UPDATE 2026/2027.]
Section One: Questions 1–100
A nurse is caring for a client who has hyperkalemia. Which of the following electrocardiogram
changes should the nurse expect?
A. Prolonged QT interval
B. ST segment depression
C. Tall, peaked T waves
D. Flattened P waves
🟢 C. Tall, peaked T waves
🔴 RATIONALE: Hyperkalemia causes cardiac electrical changes characterized by tall, peaked T
waves, prolonged PR intervals, and widened QRS complexes.
A nurse is assessing a client with suspected deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Which finding is a clinical
manifestation of a DVT?
A. Pallor of the extremity
B. Calf pain and tenderness
C. Paresthesia in the affected limb
D. Decreased capillary refill in the toes
🟢 B. Calf pain and tenderness
🔴 RATIONALE: The most common signs of DVT include localized pain, tenderness, redness, and
swelling in the affected calf or leg.
A nurse is teaching a client with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes mellitus about insulin
administration. Which action indicates the client understands the instructions?
A. Rotating injection sites within the same anatomical area
B. Drawing cloudy insulin before clear insulin
,C. Massaging the site after injection
D. Reusing needles to maintain sterility
🟢 A. Rotating injection sites within the same anatomical area
🔴 RATIONALE: Rotating injection sites prevents lipodystrophy and ensures consistent insulin
absorption.
A nurse is caring for a client with cirrhosis who has ascites. Which dietary modification should the
nurse implement?
A. Increased protein intake
B. Sodium restriction
C. Increased fluid intake
D. High-potassium diet
🟢 B. Sodium restriction
🔴 RATIONALE: Sodium restriction helps manage fluid retention and the formation of ascites in
clients with liver cirrhosis.
A nurse is monitoring a client receiving a blood transfusion. Which finding requires immediate
intervention?
A. Mild fever
B. Low back pain
C. Flushing of the skin
D. Bradycardia
🟢 B. Low back pain
🔴 RATIONALE: Low back pain is a classic sign of an acute hemolytic transfusion reaction,
indicating incompatible blood.
,A nurse is caring for a client with a chest tube. The nurse observes continuous bubbling in the
water seal chamber. What does this indicate?
A. Normal lung re-expansion
B. An air leak in the system
C. The system is functioning properly
D. The tube is obstructed
🟢 B. An air leak in the system
🔴 RATIONALE: Continuous bubbling in the water seal chamber indicates an air leak between the
client and the drainage system.
A nurse is assessing a client with COPD. Which finding is expected?
A. Increased forced expiratory volume
B. Barrel chest
C. Hyper-resonant breath sounds
D. Normal oxygen saturation levels
🟢 B. Barrel chest
🔴 RATIONALE: Chronic air trapping in COPD leads to an increased anteroposterior diameter of
the chest, known as a barrel chest.
A nurse is providing discharge instructions to a client with a new permanent pacemaker. Which
instruction is correct?
A. Avoid all electronic devices
B. Do not lift the arm above the shoulder on the affected side
C. Keep the incision site covered for 4 weeks
D. Wear a medical alert bracelet
🟢 D. Wear a medical alert bracelet
, 🔴 RATIONALE: Clients with permanent pacemakers should carry identification or wear a medical
alert bracelet to inform medical personnel of the device in emergencies.
A nurse is planning care for a client with neutropenia. Which action is the priority?
A. Administering prophylactic antibiotics
B. Maintaining a private room
C. Hand hygiene and strict aseptic technique
D. Monitoring blood glucose levels
🟢 C. Hand hygiene and strict aseptic technique
🔴 RATIONALE: Neutropenic clients are at high risk for infection; hand hygiene is the most
effective way to prevent the spread of microorganisms.
A nurse is caring for a client with Cushing’s syndrome. Which clinical manifestation should the
nurse expect?
A. Weight loss
B. Hypotension
C. Truncal obesity
D. Increased muscle mass
🟢 C. Truncal obesity
🔴 RATIONALE: Cushing’s syndrome is characterized by hypercortisolism, which leads to fat
redistribution, causing truncal obesity, moon face, and buffalo hump.
A nurse is caring for a client with acute pancreatitis. Which laboratory finding is most specific to this
condition?
A. Elevated serum amylase
B. Decreased WBC count
C. Elevated serum albumin
D. Decreased serum calcium
(VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A |LATEST EXAM UPDATE 2026/2027.]
Section One: Questions 1–100
A nurse is caring for a client who has hyperkalemia. Which of the following electrocardiogram
changes should the nurse expect?
A. Prolonged QT interval
B. ST segment depression
C. Tall, peaked T waves
D. Flattened P waves
🟢 C. Tall, peaked T waves
🔴 RATIONALE: Hyperkalemia causes cardiac electrical changes characterized by tall, peaked T
waves, prolonged PR intervals, and widened QRS complexes.
A nurse is assessing a client with suspected deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Which finding is a clinical
manifestation of a DVT?
A. Pallor of the extremity
B. Calf pain and tenderness
C. Paresthesia in the affected limb
D. Decreased capillary refill in the toes
🟢 B. Calf pain and tenderness
🔴 RATIONALE: The most common signs of DVT include localized pain, tenderness, redness, and
swelling in the affected calf or leg.
A nurse is teaching a client with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes mellitus about insulin
administration. Which action indicates the client understands the instructions?
A. Rotating injection sites within the same anatomical area
B. Drawing cloudy insulin before clear insulin
,C. Massaging the site after injection
D. Reusing needles to maintain sterility
🟢 A. Rotating injection sites within the same anatomical area
🔴 RATIONALE: Rotating injection sites prevents lipodystrophy and ensures consistent insulin
absorption.
A nurse is caring for a client with cirrhosis who has ascites. Which dietary modification should the
nurse implement?
A. Increased protein intake
B. Sodium restriction
C. Increased fluid intake
D. High-potassium diet
🟢 B. Sodium restriction
🔴 RATIONALE: Sodium restriction helps manage fluid retention and the formation of ascites in
clients with liver cirrhosis.
A nurse is monitoring a client receiving a blood transfusion. Which finding requires immediate
intervention?
A. Mild fever
B. Low back pain
C. Flushing of the skin
D. Bradycardia
🟢 B. Low back pain
🔴 RATIONALE: Low back pain is a classic sign of an acute hemolytic transfusion reaction,
indicating incompatible blood.
,A nurse is caring for a client with a chest tube. The nurse observes continuous bubbling in the
water seal chamber. What does this indicate?
A. Normal lung re-expansion
B. An air leak in the system
C. The system is functioning properly
D. The tube is obstructed
🟢 B. An air leak in the system
🔴 RATIONALE: Continuous bubbling in the water seal chamber indicates an air leak between the
client and the drainage system.
A nurse is assessing a client with COPD. Which finding is expected?
A. Increased forced expiratory volume
B. Barrel chest
C. Hyper-resonant breath sounds
D. Normal oxygen saturation levels
🟢 B. Barrel chest
🔴 RATIONALE: Chronic air trapping in COPD leads to an increased anteroposterior diameter of
the chest, known as a barrel chest.
A nurse is providing discharge instructions to a client with a new permanent pacemaker. Which
instruction is correct?
A. Avoid all electronic devices
B. Do not lift the arm above the shoulder on the affected side
C. Keep the incision site covered for 4 weeks
D. Wear a medical alert bracelet
🟢 D. Wear a medical alert bracelet
, 🔴 RATIONALE: Clients with permanent pacemakers should carry identification or wear a medical
alert bracelet to inform medical personnel of the device in emergencies.
A nurse is planning care for a client with neutropenia. Which action is the priority?
A. Administering prophylactic antibiotics
B. Maintaining a private room
C. Hand hygiene and strict aseptic technique
D. Monitoring blood glucose levels
🟢 C. Hand hygiene and strict aseptic technique
🔴 RATIONALE: Neutropenic clients are at high risk for infection; hand hygiene is the most
effective way to prevent the spread of microorganisms.
A nurse is caring for a client with Cushing’s syndrome. Which clinical manifestation should the
nurse expect?
A. Weight loss
B. Hypotension
C. Truncal obesity
D. Increased muscle mass
🟢 C. Truncal obesity
🔴 RATIONALE: Cushing’s syndrome is characterized by hypercortisolism, which leads to fat
redistribution, causing truncal obesity, moon face, and buffalo hump.
A nurse is caring for a client with acute pancreatitis. Which laboratory finding is most specific to this
condition?
A. Elevated serum amylase
B. Decreased WBC count
C. Elevated serum albumin
D. Decreased serum calcium
