CERTIFIED MEDICAL-SURGICAL
REGISTERED NURSE 2026 SAMPLE
QUESTIONS
A 30-year old patient has been diagnosed with advanced
ovarian cancer. The patient says, "This is all my fault."
Which of Kubler-Ross's five stages of grief is the patient
probably experiencing?
A.Denial
B.Anger
C.Depression
D.Acceptance - correct answer- B. The patient is
experiencing the stage of anger. People grieve individually
and may not go through all stages, but most go through at
least 2 stages. Kubler-Ross's 5 stages of grief include:
Denial: Refusal to believe, confused, stunned, detached.
Anger: Directed inward (self-blame) or outward.
Bargaining: If - then thinking. ("If I go to church, then I will
heal.")
,Depression: Sad, withdrawn.
Acceptance: Resolution.
A 50-year-old male with a diagnosis of leukemia is
responding poorly to treatment. He is tearful and trying
to express his feelings, but he is having diffi culty. The
nurse should fi rst:
A. tell him that she will leave for now but she will be back.
B. offer to call pastoral care.
C. ask if he would like her to sit with him while he collects
his thoughts.
D. tell him that she can understand how he is feeling. -
correct answer- C. ask if he would like her to sit
with him while he collects his thoughts.
Rationale: The patient needs to feel that people are
concerned with his situation. Option A
is incorrect because leaving the patient doesn't show
acceptance of his feelings. Option B is incorrect because
offering to call pastoral care may be helpful for some
patients but should be done after the nurse has spent
,time with the patient. Option D is incorrect because
telling the patient that she understands how he's feeling
is inappropriate because it doesn't help him express his
feelings.
A 55-year-old black male is found to have a blood
pressure of 150/90 mm Hg during a work site health
screening. What should the nurse do?
A. Consider this to be a normal finding for his age and
race.
B. Recommend he have his blood pressure rechecked in 1
year.
C. Recommend he have his blood pressure rechecked
within 2 weeks.
D. Recommend he go to the emergency department for
further evaluation. - correct answer- C.
Recommend he have his blood pressure rechecked within
2 weeks.
Rationale: A BP of 150/90 mm Hg should be rechecked
within 2 weeks according to
, current recommendations. If confirmed, assessment and
treatment should be initiated by the practitioner.
Option A is incorrect because although hypertension is
more prevalent among blacks, a BP of 150/90 mm Hg isn't
considered normal. Option B is incorrect because a person
with a BP
of 150/90 mm Hg shouldn't wait as long as 1 year to have
it rechecked.
Option D is incorrect because he doesn't need to be
treated on an emergency basis, but he should have his BP
monitored.
A 60-year-old male patient is suspected of having
coronary artery disease. Which noninvasive diagnostic
method would the nurse expect to be ordered to evaluate
cardiac changes?
A. Cardiac biopsy
B. Cardiac catheterization
C. MRI
D. Pericardiocentesis - correct answer- C. MRI
REGISTERED NURSE 2026 SAMPLE
QUESTIONS
A 30-year old patient has been diagnosed with advanced
ovarian cancer. The patient says, "This is all my fault."
Which of Kubler-Ross's five stages of grief is the patient
probably experiencing?
A.Denial
B.Anger
C.Depression
D.Acceptance - correct answer- B. The patient is
experiencing the stage of anger. People grieve individually
and may not go through all stages, but most go through at
least 2 stages. Kubler-Ross's 5 stages of grief include:
Denial: Refusal to believe, confused, stunned, detached.
Anger: Directed inward (self-blame) or outward.
Bargaining: If - then thinking. ("If I go to church, then I will
heal.")
,Depression: Sad, withdrawn.
Acceptance: Resolution.
A 50-year-old male with a diagnosis of leukemia is
responding poorly to treatment. He is tearful and trying
to express his feelings, but he is having diffi culty. The
nurse should fi rst:
A. tell him that she will leave for now but she will be back.
B. offer to call pastoral care.
C. ask if he would like her to sit with him while he collects
his thoughts.
D. tell him that she can understand how he is feeling. -
correct answer- C. ask if he would like her to sit
with him while he collects his thoughts.
Rationale: The patient needs to feel that people are
concerned with his situation. Option A
is incorrect because leaving the patient doesn't show
acceptance of his feelings. Option B is incorrect because
offering to call pastoral care may be helpful for some
patients but should be done after the nurse has spent
,time with the patient. Option D is incorrect because
telling the patient that she understands how he's feeling
is inappropriate because it doesn't help him express his
feelings.
A 55-year-old black male is found to have a blood
pressure of 150/90 mm Hg during a work site health
screening. What should the nurse do?
A. Consider this to be a normal finding for his age and
race.
B. Recommend he have his blood pressure rechecked in 1
year.
C. Recommend he have his blood pressure rechecked
within 2 weeks.
D. Recommend he go to the emergency department for
further evaluation. - correct answer- C.
Recommend he have his blood pressure rechecked within
2 weeks.
Rationale: A BP of 150/90 mm Hg should be rechecked
within 2 weeks according to
, current recommendations. If confirmed, assessment and
treatment should be initiated by the practitioner.
Option A is incorrect because although hypertension is
more prevalent among blacks, a BP of 150/90 mm Hg isn't
considered normal. Option B is incorrect because a person
with a BP
of 150/90 mm Hg shouldn't wait as long as 1 year to have
it rechecked.
Option D is incorrect because he doesn't need to be
treated on an emergency basis, but he should have his BP
monitored.
A 60-year-old male patient is suspected of having
coronary artery disease. Which noninvasive diagnostic
method would the nurse expect to be ordered to evaluate
cardiac changes?
A. Cardiac biopsy
B. Cardiac catheterization
C. MRI
D. Pericardiocentesis - correct answer- C. MRI
