NUR 201 EXAM 1 LATEST 2026/2027
FORTIS INSTITUTE MEDICAL SURGICAL
NURSING 1 QUESTIONS WITH RATIONALE
GRADED A|100% ACCURATE SUMMER-
FALL
The nurse assesses a patient's surgical wound on the first postoperative day and notes redness and
warmth around the incision. Which action by the nurse is appropriate?
a. Obtain wound cultures.
b. Document the assessment.
c. Notify the health care provider.
d. Assess the wound every 2 hours.
ANS: B
The incisional redness and warmth are indicators of the normal initial (inflammatory) stage of wound
healing by primary intention. The nurse should document the wound appearance and continue to
monitor the wound. Notification of the health care provider, assessment every 2 hours, and obtaining
wound cultures are not indicated because the healing is progressing normally.
A patient with an open leg lesion has a white blood cell (WBC) count of 13,500/µL and a band count of
11%. What prescribed action should the nurse take first?
a. Obtain cultures of the wound.
b. Begin antibiotic administration.
c. Continue to monitor the wound for drainage.
d. Redress the wound with wet-to-dry dressings.
ANS: A
The increase in WBC count with the increased bands (shift to the left) indicates that the patient probably
has a bacterial infection, and the nurse should obtain wound cultures. Antibiotic therapy and/or
dressing changes may be started, but cultures should be done first. The nurse will continue to monitor
the wound, but additional actions are needed as well.
,A patient with a systemic bacterial infection feels cold and has a shaking chill. Which assessment finding
will the nurse expect next?
a. Skin flushing
b. Muscle cramps
c. Rising body temperature
d. Decreasing blood pressure
ANS: C
The patient's report of feeling cold and shivering indicate that the hypothalamic set point for
temperature has increased and the temperature will be increasing. Because associated peripheral
vasoconstriction and sympathetic nervous system stimulation will occur, skin flushing and hypotension
are not expected. Muscle cramps are not expected with chills and shivering or with a rising temperature.
A young adult patient receiving antibiotics for an infected leg wound has a temperature of 101.8° F
(38.7° C). The patient denies any discomfort. Which action by the nurse is appropriate?
a. Apply a cooling blanket.
b. Notify the health care provider.
c. Check the patient's temperature again in 4 hours.
d. Give acetaminophen prescribed as-needed for pain.
ANS: C
Mild to moderate temperature elevations (less than 103° F) do not harm young adult patients and may
benefit host defense mechanisms. Continue to monitor the temperature. Antipyretics are not indicated
unless the patient has fever-related symptoms, and the patient does not require analgesics if not
reporting discomfort. There is no need to notify the patient's health care provider of a fever in a patient
who is already being treated for the infection or to use a cooling blanket for a moderate temperature
elevation.
A patient's 4 ⋅ 3-cm leg wound has a 0.4-cm black area in the center of the wound surrounded by yellow-
green semiliquid material. Which dressing should the nurse apply to the wound?
a. Dry gauze dressing
b. Nonadherent dressing
c. Hydrocolloid dressing
d. Transparent film dressing
ANS: C
The wound requires debridement of the necrotic areas and absorption of the yellow-green slough. A
hydrocolloid dressing, such as DuoDerm, would accomplish these goals. Transparent film dressings are
used for clean wounds or approximated surgical incisions. Dry dressings will not debride the necrotic
areas. Nonadherent dressings will not absorb wound drainage or debride the wound.
,The nurse notes that a patient's open abdominal wound widens as it extends deeper into the abdomen.
How would the nurse document this characteristic?
a. Eschar
b. Slough
c. Maceration
d. Undermining
ANS: D
Undermining is evident when a cotton-tipped applicator is placed in the wound and there is a narrower
"lip" around the wound, which widens as the wound deepens. Eschar is a crusted cover over a wound.
Slough and maceration refer to loosening friable tissue.
A patient with rheumatoid arthritis has been taking oral corticosteroids for 2 years. Which nursing action
is most likely to detect early signs of infection in this patient?
a. Monitor white blood cell counts.
b. Check the skin for areas of redness.
c. Measure the temperature every 2 hours.
d. Ask about feelings of fatigue or malaise.
ANS: D
The earliest manifestation of an infection may be "just not feeling well." Common clinical manifestations
of inflammation and infection are frequently not present when patients receive immunosuppressive
medications.
The nurse should plan to use a wet-to-dry dressing for which patient?
a. A patient who has a pressure injury with pink granulation tissue.
b. A patient who has a surgical incision with pink, approximated edges.
c. A patient who has a full-thickness burn filled with dry, black material.
d. A patient who has a wound with purulent drainage and dry brown areas
ANS: D
Wet-to-dry dressings are used when there is minimal eschar to be removed. A full-thickness wound
filled with eschar will require interventions such as surgical debridement to remove the necrotic tissue.
Wet-to-dry dressings are not needed on approximated surgical incisions. Wet-to-dry dressings are not
used on uninfected granulating wounds because of the damage to the granulation tissue.
A patient from a long-term care facility is admitted to the hospital with a sacral pressure injury. The base
of the wound involves subcutaneous tissue. How should the nurse classify this pressure injury?
a. Stage 1
b. Stage 2
c. Stage 3
d. Stage 4
, ANS: C
A stage 3 pressure injury has full-thickness skin damage and extends into the subcutaneous tissue. A
stage 1 pressure injury has intact skin with some observable damage such as redness or a boggy feel.
Stage 2 pressure injuries have partial-thickness skin loss. Stage 4 pressure injuries have full-thickness
damage with tissue necrosis, extensive damage, or damage to bone, muscle, or supporting tissues.
A young male patient with paraplegia who has a stage 2 sacral pressure injury is being cared for at home
by his family. To prevent further tissue damage, what instructions are most important for the nurse to
teach the patient and family? a. Change the patient’s bedding frequently.
b. Apply a hydrocolloid dressing over the injury.
c. Change the patient’s position every 1 to 2 hours.
d. Record the size and appearance of the injury weekly.
ANS: C
The most important intervention is to avoid prolonged pressure on bony prominences by frequent
repositioning. The other interventions may also be included in family teaching.
The nurse will perform which action for a wet-to-dry dressing change on a patient's stage 3 sacral
pressure injury? a. Pour sterile saline onto the new dry dressings after packing the wound.
b. Administer a prescribed PRN oral analgesic 30 minutes before the change.
c. Apply antimicrobial ointment before repacking the wound with moist dressings.
d. Soak the old dressings with sterile saline 30 minutes before the dressing change.
ANS: B
Mechanical debridement with wet-to-dry dressings is painful, and patients should receive pain
medications before the dressing change begins. The new dressings are moistened with saline before
being applied to the wound but not soaked after packing. Soaking the old dressings before removing
them will eliminate the wound debridement that is the purpose of this type of dressing. Application of
antimicrobial ointments is not indicated for a wet-to-dry dressing.
A new nurse performs a dressing change on a patient's stage 2 left heel pressure injury. Which action by
the new nurse indicates a need for further teaching about pressure injury care?
a. The new nurse cleans the injury with half-strength peroxide.
b. The new nurse applies a hydrocolloid dressing on the injury.
c. The new nurse irrigates the pressure injury with saline using a 30-mL syringe.
d. The new nurse inserts a sterile cotton-tipped applicator into the pressure injury.
ANS: A
Pressure injuries should not be cleaned with solutions that are cytotoxic, such as hydrogen peroxide.
The other actions by the new nurse are appropriate.
FORTIS INSTITUTE MEDICAL SURGICAL
NURSING 1 QUESTIONS WITH RATIONALE
GRADED A|100% ACCURATE SUMMER-
FALL
The nurse assesses a patient's surgical wound on the first postoperative day and notes redness and
warmth around the incision. Which action by the nurse is appropriate?
a. Obtain wound cultures.
b. Document the assessment.
c. Notify the health care provider.
d. Assess the wound every 2 hours.
ANS: B
The incisional redness and warmth are indicators of the normal initial (inflammatory) stage of wound
healing by primary intention. The nurse should document the wound appearance and continue to
monitor the wound. Notification of the health care provider, assessment every 2 hours, and obtaining
wound cultures are not indicated because the healing is progressing normally.
A patient with an open leg lesion has a white blood cell (WBC) count of 13,500/µL and a band count of
11%. What prescribed action should the nurse take first?
a. Obtain cultures of the wound.
b. Begin antibiotic administration.
c. Continue to monitor the wound for drainage.
d. Redress the wound with wet-to-dry dressings.
ANS: A
The increase in WBC count with the increased bands (shift to the left) indicates that the patient probably
has a bacterial infection, and the nurse should obtain wound cultures. Antibiotic therapy and/or
dressing changes may be started, but cultures should be done first. The nurse will continue to monitor
the wound, but additional actions are needed as well.
,A patient with a systemic bacterial infection feels cold and has a shaking chill. Which assessment finding
will the nurse expect next?
a. Skin flushing
b. Muscle cramps
c. Rising body temperature
d. Decreasing blood pressure
ANS: C
The patient's report of feeling cold and shivering indicate that the hypothalamic set point for
temperature has increased and the temperature will be increasing. Because associated peripheral
vasoconstriction and sympathetic nervous system stimulation will occur, skin flushing and hypotension
are not expected. Muscle cramps are not expected with chills and shivering or with a rising temperature.
A young adult patient receiving antibiotics for an infected leg wound has a temperature of 101.8° F
(38.7° C). The patient denies any discomfort. Which action by the nurse is appropriate?
a. Apply a cooling blanket.
b. Notify the health care provider.
c. Check the patient's temperature again in 4 hours.
d. Give acetaminophen prescribed as-needed for pain.
ANS: C
Mild to moderate temperature elevations (less than 103° F) do not harm young adult patients and may
benefit host defense mechanisms. Continue to monitor the temperature. Antipyretics are not indicated
unless the patient has fever-related symptoms, and the patient does not require analgesics if not
reporting discomfort. There is no need to notify the patient's health care provider of a fever in a patient
who is already being treated for the infection or to use a cooling blanket for a moderate temperature
elevation.
A patient's 4 ⋅ 3-cm leg wound has a 0.4-cm black area in the center of the wound surrounded by yellow-
green semiliquid material. Which dressing should the nurse apply to the wound?
a. Dry gauze dressing
b. Nonadherent dressing
c. Hydrocolloid dressing
d. Transparent film dressing
ANS: C
The wound requires debridement of the necrotic areas and absorption of the yellow-green slough. A
hydrocolloid dressing, such as DuoDerm, would accomplish these goals. Transparent film dressings are
used for clean wounds or approximated surgical incisions. Dry dressings will not debride the necrotic
areas. Nonadherent dressings will not absorb wound drainage or debride the wound.
,The nurse notes that a patient's open abdominal wound widens as it extends deeper into the abdomen.
How would the nurse document this characteristic?
a. Eschar
b. Slough
c. Maceration
d. Undermining
ANS: D
Undermining is evident when a cotton-tipped applicator is placed in the wound and there is a narrower
"lip" around the wound, which widens as the wound deepens. Eschar is a crusted cover over a wound.
Slough and maceration refer to loosening friable tissue.
A patient with rheumatoid arthritis has been taking oral corticosteroids for 2 years. Which nursing action
is most likely to detect early signs of infection in this patient?
a. Monitor white blood cell counts.
b. Check the skin for areas of redness.
c. Measure the temperature every 2 hours.
d. Ask about feelings of fatigue or malaise.
ANS: D
The earliest manifestation of an infection may be "just not feeling well." Common clinical manifestations
of inflammation and infection are frequently not present when patients receive immunosuppressive
medications.
The nurse should plan to use a wet-to-dry dressing for which patient?
a. A patient who has a pressure injury with pink granulation tissue.
b. A patient who has a surgical incision with pink, approximated edges.
c. A patient who has a full-thickness burn filled with dry, black material.
d. A patient who has a wound with purulent drainage and dry brown areas
ANS: D
Wet-to-dry dressings are used when there is minimal eschar to be removed. A full-thickness wound
filled with eschar will require interventions such as surgical debridement to remove the necrotic tissue.
Wet-to-dry dressings are not needed on approximated surgical incisions. Wet-to-dry dressings are not
used on uninfected granulating wounds because of the damage to the granulation tissue.
A patient from a long-term care facility is admitted to the hospital with a sacral pressure injury. The base
of the wound involves subcutaneous tissue. How should the nurse classify this pressure injury?
a. Stage 1
b. Stage 2
c. Stage 3
d. Stage 4
, ANS: C
A stage 3 pressure injury has full-thickness skin damage and extends into the subcutaneous tissue. A
stage 1 pressure injury has intact skin with some observable damage such as redness or a boggy feel.
Stage 2 pressure injuries have partial-thickness skin loss. Stage 4 pressure injuries have full-thickness
damage with tissue necrosis, extensive damage, or damage to bone, muscle, or supporting tissues.
A young male patient with paraplegia who has a stage 2 sacral pressure injury is being cared for at home
by his family. To prevent further tissue damage, what instructions are most important for the nurse to
teach the patient and family? a. Change the patient’s bedding frequently.
b. Apply a hydrocolloid dressing over the injury.
c. Change the patient’s position every 1 to 2 hours.
d. Record the size and appearance of the injury weekly.
ANS: C
The most important intervention is to avoid prolonged pressure on bony prominences by frequent
repositioning. The other interventions may also be included in family teaching.
The nurse will perform which action for a wet-to-dry dressing change on a patient's stage 3 sacral
pressure injury? a. Pour sterile saline onto the new dry dressings after packing the wound.
b. Administer a prescribed PRN oral analgesic 30 minutes before the change.
c. Apply antimicrobial ointment before repacking the wound with moist dressings.
d. Soak the old dressings with sterile saline 30 minutes before the dressing change.
ANS: B
Mechanical debridement with wet-to-dry dressings is painful, and patients should receive pain
medications before the dressing change begins. The new dressings are moistened with saline before
being applied to the wound but not soaked after packing. Soaking the old dressings before removing
them will eliminate the wound debridement that is the purpose of this type of dressing. Application of
antimicrobial ointments is not indicated for a wet-to-dry dressing.
A new nurse performs a dressing change on a patient's stage 2 left heel pressure injury. Which action by
the new nurse indicates a need for further teaching about pressure injury care?
a. The new nurse cleans the injury with half-strength peroxide.
b. The new nurse applies a hydrocolloid dressing on the injury.
c. The new nurse irrigates the pressure injury with saline using a 30-mL syringe.
d. The new nurse inserts a sterile cotton-tipped applicator into the pressure injury.
ANS: A
Pressure injuries should not be cleaned with solutions that are cytotoxic, such as hydrogen peroxide.
The other actions by the new nurse are appropriate.
