MEDICAL–SURGICAL NURSING TEST BANK
COMPREHENSIVE PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH
RATIONALES / ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND
100% VERIFIED ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES
GRADED A+ LATEST
1.
A patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is admitted with
shortness of breath and oxygen saturation of 88% on room air. Which action
should the nurse take first?
A. Encourage deep breathing and coughing
B. Apply oxygen at 2 L/min via nasal cannula
C. Obtain an arterial blood gas sample
D. Place the patient in a high-Fowler position
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Positioning the patient upright immediately improves lung expansion
and gas exchange. This intervention is rapid, noninvasive, and should precede
diagnostic testing or oxygen therapy.
2.
Which laboratory value is most concerning in a patient with acute kidney injury?
A. Sodium 138 mEq/L
B. Potassium 6.1 mEq/L
C. Calcium 9.0 mg/dL
D. Hemoglobin 13 g/dL
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hyperkalemia is a life-threatening complication of kidney failure and
can cause fatal cardiac dysrhythmias, requiring immediate intervention.
,3.
A nurse is caring for a postoperative patient receiving morphine via IV. Which
finding requires immediate action?
A. Respiratory rate of 10 breaths/min
B. Blood pressure 110/70 mm Hg
C. Pain score of 4/10
D. Urinary output of 40 mL/hr
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Opioids can cause respiratory depression. A respiratory rate below 12
breaths per minute requires prompt assessment and possible intervention.
4.
A patient with heart failure has gained 2.5 kg (5.5 lb) in 2 days. What is the most
likely cause?
A. Increased caloric intake
B. Fluid retention
C. Muscle mass gain
D. Improved cardiac output
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Rapid weight gain in heart failure is typically due to fluid accumulation
rather than fat or muscle gain.
5.
Which assessment finding is expected in a patient with hypocalcemia?
A. Positive Trousseau sign
B. Bradycardia
C. Warm, flushed skin
D. Hypoactive bowel sounds
,Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Hypocalcemia increases neuromuscular excitability, leading to signs
such as Trousseau and Chvostek signs.
6.
A patient with diabetes reports numbness and tingling in the feet. This symptom is
most consistent with:
A. Peripheral arterial disease
B. Diabetic neuropathy
C. Deep vein thrombosis
D. Acute hypoglycemia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Chronic hyperglycemia damages peripheral nerves, leading to sensory
changes typical of diabetic neuropathy.
7.
Which intervention is most effective in preventing postoperative atelectasis?
A. Administering bronchodilators
B. Encouraging incentive spirometry
C. Providing humidified oxygen
D. Maintaining bed rest
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Incentive spirometry promotes deep breathing and lung expansion,
reducing alveolar collapse.
, 8.
A patient receiving furosemide is at greatest risk for which complication?
A. Hypernatremia
B. Hyperkalemia
C. Hypokalemia
D. Hypercalcemia
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Loop diuretics increase potassium excretion, placing patients at risk for
hypokalemia.
9.
Which assessment finding suggests early sepsis?
A. Bradycardia and hypotension
B. Fever and tachycardia
C. Hypothermia and bradypnea
D. Decreased urine output only
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Early sepsis typically presents with fever, tachycardia, and signs of
systemic inflammation.
10.
A nurse is caring for a patient with a nasogastric tube connected to suction. Which
finding should be reported immediately?
A. Green drainage
B. Absent bowel sounds
C. Cracked lips
D. Bright red drainage
COMPREHENSIVE PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH
RATIONALES / ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND
100% VERIFIED ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES
GRADED A+ LATEST
1.
A patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is admitted with
shortness of breath and oxygen saturation of 88% on room air. Which action
should the nurse take first?
A. Encourage deep breathing and coughing
B. Apply oxygen at 2 L/min via nasal cannula
C. Obtain an arterial blood gas sample
D. Place the patient in a high-Fowler position
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Positioning the patient upright immediately improves lung expansion
and gas exchange. This intervention is rapid, noninvasive, and should precede
diagnostic testing or oxygen therapy.
2.
Which laboratory value is most concerning in a patient with acute kidney injury?
A. Sodium 138 mEq/L
B. Potassium 6.1 mEq/L
C. Calcium 9.0 mg/dL
D. Hemoglobin 13 g/dL
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hyperkalemia is a life-threatening complication of kidney failure and
can cause fatal cardiac dysrhythmias, requiring immediate intervention.
,3.
A nurse is caring for a postoperative patient receiving morphine via IV. Which
finding requires immediate action?
A. Respiratory rate of 10 breaths/min
B. Blood pressure 110/70 mm Hg
C. Pain score of 4/10
D. Urinary output of 40 mL/hr
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Opioids can cause respiratory depression. A respiratory rate below 12
breaths per minute requires prompt assessment and possible intervention.
4.
A patient with heart failure has gained 2.5 kg (5.5 lb) in 2 days. What is the most
likely cause?
A. Increased caloric intake
B. Fluid retention
C. Muscle mass gain
D. Improved cardiac output
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Rapid weight gain in heart failure is typically due to fluid accumulation
rather than fat or muscle gain.
5.
Which assessment finding is expected in a patient with hypocalcemia?
A. Positive Trousseau sign
B. Bradycardia
C. Warm, flushed skin
D. Hypoactive bowel sounds
,Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Hypocalcemia increases neuromuscular excitability, leading to signs
such as Trousseau and Chvostek signs.
6.
A patient with diabetes reports numbness and tingling in the feet. This symptom is
most consistent with:
A. Peripheral arterial disease
B. Diabetic neuropathy
C. Deep vein thrombosis
D. Acute hypoglycemia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Chronic hyperglycemia damages peripheral nerves, leading to sensory
changes typical of diabetic neuropathy.
7.
Which intervention is most effective in preventing postoperative atelectasis?
A. Administering bronchodilators
B. Encouraging incentive spirometry
C. Providing humidified oxygen
D. Maintaining bed rest
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Incentive spirometry promotes deep breathing and lung expansion,
reducing alveolar collapse.
, 8.
A patient receiving furosemide is at greatest risk for which complication?
A. Hypernatremia
B. Hyperkalemia
C. Hypokalemia
D. Hypercalcemia
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Loop diuretics increase potassium excretion, placing patients at risk for
hypokalemia.
9.
Which assessment finding suggests early sepsis?
A. Bradycardia and hypotension
B. Fever and tachycardia
C. Hypothermia and bradypnea
D. Decreased urine output only
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Early sepsis typically presents with fever, tachycardia, and signs of
systemic inflammation.
10.
A nurse is caring for a patient with a nasogastric tube connected to suction. Which
finding should be reported immediately?
A. Green drainage
B. Absent bowel sounds
C. Cracked lips
D. Bright red drainage
