Medical-Surgical Nursing PN Practice Exam 2026 UPDATE 2026 Update • Verified Answers
✓ VERIFIED • 2026 UPDATE • 100% ACCURATE
Medical-Surgical Nursing PN Practice Exam 2026
UPDATE
Actual Exam Questions & Verified Answers
with Detailed Rationales
Document Type: Exam (Elaborations)
Academic Year:
Total Questions: 50 Multiple Choice
Includes: Correct Answers + Full Rationales
Status: Verified & Updated for 2026
Exam (Elaborations) • Actual Questions & Rationales Page 1
,Medical-Surgical Nursing PN Practice Exam 2026 UPDATE 2026 Update • Verified Answers
Questions & Verified Answers
1. A nurse is caring for a client who has a prescription for a clear liquid diet. Which of the
following food items should the nurse offer?
A. Apple juice
B. Orange juice with pulp
C. Vanilla pudding
D. Cream of chicken soup
Answer: A
Rationale: Clear liquid diets include liquids that are transparent and liquid at room temperature, such as apple
juice, broth, and gelatin. Pudding and cream soups are part of a full liquid diet. Recognizing this principle allows
the nurse to prioritize care, anticipate complications, and provide accurate patient education.
2. A nurse is monitoring a client who is post-operative following abdominal surgery. Which of
the following findings should the nurse report to the provider as a potential complication?
A. Serosanguineous drainage on the dressing
B. Bowel sounds are absent in all four quadrants
C. Urine output of 20 mL/hr for the past 2 hours
D. Report of pain as 6 on a scale of 0 to 10
Answer: C
Rationale: Urine output less than 30 mL/hr can indicate decreased renal perfusion or hypovolemia and must
be reported. Absent bowel sounds are common immediately post- op, and serosanguineous drainage is
expected. This is an important clinical concept because selecting the correct answer (C) requires
understanding both the pathophysiology and the practical nursing implications.
3. A nurse is teaching a client who has Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus about hypoglycemia. Which of
the following manifestations should the nurse include?
A. Extreme thirst
B. Kussmaul respirations
C. Abdominal pain
D. Irritability and tremors
Answer: D
Rationale: Manifestations of hypoglycemia include shakiness, sweating, irritability, and confusion. Thirst and
Kussmaul respirations are signs of hyperglycemia. Recognizing this principle allows the nurse to prioritize care,
anticipate complications, and provide accurate patient education. Exam questions often test the ability to
distinguish this concept from closely related distractors, making a clear rationale essential for mastery.
Exam (Elaborations) • Actual Questions & Rationales Page 2
, Medical-Surgical Nursing PN Practice Exam 2026 UPDATE 2026 Update • Verified Answers
4. A nurse is caring for a client with heart failure who has a prescription for furosemide. Which
of the following laboratory results should the nurse monitor?
A. Serum calcium
B. Serum potassium
C. Serum phosphorus
D. Serum magnesium
Answer: B
Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that causes the excretion of potassium. Hypokalemia is a significant
adverse effect. This is an important clinical concept because selecting the correct answer (B) requires
understanding both the pathophysiology and the practical nursing implications. Recognizing this principle
allows the nurse to prioritize care, anticipate complications, and provide accurate patient education.
5. A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who has a new diagnosis of hypertension. Which
of the following lifestyle modifications should the nurse recommend?
A. Exercise for 30 minutes most days of the week
B. Increase sodium intake to 3g per day
C. Limit potassium intake
D. Restrict fluid intake to 1 liter per day
Answer: A
Rationale: Regular aerobic exercise helps lower blood pressure. Sodium should be restricted, not increased,
and potassium is often encouraged unless contraindicated by renal disease. Exam questions often test the
ability to distinguish this concept from closely related distractors, making a clear rationale essential for mastery.
6. A nurse is caring for a client who is 24 hours post-operative following a total hip arthroplasty.
Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Maintain the affected leg in an adducted position
B. Encourage the client to flex the hip beyond 90 degrees
C. Place an abduction pillow between the client’s legs
D. Instruct the client to cross their legs when sitting
Answer: C
Rationale: An abduction pillow prevents the hip from adducting, which reduces the risk of dislocation after a
total hip arthroplasty. This is an important clinical concept because selecting the correct answer (C) requires
understanding both the pathophysiology and the practical nursing implications. Recognizing this principle
allows the nurse to prioritize care, anticipate complications, and provide accurate patient education.
Exam (Elaborations) • Actual Questions & Rationales Page 3
✓ VERIFIED • 2026 UPDATE • 100% ACCURATE
Medical-Surgical Nursing PN Practice Exam 2026
UPDATE
Actual Exam Questions & Verified Answers
with Detailed Rationales
Document Type: Exam (Elaborations)
Academic Year:
Total Questions: 50 Multiple Choice
Includes: Correct Answers + Full Rationales
Status: Verified & Updated for 2026
Exam (Elaborations) • Actual Questions & Rationales Page 1
,Medical-Surgical Nursing PN Practice Exam 2026 UPDATE 2026 Update • Verified Answers
Questions & Verified Answers
1. A nurse is caring for a client who has a prescription for a clear liquid diet. Which of the
following food items should the nurse offer?
A. Apple juice
B. Orange juice with pulp
C. Vanilla pudding
D. Cream of chicken soup
Answer: A
Rationale: Clear liquid diets include liquids that are transparent and liquid at room temperature, such as apple
juice, broth, and gelatin. Pudding and cream soups are part of a full liquid diet. Recognizing this principle allows
the nurse to prioritize care, anticipate complications, and provide accurate patient education.
2. A nurse is monitoring a client who is post-operative following abdominal surgery. Which of
the following findings should the nurse report to the provider as a potential complication?
A. Serosanguineous drainage on the dressing
B. Bowel sounds are absent in all four quadrants
C. Urine output of 20 mL/hr for the past 2 hours
D. Report of pain as 6 on a scale of 0 to 10
Answer: C
Rationale: Urine output less than 30 mL/hr can indicate decreased renal perfusion or hypovolemia and must
be reported. Absent bowel sounds are common immediately post- op, and serosanguineous drainage is
expected. This is an important clinical concept because selecting the correct answer (C) requires
understanding both the pathophysiology and the practical nursing implications.
3. A nurse is teaching a client who has Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus about hypoglycemia. Which of
the following manifestations should the nurse include?
A. Extreme thirst
B. Kussmaul respirations
C. Abdominal pain
D. Irritability and tremors
Answer: D
Rationale: Manifestations of hypoglycemia include shakiness, sweating, irritability, and confusion. Thirst and
Kussmaul respirations are signs of hyperglycemia. Recognizing this principle allows the nurse to prioritize care,
anticipate complications, and provide accurate patient education. Exam questions often test the ability to
distinguish this concept from closely related distractors, making a clear rationale essential for mastery.
Exam (Elaborations) • Actual Questions & Rationales Page 2
, Medical-Surgical Nursing PN Practice Exam 2026 UPDATE 2026 Update • Verified Answers
4. A nurse is caring for a client with heart failure who has a prescription for furosemide. Which
of the following laboratory results should the nurse monitor?
A. Serum calcium
B. Serum potassium
C. Serum phosphorus
D. Serum magnesium
Answer: B
Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that causes the excretion of potassium. Hypokalemia is a significant
adverse effect. This is an important clinical concept because selecting the correct answer (B) requires
understanding both the pathophysiology and the practical nursing implications. Recognizing this principle
allows the nurse to prioritize care, anticipate complications, and provide accurate patient education.
5. A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who has a new diagnosis of hypertension. Which
of the following lifestyle modifications should the nurse recommend?
A. Exercise for 30 minutes most days of the week
B. Increase sodium intake to 3g per day
C. Limit potassium intake
D. Restrict fluid intake to 1 liter per day
Answer: A
Rationale: Regular aerobic exercise helps lower blood pressure. Sodium should be restricted, not increased,
and potassium is often encouraged unless contraindicated by renal disease. Exam questions often test the
ability to distinguish this concept from closely related distractors, making a clear rationale essential for mastery.
6. A nurse is caring for a client who is 24 hours post-operative following a total hip arthroplasty.
Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Maintain the affected leg in an adducted position
B. Encourage the client to flex the hip beyond 90 degrees
C. Place an abduction pillow between the client’s legs
D. Instruct the client to cross their legs when sitting
Answer: C
Rationale: An abduction pillow prevents the hip from adducting, which reduces the risk of dislocation after a
total hip arthroplasty. This is an important clinical concept because selecting the correct answer (C) requires
understanding both the pathophysiology and the practical nursing implications. Recognizing this principle
allows the nurse to prioritize care, anticipate complications, and provide accurate patient education.
Exam (Elaborations) • Actual Questions & Rationales Page 3
