Test Bank for RN Adult Medical Surgical Exam
Page |1
Test Bank 5 for RN Adult Medical Surgical
Nursing: Content Mastery Series Edition 12.0
by Alissa Althoff | All Chapters Questions and
Answers | Latest 2026/2027
A client is admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of severe acute diverticulitis. Which assessment
finding should the nurse expect this client to exhibit?
Lower left quadrant pain and a low-grade fever.
Severe pain at McBurney's point and nausea.
Abdominal pain and intermittent tenesmus.
Exacerbations of severe diarrhea. –
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, Test Bank for RN Adult Medical Surgical Exam
Page |2
Correct Answer :Lower left quadrant pain and a low-grade fever.
Left lower quadrant pain occurs with diverticulitis because the sigmoid colon is the most common
area for diverticula, and the inflammation of diverticula causes a low-grade fever.
The nurse is assessing a client's laboratory values following administration of chemotherapy. Which lab
value leads the nurse to suspect that the client is experiencing tumor lysis syndrome (TLS)?
Serum PTT of 10 seconds.
Serum calcium of 5 mg/dL.
Oxygen saturation of 90%.
Hemoglobin of 10 g/dL. –
Correct Answer :Serum calcium of 5 mg/dL.
Tumor lysis symdrome (TLS) results in hyperkalemia, hypocalcemia, hyperuricemia, and
hyperphosphatemia. A serum calcium level of 5, which is low, is an indicator of possible tumor lysis
syndrome.
The registered nurse (RN) assesses arterial blood gas results of a client that has emphysema. Which
finding is consistent with respiratory acidosis?
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, Test Bank for RN Adult Medical Surgical Exam
Page |3
pH 7.32, pCO 2 46 mmHg, HCO 3 24 MEq/L.
pH 7.45 , pCO 2 37 mmHg, HCO 3 24 mEq/L.
pH 7.34, pCO 2 36 mmHg, HCO 3 21 mEq/L.
pH 7.46, pCO 2 35 mmHg, HCO 3 28 mEq/L. –
Correct Answer :pH 7.32, pCO 2 46 mmHg, HCO 3 24 MEq/L.
Normal ABG ranges are pH 7.35 to 7.45; pCO2 35 to 45 mmHg; HCO3 21 to 28 mEq/L, and pO2 80 to
100 mmHg. An ABG of pH 7.32, pCO2 46 mmHg, HCO3 24 MEq/L represents a client with respiratory
acidosis which is characterized by: low pH, pCO2 higher than normal, and HCO3 within normal limits.
The nurse is caring for a client who has been diagnosed with primary hyperaldosteronism. Which
laboratory test result should the nurse expect an increase in the serum level?
Sodium
Antidiuretic hormone.
Potassium.
Glucose. –
Correct Answer :Sodium
Clients with primary aldosteronism exhibit an increase in serum sodium levels (hypernatremia) and
have profound decline in the serum levels of potassium (hypokalemia)--hypertension is the most
prominent and universal sign. Antidiuretic hormone is decreased with diabetes insipidus. Glucose is
not affected by primary aldosteronism.
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, Test Bank for RN Adult Medical Surgical Exam
Page |4
Which condition should the nurse suspect when a client reports vaginal dryness during intercourse?
Obstructed Bartholin's glands
Hyperactive sebaceous glands.
Infected bulbourethral glands.
Strangulated prostate gland. –
Correct Answer :Obstructed Bartholin's glands
Bartholin's glands are located posteriorly on each side of the vaginal opening; they secrete lubrication
fluid during sexual excitement. The nurse should suspect obstructed Bartholin's glands when a client
reports vaginal dryness during intercourse.
Ignatavicius, (2016). Medical-surgical nursing: Patient-centered collaborative care, eight edition., Ch.
69, p. 1450.
A client is admitted to the emergency department after falling from a high roof. Which finding should
the nurse report immediately?
Clear, watery drainage from the ear.
Dried blood around the ear and neck.
Tenderness on palpation of the ear.
Pearly appearance of the tympanic membrane. –
Correct Answer :Clear, watery drainage from the ear.
P a g e 4 | 99
Page |1
Test Bank 5 for RN Adult Medical Surgical
Nursing: Content Mastery Series Edition 12.0
by Alissa Althoff | All Chapters Questions and
Answers | Latest 2026/2027
A client is admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of severe acute diverticulitis. Which assessment
finding should the nurse expect this client to exhibit?
Lower left quadrant pain and a low-grade fever.
Severe pain at McBurney's point and nausea.
Abdominal pain and intermittent tenesmus.
Exacerbations of severe diarrhea. –
P a g e 1 | 99
, Test Bank for RN Adult Medical Surgical Exam
Page |2
Correct Answer :Lower left quadrant pain and a low-grade fever.
Left lower quadrant pain occurs with diverticulitis because the sigmoid colon is the most common
area for diverticula, and the inflammation of diverticula causes a low-grade fever.
The nurse is assessing a client's laboratory values following administration of chemotherapy. Which lab
value leads the nurse to suspect that the client is experiencing tumor lysis syndrome (TLS)?
Serum PTT of 10 seconds.
Serum calcium of 5 mg/dL.
Oxygen saturation of 90%.
Hemoglobin of 10 g/dL. –
Correct Answer :Serum calcium of 5 mg/dL.
Tumor lysis symdrome (TLS) results in hyperkalemia, hypocalcemia, hyperuricemia, and
hyperphosphatemia. A serum calcium level of 5, which is low, is an indicator of possible tumor lysis
syndrome.
The registered nurse (RN) assesses arterial blood gas results of a client that has emphysema. Which
finding is consistent with respiratory acidosis?
P a g e 2 | 99
, Test Bank for RN Adult Medical Surgical Exam
Page |3
pH 7.32, pCO 2 46 mmHg, HCO 3 24 MEq/L.
pH 7.45 , pCO 2 37 mmHg, HCO 3 24 mEq/L.
pH 7.34, pCO 2 36 mmHg, HCO 3 21 mEq/L.
pH 7.46, pCO 2 35 mmHg, HCO 3 28 mEq/L. –
Correct Answer :pH 7.32, pCO 2 46 mmHg, HCO 3 24 MEq/L.
Normal ABG ranges are pH 7.35 to 7.45; pCO2 35 to 45 mmHg; HCO3 21 to 28 mEq/L, and pO2 80 to
100 mmHg. An ABG of pH 7.32, pCO2 46 mmHg, HCO3 24 MEq/L represents a client with respiratory
acidosis which is characterized by: low pH, pCO2 higher than normal, and HCO3 within normal limits.
The nurse is caring for a client who has been diagnosed with primary hyperaldosteronism. Which
laboratory test result should the nurse expect an increase in the serum level?
Sodium
Antidiuretic hormone.
Potassium.
Glucose. –
Correct Answer :Sodium
Clients with primary aldosteronism exhibit an increase in serum sodium levels (hypernatremia) and
have profound decline in the serum levels of potassium (hypokalemia)--hypertension is the most
prominent and universal sign. Antidiuretic hormone is decreased with diabetes insipidus. Glucose is
not affected by primary aldosteronism.
P a g e 3 | 99
, Test Bank for RN Adult Medical Surgical Exam
Page |4
Which condition should the nurse suspect when a client reports vaginal dryness during intercourse?
Obstructed Bartholin's glands
Hyperactive sebaceous glands.
Infected bulbourethral glands.
Strangulated prostate gland. –
Correct Answer :Obstructed Bartholin's glands
Bartholin's glands are located posteriorly on each side of the vaginal opening; they secrete lubrication
fluid during sexual excitement. The nurse should suspect obstructed Bartholin's glands when a client
reports vaginal dryness during intercourse.
Ignatavicius, (2016). Medical-surgical nursing: Patient-centered collaborative care, eight edition., Ch.
69, p. 1450.
A client is admitted to the emergency department after falling from a high roof. Which finding should
the nurse report immediately?
Clear, watery drainage from the ear.
Dried blood around the ear and neck.
Tenderness on palpation of the ear.
Pearly appearance of the tympanic membrane. –
Correct Answer :Clear, watery drainage from the ear.
P a g e 4 | 99
