Med-Surg Certification: High-Yield
Practice Questions & Exam
Preparation
A newly diabetic patient will receive B.
instructions from his nurse. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take first? First ask the patient what they know about diabetes.
A. Provide the patient with brochures for *ACTION questions ask for intervention, NOT assessment
making smart choices for cooking/baking.
B. Ask the patient what they know
about diabetes.
C. Instruct the patient on exercise or
activities that will increase their
metabolism.
D.Teach them how to use the glucometer.
,The post hysterectomy patient with calls
C.
the clinic stating that she has been
having difficulty with incontinence.
A patient saying that he or she will only drink fluids when
Which of the following statements if made
eating meals indicates that they don't know what to do in case
by the patient, indicates that further
of incontinence.
teaching is needed?
FURTHER TEACHING indicates that the patient needs more
A. I drink 8 oz. of fluid on the even
information
hours while awake.
B.I will attempt to void 30 minutes after
drinking 200 cc. of fluid
C. I will only drink fluid when I eat my meals
D.I will set the timer to remind me when
to void
An RN assesses a patient in the Cancer C
Center with a diagnosis of terminal cancer.
The patient states to the RN that he is short
of breath, has no appetite and hurts
everywhere. Which of the following
statements by the nurse is best?
A. Tell me how your family is coping
B.Show me where it does not hurt
C. I'll teach you relaxation techniques
D.Your physician should increase your
pain medication
A clinical nurse returns to the desk to find 4
A
phone messages. Which of the following
messages should the nurse respond to
B and C are expected symptoms of the patient's condition. A
first?
and D are unexpected. D is less critical than A. Best answer
is A.
A. A post cervical laminectomy
patient complaining of sudden
difficulty talking.
B.A patient with multiple sclerosis
complaining of change in peripheral vision.
C. A patient with a herniated disc
complaining of consistent back
pain.
D.A patient with a cast due to a fracture
of the right tibial bone complaining of
tingling toes.
A 75 year old patient complains to the
A
clinical nurse that he is having difficulty
sleeping. Which of the following actions by
B and C are recommendations that the RN can share after
the nurse is most appropriate?
he/she determines the patient's sleeping and waking patterns.
So remove B and C. D is an inquiry, but is concerned about
A. Determine the patient's usual sleeping
the past (when the person retired). Remove D. A is the best
and waking patterns.
answer.
B.Suggest that the client abstain from
alcohol and caffeine before bed time.
C. Recommend that client establish
a bedtime routine.
D.Ask how much sleep the client required
before retirement.
,The nurse cares for a patient several B
hours after a thyroidectomy. The RN
observes that the patient is diaphoretic and
confused. The vital signs are:
Temp = 102° (38.9 ° C); BP is 160/90; pulse is
110, respiration is 22. The nurse expects the
physician to order which of the following?
A. NPO, Dextran 10 ml/kg. IV, 02 4 L/min.
B.Propranolol (Inderal) 1 mg. IV, D5W 125
cc/hr IV, propylthiaouracil (PTU) 200 mg po
qld.
C. Levothyroxine Sodium (Synthroid) 100
mcg IV, Lactated Ringer's 125 cc/hr IV, and
ciprofloxacin (cipro) 500 mg. po bid.
D.Morphine sulfate 2.5 mg. IV q. 4 hrs. prn,
0.9% NACl.
A 63 year old female patient contacts C
the clinic to report that she is has been
extremely fatigued, is sleeping 12 hours a Need more info
night, is always cold and her hair is
falling out. Which of the following responses
by the nurse is most appropriate?
A. You will have more energy if you walk
30 min every day.
B. You don't need to worry. Sleeping a
lot is good for you.
C. Come in and see your health care
provider today.
D.You should eat more green leafy
vegetables.
The RN performs blood pressure screening C
at the local community center. Which of
the following individuals is most likely to
suffer from a cerebrovascular accident?
A. A 30 year old man who is an account
executive
B. A 40 year old man who jogs four
times a week.
C. A 60 year old man whose father had
a stroke.
D.A 75 year old man who takes
multi-vitamins.
, For the patient with a new tracheostomy, the C
nurse must be alert to which early
complication? Common acute risks of tracheostomy include bleeding, airway
loss, damage to adjacent structures, and failure of the chosen
a) Decannulation technique to achieve successful airway
b) Infection
c) Bleeding EVERYTHING 24 HR POST SURGERY, FIRST COMPLICATION
d) Tracheomalacia IS BLEEDING. Infection comes 2-3 days later.
When a pulse oximetry monitor indicates 4
that a patient has a drop in SpO2 from 96%
to 85% over 4 hours, the nurse will first: Pulse oximetry is inaccurate if the probe is loose, or in the
presence of poor circulation, nail polish, or dark skin
1. Request an order for stat ABGs pigmentation.
2.Start the patient on oxygen by NC at
2L/minute
3.Notify the physician of the change
4. Check the position of the probe
on patient's finger or earlobe
To decrease a patient's shortness of D
breath and a sense of impending doom
during an asthma attack, the nurse will: The patient experiencing an acute asthma exacerbation will
be fearful and anxious. It is important for the nurse to stay with
A. Place the patient on a cardiac monitor the patient for ongoing assessment and to provide a calm
and observe from the nurses' station. environment. Helping the patient breathe with pursed lips will
B.Let the patient rest alone in a quiet, facilitate the expiration of trapped air and help the
calm environment. patient regain control of his or her breathing.
C. Reassure the patient that the doctor
will arrive soon
D.Stay with the patient and
encourage pursed-lip breathing.
A 68 year old woman is admitted to the D
surgical unit after a gastric resection for
gastric cancer. She states that she doesn't The nurse should allow the patient to share her concerns and
want anyone to see her in this condition, express her feelings in a nonjudgmental environment.
even her husband. This nurse's best
response is: If there is psych/behavioral component- AFFIRM AND
VALIDATE, NO PROBING
A. "Patients' rights protect your privacy.
I won't allow anyone in."
B. "I've seen gastric cancer patients
who look much worse. Don't worry."
C. "Would you like to talk to a social worker?"
D. "What about your condition worries
you?"
Practice Questions & Exam
Preparation
A newly diabetic patient will receive B.
instructions from his nurse. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take first? First ask the patient what they know about diabetes.
A. Provide the patient with brochures for *ACTION questions ask for intervention, NOT assessment
making smart choices for cooking/baking.
B. Ask the patient what they know
about diabetes.
C. Instruct the patient on exercise or
activities that will increase their
metabolism.
D.Teach them how to use the glucometer.
,The post hysterectomy patient with calls
C.
the clinic stating that she has been
having difficulty with incontinence.
A patient saying that he or she will only drink fluids when
Which of the following statements if made
eating meals indicates that they don't know what to do in case
by the patient, indicates that further
of incontinence.
teaching is needed?
FURTHER TEACHING indicates that the patient needs more
A. I drink 8 oz. of fluid on the even
information
hours while awake.
B.I will attempt to void 30 minutes after
drinking 200 cc. of fluid
C. I will only drink fluid when I eat my meals
D.I will set the timer to remind me when
to void
An RN assesses a patient in the Cancer C
Center with a diagnosis of terminal cancer.
The patient states to the RN that he is short
of breath, has no appetite and hurts
everywhere. Which of the following
statements by the nurse is best?
A. Tell me how your family is coping
B.Show me where it does not hurt
C. I'll teach you relaxation techniques
D.Your physician should increase your
pain medication
A clinical nurse returns to the desk to find 4
A
phone messages. Which of the following
messages should the nurse respond to
B and C are expected symptoms of the patient's condition. A
first?
and D are unexpected. D is less critical than A. Best answer
is A.
A. A post cervical laminectomy
patient complaining of sudden
difficulty talking.
B.A patient with multiple sclerosis
complaining of change in peripheral vision.
C. A patient with a herniated disc
complaining of consistent back
pain.
D.A patient with a cast due to a fracture
of the right tibial bone complaining of
tingling toes.
A 75 year old patient complains to the
A
clinical nurse that he is having difficulty
sleeping. Which of the following actions by
B and C are recommendations that the RN can share after
the nurse is most appropriate?
he/she determines the patient's sleeping and waking patterns.
So remove B and C. D is an inquiry, but is concerned about
A. Determine the patient's usual sleeping
the past (when the person retired). Remove D. A is the best
and waking patterns.
answer.
B.Suggest that the client abstain from
alcohol and caffeine before bed time.
C. Recommend that client establish
a bedtime routine.
D.Ask how much sleep the client required
before retirement.
,The nurse cares for a patient several B
hours after a thyroidectomy. The RN
observes that the patient is diaphoretic and
confused. The vital signs are:
Temp = 102° (38.9 ° C); BP is 160/90; pulse is
110, respiration is 22. The nurse expects the
physician to order which of the following?
A. NPO, Dextran 10 ml/kg. IV, 02 4 L/min.
B.Propranolol (Inderal) 1 mg. IV, D5W 125
cc/hr IV, propylthiaouracil (PTU) 200 mg po
qld.
C. Levothyroxine Sodium (Synthroid) 100
mcg IV, Lactated Ringer's 125 cc/hr IV, and
ciprofloxacin (cipro) 500 mg. po bid.
D.Morphine sulfate 2.5 mg. IV q. 4 hrs. prn,
0.9% NACl.
A 63 year old female patient contacts C
the clinic to report that she is has been
extremely fatigued, is sleeping 12 hours a Need more info
night, is always cold and her hair is
falling out. Which of the following responses
by the nurse is most appropriate?
A. You will have more energy if you walk
30 min every day.
B. You don't need to worry. Sleeping a
lot is good for you.
C. Come in and see your health care
provider today.
D.You should eat more green leafy
vegetables.
The RN performs blood pressure screening C
at the local community center. Which of
the following individuals is most likely to
suffer from a cerebrovascular accident?
A. A 30 year old man who is an account
executive
B. A 40 year old man who jogs four
times a week.
C. A 60 year old man whose father had
a stroke.
D.A 75 year old man who takes
multi-vitamins.
, For the patient with a new tracheostomy, the C
nurse must be alert to which early
complication? Common acute risks of tracheostomy include bleeding, airway
loss, damage to adjacent structures, and failure of the chosen
a) Decannulation technique to achieve successful airway
b) Infection
c) Bleeding EVERYTHING 24 HR POST SURGERY, FIRST COMPLICATION
d) Tracheomalacia IS BLEEDING. Infection comes 2-3 days later.
When a pulse oximetry monitor indicates 4
that a patient has a drop in SpO2 from 96%
to 85% over 4 hours, the nurse will first: Pulse oximetry is inaccurate if the probe is loose, or in the
presence of poor circulation, nail polish, or dark skin
1. Request an order for stat ABGs pigmentation.
2.Start the patient on oxygen by NC at
2L/minute
3.Notify the physician of the change
4. Check the position of the probe
on patient's finger or earlobe
To decrease a patient's shortness of D
breath and a sense of impending doom
during an asthma attack, the nurse will: The patient experiencing an acute asthma exacerbation will
be fearful and anxious. It is important for the nurse to stay with
A. Place the patient on a cardiac monitor the patient for ongoing assessment and to provide a calm
and observe from the nurses' station. environment. Helping the patient breathe with pursed lips will
B.Let the patient rest alone in a quiet, facilitate the expiration of trapped air and help the
calm environment. patient regain control of his or her breathing.
C. Reassure the patient that the doctor
will arrive soon
D.Stay with the patient and
encourage pursed-lip breathing.
A 68 year old woman is admitted to the D
surgical unit after a gastric resection for
gastric cancer. She states that she doesn't The nurse should allow the patient to share her concerns and
want anyone to see her in this condition, express her feelings in a nonjudgmental environment.
even her husband. This nurse's best
response is: If there is psych/behavioral component- AFFIRM AND
VALIDATE, NO PROBING
A. "Patients' rights protect your privacy.
I won't allow anyone in."
B. "I've seen gastric cancer patients
who look much worse. Don't worry."
C. "Would you like to talk to a social worker?"
D. "What about your condition worries
you?"
