Medical-Surgical Nursing Exam 1A
Comprehensive Exam Questions & 100% Verified
Answers | Complete Med-Surg Review | 2026–2027
,1. A client is scheduled for a cardiac catheterization using d. Allergy to iodine or shellfish
a radiopaque dye. Which of the following assessments is
most critical before the procedure?
a. Intake and output
b. Baseline peripheral pulse rates
c. Height and weight
d. Allergy to iodine or shellfish
2. A client with no history of cardiovascular disease comes c. "Does the pain get worse when you breathe in?
into the ambulatory clinic with flu-like symptoms. The client
suddenly complains of chest pain. Which of the following Best determinant if non-cardiac problem
questions would best help a nurse to discriminate pain
caused by a non-cardiac problem?
a. "Have you ever had this pain before?"
b. "Can you describe the pain to me?"
c. "Does the pain get worse when you breathe in?"
d. "Can you rate the pain on a scale of 1-10, with ten (10)
being the worst?"
3. A client with myocardial infarction has been transferred b. Bathroom privileges and self-care activities.
from a coronary care unit to a general medical unit with
cardiac monitoring via telemetry. A nurse plans to allow for Balance between rest and ambulation.
which of the following client activities?
a. Strict bed rest for 24 hours after transfer.
b. Bathroom privileges and self-care activities.
c. Unsupervised hallway ambulation with distances under
200 feet.
d. Ad lib activities because the client is monitored.
4. A nurse notes 2+ bilateral edema in the lower d. Order daily weight starting the following morning.
extremities of a client with myocardial infarction who was
admitted two (2) days ago. The nurse would plan to do
which of the following next?
a. Review the intake and output records for the last two (2)
days.
b. Change the time of diuretic administration from morning
to evening.
c. Request a sodium restriction of one g/day from the
physician.
d. Order daily weight starting the following morning.
5. A client is wearing a continuous cardiac monitor, which a. Check the client status and lead placement.
begins to sound its alarm. A nurse sees no
electrocardiogram complexes on the screen. The first
action of the nurse is to:
a. Check the client status and lead placement.
b. Press the recorder button on the electrocardiogram
console.
c. Call the physician.
d. Call a code blue.
6. A nurse is assessing the blood pressure of a client d. Taking a blood pressure within 15 minutes after nicotine or caffeine
diagnosed with primary hypertension. The nurse ensures
accurate measurement by avoiding which of the following?
a. Seating the client with arm bared, supported, and at
heart level.
b. Measuring the blood pressure after the client has been
seated quietly for 5 minutes.
c. Using a cuff with a rubber bladder that encircles at least
80% of the limb.
d. Taking a blood pressure within 15 minutes after nicotine
or caffeine
, 7. IV heparin therapy is ordered for a client. While d. Protamine sulfate
implementing this order, a nurse ensures that which of the
following medications is available in the nursing unit?
a. Vitamin K
b. Aminocaproic acid
c. Potassium chloride
d. Protamine sulfate
8. A client is at risk for pulmonary embolism and is on c. Within the therapeutic range
anticoagulant therapy with warfarin (Coumadin). The
client's prothrombin time is 20 seconds, with a control of 11 Undetermined (rationale answer).
seconds. The nurse assesses that this result is:
a. The same as the client's own baseline level.
b. Lower than the needed therapeutic level.
c. Within the therapeutic range.
d. Higher than the therapeutic range.
9. A client who has been receiving heparin therapy also is b. Inhibits synthesis of specific clotting factors in the liver, and it takes 3-4 days for
started on warfarin. The client asks a nurse why both this medication to exert an anticoagulant effect.
medications are being administered. In formulating a
response, the nurse incorporates the understanding that
warfarin; Clotting Factors 2, 7, 9, 10
a. Stimulates the breakdown of specific clotting factors by
the liver, and it takes two (2)- three (3) days for this to exert
an anticoagulant effect.
b. Inhibits synthesis of specific clotting factors in the liver,
and it takes 3-4 days for this medication to exert an
anticoagulant effect.
c. Stimulates production of the body's own thrombolytic
substances, but it takes 2-4 days for this to begin.
d. Has the same mechanism of action as Heparin, and the
crossover time is needed for the serum level of warfarin to
be therapeutic.
10. A 60-year-old male client comes into the emergency b. Obtain a 12-lead ECG.
department with complaints of crushing chest pain that
radiates to his shoulder and left arm. The admitting
diagnosis is acute myocardial infarction. Immediate
admission orders include oxygen by NC at 4L/minute,
blood work, chest X-ray, an ECG, and two (2) mg of
morphine given intravenously. The nurse should first:
a. Administer the morphine.
b. Obtain a 12-lead ECG.
c. Obtain the lab work.
d. Order the chest x-ray.
11. When administered a thrombolytic drug to the client b. Dissolve clots he may have.
experiencing an MI, the nurse explains to him that the
purpose of this drug is to:
a. Help keep him well hydrated.
b. Dissolve clots he may have.
c. Prevent kidney failure.
d. Treat potential cardiac arrhythmias.
12. When interpreting an ECG, the nurse would keep in d. 1, 3, 5
mind which of the following about the P wave? Select all
that apply. 1. Reflects electrical impulse beginning at the SA node.
3. Reflects atrial muscle depolarization
1. Reflects electrical impulse beginning at the SA node. 5. Has a duration of normally 0.11 seconds or less.
2. Indicated electrical impulse beginning at the AV node.
3. Reflects atrial muscle depolarization.
4. Identifies ventricular muscle depolarization.
5. Has a duration of normally 0.11 seconds or less.
a. 1, 2, 3
b. 2, 3, 4
c. 3, 4, 5
d. 1, 3, 5
Comprehensive Exam Questions & 100% Verified
Answers | Complete Med-Surg Review | 2026–2027
,1. A client is scheduled for a cardiac catheterization using d. Allergy to iodine or shellfish
a radiopaque dye. Which of the following assessments is
most critical before the procedure?
a. Intake and output
b. Baseline peripheral pulse rates
c. Height and weight
d. Allergy to iodine or shellfish
2. A client with no history of cardiovascular disease comes c. "Does the pain get worse when you breathe in?
into the ambulatory clinic with flu-like symptoms. The client
suddenly complains of chest pain. Which of the following Best determinant if non-cardiac problem
questions would best help a nurse to discriminate pain
caused by a non-cardiac problem?
a. "Have you ever had this pain before?"
b. "Can you describe the pain to me?"
c. "Does the pain get worse when you breathe in?"
d. "Can you rate the pain on a scale of 1-10, with ten (10)
being the worst?"
3. A client with myocardial infarction has been transferred b. Bathroom privileges and self-care activities.
from a coronary care unit to a general medical unit with
cardiac monitoring via telemetry. A nurse plans to allow for Balance between rest and ambulation.
which of the following client activities?
a. Strict bed rest for 24 hours after transfer.
b. Bathroom privileges and self-care activities.
c. Unsupervised hallway ambulation with distances under
200 feet.
d. Ad lib activities because the client is monitored.
4. A nurse notes 2+ bilateral edema in the lower d. Order daily weight starting the following morning.
extremities of a client with myocardial infarction who was
admitted two (2) days ago. The nurse would plan to do
which of the following next?
a. Review the intake and output records for the last two (2)
days.
b. Change the time of diuretic administration from morning
to evening.
c. Request a sodium restriction of one g/day from the
physician.
d. Order daily weight starting the following morning.
5. A client is wearing a continuous cardiac monitor, which a. Check the client status and lead placement.
begins to sound its alarm. A nurse sees no
electrocardiogram complexes on the screen. The first
action of the nurse is to:
a. Check the client status and lead placement.
b. Press the recorder button on the electrocardiogram
console.
c. Call the physician.
d. Call a code blue.
6. A nurse is assessing the blood pressure of a client d. Taking a blood pressure within 15 minutes after nicotine or caffeine
diagnosed with primary hypertension. The nurse ensures
accurate measurement by avoiding which of the following?
a. Seating the client with arm bared, supported, and at
heart level.
b. Measuring the blood pressure after the client has been
seated quietly for 5 minutes.
c. Using a cuff with a rubber bladder that encircles at least
80% of the limb.
d. Taking a blood pressure within 15 minutes after nicotine
or caffeine
, 7. IV heparin therapy is ordered for a client. While d. Protamine sulfate
implementing this order, a nurse ensures that which of the
following medications is available in the nursing unit?
a. Vitamin K
b. Aminocaproic acid
c. Potassium chloride
d. Protamine sulfate
8. A client is at risk for pulmonary embolism and is on c. Within the therapeutic range
anticoagulant therapy with warfarin (Coumadin). The
client's prothrombin time is 20 seconds, with a control of 11 Undetermined (rationale answer).
seconds. The nurse assesses that this result is:
a. The same as the client's own baseline level.
b. Lower than the needed therapeutic level.
c. Within the therapeutic range.
d. Higher than the therapeutic range.
9. A client who has been receiving heparin therapy also is b. Inhibits synthesis of specific clotting factors in the liver, and it takes 3-4 days for
started on warfarin. The client asks a nurse why both this medication to exert an anticoagulant effect.
medications are being administered. In formulating a
response, the nurse incorporates the understanding that
warfarin; Clotting Factors 2, 7, 9, 10
a. Stimulates the breakdown of specific clotting factors by
the liver, and it takes two (2)- three (3) days for this to exert
an anticoagulant effect.
b. Inhibits synthesis of specific clotting factors in the liver,
and it takes 3-4 days for this medication to exert an
anticoagulant effect.
c. Stimulates production of the body's own thrombolytic
substances, but it takes 2-4 days for this to begin.
d. Has the same mechanism of action as Heparin, and the
crossover time is needed for the serum level of warfarin to
be therapeutic.
10. A 60-year-old male client comes into the emergency b. Obtain a 12-lead ECG.
department with complaints of crushing chest pain that
radiates to his shoulder and left arm. The admitting
diagnosis is acute myocardial infarction. Immediate
admission orders include oxygen by NC at 4L/minute,
blood work, chest X-ray, an ECG, and two (2) mg of
morphine given intravenously. The nurse should first:
a. Administer the morphine.
b. Obtain a 12-lead ECG.
c. Obtain the lab work.
d. Order the chest x-ray.
11. When administered a thrombolytic drug to the client b. Dissolve clots he may have.
experiencing an MI, the nurse explains to him that the
purpose of this drug is to:
a. Help keep him well hydrated.
b. Dissolve clots he may have.
c. Prevent kidney failure.
d. Treat potential cardiac arrhythmias.
12. When interpreting an ECG, the nurse would keep in d. 1, 3, 5
mind which of the following about the P wave? Select all
that apply. 1. Reflects electrical impulse beginning at the SA node.
3. Reflects atrial muscle depolarization
1. Reflects electrical impulse beginning at the SA node. 5. Has a duration of normally 0.11 seconds or less.
2. Indicated electrical impulse beginning at the AV node.
3. Reflects atrial muscle depolarization.
4. Identifies ventricular muscle depolarization.
5. Has a duration of normally 0.11 seconds or less.
a. 1, 2, 3
b. 2, 3, 4
c. 3, 4, 5
d. 1, 3, 5
