Page 1 of 130
NUR 242 EXAMS 1–4 – MEDICAL-SURGICAL NURSING
CONCEPTS EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT VERIFIED
SOLUTIONS LATEST UPDATE THIS YEAR – JUST RELEASED
NUR 242 EXAMS 1–4 – MEDICAL-SURGICAL NURSING CONCEPTS EXAM
Exam Coverage
Adult health assessment, clinical judgment, prioritization, and nursing safety principles
Fluid, electrolyte, acid-base, nutritional, and metabolic disorders
Cardiovascular disorders, hemodynamic monitoring, and cardiac nursing care
Respiratory disorders, oxygenation, airway management, and pulmonary assessment
Neurologic disorders, altered consciousness, seizures, and neurologic emergencies
Gastrointestinal, hepatic, pancreatic, and nutritional disorders
Renal and urinary disorders, dialysis, fluid balance, and renal replacement therapy
Endocrine disorders involving the thyroid, adrenal glands, pancreas, and glucose
regulation
Musculoskeletal, integumentary, infectious, and postoperative medical-surgical
conditions
Pharmacologic therapy, complications, patient education, discharge planning, and
evidence-based nursing interventions
1–250
1. Which assessment finding in an adult patient with acute illness should the medical-surgical
nurse recognize as requiring the most immediate intervention?
A. Temperature of 37.8°C with mild fatigue
B. Respiratory rate of 28 breaths/minute with increasing confusion
C. Heart rate of 96 beats/minute after ambulation
D. Blood pressure of 138/84 mmHg with mild anxiety
, Page 2 of 130
Answer: B
Rationale: Tachypnea accompanied by acute confusion can indicate significant hypoxemia or
impaired perfusion and requires immediate assessment and intervention.
2. What nursing action is most appropriate when initially assessing a hospitalized patient who
reports sudden severe shortness of breath?
A. Assess airway, breathing, oxygenation, and circulation immediately
B. Ask the patient to describe dietary intake during the previous week
C. Complete the medication reconciliation before further assessment
D. Place the patient supine and leave the room to obtain supplies
Answer: A
Rationale: Sudden dyspnea can represent a life-threatening condition, so immediate
assessment of ABCs takes priority.
3. Which finding most strongly suggests that a patient may be developing hypovolemic shock
after significant blood loss?
A. Warm skin and bounding peripheral pulses
B. Bradycardia with hypertension
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C. Tachycardia, hypotension, cool skin, and decreased urine output
D. Increased urine output with a widened pulse pressure
Answer: C
Rationale: Hypovolemia decreases circulating volume, producing compensatory tachycardia
followed by hypotension, peripheral vasoconstriction, and oliguria.
4. Why should the nurse compare current laboratory results with the patient's previous
results whenever possible?
A. Previous results always establish the definitive diagnosis
B. Trends can reveal deterioration or improvement that a single value may not show
C. Laboratory reference ranges never change between facilities
D. A single abnormal laboratory value should always be ignored
Answer: B
Rationale: Trending laboratory values helps nurses identify clinically significant changes and
evaluate responses to treatment.
5. Which patient should the nurse assess first when receiving report on four medical-surgical
patients?
, Page 4 of 130
A. A patient requesting assistance with bathing
B. A patient with chronic arthritis reporting pain rated 6/10
C. A patient with pneumonia whose oxygen saturation has fallen from 95% to 86%
D. A patient awaiting discharge instructions after uncomplicated surgery
Answer: C
Rationale: A significant decrease in oxygen saturation in a patient with pneumonia indicates
impaired oxygenation and takes priority.
6. How should a nurse respond when a patient with newly diagnosed cancer says, “I am
terrified about what will happen to me”?
A. “You should try to remain positive because treatment is available.”
B. “Many patients feel this way, so there is no reason to worry.”
C. “Your healthcare provider can explain the treatment options later.”
D. “Tell me more about what concerns you most right now.”
Answer: D
Rationale: An open-ended therapeutic response encourages expression of concerns without
minimizing the patient's emotions.
NUR 242 EXAMS 1–4 – MEDICAL-SURGICAL NURSING
CONCEPTS EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT VERIFIED
SOLUTIONS LATEST UPDATE THIS YEAR – JUST RELEASED
NUR 242 EXAMS 1–4 – MEDICAL-SURGICAL NURSING CONCEPTS EXAM
Exam Coverage
Adult health assessment, clinical judgment, prioritization, and nursing safety principles
Fluid, electrolyte, acid-base, nutritional, and metabolic disorders
Cardiovascular disorders, hemodynamic monitoring, and cardiac nursing care
Respiratory disorders, oxygenation, airway management, and pulmonary assessment
Neurologic disorders, altered consciousness, seizures, and neurologic emergencies
Gastrointestinal, hepatic, pancreatic, and nutritional disorders
Renal and urinary disorders, dialysis, fluid balance, and renal replacement therapy
Endocrine disorders involving the thyroid, adrenal glands, pancreas, and glucose
regulation
Musculoskeletal, integumentary, infectious, and postoperative medical-surgical
conditions
Pharmacologic therapy, complications, patient education, discharge planning, and
evidence-based nursing interventions
1–250
1. Which assessment finding in an adult patient with acute illness should the medical-surgical
nurse recognize as requiring the most immediate intervention?
A. Temperature of 37.8°C with mild fatigue
B. Respiratory rate of 28 breaths/minute with increasing confusion
C. Heart rate of 96 beats/minute after ambulation
D. Blood pressure of 138/84 mmHg with mild anxiety
, Page 2 of 130
Answer: B
Rationale: Tachypnea accompanied by acute confusion can indicate significant hypoxemia or
impaired perfusion and requires immediate assessment and intervention.
2. What nursing action is most appropriate when initially assessing a hospitalized patient who
reports sudden severe shortness of breath?
A. Assess airway, breathing, oxygenation, and circulation immediately
B. Ask the patient to describe dietary intake during the previous week
C. Complete the medication reconciliation before further assessment
D. Place the patient supine and leave the room to obtain supplies
Answer: A
Rationale: Sudden dyspnea can represent a life-threatening condition, so immediate
assessment of ABCs takes priority.
3. Which finding most strongly suggests that a patient may be developing hypovolemic shock
after significant blood loss?
A. Warm skin and bounding peripheral pulses
B. Bradycardia with hypertension
, Page 3 of 130
C. Tachycardia, hypotension, cool skin, and decreased urine output
D. Increased urine output with a widened pulse pressure
Answer: C
Rationale: Hypovolemia decreases circulating volume, producing compensatory tachycardia
followed by hypotension, peripheral vasoconstriction, and oliguria.
4. Why should the nurse compare current laboratory results with the patient's previous
results whenever possible?
A. Previous results always establish the definitive diagnosis
B. Trends can reveal deterioration or improvement that a single value may not show
C. Laboratory reference ranges never change between facilities
D. A single abnormal laboratory value should always be ignored
Answer: B
Rationale: Trending laboratory values helps nurses identify clinically significant changes and
evaluate responses to treatment.
5. Which patient should the nurse assess first when receiving report on four medical-surgical
patients?
, Page 4 of 130
A. A patient requesting assistance with bathing
B. A patient with chronic arthritis reporting pain rated 6/10
C. A patient with pneumonia whose oxygen saturation has fallen from 95% to 86%
D. A patient awaiting discharge instructions after uncomplicated surgery
Answer: C
Rationale: A significant decrease in oxygen saturation in a patient with pneumonia indicates
impaired oxygenation and takes priority.
6. How should a nurse respond when a patient with newly diagnosed cancer says, “I am
terrified about what will happen to me”?
A. “You should try to remain positive because treatment is available.”
B. “Many patients feel this way, so there is no reason to worry.”
C. “Your healthcare provider can explain the treatment options later.”
D. “Tell me more about what concerns you most right now.”
Answer: D
Rationale: An open-ended therapeutic response encourages expression of concerns without
minimizing the patient's emotions.
