RN TARGETED MEDICAL SURGICAL
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS 2025
UPDATED
A nurse is assessing a client who has emphysema. Which of the following findings should the
nurse report to the provider? Elevated temperature
The nurse should report an elevated temperature to the provider because it can indicate a possible
respiratory infection. Clients who have emphysema are at risk for the development of pneumonia
and other respiratory infections.
A charge nurse is reviewing the care of a client who has a chest tube connected to a water seal
drainage system in place following thoracic surgery with a newly licensed nurse. Which of the
following statements by the newly licensed nurse indicated an understanding of when to notify
the provider?
"I will notify the provider if there is continuous bubbling in the water seal chamber."
Continuous bubbling in the water seal chamber suggests an air leak and requires notification of
the provider. The nurse should check the system for external, correctable leaks while waiting for
instructions from the provider.
A nurse is planning care for a client who has asthma. Which of the following medications
should the nurse plan to administer during an acute asthma attack? Albuterol
The nurse should administer albuterol because it acts quickly to produce bronchodilation during
an acute asthma attack.
A nurse is caring for a client who is postoperative and has a RR of 9/min secondary to general
anesthesia effects and incisional pain. Which of the following ABG values indicates the client
is experiencing respiratory acidosis? pH 7.30, PO2 80 mm Hg, PaCO2 55 mm Hg, HCO3- 22
mEq/L
These ABG values indicate respiratory acidosis. The pH is less than 7.35 and the PaCO2 is
greater than 45 mm Hg, which indicates respiratory acidosis.
A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving mechanical ventilation when the lowpressure
alarm sounds. Which of the following situations should the nurse recognize as a possible cause
of the alarm? Artificial airway cuff leak
An artificial airway cuff leak interferes with oxygenation and causes the low-pressure alarm to
sound.
, A nurse in a provider's office is assessing a client who has COPD. Which of the
following findings is the priority for the nurse to report to the provider? Productive
cough with green sputum
When using the urgent vs. nonurgent approach to client care, the nurse should determine that the
priority finding is a productive cough with green sputum. The nurse should report this finding to
the provider because it can indicate infection.
A nurse is assessing a client who is 4 hr postoperative following a total laryngectomy. Which of
the following findings is the priority for the nurse to report to the provider? Decreased oxygen
saturation
When using the airway, breathing, circulation approach to client care, the nurse should identify
decreased oxygen saturation as the priority finding to address and report to the provider. A client
who is postoperative following a total laryngectomy is at higher risk for hypoxia because of
airway obstruction.
A nurse in the emergency department is caring for a client who is experiencing a pulmonary
embolism. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first? Apply supplemental
oxygen.
When using the airway, breathing, circulation approach to client care, the greatest risk to the
client is severe hypoxemia. Therefore, the first action the nurse should take is to apply
supplemental oxygen.
A nurse receives prescriptions from the provider for performing nasopharyngeal suctioning on
four clients. For which of the following clients should the nurse clarify the provider's
prescription? A client who has epistaxis
The nurse should avoid providing nasopharyngeal suctioning for a client who has nasal bleeding
because this intervention might cause an increase in bleeding.
A nurse is caring for four clients. Which of the following clients is at greatest risk for pulmonary
embolism?
A client who is 48 hr postoperative following a total hip arthroplasty.
The nurse should identify that a client who has undergone a total hip arthroplasty surgery is at
greatest risk for a pulmonary embolus because of decreased mobility of the affected extremity
and an increased amount of blood clots forming in the veins of the thigh following hip surgery.
Deep-vein thromboses are most likely to occur 48 to 72 hr following the arthroplasty. The nurse
should intervene to reduce the risk by applying sequential compression devices or antiembolic
stockings and by administering anticoagulant medications.
A nurse is caring for a client who is 1 hr postoperative following a thoracentesis. Which of the
following is the priority assessment finding? Persistent cough
When using the airway, breathing, circulation approach to client care, the nurse should
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS 2025
UPDATED
A nurse is assessing a client who has emphysema. Which of the following findings should the
nurse report to the provider? Elevated temperature
The nurse should report an elevated temperature to the provider because it can indicate a possible
respiratory infection. Clients who have emphysema are at risk for the development of pneumonia
and other respiratory infections.
A charge nurse is reviewing the care of a client who has a chest tube connected to a water seal
drainage system in place following thoracic surgery with a newly licensed nurse. Which of the
following statements by the newly licensed nurse indicated an understanding of when to notify
the provider?
"I will notify the provider if there is continuous bubbling in the water seal chamber."
Continuous bubbling in the water seal chamber suggests an air leak and requires notification of
the provider. The nurse should check the system for external, correctable leaks while waiting for
instructions from the provider.
A nurse is planning care for a client who has asthma. Which of the following medications
should the nurse plan to administer during an acute asthma attack? Albuterol
The nurse should administer albuterol because it acts quickly to produce bronchodilation during
an acute asthma attack.
A nurse is caring for a client who is postoperative and has a RR of 9/min secondary to general
anesthesia effects and incisional pain. Which of the following ABG values indicates the client
is experiencing respiratory acidosis? pH 7.30, PO2 80 mm Hg, PaCO2 55 mm Hg, HCO3- 22
mEq/L
These ABG values indicate respiratory acidosis. The pH is less than 7.35 and the PaCO2 is
greater than 45 mm Hg, which indicates respiratory acidosis.
A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving mechanical ventilation when the lowpressure
alarm sounds. Which of the following situations should the nurse recognize as a possible cause
of the alarm? Artificial airway cuff leak
An artificial airway cuff leak interferes with oxygenation and causes the low-pressure alarm to
sound.
, A nurse in a provider's office is assessing a client who has COPD. Which of the
following findings is the priority for the nurse to report to the provider? Productive
cough with green sputum
When using the urgent vs. nonurgent approach to client care, the nurse should determine that the
priority finding is a productive cough with green sputum. The nurse should report this finding to
the provider because it can indicate infection.
A nurse is assessing a client who is 4 hr postoperative following a total laryngectomy. Which of
the following findings is the priority for the nurse to report to the provider? Decreased oxygen
saturation
When using the airway, breathing, circulation approach to client care, the nurse should identify
decreased oxygen saturation as the priority finding to address and report to the provider. A client
who is postoperative following a total laryngectomy is at higher risk for hypoxia because of
airway obstruction.
A nurse in the emergency department is caring for a client who is experiencing a pulmonary
embolism. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first? Apply supplemental
oxygen.
When using the airway, breathing, circulation approach to client care, the greatest risk to the
client is severe hypoxemia. Therefore, the first action the nurse should take is to apply
supplemental oxygen.
A nurse receives prescriptions from the provider for performing nasopharyngeal suctioning on
four clients. For which of the following clients should the nurse clarify the provider's
prescription? A client who has epistaxis
The nurse should avoid providing nasopharyngeal suctioning for a client who has nasal bleeding
because this intervention might cause an increase in bleeding.
A nurse is caring for four clients. Which of the following clients is at greatest risk for pulmonary
embolism?
A client who is 48 hr postoperative following a total hip arthroplasty.
The nurse should identify that a client who has undergone a total hip arthroplasty surgery is at
greatest risk for a pulmonary embolus because of decreased mobility of the affected extremity
and an increased amount of blood clots forming in the veins of the thigh following hip surgery.
Deep-vein thromboses are most likely to occur 48 to 72 hr following the arthroplasty. The nurse
should intervene to reduce the risk by applying sequential compression devices or antiembolic
stockings and by administering anticoagulant medications.
A nurse is caring for a client who is 1 hr postoperative following a thoracentesis. Which of the
following is the priority assessment finding? Persistent cough
When using the airway, breathing, circulation approach to client care, the nurse should
