Medical-Surgical Nursing Exam 1 questions
and answers 2025
The nurse is caring for a client who has as a son with a streptococcus throat infection. Which nurse
recommendation would be best to advise the client to do in order to prevent acquiring the infection? -
Answer Frequently wash her hands and surfaces of the home.
The nurse is caring for a client infected with Rocky Mountain spotted fever. The nurse should ask if the
client has experienced which of the following? - Answer Was bitten by a tick
The nurse is caring for a client with a protozoa infection. Which is the most likely mode of transmission?
- Answer Ingestion of contaminated food or water
The nurse is caring for a client who is recovering from an allergic reaction. Which leukocyte level would
the nurse expect to be the most elevated? - Answer Eosinophils
The nurse is caring for a client who has an infected wound on the great toe that is red with a purulent
exudate. The nurse expects that this client has which type of infection? - Answer Localized
The client experienced a fall. Nursing assessment reveals that the client is experiencing tachycardia,
hypotension, confusion, tachypnea, and flat jugular veins. What should be the nurse's first response? -
Answer Administer oxygen.
The family wants to know why the nurse is putting a urinary catheter in a client experiencing shock.
What is the nurse's best response? - Answer "It will help monitor how much urine the kidneys are able
to produce."
A client experiencing shock has had a urinary output of 250 mL in the last 10 hours. What is the nurse's
most appropriate response? - Answer Notify the physician.
Which client is most likely to be experiencing hypovolemic shock? - Answer A client who had surgery 24
hours ago and who also has a nasogastric tube
,The physician has ordered arterial blood gases for a client experiencing shock. The nurse knows that
which value indicates shock? - Answer pH 7.32
A 63-year-old Arab American male states his left leg is "hot." What is the nurse's best first response? -
Answer Assess for pain
The client is complaining of excruciating pain in a foot that has been amputated. The family tells the
nurse that the client is just addicted to pain medications. What is the nurse's best response? - Answer
"He is experiencing phantom limb pain."
A client has had abdominal surgery and has orders to be ambulated three times a day. Oral pain
medication has been ordered for the client. What should the nurse do to facilitate ambulation? - Answer
Mediate 1 hour prior to ambulating the client.
The client reports frequent use of acetaminophen. How should the nurse best respond? - Answer "Do
you drink alcohol?"
A client with chronic pain has been admitted with a fever. The nursing assessment reveals that the client
has a decreased level of consciousness. What should the nurse ask the family about? - Answer What
medications the client has taken
The practical nurse is reviewing the social history from a client diagnosed with small cell carcinoma of
the lung. Which information is significant for this disease? - Answer The client has smoked two (2) packs
of cigarettes a day for 20 years
The practical nurse and an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) are caring for a group of clients on a
medical unit. Which information provided by the UAP warrants immediate intervention by the practical
nurse? - Answer The client receiving Procrit (epoetin alfa) has a T 99.2˚F, P 68, R 24, and BP of 198/102
The client diagnosed with lung cancer has been told the cancer has metastasized to the brain. Which
intervention should the practical nurse expect to implement? - Answer Discuss implementing an
advance directive
, The client diagnosed with lung cancer is being discharged. Which statement made by the client indicates
a reiteration of information is required? - Answer "It doesn't matter if I smoke now. I already have
cancer."
The practical nurse is interviewing clients at the clinic. Which information provided by a client warrants
further investigation? - Answer The client has been coughing up blood in the mornings
The male client had abdominal surgery and the practical nurse suspects the client has peritonitis. Which
information support the diagnosis of peritonitis? - Answer Hard, rigid abdomen and white blood cell
count 22,000/mm3
The client who had abdominal surgery tells the practical nurse, "I felt something give way in my
stomach." Which intervention should the practical nurse implement first? - Answer Inspect the
abdominal wound incision
The client is one (1) day postoperative major abdominal surgery. Which client problem is a priority? -
Answer Fluid and electrolyte imbalance
The client has an eviscerated abdominal wound. Which intervention should the practical nurse
implement? - Answer Apply sterile normal saline dressing
The client is diagnosed with peritonitis. Which information indicates to the practical nurse the client's
condition is improving? - Answer The client has a decrease in temperature and a soft abdomen
A patient is being released from the hospital with a prescription for tetracycline. What should the nurse
include in patient teaching?
Select all that apply. - Answer Advise limiting exposure to the sun.
Inform patient of the possibility of gastrointestinal upset.
Suggest eating crackers and some juice when taking this medicine.
and answers 2025
The nurse is caring for a client who has as a son with a streptococcus throat infection. Which nurse
recommendation would be best to advise the client to do in order to prevent acquiring the infection? -
Answer Frequently wash her hands and surfaces of the home.
The nurse is caring for a client infected with Rocky Mountain spotted fever. The nurse should ask if the
client has experienced which of the following? - Answer Was bitten by a tick
The nurse is caring for a client with a protozoa infection. Which is the most likely mode of transmission?
- Answer Ingestion of contaminated food or water
The nurse is caring for a client who is recovering from an allergic reaction. Which leukocyte level would
the nurse expect to be the most elevated? - Answer Eosinophils
The nurse is caring for a client who has an infected wound on the great toe that is red with a purulent
exudate. The nurse expects that this client has which type of infection? - Answer Localized
The client experienced a fall. Nursing assessment reveals that the client is experiencing tachycardia,
hypotension, confusion, tachypnea, and flat jugular veins. What should be the nurse's first response? -
Answer Administer oxygen.
The family wants to know why the nurse is putting a urinary catheter in a client experiencing shock.
What is the nurse's best response? - Answer "It will help monitor how much urine the kidneys are able
to produce."
A client experiencing shock has had a urinary output of 250 mL in the last 10 hours. What is the nurse's
most appropriate response? - Answer Notify the physician.
Which client is most likely to be experiencing hypovolemic shock? - Answer A client who had surgery 24
hours ago and who also has a nasogastric tube
,The physician has ordered arterial blood gases for a client experiencing shock. The nurse knows that
which value indicates shock? - Answer pH 7.32
A 63-year-old Arab American male states his left leg is "hot." What is the nurse's best first response? -
Answer Assess for pain
The client is complaining of excruciating pain in a foot that has been amputated. The family tells the
nurse that the client is just addicted to pain medications. What is the nurse's best response? - Answer
"He is experiencing phantom limb pain."
A client has had abdominal surgery and has orders to be ambulated three times a day. Oral pain
medication has been ordered for the client. What should the nurse do to facilitate ambulation? - Answer
Mediate 1 hour prior to ambulating the client.
The client reports frequent use of acetaminophen. How should the nurse best respond? - Answer "Do
you drink alcohol?"
A client with chronic pain has been admitted with a fever. The nursing assessment reveals that the client
has a decreased level of consciousness. What should the nurse ask the family about? - Answer What
medications the client has taken
The practical nurse is reviewing the social history from a client diagnosed with small cell carcinoma of
the lung. Which information is significant for this disease? - Answer The client has smoked two (2) packs
of cigarettes a day for 20 years
The practical nurse and an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) are caring for a group of clients on a
medical unit. Which information provided by the UAP warrants immediate intervention by the practical
nurse? - Answer The client receiving Procrit (epoetin alfa) has a T 99.2˚F, P 68, R 24, and BP of 198/102
The client diagnosed with lung cancer has been told the cancer has metastasized to the brain. Which
intervention should the practical nurse expect to implement? - Answer Discuss implementing an
advance directive
, The client diagnosed with lung cancer is being discharged. Which statement made by the client indicates
a reiteration of information is required? - Answer "It doesn't matter if I smoke now. I already have
cancer."
The practical nurse is interviewing clients at the clinic. Which information provided by a client warrants
further investigation? - Answer The client has been coughing up blood in the mornings
The male client had abdominal surgery and the practical nurse suspects the client has peritonitis. Which
information support the diagnosis of peritonitis? - Answer Hard, rigid abdomen and white blood cell
count 22,000/mm3
The client who had abdominal surgery tells the practical nurse, "I felt something give way in my
stomach." Which intervention should the practical nurse implement first? - Answer Inspect the
abdominal wound incision
The client is one (1) day postoperative major abdominal surgery. Which client problem is a priority? -
Answer Fluid and electrolyte imbalance
The client has an eviscerated abdominal wound. Which intervention should the practical nurse
implement? - Answer Apply sterile normal saline dressing
The client is diagnosed with peritonitis. Which information indicates to the practical nurse the client's
condition is improving? - Answer The client has a decrease in temperature and a soft abdomen
A patient is being released from the hospital with a prescription for tetracycline. What should the nurse
include in patient teaching?
Select all that apply. - Answer Advise limiting exposure to the sun.
Inform patient of the possibility of gastrointestinal upset.
Suggest eating crackers and some juice when taking this medicine.
