MEDSURG FINAL EXAM NEWEST 2024 ACTUAL EXAM COMPLETE 400 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
DETAILED ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES
A client is recovering well 24 hours after cranial surgery but is fatigued. The surgeon advances the client
from nothing-by-mouth (NPO) status to clear liquids. The nurse knows that which information is least
reliable in determining the client's readiness to take in fluids?
a. Presence of a swallow reflex
b. Appetite
c. Presence of bowel sounds
d. Absence of nausea - (answer) Appetite
The nurse is preparing a preoperative client for transfer to the operating room. The nurse should take
which action in the care of this client at this time?
a. Have the client practice postoperative breathing exercises.
b. Verify that the client has not eaten for the past 24 hours.
c. Administer all the daily medications.
d. Ensure that the client has voided. - (answer) D. Ensure that the client has voided
What client teaching will the nurse provide regarding postoperative leg exercises, to minimize the risk for
development of deep vein thrombosis after surgery?
a. Begin exercises by sitting at a 90-degree angle on the side of the bed.
b. Point toes of one foot toward bottom of bed, then point toes of same leg toward their face. Repeat
several times, then switch legs.
c. Bend knee, and push heel of foot into the bed until the calf and thigh muscles contract. Repeat several
times, then switch legs.
d. Only perform each exercise one time to prevent overuse. - (answer) b. Point toes of one foot toward
bottom of bed, then point toes of same leg toward their face. Repeat several times, then switch legs
,MEDSURG FINAL EXAM NEWEST 2024 ACTUAL EXAM COMPLETE 400 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
DETAILED ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES
A client is admitted to the ambulatory surgery center for elective surgery. The nurse asks the client
whether any food, fluid, or medication was taken today. Which medication, if taken by the client, should
indicate to the nurse the need to contact the health care provider?
a. A beta-blocker
b. An antibiotic
c. An anticoagulant
d. A calcium channel blocker - (answer) c. An anticoagulant
The nurse is assessing a client who had abdominal surgery earlier in the day. Which preexisting medical
condition would place the client at most risk for postoperative complications?
a. Osteoporosis
b. Pacemaker
c. Alcohol Abuse
d. Peptic Ulcer Disease - (answer) C. Alcohol abuse
A client is scheduled for surgery at noon. The surgeon is delayed and the surgery is now scheduled for
3:00 PM. How will the nurse plan to administer the preoperative prophylactic antibiotic?
a.Give at noon as originally prescribed.
b.Adjust the administration time to be given within one hour prior to surgery.
c.Cancel orders; preoperative prophylactic antibiotics are given optionally.
d.Hold the preoperative antibiotic so it can be administered immediately following surgery. - (answer)
b.Adjust the administration time to be given within one hour prior to surgery.
The nurse is creating a plan of care for a client scheduled for surgery. The nurse should include which
activity in the nursing care plan for the client on the day of surgery?
Select one:
,MEDSURG FINAL EXAM NEWEST 2024 ACTUAL EXAM COMPLETE 400 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
DETAILED ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES
a.Avoid oral hygiene and rinsing with mouthwash.
b.Verify that the client has not eaten for the last 24 hours.
c.Report immediately any slight increase in blood pressure or pulse.
d.Have the client void immediately before going into surgery. - (answer) d.Have the client void
immediately before going into surgery.
The nurse is conducting preoperative teaching with a client about the use of an incentive spirometer. The
nurse should include which piece of information in discussions with the client?
a. Keep a loose seal between the lips and the mouthpiece.
b. Inhale as rapidly as possible.
c. The best results are achieved when sitting up or with the head of the bed elevated 45 to 90 degrees.
d. After maximum inspiration, hold the breath for 15 seconds and exhale. - (answer) c.The best results
are achieved when sitting up or with the head of the bed elevated 45 to 90 degrees.
The PACU nurse caring for a client with a nasogastric (NG) tube notes 300 mL of bright red blood has
collected. What is the appropriate nursing action?
Select one:
a. Call the client's surgeon to report the drainage.
b. Document as a normal finding.
c. Place the client in Trendelenburg position.
d. Immediately remove the NG tube. - (answer) a.Call the client's surgeon to report the drainage.
The nurse has just reassessed the condition of a postoperative client who was admitted 1 hour ago to
the surgical unit. The nurse plans to monitor which parameter most carefully during the next hour?
Select one:
a. Blood pressure of 100/70 mm Hg
b. Serous drainage on the surgical dressing
c. Temperature of 37.6°C (99.6°F)
, MEDSURG FINAL EXAM NEWEST 2024 ACTUAL EXAM COMPLETE 400 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
DETAILED ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES
d. Urinary output of 20 mL/hour - (answer) d. Urinary output of 20 mL/hour
When performing a surgical dressing change on a client's abdominal dressing, the nurse notes an
increased amount of drainage and separation of the incision line. The underlying tissue is visible to the
nurse. The nurse should take which action in the initial care of this wound?
a. Apply a sterile dressing soaked with normal saline.
b. Apply a sterile dressing soaked in povidone-iodine.
c. Irrigate the wound and apply a sterile dry dressing.
d. Leave the incision open to the air to dry the area. - (answer) a. Apply a sterile dressing soaked with
normal saline.
The nurse is providing preoperative teaching to a client scheduled for a cholecystectomy (gall bladder
removal). Which intervention would be of highest priority in the preoperative teaching plan?
a. Assessing the client's understanding of the surgical procedure
b. Teaching leg exercises
c. Providing instructions regarding fluid restrictions
d. Teaching coughing and deep breathing exercises - (answer) d. Teaching coughing and deep breathing
exercises
The nurse is caring for four clients who will undergo surgery today. Which client does the nurse recognize
as at highest risk for surgical complication?
Select one:
a. 64-year-old who has just received pre-surgical prophylactic antibiotics
b. 58-year-old who has well-controlled Type II diabetes
c. 52-year-old who takes aspirin daily
d. 69-year-old who will be discharged after surgery to an extended care facility - (answer) c. 52-year-old
who takes aspirin daily
DETAILED ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES
A client is recovering well 24 hours after cranial surgery but is fatigued. The surgeon advances the client
from nothing-by-mouth (NPO) status to clear liquids. The nurse knows that which information is least
reliable in determining the client's readiness to take in fluids?
a. Presence of a swallow reflex
b. Appetite
c. Presence of bowel sounds
d. Absence of nausea - (answer) Appetite
The nurse is preparing a preoperative client for transfer to the operating room. The nurse should take
which action in the care of this client at this time?
a. Have the client practice postoperative breathing exercises.
b. Verify that the client has not eaten for the past 24 hours.
c. Administer all the daily medications.
d. Ensure that the client has voided. - (answer) D. Ensure that the client has voided
What client teaching will the nurse provide regarding postoperative leg exercises, to minimize the risk for
development of deep vein thrombosis after surgery?
a. Begin exercises by sitting at a 90-degree angle on the side of the bed.
b. Point toes of one foot toward bottom of bed, then point toes of same leg toward their face. Repeat
several times, then switch legs.
c. Bend knee, and push heel of foot into the bed until the calf and thigh muscles contract. Repeat several
times, then switch legs.
d. Only perform each exercise one time to prevent overuse. - (answer) b. Point toes of one foot toward
bottom of bed, then point toes of same leg toward their face. Repeat several times, then switch legs
,MEDSURG FINAL EXAM NEWEST 2024 ACTUAL EXAM COMPLETE 400 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
DETAILED ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES
A client is admitted to the ambulatory surgery center for elective surgery. The nurse asks the client
whether any food, fluid, or medication was taken today. Which medication, if taken by the client, should
indicate to the nurse the need to contact the health care provider?
a. A beta-blocker
b. An antibiotic
c. An anticoagulant
d. A calcium channel blocker - (answer) c. An anticoagulant
The nurse is assessing a client who had abdominal surgery earlier in the day. Which preexisting medical
condition would place the client at most risk for postoperative complications?
a. Osteoporosis
b. Pacemaker
c. Alcohol Abuse
d. Peptic Ulcer Disease - (answer) C. Alcohol abuse
A client is scheduled for surgery at noon. The surgeon is delayed and the surgery is now scheduled for
3:00 PM. How will the nurse plan to administer the preoperative prophylactic antibiotic?
a.Give at noon as originally prescribed.
b.Adjust the administration time to be given within one hour prior to surgery.
c.Cancel orders; preoperative prophylactic antibiotics are given optionally.
d.Hold the preoperative antibiotic so it can be administered immediately following surgery. - (answer)
b.Adjust the administration time to be given within one hour prior to surgery.
The nurse is creating a plan of care for a client scheduled for surgery. The nurse should include which
activity in the nursing care plan for the client on the day of surgery?
Select one:
,MEDSURG FINAL EXAM NEWEST 2024 ACTUAL EXAM COMPLETE 400 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
DETAILED ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES
a.Avoid oral hygiene and rinsing with mouthwash.
b.Verify that the client has not eaten for the last 24 hours.
c.Report immediately any slight increase in blood pressure or pulse.
d.Have the client void immediately before going into surgery. - (answer) d.Have the client void
immediately before going into surgery.
The nurse is conducting preoperative teaching with a client about the use of an incentive spirometer. The
nurse should include which piece of information in discussions with the client?
a. Keep a loose seal between the lips and the mouthpiece.
b. Inhale as rapidly as possible.
c. The best results are achieved when sitting up or with the head of the bed elevated 45 to 90 degrees.
d. After maximum inspiration, hold the breath for 15 seconds and exhale. - (answer) c.The best results
are achieved when sitting up or with the head of the bed elevated 45 to 90 degrees.
The PACU nurse caring for a client with a nasogastric (NG) tube notes 300 mL of bright red blood has
collected. What is the appropriate nursing action?
Select one:
a. Call the client's surgeon to report the drainage.
b. Document as a normal finding.
c. Place the client in Trendelenburg position.
d. Immediately remove the NG tube. - (answer) a.Call the client's surgeon to report the drainage.
The nurse has just reassessed the condition of a postoperative client who was admitted 1 hour ago to
the surgical unit. The nurse plans to monitor which parameter most carefully during the next hour?
Select one:
a. Blood pressure of 100/70 mm Hg
b. Serous drainage on the surgical dressing
c. Temperature of 37.6°C (99.6°F)
, MEDSURG FINAL EXAM NEWEST 2024 ACTUAL EXAM COMPLETE 400 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
DETAILED ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES
d. Urinary output of 20 mL/hour - (answer) d. Urinary output of 20 mL/hour
When performing a surgical dressing change on a client's abdominal dressing, the nurse notes an
increased amount of drainage and separation of the incision line. The underlying tissue is visible to the
nurse. The nurse should take which action in the initial care of this wound?
a. Apply a sterile dressing soaked with normal saline.
b. Apply a sterile dressing soaked in povidone-iodine.
c. Irrigate the wound and apply a sterile dry dressing.
d. Leave the incision open to the air to dry the area. - (answer) a. Apply a sterile dressing soaked with
normal saline.
The nurse is providing preoperative teaching to a client scheduled for a cholecystectomy (gall bladder
removal). Which intervention would be of highest priority in the preoperative teaching plan?
a. Assessing the client's understanding of the surgical procedure
b. Teaching leg exercises
c. Providing instructions regarding fluid restrictions
d. Teaching coughing and deep breathing exercises - (answer) d. Teaching coughing and deep breathing
exercises
The nurse is caring for four clients who will undergo surgery today. Which client does the nurse recognize
as at highest risk for surgical complication?
Select one:
a. 64-year-old who has just received pre-surgical prophylactic antibiotics
b. 58-year-old who has well-controlled Type II diabetes
c. 52-year-old who takes aspirin daily
d. 69-year-old who will be discharged after surgery to an extended care facility - (answer) c. 52-year-old
who takes aspirin daily
