RN Med Surg Flash cards Questions
and Verified Answers Question Bank
While the nurse is taking the health history, a patient states, "My mother and sister both had
double mastectomies and were unable to be very active for weeks." Which functional health
pattern is represented by this patient's statement?
a. Cognitive-perceptual
b. Activity-exercise
c. Coping-stress tolerance
d. Health perception-health management - <CORRECT ANSWER >>
The nurse cares for an older adult patient who lives in a rural area. Which intervention should
the nurse plan to implement to meet this patient's needs?
Select one:
a. Ensure transportation to appointments with the health care provider.
b. Assess the patient for chronic diseases that are unique to rural areas.
c. Obtain extra medications for the patient to last for 4 to 6 months.
d. Suggest that the patient move closer to health care providers. - <CORRECT ANSWER >>a.
Ensure transportation to appointments with the health care provider.
When assessing a patient's abdomen during the admission assessment, which action should the
nurse take first?
Select one:
a. Listen for bowel sounds.
b. Percuss the liver borders.
c. Feel for any masses.
d. Palpate the abdomen. - <CORRECT ANSWER >>a. Listen for bowel sounds.
,The nurse cares for an agitated patient who was admitted to the emergency department after
taking a hallucinogenic drug and attempting to jump from a third-story window. Which nursing
diagnosis should the nurse assign as the highest priority?
Select one:
a. Ineffective coping related to situational issues
b. Ineffective health maintenance related to drug use
c. Powerlessness related to loss of behavioral control
d. Risk for injury related to altered perception - <CORRECT ANSWER >>d. Risk for injury related
to altered perception
During the health history interview, a patient tells the nurse about periodic fainting spells.
Which question by the nurse will best elicit any associated clinical manifestations?
Select one:
a. "Do you have any other symptoms along with the spells?"
b. "How frequently do you have the fainting spells?"
c. "Do the spells tend to occur at any special time of day?"
d. "Where are you when you have the fainting spells?" - <CORRECT ANSWER >>
A patient in hospice is manifesting a decrease in all body system functions except for a heart
rate of 124 beats/min and a respiratory rate of 28 breaths/min. Which statement, if made by
the nurse to the patient's family member, is most appropriate?
Select one:
a. "These vital signs may indicate an improvement in the patient's condition."
b. "These vital signs are a helpful response to the slowing of other body systems."
c. "These vital signs are an expected response now but will slow down later."
d. "These vital signs will continue to increase until death finally occurs." - <CORRECT ANSWER
>>c. "These vital signs are an expected response now but will slow down later."
,A patient admitted with shortness of breath and chest pain who is a pack-a-day smoker tells the
nurse, "I am just not ready to quit smoking yet." Which response by the nurse is appropriate for
the patient's stage of change?
Select one:
a. "Your smoking is the cause of your chest pain."
b. "Are you familiar with nicotine replacement products?"
c. "What health problems do you think smoking has caused?"
d. "This would be a really good time to quit." - <CORRECT ANSWER >>
A patient with chronic insomnia asks the nurse about ways to improve sleep quality. Which
response by the nurse is accurate?
Select one:
a. Keep the bedroom temperature warm.
b. Go to bed at the same time every evening.
c. Avoid exercise during the day.
d. Read in bed for a few minutes each night. - <CORRECT ANSWER >>
A 25-yr-old patient comes to the emergency department with severe chest pain and agitation.
Which action should the nurse take first?
Select one:
a. Assess orientation to person, place, and time.
b. Check blood pressure, pulse, and respirations.
c. Ask about use of stimulant drugs.
d. Start an IV for sedative administration. - <CORRECT ANSWER >>
When caring for patients with sleep disorders, which activity can the nurse appropriately
delegate to unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP)?
Select one:
a. Help a patient choose a new continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) mask.
, b. Discuss the benefits of oral appliances in decreasing obstructive sleep apnea.
c. Interview a patient about risk factors for obstructive sleep disorders.
d. Assist a patient to place the CPAP device on correctly at bedtime. - <CORRECT ANSWER >>d.
Assist a patient to place the CPAP device on correctly at bedtime.
A patient with alcohol dependence is admitted to the hospital with back pain following a fall.
Twenty-four hours after admission, the patient becomes tremulous and anxious. Which action
by the nurse is appropriate?
Select one:
a. Insert an IV line and infuse fluids.
b. Administer opioids to provide sedation.
c. Encourage increased oral intake.
d. Provide a quiet, well-lit environment. - <CORRECT ANSWER >>
After the nurse receives report, which patient should the nurse assess first?
Select one:
a. Patient with a history of daily alcohol use who is complaining of insomnia and diaphoresis
b. Patient who is experiencing hallucinations and extreme anxiety after the use of marijuana
c. Patient admitted with cocaine use who has an irregular heart rate of 142 beats/minute and
BP 186/92 mm Hg
d. Patient who has a respiratory rate of 14 after overdosing on oxycodone (OxyContin) -
<CORRECT ANSWER >>c. Patient admitted with cocaine use who has an irregular heart rate of
142 beats/minute and BP 186/92 mm Hg
Which strategy should be a priority when the nurse is planning care for a diabetic patient who is
uninsured?
Select one:
a. Obtain less expensive medications.
b. Teach about the impact of exercise on diabetes.
and Verified Answers Question Bank
While the nurse is taking the health history, a patient states, "My mother and sister both had
double mastectomies and were unable to be very active for weeks." Which functional health
pattern is represented by this patient's statement?
a. Cognitive-perceptual
b. Activity-exercise
c. Coping-stress tolerance
d. Health perception-health management - <CORRECT ANSWER >>
The nurse cares for an older adult patient who lives in a rural area. Which intervention should
the nurse plan to implement to meet this patient's needs?
Select one:
a. Ensure transportation to appointments with the health care provider.
b. Assess the patient for chronic diseases that are unique to rural areas.
c. Obtain extra medications for the patient to last for 4 to 6 months.
d. Suggest that the patient move closer to health care providers. - <CORRECT ANSWER >>a.
Ensure transportation to appointments with the health care provider.
When assessing a patient's abdomen during the admission assessment, which action should the
nurse take first?
Select one:
a. Listen for bowel sounds.
b. Percuss the liver borders.
c. Feel for any masses.
d. Palpate the abdomen. - <CORRECT ANSWER >>a. Listen for bowel sounds.
,The nurse cares for an agitated patient who was admitted to the emergency department after
taking a hallucinogenic drug and attempting to jump from a third-story window. Which nursing
diagnosis should the nurse assign as the highest priority?
Select one:
a. Ineffective coping related to situational issues
b. Ineffective health maintenance related to drug use
c. Powerlessness related to loss of behavioral control
d. Risk for injury related to altered perception - <CORRECT ANSWER >>d. Risk for injury related
to altered perception
During the health history interview, a patient tells the nurse about periodic fainting spells.
Which question by the nurse will best elicit any associated clinical manifestations?
Select one:
a. "Do you have any other symptoms along with the spells?"
b. "How frequently do you have the fainting spells?"
c. "Do the spells tend to occur at any special time of day?"
d. "Where are you when you have the fainting spells?" - <CORRECT ANSWER >>
A patient in hospice is manifesting a decrease in all body system functions except for a heart
rate of 124 beats/min and a respiratory rate of 28 breaths/min. Which statement, if made by
the nurse to the patient's family member, is most appropriate?
Select one:
a. "These vital signs may indicate an improvement in the patient's condition."
b. "These vital signs are a helpful response to the slowing of other body systems."
c. "These vital signs are an expected response now but will slow down later."
d. "These vital signs will continue to increase until death finally occurs." - <CORRECT ANSWER
>>c. "These vital signs are an expected response now but will slow down later."
,A patient admitted with shortness of breath and chest pain who is a pack-a-day smoker tells the
nurse, "I am just not ready to quit smoking yet." Which response by the nurse is appropriate for
the patient's stage of change?
Select one:
a. "Your smoking is the cause of your chest pain."
b. "Are you familiar with nicotine replacement products?"
c. "What health problems do you think smoking has caused?"
d. "This would be a really good time to quit." - <CORRECT ANSWER >>
A patient with chronic insomnia asks the nurse about ways to improve sleep quality. Which
response by the nurse is accurate?
Select one:
a. Keep the bedroom temperature warm.
b. Go to bed at the same time every evening.
c. Avoid exercise during the day.
d. Read in bed for a few minutes each night. - <CORRECT ANSWER >>
A 25-yr-old patient comes to the emergency department with severe chest pain and agitation.
Which action should the nurse take first?
Select one:
a. Assess orientation to person, place, and time.
b. Check blood pressure, pulse, and respirations.
c. Ask about use of stimulant drugs.
d. Start an IV for sedative administration. - <CORRECT ANSWER >>
When caring for patients with sleep disorders, which activity can the nurse appropriately
delegate to unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP)?
Select one:
a. Help a patient choose a new continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) mask.
, b. Discuss the benefits of oral appliances in decreasing obstructive sleep apnea.
c. Interview a patient about risk factors for obstructive sleep disorders.
d. Assist a patient to place the CPAP device on correctly at bedtime. - <CORRECT ANSWER >>d.
Assist a patient to place the CPAP device on correctly at bedtime.
A patient with alcohol dependence is admitted to the hospital with back pain following a fall.
Twenty-four hours after admission, the patient becomes tremulous and anxious. Which action
by the nurse is appropriate?
Select one:
a. Insert an IV line and infuse fluids.
b. Administer opioids to provide sedation.
c. Encourage increased oral intake.
d. Provide a quiet, well-lit environment. - <CORRECT ANSWER >>
After the nurse receives report, which patient should the nurse assess first?
Select one:
a. Patient with a history of daily alcohol use who is complaining of insomnia and diaphoresis
b. Patient who is experiencing hallucinations and extreme anxiety after the use of marijuana
c. Patient admitted with cocaine use who has an irregular heart rate of 142 beats/minute and
BP 186/92 mm Hg
d. Patient who has a respiratory rate of 14 after overdosing on oxycodone (OxyContin) -
<CORRECT ANSWER >>c. Patient admitted with cocaine use who has an irregular heart rate of
142 beats/minute and BP 186/92 mm Hg
Which strategy should be a priority when the nurse is planning care for a diabetic patient who is
uninsured?
Select one:
a. Obtain less expensive medications.
b. Teach about the impact of exercise on diabetes.
