MEDSURG 2 FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT ANSWERS VERIFIED
2025/2026.
The client reports that a previously sensitive area of skin no longer responds to temperature
changes or painful stimuli. This finding indicates a functional abnormality for which skin layer?
A. Stratum corneum
B. Adipose layer
C. Epidermis
D. Dermis - ANS D. Dermis
During skin inspection the nurse observes three lesions on the client's right knee. The lesions
are round, have a raised border, and are grouped in a "smiley face" pattern. Which descriptors
does the nurse use to document these observations?
A. Annular, circinate, clustered
B. Linear, confluent, vesicular
C. Circumscribed, universal, pustular
D. Serpiginous, coalesced, wheal-like - ANS A. Annular, circinate, clustered
Which technique for obtaining a specimen for bacterial culture is most correct for the nurse to
use with a client who has crusted skin lesions on the upper back?
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,A. Remove several crusts, and swab the underlying exudate.
B. Dampen the culture swab with sterile water, and then roll the swab over the central crusts.
C. Apply a gauze bandage to the area, remove it after 1 hour, and send the entire gauze to the
laboratory.
D. Clean the area with an antibacterial solution, remove a crust from the center of the cluster of
lesions, and send it to the laboratory. - ANS A. Remove several crusts, and swab the
underlying exudate.
An 88-year-old man is admitted to the ED from home with weakness and acute confusion.What
is the nurse's priority for his care to maintain client safety?
A. Assess his mental status every 30minutes
B. Ensure that siderails are raised on his stretcher
C. Check his bowel sounds for intestinal obstruction
D. Teach him to move slowly when walking - ANS B. Ensure that siderails are raised on his
stretcher
A client is admitted to the ED with multiple stab wounds to his chest, abdomen and arms. What
is the nurse's priority upon admission to the ED?
A. Check for bleeding from the stab wounds
B. Assess and maintain the client's airway
C. Start 2 large-bore IV lines
D. Assess the level of consciousness - ANS B. Assess and maintain the client's airway
An older client with heat stroke is being cooled with a cooling blanket and ice packs under her
arms and behind her neck. What assessment indicates to the nurse that the cooling process is
effective?
A. The client is alert and oriented
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,B. The client states that she feels cooler
C. The client's temperature is 100 degrees F
D. The client's urinary output is 30 mL/hr - ANS C. The client's temperature is 100 degrees F
An older client is preparing for a trip to a cold-weather area and asks the nurse how he can
prevent hypothermia while visiting there. Which preventative actions will the nurse include in
the health teaching? Select all that apply.
A. Wear cotton clothing to help absorb moisture
B. Layer clothing to keep heat near the body
C. Avoid skiing if it is snowing heavily
D. Be sure to wear gloves and a hat
E. Do not wear too many pairs of socks - ANS B. Layer clothing to keep heat near the body
C. Avoid skiing if it is snowing heavily
D. Be sure to wear gloves and a hat
E. Do not wear too many pairs of socks
A client experiences altitude-related illness after visiting a ski resort in Colorado. What is the
nurse's priority action when the client is admitted to the emergency department?
A. Provide supplemental oxygen
B. Place the client on a ventilator
C. Perform an electrocardiogram
D. Insert a nasogastric tube - ANS A. Provide supplemental oxygen
The nurse is preparing to triage clients at the scene of an airplane crash. Which of these clients
will the nurse identify as emergent?
A. Young woman with closed fractures of her right leg and arm
B. Older woman with abdominal bleeding who is dzed and confused
3 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, C. Middle-aged man with third-degree burns over 90% of his body
D. Young man with numerous bruises and superficial lacerations - ANS C. Middle-aged man
with third-degree burns over 90% of his body
A nurse needs to discharge two medical-surgical clients to make room for two victims of a
tornado. Which of these clients could be discharged from the unit now? Select all that apply.
A. 78-year-old with telemetry monitoring for chest pain last night
B. 57-year-old who had a bowel resection for cancer 2 days ago
C. 44-year-old who has received 3 days of IV antibiotics for pneumonia
D. 61-year-old who had a thyroidectomy this morning
E. 72-year-old who had a total hip replacement 2 days ago - ANS B. 57-year-old who had a
bowel resection for cancer 2 days ago
C. 44-year-old who has received 3 days of IV antibiotics for pneumonia
A female business woman has extremely dry skin on her legs. In addition to using lotions after
bathing, she asks the nurse about other measures to help reduce the dryness. What is the
nurse's best response?
A. "Wear long-legged pajamas to sleep in rather than nightgowns."
B. "Avoid wearing pantyhose or nylon stockings for more than 2 hours at a time."
C. "Leave the fat-containing soap on your skin when bathing rather than rinsing it off."
D. "Bathe in water that is as warm as you can stand to stimulate the release of body oils from
your sebaceous glands." - ANS B. "Avoid wearing pantyhose or nylon stockings for more than
2 hours at a time."
The newly admitted client has all of the following laboratory test values. Which value suggests
to the nurse that the client may be at an increased risk for pressure ulcer formation?
A. International normalized ratio (INR) of 1.5
B. White blood cell (WBC) count of 5200/mm3
4 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
AND CORRECT ANSWERS VERIFIED
2025/2026.
The client reports that a previously sensitive area of skin no longer responds to temperature
changes or painful stimuli. This finding indicates a functional abnormality for which skin layer?
A. Stratum corneum
B. Adipose layer
C. Epidermis
D. Dermis - ANS D. Dermis
During skin inspection the nurse observes three lesions on the client's right knee. The lesions
are round, have a raised border, and are grouped in a "smiley face" pattern. Which descriptors
does the nurse use to document these observations?
A. Annular, circinate, clustered
B. Linear, confluent, vesicular
C. Circumscribed, universal, pustular
D. Serpiginous, coalesced, wheal-like - ANS A. Annular, circinate, clustered
Which technique for obtaining a specimen for bacterial culture is most correct for the nurse to
use with a client who has crusted skin lesions on the upper back?
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,A. Remove several crusts, and swab the underlying exudate.
B. Dampen the culture swab with sterile water, and then roll the swab over the central crusts.
C. Apply a gauze bandage to the area, remove it after 1 hour, and send the entire gauze to the
laboratory.
D. Clean the area with an antibacterial solution, remove a crust from the center of the cluster of
lesions, and send it to the laboratory. - ANS A. Remove several crusts, and swab the
underlying exudate.
An 88-year-old man is admitted to the ED from home with weakness and acute confusion.What
is the nurse's priority for his care to maintain client safety?
A. Assess his mental status every 30minutes
B. Ensure that siderails are raised on his stretcher
C. Check his bowel sounds for intestinal obstruction
D. Teach him to move slowly when walking - ANS B. Ensure that siderails are raised on his
stretcher
A client is admitted to the ED with multiple stab wounds to his chest, abdomen and arms. What
is the nurse's priority upon admission to the ED?
A. Check for bleeding from the stab wounds
B. Assess and maintain the client's airway
C. Start 2 large-bore IV lines
D. Assess the level of consciousness - ANS B. Assess and maintain the client's airway
An older client with heat stroke is being cooled with a cooling blanket and ice packs under her
arms and behind her neck. What assessment indicates to the nurse that the cooling process is
effective?
A. The client is alert and oriented
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,B. The client states that she feels cooler
C. The client's temperature is 100 degrees F
D. The client's urinary output is 30 mL/hr - ANS C. The client's temperature is 100 degrees F
An older client is preparing for a trip to a cold-weather area and asks the nurse how he can
prevent hypothermia while visiting there. Which preventative actions will the nurse include in
the health teaching? Select all that apply.
A. Wear cotton clothing to help absorb moisture
B. Layer clothing to keep heat near the body
C. Avoid skiing if it is snowing heavily
D. Be sure to wear gloves and a hat
E. Do not wear too many pairs of socks - ANS B. Layer clothing to keep heat near the body
C. Avoid skiing if it is snowing heavily
D. Be sure to wear gloves and a hat
E. Do not wear too many pairs of socks
A client experiences altitude-related illness after visiting a ski resort in Colorado. What is the
nurse's priority action when the client is admitted to the emergency department?
A. Provide supplemental oxygen
B. Place the client on a ventilator
C. Perform an electrocardiogram
D. Insert a nasogastric tube - ANS A. Provide supplemental oxygen
The nurse is preparing to triage clients at the scene of an airplane crash. Which of these clients
will the nurse identify as emergent?
A. Young woman with closed fractures of her right leg and arm
B. Older woman with abdominal bleeding who is dzed and confused
3 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, C. Middle-aged man with third-degree burns over 90% of his body
D. Young man with numerous bruises and superficial lacerations - ANS C. Middle-aged man
with third-degree burns over 90% of his body
A nurse needs to discharge two medical-surgical clients to make room for two victims of a
tornado. Which of these clients could be discharged from the unit now? Select all that apply.
A. 78-year-old with telemetry monitoring for chest pain last night
B. 57-year-old who had a bowel resection for cancer 2 days ago
C. 44-year-old who has received 3 days of IV antibiotics for pneumonia
D. 61-year-old who had a thyroidectomy this morning
E. 72-year-old who had a total hip replacement 2 days ago - ANS B. 57-year-old who had a
bowel resection for cancer 2 days ago
C. 44-year-old who has received 3 days of IV antibiotics for pneumonia
A female business woman has extremely dry skin on her legs. In addition to using lotions after
bathing, she asks the nurse about other measures to help reduce the dryness. What is the
nurse's best response?
A. "Wear long-legged pajamas to sleep in rather than nightgowns."
B. "Avoid wearing pantyhose or nylon stockings for more than 2 hours at a time."
C. "Leave the fat-containing soap on your skin when bathing rather than rinsing it off."
D. "Bathe in water that is as warm as you can stand to stimulate the release of body oils from
your sebaceous glands." - ANS B. "Avoid wearing pantyhose or nylon stockings for more than
2 hours at a time."
The newly admitted client has all of the following laboratory test values. Which value suggests
to the nurse that the client may be at an increased risk for pressure ulcer formation?
A. International normalized ratio (INR) of 1.5
B. White blood cell (WBC) count of 5200/mm3
4 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
