Med-Surg Surgical Nursing Complications Practice
Exam – 150 Questions
1. A patient develops sudden shortness of breath and chest pain 2
days after abdominal surgery. Which complication should the
nurse suspect?
Pulmonary embolism
Rationale: Pulmonary embolism is a life-threatening
complication often occurring postoperatively due to immobility,
leading to thrombus formation that can travel to the lungs.
2. After surgery, a patient’s incision shows redness, swelling, and
purulent drainage. What is the most appropriate nursing action?
Notify the surgeon and obtain a wound culture
Rationale: Signs of infection require prompt evaluation, and
wound cultures guide antibiotic therapy.
3. A patient undergoing bowel surgery is experiencing absent bowel
sounds on day 3 post-op. What is the likely complication?
Paralytic ileus
Rationale: Paralytic ileus is common after abdominal surgery
and presents as absent bowel sounds, abdominal distention, and
delayed passage of flatus or stool.
4. Which postoperative patient is at highest risk for developing deep
vein thrombosis (DVT)?
A 65-year-old patient with a history of obesity and limited
mobility
Rationale: Age, obesity, immobility, and previous
thromboembolic events increase the risk of DVT.
5. A patient has a sudden drop in blood pressure, tachycardia, and a
distended abdomen postoperatively. What is the priority
, intervention?
Notify the surgeon immediately for suspected internal bleeding
Rationale: Hypotension, tachycardia, and abdominal distention
indicate potential hemorrhage, requiring immediate medical
intervention.
6. Which of the following is a common early sign of wound
dehiscence?
Serosanguinous drainage from the incision
Rationale: Serosanguinous drainage, along with increased
wound tension, may indicate separation of wound layers.
7. After surgery, a patient develops fever, chills, and flank pain.
What complication should the nurse suspect?
Urinary tract infection
Rationale: Postoperative UTIs often present with fever, dysuria,
and flank pain, particularly in patients with indwelling catheters.
8. A patient experiences sudden confusion and restlessness 24 hours
after surgery. Which complication is likely?
Hypoxia
Rationale: Postoperative hypoxia can cause neurological
symptoms, including confusion and agitation, and requires
immediate assessment.
9. Which intervention helps prevent postoperative atelectasis?
Encouraging deep breathing and incentive spirometry
Rationale: Deep breathing exercises and use of an incentive
spirometer help re-expand alveoli and prevent lung collapse.
10. A patient develops a red, warm, and tender calf 5 days after
hip replacement surgery. Which complication is suspected?
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
, Rationale: Unilateral calf swelling, redness, warmth, and
tenderness are classic signs of DVT.
11. A patient with a nasogastric tube after gastric surgery
complains of nausea and vomiting. What is the priority nursing
action?
Check tube patency and assess for obstruction
Rationale: NG tube obstruction can cause gastric distention and
vomiting; ensuring patency is crucial.
12. Postoperative hemorrhage is most likely to occur during
which timeframe?
First 24 hours after surgery
Rationale: Most postoperative bleeding occurs in the immediate
24-hour period due to surgical site oozing or vessel injury.
13. A patient develops sudden shortness of breath, anxiety, and
hypotension 48 hours after surgery. What should the nurse
suspect?
Pulmonary embolism
Rationale: Sudden cardiovascular and respiratory compromise
postoperatively suggests a PE, often originating from a DVT.
14. Which patient is at greatest risk for surgical site infection
(SSI)?
A patient with diabetes and obesity undergoing abdominal
surgery
Rationale: Diabetes and obesity impair wound healing and
increase susceptibility to infection.
15. Which nursing intervention helps prevent postoperative
urinary retention?
Encouraging early ambulation and monitoring fluid intake
Exam – 150 Questions
1. A patient develops sudden shortness of breath and chest pain 2
days after abdominal surgery. Which complication should the
nurse suspect?
Pulmonary embolism
Rationale: Pulmonary embolism is a life-threatening
complication often occurring postoperatively due to immobility,
leading to thrombus formation that can travel to the lungs.
2. After surgery, a patient’s incision shows redness, swelling, and
purulent drainage. What is the most appropriate nursing action?
Notify the surgeon and obtain a wound culture
Rationale: Signs of infection require prompt evaluation, and
wound cultures guide antibiotic therapy.
3. A patient undergoing bowel surgery is experiencing absent bowel
sounds on day 3 post-op. What is the likely complication?
Paralytic ileus
Rationale: Paralytic ileus is common after abdominal surgery
and presents as absent bowel sounds, abdominal distention, and
delayed passage of flatus or stool.
4. Which postoperative patient is at highest risk for developing deep
vein thrombosis (DVT)?
A 65-year-old patient with a history of obesity and limited
mobility
Rationale: Age, obesity, immobility, and previous
thromboembolic events increase the risk of DVT.
5. A patient has a sudden drop in blood pressure, tachycardia, and a
distended abdomen postoperatively. What is the priority
, intervention?
Notify the surgeon immediately for suspected internal bleeding
Rationale: Hypotension, tachycardia, and abdominal distention
indicate potential hemorrhage, requiring immediate medical
intervention.
6. Which of the following is a common early sign of wound
dehiscence?
Serosanguinous drainage from the incision
Rationale: Serosanguinous drainage, along with increased
wound tension, may indicate separation of wound layers.
7. After surgery, a patient develops fever, chills, and flank pain.
What complication should the nurse suspect?
Urinary tract infection
Rationale: Postoperative UTIs often present with fever, dysuria,
and flank pain, particularly in patients with indwelling catheters.
8. A patient experiences sudden confusion and restlessness 24 hours
after surgery. Which complication is likely?
Hypoxia
Rationale: Postoperative hypoxia can cause neurological
symptoms, including confusion and agitation, and requires
immediate assessment.
9. Which intervention helps prevent postoperative atelectasis?
Encouraging deep breathing and incentive spirometry
Rationale: Deep breathing exercises and use of an incentive
spirometer help re-expand alveoli and prevent lung collapse.
10. A patient develops a red, warm, and tender calf 5 days after
hip replacement surgery. Which complication is suspected?
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
, Rationale: Unilateral calf swelling, redness, warmth, and
tenderness are classic signs of DVT.
11. A patient with a nasogastric tube after gastric surgery
complains of nausea and vomiting. What is the priority nursing
action?
Check tube patency and assess for obstruction
Rationale: NG tube obstruction can cause gastric distention and
vomiting; ensuring patency is crucial.
12. Postoperative hemorrhage is most likely to occur during
which timeframe?
First 24 hours after surgery
Rationale: Most postoperative bleeding occurs in the immediate
24-hour period due to surgical site oozing or vessel injury.
13. A patient develops sudden shortness of breath, anxiety, and
hypotension 48 hours after surgery. What should the nurse
suspect?
Pulmonary embolism
Rationale: Sudden cardiovascular and respiratory compromise
postoperatively suggests a PE, often originating from a DVT.
14. Which patient is at greatest risk for surgical site infection
(SSI)?
A patient with diabetes and obesity undergoing abdominal
surgery
Rationale: Diabetes and obesity impair wound healing and
increase susceptibility to infection.
15. Which nursing intervention helps prevent postoperative
urinary retention?
Encouraging early ambulation and monitoring fluid intake
