Med Surg Practice Exam Questions with
Accurate Answers
A 20-year-old female client calls the nurse to report a lump she found in her
breast. Which response is the best for the nurse to provide?
A) Check it again in one month, and if it is still there schedule an appointment.
B) Most lumps are benign, but it is always best to come in for an examination.
C) Try not to worry too much about it, because usually, most lumps are benign.
D) If you are in your menstrual period it is not a good time to check for lumps.
correct answer B) Most lumps are benign, but it is always best to come in for an
examination.
(B) provides the best response because it addresses the client's anxiety most
effectively and encourages prompt and immediate action for a potential problem.
(A) postpones treatment if the lump is malignant, and does not relieve the client's
anxiety. (C and D) provide false reassurance and do not help relieve anxiety.
A 32-year-old female client complains of severe abdominal pain each month
before her menstrual period, painful intercourse, and painful defecation. Which
additional history should the nurse obtain that is consistent with the client's
complaints?
A) Frequent urinary tract infections.
B) Inability to get pregnant.
C) Premenstrual syndrome.
D) Chronic use of laxatives. correct answer B) Inability to get pregnant.
Dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, and difficulty or painful defecation are common
symptoms of endometriosis, which is the abnormal displacement of endometrial
,tissue in the dependent areas of the pelvic peritoneum. A history of infertility (B)
is another common finding associated with endometriosis. Although (A, C, and D)
are common, nonspecific gynecological complaints, the most common complaints
of the client with endometriosis are pain and infertility.
A 46-year-old female client is admitted for acute renal failure secondary to
diabetes and hypertension. Which test is the best indicator of adequate
glomerular filtration?
A) Serum creatinine.
B) Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN).
C) Sedimentation rate.
D) Urine specific gravity. correct answer A) Serum creatinine.
Creatinine (A) is a product of muscle metabolism that is filtered by the
glomerulus, and blood levels of this substance are not affected by dietary or fluid
intake. An elevated creatinine strongly indicates nephron loss, reducing filtration.
(B) is also an indicator of renal activity, but it can be affected by non-renal factors
such as hypovolemia and increased protein intake. (C) is a nonspecific test for
acute or chronic inflammatory processes. (D) is useful in assessing hydration
status, but not as useful in assessing glomerular function.
A 49-year-old female client arrives at the clinic for an annual exam and asks the
nurse why she becomes excessively diaphoretic and feels warm during nighttime.
What is the nurse's best response?
A) Explain the effect of the follicle-stimulating and luteinizing hormones.
B) Discuss perimenopause and related comfort measures.
C) Assess lung fields and for a cough productive of blood-tinged mucous.
D) Ask if a fever above 101º F has occurred in the last 24 hours. correct answer B)
Discuss perimenopause and related comfort measures.
,The perimenopausal period begins about 10 years before menopause with the
cessation of menstruation at the average ages of 52 to 54. Lower estrogen levels
causes FSH and LH secretion in bursts (surges), which triggers vasomotor
instability, night sweats, and hot flashes, so discussions about the perimenopausal
body's changes, comfort measures (B), and treatment options should be
provided. In-depth pathophysiology of the symptoms (A) may only confuse the
client. There is no indication that the client has tuberculosis and an infection, so
(C and D) are not indicated.
A 51-year-old truck driver who smokes two packs of cigarettes a day and is 30
pounds overweight is diagnosed with having a gastric ulcer. What content is most
important for the nurse to include in the discharge teaching for this client?
A) Information about smoking cessation.
B) Diet instructions for a low-residue diet.
C) Instructions on a weight-loss program.
D) The importance of increasing milk in the diet. correct answer A) Information
about smoking cessation.
Smoking has been associated with ulcer formation, and stopping or decreasing
the number of cigarettes smoked per day is an important aspect of ulcer
management (A). Diet management includes a reduction in high-fiber/high-
roughage foods as well as spicy foods. (B) would be indicated for inflammatory
bowel disease. Sodium and caloric intake are not the key elements in an ulcer
diet. Although this client does need (C), the management of his ulcer is the key
factor at this point. (D) would actually increase gastric acid production.
A 57-year-old male client is scheduled to have a stress-thallium test the following
morning and is NPO after midnight. At 0130, he is agitated because he cannot eat
, and is demanding food. Which response is best for the nurse to provide to this
client?
A) I'm sorry sir, you have a prescription for nothing by mouth from midnight
tonight.
B) I will let you have one cracker, but that is all you can have for the rest of
tonight.
C) What did the healthcare provider tell you about the test you are having
tomorrow?
D) The test you are having tomorrow requires that you have nothing by mouth
tonight. correct answer D) The test you are having tomorrow requires that you
have nothing by mouth tonight.
(D) is the most therapeutic statement because the nurse is responding to the
client's question. (A) is not an explanation and the nurse should teach the client
why eating is prohibited after midnight, rather than enforcing this requirement
without an explanation for it. (B) may result in an inaccurate test result, or may
cause the test to be cancelled, which could also delay diagnosis and treatment.
(C) defers the responsibility for answering the client's question to the healthcare
provider, when the nurse could address the situation through client teaching.
A 58-year-old client who has been post-menopausal for five years is concerned
about the risk for osteoporosis because her mother has the condition. Which
information should the nurse offer?
A) Osteoporosis is a progressive genetic disease with no effective treatment.
B) Calcium loss from bones can be slowed by increasing calcium intake and
exercise.
C) Estrogen replacement therapy should be started to prevent the progression
osteoporosis.
Accurate Answers
A 20-year-old female client calls the nurse to report a lump she found in her
breast. Which response is the best for the nurse to provide?
A) Check it again in one month, and if it is still there schedule an appointment.
B) Most lumps are benign, but it is always best to come in for an examination.
C) Try not to worry too much about it, because usually, most lumps are benign.
D) If you are in your menstrual period it is not a good time to check for lumps.
correct answer B) Most lumps are benign, but it is always best to come in for an
examination.
(B) provides the best response because it addresses the client's anxiety most
effectively and encourages prompt and immediate action for a potential problem.
(A) postpones treatment if the lump is malignant, and does not relieve the client's
anxiety. (C and D) provide false reassurance and do not help relieve anxiety.
A 32-year-old female client complains of severe abdominal pain each month
before her menstrual period, painful intercourse, and painful defecation. Which
additional history should the nurse obtain that is consistent with the client's
complaints?
A) Frequent urinary tract infections.
B) Inability to get pregnant.
C) Premenstrual syndrome.
D) Chronic use of laxatives. correct answer B) Inability to get pregnant.
Dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, and difficulty or painful defecation are common
symptoms of endometriosis, which is the abnormal displacement of endometrial
,tissue in the dependent areas of the pelvic peritoneum. A history of infertility (B)
is another common finding associated with endometriosis. Although (A, C, and D)
are common, nonspecific gynecological complaints, the most common complaints
of the client with endometriosis are pain and infertility.
A 46-year-old female client is admitted for acute renal failure secondary to
diabetes and hypertension. Which test is the best indicator of adequate
glomerular filtration?
A) Serum creatinine.
B) Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN).
C) Sedimentation rate.
D) Urine specific gravity. correct answer A) Serum creatinine.
Creatinine (A) is a product of muscle metabolism that is filtered by the
glomerulus, and blood levels of this substance are not affected by dietary or fluid
intake. An elevated creatinine strongly indicates nephron loss, reducing filtration.
(B) is also an indicator of renal activity, but it can be affected by non-renal factors
such as hypovolemia and increased protein intake. (C) is a nonspecific test for
acute or chronic inflammatory processes. (D) is useful in assessing hydration
status, but not as useful in assessing glomerular function.
A 49-year-old female client arrives at the clinic for an annual exam and asks the
nurse why she becomes excessively diaphoretic and feels warm during nighttime.
What is the nurse's best response?
A) Explain the effect of the follicle-stimulating and luteinizing hormones.
B) Discuss perimenopause and related comfort measures.
C) Assess lung fields and for a cough productive of blood-tinged mucous.
D) Ask if a fever above 101º F has occurred in the last 24 hours. correct answer B)
Discuss perimenopause and related comfort measures.
,The perimenopausal period begins about 10 years before menopause with the
cessation of menstruation at the average ages of 52 to 54. Lower estrogen levels
causes FSH and LH secretion in bursts (surges), which triggers vasomotor
instability, night sweats, and hot flashes, so discussions about the perimenopausal
body's changes, comfort measures (B), and treatment options should be
provided. In-depth pathophysiology of the symptoms (A) may only confuse the
client. There is no indication that the client has tuberculosis and an infection, so
(C and D) are not indicated.
A 51-year-old truck driver who smokes two packs of cigarettes a day and is 30
pounds overweight is diagnosed with having a gastric ulcer. What content is most
important for the nurse to include in the discharge teaching for this client?
A) Information about smoking cessation.
B) Diet instructions for a low-residue diet.
C) Instructions on a weight-loss program.
D) The importance of increasing milk in the diet. correct answer A) Information
about smoking cessation.
Smoking has been associated with ulcer formation, and stopping or decreasing
the number of cigarettes smoked per day is an important aspect of ulcer
management (A). Diet management includes a reduction in high-fiber/high-
roughage foods as well as spicy foods. (B) would be indicated for inflammatory
bowel disease. Sodium and caloric intake are not the key elements in an ulcer
diet. Although this client does need (C), the management of his ulcer is the key
factor at this point. (D) would actually increase gastric acid production.
A 57-year-old male client is scheduled to have a stress-thallium test the following
morning and is NPO after midnight. At 0130, he is agitated because he cannot eat
, and is demanding food. Which response is best for the nurse to provide to this
client?
A) I'm sorry sir, you have a prescription for nothing by mouth from midnight
tonight.
B) I will let you have one cracker, but that is all you can have for the rest of
tonight.
C) What did the healthcare provider tell you about the test you are having
tomorrow?
D) The test you are having tomorrow requires that you have nothing by mouth
tonight. correct answer D) The test you are having tomorrow requires that you
have nothing by mouth tonight.
(D) is the most therapeutic statement because the nurse is responding to the
client's question. (A) is not an explanation and the nurse should teach the client
why eating is prohibited after midnight, rather than enforcing this requirement
without an explanation for it. (B) may result in an inaccurate test result, or may
cause the test to be cancelled, which could also delay diagnosis and treatment.
(C) defers the responsibility for answering the client's question to the healthcare
provider, when the nurse could address the situation through client teaching.
A 58-year-old client who has been post-menopausal for five years is concerned
about the risk for osteoporosis because her mother has the condition. Which
information should the nurse offer?
A) Osteoporosis is a progressive genetic disease with no effective treatment.
B) Calcium loss from bones can be slowed by increasing calcium intake and
exercise.
C) Estrogen replacement therapy should be started to prevent the progression
osteoporosis.
