EXAM 1 MED SURG GALEN 177 EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWER UPDATED 2026 VERIFIED ANSWERS ACTUAL
UPDATED PRACTICE QUESTIONS HIGH YIELD STUDY
GUIDE MEDICAL SURGICAL NURSING EXAM
PREPARATION GRADED A+
What are the three main types of headaches? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Migraine, Tension, Cluster
Steps to Pain Assessment - CORRECT ANSWER -Provoking
Quality
Radiation
Severity
Time
Provoking - CORRECT ANSWER -has anything made it better or worse
Quality - CORRECT ANSWER -Sharp, dull, achy, throbbing
Radiation - CORRECT ANSWER -Does it radiate to another part of the
body
Severity - CORRECT ANSWER -Pain scale, 1-10 scale, intense pain, Other
symptoms: N/V, photophobia
Time - CORRECT ANSWER -how long has it been going on? how long
does it usually last?
Tension Headache - CORRECT ANSWER -Bandlike, tightness
,Describe a Migraine - CORRECT ANSWER -Unilateral, supra and retro
orbital, pulsating or throbbing, worse with movement, sensitivity with light and
sounds
Cluster - CORRECT ANSWER -Lancinationg or stabbing, 5-30 minutes.
Extreme pain
Migraine Pathophysiology - CORRECT ANSWER -Pathophysiology - Not
entirely clear.; theories?
Prevalence: May be seen in children and adults; Among children more common
in boys; among adults more common in women.
History of patient with migraine: Otherwise healthy, usually female in 30's
Individualized triggers (stress, smells, foods, hormones, menses)
Tyramine rich foods- chocolate, cheeses, beer, wine, cigar, sweet and low.
Treatment for Migraine - CORRECT ANSWER -Vasoconstriction works
the best, irritation of the 5th cranial nerve, Estrogen hormone can causes
migraines.
Migraine Manifestations - CORRECT ANSWER -Manifestations
Pain: Usually unilateral, supra/retro-orbital, pulsating. Worse with movement.
Accompanied by non-h/a symptoms: N/V, photophobia, phonophobia,
Aura: (20% of cases):
Migraine Interventions - CORRECT ANSWER -Pain management
Symptom management
Ex. Pitch black, turn off all the lights, N/V causes dehydration
,Migraine Drug Therapy - CORRECT ANSWER -APAP/Caffeine/ Butabital
(Fioricet)
NSAIDS : Naprosyn
CCBs and Beta- Blockers (Preventative therapy) : Verapamil
Triptans and ergotamine's: Sumatriptan and Cafergot
Anticonvulsants (Preventative therapy): Topiramate
Botox Injections (monthly)
Magnesium
Migraine Complementary and alternative therapies - CORRECT ANSWER
-Acupuncture, Yoga, Stress reduction activities, Supplemental mag, Distraction
sometimes works.
Pound acronym - CORRECT ANSWER -P:Pulsating
O:Duration
U: Unilateral location
N: N/V
D: Disabling
Epilepsy - CORRECT ANSWER -Chronic disorder with two or more
seizures experienced by the client.
Epilepsy Assessment - CORRECT ANSWER -Inquire about the seizure
activity, frequency, precipitating factors, aura (pre-ictal phase).
Family history
Collateral medical conditions (hx stroke, HTN, TBI, drug/alcohol abuse)
Seizure risk factors - CORRECT ANSWER -V: Vascular
, I: Infection or Inherited conditions
T: Trauma
A: Alzheimers/Autoimmune
M: Metabolic derangements
I: Idiopathic
N: Neoplasm
S: pSychiatric
Epilepsy Triggers - CORRECT ANSWER -Sleep deprivation
Stress
Alcohol/ Alcohol Withdrawl
MSG
pg 878 Chart 42-9
Aura - CORRECT ANSWER -Seizures often preceded by an aura; it is
unique to that patient, not every patient has them.
Somatic: rising epigastric sensation
Hallucinations: Visual, gustatory, olfactory
Halos, Zig-zags, h/a, paresthesias, psychiatric phenomenon, deja-vu
Epilepsy Partial: - CORRECT ANSWER -Partial (also called focal or local
seizures): Occurs in a specific part of the brain. May be characterized by
automatism or tic. Ex: Jerk, reflex, lip smacking (complex)
Epilepsy Simple: - CORRECT ANSWER -Client does not consciousness.
Localized jerking/movement. Strange sensations. Autonomic symptoms.
Focal awareness they do not lose consciousness.
ANSWER UPDATED 2026 VERIFIED ANSWERS ACTUAL
UPDATED PRACTICE QUESTIONS HIGH YIELD STUDY
GUIDE MEDICAL SURGICAL NURSING EXAM
PREPARATION GRADED A+
What are the three main types of headaches? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Migraine, Tension, Cluster
Steps to Pain Assessment - CORRECT ANSWER -Provoking
Quality
Radiation
Severity
Time
Provoking - CORRECT ANSWER -has anything made it better or worse
Quality - CORRECT ANSWER -Sharp, dull, achy, throbbing
Radiation - CORRECT ANSWER -Does it radiate to another part of the
body
Severity - CORRECT ANSWER -Pain scale, 1-10 scale, intense pain, Other
symptoms: N/V, photophobia
Time - CORRECT ANSWER -how long has it been going on? how long
does it usually last?
Tension Headache - CORRECT ANSWER -Bandlike, tightness
,Describe a Migraine - CORRECT ANSWER -Unilateral, supra and retro
orbital, pulsating or throbbing, worse with movement, sensitivity with light and
sounds
Cluster - CORRECT ANSWER -Lancinationg or stabbing, 5-30 minutes.
Extreme pain
Migraine Pathophysiology - CORRECT ANSWER -Pathophysiology - Not
entirely clear.; theories?
Prevalence: May be seen in children and adults; Among children more common
in boys; among adults more common in women.
History of patient with migraine: Otherwise healthy, usually female in 30's
Individualized triggers (stress, smells, foods, hormones, menses)
Tyramine rich foods- chocolate, cheeses, beer, wine, cigar, sweet and low.
Treatment for Migraine - CORRECT ANSWER -Vasoconstriction works
the best, irritation of the 5th cranial nerve, Estrogen hormone can causes
migraines.
Migraine Manifestations - CORRECT ANSWER -Manifestations
Pain: Usually unilateral, supra/retro-orbital, pulsating. Worse with movement.
Accompanied by non-h/a symptoms: N/V, photophobia, phonophobia,
Aura: (20% of cases):
Migraine Interventions - CORRECT ANSWER -Pain management
Symptom management
Ex. Pitch black, turn off all the lights, N/V causes dehydration
,Migraine Drug Therapy - CORRECT ANSWER -APAP/Caffeine/ Butabital
(Fioricet)
NSAIDS : Naprosyn
CCBs and Beta- Blockers (Preventative therapy) : Verapamil
Triptans and ergotamine's: Sumatriptan and Cafergot
Anticonvulsants (Preventative therapy): Topiramate
Botox Injections (monthly)
Magnesium
Migraine Complementary and alternative therapies - CORRECT ANSWER
-Acupuncture, Yoga, Stress reduction activities, Supplemental mag, Distraction
sometimes works.
Pound acronym - CORRECT ANSWER -P:Pulsating
O:Duration
U: Unilateral location
N: N/V
D: Disabling
Epilepsy - CORRECT ANSWER -Chronic disorder with two or more
seizures experienced by the client.
Epilepsy Assessment - CORRECT ANSWER -Inquire about the seizure
activity, frequency, precipitating factors, aura (pre-ictal phase).
Family history
Collateral medical conditions (hx stroke, HTN, TBI, drug/alcohol abuse)
Seizure risk factors - CORRECT ANSWER -V: Vascular
, I: Infection or Inherited conditions
T: Trauma
A: Alzheimers/Autoimmune
M: Metabolic derangements
I: Idiopathic
N: Neoplasm
S: pSychiatric
Epilepsy Triggers - CORRECT ANSWER -Sleep deprivation
Stress
Alcohol/ Alcohol Withdrawl
MSG
pg 878 Chart 42-9
Aura - CORRECT ANSWER -Seizures often preceded by an aura; it is
unique to that patient, not every patient has them.
Somatic: rising epigastric sensation
Hallucinations: Visual, gustatory, olfactory
Halos, Zig-zags, h/a, paresthesias, psychiatric phenomenon, deja-vu
Epilepsy Partial: - CORRECT ANSWER -Partial (also called focal or local
seizures): Occurs in a specific part of the brain. May be characterized by
automatism or tic. Ex: Jerk, reflex, lip smacking (complex)
Epilepsy Simple: - CORRECT ANSWER -Client does not consciousness.
Localized jerking/movement. Strange sensations. Autonomic symptoms.
Focal awareness they do not lose consciousness.
