Comprehensive Adult Medical-
Surgical Nursing Exam Prep:
Postoperative Care, Medications, Lab
Interpretation, and Patient Education
Questions Verified and Complete
with A+ Graded Rationales Latest
Updated 2026
A nurse is planning care for a client who is 1 day postoperative following spinal fusion. Which
of the following actions should the nurse include?
Log roll the client every 2 hr.
Assist the client to sit upright in a chair for 4 hr at a time.
Expect clear drainage on the spinal dressing.
Perform neurological checks every 8 hr.
Log roll the client every 2 hr.
The nurse should log roll the client from side to back or back to side every 2 hr to maintain
spinal alignment and prevent injury to the operative area.
A nurse is caring for a client who has a history of alcohol use disorder and reports bruising
and frequent nosebleeds. The nurse should recognize that this client in manifesting which of
the following conditions?
Malnutrition
Hepatitis A
Diabetes
Cirrhosis
Cirrhosis
,The nurse should recognizes this client is displaying manifestations of cirrhosis. A history of
alcohol use disorder increases the client's risk of developing cirrhosis and coagulation defects
are a common complication of cirrhosis.
A nurse is admitting a client who is having an exacerbation of his asthma. When reviewing the
provider's orders, the nurse recognizes that clarification is needed for which of the following
medications?
Propranolol
Theophylline
Montelukast
Prednisone
Propranolol
Medications that block beta-2 receptors, such as propanolol, are contraindicated in clients with
asthma.
A charge nurse is supervising a newly licensed nurse care for a client who is receiving a
transfusion of packed RBC. The nurse suspects a possible hemolytic reaction. After stopping
the blood transfusion, which of the following actions by the new nurse requires intervention
by the charge nurse?
The nurse initiates an infusion of 0.9% sodium chloride.
The nurse collects a urine specimen.
The nurse sends a blood specimen to the laboratory.
The nurse starts the transfusion of another unit of blood product.
The nurse starts the transfusion of another unit of blood product.
When suspecting a hemolytic reaction, the nurse should immediately stop the transfusion of all
blood products. The transfusion of additional products can increase the client's risk for further
complication.
After radiation treatment, a client reports dryness, redness, and scaling of his skin occurring
within the designated radiation treatment markings. The nurse should instruct the client to
take which of the following actions?
Apply hydrating lotions.
Apply moist heat.
, Sit in the sun for 10 min per day.
Wash with plain soap and water.
Apply hydrating lotions.
The nurse should instruct the client to gently apply hydrating lotions that do not contain metal,
alcohol, or perfume.
A nurse is conducting a nutritional assessment for a client who weighs (75 kg) 165 lb. The
nurse should calculate that the client's Recommended Dietary Allowance for protein is how
much per day? (Round the answer to the nearest whole number. Use a leading zero if it
applies. Do not use a trailing zero.)
________________ g
The RDA for protein is 0.8 mg/kg. To calculate the client’s RDA for protein, the nurse would first
determine the client’s weight in kg, and then multiply by 0.8 mg/kg.165 lb/X kg = 2.2 lb/1 kgX =
75 kg75 kg x 0.8 mg = 60 g
A nurse is caring for a client who has active pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) and a new
prescription for IV rifampin. The nurse should instruct the client that they should expect to
experience which of the following manifestations while taking this medication?
Constipation
Black-colored stools
Staining of teeth
Red-colored urine
Red-colored urine
Rifampin is used in combination with other medicines to treat TB. Rifampin will cause the urine,
stool, saliva, sputum, sweat, and tears to turn reddish-orange to reddish-brown.
A nurse manager hears a staff nurse on the unit speak openly about her dislike of a recent
policy change regarding client care. When discussing the issue with the nurse, which of the
following statements by the nurse manager is appropriate?
“Let's talk about your concerns about the new policy.”
“Why didn't you voice your concerns before the new policy was implemented?”
“Being open to change is an expectation of the nurses who work on this unit.”
“You should support this policy change because it was based on evidence-based practice.”
Surgical Nursing Exam Prep:
Postoperative Care, Medications, Lab
Interpretation, and Patient Education
Questions Verified and Complete
with A+ Graded Rationales Latest
Updated 2026
A nurse is planning care for a client who is 1 day postoperative following spinal fusion. Which
of the following actions should the nurse include?
Log roll the client every 2 hr.
Assist the client to sit upright in a chair for 4 hr at a time.
Expect clear drainage on the spinal dressing.
Perform neurological checks every 8 hr.
Log roll the client every 2 hr.
The nurse should log roll the client from side to back or back to side every 2 hr to maintain
spinal alignment and prevent injury to the operative area.
A nurse is caring for a client who has a history of alcohol use disorder and reports bruising
and frequent nosebleeds. The nurse should recognize that this client in manifesting which of
the following conditions?
Malnutrition
Hepatitis A
Diabetes
Cirrhosis
Cirrhosis
,The nurse should recognizes this client is displaying manifestations of cirrhosis. A history of
alcohol use disorder increases the client's risk of developing cirrhosis and coagulation defects
are a common complication of cirrhosis.
A nurse is admitting a client who is having an exacerbation of his asthma. When reviewing the
provider's orders, the nurse recognizes that clarification is needed for which of the following
medications?
Propranolol
Theophylline
Montelukast
Prednisone
Propranolol
Medications that block beta-2 receptors, such as propanolol, are contraindicated in clients with
asthma.
A charge nurse is supervising a newly licensed nurse care for a client who is receiving a
transfusion of packed RBC. The nurse suspects a possible hemolytic reaction. After stopping
the blood transfusion, which of the following actions by the new nurse requires intervention
by the charge nurse?
The nurse initiates an infusion of 0.9% sodium chloride.
The nurse collects a urine specimen.
The nurse sends a blood specimen to the laboratory.
The nurse starts the transfusion of another unit of blood product.
The nurse starts the transfusion of another unit of blood product.
When suspecting a hemolytic reaction, the nurse should immediately stop the transfusion of all
blood products. The transfusion of additional products can increase the client's risk for further
complication.
After radiation treatment, a client reports dryness, redness, and scaling of his skin occurring
within the designated radiation treatment markings. The nurse should instruct the client to
take which of the following actions?
Apply hydrating lotions.
Apply moist heat.
, Sit in the sun for 10 min per day.
Wash with plain soap and water.
Apply hydrating lotions.
The nurse should instruct the client to gently apply hydrating lotions that do not contain metal,
alcohol, or perfume.
A nurse is conducting a nutritional assessment for a client who weighs (75 kg) 165 lb. The
nurse should calculate that the client's Recommended Dietary Allowance for protein is how
much per day? (Round the answer to the nearest whole number. Use a leading zero if it
applies. Do not use a trailing zero.)
________________ g
The RDA for protein is 0.8 mg/kg. To calculate the client’s RDA for protein, the nurse would first
determine the client’s weight in kg, and then multiply by 0.8 mg/kg.165 lb/X kg = 2.2 lb/1 kgX =
75 kg75 kg x 0.8 mg = 60 g
A nurse is caring for a client who has active pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) and a new
prescription for IV rifampin. The nurse should instruct the client that they should expect to
experience which of the following manifestations while taking this medication?
Constipation
Black-colored stools
Staining of teeth
Red-colored urine
Red-colored urine
Rifampin is used in combination with other medicines to treat TB. Rifampin will cause the urine,
stool, saliva, sputum, sweat, and tears to turn reddish-orange to reddish-brown.
A nurse manager hears a staff nurse on the unit speak openly about her dislike of a recent
policy change regarding client care. When discussing the issue with the nurse, which of the
following statements by the nurse manager is appropriate?
“Let's talk about your concerns about the new policy.”
“Why didn't you voice your concerns before the new policy was implemented?”
“Being open to change is an expectation of the nurses who work on this unit.”
“You should support this policy change because it was based on evidence-based practice.”
