PN Adult Medical Surgical Exam Review : Updated Practice Questions & Rationales for the Practical Nurse

Prepare to excel on your practical nursing exam with the PN Adult Medical Surgical Exam Review, Updated for 2026. This comprehensive study guide is your essential resource for mastering the core concepts of medical-surgical nursing. Meticulously reviewed and updated, this PDF contains hundreds of realistic practice questions designed to reflect the latest test plan and blueprint PN ADULT MEDICAL SURGICAL EXAM REVIEWED AND UPDATED IN 2026/2027| QUESTIONS WITH ELABORATIVE ANSWERS WITH RATIONALE | GUARANTEED PASS| ALREADY GRADED A+ 1. A nurse is collecting data from a client who is being treated for hypovolemia due to nausea and vomiting. Which of the following findings should the nurse report to the provider? - ANSWER️️-Heart rate 120/min 2. A nurse is assisting with the care for a client who reports stomatitis. Which of the following dietary recommendations should the nurse make? - ANSWER️️-"Select foods that are low in protein." 3. A nurse is reviewing the medical record for a client who is experiencing nausea and vomiting. Based on the client data, which of the following actions should the nurse take? (Click on the exhibit tabs for additional information about the client. There are three tabs that contain separate categories of data.) - ANSWER️️-Notify the charge nurse of the client's blood pressure. 4. A nurse is reinforcing discharge teaching for the caregivers of a client who has Parkinson's disease. Which of the following information should the nurse include in the teaching? - ANSWER️️-Remind the client to avoid watching their feet when walking. 5. A nurse is assisting with the care of a client who had a stroke and is unable to speak. The nurse should identify that the client's injury occurred in which of the following lobes of the brain? (You will find hot spots to select in the artwork below. Select only the hot spot that corresponds to your answer.) - ANSWER️️-A is correct. 6. Complete the diagram by dragging from the choices below to specify what condition the client is most likely experiencing, 2 actions the nurse should take to address that condition, and 2 parameters the nurse should monitor to assess the client's progress. - ANSWER️️-The nurse should reduce the temperature in the client's room and limit visitors because the client has manifestations of hyperthyroidism. Clients who have hyperthyroidism have heat intolerance and require an environment with decreased stimuli. The nurse should monitor the client for an increased temperature which can indicate a thyroid storm, as well as the client's weight daily, to monitor for weight loss. 7. A nurse is contributing to the plan of care for a client who has multiple sclerosis and is taking dantrolene to manage muscle spasms. Which of the following interventions should the nurse include? - ANSWER️️-Encourage the client to complete adls. 8. A nurse is assisting with the care for a client who has a new cast on their left forearm and reports severe pain in the affected arm with numbness in the fingers. The nurse finds the skin is pale and cold with sluggish capillary refill. Which of the following fracture complications should the nurse suspect? - ANSWER️️-Compartment syndrome 9. A nurse is assisting with the care for a client who has Cushing's syndrome and expresses concern regarding physical changes associated with the syndrome. Which of the following should the nurse recognize as a physical change caused by this disorder? - ANSWER️️-Truncal obesity 10. A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who is taking levothyroxine. Which of the following statements by the client indicates an understanding of the teaching? - ANSWER️️-"The medication should be taken before I eat breakfast every morning." 11. A nurse observes a client who is lying in bed and experiencing a tonic-clonic seizure. Which of the following actions should the nurse take? - ANSWER️️-Loosen clothing around the client's neck. 12. A nurse is assisting with the care for a client who has acute pancreatitis. While providing care, the nurse observes ecchymosis around the umbilicus. The nurse should identify that this is a manifestation of which of the following? - ANSWER️️-Intra-abdominal bleeding 13. A home health nurse is assisting with the care for a client who has COPD. The client reports shortness of breath while eating, despite the use of home oxygen. Which of the following recommendations should the nurse make? - ANSWER️️-"Use a bronchodilator 30 minutes before your meal." 14. A nurse is changing the dressing for a client who has an abdominal incision and a closed-suction drain. Which of the following actions should the nurse take? - ANSWER️️-Cleanse the drainage plug with alcohol swabs. 15. A nurse is contributing to planning care for a client who overdosed on oxycodone. Which of the following medications should the nurse recommend for the client? - ANSWER️️-Naloxone 16. A nurse is assisting with the care of a client who is at risk for developing pressure injuries. Which of the following actions should the nurse take? - ANSWER️️-Position pillows between the bony prominences. 17. A nurse is reinforcing teaching with an adolescent client regarding testicular self-examination. Which of the following statements by the client demonstrates an understanding of the teaching? - ANSWER️️-"I understand that testicular cancer is typically painless." 18. A nurse is reinforcing discharge teaching with a client who has leukemia and is receiving chemotherapy. Which of the following statements should the nurse include in the teaching? - ANSWER️️-"You should place your toothbrush in hydrogen peroxide." 19. A nurse is assisting with the care of a client who has restricted movement of the chest due to a burn injury. The nurse should anticipate preparing the client for which of the following procedures? - ANSWER️️-Escharotomy 20. A nurse is assisting in the plan of care regarding bowel retraining for a client who has a cervical spinal cord injury. Which of the following interventions should the nurse plan to implement first? - ANSWER️️-Determine the client's daily elimination habits. 21. A nurse is contributing to the plan of care for a client who was admitted to the neurological unit following a stroke 3 hr ago. Which of the following interventions should the nurse identify as the priority? - ANSWER️️-Keep the client in a side-lying position. 22. A nurse is performing an ECG on a client who is scheduled for surgery the following morning. In which of the following locations should the nurse place the V1 electrode? (You will find hot spots to select in the artwork below. Select only the hot spot that corresponds to your answer.) - ANSWER️️-C is correct 23. A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who is scheduled for a guaiac fecal occult blood test. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include in the teaching? - ANSWER️️-Avoid eating red meat for 3 days prior to the test. 24. A nurse in a clinic is collecting data from a client who has hyperthyroidism and has been taking methimazole for 4 weeks. Which of the following statements by the client indicates a therapeutic response to the medication? - ANSWER️️-"I have gained 3 pounds since my last appointment." 25. A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who has gonorrhea. Which of the following information should the nurse include? - ANSWER️️-"You are at risk for infertility with this infection, regardless of treatment." 26. A nurse is assisting with the care of a client who has hearing loss. Which of the following actions should the nurse take? - ANSWER️️-Lower voice pitch when speaking 27. A nurse in a long-term care facility is collecting data from a client who reports fullness in the rectum and abdominal cramping. Which of the following findings should indicate to the nurse that the client might have a fecal impaction? - ANSWER️️-Small liquid stools 28. A nurse is reviewing the medication record of a client who is taking digoxin. Which of the following medications should the nurse identify as increasing the risk for the client to develop digoxin toxicity? - ANSWER️️-Furosemide 29. A nurse is contributing to the plan of care for a client who has peripheral arterial disease of the lower extremities. Which of the following interventions should the nurse include? - ANSWER️️-Dangle the extremities off the side of the bed. 30. A nurse is preparing to administer phytonadione 7 mg subcutaneously to a client who has an INR of 4. Available is phytonadione 10 mg/ml. How many ml should the nurse administer? (Round the answer to the nearest tenth. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.) - ANSWER️️-0.7 ml 31. A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client about increasing dietary fiber. The nurse should recommend which of the following foods as the best source of fiber? - ANSWER️️-1/2 cup cooked kidney beans 32. A nurse in a telemetry unit is collecting data from a client who has a newly inserted permanent pacemaker. Which of the following findings should the nurse report to the provider? - ANSWER️️-The client experiences hiccups when sitting. 33. A nurse is reviewing the laboratory results of a client. The nurse should identify that which of the following laboratory values indicates the client is at risk for delayed wound healing? - ANSWER️️-Decreased iron 34. A nurse is reinforcing teaching about nutrition choices with a client who has leukemia and is receiving chemotherapy. The nurse should identify that which of the following statements by the client indicates an understanding of the teaching? - ANSWER️️-"I drink bottled water." 35. After reviewing the findings in the client's medical record, the nurse should first address the client's ________, followed by the client's _______. - ANSWER️️-Abdominal distention is correct. Acute pain is correct.