,Medical-Surgical (Med-Surg) Proctor Exam – Newest 2026 Edition |
Actual Exam Questions, Correct Answers & Expert Rationales |
Complete Success Study Guide | Instant PDF Download
1. A nurse is assisting with the care of a client who has a femur fracture and is in skeletal
traction. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
• A. Ensure the client's weights are resting on the floor.
• B. Ensure the client's weights are hanging freely from the bed.
• C. Remove the weights every 2 hours for skin inspection.
• D. Add additional weights to speed up healing.
➢ Correct answer: B. Ensure the client's weights are hanging freely from the bed.
➢ Rationale: Skeletal traction requires weights to hang freely to provide constant pulling
force; resting on the floor or removing weights defeats traction purpose.
2. A nurse in a provider's office is reinforcing teaching with a client who has anemia and has
been taking ferrous gluconate for several weeks. Which of the following instructions should the
nurse include?
• A. Take this medication with a glass of milk.
• B. Take this medication at bedtime only.
• C. Take this medication between meals.
• D. Take this medication with antacids to prevent nausea.
➢ Correct answer: C. Take this medication between meals.
➢ Rationale: Ferrous gluconate is absorbed best on an empty stomach; food (especially
dairy and antacids) interferes with absorption.
3. A nurse is preparing a plan of care for a client who is postoperative following a modified
radical mastectomy. Which of the following invasive devices should the nurse expect this client
to have?
• A. Chest tube
• B. Jackson-Pratt drain
• C. Central venous catheter
• D. Indwelling urinary catheter
➢ Correct answer: B. Jackson-Pratt drain.
, ➢ Rationale: After modified radical mastectomy, Jackson-Pratt drains are placed to
prevent seroma formation by draining lymphatic fluid from the surgical site.
4. A nurse is caring for a client who had a left lower lobectomy to treat lung cancer. Which of the
following factors will have a significant impact on the plan of care for this client?
• A. Lung cancer usually responds well to antibiotics.
• B. Lung cancer is always detected at an early stage.
• C. Lung cancer usually has metastasized before the client presents with symptoms.
• D. Lung cancer does not require postoperative monitoring.
➢ Correct answer: C. Lung cancer usually has metastasized before the client presents
with symptoms.
➢ Rationale: Lung cancer is often asymptomatic until advanced stages, meaning
metastasis may have already occurred by the time of diagnosis, affecting prognosis and
care planning.
5. A nurse is reviewing the plan of care for a client who has cellulitis of the leg. Which of the
following interventions should the nurse recommend?
• A. Wash daily with an antibacterial soap.
• B. Apply heat packs for 30 minutes every 4 hours.
• C. Elevate the leg only when sleeping.
• D. Massage the affected area to improve circulation.
➢ Correct answer: A. Wash daily with an antibacterial soap.
➢ Rationale: Antibacterial soap reduces bacterial load on the skin, helping to prevent
spread of infection and promote healing of cellulitis.
6. A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who is postoperative after having an ileostomy
established. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include in the teaching?
• A. Avoid medications in capsule or enteric form.
• B. Increase intake of raw vegetables and popcorn.
• C. Expect stool to be formed and brown in color.
• D. Change the ostomy pouch every morning before breakfast.
➢ Correct answer: A. Avoid medications in capsule or enteric form.
➢ Rationale: Capsule and enteric-coated medications may not dissolve properly in the
small intestine after ileostomy, leading to incomplete absorption or obstruction.
, 7. A nurse is caring for a client with severe burns to both lower extremities. The client is
scheduled for an escharotomy and wants to know what the procedure involves. Which of the
following statements is appropriate for the nurse to make?
• A. "Small incisions will be made in the burned tissue to improve circulation."
• B. "Large incisions will be made in the burned tissue to improve circulation."
• C. "Skin grafts will be taken from your thighs to cover the burns."
• D. "Dead tissue will be surgically removed down to healthy tissue."
➢ Correct answer: B. "Large incisions will be made in the burned tissue to improve
circulation."
➢ Rationale: Escharotomy involves making deep incisions through the hardened eschar
to relieve pressure and restore blood flow to compromised extremities.
8. A nurse is collecting data from a client who has a possible cataract. Which of the following
manifestations should the nurse expect the client to report?
• A. Decreased color perception
• B. Sudden onset of double vision
• C. Eye pain and photophobia
• D. Flashing lights and floaters
➢ Correct answer: A. Decreased color perception.
➢ Rationale: Cataracts cause clouding of the lens, leading to gradual blurring, decreased
color perception, and difficulty with night vision, but typically not pain.
9. A nurse is contributing to the plan of care for a client who has an intestinal obstruction and is
receiving continuous gastrointestinal decompression using a nasogastric tube. Which of the
following interventions should the nurse include in the plan of care?
• A. Maintain the client in Fowler's position.
• B. Irrigate the NG tube with sterile water every 2 hours.
• C. Clamp the NG tube for 30 minutes before meals.
• D. Reposition the NG tube every 4 hours.
➢ Correct answer: A. Maintain the client in Fowler's position.
➢ Rationale: Fowler's position promotes gastric drainage by gravity and reduces risk of
aspiration in clients with intestinal obstruction and NG decompression.
10. A nurse is caring for a client who has Cushing's syndrome. Which of the following clinical
manifestations should the nurse expect to observe? (Select all that apply.)
Actual Exam Questions, Correct Answers & Expert Rationales |
Complete Success Study Guide | Instant PDF Download
1. A nurse is assisting with the care of a client who has a femur fracture and is in skeletal
traction. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
• A. Ensure the client's weights are resting on the floor.
• B. Ensure the client's weights are hanging freely from the bed.
• C. Remove the weights every 2 hours for skin inspection.
• D. Add additional weights to speed up healing.
➢ Correct answer: B. Ensure the client's weights are hanging freely from the bed.
➢ Rationale: Skeletal traction requires weights to hang freely to provide constant pulling
force; resting on the floor or removing weights defeats traction purpose.
2. A nurse in a provider's office is reinforcing teaching with a client who has anemia and has
been taking ferrous gluconate for several weeks. Which of the following instructions should the
nurse include?
• A. Take this medication with a glass of milk.
• B. Take this medication at bedtime only.
• C. Take this medication between meals.
• D. Take this medication with antacids to prevent nausea.
➢ Correct answer: C. Take this medication between meals.
➢ Rationale: Ferrous gluconate is absorbed best on an empty stomach; food (especially
dairy and antacids) interferes with absorption.
3. A nurse is preparing a plan of care for a client who is postoperative following a modified
radical mastectomy. Which of the following invasive devices should the nurse expect this client
to have?
• A. Chest tube
• B. Jackson-Pratt drain
• C. Central venous catheter
• D. Indwelling urinary catheter
➢ Correct answer: B. Jackson-Pratt drain.
, ➢ Rationale: After modified radical mastectomy, Jackson-Pratt drains are placed to
prevent seroma formation by draining lymphatic fluid from the surgical site.
4. A nurse is caring for a client who had a left lower lobectomy to treat lung cancer. Which of the
following factors will have a significant impact on the plan of care for this client?
• A. Lung cancer usually responds well to antibiotics.
• B. Lung cancer is always detected at an early stage.
• C. Lung cancer usually has metastasized before the client presents with symptoms.
• D. Lung cancer does not require postoperative monitoring.
➢ Correct answer: C. Lung cancer usually has metastasized before the client presents
with symptoms.
➢ Rationale: Lung cancer is often asymptomatic until advanced stages, meaning
metastasis may have already occurred by the time of diagnosis, affecting prognosis and
care planning.
5. A nurse is reviewing the plan of care for a client who has cellulitis of the leg. Which of the
following interventions should the nurse recommend?
• A. Wash daily with an antibacterial soap.
• B. Apply heat packs for 30 minutes every 4 hours.
• C. Elevate the leg only when sleeping.
• D. Massage the affected area to improve circulation.
➢ Correct answer: A. Wash daily with an antibacterial soap.
➢ Rationale: Antibacterial soap reduces bacterial load on the skin, helping to prevent
spread of infection and promote healing of cellulitis.
6. A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who is postoperative after having an ileostomy
established. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include in the teaching?
• A. Avoid medications in capsule or enteric form.
• B. Increase intake of raw vegetables and popcorn.
• C. Expect stool to be formed and brown in color.
• D. Change the ostomy pouch every morning before breakfast.
➢ Correct answer: A. Avoid medications in capsule or enteric form.
➢ Rationale: Capsule and enteric-coated medications may not dissolve properly in the
small intestine after ileostomy, leading to incomplete absorption or obstruction.
, 7. A nurse is caring for a client with severe burns to both lower extremities. The client is
scheduled for an escharotomy and wants to know what the procedure involves. Which of the
following statements is appropriate for the nurse to make?
• A. "Small incisions will be made in the burned tissue to improve circulation."
• B. "Large incisions will be made in the burned tissue to improve circulation."
• C. "Skin grafts will be taken from your thighs to cover the burns."
• D. "Dead tissue will be surgically removed down to healthy tissue."
➢ Correct answer: B. "Large incisions will be made in the burned tissue to improve
circulation."
➢ Rationale: Escharotomy involves making deep incisions through the hardened eschar
to relieve pressure and restore blood flow to compromised extremities.
8. A nurse is collecting data from a client who has a possible cataract. Which of the following
manifestations should the nurse expect the client to report?
• A. Decreased color perception
• B. Sudden onset of double vision
• C. Eye pain and photophobia
• D. Flashing lights and floaters
➢ Correct answer: A. Decreased color perception.
➢ Rationale: Cataracts cause clouding of the lens, leading to gradual blurring, decreased
color perception, and difficulty with night vision, but typically not pain.
9. A nurse is contributing to the plan of care for a client who has an intestinal obstruction and is
receiving continuous gastrointestinal decompression using a nasogastric tube. Which of the
following interventions should the nurse include in the plan of care?
• A. Maintain the client in Fowler's position.
• B. Irrigate the NG tube with sterile water every 2 hours.
• C. Clamp the NG tube for 30 minutes before meals.
• D. Reposition the NG tube every 4 hours.
➢ Correct answer: A. Maintain the client in Fowler's position.
➢ Rationale: Fowler's position promotes gastric drainage by gravity and reduces risk of
aspiration in clients with intestinal obstruction and NG decompression.
10. A nurse is caring for a client who has Cushing's syndrome. Which of the following clinical
manifestations should the nurse expect to observe? (Select all that apply.)
