BRUNNER & SUDDARTH'S MED-SURG NURSING
TEXTBOOK 16TH EDITION BSN TESTBANK | BY Janice L.
Hinkle, Kerry H. Cheever, Kristen J. Overbaugh & Carolyn
E. Bradley | ISBN 9781975221133 |PRACTICE TEST WITH
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS 2026
,1. A postoperative client who had abdominal surgery 4 hours ago
reports severe pain at the incision site and refuses to cough and
deep-breathe. Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Document the client’s refusal and reassess in 1 hour.
B. Encourage the client to splint the incision before coughing.
C. Administer the next scheduled dose of pain medication at the
end of the shift.
D. Teach the client that coughing is not necessary if pain is
present.
Correct Answer: B
Expansion: Splinting reduces incisional pain and promotes effective
coughing and deep breathing, which helps prevent atelectasis and
pneumonia. Delaying pain control, documenting only, or
discouraging coughing are inappropriate.
2. A nurse is caring for a client with chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease (COPD). Which assessment finding best indicates
worsening respiratory status?
A. Barrel chest
B. Productive cough with clear sputum
C. Increased use of accessory muscles
D. Decreased appetite
Correct Answer: C
Expansion: Increased accessory muscle use suggests increased
work of breathing and respiratory distress. Barrel chest is a
chronic finding, clear sputum is not necessarily worsening, and
decreased appetite is nonspecific.
,3. A client with a history of heart failure reports sudden dyspnea,
crackles in both lungs, and frothy pink sputum. Which condition is
most likely occurring?
A. Stable angina
B. Pulmonary edema
C. Pericarditis
D. Deep vein thrombosis
Correct Answer: B
Expansion: Frothy pink sputum, crackles, and dyspnea are classic
signs of pulmonary edema, often caused by acute left-sided heart
failure. The other options do not explain the respiratory findings.
4. A nurse is assessing a client with suspected stroke. Which finding
requires the most immediate action?
A. Mild headache
B. Unequal pupils
C. Slight facial droop
D. Difficulty remembering names
Correct Answer: B
Expansion: Unequal pupils may indicate increased intracranial
pressure or neurologic deterioration and require urgent action.
Facial droop and memory difficulty are concerning but less
immediately unstable than pupil changes.
5. Which instruction is most important for a client taking sublingual
nitroglycerin for angina?
, A. Swallow the tablet quickly with water.
B. Take the tablet while lying flat.
C. Keep the tablet under the tongue until dissolved.
D. Take the tablet only after meals.
Correct Answer: C
Expansion: Sublingual nitroglycerin must dissolve under the
tongue for rapid absorption. Swallowing reduces effect, and lying
flat or taking after meals is not the key instruction.
6. A client with diabetes mellitus is sweaty, shaky, and confused.
What is the nurse’s priority action?
A. Check the blood glucose level.
B. Administer long-acting insulin.
C. Encourage the client to walk.
D. Call the provider before acting.
Correct Answer: A
Expansion: These are signs of hypoglycemia, and blood glucose
should be checked immediately if possible. Insulin, exercise, and
delaying care are unsafe.
7. A client on warfarin has an INR of 5.2. Which finding is most
concerning?
A. Slight bruising on the arms
B. Gum bleeding when brushing teeth
C. Black, tarry stools
D. Mild fatigue
Correct Answer: C
TEXTBOOK 16TH EDITION BSN TESTBANK | BY Janice L.
Hinkle, Kerry H. Cheever, Kristen J. Overbaugh & Carolyn
E. Bradley | ISBN 9781975221133 |PRACTICE TEST WITH
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS 2026
,1. A postoperative client who had abdominal surgery 4 hours ago
reports severe pain at the incision site and refuses to cough and
deep-breathe. Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Document the client’s refusal and reassess in 1 hour.
B. Encourage the client to splint the incision before coughing.
C. Administer the next scheduled dose of pain medication at the
end of the shift.
D. Teach the client that coughing is not necessary if pain is
present.
Correct Answer: B
Expansion: Splinting reduces incisional pain and promotes effective
coughing and deep breathing, which helps prevent atelectasis and
pneumonia. Delaying pain control, documenting only, or
discouraging coughing are inappropriate.
2. A nurse is caring for a client with chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease (COPD). Which assessment finding best indicates
worsening respiratory status?
A. Barrel chest
B. Productive cough with clear sputum
C. Increased use of accessory muscles
D. Decreased appetite
Correct Answer: C
Expansion: Increased accessory muscle use suggests increased
work of breathing and respiratory distress. Barrel chest is a
chronic finding, clear sputum is not necessarily worsening, and
decreased appetite is nonspecific.
,3. A client with a history of heart failure reports sudden dyspnea,
crackles in both lungs, and frothy pink sputum. Which condition is
most likely occurring?
A. Stable angina
B. Pulmonary edema
C. Pericarditis
D. Deep vein thrombosis
Correct Answer: B
Expansion: Frothy pink sputum, crackles, and dyspnea are classic
signs of pulmonary edema, often caused by acute left-sided heart
failure. The other options do not explain the respiratory findings.
4. A nurse is assessing a client with suspected stroke. Which finding
requires the most immediate action?
A. Mild headache
B. Unequal pupils
C. Slight facial droop
D. Difficulty remembering names
Correct Answer: B
Expansion: Unequal pupils may indicate increased intracranial
pressure or neurologic deterioration and require urgent action.
Facial droop and memory difficulty are concerning but less
immediately unstable than pupil changes.
5. Which instruction is most important for a client taking sublingual
nitroglycerin for angina?
, A. Swallow the tablet quickly with water.
B. Take the tablet while lying flat.
C. Keep the tablet under the tongue until dissolved.
D. Take the tablet only after meals.
Correct Answer: C
Expansion: Sublingual nitroglycerin must dissolve under the
tongue for rapid absorption. Swallowing reduces effect, and lying
flat or taking after meals is not the key instruction.
6. A client with diabetes mellitus is sweaty, shaky, and confused.
What is the nurse’s priority action?
A. Check the blood glucose level.
B. Administer long-acting insulin.
C. Encourage the client to walk.
D. Call the provider before acting.
Correct Answer: A
Expansion: These are signs of hypoglycemia, and blood glucose
should be checked immediately if possible. Insulin, exercise, and
delaying care are unsafe.
7. A client on warfarin has an INR of 5.2. Which finding is most
concerning?
A. Slight bruising on the arms
B. Gum bleeding when brushing teeth
C. Black, tarry stools
D. Mild fatigue
Correct Answer: C
