MEDICAL-SURGICAL NURSING EXAM 1
2026 COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE
REVIEW NOTES NCLEX STYLE
PRACTICE QUESTIONS DETAILED
RATIONALES AND EXAM
PREPARATION
The nurse is evaluating care provided to a patient with a fractured
humerus. Which observations indicate that nursing care has been effective?
Select all that apply. -CORRECT ANSWER-Palpable pulses
Normal skin color
Capillary refill time 2 seconds
Pain level 2 on a scale of 1 to 10
A patient who received an epidural anesthetic for a surgical case is
prescribed a blood patch for a spinal headache. What should the nurse
explain about the purpose of this blood patch? -CORRECT ANSWER-
Stops cerebrospinal fluid leakage
A patient presents with sudden onset of high fever, chills, malaise, dyspnea,
cough, and hemoptysis. Laboratory studies show an elevated white blood
cell count with a predominance of neutrophils and prolonged clotting
,values. For which disease should the nurse plan this patient's care? -
CORRECT ANSWER-Plague
The nurse is explaining the infectious disease process to a patient awaiting
test results for a bacterial infection. What should the nurse explain as
destroying the walls of bacteria, resulting in their destruction? -CORRECT
ANSWER-Lysozymes
A patient with a systemic infection picks at the meal trays and ingests very
litle solid food. What should the nurse do to support this patient's
nutritional status for healing?
Select all that apply. -CORRECT ANSWER-Remove the bedpan from the
patient's bed area.
Ask what types of foods the patient finds enjoyable.
Explain that a soft or pureed diet is the best for healing.
Remove the incentive spirometer from the over the bed table.
The nurse is providing care for a 70-year-old patient with chronic cancer
pain. Which medication should the nurse expect to be prescribed for this
patient? -CORRECT ANSWER-Oxycodone (OxyContin) PO
A patient experiencing painful back spasms plans to stop taking prescribed
pain medication and resume weekly massage therapy sessions. How should
, the nurse respond to this patient's plan? -CORRECT ANSWER-"Massage
therapy should be used in addition to the pain medication."
Fory-eight hours after surgery a patient continues to have no bowel sounds.
What should the nurse do to promote the return of bowel function in this
patient?
Select all that apply. -CORRECT ANSWER-Assist to ambulate.
Provide the patient with chewing gum.
A patient is diagnosed with conjunctivitis. The nurse should explain that
the patient was infected via which mechanism? -CORRECT ANSWER-
Vehicle-borne
The nurse is preparing materials to instruct an older patient recovering
from septic shock. What should the nurse keep in mind when teaching this
patient?
Select all that apply. -CORRECT ANSWER-Speak slowly and clearly.
Speak in a low-pitched tone.
Provide materials in large print.
Involve family members in teaching.
2026 COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE
REVIEW NOTES NCLEX STYLE
PRACTICE QUESTIONS DETAILED
RATIONALES AND EXAM
PREPARATION
The nurse is evaluating care provided to a patient with a fractured
humerus. Which observations indicate that nursing care has been effective?
Select all that apply. -CORRECT ANSWER-Palpable pulses
Normal skin color
Capillary refill time 2 seconds
Pain level 2 on a scale of 1 to 10
A patient who received an epidural anesthetic for a surgical case is
prescribed a blood patch for a spinal headache. What should the nurse
explain about the purpose of this blood patch? -CORRECT ANSWER-
Stops cerebrospinal fluid leakage
A patient presents with sudden onset of high fever, chills, malaise, dyspnea,
cough, and hemoptysis. Laboratory studies show an elevated white blood
cell count with a predominance of neutrophils and prolonged clotting
,values. For which disease should the nurse plan this patient's care? -
CORRECT ANSWER-Plague
The nurse is explaining the infectious disease process to a patient awaiting
test results for a bacterial infection. What should the nurse explain as
destroying the walls of bacteria, resulting in their destruction? -CORRECT
ANSWER-Lysozymes
A patient with a systemic infection picks at the meal trays and ingests very
litle solid food. What should the nurse do to support this patient's
nutritional status for healing?
Select all that apply. -CORRECT ANSWER-Remove the bedpan from the
patient's bed area.
Ask what types of foods the patient finds enjoyable.
Explain that a soft or pureed diet is the best for healing.
Remove the incentive spirometer from the over the bed table.
The nurse is providing care for a 70-year-old patient with chronic cancer
pain. Which medication should the nurse expect to be prescribed for this
patient? -CORRECT ANSWER-Oxycodone (OxyContin) PO
A patient experiencing painful back spasms plans to stop taking prescribed
pain medication and resume weekly massage therapy sessions. How should
, the nurse respond to this patient's plan? -CORRECT ANSWER-"Massage
therapy should be used in addition to the pain medication."
Fory-eight hours after surgery a patient continues to have no bowel sounds.
What should the nurse do to promote the return of bowel function in this
patient?
Select all that apply. -CORRECT ANSWER-Assist to ambulate.
Provide the patient with chewing gum.
A patient is diagnosed with conjunctivitis. The nurse should explain that
the patient was infected via which mechanism? -CORRECT ANSWER-
Vehicle-borne
The nurse is preparing materials to instruct an older patient recovering
from septic shock. What should the nurse keep in mind when teaching this
patient?
Select all that apply. -CORRECT ANSWER-Speak slowly and clearly.
Speak in a low-pitched tone.
Provide materials in large print.
Involve family members in teaching.
