MED SURG 1 EXAM 200 ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS WITH RATIONALE LATEST
2026 ALREADY GRADED A+
This comprehensive 200-question practice exam is designed for the Med Surg
1 nursing exam, covering essential topics including preoperative and
postoperative care, respiratory disorders (pneumonia, COPD, asthma),
cardiovascular conditions (heart failure, myocardial infarction, hypertension),
gastrointestinal disorders (pancreatitis, ulcers, GERD), renal and urinary
disorders, endocrine disorders (diabetes, thyroid dysfunction), neurological
conditions (stroke, seizures, Parkinson's disease), fluid and electrolyte
imbalances, burns, and wound care. Each question offers four multiple-choice
options with the correct answer and a detailed rationale based on current
evidence-based practice. This resource is ideal for nursing students preparing
for their Med Surg 1 examination.
Question 1
A patient is being admitted to the hospital on the day before a scheduled surgery.
What is the most appropriate initial question for the nurse to ask this preoperative
patient?
A) "What did your surgeon say to you about the type of surgery you are having?"
B) "What questions do you have about your surgery?"
C) "What type of surgery are you having and why are you having it done?"
D) "What do you know about what will be done to you?"
Answer: C
Rationale: The most appropriate initial question is to ask the patient what type of
surgery they are having and why it is being done. This assesses the patient's
baseline understanding and allows the nurse to identify knowledge gaps before
providing teaching. Asking about what the surgeon said or what the patient knows
are also appropriate but should follow the initial assessment of the patient's
understanding of their procedure.
Question 2
A benzodiazepine has been administered to a patient preoperatively. After the drug
has been administered, the nurse plans to monitor the patient for which side
effects? Select all that apply.
A) Anxiety
,B) Hypotension
C) Hypocalcemia
D) Level of Consciousness
E) Sedation
Answer: A, D, E
Rationale: Benzodiazepines are commonly used preoperatively to reduce anxiety
and provide sedation. The nurse should monitor the patient's level of consciousness
and sedation level to ensure the patient is not overly sedated. Anxiety reduction is
the desired effect. Hypotension and hypocalcemia are not typical side effects of
benzodiazepine administration.
Question 3
A preoperative patient has an elevated hemoglobin and hematocrit. What would
the nurse suspect regarding the significance of this increased value?
A) Immune deficiency
B) Kidney dysfunction
C) Malignancy
D) Dehydration
Answer: D
Rationale: Elevated hemoglobin and hematocrit levels are commonly caused by
hemoconcentration resulting from dehydration. When a patient is dehydrated, the
plasma volume decreases, causing the concentration of red blood cells to appear
artificially elevated. Immune deficiency, kidney dysfunction, and malignancy do
not typically cause elevated hemoglobin and hematocrit.
Question 4
Which activities should the nurse carry out in the preoperative period for a client
scheduled for surgery? Select all that apply.
A) Identify potential or actual health problems
B) Verify the presence of a signed consent form
C) Assess patient's response to interventions
D) Intervene to prevent complications
E) Assess effectiveness of teaching related to postoperative recovery
Answer: A, B, E
Rationale: In the preoperative period, the nurse should identify potential or actual
health problems, verify the presence of a signed consent form, and assess the
effectiveness of teaching related to postoperative recovery. Assessing patient
response to interventions and intervening to prevent complications are activities
that occur in the postoperative period, not the preoperative period.
,Question 5
A patient having surgery has a degree of risk associated with the surgery. The
nurse would evaluate which patient-related factors as contributing to a high degree
of risk associated with surgery? Select all that apply.
A) Type of institution where surgery is performed
B) Involvement of vital organs
C) Average nutritional status
D) Low likelihood of procedure complications
E) A history of respiratory disease and diabetes
Answer: B, E
Rationale: Patient-related factors that contribute to a high degree of surgical risk
include involvement of vital organs and a history of chronic conditions such as
respiratory disease and diabetes. The type of institution is not a patient-related
factor. Average nutritional status and low likelihood of complications are not risk
factors.
Question 6
A patient has just entered the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) from surgery. For
which priority needs should the nurse immediately assess the postoperative
patient?
A) Vital signs, level of consciousness, presence of pain
B) Skin coloring, surgical incision, limb movements
C) Skin temperature, blood pressure, mental status
D) Temperature, emotional status, wound drainage
Answer: A
Rationale: The priority assessment for a patient entering the PACU includes vital
signs, level of consciousness, and presence of pain. These assessments are essential
for identifying immediate life-threatening complications such as airway
obstruction, hemorrhage, or shock. While the other assessments are important, they
are not the immediate priority upon PACU admission.
Question 7
The nurse in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) is assessing a postoperative
patient. Which indicators suggest to the nurse an alteration in tissue perfusion?
Select all that apply.
A) Pallor or cyanosis
B) Difficulty with mobility
C) Pain in the incision area
D) Fluid loss
E) Decreased urinary output
, Answer: A, D, E
Rationale: Indicators of altered tissue perfusion include pallor or cyanosis
(indicating poor oxygenation), fluid loss (indicating possible hemorrhage or
dehydration), and decreased urinary output (indicating poor renal perfusion).
Difficulty with mobility and pain in the incision area are expected postoperative
findings and do not specifically indicate altered tissue perfusion.
Question 8
After surgery, the nurse encourages the patient to move from side to s ide at least
every 2 hours. The patient questions this activity. How does the nurse explain the
purpose of this intervention?
A) Assist peristalsis to return more quickly
B) Lessen muscle weakness
C) Increase patient's ability to sleep
D) Let the lungs alternatively achieve maximum expansion
Answer: D
Rationale: Turning from side to side at least every 2 hours allows the lungs to
alternately achieve maximum expansion. This helps prevent atelectasis and
pneumonia by promoting lung expansion and mobilizing secretions. While turning
may also help with peristalsis and muscle strength, the primary purpose is
respiratory.
Question 9
The nurse is creating a plan of care for a postoperative patient. The nursing
diagnosis is acute pain. What would be appropriate outcomes for this patient?
Select all that apply.
A) Balanced fluid intake and output
B) Seeks help as needed
C) Absence of nonverbal signs of pain
D) Performs leg exercises as instructed
E) Verbally rates pain as 3 on a 1 to 10 scale
Answer: C, E
Rationale: Appropriate outcomes for a patient with acute pain include absence of
nonverbal signs of pain (such as grimacing or guarding) and verbal rating of pain
as 3 or less on a 1 to 10 scale. Balanced fluid intake, seeking help, and performing
leg exercises are not specific outcomes for the nursing diagnosis of acute pain.
Question 10
CORRECT ANSWERS WITH RATIONALE LATEST
2026 ALREADY GRADED A+
This comprehensive 200-question practice exam is designed for the Med Surg
1 nursing exam, covering essential topics including preoperative and
postoperative care, respiratory disorders (pneumonia, COPD, asthma),
cardiovascular conditions (heart failure, myocardial infarction, hypertension),
gastrointestinal disorders (pancreatitis, ulcers, GERD), renal and urinary
disorders, endocrine disorders (diabetes, thyroid dysfunction), neurological
conditions (stroke, seizures, Parkinson's disease), fluid and electrolyte
imbalances, burns, and wound care. Each question offers four multiple-choice
options with the correct answer and a detailed rationale based on current
evidence-based practice. This resource is ideal for nursing students preparing
for their Med Surg 1 examination.
Question 1
A patient is being admitted to the hospital on the day before a scheduled surgery.
What is the most appropriate initial question for the nurse to ask this preoperative
patient?
A) "What did your surgeon say to you about the type of surgery you are having?"
B) "What questions do you have about your surgery?"
C) "What type of surgery are you having and why are you having it done?"
D) "What do you know about what will be done to you?"
Answer: C
Rationale: The most appropriate initial question is to ask the patient what type of
surgery they are having and why it is being done. This assesses the patient's
baseline understanding and allows the nurse to identify knowledge gaps before
providing teaching. Asking about what the surgeon said or what the patient knows
are also appropriate but should follow the initial assessment of the patient's
understanding of their procedure.
Question 2
A benzodiazepine has been administered to a patient preoperatively. After the drug
has been administered, the nurse plans to monitor the patient for which side
effects? Select all that apply.
A) Anxiety
,B) Hypotension
C) Hypocalcemia
D) Level of Consciousness
E) Sedation
Answer: A, D, E
Rationale: Benzodiazepines are commonly used preoperatively to reduce anxiety
and provide sedation. The nurse should monitor the patient's level of consciousness
and sedation level to ensure the patient is not overly sedated. Anxiety reduction is
the desired effect. Hypotension and hypocalcemia are not typical side effects of
benzodiazepine administration.
Question 3
A preoperative patient has an elevated hemoglobin and hematocrit. What would
the nurse suspect regarding the significance of this increased value?
A) Immune deficiency
B) Kidney dysfunction
C) Malignancy
D) Dehydration
Answer: D
Rationale: Elevated hemoglobin and hematocrit levels are commonly caused by
hemoconcentration resulting from dehydration. When a patient is dehydrated, the
plasma volume decreases, causing the concentration of red blood cells to appear
artificially elevated. Immune deficiency, kidney dysfunction, and malignancy do
not typically cause elevated hemoglobin and hematocrit.
Question 4
Which activities should the nurse carry out in the preoperative period for a client
scheduled for surgery? Select all that apply.
A) Identify potential or actual health problems
B) Verify the presence of a signed consent form
C) Assess patient's response to interventions
D) Intervene to prevent complications
E) Assess effectiveness of teaching related to postoperative recovery
Answer: A, B, E
Rationale: In the preoperative period, the nurse should identify potential or actual
health problems, verify the presence of a signed consent form, and assess the
effectiveness of teaching related to postoperative recovery. Assessing patient
response to interventions and intervening to prevent complications are activities
that occur in the postoperative period, not the preoperative period.
,Question 5
A patient having surgery has a degree of risk associated with the surgery. The
nurse would evaluate which patient-related factors as contributing to a high degree
of risk associated with surgery? Select all that apply.
A) Type of institution where surgery is performed
B) Involvement of vital organs
C) Average nutritional status
D) Low likelihood of procedure complications
E) A history of respiratory disease and diabetes
Answer: B, E
Rationale: Patient-related factors that contribute to a high degree of surgical risk
include involvement of vital organs and a history of chronic conditions such as
respiratory disease and diabetes. The type of institution is not a patient-related
factor. Average nutritional status and low likelihood of complications are not risk
factors.
Question 6
A patient has just entered the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) from surgery. For
which priority needs should the nurse immediately assess the postoperative
patient?
A) Vital signs, level of consciousness, presence of pain
B) Skin coloring, surgical incision, limb movements
C) Skin temperature, blood pressure, mental status
D) Temperature, emotional status, wound drainage
Answer: A
Rationale: The priority assessment for a patient entering the PACU includes vital
signs, level of consciousness, and presence of pain. These assessments are essential
for identifying immediate life-threatening complications such as airway
obstruction, hemorrhage, or shock. While the other assessments are important, they
are not the immediate priority upon PACU admission.
Question 7
The nurse in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) is assessing a postoperative
patient. Which indicators suggest to the nurse an alteration in tissue perfusion?
Select all that apply.
A) Pallor or cyanosis
B) Difficulty with mobility
C) Pain in the incision area
D) Fluid loss
E) Decreased urinary output
, Answer: A, D, E
Rationale: Indicators of altered tissue perfusion include pallor or cyanosis
(indicating poor oxygenation), fluid loss (indicating possible hemorrhage or
dehydration), and decreased urinary output (indicating poor renal perfusion).
Difficulty with mobility and pain in the incision area are expected postoperative
findings and do not specifically indicate altered tissue perfusion.
Question 8
After surgery, the nurse encourages the patient to move from side to s ide at least
every 2 hours. The patient questions this activity. How does the nurse explain the
purpose of this intervention?
A) Assist peristalsis to return more quickly
B) Lessen muscle weakness
C) Increase patient's ability to sleep
D) Let the lungs alternatively achieve maximum expansion
Answer: D
Rationale: Turning from side to side at least every 2 hours allows the lungs to
alternately achieve maximum expansion. This helps prevent atelectasis and
pneumonia by promoting lung expansion and mobilizing secretions. While turning
may also help with peristalsis and muscle strength, the primary purpose is
respiratory.
Question 9
The nurse is creating a plan of care for a postoperative patient. The nursing
diagnosis is acute pain. What would be appropriate outcomes for this patient?
Select all that apply.
A) Balanced fluid intake and output
B) Seeks help as needed
C) Absence of nonverbal signs of pain
D) Performs leg exercises as instructed
E) Verbally rates pain as 3 on a 1 to 10 scale
Answer: C, E
Rationale: Appropriate outcomes for a patient with acute pain include absence of
nonverbal signs of pain (such as grimacing or guarding) and verbal rating of pain
as 3 or less on a 1 to 10 scale. Balanced fluid intake, seeking help, and performing
leg exercises are not specific outcomes for the nursing diagnosis of acute pain.
Question 10
