NUR 265 / NUR265 EXAM 2 ADVANCED
CONCEPTS IN MEDICAL-SURGICAL
NURSING EXAM 2 | QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS RATED A+ | 2026/2027
1. A patient is 2 hours post-op from abdominal surgery. Which finding requires
immediate notification of the surgeon?
A. Pain rated 5/10
B. Heart rate 110 bpm, BP 88/50
C. Urine output 40 mL/hr
D. Temperature 99.8°F (37.7°C)
Answer: B
Rationale: Tachycardia with hypotension in the immediate post-op period suggests
hypovolemia or hemorrhage until proven otherwise. This requires immediate surgical
notification .
2. A patient received general anesthesia. The nurse's priority in the immediate
post-op period is:
A. Pain management
B. Airway patency
C. Wound assessment
D. Fluid replacement
Answer: B
Rationale: Airway is always the first priority in the immediate post-operative period, as
anesthesia can cause airway obstruction and respiratory depression .
3. Which assessment finding indicates malignant hyperthermia?
,A. Hypothermia and bradycardia
B. Muscle rigidity and hyperthermia
C. Hypotension and polyuria
D. Respiratory depression and miosis
Answer: B
Rationale: Malignant hyperthermia is a life-threatening reaction to volatile anesthetics
or succinylcholine, characterized by muscle rigidity, hyperthermia, tachycardia, and
tachypnea .
4. A patient post-op has a Jackson-Pratt drain with 150 mL of bright red blood in 1
hour. What should the nurse do first?
A. Document as normal
B. Empty the drain
C. Notify the provider
D. Increase IV fluids
Answer: C
Rationale: Bright red blood output greater than 100 mL/hour in the immediate post-op
period is concerning for hemorrhage requiring immediate notification .
5. A post-operative patient is receiving hydromorphone via PCA. Which
assessment finding requires the nurse to intervene?
A. The patient is sleeping between doses
B. The patient's respiratory rate is 8 breaths/min
C. The patient rates pain as 3/10
D. The patient has an IV site without redness
Answer: B
Rationale: A respiratory rate of 8 indicates respiratory depression, a life-threatening
complication of opioid administration. The nurse should assess and prepare to
administer naloxone if indicated .
,6. A patient is 6 hours post-op from a hysterectomy. Which finding should the
nurse report to the provider?
A. Heart rate 88 bpm
B. Blood pressure 110/70 mm Hg
C. Urine output 20 mL/hr
D. Mild incisional pain
Answer: C
Rationale: Urine output less than 30 mL/hr indicates inadequate renal perfusion and
possible hypovolemia, requiring provider notification .
7. A patient is 8 hours post-op and received morphine via PCA. The patient's
respiratory rate is 8 breaths/min and they are difficult to arouse. Which
medication should the nurse prepare to administer?
A. Naloxone
B. Flumazenil
C. Neostigmine
D. Protamine sulfate
Answer: A
Rationale: This presentation indicates opioid-induced respiratory depression. Naloxone
(Narcan) is the reversal agent for opioids .
8. A patient received epidural anesthesia. Which finding requires immediate
action?
A. Blood pressure 100/60
B. Motor block resolving
C. Respiratory rate 8 breaths/min
D. Pain score 3/10
Answer: C
Rationale: A respiratory rate of 8 indicates respiratory depression, which can occur from
a high spinal block or opioid-induced respiratory depression. This is life-threatening .
, 9. The nurse assesses a patient's surgical incision on post-op day 3. Which finding
requires immediate intervention?
A. Mild erythema at incision edges
B. Temperature 99.2°F (37.3°C)
C. Purulent drainage from incision
D. Pain rated 4/10 at incision site
Answer: C
Rationale: Purulent (pus-like) drainage indicates wound infection, which requires
prompt intervention .
10. Which intervention reduces the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) post-
op?
A. Bed rest for 48 hours
B. Sequential compression devices and early ambulation
C. Restricting oral fluids
D. Applying warm compresses to legs
Answer: B
Rationale: Sequential compression devices (SCDs) prevent venous stasis, and early
ambulation promotes venous return. Both are key interventions for VTE prevention .
11. A patient post-op from a bowel resection has a nasogastric (NG) tube to low
intermittent suction. Which finding indicates the tube is functioning correctly?
A. Nausea and vomiting
B. Abdominal distention
C. Output of 800 mL green fluid in 8 hours
D. No bowel sounds
Answer: C
Rationale: Green bilious drainage is expected from an NG tube post-abdominal surgery.
Lack of output or sudden cessation may indicate tube obstruction .
CONCEPTS IN MEDICAL-SURGICAL
NURSING EXAM 2 | QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS RATED A+ | 2026/2027
1. A patient is 2 hours post-op from abdominal surgery. Which finding requires
immediate notification of the surgeon?
A. Pain rated 5/10
B. Heart rate 110 bpm, BP 88/50
C. Urine output 40 mL/hr
D. Temperature 99.8°F (37.7°C)
Answer: B
Rationale: Tachycardia with hypotension in the immediate post-op period suggests
hypovolemia or hemorrhage until proven otherwise. This requires immediate surgical
notification .
2. A patient received general anesthesia. The nurse's priority in the immediate
post-op period is:
A. Pain management
B. Airway patency
C. Wound assessment
D. Fluid replacement
Answer: B
Rationale: Airway is always the first priority in the immediate post-operative period, as
anesthesia can cause airway obstruction and respiratory depression .
3. Which assessment finding indicates malignant hyperthermia?
,A. Hypothermia and bradycardia
B. Muscle rigidity and hyperthermia
C. Hypotension and polyuria
D. Respiratory depression and miosis
Answer: B
Rationale: Malignant hyperthermia is a life-threatening reaction to volatile anesthetics
or succinylcholine, characterized by muscle rigidity, hyperthermia, tachycardia, and
tachypnea .
4. A patient post-op has a Jackson-Pratt drain with 150 mL of bright red blood in 1
hour. What should the nurse do first?
A. Document as normal
B. Empty the drain
C. Notify the provider
D. Increase IV fluids
Answer: C
Rationale: Bright red blood output greater than 100 mL/hour in the immediate post-op
period is concerning for hemorrhage requiring immediate notification .
5. A post-operative patient is receiving hydromorphone via PCA. Which
assessment finding requires the nurse to intervene?
A. The patient is sleeping between doses
B. The patient's respiratory rate is 8 breaths/min
C. The patient rates pain as 3/10
D. The patient has an IV site without redness
Answer: B
Rationale: A respiratory rate of 8 indicates respiratory depression, a life-threatening
complication of opioid administration. The nurse should assess and prepare to
administer naloxone if indicated .
,6. A patient is 6 hours post-op from a hysterectomy. Which finding should the
nurse report to the provider?
A. Heart rate 88 bpm
B. Blood pressure 110/70 mm Hg
C. Urine output 20 mL/hr
D. Mild incisional pain
Answer: C
Rationale: Urine output less than 30 mL/hr indicates inadequate renal perfusion and
possible hypovolemia, requiring provider notification .
7. A patient is 8 hours post-op and received morphine via PCA. The patient's
respiratory rate is 8 breaths/min and they are difficult to arouse. Which
medication should the nurse prepare to administer?
A. Naloxone
B. Flumazenil
C. Neostigmine
D. Protamine sulfate
Answer: A
Rationale: This presentation indicates opioid-induced respiratory depression. Naloxone
(Narcan) is the reversal agent for opioids .
8. A patient received epidural anesthesia. Which finding requires immediate
action?
A. Blood pressure 100/60
B. Motor block resolving
C. Respiratory rate 8 breaths/min
D. Pain score 3/10
Answer: C
Rationale: A respiratory rate of 8 indicates respiratory depression, which can occur from
a high spinal block or opioid-induced respiratory depression. This is life-threatening .
, 9. The nurse assesses a patient's surgical incision on post-op day 3. Which finding
requires immediate intervention?
A. Mild erythema at incision edges
B. Temperature 99.2°F (37.3°C)
C. Purulent drainage from incision
D. Pain rated 4/10 at incision site
Answer: C
Rationale: Purulent (pus-like) drainage indicates wound infection, which requires
prompt intervention .
10. Which intervention reduces the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) post-
op?
A. Bed rest for 48 hours
B. Sequential compression devices and early ambulation
C. Restricting oral fluids
D. Applying warm compresses to legs
Answer: B
Rationale: Sequential compression devices (SCDs) prevent venous stasis, and early
ambulation promotes venous return. Both are key interventions for VTE prevention .
11. A patient post-op from a bowel resection has a nasogastric (NG) tube to low
intermittent suction. Which finding indicates the tube is functioning correctly?
A. Nausea and vomiting
B. Abdominal distention
C. Output of 800 mL green fluid in 8 hours
D. No bowel sounds
Answer: C
Rationale: Green bilious drainage is expected from an NG tube post-abdominal surgery.
Lack of output or sudden cessation may indicate tube obstruction .
