MED SURG 1 EXAM 2 STUDY GUIDE | MEDICAL-SURGICAL NURSING PRACTICE
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS | COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW 2026/2027
One hour after admission to the post anesthesia care unit (PACU), the postoperative patient has become
very restless. What is the nurse's first action?
A. Assess the oxygen saturation level
B. Administer pain medication as ordered
C. Call the surgeon to assess the patient
D. Assess for bladder distention - ✔✔A
Patient asks nurse what does this "thing" do and why do i have to use it. Nurse explains that using this
thing (incentive spirometer)
A. "The spirometer will help prevent blood clots"
B. "The spirometer will help your lungs expand."
C. "The spirometer will improve blood flow in your lungs."
D. "The spirometer will help you cough effectively." - ✔✔B
After abdominal surgery, the patient complains of severe gas pains and states, "I have not had bowels in
3 days." What is the appropriate nursing intervention?
A. Call the physician for an order for a laxative
B. Reinsert a nasogastric tube
C. Provide the ordered prn Morphine
D. Have the patient ambulate frequently - ✔✔D
A patient with emphysema reports social isolation. What should the nurse encourage patient to do?
A. Participate in community activities
B. Ask the patient's physician for an anti anxiety agent
C. Verbalize his or her thoughts and feelings
D. Join a support group for people with emphysema - ✔✔C
The patient's abdominal incision is draining a small amount of pinkish color secretion. How nurse
document this finding on the patient's record?
A. Small amount of bloody drainage noted on dressings.
B. Small amount of serosanguineous drainage noted on dressings.
C. Small amount of serous drainage noted on dressings.
D. Small amount of sanguineous drainage noted on dressings. - ✔✔B
What interventions should the nurse carry out to reduce postoperative pain and promote comfort to
surgical patient? (Select all that apply)
A. Control or remove noxious stimuli in the environment.
B. Instruct the patient in relaxation techniques.
C. Use ice to reduce and prevent swelling as indicated
D. Encourage activity and exercise to point of fatigue
E. Use pillows to assist to a position of comfort - ✔✔A B C E
A post-operative patient is in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) and reports having pain of 8 on a scale
of 10. What is the best nursing action?
, A. Consult with the anesthesia care provider to manage the pain while the patient is still in PACU
B. Have the nurses on the surgical unit to assess the patient and administer pain medication as
appropriate
C. Look at the routine post-operative orders and administer the pain medicine that is ordered.
D. Sep up the Patient Controlled
Analgesia (PCA) machine and push the button for the patient as needed. - ✔✔A
The nurse is changing the patient's dressing on the second postoperative day and notes a small amount
of serosanguineous drainage. What is the nurse's best action?
A. Cover the incision with a transparent dressing
B. Culture the drainage and leave the incision open to air
C. Cleanse the suture line and apply a sterile dressing
D. Notify the surgeon to assess the patient - ✔✔C
What is the priority nursing intervention for the patient in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) who
reports, "I think I am going to vomit"
A. Continue to monitor the vital signs
B. Place a cool cloth on the patient's forehead
C. Give the antiemetic as ordered
D. Turn the patient on their side - ✔✔D
A patient with a history of asthma is admitted to the emergency department with dyspnea, respiratory
rate of 35 breaths per minute, nasal flaring, use of accessory muscles, and greatly diminished breath
sounds. What action should the nurse take first?
A. Initiate oxygen therapy and reassess the patient in 10 minutes
B. Encourage the patient to relax and breathe slowly
C. Draw blood for arterial blood gas analysis and send the patient for a chest X-ray
D. Administer bronchodilators as ordered - ✔✔D
The patient is 7 hours post-op and has not voided. What should the nurse do first?
A. Call the surgeon stat and report the lack of voiding
B. Insert an indwelling urinary catheter
C. Determine when the last pain medication was given
D. Palpate for presence of the bladder above the symphysis pubis - ✔✔D
One hour after the administration of ondansetron hydrochloride (Zofran) (antiemetic), the nurse
determines that the medication has been effective and documents this in the patient's record. What
phase of the nursing process is illustrated?
A. Diagnosis
B. Evaluation
C. Planning
D. Assessment - ✔✔B
The nurse is caring for several patients on the postoperative unit. Which patient does the nurse
determine has the highest risk of respiratory complications after general anesthesia?
A. Young adult with a body mass index of 40
B. Middle-aged woman taking a daily cholesterol lowering medication
C. Middle-aged man with a deviated nasal septum
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS | COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW 2026/2027
One hour after admission to the post anesthesia care unit (PACU), the postoperative patient has become
very restless. What is the nurse's first action?
A. Assess the oxygen saturation level
B. Administer pain medication as ordered
C. Call the surgeon to assess the patient
D. Assess for bladder distention - ✔✔A
Patient asks nurse what does this "thing" do and why do i have to use it. Nurse explains that using this
thing (incentive spirometer)
A. "The spirometer will help prevent blood clots"
B. "The spirometer will help your lungs expand."
C. "The spirometer will improve blood flow in your lungs."
D. "The spirometer will help you cough effectively." - ✔✔B
After abdominal surgery, the patient complains of severe gas pains and states, "I have not had bowels in
3 days." What is the appropriate nursing intervention?
A. Call the physician for an order for a laxative
B. Reinsert a nasogastric tube
C. Provide the ordered prn Morphine
D. Have the patient ambulate frequently - ✔✔D
A patient with emphysema reports social isolation. What should the nurse encourage patient to do?
A. Participate in community activities
B. Ask the patient's physician for an anti anxiety agent
C. Verbalize his or her thoughts and feelings
D. Join a support group for people with emphysema - ✔✔C
The patient's abdominal incision is draining a small amount of pinkish color secretion. How nurse
document this finding on the patient's record?
A. Small amount of bloody drainage noted on dressings.
B. Small amount of serosanguineous drainage noted on dressings.
C. Small amount of serous drainage noted on dressings.
D. Small amount of sanguineous drainage noted on dressings. - ✔✔B
What interventions should the nurse carry out to reduce postoperative pain and promote comfort to
surgical patient? (Select all that apply)
A. Control or remove noxious stimuli in the environment.
B. Instruct the patient in relaxation techniques.
C. Use ice to reduce and prevent swelling as indicated
D. Encourage activity and exercise to point of fatigue
E. Use pillows to assist to a position of comfort - ✔✔A B C E
A post-operative patient is in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) and reports having pain of 8 on a scale
of 10. What is the best nursing action?
, A. Consult with the anesthesia care provider to manage the pain while the patient is still in PACU
B. Have the nurses on the surgical unit to assess the patient and administer pain medication as
appropriate
C. Look at the routine post-operative orders and administer the pain medicine that is ordered.
D. Sep up the Patient Controlled
Analgesia (PCA) machine and push the button for the patient as needed. - ✔✔A
The nurse is changing the patient's dressing on the second postoperative day and notes a small amount
of serosanguineous drainage. What is the nurse's best action?
A. Cover the incision with a transparent dressing
B. Culture the drainage and leave the incision open to air
C. Cleanse the suture line and apply a sterile dressing
D. Notify the surgeon to assess the patient - ✔✔C
What is the priority nursing intervention for the patient in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) who
reports, "I think I am going to vomit"
A. Continue to monitor the vital signs
B. Place a cool cloth on the patient's forehead
C. Give the antiemetic as ordered
D. Turn the patient on their side - ✔✔D
A patient with a history of asthma is admitted to the emergency department with dyspnea, respiratory
rate of 35 breaths per minute, nasal flaring, use of accessory muscles, and greatly diminished breath
sounds. What action should the nurse take first?
A. Initiate oxygen therapy and reassess the patient in 10 minutes
B. Encourage the patient to relax and breathe slowly
C. Draw blood for arterial blood gas analysis and send the patient for a chest X-ray
D. Administer bronchodilators as ordered - ✔✔D
The patient is 7 hours post-op and has not voided. What should the nurse do first?
A. Call the surgeon stat and report the lack of voiding
B. Insert an indwelling urinary catheter
C. Determine when the last pain medication was given
D. Palpate for presence of the bladder above the symphysis pubis - ✔✔D
One hour after the administration of ondansetron hydrochloride (Zofran) (antiemetic), the nurse
determines that the medication has been effective and documents this in the patient's record. What
phase of the nursing process is illustrated?
A. Diagnosis
B. Evaluation
C. Planning
D. Assessment - ✔✔B
The nurse is caring for several patients on the postoperative unit. Which patient does the nurse
determine has the highest risk of respiratory complications after general anesthesia?
A. Young adult with a body mass index of 40
B. Middle-aged woman taking a daily cholesterol lowering medication
C. Middle-aged man with a deviated nasal septum
