BRUNNER AND SUDDARTHS CANADIAN
TEXTBOOK OF MEDICAL SURGICAL NURSING
4 ACTUAL EXAM PAPER 2026 QUESTIONS
WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
◉ The nurse provides care for a client, with a history of
atherosclerosis, who is hospitalized for the initiation of
pharmacotherapy for the treatment of hypothyroidism.
The client is at highest risk for developing _______________ as
evidenced by
_______________.
Answer: The client is at highest risk for developing cardiac
dysfunction as evidenced by angina.
◉ The nurse is caring for a 24-year-old female client with a right
tibial fracture treated with a cast 2 hours ago. The client now reports
unrelenting pain, rated as 7/10, despite taking oxycodone, and
decreased sensation in the right foot. A nursing assessment reveals
the right foot is cooler and paler than the left foot, with delayed
capillary refill and a weak pulse.
,Based on the nursing assessment, the priority action the nurse
should take is to _________________________ and prepare the client for
_________________.
Answer: Based on the nursing assessment, the priority action the
nurse should take is to notify the orthopedic health care provider
immediately and prepare the client for bivalving of the cast.
◉ The nurse assesses a client who has a nasogastric tube for long-
term nutritional needs for complications associated with the
medical device.
The nurse monitors the client for ___________ , a finding indicative of
_____________.
Answer: The nurse monitors the client for purulent nasal drainage, a
finding indicative of rhinosinusitis.
◉ The office nurse is reviewing an 80-year-old female client's
reports related to the onset of a severe headache, rated at 9 out of 10
on the pain scale, with recent onset. The client denies any visual
changes. During a prior visit to the office a few months ago, the
client had reported a ground-level fall as a result of falling off a chair
and hitting the back of their head. The client had been taken to the
emergency department, where imaging was performed with
negative results.
,The nurse anticipates that the client has developed __________ and
that __________ will be ordered.
Answer: The nurse anticipates that the client has developed chronic
subdural hematoma and that computed tomography (CT) imaging of
the brain will be ordered.
◉ A client will undergo abdominal surgery. The nurse provides
preoperative education regarding the importance of diaphragmatic
breathing exercises to prevent postoperative complications.
The nurse will educate the client about the risk for developing
_________, ____________, and ____________, if the client does not implement
diaphragmatic breathing exercises in the postoperative period of
care.
Answer: The nurse will educate the client about the risk for
developing pneumonia, bronchospasm, and atelectasis, if the client
does not implement diaphragmatic breathing exercises in the
postoperative period of care.
◉ A nurse is caring for a client who was admitted for an asthma
exacerbation. In the past year, the client has been admitted for three
asthma events. What will the nurse include in the client teaching
about preventing repeat hospitalizations?
The nurse should teach about __________ followed by ___________.
, Answer: The nurse should teach about triggers to avoid followed by
knowing medications.
◉ A 47-year-old male client presented to the medical unit and the
health care team suspects tuberculosis (TB). The nurse is admitting
the client to a reverse isolation room. QuantiFERON testing and
chest x-ray are pending. Urinalysis results are negative. No other
testing was performed prior to admission to isolation. The client
denies any chest pain, shortness of breath (SOB), or respiratory
difficulty. The client presents with productive yellow sputum.
Based on the provided assessment status, the nurse should utilize
__________ to prevent exposure and __________ to collect specimens for
additional testing.
Answer: Based on the provided assessment status, the nurse should
utilize airborne precautions to prevent exposure and sputum to
collect specimens for additional testing.
◉ The nurse has documented an assessment on a 45-year-old male
client on the third postoperative day following an open abdominal
appendectomy.
Client has 3 in (7.6 cm) right lower abdominal incision. Proximal 2 in
(5 cm) of incision edges are red and well-approximated. Distal
portion of incision has separated and has yellow drainage on
dressing. Bulb drain has serosanguinous drainage and clumps of
TEXTBOOK OF MEDICAL SURGICAL NURSING
4 ACTUAL EXAM PAPER 2026 QUESTIONS
WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
◉ The nurse provides care for a client, with a history of
atherosclerosis, who is hospitalized for the initiation of
pharmacotherapy for the treatment of hypothyroidism.
The client is at highest risk for developing _______________ as
evidenced by
_______________.
Answer: The client is at highest risk for developing cardiac
dysfunction as evidenced by angina.
◉ The nurse is caring for a 24-year-old female client with a right
tibial fracture treated with a cast 2 hours ago. The client now reports
unrelenting pain, rated as 7/10, despite taking oxycodone, and
decreased sensation in the right foot. A nursing assessment reveals
the right foot is cooler and paler than the left foot, with delayed
capillary refill and a weak pulse.
,Based on the nursing assessment, the priority action the nurse
should take is to _________________________ and prepare the client for
_________________.
Answer: Based on the nursing assessment, the priority action the
nurse should take is to notify the orthopedic health care provider
immediately and prepare the client for bivalving of the cast.
◉ The nurse assesses a client who has a nasogastric tube for long-
term nutritional needs for complications associated with the
medical device.
The nurse monitors the client for ___________ , a finding indicative of
_____________.
Answer: The nurse monitors the client for purulent nasal drainage, a
finding indicative of rhinosinusitis.
◉ The office nurse is reviewing an 80-year-old female client's
reports related to the onset of a severe headache, rated at 9 out of 10
on the pain scale, with recent onset. The client denies any visual
changes. During a prior visit to the office a few months ago, the
client had reported a ground-level fall as a result of falling off a chair
and hitting the back of their head. The client had been taken to the
emergency department, where imaging was performed with
negative results.
,The nurse anticipates that the client has developed __________ and
that __________ will be ordered.
Answer: The nurse anticipates that the client has developed chronic
subdural hematoma and that computed tomography (CT) imaging of
the brain will be ordered.
◉ A client will undergo abdominal surgery. The nurse provides
preoperative education regarding the importance of diaphragmatic
breathing exercises to prevent postoperative complications.
The nurse will educate the client about the risk for developing
_________, ____________, and ____________, if the client does not implement
diaphragmatic breathing exercises in the postoperative period of
care.
Answer: The nurse will educate the client about the risk for
developing pneumonia, bronchospasm, and atelectasis, if the client
does not implement diaphragmatic breathing exercises in the
postoperative period of care.
◉ A nurse is caring for a client who was admitted for an asthma
exacerbation. In the past year, the client has been admitted for three
asthma events. What will the nurse include in the client teaching
about preventing repeat hospitalizations?
The nurse should teach about __________ followed by ___________.
, Answer: The nurse should teach about triggers to avoid followed by
knowing medications.
◉ A 47-year-old male client presented to the medical unit and the
health care team suspects tuberculosis (TB). The nurse is admitting
the client to a reverse isolation room. QuantiFERON testing and
chest x-ray are pending. Urinalysis results are negative. No other
testing was performed prior to admission to isolation. The client
denies any chest pain, shortness of breath (SOB), or respiratory
difficulty. The client presents with productive yellow sputum.
Based on the provided assessment status, the nurse should utilize
__________ to prevent exposure and __________ to collect specimens for
additional testing.
Answer: Based on the provided assessment status, the nurse should
utilize airborne precautions to prevent exposure and sputum to
collect specimens for additional testing.
◉ The nurse has documented an assessment on a 45-year-old male
client on the third postoperative day following an open abdominal
appendectomy.
Client has 3 in (7.6 cm) right lower abdominal incision. Proximal 2 in
(5 cm) of incision edges are red and well-approximated. Distal
portion of incision has separated and has yellow drainage on
dressing. Bulb drain has serosanguinous drainage and clumps of
