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NUR 242 EXAM 2 — MEDICAL-SURGICAL NURSING
2026/2027 COMPLETE (100) CURRENT TESTING
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS WITH DETAILED
RATIONALES.
NURSING
Prepare for the NUR 242 Exam 2 – Med-Surg Nursing – Galen College with a focused
study resource designed to reinforce essential medical-surgical nursing concepts. It
supports review of perioperative nursing, cardiovascular disorders, respiratory
disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, renal/urinary disorders, diabetes mellitus, and
endocrine disorders. Use the material to strengthen clinical reasoning, improve recall,
and identify areas that may need additional review before the exam. This resource is
best suited for Galen College of Nursing NUR 242 students preparing for Exam 3 in
Medical-Surgical Nursing.
MULTIPLE CHOICE.
SECTION 1: PERIOPERATIVE NURSING CARE (Questions 1-10)
1. A client is scheduled for surgery tomorrow morning. Which assessment
finding should the nurse report to the surgeon and anesthesiologist
immediately?
a) The client reports a headache and feels anxious
b) The client's blood pressure is 138/88 mmHg
c) The client reports chest pain and shortness of breath
d) The client's temperature is 99.2°F (37.3°C)
Answer: c) The client reports chest pain and shortness of breath
Rationale: Chest pain and shortness of breath are acute findings that may
indicate a cardiac or pulmonary event that could significantly increase
surgical risk. These symptoms require immediate evaluation and may
necessitate delaying surgery. Mild anxiety, slightly elevated blood pressure,
and low-grade fever are not as urgent.
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2. A client is NPO (nothing by mouth) for surgery. The client reports taking
a sip of water 2 hours ago. Which action should the nurse take?
a) Administer the preoperative medication as scheduled
b) Notify the surgeon and anesthesiologist
c) Proceed with the surgery as planned
d) Encourage the client to drink more water to stay hydrated
Answer: b) Notify the surgeon and anesthesiologist
Rationale: The client should have been NPO for at least 6-8 hours for solids
and 2-4 hours for clear liquids before surgery. The anesthesiologist and
surgeon must be notified because the client is at increased risk for aspiration
during induction of anesthesia. The surgery may be delayed.
3. The nurse is reviewing the preoperative checklist for a client. Which
item is most important to verify before sending the client to the operating
room?
a) The client has signed the informed consent form
b) The client has a completed history and physical exam
c) The client has voided
d) The client has removed jewelry and dentures
Answer: a) The client has signed the informed consent form
Rationale: Informed consent is a legal and ethical requirement before
surgery. The nurse must ensure that the consent form is signed, witnessed,
and placed in the client's chart. Without a signed consent, surgery cannot
proceed.
4. A client who is scheduled for surgery reports that they take herbal
supplements daily. Which supplement should the nurse identify as
increasing bleeding risk?
a) Vitamin C
b) St. John's wort
c) Echinacea
d) Garlic
Answer: d) Garlic
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Rationale: Garlic has antiplatelet effects and increases the risk of bleeding
during surgery. St. John's wort can interact with anesthetic agents, and
Echinacea can affect immune function. Vitamin C is generally safe. All herbal
supplements should be reported to the provider.
5. A client scheduled for surgery has a history of smoking. The nurse
should teach the client that smoking should be discontinued at least how
long before surgery?
a) 24 hours
b) 48 hours
c) 1 week
d) 1 month
Answer: d) 1 month
Rationale: Smoking should ideally be discontinued at least 1 month before
surgery to improve pulmonary function, decrease secretions, and reduce the
risk of postoperative complications. Even shorter-term cessation (24-48
hours) is beneficial, but 1 month is optimal.
6. A client is receiving preoperative teaching. The nurse instructs the
client to use incentive spirometry after surgery. Which statement by the
client indicates understanding?
a) "I will use the incentive spirometer every 2 hours while awake."
b) "I will use the incentive spirometer only when I feel short of breath."
c) "I will use the incentive spirometer after I eat."
d) "I will use the incentive spirometer once a day."
Answer: a) "I will use the incentive spirometer every 2 hours while awake."
Rationale: Incentive spirometry should be used every 1-2 hours while awake
to promote deep breathing, lung expansion, and prevent atelectasis. It should
not be used only when short of breath.
7. A client is 1 day post-operative from abdominal surgery. The nurse
notes that the wound edges are separated and there is protrusion of
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abdominal contents. What is the nurse's priority action?
a) Apply a sterile saline-soaked dressing and notify the surgeon
b) Gently push the abdominal contents back into the wound
c) Place the client in a supine position with knees flat
d) Apply an abdominal binder tightly
Answer: a) Apply a sterile saline-soaked dressing and notify the surgeon
Rationale: This is an evisceration, a surgical emergency. The nurse should
cover the wound with a sterile saline-soaked dressing, place the client in a
supine position with knees bent (to reduce abdominal tension), and notify the
surgeon immediately. Never attempt to push organs back into the wound.
8. A client is 2 days post-operative and has a fever of 101.5°F (38.6°C). The
nurse notes that the client's surgical wound is red, swollen, and has
purulent drainage. Which action should the nurse take?
a) Notify the provider
b) Apply a warm compress
c) Obtain a wound culture
d) Administer an antibiotic
Answer: a) Notify the provider
Rationale: The client is showing signs of a wound infection (redness, swelling,
purulent drainage, fever). The provider should be notified immediately for
orders (antibiotics, wound culture). Obtaining a wound culture should follow
provider orders.
9. A client is 6 hours post-operative from abdominal surgery. The client's
vital signs are: blood pressure 90/60 mmHg, heart rate 110 bpm,
respiratory rate 22/min. The surgical dressing is saturated with bright red
blood. Which action should the nurse take first?
a) Apply pressure to the surgical site
b) Notify the provider
c) Increase the IV fluid rate
d) Administer a blood transfusion
Answer: a) Apply pressure to the surgical site
NUR 242 EXAM 2 — MEDICAL-SURGICAL NURSING
2026/2027 COMPLETE (100) CURRENT TESTING
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS WITH DETAILED
RATIONALES.
NURSING
Prepare for the NUR 242 Exam 2 – Med-Surg Nursing – Galen College with a focused
study resource designed to reinforce essential medical-surgical nursing concepts. It
supports review of perioperative nursing, cardiovascular disorders, respiratory
disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, renal/urinary disorders, diabetes mellitus, and
endocrine disorders. Use the material to strengthen clinical reasoning, improve recall,
and identify areas that may need additional review before the exam. This resource is
best suited for Galen College of Nursing NUR 242 students preparing for Exam 3 in
Medical-Surgical Nursing.
MULTIPLE CHOICE.
SECTION 1: PERIOPERATIVE NURSING CARE (Questions 1-10)
1. A client is scheduled for surgery tomorrow morning. Which assessment
finding should the nurse report to the surgeon and anesthesiologist
immediately?
a) The client reports a headache and feels anxious
b) The client's blood pressure is 138/88 mmHg
c) The client reports chest pain and shortness of breath
d) The client's temperature is 99.2°F (37.3°C)
Answer: c) The client reports chest pain and shortness of breath
Rationale: Chest pain and shortness of breath are acute findings that may
indicate a cardiac or pulmonary event that could significantly increase
surgical risk. These symptoms require immediate evaluation and may
necessitate delaying surgery. Mild anxiety, slightly elevated blood pressure,
and low-grade fever are not as urgent.
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2. A client is NPO (nothing by mouth) for surgery. The client reports taking
a sip of water 2 hours ago. Which action should the nurse take?
a) Administer the preoperative medication as scheduled
b) Notify the surgeon and anesthesiologist
c) Proceed with the surgery as planned
d) Encourage the client to drink more water to stay hydrated
Answer: b) Notify the surgeon and anesthesiologist
Rationale: The client should have been NPO for at least 6-8 hours for solids
and 2-4 hours for clear liquids before surgery. The anesthesiologist and
surgeon must be notified because the client is at increased risk for aspiration
during induction of anesthesia. The surgery may be delayed.
3. The nurse is reviewing the preoperative checklist for a client. Which
item is most important to verify before sending the client to the operating
room?
a) The client has signed the informed consent form
b) The client has a completed history and physical exam
c) The client has voided
d) The client has removed jewelry and dentures
Answer: a) The client has signed the informed consent form
Rationale: Informed consent is a legal and ethical requirement before
surgery. The nurse must ensure that the consent form is signed, witnessed,
and placed in the client's chart. Without a signed consent, surgery cannot
proceed.
4. A client who is scheduled for surgery reports that they take herbal
supplements daily. Which supplement should the nurse identify as
increasing bleeding risk?
a) Vitamin C
b) St. John's wort
c) Echinacea
d) Garlic
Answer: d) Garlic
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Rationale: Garlic has antiplatelet effects and increases the risk of bleeding
during surgery. St. John's wort can interact with anesthetic agents, and
Echinacea can affect immune function. Vitamin C is generally safe. All herbal
supplements should be reported to the provider.
5. A client scheduled for surgery has a history of smoking. The nurse
should teach the client that smoking should be discontinued at least how
long before surgery?
a) 24 hours
b) 48 hours
c) 1 week
d) 1 month
Answer: d) 1 month
Rationale: Smoking should ideally be discontinued at least 1 month before
surgery to improve pulmonary function, decrease secretions, and reduce the
risk of postoperative complications. Even shorter-term cessation (24-48
hours) is beneficial, but 1 month is optimal.
6. A client is receiving preoperative teaching. The nurse instructs the
client to use incentive spirometry after surgery. Which statement by the
client indicates understanding?
a) "I will use the incentive spirometer every 2 hours while awake."
b) "I will use the incentive spirometer only when I feel short of breath."
c) "I will use the incentive spirometer after I eat."
d) "I will use the incentive spirometer once a day."
Answer: a) "I will use the incentive spirometer every 2 hours while awake."
Rationale: Incentive spirometry should be used every 1-2 hours while awake
to promote deep breathing, lung expansion, and prevent atelectasis. It should
not be used only when short of breath.
7. A client is 1 day post-operative from abdominal surgery. The nurse
notes that the wound edges are separated and there is protrusion of
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abdominal contents. What is the nurse's priority action?
a) Apply a sterile saline-soaked dressing and notify the surgeon
b) Gently push the abdominal contents back into the wound
c) Place the client in a supine position with knees flat
d) Apply an abdominal binder tightly
Answer: a) Apply a sterile saline-soaked dressing and notify the surgeon
Rationale: This is an evisceration, a surgical emergency. The nurse should
cover the wound with a sterile saline-soaked dressing, place the client in a
supine position with knees bent (to reduce abdominal tension), and notify the
surgeon immediately. Never attempt to push organs back into the wound.
8. A client is 2 days post-operative and has a fever of 101.5°F (38.6°C). The
nurse notes that the client's surgical wound is red, swollen, and has
purulent drainage. Which action should the nurse take?
a) Notify the provider
b) Apply a warm compress
c) Obtain a wound culture
d) Administer an antibiotic
Answer: a) Notify the provider
Rationale: The client is showing signs of a wound infection (redness, swelling,
purulent drainage, fever). The provider should be notified immediately for
orders (antibiotics, wound culture). Obtaining a wound culture should follow
provider orders.
9. A client is 6 hours post-operative from abdominal surgery. The client's
vital signs are: blood pressure 90/60 mmHg, heart rate 110 bpm,
respiratory rate 22/min. The surgical dressing is saturated with bright red
blood. Which action should the nurse take first?
a) Apply pressure to the surgical site
b) Notify the provider
c) Increase the IV fluid rate
d) Administer a blood transfusion
Answer: a) Apply pressure to the surgical site
