Med-Surg 1 – Comprehensive Medical-
Surgical Nursing Study Guide, Practice
Questions, and Exam Preparation Review
1. A patient is being admitted to the hospital c)
"What type of surgery are you having and why are you on the day before a scheduled surgery.
having it done?"
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?"
,2. A benzodiazepine has been administered a) Anxiety
to a patient preoperatively. After the drug d) Level of
Consciousness has been administered, the nurse plans to e)
Sedation
monitor the patient for which side effects?
Select all that apply.
a)Anxiety
b) Hypotension
c) Hypocalcemia
d) Level of Consciousness
e) Sedation
3.A preoperative patient has an elevated d) Dehydration
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
4.Which activities should the nurse carry a) Identify potential or actual health
problems. out in the preoperative period for a client b) Verify the presence of a signed
consent form.
scheduled for surgery? Select all that apply. e) Assess effectiveness of teaching related to postoperative
a) Identify potential or actual health recovery.
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.
5.A patient having surgery has a degree of b) Involvement of vital organs
risk associated with the surgery. The nurse e) A history of respiratory disease and
diabetes 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
,6.A patient has just entered the a) Vital signs, level of consciousness, presence of
pain 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
7. The nurse in the
postanesthesia care unit a) Pallor or
cyanosis (PACU) is assessing a postoperative patient.
d) Fluid loss
Which indicators suggest to the nurse an e) Decreased urinary output
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
8.After surgery, the nurse encourages the d) Let the lungs alternatively achieve maximum
expansion patient to move from side to side 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
9. The nurse is creating a plan of care
for a c) Absence of nonverbal signs of pain
postoperative patient. The nursing diagnosis e) Verbally rates pain as 3 on a 1
to 10 scale in 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
, 10. The patient has been in the
c) Detect for possible hemorrhage postanesthesia care unit (PACU) for one
hour. The patient is now groggy but able
to respond to voice commands. While
assessing the patient, for what reason
would the nurse check the bedclothes
underneath the patient?
a) Determine drainage from tubes or drains
b)Assess for fluid balance
c) Detect for possible hemorrhage
d) Monitor perspiration
11. A 65-
year-old was diagnosed and treated a) Pleurisy
for right lower lobe pneumonia 4 days ago.
Today, the patient came to the ED reporting
abrupt onset of chest pain that is worse
with inspiration. The nurse knows that the
symptoms are consistent with:
a) Pleurisy
b) Stable angina
c) Bacteremia
d) Meningitis
12. The ED
nurse is caring for Ginny, a 45- c) Panic Attack
year-old female with a recent history of
sexual assault. Ginny came to the ED crying
and shaking and stated that she had
dyspnea, feeling like she was choking and
couldn't breathe, chest pain, and sweating.
Ginny reports that the symptoms started
about 15 minutes before she came to the ED.
Ginny's symptoms are consistent with:
a) Myocardial Infarction
b) Pneumonia
c) Panic Attack
d) Influenza
13. A 86-year-old female
has recent changes c) Urinary tract infection
in her mental status, reports having no
appetite, and is running a low grade fever.
The nurse suspects:
a) Delirium
b) Dementia
c) Urinary tract infection
d) Hypokalemia
Surgical Nursing Study Guide, Practice
Questions, and Exam Preparation Review
1. A patient is being admitted to the hospital c)
"What type of surgery are you having and why are you on the day before a scheduled surgery.
having it done?"
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?"
,2. A benzodiazepine has been administered a) Anxiety
to a patient preoperatively. After the drug d) Level of
Consciousness has been administered, the nurse plans to e)
Sedation
monitor the patient for which side effects?
Select all that apply.
a)Anxiety
b) Hypotension
c) Hypocalcemia
d) Level of Consciousness
e) Sedation
3.A preoperative patient has an elevated d) Dehydration
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
4.Which activities should the nurse carry a) Identify potential or actual health
problems. out in the preoperative period for a client b) Verify the presence of a signed
consent form.
scheduled for surgery? Select all that apply. e) Assess effectiveness of teaching related to postoperative
a) Identify potential or actual health recovery.
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.
5.A patient having surgery has a degree of b) Involvement of vital organs
risk associated with the surgery. The nurse e) A history of respiratory disease and
diabetes 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
,6.A patient has just entered the a) Vital signs, level of consciousness, presence of
pain 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
7. The nurse in the
postanesthesia care unit a) Pallor or
cyanosis (PACU) is assessing a postoperative patient.
d) Fluid loss
Which indicators suggest to the nurse an e) Decreased urinary output
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
8.After surgery, the nurse encourages the d) Let the lungs alternatively achieve maximum
expansion patient to move from side to side 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
9. The nurse is creating a plan of care
for a c) Absence of nonverbal signs of pain
postoperative patient. The nursing diagnosis e) Verbally rates pain as 3 on a 1
to 10 scale in 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
, 10. The patient has been in the
c) Detect for possible hemorrhage postanesthesia care unit (PACU) for one
hour. The patient is now groggy but able
to respond to voice commands. While
assessing the patient, for what reason
would the nurse check the bedclothes
underneath the patient?
a) Determine drainage from tubes or drains
b)Assess for fluid balance
c) Detect for possible hemorrhage
d) Monitor perspiration
11. A 65-
year-old was diagnosed and treated a) Pleurisy
for right lower lobe pneumonia 4 days ago.
Today, the patient came to the ED reporting
abrupt onset of chest pain that is worse
with inspiration. The nurse knows that the
symptoms are consistent with:
a) Pleurisy
b) Stable angina
c) Bacteremia
d) Meningitis
12. The ED
nurse is caring for Ginny, a 45- c) Panic Attack
year-old female with a recent history of
sexual assault. Ginny came to the ED crying
and shaking and stated that she had
dyspnea, feeling like she was choking and
couldn't breathe, chest pain, and sweating.
Ginny reports that the symptoms started
about 15 minutes before she came to the ED.
Ginny's symptoms are consistent with:
a) Myocardial Infarction
b) Pneumonia
c) Panic Attack
d) Influenza
13. A 86-year-old female
has recent changes c) Urinary tract infection
in her mental status, reports having no
appetite, and is running a low grade fever.
The nurse suspects:
a) Delirium
b) Dementia
c) Urinary tract infection
d) Hypokalemia
