NUR 242 Exam 3 () | Med-Surg Nursing |
Galen College (A+ Guarantee) | PDF
SECTION 1: FOUNDATIONS OF MEDICAL-SURGICAL
NURSING (Questions 1-15)
Question 1
The nurse is evaluating a patient's understanding of evidence-based practice. Which
statement by the patient indicates a correct understanding?
A. "Evidence-based practice means all patients receive the same treatment regardless of
their condition."
B. "Evidence-based practice integrates the best research evidence with clinical expertise
and patient preferences."
C. "Evidence-based practice is only used in research settings and not in clinical practice."
D. "Evidence-based practice ignores the patient's personal values and preferences."
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Evidence-based practice (EBP) is the integration of the best available
research evidence, clinical expertise, and patient preferences and values in clinical
decision-making. It does not mean all patients receive identical treatments (A), it is not
limited to research settings (C), and it does not ignore patient preferences (D). EBP is a
cornerstone of quality medical-surgical nursing care.
Question 2
,A patient falls in the hospital room and sustains a hip fracture. The nurse's first priority
in this situation is to:
A. Complete an incident report
B. Notify the provider
C. Assess the patient for injuries and ensure safety
D. Document the fall in the patient's chart
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Patient safety is always the priority. The nurse should first assess the patient
for injuries and ensure they are safe before any other actions. Completing the incident
report (A), notifying the provider (B), and documenting the fall (D) are important but
should occur after the patient's immediate safety has been addressed.
Question 3
The Joint Commission's National Patient Safety Goals for 2026 include which of the
following?
A. Using only generic medications for all patients
B. Identifying patients correctly using at least two patient identifiers
C. Avoiding all use of technology in patient care
D. Discharging all patients within 24 hours of admission
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The 2026 National Patient Safety Goals from The Joint Commission include
using at least two patient identifiers (such as name and date of birth) to ensure correct
patient identification. This is a fundamental safety measure in healthcare settings. The
other options are not NPSG requirements.
,Question 4
An adult patient with dyspnea and suspected pneumonia has an oxygen saturation of
88%. The provider orders IV fluids, oxygen, blood cultures, urinalysis, and cefazolin IVP
every 8 hours. Which order should the nurse implement FIRST?
A. IV fluids 1000 mL 0.9% NS at 60 mL/hr
B. Oxygen at 2 L per nasal cannula
C. Blood cultures and urinalysis
D. Cefazolin 1 g IVP every 8 hours
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hypoxia is a priority concern in pneumonia . Oxygen therapy should be
started immediately to correct the oxygen saturation of 88%. While all orders are
important, oxygen addresses the immediate life-threatening issue . Blood cultures
should be obtained before antibiotics are administered (D), but oxygen takes priority.
Question 5
A patient is admitted with community-acquired pneumonia. The nurse knows that the
most common causative organism is:
A. Staphylococcus aureus
B. Streptococcus pneumoniae
C. Haemophilus influenzae
D. Mycoplasma pneumoniae
, Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most common bacterial cause of
community-acquired pneumonia in adults. While S. aureus, H. influenzae, and M.
pneumoniae can also cause pneumonia, S. pneumoniae remains the predominant
pathogen in community-acquired cases.
Question 6
Which assessment finding does the nurse interpret as being most closely associated
with lung disease?
A. Dyspnea
B. Chest pain
C. Cough
D. Sputum production
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Cough is a main sign of lung disease . Dyspnea (difficulty in breathing) is a
subjective perception and varies among patients; a patient's feeling of dyspnea may not
be consistent with the severity of the presenting problem . Sputum production and
chest pain can occur with other health problems as well as with lung conditions.
Question 7
An elderly patient with pneumonia is admitted to the unit. The nurse understands that
the most common symptom of pneumonia in the older adult patient is:
Galen College (A+ Guarantee) | PDF
SECTION 1: FOUNDATIONS OF MEDICAL-SURGICAL
NURSING (Questions 1-15)
Question 1
The nurse is evaluating a patient's understanding of evidence-based practice. Which
statement by the patient indicates a correct understanding?
A. "Evidence-based practice means all patients receive the same treatment regardless of
their condition."
B. "Evidence-based practice integrates the best research evidence with clinical expertise
and patient preferences."
C. "Evidence-based practice is only used in research settings and not in clinical practice."
D. "Evidence-based practice ignores the patient's personal values and preferences."
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Evidence-based practice (EBP) is the integration of the best available
research evidence, clinical expertise, and patient preferences and values in clinical
decision-making. It does not mean all patients receive identical treatments (A), it is not
limited to research settings (C), and it does not ignore patient preferences (D). EBP is a
cornerstone of quality medical-surgical nursing care.
Question 2
,A patient falls in the hospital room and sustains a hip fracture. The nurse's first priority
in this situation is to:
A. Complete an incident report
B. Notify the provider
C. Assess the patient for injuries and ensure safety
D. Document the fall in the patient's chart
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Patient safety is always the priority. The nurse should first assess the patient
for injuries and ensure they are safe before any other actions. Completing the incident
report (A), notifying the provider (B), and documenting the fall (D) are important but
should occur after the patient's immediate safety has been addressed.
Question 3
The Joint Commission's National Patient Safety Goals for 2026 include which of the
following?
A. Using only generic medications for all patients
B. Identifying patients correctly using at least two patient identifiers
C. Avoiding all use of technology in patient care
D. Discharging all patients within 24 hours of admission
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The 2026 National Patient Safety Goals from The Joint Commission include
using at least two patient identifiers (such as name and date of birth) to ensure correct
patient identification. This is a fundamental safety measure in healthcare settings. The
other options are not NPSG requirements.
,Question 4
An adult patient with dyspnea and suspected pneumonia has an oxygen saturation of
88%. The provider orders IV fluids, oxygen, blood cultures, urinalysis, and cefazolin IVP
every 8 hours. Which order should the nurse implement FIRST?
A. IV fluids 1000 mL 0.9% NS at 60 mL/hr
B. Oxygen at 2 L per nasal cannula
C. Blood cultures and urinalysis
D. Cefazolin 1 g IVP every 8 hours
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hypoxia is a priority concern in pneumonia . Oxygen therapy should be
started immediately to correct the oxygen saturation of 88%. While all orders are
important, oxygen addresses the immediate life-threatening issue . Blood cultures
should be obtained before antibiotics are administered (D), but oxygen takes priority.
Question 5
A patient is admitted with community-acquired pneumonia. The nurse knows that the
most common causative organism is:
A. Staphylococcus aureus
B. Streptococcus pneumoniae
C. Haemophilus influenzae
D. Mycoplasma pneumoniae
, Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most common bacterial cause of
community-acquired pneumonia in adults. While S. aureus, H. influenzae, and M.
pneumoniae can also cause pneumonia, S. pneumoniae remains the predominant
pathogen in community-acquired cases.
Question 6
Which assessment finding does the nurse interpret as being most closely associated
with lung disease?
A. Dyspnea
B. Chest pain
C. Cough
D. Sputum production
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Cough is a main sign of lung disease . Dyspnea (difficulty in breathing) is a
subjective perception and varies among patients; a patient's feeling of dyspnea may not
be consistent with the severity of the presenting problem . Sputum production and
chest pain can occur with other health problems as well as with lung conditions.
Question 7
An elderly patient with pneumonia is admitted to the unit. The nurse understands that
the most common symptom of pneumonia in the older adult patient is:
