Medical-Surgical Nursing Questions With
Correct Answers 2025 Update
1. A patient with a deep, large laceration of the left forearm, which has damaged nerve fibres as well as
other tissue, asks the nurse to explain what the effect of the nerve damage will be. What is the best
response to the patient?
a. Nerve cells cannot regenerate, and the sensory and motor loss will be permanent.
b. He will probably have return of normal motor and sensory function because peripheral nerve cells can
regenerate.
c. Only nerve fibres within the central nervous system are capable of regeneration, and the nerve loss he
has distal to his injury will be permanent.
d. There is a chance that some nervous function will return because peripheral nerve fibres can slowly
regenerate if cell bodies have not been damaged. - Correct Answer ANS: D
In the peripheral nervous system, regeneration of injured nerve fibres is possible if the cell body is
intact. The final result depends on the connections the axon sprouts make with end-organs and other
nerves.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: page 1608
OBJ: 1 TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment MSC: CRNE: CH-8
2. When interviewing an acutely confused patient who has a head injury, which question will provide the
most useful information?
a. "Have you ever been hospitalized for a neurological problem?"
b. "Do you have any pain at the present time?"
c. "What have you had to eat in the last 24 hours?"
d. "Can you describe your usual pattern for coping with injury?" - Correct Answer ANS: B
The acutely confused patient will be able to state whether he currently has pain. The patient may not be
able to provide accurate information about his history of hospitalization, 24-hour dietary recall, or usual
coping patterns.
, PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: page 1610
OBJ: 8 TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment MSC: CRNE: CH-1
3. When the nurse administers a drug that increases the synaptic release of -aminobutyric acid (GABA),
what is the effect the nurse would expect?
a. Widespread increases in nervous system activity
b. Suppression of nervous system activity
c. Increased patient alertness and arousal
d. Excitation of the affected postsynaptic neurons - Correct Answer ANS: B
GABA is a neurotransmitter that has inhibitory activity on action-potential generation and decreases
nervous system activity.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: page 1610
OBJ: 2 TOP: Nursing Process: Evaluation MSC: CRNE: CH-48
4. For a patient who has a corticospinal tract lesion, the nurse should assess for which of the following?
a. Extremity movement and strength
b. Cranial nerve function
c. Peripheral sensitivity to pain
d. Level of consciousness - Correct Answer ANS: A
The corticospinal tract carries impulses from the cortex to the peripheral nerves that control voluntary
muscle movement.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: page 1611
OBJ: 3 TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment MSC: CRNE: CH-8
Correct Answers 2025 Update
1. A patient with a deep, large laceration of the left forearm, which has damaged nerve fibres as well as
other tissue, asks the nurse to explain what the effect of the nerve damage will be. What is the best
response to the patient?
a. Nerve cells cannot regenerate, and the sensory and motor loss will be permanent.
b. He will probably have return of normal motor and sensory function because peripheral nerve cells can
regenerate.
c. Only nerve fibres within the central nervous system are capable of regeneration, and the nerve loss he
has distal to his injury will be permanent.
d. There is a chance that some nervous function will return because peripheral nerve fibres can slowly
regenerate if cell bodies have not been damaged. - Correct Answer ANS: D
In the peripheral nervous system, regeneration of injured nerve fibres is possible if the cell body is
intact. The final result depends on the connections the axon sprouts make with end-organs and other
nerves.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: page 1608
OBJ: 1 TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment MSC: CRNE: CH-8
2. When interviewing an acutely confused patient who has a head injury, which question will provide the
most useful information?
a. "Have you ever been hospitalized for a neurological problem?"
b. "Do you have any pain at the present time?"
c. "What have you had to eat in the last 24 hours?"
d. "Can you describe your usual pattern for coping with injury?" - Correct Answer ANS: B
The acutely confused patient will be able to state whether he currently has pain. The patient may not be
able to provide accurate information about his history of hospitalization, 24-hour dietary recall, or usual
coping patterns.
, PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: page 1610
OBJ: 8 TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment MSC: CRNE: CH-1
3. When the nurse administers a drug that increases the synaptic release of -aminobutyric acid (GABA),
what is the effect the nurse would expect?
a. Widespread increases in nervous system activity
b. Suppression of nervous system activity
c. Increased patient alertness and arousal
d. Excitation of the affected postsynaptic neurons - Correct Answer ANS: B
GABA is a neurotransmitter that has inhibitory activity on action-potential generation and decreases
nervous system activity.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: page 1610
OBJ: 2 TOP: Nursing Process: Evaluation MSC: CRNE: CH-48
4. For a patient who has a corticospinal tract lesion, the nurse should assess for which of the following?
a. Extremity movement and strength
b. Cranial nerve function
c. Peripheral sensitivity to pain
d. Level of consciousness - Correct Answer ANS: A
The corticospinal tract carries impulses from the cortex to the peripheral nerves that control voluntary
muscle movement.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: page 1611
OBJ: 3 TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment MSC: CRNE: CH-8
