Med-Surg Certification Practice Questions
A newly diabetic patient will receive instructions from his nurse. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take first?
A. Provide the patient with brochures for making smart choices for
cooking/baking.
B. Ask the patient what they know about diabetes.
C. Instruct the patient on exercise or activities that will increase their metabolism.
D. Teach them how to use the glucometer. CORRECT ANSWERS✅ B.
First ask the patient what they know about diabetes.
*ACTION questions ask for intervention, NOT assessment
The post hysterectomy patient with calls the clinic stating that she has been
having difficulty with incontinence. Which of the following statements if made by
the patient, indicates that further teaching is needed?
A. I drink 8 oz. of fluid on the even hours while awake.
B. I will attempt to void 30 minutes after drinking 200 cc. of fluid
C. I will only drink fluid when I eat my meals
D. I will set the timer to remind me when to void CORRECT ANSWERS✅ C.
A patient saying that he or she will only drink fluids when eating meals indicates
that they don't know what to do in case of incontinence.
FURTHER TEACHING indicates that the patient needs more information
,Med-Surg Certification Practice Questions
An RN assesses a patient in the Cancer Center with a diagnosis of terminal cancer.
The patient states to the RN that he is short of breath, has no appetite and hurts
everywhere. Which of the following statements by the nurse is best?
A. Tell me how your family is coping
B. Show me where it does not hurt
C. I'll teach you relaxation techniques
D. Your physician should increase your pain medication CORRECT ANSWERS✅ C
A clinical nurse returns to the desk to find 4 phone messages. Which of the
following messages should the nurse respond to first?
A. A post cervical laminectomy patient complaining of sudden difficulty talking.
B. A patient with multiple sclerosis complaining of change in peripheral vision.
C. A patient with a herniated disc complaining of consistent back pain.
D. A patient with a cast due to a fracture of the right tibial bone complaining of
tingling toes. CORRECT ANSWERS✅ A
B and C are expected symptoms of the patient's condition. A and D are
unexpected. D is less critical than A. Best answer is A.
A 75 year old patient complains to the clinical nurse that he is having difficulty
sleeping. Which of the following actions by the nurse is most appropriate?
A. Determine the patient's usual sleeping and waking patterns.
,Med-Surg Certification Practice Questions
B. Suggest that the client abstain from alcohol and caffeine before bed time.
C. Recommend that client establish a bedtime routine.
D. Ask how much sleep the client required before retirement. CORRECT
ANSWERS✅ A
B and C are recommendations that the RN can share after he/she determines the
patient's sleeping and waking patterns. So remove B and C. D is an inquiry, but is
concerned about the past (when the person retired). Remove D. A is the best
answer.
The nurse cares for a patient several hours after a thyroidectomy. The RN observes
that the patient is diaphoretic and confused. The vital signs are:
Temp = 102° (38.9 ° C); BP is 160/90; pulse is 110, respiration is 22. The nurse
expects the physician to order which of the following?
A. NPO, Dextran 10 ml/kg. IV, 02 4 L/min.
B. Propranolol (Inderal) 1 mg. IV, D5W 125 cc/hr IV, propylthiaouracil (PTU) 200
mg po qld.
C. Levothyroxine Sodium (Synthroid) 100 mcg IV, Lactated Ringer's 125 cc/hr IV,
and ciprofloxacin (cipro) 500 mg. po bid.
D. Morphine sulfate 2.5 mg. IV q. 4 hrs. prn, 0.9% NACl. CORRECT ANSWERS✅ B
A 63 year old female patient contacts the clinic to report that she is has been
extremely fatigued, is sleeping 12 hours a night, is always cold and her hair is
falling out. Which of the following responses by the nurse is most appropriate?
A. You will have more energy if you walk 30 min every day.
, Med-Surg Certification Practice Questions
B. You don't need to worry. Sleeping a lot is good for you.
C. Come in and see your health care provider today.
D. You should eat more green leafy vegetables. CORRECT ANSWERS✅ C
Need more info
The RN performs blood pressure screening at the local community center. Which
of the following individuals is most likely to suffer from a cerebrovascular
accident?
A. A 30 year old man who is an account executive
B. A 40 year old man who jogs four times a week.
C. A 60 year old man whose father had a stroke.
D. A 75 year old man who takes multi-vitamins. CORRECT ANSWERS✅ C
For the patient with a new tracheostomy, the nurse must be alert to which early
complication?
a) Decannulation
b) Infection
c) Bleeding
d) Tracheomalacia CORRECT ANSWERS✅ C
Common acute risks of tracheostomy include bleeding, airway loss, damage to
adjacent structures, and failure of the chosen technique to achieve successful
airway
A newly diabetic patient will receive instructions from his nurse. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take first?
A. Provide the patient with brochures for making smart choices for
cooking/baking.
B. Ask the patient what they know about diabetes.
C. Instruct the patient on exercise or activities that will increase their metabolism.
D. Teach them how to use the glucometer. CORRECT ANSWERS✅ B.
First ask the patient what they know about diabetes.
*ACTION questions ask for intervention, NOT assessment
The post hysterectomy patient with calls the clinic stating that she has been
having difficulty with incontinence. Which of the following statements if made by
the patient, indicates that further teaching is needed?
A. I drink 8 oz. of fluid on the even hours while awake.
B. I will attempt to void 30 minutes after drinking 200 cc. of fluid
C. I will only drink fluid when I eat my meals
D. I will set the timer to remind me when to void CORRECT ANSWERS✅ C.
A patient saying that he or she will only drink fluids when eating meals indicates
that they don't know what to do in case of incontinence.
FURTHER TEACHING indicates that the patient needs more information
,Med-Surg Certification Practice Questions
An RN assesses a patient in the Cancer Center with a diagnosis of terminal cancer.
The patient states to the RN that he is short of breath, has no appetite and hurts
everywhere. Which of the following statements by the nurse is best?
A. Tell me how your family is coping
B. Show me where it does not hurt
C. I'll teach you relaxation techniques
D. Your physician should increase your pain medication CORRECT ANSWERS✅ C
A clinical nurse returns to the desk to find 4 phone messages. Which of the
following messages should the nurse respond to first?
A. A post cervical laminectomy patient complaining of sudden difficulty talking.
B. A patient with multiple sclerosis complaining of change in peripheral vision.
C. A patient with a herniated disc complaining of consistent back pain.
D. A patient with a cast due to a fracture of the right tibial bone complaining of
tingling toes. CORRECT ANSWERS✅ A
B and C are expected symptoms of the patient's condition. A and D are
unexpected. D is less critical than A. Best answer is A.
A 75 year old patient complains to the clinical nurse that he is having difficulty
sleeping. Which of the following actions by the nurse is most appropriate?
A. Determine the patient's usual sleeping and waking patterns.
,Med-Surg Certification Practice Questions
B. Suggest that the client abstain from alcohol and caffeine before bed time.
C. Recommend that client establish a bedtime routine.
D. Ask how much sleep the client required before retirement. CORRECT
ANSWERS✅ A
B and C are recommendations that the RN can share after he/she determines the
patient's sleeping and waking patterns. So remove B and C. D is an inquiry, but is
concerned about the past (when the person retired). Remove D. A is the best
answer.
The nurse cares for a patient several hours after a thyroidectomy. The RN observes
that the patient is diaphoretic and confused. The vital signs are:
Temp = 102° (38.9 ° C); BP is 160/90; pulse is 110, respiration is 22. The nurse
expects the physician to order which of the following?
A. NPO, Dextran 10 ml/kg. IV, 02 4 L/min.
B. Propranolol (Inderal) 1 mg. IV, D5W 125 cc/hr IV, propylthiaouracil (PTU) 200
mg po qld.
C. Levothyroxine Sodium (Synthroid) 100 mcg IV, Lactated Ringer's 125 cc/hr IV,
and ciprofloxacin (cipro) 500 mg. po bid.
D. Morphine sulfate 2.5 mg. IV q. 4 hrs. prn, 0.9% NACl. CORRECT ANSWERS✅ B
A 63 year old female patient contacts the clinic to report that she is has been
extremely fatigued, is sleeping 12 hours a night, is always cold and her hair is
falling out. Which of the following responses by the nurse is most appropriate?
A. You will have more energy if you walk 30 min every day.
, Med-Surg Certification Practice Questions
B. You don't need to worry. Sleeping a lot is good for you.
C. Come in and see your health care provider today.
D. You should eat more green leafy vegetables. CORRECT ANSWERS✅ C
Need more info
The RN performs blood pressure screening at the local community center. Which
of the following individuals is most likely to suffer from a cerebrovascular
accident?
A. A 30 year old man who is an account executive
B. A 40 year old man who jogs four times a week.
C. A 60 year old man whose father had a stroke.
D. A 75 year old man who takes multi-vitamins. CORRECT ANSWERS✅ C
For the patient with a new tracheostomy, the nurse must be alert to which early
complication?
a) Decannulation
b) Infection
c) Bleeding
d) Tracheomalacia CORRECT ANSWERS✅ C
Common acute risks of tracheostomy include bleeding, airway loss, damage to
adjacent structures, and failure of the chosen technique to achieve successful
airway
