ANCC MED-SURG CERTIFICATION EXAM QUESTIONS WITH
FULLY SOLVED AND UPDATED ANSWERS.
1) A 51-year-old female who is perimenopausal broke her arm after a fall in her home.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
She also reports progressive fatigue, insomnia, and hot flashes. What question should
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
the nurse ask first to collect more data surrounding the client's health history?
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
a. How often do you engage in exercise?
_ _ _ _ _ _
b. Can you tell me about your diet?
_ _ _ _ _ _
c. What medications are you currently taking?
_ _ _ _ _
d. Do you have a history of heart disease? -- Correct Answer ✔✔ a
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
2) Which female reproductive cancer claims the most lives?
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
a. Breast
b. Ovarian
c. Cervical
d. Endometrial -- Correct Answer ✔✔ b _ _ _ _ _
3) Which of the following recommendations is best for the nurse to suggest to a client
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
as a way to keep BP under control?
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
a. Follow a regular exercise program _ _ _ _ _
b. Attend a stress-reduction support group _ _ _ _ _
c. Avoid use of tobacco and limit alcohol intake
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
d. Increase intake of fruits and veggies -- Correct Answer ✔✔ a
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
4) Which of the following assessment findings indicate to the nurse the client is
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
experiencing left-sided HF? _ _
a. Fatigue and dyspnea _ _
b. Cheyne-Stokes breathing and orthostatic hypotension _ _ _ _ _
c. Liver tenderness and peripheral edema
_ _ _ _
d. Anorexia and dependent edema -- Correct Answer ✔✔ a _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
,5) What is a potential outcome when administering total parenteral nutrition (TPN)?
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
a. Infection
b. Hyperglycemia
c. Electrolyte imbalance _
d. Dehydration -- Correct Answer ✔✔ b _ _ _ _ _
6) An older adult with anemia requests help with his menu choices. What type of food
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
should the client be encouraged to eat?
_ _ _ _ _ _
a. One-half cup of prunes _ _ _
b. Skim milk _
c. Wheat bread _
d. Oranges -- Correct Answer ✔✔ b _ _ _ _ _
7) What percentage of adults in the US are obese (BMI>30)?
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
a. 14%
b. 21%
c. 34%
d. 47% -- Correct Answer ✔✔ c _ _ _ _ _
8) A client receiving chemotherapy for treatment of cancer is at greatest risk for
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
developing:
a. Stomatitis
b. Xerostomia
c. Oral abscess _
d. Candidiasis -- Correct Answer ✔✔ a _ _ _ _ _
9) The nurse is teaching a group of adult clients about risk for coronary artery disease,
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
especially MI. This nurse should instruct this group of clients about which of the
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
following as ways to decrease incidence of CAD and MI? (select all that apply)
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
a. "if you smoke, quit"
_ _ _
b. "be sure to consume at least 10% of your calories from saturates fats."
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
c. "Engage in moderate exercise for 20-30 minutes 3-5 times a week."
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
d. "jog at a mild pace for at least one hour a day."
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
e. "check BP regularly." -- Correct Answer ✔✔ a, c, e _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
10) Which client response requires a focused GI assessment?
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
, a. "I take ibuprofen 600 mg three times a day for arthritis pain."
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
b. "I experienced occasional constipation."
_ _ _
c. "I have had dentures for 3 years."
_ _ _ _ _ _
d. "spicy foods upset my stomach." -- Correct Answer ✔✔ a
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
11) After abdominal surgery, what is the most reliable assessment that suggests return of
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
peristaltic movement? _
a. Presence of normal bowel sounds _ _ _ _
b. Client report of passing flatus _ _ _ _
c. Client report of hunger _ _ _
d. Absence of nausea -- Correct Answer ✔✔ b _ _ _ _ _ _ _
12) A nurse is reviewing the medical record of a client who is receiving heparin therapy
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
for treatment of DVT. Which of the following interventions should the nurse
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
anticipate taking if the client's aptt is 96 seconds?
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
a. Increase the heparin infusion flow rate by 2 ml/hr._ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
b. Continue to monitor the heparin infusion as prescribed _ _ _ _ _ _ _
c. Request a prothrombin time _ _ _
d. Stop the heparin infusion -- Correct Answer ✔✔ d
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
13) A nurse is providing teaching for a client who is 2 days post-op following a heart
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
transplant. Which of the following statements should the nurse include in the
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
teaching?
a. "you may no longer be able to feel chest pain."
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
b. "your level of activity tolerance will not change."
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
c. "after 6 months, you will no longer need to restrict your sodium intake."
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
d. "you will be able to stop taking immunosuppressants after 12 months." --
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Correct Answer ✔✔ a _ _ _
14) A nurse is assess a client in the emergency room who has a brady dysrhythmia.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
A. Confusion
B. Friction rub _
C. Hypertension
D. Dry skin -- Correct Answer ✔✔ a _ _ _ _ _ _
, 15) A nurse in the emergency department is caring for a client who had an anterior MI.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
The client's history reveals she is 1 week post-op open cholecystectomy. The nurse
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
should recognize that which of the following interventions is contraindicated?
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
A. Administering IV morphine sulfate _ _ _
B. Administering oxygen at 2 :/min via nasal cannula _ _ _ _ _ _ _
C. Helping the client to the bedside commode _ _ _ _ _ _
D. Assisting with thrombolytic therapy -- Correct Answer ✔✔ d _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
16) A nurse is caring for a client who has endocarditis. Which of the following findings
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
should the nurse recognize as a potential complication?
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
A. Ventricular depolarization _
B. Guillain-Barre syndrome _
C. Myelodysplastic syndrome _
D. Valvular disease -- Correct Answer ✔✔ D _ _ _ _ _ _
17) A nurse is caring for a client who presents to the ER with a BP of 254/138 mmhg. The
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_nurse recognizes that the client is in a hypertensive crisis. Which of the following
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
actions should the nurse take first?
_ _ _ _ _
A. Obtain blood samples for laboratory testing _ _ _ _ _
B. Tell the client to report vision changes _ _ _ _ _ _
C. Place the head of the bed at 45 degrees _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
D. Initiate an IV -- Correct Answer ✔✔ C _ _ _ _ _ _ _
18) A nurse is caring for a client who has HF and is experiencing AF. The nurse should
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
plan to monitor for and report which of the following findings to the provider
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
immediately?
a. Slurred speech _
b. Irregular pulse _
c. Dependent edema _
d. Persistent fatigue -- Correct Answer ✔✔ a _ _ _ _ _ _
19) A nurse is assessing a client who has left-sided HF. Which of the following
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
manifestations should the nurse expect to find?
_ _ _ _ _ _
a. Inc abdominal girth _ _
b. Weak peripheral pulses _ _
FULLY SOLVED AND UPDATED ANSWERS.
1) A 51-year-old female who is perimenopausal broke her arm after a fall in her home.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
She also reports progressive fatigue, insomnia, and hot flashes. What question should
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
the nurse ask first to collect more data surrounding the client's health history?
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
a. How often do you engage in exercise?
_ _ _ _ _ _
b. Can you tell me about your diet?
_ _ _ _ _ _
c. What medications are you currently taking?
_ _ _ _ _
d. Do you have a history of heart disease? -- Correct Answer ✔✔ a
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
2) Which female reproductive cancer claims the most lives?
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
a. Breast
b. Ovarian
c. Cervical
d. Endometrial -- Correct Answer ✔✔ b _ _ _ _ _
3) Which of the following recommendations is best for the nurse to suggest to a client
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
as a way to keep BP under control?
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
a. Follow a regular exercise program _ _ _ _ _
b. Attend a stress-reduction support group _ _ _ _ _
c. Avoid use of tobacco and limit alcohol intake
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
d. Increase intake of fruits and veggies -- Correct Answer ✔✔ a
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
4) Which of the following assessment findings indicate to the nurse the client is
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
experiencing left-sided HF? _ _
a. Fatigue and dyspnea _ _
b. Cheyne-Stokes breathing and orthostatic hypotension _ _ _ _ _
c. Liver tenderness and peripheral edema
_ _ _ _
d. Anorexia and dependent edema -- Correct Answer ✔✔ a _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
,5) What is a potential outcome when administering total parenteral nutrition (TPN)?
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
a. Infection
b. Hyperglycemia
c. Electrolyte imbalance _
d. Dehydration -- Correct Answer ✔✔ b _ _ _ _ _
6) An older adult with anemia requests help with his menu choices. What type of food
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
should the client be encouraged to eat?
_ _ _ _ _ _
a. One-half cup of prunes _ _ _
b. Skim milk _
c. Wheat bread _
d. Oranges -- Correct Answer ✔✔ b _ _ _ _ _
7) What percentage of adults in the US are obese (BMI>30)?
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
a. 14%
b. 21%
c. 34%
d. 47% -- Correct Answer ✔✔ c _ _ _ _ _
8) A client receiving chemotherapy for treatment of cancer is at greatest risk for
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
developing:
a. Stomatitis
b. Xerostomia
c. Oral abscess _
d. Candidiasis -- Correct Answer ✔✔ a _ _ _ _ _
9) The nurse is teaching a group of adult clients about risk for coronary artery disease,
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
especially MI. This nurse should instruct this group of clients about which of the
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
following as ways to decrease incidence of CAD and MI? (select all that apply)
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
a. "if you smoke, quit"
_ _ _
b. "be sure to consume at least 10% of your calories from saturates fats."
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
c. "Engage in moderate exercise for 20-30 minutes 3-5 times a week."
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
d. "jog at a mild pace for at least one hour a day."
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
e. "check BP regularly." -- Correct Answer ✔✔ a, c, e _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
10) Which client response requires a focused GI assessment?
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
, a. "I take ibuprofen 600 mg three times a day for arthritis pain."
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
b. "I experienced occasional constipation."
_ _ _
c. "I have had dentures for 3 years."
_ _ _ _ _ _
d. "spicy foods upset my stomach." -- Correct Answer ✔✔ a
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
11) After abdominal surgery, what is the most reliable assessment that suggests return of
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
peristaltic movement? _
a. Presence of normal bowel sounds _ _ _ _
b. Client report of passing flatus _ _ _ _
c. Client report of hunger _ _ _
d. Absence of nausea -- Correct Answer ✔✔ b _ _ _ _ _ _ _
12) A nurse is reviewing the medical record of a client who is receiving heparin therapy
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
for treatment of DVT. Which of the following interventions should the nurse
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
anticipate taking if the client's aptt is 96 seconds?
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
a. Increase the heparin infusion flow rate by 2 ml/hr._ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
b. Continue to monitor the heparin infusion as prescribed _ _ _ _ _ _ _
c. Request a prothrombin time _ _ _
d. Stop the heparin infusion -- Correct Answer ✔✔ d
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
13) A nurse is providing teaching for a client who is 2 days post-op following a heart
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
transplant. Which of the following statements should the nurse include in the
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
teaching?
a. "you may no longer be able to feel chest pain."
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
b. "your level of activity tolerance will not change."
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
c. "after 6 months, you will no longer need to restrict your sodium intake."
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
d. "you will be able to stop taking immunosuppressants after 12 months." --
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Correct Answer ✔✔ a _ _ _
14) A nurse is assess a client in the emergency room who has a brady dysrhythmia.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
A. Confusion
B. Friction rub _
C. Hypertension
D. Dry skin -- Correct Answer ✔✔ a _ _ _ _ _ _
, 15) A nurse in the emergency department is caring for a client who had an anterior MI.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
The client's history reveals she is 1 week post-op open cholecystectomy. The nurse
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
should recognize that which of the following interventions is contraindicated?
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
A. Administering IV morphine sulfate _ _ _
B. Administering oxygen at 2 :/min via nasal cannula _ _ _ _ _ _ _
C. Helping the client to the bedside commode _ _ _ _ _ _
D. Assisting with thrombolytic therapy -- Correct Answer ✔✔ d _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
16) A nurse is caring for a client who has endocarditis. Which of the following findings
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
should the nurse recognize as a potential complication?
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
A. Ventricular depolarization _
B. Guillain-Barre syndrome _
C. Myelodysplastic syndrome _
D. Valvular disease -- Correct Answer ✔✔ D _ _ _ _ _ _
17) A nurse is caring for a client who presents to the ER with a BP of 254/138 mmhg. The
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_nurse recognizes that the client is in a hypertensive crisis. Which of the following
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
actions should the nurse take first?
_ _ _ _ _
A. Obtain blood samples for laboratory testing _ _ _ _ _
B. Tell the client to report vision changes _ _ _ _ _ _
C. Place the head of the bed at 45 degrees _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
D. Initiate an IV -- Correct Answer ✔✔ C _ _ _ _ _ _ _
18) A nurse is caring for a client who has HF and is experiencing AF. The nurse should
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
plan to monitor for and report which of the following findings to the provider
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
immediately?
a. Slurred speech _
b. Irregular pulse _
c. Dependent edema _
d. Persistent fatigue -- Correct Answer ✔✔ a _ _ _ _ _ _
19) A nurse is assessing a client who has left-sided HF. Which of the following
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
manifestations should the nurse expect to find?
_ _ _ _ _ _
a. Inc abdominal girth _ _
b. Weak peripheral pulses _ _
