Med-Surg HIV and AIDS Exam Qs and
Answers Latest Version Already Passed
A nurse is assessing a patient with HIV. Which finding suggests the disease is progressing?
A) Mild fatigue after activity
B) Occasional headaches
✔✔C) Frequent infections and weight loss
D) Normal CD4+ count with no symptoms
A patient newly diagnosed with HIV asks about the purpose of antiretroviral therapy (ART).
What is the best response by the nurse?
A) "ART completely eliminates the virus from your body."
✔✔B) "ART helps suppress the virus and slow disease progression."
C) "You only need ART when symptoms appear."
D) "ART is only effective in the early stages of HIV."
A patient with HIV presents with oral candidiasis. Which intervention should the nurse
prioritize?
A) Encourage more fluid intake
1
,B) Recommend over-the-counter mouthwash
✔✔C) Administer prescribed antifungal medication
D) Suggest a high-sugar diet to boost energy
A nurse is teaching a patient with HIV about preventing opportunistic infections. Which
statement requires further teaching?
✔✔A) "I can drink tap water from any source."
B) "I should get vaccinated against preventable diseases."
C) "I need to avoid raw or undercooked meats."
D) "I should practice good hand hygiene regularly."
A patient with HIV has a CD4+ count of 150 cells/mm³. What is the nurse's priority
intervention?
A) Encourage rest and hydration
✔✔B) Initiate prophylactic treatment for opportunistic infections
C) Discontinue ART since it is no longer effective
D) Recommend increasing physical activity
2
,A nurse is reviewing lab results for a patient with HIV. Which finding is most concerning?
✔✔A) Viral load is increasing despite ART adherence
B) CD4+ count is stable above 500 cells/mm³
C) Mild nausea after starting new medications
D) Slight fatigue after exercise
A patient with AIDS develops persistent diarrhea. What should the nurse include in their care
plan?
A) Encourage a high-fiber diet
✔✔B) Provide electrolyte replacement therapy
C) Limit fluid intake to prevent dehydration
D) Suggest avoiding all solid foods
A patient with HIV reports numbness and tingling in their hands and feet. What is the most likely
cause?
A) Low blood sugar levels
B) Increased viral load
✔✔C) Side effect of certain antiretroviral medications
3
, D) Dehydration from diarrhea
A nurse is providing care for a patient with Kaposi sarcoma. What is the most appropriate
nursing intervention?
✔✔A) Monitor and document lesion progression
B) Encourage vigorous scrubbing of lesions to keep them clean
C) Avoid reporting new skin changes to the provider
D) Recommend stopping ART therapy
A patient with HIV is prescribed trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX). What is the
purpose of this medication?
A) To cure HIV infection
✔✔B) To prevent Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP)
C) To increase CD4+ count directly
D) To reduce the side effects of ART
A nurse is reinforcing medication adherence with a patient on ART. Which statement indicates a
need for further education?
✔✔A) "Skipping a few doses won’t affect my treatment."
4
Answers Latest Version Already Passed
A nurse is assessing a patient with HIV. Which finding suggests the disease is progressing?
A) Mild fatigue after activity
B) Occasional headaches
✔✔C) Frequent infections and weight loss
D) Normal CD4+ count with no symptoms
A patient newly diagnosed with HIV asks about the purpose of antiretroviral therapy (ART).
What is the best response by the nurse?
A) "ART completely eliminates the virus from your body."
✔✔B) "ART helps suppress the virus and slow disease progression."
C) "You only need ART when symptoms appear."
D) "ART is only effective in the early stages of HIV."
A patient with HIV presents with oral candidiasis. Which intervention should the nurse
prioritize?
A) Encourage more fluid intake
1
,B) Recommend over-the-counter mouthwash
✔✔C) Administer prescribed antifungal medication
D) Suggest a high-sugar diet to boost energy
A nurse is teaching a patient with HIV about preventing opportunistic infections. Which
statement requires further teaching?
✔✔A) "I can drink tap water from any source."
B) "I should get vaccinated against preventable diseases."
C) "I need to avoid raw or undercooked meats."
D) "I should practice good hand hygiene regularly."
A patient with HIV has a CD4+ count of 150 cells/mm³. What is the nurse's priority
intervention?
A) Encourage rest and hydration
✔✔B) Initiate prophylactic treatment for opportunistic infections
C) Discontinue ART since it is no longer effective
D) Recommend increasing physical activity
2
,A nurse is reviewing lab results for a patient with HIV. Which finding is most concerning?
✔✔A) Viral load is increasing despite ART adherence
B) CD4+ count is stable above 500 cells/mm³
C) Mild nausea after starting new medications
D) Slight fatigue after exercise
A patient with AIDS develops persistent diarrhea. What should the nurse include in their care
plan?
A) Encourage a high-fiber diet
✔✔B) Provide electrolyte replacement therapy
C) Limit fluid intake to prevent dehydration
D) Suggest avoiding all solid foods
A patient with HIV reports numbness and tingling in their hands and feet. What is the most likely
cause?
A) Low blood sugar levels
B) Increased viral load
✔✔C) Side effect of certain antiretroviral medications
3
, D) Dehydration from diarrhea
A nurse is providing care for a patient with Kaposi sarcoma. What is the most appropriate
nursing intervention?
✔✔A) Monitor and document lesion progression
B) Encourage vigorous scrubbing of lesions to keep them clean
C) Avoid reporting new skin changes to the provider
D) Recommend stopping ART therapy
A patient with HIV is prescribed trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX). What is the
purpose of this medication?
A) To cure HIV infection
✔✔B) To prevent Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP)
C) To increase CD4+ count directly
D) To reduce the side effects of ART
A nurse is reinforcing medication adherence with a patient on ART. Which statement indicates a
need for further education?
✔✔A) "Skipping a few doses won’t affect my treatment."
4
