ADULT MEDICAL SURGICAL QUIZZES
AND RIGHT ANSWERS
A nurse is caring for a client who is 3 days postoperative following a total right hip arthroplasty. Which
of the following actions should the nurse take? ANSWER : -Maintain abduction of the client's right leg
while in bed.
A nurse is caring for a client who has terminal pancreatic cancer. The client states, "I don't think I can go
on any longer." Which of the following responses should the nurse make?
"Are you experiencing abdominal pain?"
"You should talk about this with the people you're closest to."
"Many people who have cancer feel this way."
"You feel like you want to discontinue treatment?" ANSWER : -"You feel like you want to discontinue
treatment?"
A nurse is contributing to the plan of care for a client who is having difficulty eating following a stroke.
Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
Collaborate with a dietitian.
Ensure that the client is provided with a high-ber diet.
Implement recommendations from the speech-language pathologist.
Request a referral for an occupational therapist. ANSWER : -Implement recommendations from the
speech-language pathologist.
A nurse is contributing to the plan of care for a client who was admitted to the neurological unit
following a stroke 3 hr ago. Which of the following interventions should the nurse identify as the
priority? ANSWER : -Keep the client in a side-lying position.
Greatest risk to the client following a stroke is aspiration. The nurse should position the client in a
lateral, or side-lying, position to allow any secretions to drain out of the mouth, decreasing the risk for
aspiration. Additionally, the nurse should have suction equipment available in the event that any
secretions are present in the oral cavity.
,A nurse is participating in a health fair for older adult clients. Which of the following vaccines should the
nurse recommend for this age group? ANSWER : -Herpes zoster for 60 years of age and older.
Meningococcal vaccine to college students and military recruits who are living in shared housing.
HPV vaccine for clients who are 9 to 26 years of age.
MMR vaccine to clients who are 62 years of age.
A nurse is contributing to the plan of care for a client who has a new prescription for nystatin suspension
for oral candidiasis. Which of the following interventions should the nurse include in the plan?
Use a commercial mouthwash before taking the medication.
Instruct the client to swish the medication in their mouth.
Discontinue the medication as soon as the lesions are healed.
Combine the medication with applesauce ANSWER : -Instruct the client to swish the medication in their
mouth.
A nurse is preparing to perform intermittent urinary catheterization for a female client who has been
unable to void following surgery 6 hr ago. Which of the following catheters should the nurse use to
perform this procedure? ANSWER : -intermittent straight catheter (clear tube with blue top)
A nurse is preparing to auscultate the bowel sounds of a client who has a mechanical bowel obstruction
in the descending colon. When listening in the left upper quadrant, the nurse should identify this sound
as which of the following? ANSWER : -Hyperactive bowel sounds
Normal bowel sounds, the nurse should expect to hear 5-35 gurgles and clicks in 1 min.
A nurse is contributing to the plan of care for a client who has multiple sclerosis and is taking dantrolene
to manage muscle spasms. Which of the following interventions should the nurse include?
Apply hot packs to the client's muscles.
Schedule physical therapy in the afternoon
, Encourage the client to complete ADLs.
Administer valerian to promote sleep ANSWER : -Encourage the client to complete ADLs.
A nurse is assisting with the care of a client who had a cardiac catheterization via the right femoral
artery. Which of the following actions should the nurse take to prevent postprocedure complications?
Monitor the insertion site for bleeding
Position the affected extremity at a 45º
Restrict the client's fluid intake
Maintain the pressure dressing
Check the client's peripheral pulses ANSWER : -Monitor the insertion site for bleeding is
Maintain the pressure dressing
Check the client's peripheral pulses
A home health nurse is reinforcing teaching about preventing asthma attacks with a client who has
asthma. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include in the teaching?
"Cover the floor of your bedroom with carpet."
"Do not allow visitors to smoke cigarettes in your home."
"Breathe cold air to ease feelings of shortness of breath."
"Open the windows in your home during the spring to increase air flow." ANSWER : -"Do not allow
visitors to smoke cigarettes in your home."
A nurse is caring for a client who has a prescription for phenazopyridine. Which of the following findings
should the nurse identify as a therapeutic effect of the medication?
Reduces bacteria in the urinary tract
Suppresses urge to void
Prevents nerve stimulation to the bladder muscle
Decreases pain during urination ANSWER : -Decreases pain during urination
AND RIGHT ANSWERS
A nurse is caring for a client who is 3 days postoperative following a total right hip arthroplasty. Which
of the following actions should the nurse take? ANSWER : -Maintain abduction of the client's right leg
while in bed.
A nurse is caring for a client who has terminal pancreatic cancer. The client states, "I don't think I can go
on any longer." Which of the following responses should the nurse make?
"Are you experiencing abdominal pain?"
"You should talk about this with the people you're closest to."
"Many people who have cancer feel this way."
"You feel like you want to discontinue treatment?" ANSWER : -"You feel like you want to discontinue
treatment?"
A nurse is contributing to the plan of care for a client who is having difficulty eating following a stroke.
Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
Collaborate with a dietitian.
Ensure that the client is provided with a high-ber diet.
Implement recommendations from the speech-language pathologist.
Request a referral for an occupational therapist. ANSWER : -Implement recommendations from the
speech-language pathologist.
A nurse is contributing to the plan of care for a client who was admitted to the neurological unit
following a stroke 3 hr ago. Which of the following interventions should the nurse identify as the
priority? ANSWER : -Keep the client in a side-lying position.
Greatest risk to the client following a stroke is aspiration. The nurse should position the client in a
lateral, or side-lying, position to allow any secretions to drain out of the mouth, decreasing the risk for
aspiration. Additionally, the nurse should have suction equipment available in the event that any
secretions are present in the oral cavity.
,A nurse is participating in a health fair for older adult clients. Which of the following vaccines should the
nurse recommend for this age group? ANSWER : -Herpes zoster for 60 years of age and older.
Meningococcal vaccine to college students and military recruits who are living in shared housing.
HPV vaccine for clients who are 9 to 26 years of age.
MMR vaccine to clients who are 62 years of age.
A nurse is contributing to the plan of care for a client who has a new prescription for nystatin suspension
for oral candidiasis. Which of the following interventions should the nurse include in the plan?
Use a commercial mouthwash before taking the medication.
Instruct the client to swish the medication in their mouth.
Discontinue the medication as soon as the lesions are healed.
Combine the medication with applesauce ANSWER : -Instruct the client to swish the medication in their
mouth.
A nurse is preparing to perform intermittent urinary catheterization for a female client who has been
unable to void following surgery 6 hr ago. Which of the following catheters should the nurse use to
perform this procedure? ANSWER : -intermittent straight catheter (clear tube with blue top)
A nurse is preparing to auscultate the bowel sounds of a client who has a mechanical bowel obstruction
in the descending colon. When listening in the left upper quadrant, the nurse should identify this sound
as which of the following? ANSWER : -Hyperactive bowel sounds
Normal bowel sounds, the nurse should expect to hear 5-35 gurgles and clicks in 1 min.
A nurse is contributing to the plan of care for a client who has multiple sclerosis and is taking dantrolene
to manage muscle spasms. Which of the following interventions should the nurse include?
Apply hot packs to the client's muscles.
Schedule physical therapy in the afternoon
, Encourage the client to complete ADLs.
Administer valerian to promote sleep ANSWER : -Encourage the client to complete ADLs.
A nurse is assisting with the care of a client who had a cardiac catheterization via the right femoral
artery. Which of the following actions should the nurse take to prevent postprocedure complications?
Monitor the insertion site for bleeding
Position the affected extremity at a 45º
Restrict the client's fluid intake
Maintain the pressure dressing
Check the client's peripheral pulses ANSWER : -Monitor the insertion site for bleeding is
Maintain the pressure dressing
Check the client's peripheral pulses
A home health nurse is reinforcing teaching about preventing asthma attacks with a client who has
asthma. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include in the teaching?
"Cover the floor of your bedroom with carpet."
"Do not allow visitors to smoke cigarettes in your home."
"Breathe cold air to ease feelings of shortness of breath."
"Open the windows in your home during the spring to increase air flow." ANSWER : -"Do not allow
visitors to smoke cigarettes in your home."
A nurse is caring for a client who has a prescription for phenazopyridine. Which of the following findings
should the nurse identify as a therapeutic effect of the medication?
Reduces bacteria in the urinary tract
Suppresses urge to void
Prevents nerve stimulation to the bladder muscle
Decreases pain during urination ANSWER : -Decreases pain during urination
