Med Surg 1 Exam 2026 Questions and
Answers
1. A patient is being admitted to the hospital on the day before a scheduled surgery.
What is the most appropriate initial question for the nurse to ask this preoperative
patient?
a) "What did your surgeon say to you about the type of surgery you are having?"
b) "What questions do you have about your surgery?"
c) "What type of surgery are you having and why are you having it done?"
d) "What do you know about what will be done to you?" - Correct answer-c)
"What type of surgery are you having and why are you having it done?"
2. A benzodiazepine has been administered to a patient preoperatively. After the
drug has been administered, the nurse plans to monitor the patient for which side
effects? Select all that apply.
a) Anxiety
b) Hypotension
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,c) Hypocalcemia
d) Level of Consciousness
e) Sedation - Correct answer-a) Anxiety
d) Level of Consciousness
e) Sedation
3. A preoperative patient has an elevated hemoglobin and hematocrit. What would
the nurse suspect regarding the significance of this increased value?
a) Immune deficiency
b) Kidney dysfunction
c) Malignancy
d) Dehydration - Correct answer-d) Dehydration
4. Which activities should the nurse carry out in the preoperative period for a client
scheduled for surgery? Select all that apply.
a) Identify potential or actual health problems.
b) Verify the presence of a signed consent form.
c) Assess patient's response to interventions.
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,d) Intervene to prevent complications.
e) Assess effectiveness of teaching related to postoperative recovery. - Correct
answer-a) Identify potential or actual health problems.
b) Verify the presence of a signed consent form.
e) Assess effectiveness of teaching related to postoperative recovery.
5. A patient having surgery has a degree of risk associated with the surgery. The
nurse would evaluate which patient-related factors as contributing to a high degree
of risk associated with surgery? Select all that apply.
a) Type of institution where surgery is performed
b) Involvement of vital organs
c) Average nutritional status
d) Low likelihood of procedure complications
e) A history of respiratory disease and diabetes - Correct answer-b) Involvement of
vital organs
e) A history of respiratory disease and diabetes
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, 6. A patient has just entered the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) from surgery. For
which priority needs should the nurse immediately assess the postoperative
patient?
a) Vital signs, level of consciousness, presence of pain
b) Skin coloring, surgical incision, limb movements
c) Skin temperature, blood pressure, mental status
d) Temperature, emotional status, wound drainage - Correct answer-a) Vital signs,
level of consciousness, presence of pain
7. The nurse in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) is assessing a postoperative
patient. Which indicators suggest to the nurse an alteration in tissue perfusion?
Select all that apply.
a) Pallor or cyanosis
b) Difficulty with mobility
c) Pain in the incision area
d) Fluid loss
e) Decreased urinary output - Correct answer-a) Pallor or cyanosis
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Answers
1. A patient is being admitted to the hospital on the day before a scheduled surgery.
What is the most appropriate initial question for the nurse to ask this preoperative
patient?
a) "What did your surgeon say to you about the type of surgery you are having?"
b) "What questions do you have about your surgery?"
c) "What type of surgery are you having and why are you having it done?"
d) "What do you know about what will be done to you?" - Correct answer-c)
"What type of surgery are you having and why are you having it done?"
2. A benzodiazepine has been administered to a patient preoperatively. After the
drug has been administered, the nurse plans to monitor the patient for which side
effects? Select all that apply.
a) Anxiety
b) Hypotension
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,c) Hypocalcemia
d) Level of Consciousness
e) Sedation - Correct answer-a) Anxiety
d) Level of Consciousness
e) Sedation
3. A preoperative patient has an elevated hemoglobin and hematocrit. What would
the nurse suspect regarding the significance of this increased value?
a) Immune deficiency
b) Kidney dysfunction
c) Malignancy
d) Dehydration - Correct answer-d) Dehydration
4. Which activities should the nurse carry out in the preoperative period for a client
scheduled for surgery? Select all that apply.
a) Identify potential or actual health problems.
b) Verify the presence of a signed consent form.
c) Assess patient's response to interventions.
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,d) Intervene to prevent complications.
e) Assess effectiveness of teaching related to postoperative recovery. - Correct
answer-a) Identify potential or actual health problems.
b) Verify the presence of a signed consent form.
e) Assess effectiveness of teaching related to postoperative recovery.
5. A patient having surgery has a degree of risk associated with the surgery. The
nurse would evaluate which patient-related factors as contributing to a high degree
of risk associated with surgery? Select all that apply.
a) Type of institution where surgery is performed
b) Involvement of vital organs
c) Average nutritional status
d) Low likelihood of procedure complications
e) A history of respiratory disease and diabetes - Correct answer-b) Involvement of
vital organs
e) A history of respiratory disease and diabetes
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, 6. A patient has just entered the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) from surgery. For
which priority needs should the nurse immediately assess the postoperative
patient?
a) Vital signs, level of consciousness, presence of pain
b) Skin coloring, surgical incision, limb movements
c) Skin temperature, blood pressure, mental status
d) Temperature, emotional status, wound drainage - Correct answer-a) Vital signs,
level of consciousness, presence of pain
7. The nurse in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) is assessing a postoperative
patient. Which indicators suggest to the nurse an alteration in tissue perfusion?
Select all that apply.
a) Pallor or cyanosis
b) Difficulty with mobility
c) Pain in the incision area
d) Fluid loss
e) Decreased urinary output - Correct answer-a) Pallor or cyanosis
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