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NURS 120 MIDTERM EXAM | NURSING
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY REAL QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT ANSWERS (100%
VERIFIED) | NEWEST UPDATE 2026 A+
GRADED
1. A perioperative nurse is preparing a patient for surgery for treatment of a ruptured spleen as the result of
an automobile crash. For what type of surgery would the nurse prepare this patient?
a. Minor, diagnostic
b. Minor, elective
c. Major, emergency
d. Major, palliative - ✔✔ Answer--C. Major, Emergency
A nurse is preparing a patient for a cesarean section and teaches her the effects of the regional anesthesia she
will be receiving. Which effects would the nurse expect? Select all that apply.
a. Loss of consciousness
b. Relaxation of skeletal muscles
c. Reduction or loss of reflex action
d. Localized loss of sensation
e. Prolonged pain relief after other anesthesia wears off
f. Infiltrates the underlying tissues in an operative area - ✔✔ Answer--C. Reduction or loss of reflex action
D. Localized loss of sensation
A nurse has been asked to witness a patient signature on an informed consent form for surgery. What
information should be included on the form? Select all that apply.
a. The option of nontreatment
b. The underlying disease process and its natural course
c. Notice that once the form is signed, the patient cannot withdraw the consent
d. Explanation of the guaranteed outcome of the procedure or treatment
1 SUCCESS!!!
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e. Name and qualifications of the provider of the procedure or treatment
f. Explanation of the risks and benefits of the procedure or treatment - ✔✔ Answer--A. The option of
nontreatment
B. the underlying disease process and its natural course
E. name and qualifications of the provider of the procedure or treatment
F. Explanation of the risk and benefits of the procedure or treatment
A 72-year-old woman who is scheduled for a hip replacement is taking several medications on a regular basis.
Which drug category might create a surgical risk for this patient?
a. Anticoagulants
b. Antacids
c. Laxatives
d. Sedatives - ✔✔ Answer--A. Anticoagulants
A nurse is caring for an obese patient who has had surgery. The nurse monitors this patient for what
postoperative complication?
a. Anesthetic agent interactions
b. Impaired wound healing
c. Hemorrhage
d. Gas pains - ✔✔ Answer--B. Impaired wound healing
A responsibility of the nurse is the administration of preoperative medications to patients. Which statements
describe the action of these medications? Select all that apply.
a. Diazepam is given to alleviate anxiety.
b. Ranitidine is given to facilitate patient sedation.
c. Atropine is given to decrease oral secretions.
d. Morphine is given to depress respiratory function.
e. Cimetidine is given to prevent laryngospasm.
F. Fentanyl citrate-droperidol is given to facilitate a sense of calm - ✔✔ Answer--A. Diazepam is given to
alleviate anxiety
C. Atropine is given to decrease oral secretions
F. Fentanyl citrate-- droperidol is given to facilitate a sense of calm
A nurse is providing teaching for a patient scheduled to have same-day surgery. Which teaching method
would be most effective in preoperative teaching for ambulatory surgery?
2 SUCCESS!!!
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a. Lecture
b. Discussion
c. Audiovisuals
d. Written instructions - ✔✔ Answer--D. written instructions
A 70-year-old male is scheduled for surgery. He says to the nurse, "I am so frightened—what if I don't wake
up?" What would be the nurse's best response?
a. "You have a wonderful doctor."
b. "Let's talk about how you are feeling."
c. "Everyone wakes up from surgery!"
d. "Don't worry, you will be just fine." - ✔✔ Answer--B. "Let's talk about how you are feeling."
A nurse is explaining pain control methods to a patient undergoing a bowel resection. The patient is
interested in the PCA pump and asks the nurse to explain how it works. What would be the nurse's correct
response?
a. "The pump allows the patient to be completely free of pain during the postoperative period."
b. "The pump allows the patient to take unlimited amounts of medication as needed."
c. "The pump allows the patient to choose the type of medication given postoperatively."
d. "The pump allows the patient to self-administer limited doses of pain medication." - ✔✔ Answer--d.
"The pump allows the patient to self-administer limited doses of pain medication."
A patient had a surgical procedure that necessitated a thoracic incision. The nurse anticipates that the patient
will have a higher risk for postoperative complications involving which body system?
a. Respiratory system
b. Circulatory system
c. Digestive system
d. Nervous system - ✔✔ Answer--A. Respiratory system
While assessing a patient in the PACU, a nurse notes increased wound drainage, restlessness, a decreasing
blood pressure, and an increase in the pulse rate. The nurse interprets these findings as most likely
indicating:
a. Thrombophlebitis
b. Atelectasis
3 SUCCESS!!!
NURS 120 MIDTERM EXAM | NURSING
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY REAL QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT ANSWERS (100%
VERIFIED) | NEWEST UPDATE 2026 A+
GRADED
1. A perioperative nurse is preparing a patient for surgery for treatment of a ruptured spleen as the result of
an automobile crash. For what type of surgery would the nurse prepare this patient?
a. Minor, diagnostic
b. Minor, elective
c. Major, emergency
d. Major, palliative - ✔✔ Answer--C. Major, Emergency
A nurse is preparing a patient for a cesarean section and teaches her the effects of the regional anesthesia she
will be receiving. Which effects would the nurse expect? Select all that apply.
a. Loss of consciousness
b. Relaxation of skeletal muscles
c. Reduction or loss of reflex action
d. Localized loss of sensation
e. Prolonged pain relief after other anesthesia wears off
f. Infiltrates the underlying tissues in an operative area - ✔✔ Answer--C. Reduction or loss of reflex action
D. Localized loss of sensation
A nurse has been asked to witness a patient signature on an informed consent form for surgery. What
information should be included on the form? Select all that apply.
a. The option of nontreatment
b. The underlying disease process and its natural course
c. Notice that once the form is signed, the patient cannot withdraw the consent
d. Explanation of the guaranteed outcome of the procedure or treatment
1 SUCCESS!!!
, 2|Page
e. Name and qualifications of the provider of the procedure or treatment
f. Explanation of the risks and benefits of the procedure or treatment - ✔✔ Answer--A. The option of
nontreatment
B. the underlying disease process and its natural course
E. name and qualifications of the provider of the procedure or treatment
F. Explanation of the risk and benefits of the procedure or treatment
A 72-year-old woman who is scheduled for a hip replacement is taking several medications on a regular basis.
Which drug category might create a surgical risk for this patient?
a. Anticoagulants
b. Antacids
c. Laxatives
d. Sedatives - ✔✔ Answer--A. Anticoagulants
A nurse is caring for an obese patient who has had surgery. The nurse monitors this patient for what
postoperative complication?
a. Anesthetic agent interactions
b. Impaired wound healing
c. Hemorrhage
d. Gas pains - ✔✔ Answer--B. Impaired wound healing
A responsibility of the nurse is the administration of preoperative medications to patients. Which statements
describe the action of these medications? Select all that apply.
a. Diazepam is given to alleviate anxiety.
b. Ranitidine is given to facilitate patient sedation.
c. Atropine is given to decrease oral secretions.
d. Morphine is given to depress respiratory function.
e. Cimetidine is given to prevent laryngospasm.
F. Fentanyl citrate-droperidol is given to facilitate a sense of calm - ✔✔ Answer--A. Diazepam is given to
alleviate anxiety
C. Atropine is given to decrease oral secretions
F. Fentanyl citrate-- droperidol is given to facilitate a sense of calm
A nurse is providing teaching for a patient scheduled to have same-day surgery. Which teaching method
would be most effective in preoperative teaching for ambulatory surgery?
2 SUCCESS!!!
, 3|Page
a. Lecture
b. Discussion
c. Audiovisuals
d. Written instructions - ✔✔ Answer--D. written instructions
A 70-year-old male is scheduled for surgery. He says to the nurse, "I am so frightened—what if I don't wake
up?" What would be the nurse's best response?
a. "You have a wonderful doctor."
b. "Let's talk about how you are feeling."
c. "Everyone wakes up from surgery!"
d. "Don't worry, you will be just fine." - ✔✔ Answer--B. "Let's talk about how you are feeling."
A nurse is explaining pain control methods to a patient undergoing a bowel resection. The patient is
interested in the PCA pump and asks the nurse to explain how it works. What would be the nurse's correct
response?
a. "The pump allows the patient to be completely free of pain during the postoperative period."
b. "The pump allows the patient to take unlimited amounts of medication as needed."
c. "The pump allows the patient to choose the type of medication given postoperatively."
d. "The pump allows the patient to self-administer limited doses of pain medication." - ✔✔ Answer--d.
"The pump allows the patient to self-administer limited doses of pain medication."
A patient had a surgical procedure that necessitated a thoracic incision. The nurse anticipates that the patient
will have a higher risk for postoperative complications involving which body system?
a. Respiratory system
b. Circulatory system
c. Digestive system
d. Nervous system - ✔✔ Answer--A. Respiratory system
While assessing a patient in the PACU, a nurse notes increased wound drainage, restlessness, a decreasing
blood pressure, and an increase in the pulse rate. The nurse interprets these findings as most likely
indicating:
a. Thrombophlebitis
b. Atelectasis
3 SUCCESS!!!
