NUR 170 Exam 3 Concepts Of Medical-Surgical
Nursing Complete Questions And Correct Answers
UNIVERSITY: [Your University Name Here]
SUBJECT: NUR 170 – Medical‑Surgical Nursing
PROFESSOR: Professor Jennifer L. Wilcox, MSN, RN, CNE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Exam Overview & Instructions
2. Multiple Choice (Questions 1-100)
3. True / False (Questions 101-120)
4. Fill in the Blank (Questions 121-140)
5. Matching (Questions 141-150)
6. Clinical Case Studies (Questions 151-155)
7. Complete Answer Key & Rationales
1. EXAM OVERVIEW & INSTRUCTIONS
- Total questions: 155
- Suggested time: 2 hours (practice mode)
- Question types: multiple choice, true/false, fill‑in‑the‑blank, matching, case studies.
- Instructions: Select the single best answer. Correct answers are bolded.
- Formatting: No color or highlighting – prevents preview cheating.
- Content basis: Standard medical‑surgical nursing curriculum.
2. MULTIPLE CHOICE (Questions 1-100)
METABOLISM – DIABETES MELLITUS
Q1. A patient with type 1 diabetes mellitus is most likely to develop:
A) Hyperglycemic hyperosmolar state (HHS)
B) Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)
C) Lactic acidosis
D) Hypoglycemic unawareness
Answer: B
Q2. Which of the following is the priority nursing action for a patient with diabetic ketoacidosis
(DKA)?
,A) Administer IV insulin bolus
B) Begin IV fluid resuscitation (normal saline)
C) Give oral glucose
D) Check serum potassium
Answer: B
Q3. A patient with type 2 diabetes is prescribed metformin. The most common side effect is:
A) Hypoglycemia
B) Weight gain
C) Gastrointestinal distress (nausea, diarrhea)
D) Lactic acidosis
Answer: C
Q4. A patient on glipizide (sulfonylurea) reports feeling shaky, diaphoretic, and confused. The
blood glucose is 48 mg/dL. The patient is conscious and able to swallow. The nurse should:
A) Administer 15 grams of fast‑acting carbohydrate (orange juice, glucose tablets)
B) Administer 50% dextrose IV push
C) Administer glucagon IM
D) Give insulin to lower blood glucose
Answer: A
Q5. Which rapid‑acting insulin should be given immediately before a meal?
A) NPH
B) Regular
C) Lispro (Humalog)
D) Glargine (Lantus)
Answer: C
Q6. A patient taking glargine (Lantus) insulin should be advised that this insulin:
A) Has a peak action of 4‑6 hours
B) Should be mixed with regular insulin in the same syringe
C) Provides a basal level of insulin for 24 hours with no pronounced peak
D) Is given only before breakfast
Answer: C
Q7. A patient with type 2 diabetes and heart failure is prescribed a sodium‑glucose
cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor. Which of the following is an example?
A) Sitagliptin
B) Liraglutide
, C) Empagliflozin
D) Pioglitazone
Answer: C
Q8. The nurse teaches a patient with type 2 diabetes that hemoglobin A1c reflects average
blood glucose over the past:
A) 2‑3 weeks
B) 2‑3 months
C) 6‑12 months
D) 1‑2 days
Answer: B
Q9. A patient with hyperglycemic hyperosmolar state (HHS) typically has:
A) Severe ketosis and acidosis
B) Extremely high blood glucose (often >600 mg/dL) with minimal ketosis
C) Respiratory rate of 40 breaths per minute
D) Positive urine ketones
Answer: B
Q10. A patient with diabetes taking metformin is scheduled for a cardiac catheterization. The
nurse should:
A) Give metformin as usual
B) Hold metformin on the day of the procedure and for 48 hours afterward (risk of lactic
acidosis)
C) Double the dose the day before
D) Switch to insulin temporarily
Answer: B
METABOLISM – THYROID DISORDERS
Q11. A patient with hypothyroidism is prescribed levothyroxine. The nurse should instruct the
patient to take it:
A) With food to prevent stomach upset
B) On an empty stomach, 30‑60 minutes before breakfast
C) At bedtime with a snack
D) With a glass of milk
Answer: B
Q12. A patient with hyperthyroidism is prescribed methimazole. The nurse should monitor for:
Nursing Complete Questions And Correct Answers
UNIVERSITY: [Your University Name Here]
SUBJECT: NUR 170 – Medical‑Surgical Nursing
PROFESSOR: Professor Jennifer L. Wilcox, MSN, RN, CNE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Exam Overview & Instructions
2. Multiple Choice (Questions 1-100)
3. True / False (Questions 101-120)
4. Fill in the Blank (Questions 121-140)
5. Matching (Questions 141-150)
6. Clinical Case Studies (Questions 151-155)
7. Complete Answer Key & Rationales
1. EXAM OVERVIEW & INSTRUCTIONS
- Total questions: 155
- Suggested time: 2 hours (practice mode)
- Question types: multiple choice, true/false, fill‑in‑the‑blank, matching, case studies.
- Instructions: Select the single best answer. Correct answers are bolded.
- Formatting: No color or highlighting – prevents preview cheating.
- Content basis: Standard medical‑surgical nursing curriculum.
2. MULTIPLE CHOICE (Questions 1-100)
METABOLISM – DIABETES MELLITUS
Q1. A patient with type 1 diabetes mellitus is most likely to develop:
A) Hyperglycemic hyperosmolar state (HHS)
B) Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)
C) Lactic acidosis
D) Hypoglycemic unawareness
Answer: B
Q2. Which of the following is the priority nursing action for a patient with diabetic ketoacidosis
(DKA)?
,A) Administer IV insulin bolus
B) Begin IV fluid resuscitation (normal saline)
C) Give oral glucose
D) Check serum potassium
Answer: B
Q3. A patient with type 2 diabetes is prescribed metformin. The most common side effect is:
A) Hypoglycemia
B) Weight gain
C) Gastrointestinal distress (nausea, diarrhea)
D) Lactic acidosis
Answer: C
Q4. A patient on glipizide (sulfonylurea) reports feeling shaky, diaphoretic, and confused. The
blood glucose is 48 mg/dL. The patient is conscious and able to swallow. The nurse should:
A) Administer 15 grams of fast‑acting carbohydrate (orange juice, glucose tablets)
B) Administer 50% dextrose IV push
C) Administer glucagon IM
D) Give insulin to lower blood glucose
Answer: A
Q5. Which rapid‑acting insulin should be given immediately before a meal?
A) NPH
B) Regular
C) Lispro (Humalog)
D) Glargine (Lantus)
Answer: C
Q6. A patient taking glargine (Lantus) insulin should be advised that this insulin:
A) Has a peak action of 4‑6 hours
B) Should be mixed with regular insulin in the same syringe
C) Provides a basal level of insulin for 24 hours with no pronounced peak
D) Is given only before breakfast
Answer: C
Q7. A patient with type 2 diabetes and heart failure is prescribed a sodium‑glucose
cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor. Which of the following is an example?
A) Sitagliptin
B) Liraglutide
, C) Empagliflozin
D) Pioglitazone
Answer: C
Q8. The nurse teaches a patient with type 2 diabetes that hemoglobin A1c reflects average
blood glucose over the past:
A) 2‑3 weeks
B) 2‑3 months
C) 6‑12 months
D) 1‑2 days
Answer: B
Q9. A patient with hyperglycemic hyperosmolar state (HHS) typically has:
A) Severe ketosis and acidosis
B) Extremely high blood glucose (often >600 mg/dL) with minimal ketosis
C) Respiratory rate of 40 breaths per minute
D) Positive urine ketones
Answer: B
Q10. A patient with diabetes taking metformin is scheduled for a cardiac catheterization. The
nurse should:
A) Give metformin as usual
B) Hold metformin on the day of the procedure and for 48 hours afterward (risk of lactic
acidosis)
C) Double the dose the day before
D) Switch to insulin temporarily
Answer: B
METABOLISM – THYROID DISORDERS
Q11. A patient with hypothyroidism is prescribed levothyroxine. The nurse should instruct the
patient to take it:
A) With food to prevent stomach upset
B) On an empty stomach, 30‑60 minutes before breakfast
C) At bedtime with a snack
D) With a glass of milk
Answer: B
Q12. A patient with hyperthyroidism is prescribed methimazole. The nurse should monitor for:
