MED-SURG CERTIFICATION PRACTICE
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS |
COMPREHENSIVE MEDICAL SURGICAL
NURSING REVIEW GUIDE 2026 |
GRADED A+ | GUARANTEED SUCCESS
Updated 2026 Questions and Answers | 100% Verified
Exam Prep and Comprehensive Rationales Included
,An RN assesses a patient in the Cancer Center with a C
diagnosis of terminal cancer. The patient states to the RN
that he is short of breath, has no appetite and hurts
everywhere. Which of the following statements by the
nurse is best?
A. Tell me how your family is coping
B. Show me where it does not hurt
C. I'll teach you relaxation techniques
D. Your physician should increase your pain medication
A clinical nurse returns to the desk to find 4 phone A
messages. Which of the following messages should the
nurse respond to first? B and C are expected symptoms of the patient's condition. A and D are
unexpected. D is less critical than A. Best answer is A.
A. A post cervical laminectomy patient complaining of
sudden difficulty talking.
B. A patient with multiple sclerosis complaining of change
in peripheral vision.
C. A patient with a herniated disc complaining of
consistent back pain.
D. A patient with a cast due to a fracture of the right tibial
bone complaining of tingling toes.
A 75 year old patient complains to the clinical nurse that A
he is having difficulty sleeping. Which of the following
actions by the nurse is most appropriate? B and C are recommendations that the RN can share after he/she determines the
patient's sleeping and waking patterns. So remove B and C. D is an inquiry, but is
A. Determine the patient's usual sleeping and waking concerned about the past (when the person retired). Remove D. A is the best
patterns. answer.
B. Suggest that the client abstain from alcohol and
caffeine before bed time.
C. Recommend that client establish a bedtime routine.
D. Ask how much sleep the client required before
retirement.
,The nurse cares for a patient several hours after a B
thyroidectomy. The RN observes that the patient is
diaphoretic and confused. The vital signs are:
Temp = 102° (38.9 ° C); BP is 160/90; pulse is 110,
respiration is 22. The nurse expects the physician to order
which of the following?
A. NPO, Dextran 10 ml/kg. IV, 02 4 L/min.
B. Propranolol (Inderal) 1 mg. IV, D5W 125 cc/hr IV,
propylthiaouracil (PTU) 200 mg po qld.
C. Levothyroxine Sodium (Synthroid) 100 mcg IV,
Lactated Ringer's 125 cc/hr IV, and ciprofloxacin (cipro)
500 mg. po bid.
D. Morphine sulfate 2.5 mg. IV q. 4 hrs. prn, 0.9% NACl.
A 63 year old female patient contacts the clinic to report C
that she is has been extremely fatigued, is sleeping 12
hours a night, is always cold and her hair is falling out. Need more info
Which of the following responses by the nurse is most
appropriate?
A. You will have more energy if you walk 30 min every
day.
B. You don't need to worry. Sleeping a lot is good for you.
C. Come in and see your health care provider today.
D. You should eat more green leafy vegetables.
The RN performs blood pressure screening at the local C
community center. Which of the following individuals is
most likely to suffer from a cerebrovascular accident?
A. A 30 year old man who is an account executive
B. A 40 year old man who jogs four times a week.
C. A 60 year old man whose father had a stroke.
D. A 75 year old man who takes multi-vitamins.
For the patient with a new tracheostomy, the nurse must C
be alert to which early complication?
Common acute risks of tracheostomy include bleeding, airway loss, damage to
a) Decannulation adjacent structures, and failure of the chosen technique to achieve successful
b) Infection airway
c) Bleeding
d) Tracheomalacia EVERYTHING 24 HR POST SURGERY, FIRST COMPLICATION IS BLEEDING.
Infection comes 2-3 days later.
When a pulse oximetry monitor indicates that a patient 4
has a drop in SpO2 from 96% to 85% over 4 hours, the
nurse will first: Pulse oximetry is inaccurate if the probe is loose, or in the presence of poor
circulation, nail polish, or dark skin pigmentation.
1. Request an order for stat ABGs
2. Start the patient on oxygen by NC at 2L/minute
3. Notify the physician of the change
4. Check the position of the probe on patient's finger or
earlobe
, To decrease a patient's shortness of breath and a sense D
of impending doom during an asthma attack, the nurse
will: The patient experiencing an acute asthma exacerbation will be fearful and
anxious. It is important for the nurse to stay with the patient for ongoing
A. Place the patient on a cardiac monitor and observe assessment and to provide a calm environment. Helping the patient breathe with
from the nurses' station. pursed lips will facilitate the expiration of trapped air and help the patient regain
B. Let the patient rest alone in a quiet, calm environment. control of his or her breathing.
C. Reassure the patient that the doctor will arrive soon
D. Stay with the patient and encourage pursed-lip
breathing.
A 68 year old woman is admitted to the surgical unit after D
a gastric resection for gastric cancer. She states that she
doesn't want anyone to see her in this condition, even her The nurse should allow the patient to share her concerns and express her feelings
husband. This nurse's best response is: in a nonjudgmental environment.
A."Patients' rights protect your privacy. I won't allow If there is psych/behavioral component- AFFIRM AND VALIDATE, NO PROBING
anyone in."
B."I've seen gastric cancer patients who look much worse.
Don't worry."
C."Would you like to talk to a social worker?"
D."What about your condition worries you?"
A patient with a tricuspid valve disorder will have C
impaired blood flow between the:
Tricuspid valve is located between right atrium and right ventricle
A. Vena cava and right atrium
B. Left atrium and left ventricle MITRAL VALVE- left atrium and left ventricle
C. Right atrium and right ventricle
D. Right ventricle and pulmonary artery
If the Purkinje system is damaged, conduction of the C
electrical impulse is impaired through the:
Purkinje fibers provide a high-speed distribution of excitation throughout the
A. Atria ventricular myocardium; if the pattern of contraction is disrupted, the ventricles
B. AV node will not efficiently eject blood
C. Ventricles
D. Bundle of His Order of impulse is SA node to AV node to Bundle of His to bundle branch to
purkinje fibers
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS |
COMPREHENSIVE MEDICAL SURGICAL
NURSING REVIEW GUIDE 2026 |
GRADED A+ | GUARANTEED SUCCESS
Updated 2026 Questions and Answers | 100% Verified
Exam Prep and Comprehensive Rationales Included
,An RN assesses a patient in the Cancer Center with a C
diagnosis of terminal cancer. The patient states to the RN
that he is short of breath, has no appetite and hurts
everywhere. Which of the following statements by the
nurse is best?
A. Tell me how your family is coping
B. Show me where it does not hurt
C. I'll teach you relaxation techniques
D. Your physician should increase your pain medication
A clinical nurse returns to the desk to find 4 phone A
messages. Which of the following messages should the
nurse respond to first? B and C are expected symptoms of the patient's condition. A and D are
unexpected. D is less critical than A. Best answer is A.
A. A post cervical laminectomy patient complaining of
sudden difficulty talking.
B. A patient with multiple sclerosis complaining of change
in peripheral vision.
C. A patient with a herniated disc complaining of
consistent back pain.
D. A patient with a cast due to a fracture of the right tibial
bone complaining of tingling toes.
A 75 year old patient complains to the clinical nurse that A
he is having difficulty sleeping. Which of the following
actions by the nurse is most appropriate? B and C are recommendations that the RN can share after he/she determines the
patient's sleeping and waking patterns. So remove B and C. D is an inquiry, but is
A. Determine the patient's usual sleeping and waking concerned about the past (when the person retired). Remove D. A is the best
patterns. answer.
B. Suggest that the client abstain from alcohol and
caffeine before bed time.
C. Recommend that client establish a bedtime routine.
D. Ask how much sleep the client required before
retirement.
,The nurse cares for a patient several hours after a B
thyroidectomy. The RN observes that the patient is
diaphoretic and confused. The vital signs are:
Temp = 102° (38.9 ° C); BP is 160/90; pulse is 110,
respiration is 22. The nurse expects the physician to order
which of the following?
A. NPO, Dextran 10 ml/kg. IV, 02 4 L/min.
B. Propranolol (Inderal) 1 mg. IV, D5W 125 cc/hr IV,
propylthiaouracil (PTU) 200 mg po qld.
C. Levothyroxine Sodium (Synthroid) 100 mcg IV,
Lactated Ringer's 125 cc/hr IV, and ciprofloxacin (cipro)
500 mg. po bid.
D. Morphine sulfate 2.5 mg. IV q. 4 hrs. prn, 0.9% NACl.
A 63 year old female patient contacts the clinic to report C
that she is has been extremely fatigued, is sleeping 12
hours a night, is always cold and her hair is falling out. Need more info
Which of the following responses by the nurse is most
appropriate?
A. You will have more energy if you walk 30 min every
day.
B. You don't need to worry. Sleeping a lot is good for you.
C. Come in and see your health care provider today.
D. You should eat more green leafy vegetables.
The RN performs blood pressure screening at the local C
community center. Which of the following individuals is
most likely to suffer from a cerebrovascular accident?
A. A 30 year old man who is an account executive
B. A 40 year old man who jogs four times a week.
C. A 60 year old man whose father had a stroke.
D. A 75 year old man who takes multi-vitamins.
For the patient with a new tracheostomy, the nurse must C
be alert to which early complication?
Common acute risks of tracheostomy include bleeding, airway loss, damage to
a) Decannulation adjacent structures, and failure of the chosen technique to achieve successful
b) Infection airway
c) Bleeding
d) Tracheomalacia EVERYTHING 24 HR POST SURGERY, FIRST COMPLICATION IS BLEEDING.
Infection comes 2-3 days later.
When a pulse oximetry monitor indicates that a patient 4
has a drop in SpO2 from 96% to 85% over 4 hours, the
nurse will first: Pulse oximetry is inaccurate if the probe is loose, or in the presence of poor
circulation, nail polish, or dark skin pigmentation.
1. Request an order for stat ABGs
2. Start the patient on oxygen by NC at 2L/minute
3. Notify the physician of the change
4. Check the position of the probe on patient's finger or
earlobe
, To decrease a patient's shortness of breath and a sense D
of impending doom during an asthma attack, the nurse
will: The patient experiencing an acute asthma exacerbation will be fearful and
anxious. It is important for the nurse to stay with the patient for ongoing
A. Place the patient on a cardiac monitor and observe assessment and to provide a calm environment. Helping the patient breathe with
from the nurses' station. pursed lips will facilitate the expiration of trapped air and help the patient regain
B. Let the patient rest alone in a quiet, calm environment. control of his or her breathing.
C. Reassure the patient that the doctor will arrive soon
D. Stay with the patient and encourage pursed-lip
breathing.
A 68 year old woman is admitted to the surgical unit after D
a gastric resection for gastric cancer. She states that she
doesn't want anyone to see her in this condition, even her The nurse should allow the patient to share her concerns and express her feelings
husband. This nurse's best response is: in a nonjudgmental environment.
A."Patients' rights protect your privacy. I won't allow If there is psych/behavioral component- AFFIRM AND VALIDATE, NO PROBING
anyone in."
B."I've seen gastric cancer patients who look much worse.
Don't worry."
C."Would you like to talk to a social worker?"
D."What about your condition worries you?"
A patient with a tricuspid valve disorder will have C
impaired blood flow between the:
Tricuspid valve is located between right atrium and right ventricle
A. Vena cava and right atrium
B. Left atrium and left ventricle MITRAL VALVE- left atrium and left ventricle
C. Right atrium and right ventricle
D. Right ventricle and pulmonary artery
If the Purkinje system is damaged, conduction of the C
electrical impulse is impaired through the:
Purkinje fibers provide a high-speed distribution of excitation throughout the
A. Atria ventricular myocardium; if the pattern of contraction is disrupted, the ventricles
B. AV node will not efficiently eject blood
C. Ventricles
D. Bundle of His Order of impulse is SA node to AV node to Bundle of His to bundle branch to
purkinje fibers
