NCLEX HESI HONAN Book Med-Surg Exam 2 Questions and Answers
2026 | Medical-Surgical Nursing Exam Prep & Study Guide
Whenxeducatingxpatientsxaboutxchronicxdiseases,xsuchxasxdiabetes,xwhichxofxthexfollowingxshouldxthexn
ursexincludexinxthexrationalexforxeffectivexmanagementxofxthexdisease?xSelectxallxthatxapply.
a.)xAnxunmanagedxchronicxdiseasexmayxleadxtoxthexdevelopmentxofxotherxchronicxillnesses.
b.)xWhenxaxpatientxisxadmittedxtoxthexICUxwithxcomorbidxchronicxdisease,xthatxpatientxfacesxgreaterxris
kxofxmorbidityxandxmortality.x
c.)xAlthoughxchronicxdiseasexaffectsxthexentirexfamilyxsystem,xmanagementxofxthexdiseasexisxthexpatient
'sxsolexresponsibility.x
d.)xByxmanagingxaxchronicxdisorderxearlyxinxthexdiseasexprocess,xthexpatientxmayxbexablextoxsavexhim-
xorxher-selfxthexhighxcostsxassociatedxwithxthexsequelaexofxunmanagedxdisease.
e.)xChronicxillnessxmanagementxisxnotxinfluencedxbyxlifestylexchanges.x-
xcorrectxanswerx ✅AnswerxA,xB,xD.x
Rationale:xUnmanagedxchronicxdiseasexmayxleadxtoxthexdevelopmentxofxotherxchronicxdiseases,xasxinxth
excasexofxunmanagedxdiabetes,xwhichxleadsxtoxperipheralxneuropathiesxandxvascularxchangesxthatxthen
xmayxleadxtoxamputationsxorxblindness.xUnmanagedxchronicxdiseasexcomplicatesxanxacutexhealthxcrisis,x
leadingxtoxaxgreaterxriskxofxmorbidityxandxmortality;xunmanagedxchronicxdiseasexmayxleadxtoxsequelaex
thatxarexcostlyxforxindividualsxandxfamiliesxandxinsurersxalike.xHence,xwhilexitxisxlargelyxthexresponsibilit
yxofxpatientsxtoxmanagexillness,xitxcannotxbexsolelyxthexresponsibilityxofxpatients,xbutxthexresponsibilityx
ofxpatients,xfamilies,xandxhealthxcarexproviders.
Axpatientxisxnearingxdeathxfromxmetastaticxcancerxandxisxreceivingxhospicexcarexinxthexhome.xThexhome
xcarexnursexvisits.xThexpatient'sxfamilyxcaregiverxstatesxthatxthexpatientxhasxnotxeatenxwellxforxthexlastxs
everalxdaysxrarelyxwishesxtoxdrink,xonlyxsuckingxonxicexnowxandxthen.xThexcaregiverxthinksxthatxitxisxcru
elxtoxletxthexdyingxpatientxstarvextoxdeath,xorxdiexfromxdehydration.xWhatxwouldxthexnurse'sxbestxrespo
nsexbe?
a.)x"Ixthinkxitxisxcruel,xtoo.xIfxthisxwerexmyxmother,xIxwouldxnotxletxherxdiexlikexthat."x
b.)x"Tellxmexwhyxyouxfeelxthatxway."
c.)xIt'sxokay,xbecausexthisxmayxhastenxdeathxandxrelievexsuffering."
d.)xThisxisxwhatxhappensxwhenxpeoplexdie."x-xcorrectxanswerx ✅AnswerxB.x
Rationale:xOpen-
ended,xtherapeuticxquestionsxarexthexbestxwayxtoxelicitxfromxthexcaregiverxwhatxhexorxshexfeelsxaboutxt
,hexdyingxprocess;xandxtheyxarexaxgoodxwayxtoxleadxintoxteachingxthexcaregiverxaboutxwhatxhappensxwit
hxappetitexandxthirstxinxthexdyingxpatient.
Thexsoundsxofxbreathing,xincludingxterminalxbubbling,xatxthextimexofxdeathxmayxbexdistressingxforxfamili
esxtoxhear.xWhenxthexnursexhearsxthesexsounds,xshexshouldxdoxwhichxofxthexfollowing?xSelectxallxthatxa
pply.
a.)xRepositionxthexpatientxinxanxattemptxtoxmovexsecretionsxoutxofxthexoropharynx.
b.)xEducatexthexfamilyxaboutxwhatxtheyxarexhearingxandxthatxthexsoundxdoesxnotxmeanxthatxthexpatient
xisxinxanyxdistress.
c.)xSuctionxthexpatientxdeeplyxandxoftenxtoxridxthexoropharynxxofxthexbuild-upxofxsecretions.
d.)xSuggestxtoxthexproviderxthatxnowxisxthextimexforxanxanticholinergicxdrugx(suchxasxglycopyrrolate).x-
xcorrectxanswerx ✅AnswerxA,xB,xD.x
Rationale:xAllxarexappropriatexmeasuresxforxthexnursextoxtake,xexceptxdeepxandxfrequentxsuctioning,xw
hichxwillxnotxhelpxtoxreducexbutxmayxactuallyxexacerbatexthexbuild-upxofxsecretionsxinxthexoropharynx.
Chronicxillnessesxarexcharacterizedxbyxwhichxofxthexfollowing?xSelectxallxthatxapply.x
a.)xAxnonreversiblexpathology
b.)xAxslow,xprogressivexdeclinexinxnormalxphysiologicxfunction.
c.)xAxdecreasingxprevalencexnationallyxandxinternationally.
d.)xNecessitatingxlong-termxsurveillance.x-xcorrectxanswerx ✅AnswerxA,xB,xD.x
Rationale:xChronicxillnessesxarexdefinedxasxdiseasesxthatxarexcausedxbyxnonreversiblexpathology.xTheyxa
rexcharacterizedxbyxaxslow,xprogressivexdeclinexinxnormalxphysiologicxfunction,xleavingxresidualxdisabilit
y.xThesexillnessesxarexpermanent,xwithxcurexunlikely,xandxtheyxrequirexlong-
termxsurveillance.xNationallyxandxinternationallyxthexincidencexofxchronicxillnessxisxincreasing.
Axdyingxpatientxhasxsuddenxonsetxofxconfusion,xwaxing,xandxwaningxconsciousness,xandxlossxofxorientat
ion,xthinkingxshexisxatxhomexwhenxshexisxatxthexhospital.xThexnursexrecognizesxthisxasx_____________xa
ndxknowsxthatxthexmostxappropriatexpharmacologicxtreatmentxforxitxincludesx_________________.
a.)xDementia,xacetylcholinesterasexinhibitor
b.)xDelirium,xbenzodiazepine
, c.)xDelirium,xhaloperidol
d.)xDementia,xhaloperidolx-xcorrectxanswerx ✅AnswerxC.x
Rationale:xDeliriumxmayxinclude,xamongxotherxsymptoms,xaxcloudedxsensorium,xexhibitedxbyxconfusion
,xanxalternationxinxconsciousnessxfromxhypoactivextoxhyperactive,xaxlossxofxorientation,xandxhallucinatio
ns.xHaloperidolxmayxbexhelpfulxinxreducingxthexhallucinationsxandxthexagitationxthatxcomesxfromxchang
esxinxthexpatient'sxsensorium.
Ax70xyearxoldxelderlyxpatientxisxadmittedxtoxthexpreoperativexunitxforxaxliverxresectionxthatxisxscheduled
xforx6xhoursxofxsurgery.xWhatxisxonexofxthexbasicxprinciplesxthatxshouldxguidexthexpreoperativexnurse'sx
assessment?x
a.)xElderlyxpatientsxdoxnotxexperiencexasxmuchxpreoperativexanxietyxasxyoungerxpatients.x
b.)xThexelderlyxpatientxhasxlessxphysiologicxreservexthanxthexyoungerxpatient.
c.)xElderlyxpatientsxexperiencexlessxpain.
d.)xPreoperativexpainxassessmentxandxteachingxshouldxoccurxfollowingxthexprocedurexasxthexelderlyxpat
ientxmayxnotxretainxinformation.x-xcorrectxanswerx ✅AnswerxB.x
Rationale:xPreoperativexpainxassessmentxandxteachingxareximportantxtoxthexelderlyxpatient.xThesexpatie
ntsxmayxhavexaxcombinationxofxchronicxillnessesxandxhealthxissuesxinxadditionxtoxthexspecificxonexforxw
hichxsurgeryxisxindicated.xHealthxcarexstaffxmustxrememberxthatxthexhazardsxofxsurgeryxforxthexagedxar
exproportionalxtoxthexnumberxandxseverityxofxcoexistingxhealthxproblemsxandxthexnaturexandxdurationx
ofxthexoperativexprocedure.xItxis,xtherefore,ximportantxtoxbexguidedxbyxthexprinciplexthatxthexelderlyxha
sxlessxphysiologicxreservex(thexabilityxofxanxorganxtoxreturnxtoxnormalxafterxaxdisturbancexinxitsxequilibri
um).
Axnursexisxcaringxforxaxpostoperativexpatientxwhoxhadxspinalxanesthesia.xThexpatientxcomplainsxofxhead
ache.xWhatxactionxshouldxthexnursextake?
a.)xLowerxthexheadxofxthexpatient'sxbed
b.)xKeepxthexpatientxlyingxflat,xmaintainxaxquietxenvironment,xandxkeepxthexpatientxhydrated.
c.)xEncouragexthexpatientxtoxlayxonxhisxrightxside.
d.)xDoxnothing,xasxthisxisxaxnormalxresponsextoxthexspinalxanesthesia.x-
xcorrectxanswerx ✅AnswerxB.x
2026 | Medical-Surgical Nursing Exam Prep & Study Guide
Whenxeducatingxpatientsxaboutxchronicxdiseases,xsuchxasxdiabetes,xwhichxofxthexfollowingxshouldxthexn
ursexincludexinxthexrationalexforxeffectivexmanagementxofxthexdisease?xSelectxallxthatxapply.
a.)xAnxunmanagedxchronicxdiseasexmayxleadxtoxthexdevelopmentxofxotherxchronicxillnesses.
b.)xWhenxaxpatientxisxadmittedxtoxthexICUxwithxcomorbidxchronicxdisease,xthatxpatientxfacesxgreaterxris
kxofxmorbidityxandxmortality.x
c.)xAlthoughxchronicxdiseasexaffectsxthexentirexfamilyxsystem,xmanagementxofxthexdiseasexisxthexpatient
'sxsolexresponsibility.x
d.)xByxmanagingxaxchronicxdisorderxearlyxinxthexdiseasexprocess,xthexpatientxmayxbexablextoxsavexhim-
xorxher-selfxthexhighxcostsxassociatedxwithxthexsequelaexofxunmanagedxdisease.
e.)xChronicxillnessxmanagementxisxnotxinfluencedxbyxlifestylexchanges.x-
xcorrectxanswerx ✅AnswerxA,xB,xD.x
Rationale:xUnmanagedxchronicxdiseasexmayxleadxtoxthexdevelopmentxofxotherxchronicxdiseases,xasxinxth
excasexofxunmanagedxdiabetes,xwhichxleadsxtoxperipheralxneuropathiesxandxvascularxchangesxthatxthen
xmayxleadxtoxamputationsxorxblindness.xUnmanagedxchronicxdiseasexcomplicatesxanxacutexhealthxcrisis,x
leadingxtoxaxgreaterxriskxofxmorbidityxandxmortality;xunmanagedxchronicxdiseasexmayxleadxtoxsequelaex
thatxarexcostlyxforxindividualsxandxfamiliesxandxinsurersxalike.xHence,xwhilexitxisxlargelyxthexresponsibilit
yxofxpatientsxtoxmanagexillness,xitxcannotxbexsolelyxthexresponsibilityxofxpatients,xbutxthexresponsibilityx
ofxpatients,xfamilies,xandxhealthxcarexproviders.
Axpatientxisxnearingxdeathxfromxmetastaticxcancerxandxisxreceivingxhospicexcarexinxthexhome.xThexhome
xcarexnursexvisits.xThexpatient'sxfamilyxcaregiverxstatesxthatxthexpatientxhasxnotxeatenxwellxforxthexlastxs
everalxdaysxrarelyxwishesxtoxdrink,xonlyxsuckingxonxicexnowxandxthen.xThexcaregiverxthinksxthatxitxisxcru
elxtoxletxthexdyingxpatientxstarvextoxdeath,xorxdiexfromxdehydration.xWhatxwouldxthexnurse'sxbestxrespo
nsexbe?
a.)x"Ixthinkxitxisxcruel,xtoo.xIfxthisxwerexmyxmother,xIxwouldxnotxletxherxdiexlikexthat."x
b.)x"Tellxmexwhyxyouxfeelxthatxway."
c.)xIt'sxokay,xbecausexthisxmayxhastenxdeathxandxrelievexsuffering."
d.)xThisxisxwhatxhappensxwhenxpeoplexdie."x-xcorrectxanswerx ✅AnswerxB.x
Rationale:xOpen-
ended,xtherapeuticxquestionsxarexthexbestxwayxtoxelicitxfromxthexcaregiverxwhatxhexorxshexfeelsxaboutxt
,hexdyingxprocess;xandxtheyxarexaxgoodxwayxtoxleadxintoxteachingxthexcaregiverxaboutxwhatxhappensxwit
hxappetitexandxthirstxinxthexdyingxpatient.
Thexsoundsxofxbreathing,xincludingxterminalxbubbling,xatxthextimexofxdeathxmayxbexdistressingxforxfamili
esxtoxhear.xWhenxthexnursexhearsxthesexsounds,xshexshouldxdoxwhichxofxthexfollowing?xSelectxallxthatxa
pply.
a.)xRepositionxthexpatientxinxanxattemptxtoxmovexsecretionsxoutxofxthexoropharynx.
b.)xEducatexthexfamilyxaboutxwhatxtheyxarexhearingxandxthatxthexsoundxdoesxnotxmeanxthatxthexpatient
xisxinxanyxdistress.
c.)xSuctionxthexpatientxdeeplyxandxoftenxtoxridxthexoropharynxxofxthexbuild-upxofxsecretions.
d.)xSuggestxtoxthexproviderxthatxnowxisxthextimexforxanxanticholinergicxdrugx(suchxasxglycopyrrolate).x-
xcorrectxanswerx ✅AnswerxA,xB,xD.x
Rationale:xAllxarexappropriatexmeasuresxforxthexnursextoxtake,xexceptxdeepxandxfrequentxsuctioning,xw
hichxwillxnotxhelpxtoxreducexbutxmayxactuallyxexacerbatexthexbuild-upxofxsecretionsxinxthexoropharynx.
Chronicxillnessesxarexcharacterizedxbyxwhichxofxthexfollowing?xSelectxallxthatxapply.x
a.)xAxnonreversiblexpathology
b.)xAxslow,xprogressivexdeclinexinxnormalxphysiologicxfunction.
c.)xAxdecreasingxprevalencexnationallyxandxinternationally.
d.)xNecessitatingxlong-termxsurveillance.x-xcorrectxanswerx ✅AnswerxA,xB,xD.x
Rationale:xChronicxillnessesxarexdefinedxasxdiseasesxthatxarexcausedxbyxnonreversiblexpathology.xTheyxa
rexcharacterizedxbyxaxslow,xprogressivexdeclinexinxnormalxphysiologicxfunction,xleavingxresidualxdisabilit
y.xThesexillnessesxarexpermanent,xwithxcurexunlikely,xandxtheyxrequirexlong-
termxsurveillance.xNationallyxandxinternationallyxthexincidencexofxchronicxillnessxisxincreasing.
Axdyingxpatientxhasxsuddenxonsetxofxconfusion,xwaxing,xandxwaningxconsciousness,xandxlossxofxorientat
ion,xthinkingxshexisxatxhomexwhenxshexisxatxthexhospital.xThexnursexrecognizesxthisxasx_____________xa
ndxknowsxthatxthexmostxappropriatexpharmacologicxtreatmentxforxitxincludesx_________________.
a.)xDementia,xacetylcholinesterasexinhibitor
b.)xDelirium,xbenzodiazepine
, c.)xDelirium,xhaloperidol
d.)xDementia,xhaloperidolx-xcorrectxanswerx ✅AnswerxC.x
Rationale:xDeliriumxmayxinclude,xamongxotherxsymptoms,xaxcloudedxsensorium,xexhibitedxbyxconfusion
,xanxalternationxinxconsciousnessxfromxhypoactivextoxhyperactive,xaxlossxofxorientation,xandxhallucinatio
ns.xHaloperidolxmayxbexhelpfulxinxreducingxthexhallucinationsxandxthexagitationxthatxcomesxfromxchang
esxinxthexpatient'sxsensorium.
Ax70xyearxoldxelderlyxpatientxisxadmittedxtoxthexpreoperativexunitxforxaxliverxresectionxthatxisxscheduled
xforx6xhoursxofxsurgery.xWhatxisxonexofxthexbasicxprinciplesxthatxshouldxguidexthexpreoperativexnurse'sx
assessment?x
a.)xElderlyxpatientsxdoxnotxexperiencexasxmuchxpreoperativexanxietyxasxyoungerxpatients.x
b.)xThexelderlyxpatientxhasxlessxphysiologicxreservexthanxthexyoungerxpatient.
c.)xElderlyxpatientsxexperiencexlessxpain.
d.)xPreoperativexpainxassessmentxandxteachingxshouldxoccurxfollowingxthexprocedurexasxthexelderlyxpat
ientxmayxnotxretainxinformation.x-xcorrectxanswerx ✅AnswerxB.x
Rationale:xPreoperativexpainxassessmentxandxteachingxareximportantxtoxthexelderlyxpatient.xThesexpatie
ntsxmayxhavexaxcombinationxofxchronicxillnessesxandxhealthxissuesxinxadditionxtoxthexspecificxonexforxw
hichxsurgeryxisxindicated.xHealthxcarexstaffxmustxrememberxthatxthexhazardsxofxsurgeryxforxthexagedxar
exproportionalxtoxthexnumberxandxseverityxofxcoexistingxhealthxproblemsxandxthexnaturexandxdurationx
ofxthexoperativexprocedure.xItxis,xtherefore,ximportantxtoxbexguidedxbyxthexprinciplexthatxthexelderlyxha
sxlessxphysiologicxreservex(thexabilityxofxanxorganxtoxreturnxtoxnormalxafterxaxdisturbancexinxitsxequilibri
um).
Axnursexisxcaringxforxaxpostoperativexpatientxwhoxhadxspinalxanesthesia.xThexpatientxcomplainsxofxhead
ache.xWhatxactionxshouldxthexnursextake?
a.)xLowerxthexheadxofxthexpatient'sxbed
b.)xKeepxthexpatientxlyingxflat,xmaintainxaxquietxenvironment,xandxkeepxthexpatientxhydrated.
c.)xEncouragexthexpatientxtoxlayxonxhisxrightxside.
d.)xDoxnothing,xasxthisxisxaxnormalxresponsextoxthexspinalxanesthesia.x-
xcorrectxanswerx ✅AnswerxB.x
