MED SURG 2 MIDTERM EXAM WITH COMPLETE
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
2025/2026
1. .A .patient .is .admitted .to .the .ED .complaining .of .severe .abdominal .pain, .stating .that .he
.has .been .vomiting ."coffee-ground" .like .emesis. .The .patient .is .diagnosed .with .a
.perforated .gastric .ulcer .and .is .informed .that .he .needs .surgery. .When .can .the .patient
.most .likely .anticipate .that .the .surgery .will .be .scheduled?
A) .Within .24 .hours
B) .Within .the .next .week
C) .Without .delay .because .the .bleed .is .emergent
D) .As .soon .as .all .the .day's .elective .surgeries .have .been .completed .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-C)
.Without .delay .because .the .bleed .is .emergent
The .nurse .is .performing .a .preoperative .assessment .on .a .patient .going .to .surgery. .The
.patient .informs .the .nurse .that .he .drinks .approximately .two .bottles .of .wine .each .day .and
.has .for .the .last .several .years. .What .postoperative .difficulties .can .the .nurse .anticipate .for
.this .patient? .
A) .Alcohol .withdrawal .syndrome .immediately .following .surgery
B) .Alcohol .withdrawal .syndrome .2 .to .4 .days .after .his .last .alcohol .drink
C) .Alcohol .withdrawal .syndrome .upon .administration .of .general .anesthesia
D) .Alcohol .withdrawal .syndrome .1 .week .after .his .last .alcohol .drink .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-
B) .Alcohol .withdrawal .syndrome .2 .to .4 .days .after .his .last .alcohol .drink
,3. .In .anticipation .of .a .patient's .scheduled .surgery, .the .nurse .is .teaching .her .to .perform
.deep .breathing .and .coughing .to .use .postoperative. .What .action .should .the .nurse .teach
.the .patient?
A) .The .patient .should .take .three .deep .breaths .and .cough .hard .three .times, .at .least .every
.15 .minutes .for .the .immediately .postoperative .period.
B) .The .patient .should .take .three .deep .breaths .and .exhale .forcefully .and .then .take .a .quick
.short .breath .and .cough .from .deep .in .the .lungs.
C) .The .patient .should .take .a .deep .breath .in .through .the .mouth .and .exhale .through .the
.mouth, .take .a .short .breath, .and .cough .from .deep .in .the .lungs.
D) .The .patient .should .rapidly .inhale, .hold .for .30 .seconds .or .as .long .as .possible, .and
.exhale .slowly. .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-C) .The .patient .should .take .a .deep .breath .in .through
.the .mouth .and .exhale .through .the .mouth, .take .a .short .breath, .and .cough .from .deep .in
.the .lungs.
4. .The .nurse .is .preparing .a .patient .for .surgery .prior .to .her .hysterectomy .without
.oophorectomy. .The .nurse .is .witnessing .the .patient's .signature .on .a .consent .form. .Which
.comment .by .the .patient .would .best .indicate .informed .consent?
A) ."I .know .I'll .be .fine .because .the .physician .said .he .has .done .this .procedure .hundreds .of
.times."
B) ."I .know .I'll .have .pain .after .the .surgery .but .they'll .do .their .best .to .keep .it .to .a
.minimum."
C) ."The .physician .is .going .to .remove .my .uterus .and .told .me .about .the .risk .of .bleeding."
D) ."Because .the .physician .isn't .taking .my .ovaries, .I'll .still .be .able .to .have .children." .-
.CORRECT .ANSWER-C) ."The .physician .is .going .to .remove .my .uterus .and .told .me .about
.the .risk .of .bleeding."
5. .The .nurse .is .planning .patient .teaching .for .a .patient .who .is .scheduled .for .an .open
.hemicolectomy. .The .nurse .intends .to .address .the .topics .of .incision .splinting .and .leg
.exercises .during .this .teaching .session. .When .is .the .best .time .for .the .nurse .to .provide
.teaching?
,A) .Upon .the .patient's .admission .to .the .postanesthesia .care .unit .(PACU)
B) .When .the .patient .returns .from .the .PACU
C) .During .the .intraoperative .period
D) .As .soon .as .possible .before .the .surgical .procedure .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-D) .As .soon .as
.possible .before .the .surgical .procedure
6. .The .nurse .is .caring .for .a .hospice .patient .who .is .scheduled .for .a .surgical .procedure .to
.reduce .the .size .of .his .spinal .tumor .in .an .effort .to .relieve .his .pain. .The .nurse .should .plan
.this .patient .care .with .the .knowledge .that .his .surgical .procedure .is .classified .as .which .of
.the .following?
A) .Diagnostic
B) .Laparoscopic
C) .Curative
D) .Palliative .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-D) .Palliative
7. .A .nurse .is .providing .preoperative .teaching .to .a .patient .who .will .soon .undergo .a
.cardiac .bypass. .The .nurse's .teaching .plan .includes .exercises .of .the .extremities. .What .is
.the .purpose .of .teaching .a .patient .leg .exercises .prior .to .surgery?
A) .Leg .exercises .increase .the .patient's .muscle .mass .postoperatively.
B) .Leg .exercises .improve .circulation .and .prevent .venous .thrombosis.
C) .Leg .exercises .help .to .prevent .pressure .sores .to .the .sacrum .and .heels.
D) .Leg .exercise .help .increase .the .patient's .level .of .consciousness .after .surgery. .- .CORRECT
.ANSWER-B) .Leg .exercises .improve .circulation .and .prevent .venous .thrombosis.
8. .During .the .care .of .a .preoperative .patient, .the .nurse .has .given .the .patient .a
.preoperative .benzodiazepine. .The .patient .is .now .requesting .to .void. .What .action .should
.the .nurse .take?
A) .Assist .the .patient .to .the .bathroom.
B) .Offer .the .patient .a .bedpan .or .urinal.
, C) .Wait .until .the .patient .gets .to .the .operating .room .and .is .catheterized.
D) .Have .the .patient .go .to .the .bathroom. .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-B) .Offer .the .patient .a
.bedpan .or .urinal.
9. .The .nurse .is .preparing .a .patient .for .surgery. .The .patient .states .that .she .is .very .nervous
.and .really .does .not .understand .what .the .surgical .procedure .is .for .or .how .it .will .be
.performed. .What .is .the .most .appropriate .nursing .action .for .the .nurse .to .take?
A) .Have .the .patient .sign .the .informed .consent .and .place .it .in .the .chart.
B) .Call .the .physician .to .review .the .procedure .with .the .patient.
C) .Explain .the .procedure .clearly .to .the .patient .and .her .family.
D) .Provide .the .patient .with .a .pamphlet .explaining .the .procedure. .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-B)
.Call .the .physician .to .review .the .procedure .with .the .patient.
10. .The .nurse .is .caring .for .a .patient .who .is .admitted .to .the .ER .with .the .diagnosis .of
.acute .appendicitis. .The .nurse .notes .during .the .assessment .that .the .patient's .ribs .and
.xiphoid .process .are .prominent. .The .patient .states .she .exercises .two .to .three .times .daily
.and .her .mother .indicates .that .she .is .being .treated .for .anorexia .nervosa. .How .should .the
.nurse .best .follow .up .these .assessment .data?
A) .Inform .the .postoperative .team .about .the .patient's .risk .for .wound .dehiscence.
B) .Evaluate .the .patient's .ability .to .manage .her .pain .level.
C) .Facilitate .a .detailed .analysis .of .the .patient's .electrolyte .levels.
D) .Instruct .the .patient .on .the .need .for .a .high-sodium .diet .to .promote .healing. .- .CORRECT
.ANSWER-C) .Facilitate .a .detailed .analysis .of .the .patient's .electrolyte .levels.
11. .The .nurse .is .doing .preoperative .patient .education .with .a .61-year-old .male .patient
.who .has .a .40-pack .per .year .history .of .cigarette .smoking. .The .patient .will .undergo .an
.elective .bunionectomy .at .a .time .that .fits .his .work .schedule .in .a .few .months. .What
.would .be .the .best .instruction .to .give .to .this .patient?
A) .Reduce .smoking .by .50% .to .prevent .the .development .of .pneumonia.
B) .Stop .smoking .at .least .6 .weeks .before .the .scheduled .surgery .to .enhance .pulmonary
.function .and .decrease .infection.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
2025/2026
1. .A .patient .is .admitted .to .the .ED .complaining .of .severe .abdominal .pain, .stating .that .he
.has .been .vomiting ."coffee-ground" .like .emesis. .The .patient .is .diagnosed .with .a
.perforated .gastric .ulcer .and .is .informed .that .he .needs .surgery. .When .can .the .patient
.most .likely .anticipate .that .the .surgery .will .be .scheduled?
A) .Within .24 .hours
B) .Within .the .next .week
C) .Without .delay .because .the .bleed .is .emergent
D) .As .soon .as .all .the .day's .elective .surgeries .have .been .completed .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-C)
.Without .delay .because .the .bleed .is .emergent
The .nurse .is .performing .a .preoperative .assessment .on .a .patient .going .to .surgery. .The
.patient .informs .the .nurse .that .he .drinks .approximately .two .bottles .of .wine .each .day .and
.has .for .the .last .several .years. .What .postoperative .difficulties .can .the .nurse .anticipate .for
.this .patient? .
A) .Alcohol .withdrawal .syndrome .immediately .following .surgery
B) .Alcohol .withdrawal .syndrome .2 .to .4 .days .after .his .last .alcohol .drink
C) .Alcohol .withdrawal .syndrome .upon .administration .of .general .anesthesia
D) .Alcohol .withdrawal .syndrome .1 .week .after .his .last .alcohol .drink .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-
B) .Alcohol .withdrawal .syndrome .2 .to .4 .days .after .his .last .alcohol .drink
,3. .In .anticipation .of .a .patient's .scheduled .surgery, .the .nurse .is .teaching .her .to .perform
.deep .breathing .and .coughing .to .use .postoperative. .What .action .should .the .nurse .teach
.the .patient?
A) .The .patient .should .take .three .deep .breaths .and .cough .hard .three .times, .at .least .every
.15 .minutes .for .the .immediately .postoperative .period.
B) .The .patient .should .take .three .deep .breaths .and .exhale .forcefully .and .then .take .a .quick
.short .breath .and .cough .from .deep .in .the .lungs.
C) .The .patient .should .take .a .deep .breath .in .through .the .mouth .and .exhale .through .the
.mouth, .take .a .short .breath, .and .cough .from .deep .in .the .lungs.
D) .The .patient .should .rapidly .inhale, .hold .for .30 .seconds .or .as .long .as .possible, .and
.exhale .slowly. .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-C) .The .patient .should .take .a .deep .breath .in .through
.the .mouth .and .exhale .through .the .mouth, .take .a .short .breath, .and .cough .from .deep .in
.the .lungs.
4. .The .nurse .is .preparing .a .patient .for .surgery .prior .to .her .hysterectomy .without
.oophorectomy. .The .nurse .is .witnessing .the .patient's .signature .on .a .consent .form. .Which
.comment .by .the .patient .would .best .indicate .informed .consent?
A) ."I .know .I'll .be .fine .because .the .physician .said .he .has .done .this .procedure .hundreds .of
.times."
B) ."I .know .I'll .have .pain .after .the .surgery .but .they'll .do .their .best .to .keep .it .to .a
.minimum."
C) ."The .physician .is .going .to .remove .my .uterus .and .told .me .about .the .risk .of .bleeding."
D) ."Because .the .physician .isn't .taking .my .ovaries, .I'll .still .be .able .to .have .children." .-
.CORRECT .ANSWER-C) ."The .physician .is .going .to .remove .my .uterus .and .told .me .about
.the .risk .of .bleeding."
5. .The .nurse .is .planning .patient .teaching .for .a .patient .who .is .scheduled .for .an .open
.hemicolectomy. .The .nurse .intends .to .address .the .topics .of .incision .splinting .and .leg
.exercises .during .this .teaching .session. .When .is .the .best .time .for .the .nurse .to .provide
.teaching?
,A) .Upon .the .patient's .admission .to .the .postanesthesia .care .unit .(PACU)
B) .When .the .patient .returns .from .the .PACU
C) .During .the .intraoperative .period
D) .As .soon .as .possible .before .the .surgical .procedure .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-D) .As .soon .as
.possible .before .the .surgical .procedure
6. .The .nurse .is .caring .for .a .hospice .patient .who .is .scheduled .for .a .surgical .procedure .to
.reduce .the .size .of .his .spinal .tumor .in .an .effort .to .relieve .his .pain. .The .nurse .should .plan
.this .patient .care .with .the .knowledge .that .his .surgical .procedure .is .classified .as .which .of
.the .following?
A) .Diagnostic
B) .Laparoscopic
C) .Curative
D) .Palliative .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-D) .Palliative
7. .A .nurse .is .providing .preoperative .teaching .to .a .patient .who .will .soon .undergo .a
.cardiac .bypass. .The .nurse's .teaching .plan .includes .exercises .of .the .extremities. .What .is
.the .purpose .of .teaching .a .patient .leg .exercises .prior .to .surgery?
A) .Leg .exercises .increase .the .patient's .muscle .mass .postoperatively.
B) .Leg .exercises .improve .circulation .and .prevent .venous .thrombosis.
C) .Leg .exercises .help .to .prevent .pressure .sores .to .the .sacrum .and .heels.
D) .Leg .exercise .help .increase .the .patient's .level .of .consciousness .after .surgery. .- .CORRECT
.ANSWER-B) .Leg .exercises .improve .circulation .and .prevent .venous .thrombosis.
8. .During .the .care .of .a .preoperative .patient, .the .nurse .has .given .the .patient .a
.preoperative .benzodiazepine. .The .patient .is .now .requesting .to .void. .What .action .should
.the .nurse .take?
A) .Assist .the .patient .to .the .bathroom.
B) .Offer .the .patient .a .bedpan .or .urinal.
, C) .Wait .until .the .patient .gets .to .the .operating .room .and .is .catheterized.
D) .Have .the .patient .go .to .the .bathroom. .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-B) .Offer .the .patient .a
.bedpan .or .urinal.
9. .The .nurse .is .preparing .a .patient .for .surgery. .The .patient .states .that .she .is .very .nervous
.and .really .does .not .understand .what .the .surgical .procedure .is .for .or .how .it .will .be
.performed. .What .is .the .most .appropriate .nursing .action .for .the .nurse .to .take?
A) .Have .the .patient .sign .the .informed .consent .and .place .it .in .the .chart.
B) .Call .the .physician .to .review .the .procedure .with .the .patient.
C) .Explain .the .procedure .clearly .to .the .patient .and .her .family.
D) .Provide .the .patient .with .a .pamphlet .explaining .the .procedure. .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-B)
.Call .the .physician .to .review .the .procedure .with .the .patient.
10. .The .nurse .is .caring .for .a .patient .who .is .admitted .to .the .ER .with .the .diagnosis .of
.acute .appendicitis. .The .nurse .notes .during .the .assessment .that .the .patient's .ribs .and
.xiphoid .process .are .prominent. .The .patient .states .she .exercises .two .to .three .times .daily
.and .her .mother .indicates .that .she .is .being .treated .for .anorexia .nervosa. .How .should .the
.nurse .best .follow .up .these .assessment .data?
A) .Inform .the .postoperative .team .about .the .patient's .risk .for .wound .dehiscence.
B) .Evaluate .the .patient's .ability .to .manage .her .pain .level.
C) .Facilitate .a .detailed .analysis .of .the .patient's .electrolyte .levels.
D) .Instruct .the .patient .on .the .need .for .a .high-sodium .diet .to .promote .healing. .- .CORRECT
.ANSWER-C) .Facilitate .a .detailed .analysis .of .the .patient's .electrolyte .levels.
11. .The .nurse .is .doing .preoperative .patient .education .with .a .61-year-old .male .patient
.who .has .a .40-pack .per .year .history .of .cigarette .smoking. .The .patient .will .undergo .an
.elective .bunionectomy .at .a .time .that .fits .his .work .schedule .in .a .few .months. .What
.would .be .the .best .instruction .to .give .to .this .patient?
A) .Reduce .smoking .by .50% .to .prevent .the .development .of .pneumonia.
B) .Stop .smoking .at .least .6 .weeks .before .the .scheduled .surgery .to .enhance .pulmonary
.function .and .decrease .infection.
