Med Surg NCLEX Review Questions 1-5

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1. The nurse has just reassessed the condition of a postoperative client who was admitted 1 hour ago to the surgical unit. The nurse plans to monitor which parameter most carefully during the next hour?

a) Urinary output of 20 mL/hour
b) Temperature of 37.6 ° C (99.6 ° F)
c) Blood pressure of 100/70 mm Hg
d) Serous drainage on the surgical dressing

2. A postoperative client asks the nurse why it is so important to deep-breathe and cough after surgery. When formulating a response, the nurse incorporates the understanding that retained pulmonary secretions in a postoperative client can lead to which condition?

a) Pneumonia
b) Hypoxemia
c) Fluid imbalance
d) Pulmonary embolism

3. The nurse is developing a plan of care for a client scheduled for surgery. The nurse should include which activity in the nursing care plan for the client on the day of surgery?

a) Avoid oral hygiene and rinsing with mouthwash.
b) Verify that the client has not eaten for the last 24 hours.
c) Have the client void immediately before going into surgery.
d) Report immediately any slight increase in blood pressure or pulse.

4. A client with a perforated gastric ulcer is scheduled for surgery. The client cannot sign the operative consent form because of sedation from opioid analgesics that have been administered. The nurse should take which most appropriate action in the care of this client?

a) Obtain a court order for the surgery.
b) Have the charge nurse sign the informed consent immediately.
c) Send the client to surgery without the consent form being signed.
d) Obtain a telephone consent from a family member, following agency policy.

5. A preoperative client expresses anxiety to the nurse about upcoming surgery. Which response by the nurse is most likely to stimulate further discussion between the client and the nurse?

a) “If it’s any help, everyone is nervous before surgery.”
b) “I will be happy to explain the entire surgical procedure to you.”
c) “Can you share with me what you’ve been told about your surgery?”
d) “Let me tell you about the care you’ll receive after surgery and the amount of pain you can anticipate.”





Med Surg NCLEX Review Questions
Answers and Rationale

1) A
- Rationale: Urine output should be maintained at a minimum of 30 mL/hour for an adult. An output of less than 30 mL for each of 2 consecutive hours should be reported to the health care provider. A temperature higher than 37.7 ° C (100 ° F) or lower than 36.1 ° C (97 ° F) and a falling systolic blood pressure, lower than 90 mm Hg, are usually considered reportable immediately. The client’s preoperative or baseline blood pressure is used to make informed postoperative comparisons. Moderate or light serous drainage from the surgical site is considered normal.

- Test-Taking Strategy: Note the strategic word most. Focus on the subject , expected postoperative assessment findings. To answer this question correctly, you must know the normal ranges for temperature, blood pressure, urinary output, and wound drainage. Note that the urinary output is the only observation that is not within the normal range.

2) A
- Rationale: Postoperative respiratory problems are atelectasis, pneumonia, and pulmonary emboli. Pneumonia is the inflammation of lung tissue that causes productive cough, dyspnea, and lung crackles and can be caused by retained pulmonary secretions. Hypoxemia is an inadequate concentration of oxygen in arterial blood. Fluid imbalance can be a deficit or excess related to fluid loss or overload. Pulmonary embolus occurs as a result of a blockage of the pulmonary artery that disrupts blood flow to one or more lobes of the lung; this is usually due to clot formation.

- Test-Taking Strategy: Focus on the subject , a postoperative complication caused by retained pulmonary secretions. Focus on the relationship between the words deep-breathe and cough in the question and pneumonia.

3) C
- Rationale: The nurse would assist the client to void immediately before surgery so that the bladder will be empty. Oral hygiene is allowed, but the client should not swallow any water. The client usually has a restriction of food and fluids for 6 to 8 hours before surgery instead of 24 hours. A slight increase in blood pressure and pulse is common during the preoperative period and is usually the result of anxiety.

- Test-Taking Strategy: Focus on the subject , preoperative care measures. Think about the measures that may be helpful and promote comfort. Oral hygiene should be administered since it may make the client feel more comfortable. A client should be NPO for 6 to 8 hours before surgery rather than 24 hours. A slight increase in blood pressure or pulse is insignificant in this situation.

4) D
- Rationale: Every effort should be made to obtain permission from a responsible family member to perform surgery if the client is unable to sign the consent form. A telephone consent must be witnessed by two persons who hear the family member’s oral consent. The two witnesses then sign the consent with the name of the family member, noting that an oral consent was obtained. Consent is not informed if it is obtained from a client who is confused, unconscious, mentally incompetent, or under the influence of sedatives. In an emergency, a client may be unable to sign and family members may not be available. In this situation, a health care provider is permitted legally to perform surgery without consent, but in this case it is not an emergency. Options A and C are not appropriate in this situation. Also, agency policies regarding informed consent should always be followed.

- Test-Taking Strategy: Note the strategic words most appropriate. Focus on the data in the question. Eliminate A and C first. Option A will delay necessary surgery and option C is inappropriate. Select the correct option over option B because it is the most appropriate of the options presented and it is legally acceptable to obtain a telephone permission from a family member if it is witnessed by two persons.

5) C
- Rationale: Explanations should begin with the information that the client knows. By providing the client with individualized explanations of care and procedures, the nurse can assist the client in handling anxiety and fear for a smooth preoperative experience. Clients who are calm and emotionally prepared for surgery withstand anesthesia better and experience fewer postoperative complications. Option A does not focus on the client’s anxiety. Explaining the entire surgical procedure may increase the client’s anxiety. Option D avoids the client’s anxiety and is focuses on postoperative care.

- Test-Taking Strategy: Note that the client expresses anxiety. Use knowledge of therapeutic communication techniques . Note that the question contains the strategic words most likely and also note the words stimulate further discussion . Also use the steps of the nursing process . The correct option addresses assessment and is the only therapeutic response.



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Med Surg NCLEX Review Questions 6-10

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