ANCC Med-Surg Certification Questions
With Complete Solutions
A 26-year-old female client informs the nurse that she has had
red, raised lesions at the base of the tongue and on the inside of
her mouth for the past 2 weeks. What question should the nurse
ask the client?a. "Have you seen a dentist recently?"b. "Do you
smoke cigarettes?"c. "Do you have a history of HIV?"d. "What
type of work do you do?" Correct Answers c
A 51-year-old female who is perimenopausal broke her arm
after a fall in her home. She also reports progressive fatigue,
insomnia, and hot flashes. What question should the nurse ask
first to collect more data surrounding the client's health history?
a. How often do you engage in exercise?b. can you tell me about
your diet?c. what medications are you currently taking?d. do
you have a history of heart disease? Correct Answers a
A 59 year old man was admitted to the hospital with dysphagia,
stating that he has been having more difficulty swallowing food,
even when he has chewed it throroughly and drinks plenty of
water. A CT scan shows an area for a possible esophageal
tumor. The client unergoes a biopsy and is awaiting results. The
client asks, "what am I going to do if this is cancer?" What is the
most appropriate nursing response?a. "You will have surgery to
remove it."b. "I would choose to get radiation."c. "The doctor
will go over the options with you."d. "You sound as if you are
concerned about the biopsy results." Correct Answers d
,A client had an open transverse colectomy 5 days ago. The nurse
enters the client's room and recognizes that the wound has
eviscerated. After covering the wound with a sterile, saline-
soaked dressing, which of the following actions should the nurse
take?a. go to the nurses station to seek assistanceb. reinsert the
organs into the abdominal cavityc. place the client in reverse
Trendelenburg position d. obtain vital signs to assess for shock
Correct Answers d
A client has recently been placed on corticosteroids as treatment
for ulcerative colitis. the nurse should monitor the client's
laboratory results for evidence of which condition?a.
hypernatremiab. Hypercalcemia c. hyperglycemiad.
hyperkalemia Correct Answers c
A client is admitted to the acute medical client care unit. The
nurse reviews her admission lab results. Which result supports a
diagnosis of malnutrition?a. serum albumin 3.5 g/dLb.
hematocrit 37%c. Hemoglobin 12g/dLd. Prealbumin 13 mg/dL
Correct Answers d
A client is admitted with a diagnosis of acute stroke. The
provider orders "diet as tolerated." Before feeding this client,
which nursing action is priority?a. determine client's food
preferencesb. elevate the head of the bed 30 degreesc. assess
client's swallowing reflexd. review serum albumin level to
determine appropriate diet Correct Answers c
A client is being evaluated in the ED for a possible brain attack
(stroke). Assessment findings consistent with a brain attack
include which of the following? (select all that apply)a. facial
,droopb. slurred speechc. weakness of affected extremityd.
crackles in lungse. decreased urine output Correct Answers a,
b, c
A client is transferred from the surgical suite to the PACU
following oral surgery. While monitoring the client's vital signs,
the nurse finds that the tongue has become swollen and is
obstructing the airway. Which of the following actions should
the nurse take first?a. contact the anesthesiologistb. assist with
endotracheal intubationc. increase the clients flow of oxygend.
use the head-tilt, chin-lift method to open the airway Correct
Answers d
A client presents to the ED with urticaria covering his legs and
arms after hiking in the woods. In addition to applying a topical
antihistamine, interventions for symptom relief may include:a.
taking a warm showerb. taking a cool showerc. applying used
tea bags over the lesionsd. applying alcohol to the lesions
Correct Answers b
A client receiving chemotherapy for treatment of cancer is at
greatest risk for developing:a. Stomatitisb. Xerostomac. oral
abscessd. candidiasis Correct Answers a
A client who has a new diagnosis of hypertension has a
prescription for an ACE inhibitor. The nurse instructs the client
about adverse effects of the medication. The client demonstrates
an understanding of the teaching by stating that he will notify
his provider if he experiences which of the following?a. tendon
painb. persistent coughc. frequent urinationd. constipation
Correct Answers b
, A nurse caring for a client following an abdominal aortic
aneurysm resection. Which of the following is the priority
assessment for this client?a. neck vein distentionb. bowel
soundsc. peripheral edemad. urine output Correct Answers d
A nurse in the emergency department is caring for a client who
had an anterior MI. The client's history reveals she is 1 week
post-op open cholecystectomy. The nurse should recognize that
which of the following interventions is contraindicated?A.
administering IV morphine sulfateB. administering oxygen at
2 :/min via nasal cannulaC. helping the client to the bedside
commodeD. assisting with thrombolytic therapy Correct
Answers d
A nurse is admitting a client who has a leg ulcer and a history of
DM. The nurse should use which of the following focused
assessments to help differentiate between an arterial ulcer and a
venous stasis ulcer?a. explore the clients family history of
peripheral vascular diseaseb. note the presence or absence of
pain at the ulcer sitec. inquire about the presence or absence of
claudicationd. ask if the client has had a recent infection Correct
Answers c
A nurse is admitting a client who has acute pancreatitis. Which
of the following actions should the nurse take first?a. insert an
NG tubeb. administer ceftazidimec. identify the clients current
level of paind. instruct the client to remain NPO Correct
Answers c
With Complete Solutions
A 26-year-old female client informs the nurse that she has had
red, raised lesions at the base of the tongue and on the inside of
her mouth for the past 2 weeks. What question should the nurse
ask the client?a. "Have you seen a dentist recently?"b. "Do you
smoke cigarettes?"c. "Do you have a history of HIV?"d. "What
type of work do you do?" Correct Answers c
A 51-year-old female who is perimenopausal broke her arm
after a fall in her home. She also reports progressive fatigue,
insomnia, and hot flashes. What question should the nurse ask
first to collect more data surrounding the client's health history?
a. How often do you engage in exercise?b. can you tell me about
your diet?c. what medications are you currently taking?d. do
you have a history of heart disease? Correct Answers a
A 59 year old man was admitted to the hospital with dysphagia,
stating that he has been having more difficulty swallowing food,
even when he has chewed it throroughly and drinks plenty of
water. A CT scan shows an area for a possible esophageal
tumor. The client unergoes a biopsy and is awaiting results. The
client asks, "what am I going to do if this is cancer?" What is the
most appropriate nursing response?a. "You will have surgery to
remove it."b. "I would choose to get radiation."c. "The doctor
will go over the options with you."d. "You sound as if you are
concerned about the biopsy results." Correct Answers d
,A client had an open transverse colectomy 5 days ago. The nurse
enters the client's room and recognizes that the wound has
eviscerated. After covering the wound with a sterile, saline-
soaked dressing, which of the following actions should the nurse
take?a. go to the nurses station to seek assistanceb. reinsert the
organs into the abdominal cavityc. place the client in reverse
Trendelenburg position d. obtain vital signs to assess for shock
Correct Answers d
A client has recently been placed on corticosteroids as treatment
for ulcerative colitis. the nurse should monitor the client's
laboratory results for evidence of which condition?a.
hypernatremiab. Hypercalcemia c. hyperglycemiad.
hyperkalemia Correct Answers c
A client is admitted to the acute medical client care unit. The
nurse reviews her admission lab results. Which result supports a
diagnosis of malnutrition?a. serum albumin 3.5 g/dLb.
hematocrit 37%c. Hemoglobin 12g/dLd. Prealbumin 13 mg/dL
Correct Answers d
A client is admitted with a diagnosis of acute stroke. The
provider orders "diet as tolerated." Before feeding this client,
which nursing action is priority?a. determine client's food
preferencesb. elevate the head of the bed 30 degreesc. assess
client's swallowing reflexd. review serum albumin level to
determine appropriate diet Correct Answers c
A client is being evaluated in the ED for a possible brain attack
(stroke). Assessment findings consistent with a brain attack
include which of the following? (select all that apply)a. facial
,droopb. slurred speechc. weakness of affected extremityd.
crackles in lungse. decreased urine output Correct Answers a,
b, c
A client is transferred from the surgical suite to the PACU
following oral surgery. While monitoring the client's vital signs,
the nurse finds that the tongue has become swollen and is
obstructing the airway. Which of the following actions should
the nurse take first?a. contact the anesthesiologistb. assist with
endotracheal intubationc. increase the clients flow of oxygend.
use the head-tilt, chin-lift method to open the airway Correct
Answers d
A client presents to the ED with urticaria covering his legs and
arms after hiking in the woods. In addition to applying a topical
antihistamine, interventions for symptom relief may include:a.
taking a warm showerb. taking a cool showerc. applying used
tea bags over the lesionsd. applying alcohol to the lesions
Correct Answers b
A client receiving chemotherapy for treatment of cancer is at
greatest risk for developing:a. Stomatitisb. Xerostomac. oral
abscessd. candidiasis Correct Answers a
A client who has a new diagnosis of hypertension has a
prescription for an ACE inhibitor. The nurse instructs the client
about adverse effects of the medication. The client demonstrates
an understanding of the teaching by stating that he will notify
his provider if he experiences which of the following?a. tendon
painb. persistent coughc. frequent urinationd. constipation
Correct Answers b
, A nurse caring for a client following an abdominal aortic
aneurysm resection. Which of the following is the priority
assessment for this client?a. neck vein distentionb. bowel
soundsc. peripheral edemad. urine output Correct Answers d
A nurse in the emergency department is caring for a client who
had an anterior MI. The client's history reveals she is 1 week
post-op open cholecystectomy. The nurse should recognize that
which of the following interventions is contraindicated?A.
administering IV morphine sulfateB. administering oxygen at
2 :/min via nasal cannulaC. helping the client to the bedside
commodeD. assisting with thrombolytic therapy Correct
Answers d
A nurse is admitting a client who has a leg ulcer and a history of
DM. The nurse should use which of the following focused
assessments to help differentiate between an arterial ulcer and a
venous stasis ulcer?a. explore the clients family history of
peripheral vascular diseaseb. note the presence or absence of
pain at the ulcer sitec. inquire about the presence or absence of
claudicationd. ask if the client has had a recent infection Correct
Answers c
A nurse is admitting a client who has acute pancreatitis. Which
of the following actions should the nurse take first?a. insert an
NG tubeb. administer ceftazidimec. identify the clients current
level of paind. instruct the client to remain NPO Correct
Answers c
