All Free Medical Surgical Nursing MCQs with Answers

Every Medical Surgical Nursing question in the bank, across all chapters, each with the correct answer and a written explanation. Free and unlimited, with no account needed.

600 questions · page 15 of 30

Moderate
  • A. Gastric outlet obstruction
  • B. Perforation with peritonitis
  • C. Acute pancreatitis
  • D. Uncomplicated gastritis

Explanation: Sudden severe pain with a rigid, silent abdomen suggests perforation and peritonitis.

Correct answer: Perforation with peritonitis
  • A. Take it with a high-fat meal
  • B. Take it on an empty stomach
  • C. Take it only when pain begins
  • D. Take it together with antacids

Explanation: Sucralfate forms a protective coating over the ulcer and works best on an empty stomach.

Correct answer: Take it on an empty stomach
Moderate
  • A. Metabolic alkalosis
  • B. Respiratory alkalosis
  • C. Metabolic acidosis
  • D. Respiratory acidosis

Explanation: Vomiting removes hydrochloric acid and may produce metabolic alkalosis, especially when fluid and chloride losses are prolonged.

Correct answer: Metabolic alkalosis
  • A. Skip lesions throughout the bowel
  • B. Continuous inflammation beginning in the rectum
  • C. Transmural fistula formation
  • D. Cobblestone mucosa in the ileum

Explanation: Ulcerative colitis causes continuous mucosal inflammation that usually begins in the rectum and extends proximally.

Correct answer: Continuous inflammation beginning in the rectum
  • A. The obstruction is resolving
  • B. The bowel may have perforated
  • C. The patient is becoming comfortable
  • D. The nasogastric tube is working

Explanation: A sudden reduction in colicky pain with worsening distension and tachycardia can indicate bowel ischemia or perforation.

Correct answer: The bowel may have perforated
  • A. Three large meals high in fat
  • B. Small frequent meals with adequate calories
  • C. A fasting period until jaundice clears
  • D. A high-salt diet to prevent weakness

Explanation: Small frequent meals are easier to tolerate and help maintain energy when nausea and anorexia are present.

Correct answer: Small frequent meals with adequate calories
Fairly easy
  • A. Mild pruritus after bathing
  • B. Increasing abdominal collateral veins
  • C. Occasional heartburn after meals
  • D. A small bruise at an injection site

Explanation: Prominent abdominal collateral veins, sometimes called caput medusae, develop when portal blood is diverted through systemic veins.

Correct answer: Increasing abdominal collateral veins
Easy
  • A. Serum potassium
  • B. Serum calcium
  • C. Haemoglobin level
  • D. Blood amylase

Explanation: Spironolactone is a potassium-sparing diuretic, so hyperkalaemia is an important adverse effect to detect.

Correct answer: Serum potassium
Moderate
  • A. Lactulose
  • B. Rifaximin
  • C. Diazepam
  • D. Spironolactone

Explanation: Diazepam is a benzodiazepine that can cause sedation and further depress consciousness in hepatic encephalopathy.

Correct answer: Diazepam
  • A. Use a hard-bristled toothbrush
  • B. Use gentle oral care with a soft toothbrush
  • C. Floss forcefully between all teeth
  • D. Apply alcohol-based mouthwash frequently

Explanation: A soft toothbrush and gentle technique reduce trauma and bleeding in a patient with impaired clotting.

Correct answer: Use gentle oral care with a soft toothbrush
  • A. Famotidine
  • B. Omeprazole
  • C. Sucralfate
  • D. Magnesium hydroxide

Explanation: Famotidine is an H2 receptor antagonist that decreases gastric acid secretion.

Correct answer: Famotidine
Fairly easy
  • A. Use contact precautions and dedicated equipment
  • B. Place the patient in protective isolation
  • C. Encourage raw fruit and salad intake
  • D. Administer an antidiarrhoeal without review

Explanation: C. difficile spreads through contaminated hands and surfaces, so contact precautions and dedicated equipment are required.

Correct answer: Use contact precautions and dedicated equipment
Moderate
  • A. Metabolic alkalosis
  • B. Metabolic acidosis
  • C. Respiratory alkalosis
  • D. Respiratory acidosis

Explanation: Loss of gastric hydrochloric acid through prolonged vomiting commonly causes metabolic alkalosis.

Correct answer: Metabolic alkalosis
  • A. Fluid has accumulated in the peritoneal cavity
  • B. The liver has become filled with swallowed air
  • C. The stomach has stopped producing digestive enzymes
  • D. The abdominal muscles have become permanently shortened

Explanation: Ascites is the accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity, commonly related to portal hypertension and low albumin in cirrhosis.

Correct answer: Fluid has accumulated in the peritoneal cavity
  • A. Treat the hypoglycaemia according to protocol
  • B. Restrict all oral and intravenous fluids
  • C. Administer a sedative for agitation
  • D. Place the patient in a dark room only

Explanation: Severe hypoglycaemia can directly cause altered consciousness and is an immediate reversible threat to the brain.

Correct answer: Treat the hypoglycaemia according to protocol
Fairly easy
  • A. Small frequent meals with adequate calories
  • B. Prolonged fasting to rest the liver
  • C. A high-sodium diet to improve appetite
  • D. Routine severe protein restriction for all patients

Explanation: Small frequent meals and an evening snack help prevent muscle breakdown and provide adequate energy in cirrhosis.

Correct answer: Small frequent meals with adequate calories
Moderate
  • A. Report the symptoms for infection assessment
  • B. Advise doubling the corticosteroid dose
  • C. Reassure the patient that infection is expected
  • D. Recommend stopping the drug suddenly

Explanation: Corticosteroids suppress immune responses, so fever and respiratory symptoms require prompt assessment for infection.

Correct answer: Report the symptoms for infection assessment
  • A. Clarify the procedure because trauma may cause bleeding
  • B. Proceed because rectal procedures reduce portal pressure
  • C. Give an intramuscular injection before examination
  • D. Ask the patient to strain during the examination

Explanation: Rectal trauma and straining can precipitate bleeding in a patient with portal hypertension and fragile collateral vessels.

Correct answer: Clarify the procedure because trauma may cause bleeding
Moderate
  • A. Bile flow into the intestine is reduced
  • B. The patient has improved liver function
  • C. The findings confirm excessive gastric acid
  • D. The changes are caused by increased intestinal iron

Explanation: Dark urine and pale stools can occur when impaired bile flow prevents normal bilirubin excretion into the intestine.

Correct answer: Bile flow into the intestine is reduced
  • A. Shake the suspension well before measuring
  • B. Take it only with an empty stomach at bedtime
  • C. Mix it with another medicine in the same cup
  • D. Stop all prescribed ulcer treatment immediately

Explanation: Suspensions must be shaken so the medication is evenly distributed before the dose is measured.

Correct answer: Shake the suspension well before measuring