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 28 of 30

  • A. Discard the first morning urine, then collect every void for 24 hours
  • B. Collect only the first morning urine and send it to the laboratory
  • C. Begin collecting after breakfast and stop at bedtime the same day
  • D. Save the first urine, then discard the final urine at the end

Explanation: The first morning urine is discarded to start the timed collection with an empty bladder, and every urine specimen after that is saved for…

Correct answer: Discard the first morning urine, then collect every void for 24 hours
Moderate
  • A. Prerenal injury caused by reduced circulating volume
  • B. Intrinsic injury caused by damage to renal tubules
  • C. Postrenal injury caused by ureteric obstruction
  • D. Functional injury caused by temporary urinary retention

Explanation: Gentamicin can injure renal tubular cells, causing intrinsic acute kidney injury and granular casts.

Correct answer: Intrinsic injury caused by damage to renal tubules
Moderate
  • A. Increased plasma oncotic pressure draws fluid into vessels
  • B. Reduced plasma oncotic pressure allows fluid into tissues
  • C. Increased renal filtration removes excess tissue fluid
  • D. Reduced capillary permeability prevents fluid reabsorption

Explanation: Heavy urinary protein loss lowers serum albumin and reduces plasma oncotic pressure, so fluid moves from the intravascular space into the…

Correct answer: Reduced plasma oncotic pressure allows fluid into tissues
  • A. Keep the drainage bag below bladder level
  • B. Disconnect the tubing daily to rinse the bag
  • C. Empty the bag only when it is completely full
  • D. Place the drainage bag on the patient’s bed during transfers

Explanation: Keeping the drainage bag below bladder level promotes closed-system drainage and prevents backflow of contaminated urine.

Correct answer: Keep the drainage bag below bladder level
Fairly easy
  • A. Apply gentle continuous pressure with sterile gauze
  • B. Place an ice pack directly over the fistula site
  • C. Clean the site vigorously with an antiseptic solution
  • D. Apply a tight circumferential bandage around the arm

Explanation: Gentle continuous pressure controls bleeding while avoiding impairment of fistula circulation.

Correct answer: Apply gentle continuous pressure with sterile gauze
Moderate
  • A. White blood cell casts
  • B. Occasional squamous epithelial cells
  • C. Small numbers of mucus threads
  • D. A few calcium oxalate crystals

Explanation: White blood cell casts form within renal tubules and strongly suggest renal inflammation, such as pyelonephritis.

Correct answer: White blood cell casts
Moderate
  • A. Grilled chicken, white rice, and a low-sodium salad
  • B. Cured meat, cheese, and a large serving of lentils
  • C. Banana smoothie, tomato soup, and salted crackers
  • D. Pickle sandwich, dried fruit, and packaged noodle soup

Explanation: A low-sodium meal with an appropriate protein portion is generally suitable for chronic kidney disease, although potassium, phosphate…

Correct answer: Grilled chicken, white rice, and a low-sodium salad
  • A. Diphenhydramine
  • B. Amoxicillin
  • C. Ferrous sulfate
  • D. Omeprazole

Explanation: Diphenhydramine has anticholinergic effects that can reduce detrusor contraction and worsen urinary retention.

Correct answer: Diphenhydramine
  • A. Mild soreness at the biopsy site
  • B. Pink-tinged urine that rapidly becomes bright red
  • C. A request for assistance with oral hygiene
  • D. A blood pressure of 126/78 mmHg while resting

Explanation: Rapidly increasing bright-red hematuria may indicate renal bleeding after biopsy and requires prompt assessment and reporting.

Correct answer: Pink-tinged urine that rapidly becomes bright red
Moderate
  • A. Assess the site and notify the renal team promptly
  • B. Apply talcum powder around the exit site
  • C. Ignore the finding unless the drainage becomes cloudy
  • D. Remove the catheter immediately at the bedside

Explanation: Redness, warmth, and purulent drainage suggest an exit-site infection and require prompt assessment and treatment to prevent spread into…

Correct answer: Assess the site and notify the renal team promptly
  • A. Place the patient in a high-Fowler position and administer prescribed oxygen
  • B. Encourage the patient to lie flat and rest quietly
  • C. Offer oral fluids before giving respiratory medicines
  • D. Begin chest percussion over the affected lung area

Explanation: High-Fowler positioning improves lung expansion, while prescribed oxygen supports breathing during the acute attack.

Correct answer: Place the patient in a high-Fowler position and administer prescribed oxygen
  • A. Wheeze
  • B. Pleural friction rub
  • C. Bronchial breathing
  • D. Absent breath sounds

Explanation: A wheeze is a musical, continuous sound caused by narrowed airways, as occurs in asthma.

Correct answer: Wheeze
  • A. Apply prescribed controlled oxygen and reassess the patient
  • B. Withhold oxygen because it may suppress breathing
  • C. Ask the patient to breathe into a paper bag
  • D. Place the patient flat and encourage sleep

Explanation: The nurse should provide controlled oxygen as prescribed and closely reassess respiratory status, because hypoxemia is an immediate…

Correct answer: Apply prescribed controlled oxygen and reassess the patient
Fairly easy
  • A. The patient reports pleuritic chest discomfort
  • B. The patient has a temperature of 38.3°C
  • C. The patient is confused and remains severely hypoxemic
  • D. The patient has a productive cough with yellow sputum

Explanation: Confusion with severe hypoxemia indicates inadequate oxygen delivery to the brain and possible respiratory failure.

Correct answer: The patient is confused and remains severely hypoxemic
Hard
  • A. Preoxygenate the patient and apply suction while withdrawing the catheter
  • B. Advance the catheter while continuous suction is applied
  • C. Apply suction for 30 seconds during each catheter pass
  • D. Instil routine sterile water before every suction pass

Explanation: Preoxygenation reduces the risk of hypoxemia, and suction is applied during withdrawal rather than insertion.

Correct answer: Preoxygenate the patient and apply suction while withdrawing the catheter
  • A. I will rinse my mouth after using this inhaler
  • B. I will use it only when a sudden attack begins
  • C. I will stop it once my breathing feels normal
  • D. I will expect it to provide immediate bronchodilation

Explanation: Rinsing the mouth after an inhaled corticosteroid helps prevent oral candidiasis and hoarseness.

Correct answer: I will rinse my mouth after using this inhaler
  • A. Place the patient in an airborne infection isolation room and use a fit-tested respirator
  • B. Place the patient in a standard room and use only a surgical mask
  • C. Use contact precautions with gown and gloves for every interaction
  • D. Keep the patient in a positive-pressure room with no respiratory protection

Explanation: Pulmonary tuberculosis spreads through airborne particles, so airborne precautions, appropriate ventilation and a fit-tested respirator…

Correct answer: Place the patient in an airborne infection isolation room and use a fit-tested respirator
Moderate
  • A. Position the patient upright and monitor respiratory status
  • B. Place the patient flat with the affected side uppermost
  • C. Encourage forceful coughing every five minutes
  • D. Apply pressure over the affected chest wall

Explanation: An upright position promotes lung expansion and eases ventilation while the patient is assessed for worsening distress.

Correct answer: Position the patient upright and monitor respiratory status
  • A. Uncompensated respiratory acidosis
  • B. Uncompensated metabolic acidosis
  • C. Uncompensated respiratory alkalosis
  • D. Fully compensated metabolic alkalosis

Explanation: The low pH shows acidosis, and the raised PaCO2 identifies a respiratory cause.

Correct answer: Uncompensated respiratory acidosis
  • A. Call for emergency assistance and prepare for immediate chest decompression
  • B. Encourage incentive spirometry and reassess in one hour
  • C. Place the patient in a flat position and give oral fluids
  • D. Apply a warm compress and continue routine observations

Explanation: Tension pneumothorax can rapidly obstruct venous return and cause obstructive shock, so emergency assistance and immediate decompression…

Correct answer: Call for emergency assistance and prepare for immediate chest decompression