All Free Medical Surgical Nursing MCQs with Answers

• A. A reduced oxygen level in arterial blood
• B. A reduced oxygen level in body tissues
• C. An increased carbon dioxide level in blood
• D. An increased respiratory rate during exercise

Explanation: Hypoxemia means decreased oxygen concentration in arterial blood, usually assessed by PaO2 or oxygen saturation.

• A. Pursed-lip breathing during exhalation
• B. Rapid shallow breathing through the mouth
• C. Breath holding after every inhalation
• D. Forceful coughing after every breath

Explanation: Pursed-lip breathing slows exhalation and helps keep small airways open, reducing air trapping.

• A. Mild tremor and increased heart rate
• B. Severe constipation and urinary retention
• C. Yellow vision and hearing loss
• D. Profound sedation and slow breathing

Explanation: Salbutamol is a short-acting beta2 agonist that relaxes bronchial smooth muscle.

• A. Encourage fluids if not contraindicated
• B. Keep the patient flat in bed
• C. Restrict fluids to reduce sputum
• D. Give a sedative before coughing

Explanation: Adequate hydration helps thin respiratory secretions, making them easier to expectorate.

• A. Rinse the mouth with water, then cough deeply into the sterile container
• B. Collect saliva after brushing the teeth into a routine cup
• C. Take the specimen after eating a large breakfast
• D. Leave the open container beside the patient's bed overnight

Explanation: Deep coughing produces sputum from the lower respiratory tract, while saliva is not an adequate specimen for tuberculosis testing.

• A. Increase the flow to at least 5 L per minute
• B. Change immediately to a non-rebreather mask
• C. Remove the mask and use room air
• D. Place a paper bag over the mask

Explanation: A simple face mask generally requires a minimum flow of about 5 L per minute to prevent rebreathing exhaled carbon dioxide.

• A. Uncompensated respiratory alkalosis
• B. Uncompensated respiratory acidosis
• C. Partially compensated metabolic alkalosis
• D. Fully compensated metabolic acidosis

Explanation: The high pH shows alkalemia and the low PaCO2 identifies a respiratory cause.

• A. Straighten the tubing and reassess the patient
• B. Clamp the tube close to the chest
• C. Strip the tubing forcefully toward the drainage unit
• D. Disconnect the tubing and leave it open to air

Explanation: A kink can obstruct chest drainage and prevent air from leaving the pleural space.

• A. Increasing drowsiness with a bounding pulse
• B. Pins and needles around the mouth with anxiety
• C. Bright red sputum after vigorous coughing
• D. Sharp pain that worsens with inspiration

Explanation: Rising carbon dioxide can cause headache, confusion, drowsiness and, later, reduced consciousness, often with vasodilation and a bounding…

• A. Assess airway patency and call for urgent assistance
• B. Offer oral fluids to loosen the secretions
• C. Place the patient in a flat supine position
• D. Document the findings and reassess in one hour

Explanation: Cyanosis, ineffective cough and restlessness indicate severe oxygenation or ventilation compromise.

• A. Nasal cannula
• B. Simple face mask
• C. Venturi mask
• D. Non-rebreather mask

Explanation: A Venturi mask entrains a fixed amount of room air and delivers a predictable oxygen concentration.

• A. Apply suction while inserting the catheter
• B. Apply suction while withdrawing the catheter
• C. Keep suction applied for 30 seconds
• D. Instil saline before every suction pass

Explanation: The catheter is inserted without suction, and suction is applied during withdrawal while the catheter is rotated.

• A. Clamp the chest tube for 30 minutes
• B. Check the tubing and connections for an air leak
• C. Increase wall suction to the maximum setting
• D. Remove the water-seal chamber from the system

Explanation: Continuous bubbling in the water-seal chamber usually indicates an air leak in the system or from the patient.

• A. Encourage shallow breathing at rest
• B. Encourage regular deep breathing and coughing
• C. Maintain strict bed rest until the fever resolves
• D. Restrict oral fluids to reduce respiratory secretions

Explanation: Deep breathing opens poorly ventilated alveoli, and coughing helps remove secretions.

• A. It provides immediate relief during severe bronchospasm
• B. It is a long-acting inhaled anticholinergic bronchodilator
• C. It is an inhaled corticosteroid used to treat airway inflammation
• D. It is an antibiotic used for infected respiratory secretions

Explanation: Tiotropium is a long-acting inhaled anticholinergic that reduces bronchoconstriction and is used for maintenance treatment.

• A. Report the symptom and expect pyridoxine supplementation
• B. Tell the patient to stop all tuberculosis medicines immediately
• C. Administer an extra dose of rifampicin
• D. Explain that the symptom proves treatment is working

Explanation: Isoniazid can cause peripheral neuropathy, and pyridoxine, also called vitamin B6, helps prevent or treat this adverse effect.

• A. Oxygen itself catches fire at room temperature
• B. Oxygen supports rapid combustion of nearby materials
• C. Oxygen makes all electrical equipment produce radiation
• D. Oxygen causes water-based disinfectants to explode

Explanation: Oxygen is not itself flammable, but it supports combustion and allows materials to burn more rapidly and intensely.

• A. Place the patient flat and leave the room
• B. Stop observation until the procedure report is completed
• C. Assess the patient, apply oxygen and notify the provider urgently
• D. Encourage forceful coughing to remove pleural fluid

Explanation: Sudden respiratory distress after thoracentesis may indicate a pneumothorax, so airway and breathing assessment with oxygen support takes…

• A. A low arterial oxygen level in a patient with pneumonia
• B. Normal arterial oxygen with severe circulatory shock
• C. A low oxygen saturation caused by airway obstruction
• D. Reduced arterial oxygen after a large pulmonary embolus

Explanation: Hypoxia means inadequate oxygen at the tissue level and can occur when tissue perfusion or oxygen use is impaired, even if arterial oxygen…

• A. The green zone with well-controlled asthma
• B. The yellow zone with mild stable symptoms
• C. The red zone requiring urgent action
• D. A normal result after using a reliever inhaler

Explanation: A peak-flow reading below 50% of the patient's personal best is generally in the red zone and indicates severe airway narrowing.