Medical-Surgical Nursing: practice problems and exam questions

Adult health nursing on medical and surgical wards: heart failure, coronary syndromes, anticoagulation, COPD, asthma and chest drains; stroke, seizures, diabetes emergencies, endocrine disorders, kidney injury and dialysis; GI bleeding, pancreatitis, stomas, perioperative care, wounds, pain, oncology and burns, together with the lab values, blood gases and rhythm strips that go with them.

Practise this course for freePractise this courseTake a mock exam5 free problems every day. No card needed.

Cram pack (PDF)Formula sheets, method steps and practice problems with full solutions, ready to print.

Topics in this course

  1. Med-surg: cardiovascular & respiratorykey terms and facts · applying the concepts · cases and analysismultiple choice
  2. Med-surg: neuro, endocrine & renalkey terms and facts · applying the concepts · cases and analysismultiple choice
  3. Med-surg: GI, perioperative & oncologykey terms and facts · applying the concepts · cases and analysismultiple choice
  4. Clinical nursingkey terms and facts · applying the concepts · cases and analysismultiple choice
  5. Lab values & electrolyteskey terms and facts · applying the concepts · cases and analysismultiple choice
  6. Arterial blood gas interpretationacid–base classification · compensation and expected values · mixed disorders and gas exchangecalculations
  7. ECG rhythm strip interpretationrate and intervals · QT and rhythm recognition · heart blocks and ventricular rhythmscalculations
  8. Prioritization & delegationkey terms and facts · applying the concepts · cases and analysismultiple choice

Exam tips for Medical-Surgical Nursing

  • For every condition, learn how it looks at the bedside, what makes it worse and what you do first.
  • Watch for hidden deterioration: internal bleeding with a dry dressing, sepsis without fever, hypoventilation behind a normal SpO₂.
  • Link each drug to its monitoring: INR for warfarin, aPTT and platelets for heparin, potassium for diuretics and insulin.

Worked examples

Med-surg: cardiovascular & respiratoryEasy

What is the usual INR target range for a patient taking warfarin for atrial fibrillation?

  1. A0.5–1.0
  2. B4.0–5.0
  3. C2.0–3.0
  4. D1.0–1.5
Show hints
  1. A normal INR without anticoagulation is about 1.
  2. Two wrong answers are now crossed out. One of the remaining two is right.
Show the answer and explanation

Why this is the answer

For most indications, including atrial fibrillation and venous thromboembolism, the target INR is 2.0–3.0 (aim 2.5). Some mechanical heart valves need a higher target. An INR around 1 means no anticoagulant effect; above the range increases bleeding risk.

Answer

C · 2.0–3.0
Med-surg: neuro, endocrine & renalMedium

Which urine finding best distinguishes diabetes insipidus from SIADH?

  1. ABoth conditions give very concentrated urine
  2. BDI gives glucose in the urine; SIADH gives protein
  3. CDI gives concentrated urine; SIADH gives dilute urine
  4. DDI gives dilute urine; SIADH gives concentrated urine
Show hints
  1. Think about whether ADH is missing or in excess.
  2. Two wrong answers are now crossed out. One of the remaining two is right.
Show the answer and explanation

Why this is the answer

In DI, lack of ADH effect causes large volumes of dilute urine (specific gravity often below 1.005) with high serum sodium. In SIADH, excess ADH causes low urine output with concentrated urine and low serum sodium.

Answer

D · DI gives dilute urine; SIADH gives concentrated urine

How practising works

  • “Practise this course” mixes problems from all its topics, like a real exam.
  • Every problem has new values, so you learn the method instead of an answer.
  • Stuck? Open a small hint first, and the full explanation only when you need it.
  • Mock exams are timed and have no hints, and you get your score and a full review at the end.

Calculators for this course

QTc calculator (Bazett, Fridericia and Framingham)ECG heart rate calculator (300, 1500 and 6-second methods)Anion gap calculator (albumin-corrected, delta ratio)

Related courses

NCLEX-style practice questions (RN)NCLEX-style Prioritization & DelegationNCLEX-PN-style practice questions (LPN/LVN)Nursing Fundamentals and Clinical PracticeLab Values for NursesRespiratory Care and Oxygen TherapyMedical SciencesECG Interpretation
Practise this course for freePractise this courseTake a mock exam5 free problems every day. No card needed.