MEDSURG-BC Nurse Exam Prep practice questions and answers 2026. Tap an option to test yourself — you'll see the correct answer and a plain-English explanation for every question. Free, no login.
Q11A patient recovering from knee surgery performs prescribed rehabilitation exercises. They report mild discomfort during the final repetitions but maintain proper form. What is the nurse's most appropriate evaluation of this intensity?
✓ Correct answer: D. Appropriate therapeutic intensity
Mild discomfort that does not cause a breakdown in form or mechanics falls within the tolerated threshold for therapeutic exercise intensity. The goal is to challenge the tissue without causing sharp pain or injury. Distractors suggest failure or injury, but mild discomfort is expected during rehabilitation progression. Immediate regression or consultation is reserved for sharp, disabling pain or inability to perform the movement correctly.
Q12An uninsured patient with chronic back pain requires nonpharmacologic management but cannot afford formal physical therapy. Which recommendation aligns best with social determinants of health and clinical guidelines?
✓ Correct answer: A. Community walking program
Community walking programs are evidence-based, low-cost, and accessible interventions that address social determinants of health by removing financial barriers. Guidelines support active movement strategies for chronic back pain. Private sessions, apps, or gym equipment impose financial burdens that may reduce adherence for an uninsured patient. Referral to outpatient rehab may also incur unmanageable costs depending on local charity care availability.
Q13A patient is 4 hours postoperative following an ankle repair and reports throbbing pain. Which nonpharmacologic intervention should the nurse prioritize immediately to reduce inflammation?
✓ Correct answer: C. Ice packs and elevation
In the immediate postoperative period (first 48-72 hours), the priority is reducing inflammation and edema using RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation). Cold therapy constricts vessels to limit bleeding and swelling. Heat is contraindicated immediately post-op as it increases blood flow and swelling. Passive ROM may be restricted, and massage or TENS are secondary adjuncts, not the primary means to control acute surgical inflammation.
Q14A patient starting sleep restriction therapy for chronic insomnia reports feeling increased daytime sleepiness during the first week. What is the nurse's best response regarding this finding?
✓ Correct answer: E. Expected transient response
Sleep restriction therapy initially reduces total sleep time to build homeostatic sleep pressure, which often results in transient daytime sleepiness during the first few weeks. This is an expected part of the process, not a failure or adverse reaction. Patients must be educated to expect this phase before improvements in sleep consolidation occur. It is not a sign of apnea or a reason to discontinue the evidence-based protocol.
Q15During postoperative ambulation, a patient recovering from lumbar fusion reports new numbness in the foot and demonstrates a foot drop. What is the nurse's priority action?
✓ Correct answer: B. Stop activity and consult
New neurologic deficits (such as numbness or motor weakness like foot drop) are red flags indicating potential nerve compression or injury. The priority is to stop the activity immediately and consult the provider to prevent permanent damage. Continuing activity, even with assistance or bracing, ignores the acute change in neurologic status. Documentation is necessary but is not the immediate priority action for a new deficit.
Q16A patient with diabetic neuropathy requests a heating pad for leg pain. The nurse declines this request based on which safety principle regarding heat application?
✓ Correct answer: D. Burn risk due to sensory loss
Heat application is contraindicated in areas of impaired sensation (such as in diabetic neuropathy) because the patient cannot accurately sense temperature, leading to a high risk of burns. While heat can increase edema, the primary safety concern in this context is thermal injury. Heat generally aids perfusion and muscle relaxation, so it does not worsen neuropathy or interfere with glucose metabolism directly.
Q17A hospitalized patient requests their personal acupuncturist perform a session in the room. Before permitting this, what is the nurse's priority administrative action?
✓ Correct answer: A. Verify credentials and order
To ensure patient safety and adhere to facility policy, external practitioners must have verified credentials and a provider's order (privileges) to treat an inpatient. This ensures the therapy doesn't conflict with the medical plan and that the practitioner is licensed. Patient consent and visitation policies are relevant but secondary to the regulatory and safety requirement of credentialing and provider authorization.
Q18An 82-year-old patient reports chronic difficulty maintaining sleep and daytime fatigue. According to current clinical guidelines for older adults, which intervention is the preferred first-line treatment?
✓ Correct answer: C. CBT for insomnia
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) is the guideline-recommended first-line treatment, addressing underlying behaviors without medication side effects. Sedative-hypnotics and antihistamines are high-risk in older adults (Beers Criteria) due to confusion and fall risks. Sleep hygiene alone is typically insufficient for chronic insomnia cases.
Q19A patient rehabilitating from a hip fracture reports "no improvement" in pain, yet the nurse notes sit-to-stand repetitions have increased from 3 to 8 over one week. How should the nurse interpret this data?
✓ Correct answer: E. Functional gains indicate progress
Objective functional improvements (increased repetitions) indicate that rehabilitation is effective and progress is being made, even if subjective pain perception lags behind. Relying solely on subjective reports can obscure genuine functional recovery. This discrepancy does not invalidate the patient's pain experience, but functionally, the patient is not regressing or failing treatment. Pain scores often improve later than function.
Q20A patient with chronic back pain uses a TENS unit. Which statement best describes the appropriate role of this modality in the comprehensive care plan?
✓ Correct answer: B. Adjunct to support activity
TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) is indicated as a nonpharmacologic adjunct to facilitate participation in active rehabilitation. It is not a cure, a replacement for exercise, or a substitute for all pharmacotherapy. Its primary value lies in temporarily reducing pain perception to allow the patient to engage in functional activity and therapy, which provides long-term benefit.
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