Prepare for your certification with our comprehensive CMSRN Practice Test. The Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse (CMSRN) exam validates your expertise in medical-surgical nursing, showcasing your commitment to excellence in patient care.
Achieving CMSRN certification opens doors to specialized roles, higher pay, and professional recognition. Our free resources, including CMSRN exam questions and detailed study guides, are designed to help you pass the CMSRN exam on your first attempt.
The MSNCB CMSRN exam consists of 150 multiple-choice questions, of which 125 are scored and 25 are unscored pretest items. Candidates have 3 hours to complete the examination. Practice with the free CMSRN - Medical-Surgical Nursing practice test on PracticeTestGeeks (450+ questions with answer explanations).
Facts verified Oct 20, 2026 against Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification Board. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
| Item | Detail | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Number of questions | 150 multiple-choice questions (125 scored) | Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification Board |
| Passing score | Scaled score of 95 (about 71% correct) | Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification Board |
| Exam fee | $394 ($267 AMSN members), includes $90 non-refundable processing fee | Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification Board |
| Retake fee | $315 ($189 AMSN members) | Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification Board |
| Retake policy | One discounted retake within 1 year; a second failure needs a new application | Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification Board |
| Validity | 5 years | Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification Board |
| Delivery | Pearson VUE test centers or OnVUE online proctoring | Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification Board |
| Eligibility | Current unencumbered RN license + 2,000 med-surg hours in past 3 years | Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification Board |
| Score release | Pass/fail at the test; detailed report within 24 hours | Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification Board |
| Late registration deadline | $90 for a 90-day extension | Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification Board |
| Registration deadline | Book up to 3 days before test date | Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification Board |
| Testing window | Year-round, 90-day test period after approval | Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification Board |
Facts verified Oct 20, 2026 against Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification Board. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
Interactive CMSRN - Medical-Surgical Nursing resources on PracticeTestGeeks, free to start:
Prepare for the CMSRN - Medical-Surgical Nursing exam with our free practice test modules. Each quiz covers key topics to help you pass on your first try.
Quick review for the Medical-Surgical Nursing Exam
A comprehensive CMSRN study guide is essential for success. This certification, offered by the MSNCB, validates your skills in med-surg nursing. Below are key details about the CMSRN exam.
Focus on the Clinical Practice domain, which makes up the bulk of the exam. Understanding pathophysiology and nursing interventions for common med-surg conditions is key. Use our CMSRN practice test to simulate these clinical scenarios.
Estimated score calculation
Required to Pass: ~70% (Estimated)
Your Score: 105 correct ✓ PASS
Expect to invest between $400 and $600 total for your CMSRN certification, including exam fees and study materials. Many employers offer reimbursement through programs like MSNCB's FailSafe Certification Program.
Explore specialized roles available to certified medical-surgical nurses.
Don't wait until the last minute. Begin your preparation with our free CMSRN practice test and comprehensive study resources today.
CMSRN renewal is required every 5 years. You can recertify by continuing education (CE) contact hours or by re-examination.
Keep track of your CE credits using the CMSRN Tracker. Maintaining your CMSRN certification ensures continued professional growth and eligibility for higher-paying positions.
If you are preparing for a career in nursing, you may also find these related practice tests helpful:
Prepare for the CNA - Certified Nursing Assistant — the foundational certification for nursing assistants, covering patient care, vital signs, and daily living activities.
Prepare for the NCLEX - National Council Licensure Examination — the national licensure exam for registered nurses, testing clinical judgment and patient safety across all nursing domains.
Prepare for the TEAS - Test of Essential Academic Skills — a standardized admissions test for nursing programs, assessing reading, math, science, and English language skills.
Prepare for the CCRN - Review — a specialty certification for nurses working in critical care units, covering hemodynamic monitoring and ventilator management.
Prepare for the PCCN - Exam — the Progressive Care Certified Nurse exam for nurses in step-down and telemetry units.
The CMSRN (Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse) exam is administered by the Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification Board (MSNCB) and contains 150 multiple-choice questions, 125 of which are scored. Candidates have three hours to complete the test, which covers areas including gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, endocrine, renal, respiratory, and musculoskeletal nursing care, plus professional role and patient safety domains.
To sit for the CMSRN, nurses need an active RN license plus a minimum of two years of medical-surgical experience and 2,000 practice hours within the last three years. The passing scaled score is 71 out of 100, and certification is valid for five years before renewal is required.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Validates your knowledge and skills objectively | Study materials can be expensive |
| Increases job market competitiveness | Exam anxiety can affect performance |
| Provides structured learning goals | Requires dedicated preparation time |
| Networking opportunities with other certified professionals | Retake fees apply if you don't pass |
Try these questions from our free CMSRN - Medical-Surgical Nursing practice tests. The correct answer and an explanation follow each question.
A nurse planning to sit for the CMSRN must have practiced in medical-surgical nursing for at least how many hours within the past 3 years?
Answer: A. 2,000 hours
Eligibility requires a minimum of 2,000 hours of adult medical-surgical nursing practice within the past 3 years.
A medical-surgical nurse is monitoring a patient receiving a continuous epidural infusion of bupivacaine and fentanyl. The patient's respiratory rate is 7/min. What is the FIRST nursing action?
Answer: C. Notify the anesthesia provider immediately while preparing naloxone
Respiratory depression from epidural opioids requires immediate provider notification and preparation of naloxone while maintaining close monitoring and airway readiness.
A medical-surgical nurse is caring for a patient admitted with an acute exacerbation of heart failure. Which of the following nursing diagnoses is the highest priority?
Answer: D. Excess Fluid Volume related to compromised regulatory mechanisms.
During an acute exacerbation of heart failure, excess fluid volume is the priority problem as it leads to pulmonary congestion, impaired gas exchange, and respiratory distress. Addressing the fluid overload through interventions like diuretic administration and fluid restriction is critical to stabilize the patient's cardiopulmonary status. While the other nursing diagnoses are relevant, they are secondary to the immediate life-threatening issue of fluid volume excess.
A patient receiving epidural analgesia develops sudden hypotension and bradycardia. Which intervention should the medical-surgical nurse prioritize?
Answer: A. Administer IV fluid bolus and position the patient supine
Sympathetic blockade from epidural analgesia causes vasodilation and hypotension, so IV fluid bolus and supine positioning restore venous return and blood pressure.
Take the full CMSRN - Medical-Surgical Nursing practice test