Brunner & Suddarth's Textbook of
Medical-Surgical Nursing
16th Edition
• Author(s)Janice L. Hinkle; Kerry H.
Cheever; Kristen J. Overbaugh; Carolyn
E. Bradley
ISBN: 9781975221133
Question 1:
Question Type: MCQ
Question Stem:
A registered nurse (RN) on a medical-surgical unit is assigning
tasks for the shift. Which task is most appropriate to delegate
to unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP)?
Options:
A. Assess a patient who reports new chest pain.
B. Obtain vital signs for a patient who is stable after surgery.
,C. Teach a patient how to use an incentive spirometer.
D. Evaluate whether a patient’s pain medication was effective.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale for A:
Assessing new chest pain requires nursing judgment and a
focused cardiovascular assessment. The RN must collect and
interpret cues, determine urgency, and initiate the appropriate
response.
Rationale for B:
Obtaining routine vital signs on a stable patient is an
appropriate task for UAP because it is repetitive, predictable,
and does not require nursing assessment or interpretation. The
RN remains responsible for reviewing the results and acting on
abnormal findings.
Rationale for C:
Teaching is an RN responsibility because it requires assessment
of readiness to learn, selection of teaching strategies, and
evaluation of understanding. UAP do not provide patient
education.
Rationale for D:
Evaluating pain medication effectiveness requires assessment
and clinical judgment. The RN must determine whether the
intervention achieved the desired outcome and whether
additional action is needed.
,Key Takeaway:
Delegate routine, predictable care to UAP, but keep
assessment, teaching, and evaluation with the RN.
Question 2:
Question Type: MCQ
Question Stem:
A patient scheduled for surgery says, “I do not want this
procedure done, even though my family wants me to go
ahead.” Which nursing response is best?
Options:
A. “Your family must decide because they are concerned about
your safety.”
B. “I will notify the surgeon so your decision can be discussed
before anything is done.”
C. “You already signed the consent form, so the procedure
must continue.”
D. “I will ask you to explain your reasons for refusing so I can
document them as the final decision.”
Correct Answer: B
Rationale for A:
Family members cannot override a competent adult patient’s
decision. The nurse must respect patient autonomy and not
transfer decision-making authority to the family.
, Rationale for B:
A competent patient has the right to refuse treatment. The
nurse should notify the provider so the refusal can be
addressed, questions clarified, and the decision documented
appropriately.
Rationale for C:
Signing a consent form does not eliminate the patient’s right to
withdraw consent before the procedure begins. A patient may
refuse at any time before the intervention.
Rationale for D:
The patient does not need to justify the refusal to the nurse.
The nurse can document the refusal, but the correct priority is
to notify the surgeon and protect the patient’s right to self-
determination.
Key Takeaway:
Competent patients have the right to refuse care, and the nurse
must protect that right.
Question 3:
Question Type: MCQ
Question Stem:
Which nursing action is an example of primary prevention?
Options:
A. Teaching a patient with diabetes how to inspect the feet
daily
Medical-Surgical Nursing
16th Edition
• Author(s)Janice L. Hinkle; Kerry H.
Cheever; Kristen J. Overbaugh; Carolyn
E. Bradley
ISBN: 9781975221133
Question 1:
Question Type: MCQ
Question Stem:
A registered nurse (RN) on a medical-surgical unit is assigning
tasks for the shift. Which task is most appropriate to delegate
to unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP)?
Options:
A. Assess a patient who reports new chest pain.
B. Obtain vital signs for a patient who is stable after surgery.
,C. Teach a patient how to use an incentive spirometer.
D. Evaluate whether a patient’s pain medication was effective.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale for A:
Assessing new chest pain requires nursing judgment and a
focused cardiovascular assessment. The RN must collect and
interpret cues, determine urgency, and initiate the appropriate
response.
Rationale for B:
Obtaining routine vital signs on a stable patient is an
appropriate task for UAP because it is repetitive, predictable,
and does not require nursing assessment or interpretation. The
RN remains responsible for reviewing the results and acting on
abnormal findings.
Rationale for C:
Teaching is an RN responsibility because it requires assessment
of readiness to learn, selection of teaching strategies, and
evaluation of understanding. UAP do not provide patient
education.
Rationale for D:
Evaluating pain medication effectiveness requires assessment
and clinical judgment. The RN must determine whether the
intervention achieved the desired outcome and whether
additional action is needed.
,Key Takeaway:
Delegate routine, predictable care to UAP, but keep
assessment, teaching, and evaluation with the RN.
Question 2:
Question Type: MCQ
Question Stem:
A patient scheduled for surgery says, “I do not want this
procedure done, even though my family wants me to go
ahead.” Which nursing response is best?
Options:
A. “Your family must decide because they are concerned about
your safety.”
B. “I will notify the surgeon so your decision can be discussed
before anything is done.”
C. “You already signed the consent form, so the procedure
must continue.”
D. “I will ask you to explain your reasons for refusing so I can
document them as the final decision.”
Correct Answer: B
Rationale for A:
Family members cannot override a competent adult patient’s
decision. The nurse must respect patient autonomy and not
transfer decision-making authority to the family.
, Rationale for B:
A competent patient has the right to refuse treatment. The
nurse should notify the provider so the refusal can be
addressed, questions clarified, and the decision documented
appropriately.
Rationale for C:
Signing a consent form does not eliminate the patient’s right to
withdraw consent before the procedure begins. A patient may
refuse at any time before the intervention.
Rationale for D:
The patient does not need to justify the refusal to the nurse.
The nurse can document the refusal, but the correct priority is
to notify the surgeon and protect the patient’s right to self-
determination.
Key Takeaway:
Competent patients have the right to refuse care, and the nurse
must protect that right.
Question 3:
Question Type: MCQ
Question Stem:
Which nursing action is an example of primary prevention?
Options:
A. Teaching a patient with diabetes how to inspect the feet
daily
