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:
Which statement best reflects professional nursing
accountability?
Options:
A. Nurses are responsible only for tasks they perform
personally, not for team outcomes.
B. Nurses should follow any provider order unless a pharmacist
,questions it.
C. Nurses may ignore unclear instructions if they are busy and
the situation seems routine.
D. Nurses are accountable for their own practice and must
clarify unsafe, unclear, or inappropriate orders.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale for A:
This is incorrect because professional accountability includes
responsibility for one’s own actions and the nursing care
environment. Nurses also contribute to safe outcomes through
assessment, communication, and advocacy.
Rationale for B:
This is incorrect because nurses do not passively follow orders
that appear unsafe. Collaboration with the health care team is
important, but the nurse remains accountable for patient
safety.
Rationale for C:
This is incorrect because unclear instructions must be clarified
regardless of workload. Routine situations can still create harm
if assumptions are made.
Rationale for D:
This is correct because accountability means the nurse answers
for clinical decisions, actions, and omissions. Clarifying unsafe
orders is a key safety behavior that protects the patient and
supports professional standards.
,Key Takeaway:
Professional accountability requires ownership of nursing
actions and active protection of patient safety.
Question 2:
Question Type: MCQ
Question Stem:
Which task is most appropriate for the RN to delegate to a
UAP?
Options:
A. Assess a patient who reports new shortness of breath.
B. Obtain vital signs from a stable patient who is preparing for
discharge.
C. Teach a patient how to use an incentive spirometer.
D. Evaluate whether a newly admitted patient understands
discharge instructions.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale for A:
This is incorrect because assessment of a new symptom
requires nursing judgment. Shortness of breath may indicate a
potentially serious change in condition.
Rationale for B:
This is correct because obtaining routine vital signs for a stable
, patient is an appropriate UAP task. The RN remains responsible
for interpreting the results.
Rationale for C:
This is incorrect because teaching requires nursing knowledge
and evaluation of understanding. Education is not delegated to
UAPs.
Rationale for D:
This is incorrect because evaluating understanding is part of
nursing assessment and teaching. The RN must determine
whether discharge teaching was effective.
Key Takeaway:
Delegate routine care for stable patients, not assessment,
teaching, or evaluation.
Question 3:
Question Type: MCQ
Question Stem:
Which source provides the strongest evidence when a nursing
unit revises a care protocol?
Options:
A. A single expert’s opinion in a textbook chapter
B. A small case report from one hospital
C. A systematic review of randomized controlled trials
D. A policy that has always been used on the unit
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:
Which statement best reflects professional nursing
accountability?
Options:
A. Nurses are responsible only for tasks they perform
personally, not for team outcomes.
B. Nurses should follow any provider order unless a pharmacist
,questions it.
C. Nurses may ignore unclear instructions if they are busy and
the situation seems routine.
D. Nurses are accountable for their own practice and must
clarify unsafe, unclear, or inappropriate orders.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale for A:
This is incorrect because professional accountability includes
responsibility for one’s own actions and the nursing care
environment. Nurses also contribute to safe outcomes through
assessment, communication, and advocacy.
Rationale for B:
This is incorrect because nurses do not passively follow orders
that appear unsafe. Collaboration with the health care team is
important, but the nurse remains accountable for patient
safety.
Rationale for C:
This is incorrect because unclear instructions must be clarified
regardless of workload. Routine situations can still create harm
if assumptions are made.
Rationale for D:
This is correct because accountability means the nurse answers
for clinical decisions, actions, and omissions. Clarifying unsafe
orders is a key safety behavior that protects the patient and
supports professional standards.
,Key Takeaway:
Professional accountability requires ownership of nursing
actions and active protection of patient safety.
Question 2:
Question Type: MCQ
Question Stem:
Which task is most appropriate for the RN to delegate to a
UAP?
Options:
A. Assess a patient who reports new shortness of breath.
B. Obtain vital signs from a stable patient who is preparing for
discharge.
C. Teach a patient how to use an incentive spirometer.
D. Evaluate whether a newly admitted patient understands
discharge instructions.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale for A:
This is incorrect because assessment of a new symptom
requires nursing judgment. Shortness of breath may indicate a
potentially serious change in condition.
Rationale for B:
This is correct because obtaining routine vital signs for a stable
, patient is an appropriate UAP task. The RN remains responsible
for interpreting the results.
Rationale for C:
This is incorrect because teaching requires nursing knowledge
and evaluation of understanding. Education is not delegated to
UAPs.
Rationale for D:
This is incorrect because evaluating understanding is part of
nursing assessment and teaching. The RN must determine
whether discharge teaching was effective.
Key Takeaway:
Delegate routine care for stable patients, not assessment,
teaching, or evaluation.
Question 3:
Question Type: MCQ
Question Stem:
Which source provides the strongest evidence when a nursing
unit revises a care protocol?
Options:
A. A single expert’s opinion in a textbook chapter
B. A small case report from one hospital
C. A systematic review of randomized controlled trials
D. A policy that has always been used on the unit
