Brunner & Suddarth’s Medical-
Surgical Nursing, 15th Edition –
Complete -Question Test Bank: 100%
Verified Answers with Clinical
Rationales for Every Question.
1. A patient with COPD is showing increased work of breathing and
using accessory muscles. What is the nurse's priority positioning
intervention?
A. Supine position
B. High Fowler's position
C. Left lateral position
D. Trendelenburg position
Answer: B. High Fowler's position
Rationale: High Fowler's position (sitting upright at 90 degrees) uses
gravity to lower the diaphragm and maximize lung expansion. Supine and
Trendelenburg increase intra-abdominal pressure against the diaphragm.
2. A public health nurse is defining "health" to a group of new
mothers. Which definition is most accurate according to the WHO?
A. The absence of disease
B. A state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being
C. The ability to pursue one's goals without limitations
D. Psychological and physiological harmony
,Answer: B. A state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being
Rationale: The WHO defines health not merely as the absence of disease
but as a complete state of physical, mental, and social well-being.
3. Which essential trait is most critical for a nurse to be effective in
modern healthcare settings?
A. Strict adherence to routine
B. Ability to work exclusively independently
C. Sensitivity to cultural differences
D. Avoidance of emotional involvement
Answer: C. Sensitivity to cultural differences
Rationale: Culturally competent care is essential for establishing
therapeutic relationships and achieving positive outcomes in diverse
patient populations.
4. Organized self-care education programs for chronic illnesses
primarily emphasize what?
A. Adequate prenatal care
B. Government advocacy and lobbying
C. Effective disease management and self-care
D. Reliance on online health communities
Answer: C. Effective disease management and self-care
Rationale: These programs focus on health promotion, disease prevention,
self-care strategies, and appropriate utilization of the healthcare system.
5. A patient recovering from surgery expresses a desire to return to
work and achieve their full potential. Which level of Maslow's
hierarchy does this represent?
A. Physiological needs
B. Safety needs
,C. Love and belonging
D. Self-actualization
Answer: D. Self-actualization
Rationale: Self-actualization is the highest level of Maslow's hierarchy,
involving the realization of one's full potential, creativity, and personal
growth.
6. The health-illness continuum model helps the nurse recognize that:
A. Health and illness are static states.
B. A person's health status is constantly changing.
C. Illness always results from non-adherence.
D. Health is purely determined by genetics.
Answer: B. A person's health status is constantly changing.
Rationale: The continuum model views health and illness as dynamic, ever-
changing states influenced by multiple physical, psychological, and social
factors.
7. A terminally ill patient refuses further curative treatment and
requests palliative care only. The nurse supports this decision. Which
ethical principle is primarily applied?
A. Beneficence
B. Non-maleficence
C. Autonomy
D. Justice
Answer: C. Autonomy
Rationale: Autonomy respects the patient's right to make their own
healthcare decisions, even if it means refusing life-sustaining treatment.
8. A nurse is preparing a patient for surgery. Which statement
indicates that the patient understands the preoperative teaching about
, deep breathing and coughing exercises?
A. "I will do these exercises only if I feel short of breath."
B. "I will take a deep breath, hold it for 3 seconds, and cough deeply."
C. "I will breathe rapidly through my mouth to clear secretions."
D. "I will avoid moving after surgery to prevent pain."
Answer: B. "I will take a deep breath, hold it for 3 seconds, and cough
deeply."
Rationale: Sustained maximal inspiration followed by a deep cough helps
mobilize secretions and prevent postoperative atelectasis and pneumonia.
9. Which finding in a postoperative patient would be the earliest sign
of hypovolemic shock?
A. Decreased urine output
B. Hypotension
C. Tachycardia
D. Cold, clammy skin
Answer: C. Tachycardia
Rationale: Tachycardia is often the earliest compensatory response to
decreased circulating volume. Hypotension and decreased urine output are
later signs.
10. A patient on warfarin (Coumadin) has an INR of 5.0. The nurse
should anticipate which intervention?
A. Administering vitamin K
B. Increasing the next dose
C. Giving protamine sulfate
D. Monitoring for bleeding without intervention
Answer: A. Administering vitamin K
Rationale: The therapeutic INR for warfarin is typically 2.0–3.0. An INR of
Surgical Nursing, 15th Edition –
Complete -Question Test Bank: 100%
Verified Answers with Clinical
Rationales for Every Question.
1. A patient with COPD is showing increased work of breathing and
using accessory muscles. What is the nurse's priority positioning
intervention?
A. Supine position
B. High Fowler's position
C. Left lateral position
D. Trendelenburg position
Answer: B. High Fowler's position
Rationale: High Fowler's position (sitting upright at 90 degrees) uses
gravity to lower the diaphragm and maximize lung expansion. Supine and
Trendelenburg increase intra-abdominal pressure against the diaphragm.
2. A public health nurse is defining "health" to a group of new
mothers. Which definition is most accurate according to the WHO?
A. The absence of disease
B. A state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being
C. The ability to pursue one's goals without limitations
D. Psychological and physiological harmony
,Answer: B. A state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being
Rationale: The WHO defines health not merely as the absence of disease
but as a complete state of physical, mental, and social well-being.
3. Which essential trait is most critical for a nurse to be effective in
modern healthcare settings?
A. Strict adherence to routine
B. Ability to work exclusively independently
C. Sensitivity to cultural differences
D. Avoidance of emotional involvement
Answer: C. Sensitivity to cultural differences
Rationale: Culturally competent care is essential for establishing
therapeutic relationships and achieving positive outcomes in diverse
patient populations.
4. Organized self-care education programs for chronic illnesses
primarily emphasize what?
A. Adequate prenatal care
B. Government advocacy and lobbying
C. Effective disease management and self-care
D. Reliance on online health communities
Answer: C. Effective disease management and self-care
Rationale: These programs focus on health promotion, disease prevention,
self-care strategies, and appropriate utilization of the healthcare system.
5. A patient recovering from surgery expresses a desire to return to
work and achieve their full potential. Which level of Maslow's
hierarchy does this represent?
A. Physiological needs
B. Safety needs
,C. Love and belonging
D. Self-actualization
Answer: D. Self-actualization
Rationale: Self-actualization is the highest level of Maslow's hierarchy,
involving the realization of one's full potential, creativity, and personal
growth.
6. The health-illness continuum model helps the nurse recognize that:
A. Health and illness are static states.
B. A person's health status is constantly changing.
C. Illness always results from non-adherence.
D. Health is purely determined by genetics.
Answer: B. A person's health status is constantly changing.
Rationale: The continuum model views health and illness as dynamic, ever-
changing states influenced by multiple physical, psychological, and social
factors.
7. A terminally ill patient refuses further curative treatment and
requests palliative care only. The nurse supports this decision. Which
ethical principle is primarily applied?
A. Beneficence
B. Non-maleficence
C. Autonomy
D. Justice
Answer: C. Autonomy
Rationale: Autonomy respects the patient's right to make their own
healthcare decisions, even if it means refusing life-sustaining treatment.
8. A nurse is preparing a patient for surgery. Which statement
indicates that the patient understands the preoperative teaching about
, deep breathing and coughing exercises?
A. "I will do these exercises only if I feel short of breath."
B. "I will take a deep breath, hold it for 3 seconds, and cough deeply."
C. "I will breathe rapidly through my mouth to clear secretions."
D. "I will avoid moving after surgery to prevent pain."
Answer: B. "I will take a deep breath, hold it for 3 seconds, and cough
deeply."
Rationale: Sustained maximal inspiration followed by a deep cough helps
mobilize secretions and prevent postoperative atelectasis and pneumonia.
9. Which finding in a postoperative patient would be the earliest sign
of hypovolemic shock?
A. Decreased urine output
B. Hypotension
C. Tachycardia
D. Cold, clammy skin
Answer: C. Tachycardia
Rationale: Tachycardia is often the earliest compensatory response to
decreased circulating volume. Hypotension and decreased urine output are
later signs.
10. A patient on warfarin (Coumadin) has an INR of 5.0. The nurse
should anticipate which intervention?
A. Administering vitamin K
B. Increasing the next dose
C. Giving protamine sulfate
D. Monitoring for bleeding without intervention
Answer: A. Administering vitamin K
Rationale: The therapeutic INR for warfarin is typically 2.0–3.0. An INR of
