,NSG 123 Exam 1 Medical-Surgical Nursing I Questions And Answers
2026/2027 HERZING UNIVERSITY
Q1. Which description best defines the population commonly cared
for by medical-surgical nurses?
A) Only healthy clients receiving preventive care
B) Adults who are acutely ill, have chronic illnesses with acute exacerbations,
or are recovering from surgery
C) Only clients receiving psychiatric treatment
D) Only pediatric clients with congenital disorders
Correct Answer: B) Adults who are acutely ill, have chronic illnesses with
acute exacerbations, or are recovering from surgery
Rationale: Medical-surgical nursing focuses heavily on adults experiencing
acute illness, chronic disease exacerbations, medical problems, and recovery
from surgical procedures.
Q2. Which nursing practice area primarily focuses on clients with
acute and chronic medical and surgical conditions?
A) Medical-surgical nursing
B) Community health nursing
C) Mental health nursing
D) Nursing administration
Correct Answer: A) Medical-surgical nursing
Rationale: Medical-surgical nursing addresses the care of clients with a
broad range of adult medical and surgical conditions.
Q3. Which principle is central to the medical-surgical nurse's role?
A) Treating only the client's diagnosis
B) Applying the nursing process to patient-centered care
C) Performing procedures without assessment
D) Limiting care to medication administration
Correct Answer: B) Applying the nursing process to patient-centered care
Rationale: Medical-surgical nursing integrates assessment, nursing
diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation to provide individualized
care.
Q4. Which statement best describes evidence-based practice?
,A) Using only personal experience when making care decisions
B) Integrating the best available evidence with clinical expertise and patient
preferences
C) Following every traditional practice regardless of evidence
D) Allowing the patient to determine all clinical procedures without
assessment
Correct Answer: B) Integrating the best available evidence with clinical
expertise and patient preferences
Rationale: Evidence-based practice combines current best evidence with
professional expertise and the individual client's needs, values, and
preferences.
Q5. Which concept is emphasized by Quality and Safety Education
for Nurses (QSEN)?
A) Competition among healthcare professionals
B) Safety and quality improvement
C) Avoidance of technology
D) Elimination of interdisciplinary care
Correct Answer: B) Safety and quality improvement
Rationale: QSEN addresses competencies such as patient-centered care,
teamwork, evidence-based practice, quality improvement, safety, and
informatics.
Q6. Which action best demonstrates patient-centered care?
A) Making decisions without asking the client's preferences
B) Incorporating the client's values and preferences into the plan of care
C) Using the same care plan for every client
D) Focusing exclusively on laboratory results
Correct Answer: B) Incorporating the client's values and preferences into the
plan of care
Rationale: Patient-centered care respects the client's preferences, values,
culture, and goals while incorporating clinical evidence and professional
judgment.
Q7. Which nursing behavior best demonstrates therapeutic
communication?
, A) Changing the subject when the client becomes emotional
B) Using active listening and allowing the client to express concerns
C) Giving unsolicited personal advice
D) Interrupting to speed the interview
Correct Answer: B) Using active listening and allowing the client to express
concerns
Rationale: Active listening, clarification, reflection, and appropriate silence
support therapeutic communication and help establish trust.
Q8. A client asks the nurse about a procedure the client does not
understand. Which response is most appropriate?
A) "Don't worry about it."
B) "The provider will explain what you need to know."
C) "Tell me what you already understand about the procedure."
D) "You should sign the consent first."
Correct Answer: C) "Tell me what you already understand about the
procedure."
Rationale: Assessing the client's understanding helps identify knowledge
gaps and allows the nurse to provide appropriate education or facilitate
additional explanation.
Q9. Which nursing role primarily helps coordinate healthcare
services across settings and providers?
A) Nurse navigator
B) Surgical technologist
C) Respiratory therapist
D) Radiology technician
Correct Answer: A) Nurse navigator
Rationale: Nurse navigators help clients coordinate care, access resources,
and move effectively through complex healthcare systems.
Q10. Which professional role is most directly associated with
managing nursing unit operations and staff?
A) Nurse manager
B) Nurse navigator
C) Clinical nurse specialist only
D) Certified nurse midwife
2026/2027 HERZING UNIVERSITY
Q1. Which description best defines the population commonly cared
for by medical-surgical nurses?
A) Only healthy clients receiving preventive care
B) Adults who are acutely ill, have chronic illnesses with acute exacerbations,
or are recovering from surgery
C) Only clients receiving psychiatric treatment
D) Only pediatric clients with congenital disorders
Correct Answer: B) Adults who are acutely ill, have chronic illnesses with
acute exacerbations, or are recovering from surgery
Rationale: Medical-surgical nursing focuses heavily on adults experiencing
acute illness, chronic disease exacerbations, medical problems, and recovery
from surgical procedures.
Q2. Which nursing practice area primarily focuses on clients with
acute and chronic medical and surgical conditions?
A) Medical-surgical nursing
B) Community health nursing
C) Mental health nursing
D) Nursing administration
Correct Answer: A) Medical-surgical nursing
Rationale: Medical-surgical nursing addresses the care of clients with a
broad range of adult medical and surgical conditions.
Q3. Which principle is central to the medical-surgical nurse's role?
A) Treating only the client's diagnosis
B) Applying the nursing process to patient-centered care
C) Performing procedures without assessment
D) Limiting care to medication administration
Correct Answer: B) Applying the nursing process to patient-centered care
Rationale: Medical-surgical nursing integrates assessment, nursing
diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation to provide individualized
care.
Q4. Which statement best describes evidence-based practice?
,A) Using only personal experience when making care decisions
B) Integrating the best available evidence with clinical expertise and patient
preferences
C) Following every traditional practice regardless of evidence
D) Allowing the patient to determine all clinical procedures without
assessment
Correct Answer: B) Integrating the best available evidence with clinical
expertise and patient preferences
Rationale: Evidence-based practice combines current best evidence with
professional expertise and the individual client's needs, values, and
preferences.
Q5. Which concept is emphasized by Quality and Safety Education
for Nurses (QSEN)?
A) Competition among healthcare professionals
B) Safety and quality improvement
C) Avoidance of technology
D) Elimination of interdisciplinary care
Correct Answer: B) Safety and quality improvement
Rationale: QSEN addresses competencies such as patient-centered care,
teamwork, evidence-based practice, quality improvement, safety, and
informatics.
Q6. Which action best demonstrates patient-centered care?
A) Making decisions without asking the client's preferences
B) Incorporating the client's values and preferences into the plan of care
C) Using the same care plan for every client
D) Focusing exclusively on laboratory results
Correct Answer: B) Incorporating the client's values and preferences into the
plan of care
Rationale: Patient-centered care respects the client's preferences, values,
culture, and goals while incorporating clinical evidence and professional
judgment.
Q7. Which nursing behavior best demonstrates therapeutic
communication?
, A) Changing the subject when the client becomes emotional
B) Using active listening and allowing the client to express concerns
C) Giving unsolicited personal advice
D) Interrupting to speed the interview
Correct Answer: B) Using active listening and allowing the client to express
concerns
Rationale: Active listening, clarification, reflection, and appropriate silence
support therapeutic communication and help establish trust.
Q8. A client asks the nurse about a procedure the client does not
understand. Which response is most appropriate?
A) "Don't worry about it."
B) "The provider will explain what you need to know."
C) "Tell me what you already understand about the procedure."
D) "You should sign the consent first."
Correct Answer: C) "Tell me what you already understand about the
procedure."
Rationale: Assessing the client's understanding helps identify knowledge
gaps and allows the nurse to provide appropriate education or facilitate
additional explanation.
Q9. Which nursing role primarily helps coordinate healthcare
services across settings and providers?
A) Nurse navigator
B) Surgical technologist
C) Respiratory therapist
D) Radiology technician
Correct Answer: A) Nurse navigator
Rationale: Nurse navigators help clients coordinate care, access resources,
and move effectively through complex healthcare systems.
Q10. Which professional role is most directly associated with
managing nursing unit operations and staff?
A) Nurse manager
B) Nurse navigator
C) Clinical nurse specialist only
D) Certified nurse midwife
