BRUNNER & SUDDARTH'S MEDICAL SURGICAL --- --- --- --- ---
NURSING, 15TH EDITION – COMPLETE TEST --- --- --- --- --- ---
BANK RATIONALES (UPDATED 2026/2027) --- --- --- ---
Unit 1: Principles of Nursing Practice (Chapters 1-8)
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Chapter 1: Professional Nursing Practice
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Question 1: A nurse is caring for a client with terminal cancer.
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The client states, "I don't want any more treatment. I just want to
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be comfortable." The nurse supports the client's decision,
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
upholding which ethical principle?
--- --- --- ---
A. Beneficence ---
B. Nonmaleficence ---
C. Autonomy ---
D. Justice ---
Correct Answer: C. Autonomy
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Rationale: Autonomy refers to the client's right to make their own
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
healthcare decisions. By supporting the client's choice to forgo
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
further treatment, the nurse respects the client's selfdetermination.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
,Beneficence means doing good, nonmaleficence means avoiding --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
harm, and justice refers to fairness in care distribution .
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
--
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Question 2: A registered nurse delegates the task of ambulating
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- a stable postoperative client to unlicensed assistive personnel
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
(UAP). The UAP performs the task incorrectly, and the client falls.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Who is ultimately accountable for the client's care?
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
A. The UAP who performed the task
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B. The charge nurse on duty --- --- --- --- ---
C. The RN who delegated the task
--- --- --- --- --- ---
D. The client's primary healthcare provider
--- --- --- --- ---
Correct Answer: C. The RN who delegated the task
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Rationale: In delegation, the RN retains accountability for the
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
overall nursing care of the client even when tasks are delegated
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
to UAP. The RN must ensure proper training, supervision, and
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
follow-up. Accountability cannot be delegated . --- --- --- --- --- ---
--
-
Question 3: A nurse has been offered a position on an obstetric
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unit and learns that the unit provides therapeutic abortions, a
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
,procedure that contradicts the nurse's personal beliefs. What is
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
the nurse's ethical obligation?
--- --- --- ---
A. Adhere to professional standards and provide care to these
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
clients ---
B. Decline the position and pursue a different nursing role
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
C. Refuse to care for clients considering abortion
--- --- --- --- --- --- ---
D. Express alternatives to women considering terminating their
--- --- --- --- --- --- ---
pregnancy ---
Correct Answer: B. Decline the position and pursue a different
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
nursing role --- ---
Rationale: To avoid an ethical conflict, the nurse should seek a
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
position that does not contradict personal beliefs. Refusing care
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
would violate the Code of Ethics, and providing information not
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
requested by the client would be inappropriate .
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
--
-
Question 4: A nurse is using evidence-based practice (EBP) to
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
improve wound care on a medical-surgical unit. Which action is
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
the first step in the EBP process?
--- --- --- --- --- --- ---
A. Search the literature for relevant research
--- --- --- --- --- ---
B. Critically appraise the evidence --- --- --- ---
, C. Formulate a PICOT question --- --- --- ---
D. Integrate evidence with clinical expertise --- --- --- --- ---
Correct Answer: C. Formulate a PICOT question
--- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Rationale: The first step in evidence-based practice is asking a
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
well-built clinical question using the PICOT format (Population,
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, Time). This structures the
--- --- --- --- --- --- ---
search for evidence and guides the entire EBP process .
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
--
-
Question 5: A nurse is caring for a client who is a Jehovah's
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Witness and requires a blood transfusion. The client refuses the
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
transfusion. Which action by the nurse is most appropriate?
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
A. Administer the transfusion because it is medically necessary
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
B. Notify the healthcare provider and respect the client's refusal
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
C. Ask the client's family to convince the client to accept the
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
transfusion ---
D. Document the refusal and proceed with the transfusion
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Correct Answer: B. Notify the healthcare provider and respect
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
the client's refusal
--- --- ---
Rationale: Competent adults have the right to refuse treatment,
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
even if it is life-saving. The nurse must respect the client's
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
NURSING, 15TH EDITION – COMPLETE TEST --- --- --- --- --- ---
BANK RATIONALES (UPDATED 2026/2027) --- --- --- ---
Unit 1: Principles of Nursing Practice (Chapters 1-8)
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Chapter 1: Professional Nursing Practice
--- --- --- --- ---
Question 1: A nurse is caring for a client with terminal cancer.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
The client states, "I don't want any more treatment. I just want to
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
be comfortable." The nurse supports the client's decision,
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
upholding which ethical principle?
--- --- --- ---
A. Beneficence ---
B. Nonmaleficence ---
C. Autonomy ---
D. Justice ---
Correct Answer: C. Autonomy
--- --- --- ---
Rationale: Autonomy refers to the client's right to make their own
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
healthcare decisions. By supporting the client's choice to forgo
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
further treatment, the nurse respects the client's selfdetermination.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
,Beneficence means doing good, nonmaleficence means avoiding --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
harm, and justice refers to fairness in care distribution .
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
--
-
Question 2: A registered nurse delegates the task of ambulating
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --
- a stable postoperative client to unlicensed assistive personnel
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
(UAP). The UAP performs the task incorrectly, and the client falls.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Who is ultimately accountable for the client's care?
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
A. The UAP who performed the task
--- --- --- --- --- ---
B. The charge nurse on duty --- --- --- --- ---
C. The RN who delegated the task
--- --- --- --- --- ---
D. The client's primary healthcare provider
--- --- --- --- ---
Correct Answer: C. The RN who delegated the task
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Rationale: In delegation, the RN retains accountability for the
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
overall nursing care of the client even when tasks are delegated
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
to UAP. The RN must ensure proper training, supervision, and
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
follow-up. Accountability cannot be delegated . --- --- --- --- --- ---
--
-
Question 3: A nurse has been offered a position on an obstetric
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
unit and learns that the unit provides therapeutic abortions, a
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
,procedure that contradicts the nurse's personal beliefs. What is
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
the nurse's ethical obligation?
--- --- --- ---
A. Adhere to professional standards and provide care to these
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
clients ---
B. Decline the position and pursue a different nursing role
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
C. Refuse to care for clients considering abortion
--- --- --- --- --- --- ---
D. Express alternatives to women considering terminating their
--- --- --- --- --- --- ---
pregnancy ---
Correct Answer: B. Decline the position and pursue a different
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
nursing role --- ---
Rationale: To avoid an ethical conflict, the nurse should seek a
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
position that does not contradict personal beliefs. Refusing care
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
would violate the Code of Ethics, and providing information not
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
requested by the client would be inappropriate .
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
--
-
Question 4: A nurse is using evidence-based practice (EBP) to
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
improve wound care on a medical-surgical unit. Which action is
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
the first step in the EBP process?
--- --- --- --- --- --- ---
A. Search the literature for relevant research
--- --- --- --- --- ---
B. Critically appraise the evidence --- --- --- ---
, C. Formulate a PICOT question --- --- --- ---
D. Integrate evidence with clinical expertise --- --- --- --- ---
Correct Answer: C. Formulate a PICOT question
--- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Rationale: The first step in evidence-based practice is asking a
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
well-built clinical question using the PICOT format (Population,
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, Time). This structures the
--- --- --- --- --- --- ---
search for evidence and guides the entire EBP process .
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
--
-
Question 5: A nurse is caring for a client who is a Jehovah's
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Witness and requires a blood transfusion. The client refuses the
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
transfusion. Which action by the nurse is most appropriate?
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
A. Administer the transfusion because it is medically necessary
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
B. Notify the healthcare provider and respect the client's refusal
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
C. Ask the client's family to convince the client to accept the
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
transfusion ---
D. Document the refusal and proceed with the transfusion
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Correct Answer: B. Notify the healthcare provider and respect
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
the client's refusal
--- --- ---
Rationale: Competent adults have the right to refuse treatment,
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
even if it is life-saving. The nurse must respect the client's
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
