2026–2027 NGN NCLEX Test Bank |
Brunner & Suddarth's Textbook of
Medical-Surgical Nursing
Section 1: Professional Nursing Practice (Questions 1–20)
1. A nurse is explaining the concept of professional nursing to a group of students. Which
statement best reflects professional nursing practice?
A. It focuses only on carrying out physician orders
B. It involves autonomous and collaborative care of individuals
C. It is limited to hospital-based patient care
D. It excludes health promotion activities
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Professional nursing includes both independent (autonomous) and collaborative care
of individuals, families, and communities. It encompasses health promotion, disease
prevention, and care of ill individuals. Options A, C, and D are incorrect because nursing is not
limited to physician orders, extends beyond hospitals, and includes health promotion.
2. Which statement best describes nursing as a profession?
A. It is based only on learned tasks and routine procedures
B. It requires specialized knowledge, accountability, and ethical practice
C. It is primarily focused on following provider orders
D. It is limited to direct bedside care
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Nursing is a profession because it uses specialized knowledge, professional
judgment, accountability, and ethical responsibilities. The other options are too narrow or
reduce nursing to task completion.
3. Which action by the nurse best demonstrates patient-centered care?
A. Following hospital policy without deviation
B. Prioritizing physician instructions over patient preferences
C. Involving the patient in decisions about their care
D. Completing tasks quickly to improve efficiency
,Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Patient-centered care emphasizes respect for patient preferences, values, and
involvement in decision-making. Options A, B, and D do not reflect an individualized patient-
centered approach.
4. A nurse is implementing evidence-based practice when caring for a patient with a pressure
injury. Which action best demonstrates evidence-based nursing care?
A. Following interventions based only on personal experience
B. Using current research findings together with clinical expertise and patient preferences
C. Performing interventions according to unit tradition
D. Selecting interventions recommended by coworkers
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Evidence-based practice integrates the best current evidence, clinical expertise, and
patient values to guide nursing care. Options A, C, and D do not incorporate research evidence.
5. Which principle is essential to evidence-based nursing practice?
A. Relying solely on physician orders
B. Using tradition as the primary guide
C. Integrating best research evidence with clinical expertise and patient values
D. Applying only randomized controlled trials
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Evidence-based practice combines research evidence, clinical expertise, and patient
preferences. Options A and B ignore evidence integration, and D is too restrictive.
6. Which action by the nurse best reflects professional accountability?
A. Following a medication order even when the dosage appears inconsistent with the patient’s
age
B. Documenting only the tasks completed to save time
C. Questioning a prescription that seems unsafe before administering the medication
D. Delegating all patient teaching to unlicensed assistive personnel
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Accountability requires the nurse to recognize a potentially unsafe order, verify it,
and advocate for the patient. Professional practice includes use of judgment, communication,
and patient safety.
7. A nurse cares for a patient who requests additional information before signing a surgical
consent form. Which action best supports professional nursing practice?
A. Witness the signature because the provider already explained the procedure
B. Ask the patient to sign the form to avoid delaying surgery
C. Notify the health care provider that the patient requires further clarification
D. Explain the risks and benefits of the procedure in detail
, Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The nurse supports patient advocacy and informed decision-making by notifying the
health care provider when the patient requires additional clarification before signing consent.
The nurse may witness the signature but is not responsible for providing detailed procedural
explanations.
8. A nurse is caring for four patients. Which patient should the nurse assess first?
A. A patient requesting assistance with ambulation
B. A patient reporting new-onset chest pain and shortness of breath
C. A patient awaiting discharge instructions
D. A patient asking for a snack
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: New-onset chest pain and shortness of breath may indicate a life-threatening
condition requiring immediate assessment. Priority nursing care follows the ABCs and patient
safety principles.
9. A nurse is delegating tasks to an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP). Which task is
appropriate to delegate?
A. Assessing a patient’s pain level after medication administration
B. Teaching a patient how to use an incentive spirometer
C. Assisting a stable patient with bathing
D. Evaluating the effectiveness of a nursing intervention
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Stable, routine, noninvasive tasks such as bathing may be delegated to UAPs.
Assessment, teaching, and evaluation remain the responsibility of the registered nurse.
10. A nurse is preparing to administer medications. Which action best promotes patient
safety?
A. Delegating medication administration to assistive personnel
B. Using at least two patient identifiers before administration
C. Relying on room number for patient identification
D. Administering medications prepared by another nurse without verification
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Using at least two patient identifiers is a critical safety strategy to reduce medication
administration errors. Room numbers should not be used as identifiers, and medications should
always be verified by the administering nurse.
11. A patient states, “I want to participate in decisions about my treatment.” Which nursing
concept is best demonstrated by honoring this request?
A. Paternalism
B. Accountability
Brunner & Suddarth's Textbook of
Medical-Surgical Nursing
Section 1: Professional Nursing Practice (Questions 1–20)
1. A nurse is explaining the concept of professional nursing to a group of students. Which
statement best reflects professional nursing practice?
A. It focuses only on carrying out physician orders
B. It involves autonomous and collaborative care of individuals
C. It is limited to hospital-based patient care
D. It excludes health promotion activities
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Professional nursing includes both independent (autonomous) and collaborative care
of individuals, families, and communities. It encompasses health promotion, disease
prevention, and care of ill individuals. Options A, C, and D are incorrect because nursing is not
limited to physician orders, extends beyond hospitals, and includes health promotion.
2. Which statement best describes nursing as a profession?
A. It is based only on learned tasks and routine procedures
B. It requires specialized knowledge, accountability, and ethical practice
C. It is primarily focused on following provider orders
D. It is limited to direct bedside care
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Nursing is a profession because it uses specialized knowledge, professional
judgment, accountability, and ethical responsibilities. The other options are too narrow or
reduce nursing to task completion.
3. Which action by the nurse best demonstrates patient-centered care?
A. Following hospital policy without deviation
B. Prioritizing physician instructions over patient preferences
C. Involving the patient in decisions about their care
D. Completing tasks quickly to improve efficiency
,Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Patient-centered care emphasizes respect for patient preferences, values, and
involvement in decision-making. Options A, B, and D do not reflect an individualized patient-
centered approach.
4. A nurse is implementing evidence-based practice when caring for a patient with a pressure
injury. Which action best demonstrates evidence-based nursing care?
A. Following interventions based only on personal experience
B. Using current research findings together with clinical expertise and patient preferences
C. Performing interventions according to unit tradition
D. Selecting interventions recommended by coworkers
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Evidence-based practice integrates the best current evidence, clinical expertise, and
patient values to guide nursing care. Options A, C, and D do not incorporate research evidence.
5. Which principle is essential to evidence-based nursing practice?
A. Relying solely on physician orders
B. Using tradition as the primary guide
C. Integrating best research evidence with clinical expertise and patient values
D. Applying only randomized controlled trials
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Evidence-based practice combines research evidence, clinical expertise, and patient
preferences. Options A and B ignore evidence integration, and D is too restrictive.
6. Which action by the nurse best reflects professional accountability?
A. Following a medication order even when the dosage appears inconsistent with the patient’s
age
B. Documenting only the tasks completed to save time
C. Questioning a prescription that seems unsafe before administering the medication
D. Delegating all patient teaching to unlicensed assistive personnel
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Accountability requires the nurse to recognize a potentially unsafe order, verify it,
and advocate for the patient. Professional practice includes use of judgment, communication,
and patient safety.
7. A nurse cares for a patient who requests additional information before signing a surgical
consent form. Which action best supports professional nursing practice?
A. Witness the signature because the provider already explained the procedure
B. Ask the patient to sign the form to avoid delaying surgery
C. Notify the health care provider that the patient requires further clarification
D. Explain the risks and benefits of the procedure in detail
, Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The nurse supports patient advocacy and informed decision-making by notifying the
health care provider when the patient requires additional clarification before signing consent.
The nurse may witness the signature but is not responsible for providing detailed procedural
explanations.
8. A nurse is caring for four patients. Which patient should the nurse assess first?
A. A patient requesting assistance with ambulation
B. A patient reporting new-onset chest pain and shortness of breath
C. A patient awaiting discharge instructions
D. A patient asking for a snack
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: New-onset chest pain and shortness of breath may indicate a life-threatening
condition requiring immediate assessment. Priority nursing care follows the ABCs and patient
safety principles.
9. A nurse is delegating tasks to an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP). Which task is
appropriate to delegate?
A. Assessing a patient’s pain level after medication administration
B. Teaching a patient how to use an incentive spirometer
C. Assisting a stable patient with bathing
D. Evaluating the effectiveness of a nursing intervention
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Stable, routine, noninvasive tasks such as bathing may be delegated to UAPs.
Assessment, teaching, and evaluation remain the responsibility of the registered nurse.
10. A nurse is preparing to administer medications. Which action best promotes patient
safety?
A. Delegating medication administration to assistive personnel
B. Using at least two patient identifiers before administration
C. Relying on room number for patient identification
D. Administering medications prepared by another nurse without verification
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Using at least two patient identifiers is a critical safety strategy to reduce medication
administration errors. Room numbers should not be used as identifiers, and medications should
always be verified by the administering nurse.
11. A patient states, “I want to participate in decisions about my treatment.” Which nursing
concept is best demonstrated by honoring this request?
A. Paternalism
B. Accountability
