Page 1 of 91
ADULT MEDICAL-SURGICAL NURSING 11TH EDITION
(HARDING ET AL.) EXAM LATEST VERSION QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 2026 EDITION
ADULT MEDICAL-SURGICAL NURSING 11TH EDITION (HARDING ET AL.)
Chapters 1-68: 250 Comprehensive Practice Questions
SECTION 1: PROFESSIONAL NURSING, HEALTH EQUITY, & CULTURAL COMPETENCE
(Chapters 1-4)
Questions 1-25
1. The nurse is caring for a patient newly diagnosed with a chronic illness. Which
nursing action best demonstrates an understanding of the goals of chronic illness
management?
A) Teaching the patient about medications and treatment options for the condition
B) Emphasizing that the patient must strictly adhere to all prescribed treatments
C) Focusing solely on the physical aspects of the patient's chronic condition
D) Telling the patient that complete recovery is expected within a few months
Rationale: The goals of chronic illness management include managing symptoms,
preventing complications, and optimizing quality of life. Teaching the patient about
medications and treatment options empowers self-management . Strict adherence
without patient understanding (B) is not realistic or patient-centered. Chronic illness
management addresses physical, psychological, and social aspects (C). Complete
recovery (D) is not realistic for chronic conditions.
2. The nurse is assessing a patient from a different cultural background. Which
action best demonstrates culturally competent care?
, Page 2 of 91
A) Asking the patient's family members to interpret for the patient
B) Using standardized questions without considering cultural variations
C) Observing the patient's nonverbal communication and eye contact patterns
D) Assuming the patient shares the nurse's health beliefs and values
Rationale: Observing the patient's nonverbal communication and eye contact patterns
is essential for culturally competent care, as these behaviors vary across cultures .
Using family members as interpreters (A) may violate confidentiality and may not be
accurate. Standardized questions without cultural consideration (B) miss important
cultural factors. Assuming shared beliefs (D) is a form of stereotyping.
3. The nurse is caring for a patient who uses culturally based treatments alongside
prescribed Western medicine. Which nursing action is most appropriate?
A) Instruct the patient to discontinue all folk treatments during hospitalization
B) Coordinate the use of folk treatments with ordered medical therapies when safe
C) Report the patient's use of folk treatments to the healthcare provider as non-
adherence
D) Tell the patient that folk remedies will interfere with all medical treatments
Rationale: Many culturally based therapies can be safely accommodated alongside
Western treatments. The nurse should attempt to incorporate traditional treatments
with ordered therapies whenever possible . Discontinuing folk treatments (A) may
alienate the patient and reduce trust. Reporting as non-adherence (C) is judgmental.
Not all folk remedies interfere with Western therapies (D).
4. The nurse is assessing the health status of a community. Which data should the
nurse collect as a measure of community health?
A) Air pollution levels in the area
B) Number of health food stores available
C) Most common causes of death and morbidity rates
D) Education level of individuals in the community
Rationale: Health status measures of a community include birth and death rates, life
expectancy, access to care, and morbidity and mortality rates related to disease and
, Page 3 of 91
injury . Air pollution (A), access to health food stores (B), and education level (D) are
factors that affect community health but are not direct health measures.
5. The nurse is caring for a hospitalized patient who is Muslim and observes the
patient praying multiple times daily. The nurse should:
A) Schedule all nursing care activities to avoid interrupting prayer times
B) Ask the patient to pray only at designated times that fit the unit schedule
C) Inform the patient that prayer is not permitted in the hospital setting
D) Ignore the patient's prayer practices as they are a private matter
Rationale: The nurse should respect the patient's religious practices and schedule care
to avoid interrupting prayer times. Many Muslim patients pray five times daily, and
accommodating this demonstrates cultural respect. Asking the patient to change prayer
times (B) is not respectful. Prayer is permitted in hospitals (C). Ignoring practices (D)
shows cultural insensitivity.
6. The nurse works in a clinic serving a diverse population. Which strategy would
most effectively decrease health care disparities?
A) Provide written materials in English only to ensure standardization
B) Teach clinic staff about the health beliefs and practices of various cultural groups
C) Limit clinic hours to reduce operational costs
D) Require all patients to complete forms in English
Rationale: Health care disparities are often due to stereotyping, biases, and lack of
cultural knowledge among healthcare providers. Staff education about diverse health
beliefs directly addresses these issues . Providing materials only in English (A) creates
barriers. Limiting hours (C) reduces access. Requiring English forms (D) creates
language barriers.
7. The nurse is conducting a health history for a patient who speaks a different
language and no interpreter is available. Which action is most appropriate?
A) Speak slowly and loudly so the patient can understand
B) Use simple gestures and demonstration to communicate while talking
C) Repeat words multiple times so the patient recognizes their significance
D) Write all instructions down for the patient to read later
, Page 4 of 91
Rationale: When an interpreter is not available, using simple gestures and
demonstration while speaking is the most effective way to communicate . Speaking
loudly (A) is ineffective and may be perceived as aggressive. Repeating words (C) does
not improve understanding if the language is not understood. Written instructions (D)
are not helpful if the patient cannot read the language.
8. A female nurse is assigned to care for a male patient of Arab descent who is
admitted with chest pain. The charge nurse should intervene if the nurse:
A) Closes the privacy curtain and sits down at the bedside
B) Explains the 0-to-10 pain intensity scale to the patient
C) Asks the patient when the chest pain started
D) Calls for a male colleague to bring a hospital gown
Rationale: Many males of Arab ethnicity do not believe it is appropriate to be alone with
any female except their spouse. Closing the curtain and sitting alone with the patient (A)
would be inappropriate and the charge nurse should intervene . Explaining the pain
scale (B), asking about onset (C), and calling for a male colleague (D) are all appropriate
actions.
9. The nurse is performing an admission assessment on a patient who is a recent
immigrant. Which question best demonstrates cultural assessment?
A) "Do you plan to follow the treatment plan we develop for you?"
B) "What are your beliefs about health and illness?"
C) "Can you afford to pay for your medications?"
D) "Do you have family members who can help you at home?"
Rationale: Asking about health and illness beliefs is a core component of cultural
assessment. This question explores the patient's explanatory model of illness and
guides culturally appropriate care . Asking about following the plan (A) assumes the
patient understands it. Financial questions (C) and family support questions (D) are
important but not specifically cultural.
10. The nurse is providing discharge teaching to a patient whose cultural beliefs
emphasize family involvement in decision-making. The nurse should:
ADULT MEDICAL-SURGICAL NURSING 11TH EDITION
(HARDING ET AL.) EXAM LATEST VERSION QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 2026 EDITION
ADULT MEDICAL-SURGICAL NURSING 11TH EDITION (HARDING ET AL.)
Chapters 1-68: 250 Comprehensive Practice Questions
SECTION 1: PROFESSIONAL NURSING, HEALTH EQUITY, & CULTURAL COMPETENCE
(Chapters 1-4)
Questions 1-25
1. The nurse is caring for a patient newly diagnosed with a chronic illness. Which
nursing action best demonstrates an understanding of the goals of chronic illness
management?
A) Teaching the patient about medications and treatment options for the condition
B) Emphasizing that the patient must strictly adhere to all prescribed treatments
C) Focusing solely on the physical aspects of the patient's chronic condition
D) Telling the patient that complete recovery is expected within a few months
Rationale: The goals of chronic illness management include managing symptoms,
preventing complications, and optimizing quality of life. Teaching the patient about
medications and treatment options empowers self-management . Strict adherence
without patient understanding (B) is not realistic or patient-centered. Chronic illness
management addresses physical, psychological, and social aspects (C). Complete
recovery (D) is not realistic for chronic conditions.
2. The nurse is assessing a patient from a different cultural background. Which
action best demonstrates culturally competent care?
, Page 2 of 91
A) Asking the patient's family members to interpret for the patient
B) Using standardized questions without considering cultural variations
C) Observing the patient's nonverbal communication and eye contact patterns
D) Assuming the patient shares the nurse's health beliefs and values
Rationale: Observing the patient's nonverbal communication and eye contact patterns
is essential for culturally competent care, as these behaviors vary across cultures .
Using family members as interpreters (A) may violate confidentiality and may not be
accurate. Standardized questions without cultural consideration (B) miss important
cultural factors. Assuming shared beliefs (D) is a form of stereotyping.
3. The nurse is caring for a patient who uses culturally based treatments alongside
prescribed Western medicine. Which nursing action is most appropriate?
A) Instruct the patient to discontinue all folk treatments during hospitalization
B) Coordinate the use of folk treatments with ordered medical therapies when safe
C) Report the patient's use of folk treatments to the healthcare provider as non-
adherence
D) Tell the patient that folk remedies will interfere with all medical treatments
Rationale: Many culturally based therapies can be safely accommodated alongside
Western treatments. The nurse should attempt to incorporate traditional treatments
with ordered therapies whenever possible . Discontinuing folk treatments (A) may
alienate the patient and reduce trust. Reporting as non-adherence (C) is judgmental.
Not all folk remedies interfere with Western therapies (D).
4. The nurse is assessing the health status of a community. Which data should the
nurse collect as a measure of community health?
A) Air pollution levels in the area
B) Number of health food stores available
C) Most common causes of death and morbidity rates
D) Education level of individuals in the community
Rationale: Health status measures of a community include birth and death rates, life
expectancy, access to care, and morbidity and mortality rates related to disease and
, Page 3 of 91
injury . Air pollution (A), access to health food stores (B), and education level (D) are
factors that affect community health but are not direct health measures.
5. The nurse is caring for a hospitalized patient who is Muslim and observes the
patient praying multiple times daily. The nurse should:
A) Schedule all nursing care activities to avoid interrupting prayer times
B) Ask the patient to pray only at designated times that fit the unit schedule
C) Inform the patient that prayer is not permitted in the hospital setting
D) Ignore the patient's prayer practices as they are a private matter
Rationale: The nurse should respect the patient's religious practices and schedule care
to avoid interrupting prayer times. Many Muslim patients pray five times daily, and
accommodating this demonstrates cultural respect. Asking the patient to change prayer
times (B) is not respectful. Prayer is permitted in hospitals (C). Ignoring practices (D)
shows cultural insensitivity.
6. The nurse works in a clinic serving a diverse population. Which strategy would
most effectively decrease health care disparities?
A) Provide written materials in English only to ensure standardization
B) Teach clinic staff about the health beliefs and practices of various cultural groups
C) Limit clinic hours to reduce operational costs
D) Require all patients to complete forms in English
Rationale: Health care disparities are often due to stereotyping, biases, and lack of
cultural knowledge among healthcare providers. Staff education about diverse health
beliefs directly addresses these issues . Providing materials only in English (A) creates
barriers. Limiting hours (C) reduces access. Requiring English forms (D) creates
language barriers.
7. The nurse is conducting a health history for a patient who speaks a different
language and no interpreter is available. Which action is most appropriate?
A) Speak slowly and loudly so the patient can understand
B) Use simple gestures and demonstration to communicate while talking
C) Repeat words multiple times so the patient recognizes their significance
D) Write all instructions down for the patient to read later
, Page 4 of 91
Rationale: When an interpreter is not available, using simple gestures and
demonstration while speaking is the most effective way to communicate . Speaking
loudly (A) is ineffective and may be perceived as aggressive. Repeating words (C) does
not improve understanding if the language is not understood. Written instructions (D)
are not helpful if the patient cannot read the language.
8. A female nurse is assigned to care for a male patient of Arab descent who is
admitted with chest pain. The charge nurse should intervene if the nurse:
A) Closes the privacy curtain and sits down at the bedside
B) Explains the 0-to-10 pain intensity scale to the patient
C) Asks the patient when the chest pain started
D) Calls for a male colleague to bring a hospital gown
Rationale: Many males of Arab ethnicity do not believe it is appropriate to be alone with
any female except their spouse. Closing the curtain and sitting alone with the patient (A)
would be inappropriate and the charge nurse should intervene . Explaining the pain
scale (B), asking about onset (C), and calling for a male colleague (D) are all appropriate
actions.
9. The nurse is performing an admission assessment on a patient who is a recent
immigrant. Which question best demonstrates cultural assessment?
A) "Do you plan to follow the treatment plan we develop for you?"
B) "What are your beliefs about health and illness?"
C) "Can you afford to pay for your medications?"
D) "Do you have family members who can help you at home?"
Rationale: Asking about health and illness beliefs is a core component of cultural
assessment. This question explores the patient's explanatory model of illness and
guides culturally appropriate care . Asking about following the plan (A) assumes the
patient understands it. Financial questions (C) and family support questions (D) are
important but not specifically cultural.
10. The nurse is providing discharge teaching to a patient whose cultural beliefs
emphasize family involvement in decision-making. The nurse should:
