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BRUNNER & SUDDARTH'S TEXTBOOK OF MEDICAL-SURGICAL
NURSING, 15TH EDITION EXAM 2026 QUESTIONS LATEST VERSION
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Brunner & Suddarth's Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing, 15th Edition
Exam Bank: 250 Questions with Detailed Rationales
UNIT 1: PRINCIPLES OF NURSING PRACTICE (Questions 1-30)
Question 1
A nurse is admitting a client who has just been diagnosed with cancer. When the nurse
begins to discuss the treatment plan, the client asks, "What are my options?" Which
response by the nurse best demonstrates professional nursing practice?
A) "I'll have the oncologist come explain all the options to you."
B) "Let me review the treatment options with you and answer any questions you have."
C) "You don't need to worry about that right now; focus on getting better."
D) "The doctor will make the best decision for you based on the evidence."
Answer: B
Rationale: Professional nursing practice includes providing accurate information, supporting
patient autonomy, and facilitating informed decision-making. The nurse should review
treatment options and address the client's questions while staying within the scope of nursing
practice. Option A delegates the responsibility inappropriately, and options C and D disregard
patient autonomy and the principle of informed consent .
Question 2
A nurse is caring for a client who has been prescribed morphine for severe
postoperative pain. The client reports that the medication is not relieving the pain.
Which action by the nurse best upholds the ethical principle of nonmaleficence?
A) Administering a higher dose than prescribed to provide relief
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B) Refusing to administer the medication because it is an opioid
C) Assessing the client's pain and notifying the healthcare provider for a possible dose
adjustment
D) Informing the client that pain is expected after surgery and they should tolerate it
Answer: C
Rationale: Nonmaleficence is the ethical principle of doing no harm. The nurse should assess
the client's pain and collaborate with the provider to adjust the treatment plan. This ensures
the client receives effective pain relief without being exposed to inappropriate doses or
untreated pain. Refusing to administer medication, administering higher doses independently,
or dismissing the client's report of pain would violate this principle .
Question 3
A nurse is preparing discharge teaching for a client with a new diagnosis of heart
failure. Which action best demonstrates the principles of health promotion and
education?
A) Providing the client with a list of websites about heart failure
B) Using the teach-back method to confirm the client understands how to manage their
condition at home
C) Giving the client a pamphlet about heart failure and asking them to read it
D) Asking the client to sign a form stating they received discharge instructions
Answer: B
Rationale: Health education is most effective when the nurse confirms the client's
understanding through interactive methods such as the teach-back method. This approach
ensures the client can apply the information to their care. Providing materials without
confirming understanding or obtaining signatures without education does not fulfill the goal
of health promotion .
Question 4
Which of the following is an example of secondary prevention in nursing practice?
A) Teaching a client about smoking cessation
B) Providing immunizations to a healthy adult
C) Screening a client for hypertension during a routine visit
D) Referring a client with diabetes to a diabetes educator
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Answer: C
Rationale: Secondary prevention focuses on early detection and screening to identify disease
at an early stage. Screening for hypertension is a classic example. Primary prevention
includes immunizations and health education to prevent disease (options A and B). Tertiary
prevention involves managing established disease to prevent complications (option D) .
Question 5
A nurse is caring for an older adult client who is taking multiple medications. The client
reports feeling dizzy and unsteady when standing. Which action should the nurse take
first?
A) Document the client's report and continue monitoring
B) Review the client's medications and assess for orthostatic hypotension
C) Instruct the client to increase fluid intake
D) Notify the healthcare provider immediately
Answer: B
Rationale: The nurse should first assess the client's medications for potential causes of
dizziness and orthostatic hypotension, such as antihypertensives, diuretics, or sedatives. The
Beers Criteria list identifies medications that are potentially inappropriate for older adults due
to risks that outweigh benefits. Orthostatic hypotension can be assessed by checking blood
pressure in lying, sitting, and standing positions. This assessment guides appropriate
intervention .
Question 6
A nurse is caring for a client who refuses a blood transfusion based on religious beliefs.
The healthcare provider insists that the transfusion is necessary to save the client's life.
Which action by the nurse is most appropriate?
A) Administer the transfusion because the provider ordered it
B) Respect the client's decision and document the refusal
C) Contact the hospital ethics committee immediately
D) Ask the client's family to persuade them to accept the transfusion
Answer: B
Rationale: Respect for patient autonomy is a fundamental ethical principle. Clients have the
right to refuse treatment even if it is life-sustaining. The nurse should ensure the client
understands the consequences of refusal, document the refusal, and support the client's
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decision. Involving the ethics committee may be appropriate if there is a dispute, but the
nurse's priority is to respect the client's autonomy .
Question 7
A nurse is assessing a client's cultural beliefs related to healthcare. Which question is
most appropriate to elicit information about cultural practices?
A) "Do you have any dietary restrictions I should know about?"
B) "What are your beliefs about health and illness?"
C) "Do you speak English or another language?"
D) "Where were you born?"
Answer: B
Rationale: Asking open-ended questions about beliefs regarding health and illness is the best
way to understand a client's cultural perspective. This allows the client to share information
that is relevant to their care. Option A focuses only on diet, options C and D gather
demographic information but do not explore beliefs, which are central to culturally competent
care .
Question 8
A nurse is preparing to administer a medication to a client. The nurse notes that the
medication order is unclear. Which action should the nurse take?
A) Administer the medication based on the nurse's best judgment
B) Contact the healthcare provider to clarify the order
C) Document the order as written and proceed with administration
D) Ask another nurse to interpret the order
Answer: B
Rationale: The nurse should never administer a medication if the order is unclear. The nurse
must contact the healthcare provider for clarification. This action upholds patient safety and
the principle of nonmaleficence. Administering medication based on the nurse's judgment,
guessing, or relying on another nurse's interpretation can lead to medication errors .
Question 9
Which of the following is a key component of evidence-based practice (EBP)?
A) Relying solely on clinical experience
B) Following established policies without question
BRUNNER & SUDDARTH'S TEXTBOOK OF MEDICAL-SURGICAL
NURSING, 15TH EDITION EXAM 2026 QUESTIONS LATEST VERSION
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Brunner & Suddarth's Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing, 15th Edition
Exam Bank: 250 Questions with Detailed Rationales
UNIT 1: PRINCIPLES OF NURSING PRACTICE (Questions 1-30)
Question 1
A nurse is admitting a client who has just been diagnosed with cancer. When the nurse
begins to discuss the treatment plan, the client asks, "What are my options?" Which
response by the nurse best demonstrates professional nursing practice?
A) "I'll have the oncologist come explain all the options to you."
B) "Let me review the treatment options with you and answer any questions you have."
C) "You don't need to worry about that right now; focus on getting better."
D) "The doctor will make the best decision for you based on the evidence."
Answer: B
Rationale: Professional nursing practice includes providing accurate information, supporting
patient autonomy, and facilitating informed decision-making. The nurse should review
treatment options and address the client's questions while staying within the scope of nursing
practice. Option A delegates the responsibility inappropriately, and options C and D disregard
patient autonomy and the principle of informed consent .
Question 2
A nurse is caring for a client who has been prescribed morphine for severe
postoperative pain. The client reports that the medication is not relieving the pain.
Which action by the nurse best upholds the ethical principle of nonmaleficence?
A) Administering a higher dose than prescribed to provide relief
, Page 2 of 100
B) Refusing to administer the medication because it is an opioid
C) Assessing the client's pain and notifying the healthcare provider for a possible dose
adjustment
D) Informing the client that pain is expected after surgery and they should tolerate it
Answer: C
Rationale: Nonmaleficence is the ethical principle of doing no harm. The nurse should assess
the client's pain and collaborate with the provider to adjust the treatment plan. This ensures
the client receives effective pain relief without being exposed to inappropriate doses or
untreated pain. Refusing to administer medication, administering higher doses independently,
or dismissing the client's report of pain would violate this principle .
Question 3
A nurse is preparing discharge teaching for a client with a new diagnosis of heart
failure. Which action best demonstrates the principles of health promotion and
education?
A) Providing the client with a list of websites about heart failure
B) Using the teach-back method to confirm the client understands how to manage their
condition at home
C) Giving the client a pamphlet about heart failure and asking them to read it
D) Asking the client to sign a form stating they received discharge instructions
Answer: B
Rationale: Health education is most effective when the nurse confirms the client's
understanding through interactive methods such as the teach-back method. This approach
ensures the client can apply the information to their care. Providing materials without
confirming understanding or obtaining signatures without education does not fulfill the goal
of health promotion .
Question 4
Which of the following is an example of secondary prevention in nursing practice?
A) Teaching a client about smoking cessation
B) Providing immunizations to a healthy adult
C) Screening a client for hypertension during a routine visit
D) Referring a client with diabetes to a diabetes educator
, Page 3 of 100
Answer: C
Rationale: Secondary prevention focuses on early detection and screening to identify disease
at an early stage. Screening for hypertension is a classic example. Primary prevention
includes immunizations and health education to prevent disease (options A and B). Tertiary
prevention involves managing established disease to prevent complications (option D) .
Question 5
A nurse is caring for an older adult client who is taking multiple medications. The client
reports feeling dizzy and unsteady when standing. Which action should the nurse take
first?
A) Document the client's report and continue monitoring
B) Review the client's medications and assess for orthostatic hypotension
C) Instruct the client to increase fluid intake
D) Notify the healthcare provider immediately
Answer: B
Rationale: The nurse should first assess the client's medications for potential causes of
dizziness and orthostatic hypotension, such as antihypertensives, diuretics, or sedatives. The
Beers Criteria list identifies medications that are potentially inappropriate for older adults due
to risks that outweigh benefits. Orthostatic hypotension can be assessed by checking blood
pressure in lying, sitting, and standing positions. This assessment guides appropriate
intervention .
Question 6
A nurse is caring for a client who refuses a blood transfusion based on religious beliefs.
The healthcare provider insists that the transfusion is necessary to save the client's life.
Which action by the nurse is most appropriate?
A) Administer the transfusion because the provider ordered it
B) Respect the client's decision and document the refusal
C) Contact the hospital ethics committee immediately
D) Ask the client's family to persuade them to accept the transfusion
Answer: B
Rationale: Respect for patient autonomy is a fundamental ethical principle. Clients have the
right to refuse treatment even if it is life-sustaining. The nurse should ensure the client
understands the consequences of refusal, document the refusal, and support the client's
, Page 4 of 100
decision. Involving the ethics committee may be appropriate if there is a dispute, but the
nurse's priority is to respect the client's autonomy .
Question 7
A nurse is assessing a client's cultural beliefs related to healthcare. Which question is
most appropriate to elicit information about cultural practices?
A) "Do you have any dietary restrictions I should know about?"
B) "What are your beliefs about health and illness?"
C) "Do you speak English or another language?"
D) "Where were you born?"
Answer: B
Rationale: Asking open-ended questions about beliefs regarding health and illness is the best
way to understand a client's cultural perspective. This allows the client to share information
that is relevant to their care. Option A focuses only on diet, options C and D gather
demographic information but do not explore beliefs, which are central to culturally competent
care .
Question 8
A nurse is preparing to administer a medication to a client. The nurse notes that the
medication order is unclear. Which action should the nurse take?
A) Administer the medication based on the nurse's best judgment
B) Contact the healthcare provider to clarify the order
C) Document the order as written and proceed with administration
D) Ask another nurse to interpret the order
Answer: B
Rationale: The nurse should never administer a medication if the order is unclear. The nurse
must contact the healthcare provider for clarification. This action upholds patient safety and
the principle of nonmaleficence. Administering medication based on the nurse's judgment,
guessing, or relying on another nurse's interpretation can lead to medication errors .
Question 9
Which of the following is a key component of evidence-based practice (EBP)?
A) Relying solely on clinical experience
B) Following established policies without question
