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MEDICAL-SURGICAL NURSING 10TH EDITION BY
IGNATAVICIUS, WORKMAN, REBAR & HEIMGARTNER
EXAM 2026 QUESTIONS LATEST VERSION QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
Medical-Surgical Nursing 10th Edition by Ignatavicius, Workman, Rebar &
Heimgartner
250 Questions with Detailed Rationales
Based on the 10th Edition Textbook
SECTION 1: FOUNDATIONS OF MEDICAL-SURGICAL NURSING (Questions 1-
25)
Question 1
A new nurse is working with a preceptor on a medical-surgical unit. The preceptor
advises the new nurse that which is the priority when working as a professional nurse?
A) Attending to holistic client needs
B) Ensuring client safety
C) Not making medication errors
D) Providing client-centered care
Answer: B
Rationale: Ensuring client safety is the priority when working as a professional nurse. While
holistic care, medication safety, and client-centered care are all important, safety is the
foundation of professional nursing practice and must be prioritized above all else .
Question 2
A nurse wishes to provide client-centered care in all interactions. Which action by the
nurse best demonstrates this concept?
A) Assesses for cultural influences affecting health care
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B) Ensures that all the client's basic needs are met
C) Tells the client and family about all upcoming tests
D) Thoroughly orients the client and family to the room
Answer: A
Rationale: Showing respect for the client and family's preferences and needs is essential to
ensure a holistic or "whole-person" approach to care. By assessing the effect of the client's
culture on health care, the nurse is practicing client-centered care. Providing for basic needs
does not demonstrate this competence, and simply telling the client about tests is not
empowering education .
Question 3
Which action by the nurse working with a client best demonstrates respect for
autonomy?
A) Asks if the client has questions before signing a consent
B) Gives the client accurate information when questioned
C) Keeps the promises made to the client and family
D) Treats the client fairly compared to other clients
Answer: A
Rationale: Autonomy is self-determination. The client would make decisions regarding care.
When the nurse obtains a signature on the consent form, assessing if the client still has
questions is vital, because without full information the client cannot practice autonomy.
Giving accurate information is practicing with veracity, keeping promises is upholding
fidelity, and treating the client fairly is providing social justice .
Question 4
A nurse is going to admit a client for a scheduled surgical procedure. Which action does
the nurse explain is the most important thing the client can do to protect against errors?
A) Bring a list of all medications and what they are for
B) Keep the provider's phone number by the telephone
C) Make sure that all providers wash hands before entering the room
D) Write down the name of each caregiver who comes in the room
Answer: A
Rationale: Medication reconciliation is a formal process in which the client's actual current
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medications are compared to the prescribed medications at the time of admission, transfer, or
discharge. This National Patient Safety Goal is important to reduce medication errors .
Question 5
The assistive personnel (AP) reports to the registered nurse that a postoperative client
has a pulse of 132 beats/min and a blood pressure of 168/90 mm Hg. What response by
the nurse is most appropriate?
A) Ask the AP to repeat the client's vital signs in 15 minutes
B) Assess the client for pain
C) Ask the client if something is bothersome
D) Instruct the AP to reposition the client
Answer: B
Rationale: The "fight-or-flight" syndrome can occur from sympathetic nervous stimulation
due to acute pain. Symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, diaphoresis, tachycardia,
tachypnea, hypertension, and dilated pupils. Since this client is postoperative, it is reasonable
to believe that he or she might be in pain. The nurse first assesses for pain or discomfort and
treats it .
Question 6
A client has urinary incontinence. Which assessment finding indicates that outcomes for
a priority nursing diagnosis have been met?
A) Client reports satisfaction with undergarments for incontinence
B) Client reports drinking 8 to 9 glasses of water each day
C) Skin in perineal area is intact without redness on inspection
D) Family states that client is more active and socializes more
Answer: C
Rationale: Urinary incontinence can lead to skin breakdown and possibility of infection.
Skin that is intact without redness shows that a major goal for this client has been met.
Becoming more social is a positive finding, but this psychosocial outcome is not the priority
over a physical outcome .
Question 7
The registered nurse asks the nursing assistant why a cardiac client's morning weight
has not yet been done. The nursing assistant says, "I'll get to it, what's the big deal?"
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When deciding how to respond, the nurse considers what information about weight?
A) Decisions on treatment often depend on the daily weight
B) The nursing assistant needs to ensure that tasks are done on time
C) Weight is the most accurate noninvasive indicator of fluid status
D) A change in weight may indicate the need to change IV fluids
Answer: C
Rationale: Weight is the best (noninvasive) indicator of fluid status. Primary health care
providers may base treatment decisions on weight because the weight reflects fluid balance .
Question 8
The nurse caring for a client with malnutrition assesses which laboratory value as the
priority?
A) Albumin
B) Prealbumin
C) Prothrombin time
D) Serum sodium
Answer: B
Rationale: Both albumin and prealbumin are indicators for nutrition. However, prealbumin
changes more rapidly with decreased nutrition, so it is the better test. Prothrombin time and
serum sodium are not directly related to nutritional status .
Question 9
A nurse is planning primary prevention measures for community-dwelling adults to
prevent visual impairment. What action by the nurse will best meet this objective?
A) Provide glaucoma screening
B) Assess visual acuity
C) Teach clients about instilling eyedrops
D) Offer a healthy lifestyle class
Answer: D
Rationale: Primary prevention activities are those designed to actually prevent the onset of a
disease or health problem. Secondary prevention focuses on screening and early
diagnosis/detection .
MEDICAL-SURGICAL NURSING 10TH EDITION BY
IGNATAVICIUS, WORKMAN, REBAR & HEIMGARTNER
EXAM 2026 QUESTIONS LATEST VERSION QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
Medical-Surgical Nursing 10th Edition by Ignatavicius, Workman, Rebar &
Heimgartner
250 Questions with Detailed Rationales
Based on the 10th Edition Textbook
SECTION 1: FOUNDATIONS OF MEDICAL-SURGICAL NURSING (Questions 1-
25)
Question 1
A new nurse is working with a preceptor on a medical-surgical unit. The preceptor
advises the new nurse that which is the priority when working as a professional nurse?
A) Attending to holistic client needs
B) Ensuring client safety
C) Not making medication errors
D) Providing client-centered care
Answer: B
Rationale: Ensuring client safety is the priority when working as a professional nurse. While
holistic care, medication safety, and client-centered care are all important, safety is the
foundation of professional nursing practice and must be prioritized above all else .
Question 2
A nurse wishes to provide client-centered care in all interactions. Which action by the
nurse best demonstrates this concept?
A) Assesses for cultural influences affecting health care
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B) Ensures that all the client's basic needs are met
C) Tells the client and family about all upcoming tests
D) Thoroughly orients the client and family to the room
Answer: A
Rationale: Showing respect for the client and family's preferences and needs is essential to
ensure a holistic or "whole-person" approach to care. By assessing the effect of the client's
culture on health care, the nurse is practicing client-centered care. Providing for basic needs
does not demonstrate this competence, and simply telling the client about tests is not
empowering education .
Question 3
Which action by the nurse working with a client best demonstrates respect for
autonomy?
A) Asks if the client has questions before signing a consent
B) Gives the client accurate information when questioned
C) Keeps the promises made to the client and family
D) Treats the client fairly compared to other clients
Answer: A
Rationale: Autonomy is self-determination. The client would make decisions regarding care.
When the nurse obtains a signature on the consent form, assessing if the client still has
questions is vital, because without full information the client cannot practice autonomy.
Giving accurate information is practicing with veracity, keeping promises is upholding
fidelity, and treating the client fairly is providing social justice .
Question 4
A nurse is going to admit a client for a scheduled surgical procedure. Which action does
the nurse explain is the most important thing the client can do to protect against errors?
A) Bring a list of all medications and what they are for
B) Keep the provider's phone number by the telephone
C) Make sure that all providers wash hands before entering the room
D) Write down the name of each caregiver who comes in the room
Answer: A
Rationale: Medication reconciliation is a formal process in which the client's actual current
, Page 3 of 84
medications are compared to the prescribed medications at the time of admission, transfer, or
discharge. This National Patient Safety Goal is important to reduce medication errors .
Question 5
The assistive personnel (AP) reports to the registered nurse that a postoperative client
has a pulse of 132 beats/min and a blood pressure of 168/90 mm Hg. What response by
the nurse is most appropriate?
A) Ask the AP to repeat the client's vital signs in 15 minutes
B) Assess the client for pain
C) Ask the client if something is bothersome
D) Instruct the AP to reposition the client
Answer: B
Rationale: The "fight-or-flight" syndrome can occur from sympathetic nervous stimulation
due to acute pain. Symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, diaphoresis, tachycardia,
tachypnea, hypertension, and dilated pupils. Since this client is postoperative, it is reasonable
to believe that he or she might be in pain. The nurse first assesses for pain or discomfort and
treats it .
Question 6
A client has urinary incontinence. Which assessment finding indicates that outcomes for
a priority nursing diagnosis have been met?
A) Client reports satisfaction with undergarments for incontinence
B) Client reports drinking 8 to 9 glasses of water each day
C) Skin in perineal area is intact without redness on inspection
D) Family states that client is more active and socializes more
Answer: C
Rationale: Urinary incontinence can lead to skin breakdown and possibility of infection.
Skin that is intact without redness shows that a major goal for this client has been met.
Becoming more social is a positive finding, but this psychosocial outcome is not the priority
over a physical outcome .
Question 7
The registered nurse asks the nursing assistant why a cardiac client's morning weight
has not yet been done. The nursing assistant says, "I'll get to it, what's the big deal?"
, Page 4 of 84
When deciding how to respond, the nurse considers what information about weight?
A) Decisions on treatment often depend on the daily weight
B) The nursing assistant needs to ensure that tasks are done on time
C) Weight is the most accurate noninvasive indicator of fluid status
D) A change in weight may indicate the need to change IV fluids
Answer: C
Rationale: Weight is the best (noninvasive) indicator of fluid status. Primary health care
providers may base treatment decisions on weight because the weight reflects fluid balance .
Question 8
The nurse caring for a client with malnutrition assesses which laboratory value as the
priority?
A) Albumin
B) Prealbumin
C) Prothrombin time
D) Serum sodium
Answer: B
Rationale: Both albumin and prealbumin are indicators for nutrition. However, prealbumin
changes more rapidly with decreased nutrition, so it is the better test. Prothrombin time and
serum sodium are not directly related to nutritional status .
Question 9
A nurse is planning primary prevention measures for community-dwelling adults to
prevent visual impairment. What action by the nurse will best meet this objective?
A) Provide glaucoma screening
B) Assess visual acuity
C) Teach clients about instilling eyedrops
D) Offer a healthy lifestyle class
Answer: D
Rationale: Primary prevention activities are those designed to actually prevent the onset of a
disease or health problem. Secondary prevention focuses on screening and early
diagnosis/detection .
