Page 1 of 110
DAVIS ADVANTAGE FOR UNDERSTANDING MEDICAL-SURGICAL
NURSING, 7TH EDITION (WILLIAMS & HOPPER) EXAM 2026
QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED QUESTIONS DETAILED RATIONALES
GRADED A+
Davis Advantage for Understanding Medical-Surgical Nursing, 7th Edition (Williams & Hopper)
— Exam Questions with Rationales
Summarized 10-Point Exam Coverage
Unit 1: Understanding Health Care Issues — critical thinking, clinical judgment, nursing process,
evidence-based practice, issues in nursing practice, cultural influences, complementary and
alternative modalities.
Unit 2: Understanding Health and Illness — fluid, electrolyte, and acid-base balance;
intravenous therapy; infections; shock; pain; cancer; surgery; emergent conditions and disaster
response.
Unit 3: Developmental Considerations — developmental considerations in adult care, nursing
care of older adults, patient care settings, end-of-life care.
Unit 4: Immune System — immune system function, data collection, therapeutic measures,
immune disorders, HIV disease and AIDS.
Unit 5: Cardiovascular System — cardiovascular function, hypertension,
valvular/inflammatory/infectious cardiac or venous disorders, occlusive cardiovascular
disorders, cardiac arrhythmias, heart failure.
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Unit 6: Hematologic and Lymphatic Systems — hematologic and lymphatic function, data
collection, therapeutic measures, hematologic and lymphatic disorders.
Unit 7: Respiratory System — respiratory function, data collection, therapeutic measures,
upper respiratory tract disorders, lower respiratory tract disorders.
Unit 8: Gastrointestinal, Hepatobiliary, and Pancreatic Systems — GI/hepatobiliary/pancreatic
function, upper GI disorders, lower GI disorders, liver/pancreatic/gallbladder disorders.
Unit 9: Urinary, Endocrine, and Genitourinary Systems — urinary function and disorders,
endocrine function and disorders, endocrine pancreas disorders, genitourinary and
reproductive function and disorders, sexually transmitted infections.
Unit 10: Musculoskeletal, Neurologic, Sensory, Integumentary, and Mental Health —
musculoskeletal function and disorders, neurologic function and central/peripheral nervous
system disorders, cerebrovascular disorders, sensory function and disorders, integumentary
function and skin disorders, burns, mental health function and disorders.
SECTION 1: UNIT 1 — UNDERSTANDING HEALTH CARE ISSUES (Questions 1–35)
Q1. A nurse is caring for a group of patients on a medical-surgical unit. Which action
demonstrates critical thinking?
A. Following a physician's order without question
B. Analyzing patient data to make clinical decisions
C. Relying on intuition alone
D. Avoiding collaboration with the healthcare team
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Critical thinking involves analyzing patient data, considering alternatives, and making
informed clinical decisions.
Q2. A nurse is using the nursing process to care for a patient. Which phase involves collecting
subjective and objective data?
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A. Assessment
B. Diagnosis
C. Planning
D. Evaluation
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The assessment phase involves collecting subjective and objective data about the
patient's health status.
Q3. A nurse is formulating a nursing diagnosis. Which component is essential?
A. Medical diagnosis
B. Related factors
C. Physician's orders
D. Laboratory values
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A nursing diagnosis includes the problem, related factors, and defining
characteristics.
Q4. A nurse is prioritizing patient care using Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Which need should
the nurse address first?
A. Safety
B. Oxygenation
C. Self-esteem
D. Social interaction
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Oxygenation is a physiological need and takes priority over safety, esteem, and social
needs.
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Q5. A nurse is using the SBAR communication tool. Which component is represented by the
statement, "The patient's heart rate is 120 and blood pressure is 88/50"?
A. Situation
B. Background
C. Assessment
D. Recommendation
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: In SBAR, Assessment includes vital signs and clinical findings.
Q6. A nurse is implementing evidence-based practice. Which of the following is the first step
in the EBP process?
A. Implement the change in practice
B. Ask a clinical question using the PICO format
C. Search for the best available evidence
D. Evaluate the outcomes of the practice change
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The first step in evidence-based practice is to ask a clinical question in PICO format.
Q7. A nurse is discussing issues in nursing practice. Which of the following is a legal concept
related to nursing?
A. Negligence
B. Compassion
C. Leadership
D. Ethics
DAVIS ADVANTAGE FOR UNDERSTANDING MEDICAL-SURGICAL
NURSING, 7TH EDITION (WILLIAMS & HOPPER) EXAM 2026
QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED QUESTIONS DETAILED RATIONALES
GRADED A+
Davis Advantage for Understanding Medical-Surgical Nursing, 7th Edition (Williams & Hopper)
— Exam Questions with Rationales
Summarized 10-Point Exam Coverage
Unit 1: Understanding Health Care Issues — critical thinking, clinical judgment, nursing process,
evidence-based practice, issues in nursing practice, cultural influences, complementary and
alternative modalities.
Unit 2: Understanding Health and Illness — fluid, electrolyte, and acid-base balance;
intravenous therapy; infections; shock; pain; cancer; surgery; emergent conditions and disaster
response.
Unit 3: Developmental Considerations — developmental considerations in adult care, nursing
care of older adults, patient care settings, end-of-life care.
Unit 4: Immune System — immune system function, data collection, therapeutic measures,
immune disorders, HIV disease and AIDS.
Unit 5: Cardiovascular System — cardiovascular function, hypertension,
valvular/inflammatory/infectious cardiac or venous disorders, occlusive cardiovascular
disorders, cardiac arrhythmias, heart failure.
,Page 2 of 110
Unit 6: Hematologic and Lymphatic Systems — hematologic and lymphatic function, data
collection, therapeutic measures, hematologic and lymphatic disorders.
Unit 7: Respiratory System — respiratory function, data collection, therapeutic measures,
upper respiratory tract disorders, lower respiratory tract disorders.
Unit 8: Gastrointestinal, Hepatobiliary, and Pancreatic Systems — GI/hepatobiliary/pancreatic
function, upper GI disorders, lower GI disorders, liver/pancreatic/gallbladder disorders.
Unit 9: Urinary, Endocrine, and Genitourinary Systems — urinary function and disorders,
endocrine function and disorders, endocrine pancreas disorders, genitourinary and
reproductive function and disorders, sexually transmitted infections.
Unit 10: Musculoskeletal, Neurologic, Sensory, Integumentary, and Mental Health —
musculoskeletal function and disorders, neurologic function and central/peripheral nervous
system disorders, cerebrovascular disorders, sensory function and disorders, integumentary
function and skin disorders, burns, mental health function and disorders.
SECTION 1: UNIT 1 — UNDERSTANDING HEALTH CARE ISSUES (Questions 1–35)
Q1. A nurse is caring for a group of patients on a medical-surgical unit. Which action
demonstrates critical thinking?
A. Following a physician's order without question
B. Analyzing patient data to make clinical decisions
C. Relying on intuition alone
D. Avoiding collaboration with the healthcare team
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Critical thinking involves analyzing patient data, considering alternatives, and making
informed clinical decisions.
Q2. A nurse is using the nursing process to care for a patient. Which phase involves collecting
subjective and objective data?
,Page 3 of 110
A. Assessment
B. Diagnosis
C. Planning
D. Evaluation
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The assessment phase involves collecting subjective and objective data about the
patient's health status.
Q3. A nurse is formulating a nursing diagnosis. Which component is essential?
A. Medical diagnosis
B. Related factors
C. Physician's orders
D. Laboratory values
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A nursing diagnosis includes the problem, related factors, and defining
characteristics.
Q4. A nurse is prioritizing patient care using Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Which need should
the nurse address first?
A. Safety
B. Oxygenation
C. Self-esteem
D. Social interaction
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Oxygenation is a physiological need and takes priority over safety, esteem, and social
needs.
, Page 4 of 110
Q5. A nurse is using the SBAR communication tool. Which component is represented by the
statement, "The patient's heart rate is 120 and blood pressure is 88/50"?
A. Situation
B. Background
C. Assessment
D. Recommendation
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: In SBAR, Assessment includes vital signs and clinical findings.
Q6. A nurse is implementing evidence-based practice. Which of the following is the first step
in the EBP process?
A. Implement the change in practice
B. Ask a clinical question using the PICO format
C. Search for the best available evidence
D. Evaluate the outcomes of the practice change
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The first step in evidence-based practice is to ask a clinical question in PICO format.
Q7. A nurse is discussing issues in nursing practice. Which of the following is a legal concept
related to nursing?
A. Negligence
B. Compassion
C. Leadership
D. Ethics
