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MEDICAL-SURGICAL NURSING, 6TH EDITION EXAM COMPREHENSIVE
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS LATEST EDITION 2026
Medical-Surgical Nursing, 6th Edition —Questions
SECTION 1: FOUNDATIONS OF MEDICAL-SURGICAL NURSING (Questions 1–40)
Chapter 1: Caring for Medical-Surgical Patients
1. A newly licensed LPN/LVN is orienting to a medical-surgical unit. Which action best
demonstrates understanding of the role of the LPN/LVN in this setting?
A) Independently developing the patient's plan of care
B) Performing a comprehensive admission assessment
C) Contributing to the plan of care by collecting data and implementing interventions
D) Prescribing medications for common conditions
Answer: C
Rationale: The LPN/LVN contributes to the plan of care by collecting data, implementing
interventions, and evaluating patient responses under the supervision of the RN.
2. Which of the following is an example of elective surgery?
A) Control of hemorrhage
B) Tonsillectomy
C) Repair of trauma
D) Perforated ulcer repair
Answer: B
Rationale: Elective surgery is a procedure that is planned in advance and is not required to
preserve life or function. Examples include tonsillectomy, hernia repair, cataract extraction, and
scar revision.
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3. Which of the following is an example of emergency surgery?
A) Cataract extraction
B) Hernia repair
C) Control of hemorrhage
D) Scar revision
Answer: C
Rationale: Emergency surgery is performed immediately to preserve life or function. Examples
include control of hemorrhage, repair of trauma, perforated ulcer, and intestinal obstruction.
4. What is the primary purpose of medical-surgical nursing?
A) To provide care only in hospital settings
B) To promote, restore, and maintain the health of adults with various medical and surgical
conditions
C) To focus exclusively on surgical patients
D) To replace the role of the physician
Answer: B
Rationale: Medical-surgical nursing focuses on the care of adults with a wide range of medical
and surgical health problems, promoting health, preventing illness, and restoring optimal
function.
Chapter 2: Critical Thinking, Clinical Judgment, and the Nursing Process
5. Which of the following is the first step of the nursing process?
A) Planning
B) Implementation
C) Assessment
D) Evaluation
Answer: C
Rationale: Assessment is the first step of the nursing process, involving the systematic collection
of patient data.
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6. A nurse is using clinical judgment to prioritize care for four patients. Which patient should
the nurse assess first?
A) A patient requesting pain medication
B) A patient with difficulty breathing
C) A patient requesting a blanket
D) A patient asking for a phone
Answer: B
Rationale: Using the ABCs (Airway, Breathing, Circulation) framework, a patient with difficulty
breathing requires immediate assessment.
7. Which core competency for healthcare professionals involves using best research when
providing patient care?
A) Quality improvement
B) Evidence-based practice
C) Patient-centered care
D) Teamwork and collaboration
Answer: B
Rationale: Using best research when providing patient care is an example of the core
competency evidence-based practice.
8. Which core competency involves collaboration between disciplines to provide continuous
and reliable care?
A) Quality improvement
B) Evidence-based practice
C) Patient-centered care
D) Teamwork and collaboration
Answer: D
Rationale: Collaboration between disciplines to provide continuous and reliable care is an
example of the core competency teamwork and collaboration.
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9. A nurse is instructing a patient on the role of diet, exercise, and medication to control type
2 diabetes mellitus. Which core competency is the nurse implementing?
A) Quality improvement
B) Evidence-based practice
C) Patient-centered care
D) Teamwork and collaboration
Answer: C
Rationale: The nurse instructing the patient is an example of the competency patient-centered
care.
Chapter 3: Chronic Illness and Rehabilitation
10. Which statement best describes the goal of rehabilitation?
A) To cure the underlying disease
B) To restore the patient to the highest possible level of function
C) To provide long-term custodial care
D) To replace medical treatment
Answer: B
Rationale: The goal of rehabilitation is to help individuals with disabilities or chronic illness
achieve their maximum level of independence and function.
Chapter 4: Patient Safety, Quality Improvement, and Risk Management
11. Which action best demonstrates the nurse's role in risk management?
A) Ignoring minor safety hazards
B) Identifying and reporting potential safety hazards
C) Avoiding documentation of incidents
D) Waiting for safety issues to become serious
Answer: B
Rationale: Identifying safety hazards and measuring quality is an example of the core
competency quality improvement.
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MEDICAL-SURGICAL NURSING, 6TH EDITION EXAM COMPREHENSIVE
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS LATEST EDITION 2026
Medical-Surgical Nursing, 6th Edition —Questions
SECTION 1: FOUNDATIONS OF MEDICAL-SURGICAL NURSING (Questions 1–40)
Chapter 1: Caring for Medical-Surgical Patients
1. A newly licensed LPN/LVN is orienting to a medical-surgical unit. Which action best
demonstrates understanding of the role of the LPN/LVN in this setting?
A) Independently developing the patient's plan of care
B) Performing a comprehensive admission assessment
C) Contributing to the plan of care by collecting data and implementing interventions
D) Prescribing medications for common conditions
Answer: C
Rationale: The LPN/LVN contributes to the plan of care by collecting data, implementing
interventions, and evaluating patient responses under the supervision of the RN.
2. Which of the following is an example of elective surgery?
A) Control of hemorrhage
B) Tonsillectomy
C) Repair of trauma
D) Perforated ulcer repair
Answer: B
Rationale: Elective surgery is a procedure that is planned in advance and is not required to
preserve life or function. Examples include tonsillectomy, hernia repair, cataract extraction, and
scar revision.
1|Page
,Page 2 of 44
3. Which of the following is an example of emergency surgery?
A) Cataract extraction
B) Hernia repair
C) Control of hemorrhage
D) Scar revision
Answer: C
Rationale: Emergency surgery is performed immediately to preserve life or function. Examples
include control of hemorrhage, repair of trauma, perforated ulcer, and intestinal obstruction.
4. What is the primary purpose of medical-surgical nursing?
A) To provide care only in hospital settings
B) To promote, restore, and maintain the health of adults with various medical and surgical
conditions
C) To focus exclusively on surgical patients
D) To replace the role of the physician
Answer: B
Rationale: Medical-surgical nursing focuses on the care of adults with a wide range of medical
and surgical health problems, promoting health, preventing illness, and restoring optimal
function.
Chapter 2: Critical Thinking, Clinical Judgment, and the Nursing Process
5. Which of the following is the first step of the nursing process?
A) Planning
B) Implementation
C) Assessment
D) Evaluation
Answer: C
Rationale: Assessment is the first step of the nursing process, involving the systematic collection
of patient data.
2|Page
,Page 3 of 44
6. A nurse is using clinical judgment to prioritize care for four patients. Which patient should
the nurse assess first?
A) A patient requesting pain medication
B) A patient with difficulty breathing
C) A patient requesting a blanket
D) A patient asking for a phone
Answer: B
Rationale: Using the ABCs (Airway, Breathing, Circulation) framework, a patient with difficulty
breathing requires immediate assessment.
7. Which core competency for healthcare professionals involves using best research when
providing patient care?
A) Quality improvement
B) Evidence-based practice
C) Patient-centered care
D) Teamwork and collaboration
Answer: B
Rationale: Using best research when providing patient care is an example of the core
competency evidence-based practice.
8. Which core competency involves collaboration between disciplines to provide continuous
and reliable care?
A) Quality improvement
B) Evidence-based practice
C) Patient-centered care
D) Teamwork and collaboration
Answer: D
Rationale: Collaboration between disciplines to provide continuous and reliable care is an
example of the core competency teamwork and collaboration.
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9. A nurse is instructing a patient on the role of diet, exercise, and medication to control type
2 diabetes mellitus. Which core competency is the nurse implementing?
A) Quality improvement
B) Evidence-based practice
C) Patient-centered care
D) Teamwork and collaboration
Answer: C
Rationale: The nurse instructing the patient is an example of the competency patient-centered
care.
Chapter 3: Chronic Illness and Rehabilitation
10. Which statement best describes the goal of rehabilitation?
A) To cure the underlying disease
B) To restore the patient to the highest possible level of function
C) To provide long-term custodial care
D) To replace medical treatment
Answer: B
Rationale: The goal of rehabilitation is to help individuals with disabilities or chronic illness
achieve their maximum level of independence and function.
Chapter 4: Patient Safety, Quality Improvement, and Risk Management
11. Which action best demonstrates the nurse's role in risk management?
A) Ignoring minor safety hazards
B) Identifying and reporting potential safety hazards
C) Avoiding documentation of incidents
D) Waiting for safety issues to become serious
Answer: B
Rationale: Identifying safety hazards and measuring quality is an example of the core
competency quality improvement.
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