CHAPTER 4 MEDICAL-SURGICAL NURSING CLINICAL REASONING IN
PATIENT CARE REVIEW QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | CHAPTER 4
STUDY GUIDE & PRACTICE TEST 2026/2027
Which action should the nurse perform when implementing informed consent?
A. Define the risks and benefits of the surgery.
B. Witness the patient's signature on the consent form.
C. Explain the right to refuse treatment or withdraw consent.
D. Advise the patient and family about what is needed for the diagnosis. - Correct answer ✔✔
B. Witness the patient's signature on the consent form.
Rationale:
The nurse's primary responsibility to informed consent is serving as a witness to the patient
signature on the consent form. Defining the risks and benefits of the surgery, explaining the
right to refuse treatment or withdraw consent, and advising the patient and family about what
is needed for the diagnosis are actions completed by the healthcare provider.
Nursing Process: Implementation
Bloom's Taxonomy: Understand
The nurse is caring for a patient recovering from surgery provided through an outpatient
surgical center. On what teaching should the nurse focus to assist this patient with her
recovery?
A. Nutritional needs
B. Pain medication doses
C. Identifying complications
D. Fluid and hydration status - Correct answer ✔✔ C. Identifying complications
Rationale:
, The nurse has an extensive role in ensuring that education is provided at all phases of the
perioperative process and that learning has occurred to reduce complications as patients have
shorter lengths of stay and more patients have their surgical procedures performed on an
outpatient basis. Although teaching about nutritional needs, pain control, and fluid and
hydration status are important, the prevention of complications should take priority.
Nursing Process: Implementation
Bloom's Taxonomy: Apply
When providing patient-centered care to a patient recovering from surgery, why should the
nurse provide nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs?
A. To increase amnesia
B. To stimulate appetite
C. To potentiate analgesia
D. To improve renal function - Correct answer ✔✔ C. To potentiate analgesia
Rationale:
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are used to treat mild to moderate
postoperative pain. This category of drugs should be given soon after surgery unless
contraindicated. Although NSAIDs may not be sufficient to control pain completely, they allow
lower doses of opioid analgesics to be used. NSAIDs are not given during the postoperative
period to increase amnesia, stimulate appetite, or improve renal function.
Nursing Process: Implementation
Bloom's Taxonomy: Apply
When reviewing the medical record for a patient scheduled for surgery, the nurse notes
abnormal laboratory values. Which values is the priority for the nurse to report to the
healthcare provider?
A. Increased chloride
B. Decreased glucose
C. Increased creatinine
PATIENT CARE REVIEW QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | CHAPTER 4
STUDY GUIDE & PRACTICE TEST 2026/2027
Which action should the nurse perform when implementing informed consent?
A. Define the risks and benefits of the surgery.
B. Witness the patient's signature on the consent form.
C. Explain the right to refuse treatment or withdraw consent.
D. Advise the patient and family about what is needed for the diagnosis. - Correct answer ✔✔
B. Witness the patient's signature on the consent form.
Rationale:
The nurse's primary responsibility to informed consent is serving as a witness to the patient
signature on the consent form. Defining the risks and benefits of the surgery, explaining the
right to refuse treatment or withdraw consent, and advising the patient and family about what
is needed for the diagnosis are actions completed by the healthcare provider.
Nursing Process: Implementation
Bloom's Taxonomy: Understand
The nurse is caring for a patient recovering from surgery provided through an outpatient
surgical center. On what teaching should the nurse focus to assist this patient with her
recovery?
A. Nutritional needs
B. Pain medication doses
C. Identifying complications
D. Fluid and hydration status - Correct answer ✔✔ C. Identifying complications
Rationale:
, The nurse has an extensive role in ensuring that education is provided at all phases of the
perioperative process and that learning has occurred to reduce complications as patients have
shorter lengths of stay and more patients have their surgical procedures performed on an
outpatient basis. Although teaching about nutritional needs, pain control, and fluid and
hydration status are important, the prevention of complications should take priority.
Nursing Process: Implementation
Bloom's Taxonomy: Apply
When providing patient-centered care to a patient recovering from surgery, why should the
nurse provide nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs?
A. To increase amnesia
B. To stimulate appetite
C. To potentiate analgesia
D. To improve renal function - Correct answer ✔✔ C. To potentiate analgesia
Rationale:
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are used to treat mild to moderate
postoperative pain. This category of drugs should be given soon after surgery unless
contraindicated. Although NSAIDs may not be sufficient to control pain completely, they allow
lower doses of opioid analgesics to be used. NSAIDs are not given during the postoperative
period to increase amnesia, stimulate appetite, or improve renal function.
Nursing Process: Implementation
Bloom's Taxonomy: Apply
When reviewing the medical record for a patient scheduled for surgery, the nurse notes
abnormal laboratory values. Which values is the priority for the nurse to report to the
healthcare provider?
A. Increased chloride
B. Decreased glucose
C. Increased creatinine
