Chapter 1: Introduction to Medical-
Surgical Nursing questions and answers
2025/2026 latest update
A nurse has recently been assigned to a medical-surgical clinical rotation. According to the scope
of medical-surgical nursing, what type of client assignments does the nurse expect to see?
A. Hospitalized children with acute and chronic illnesses
B. Hospitalized adults with acute and chronic illnesses
C. Older adults in a nursing home
D. Working adults in a corporate setting -✔✔ answer B. Hospitalized adults with acute and
chronic illnesses
Rationale
The scope of medical-surgical nursing, sometimes called adult health nursing, is to promote health
and prevent illness or injury in clients from 18 to 100 years of age or older. The most common
practice setting is the acute care hospital.
A nursing student has been assigned to the hospital's Rapid Response Team (RRT). Which
statement by the student indicates a correct understanding of the RRT member's purpose?
A. "I will be caring for clients in the hospital."
B. "I will be riding along in the hospital's ambulance."
C. "I will be admitting clients to the hospital."
D. "I will be observing code 'blue' resuscitations." -✔✔ answer A. "I will be caring for clients in
the hospital."
Rationale
A. Members of the RRT are critical care experts who are on site in the hospital and are available at
any time.
Which principal nursing actions best support a focus on client safety? Select all that apply.
A. Client restraints
B. Handwashing
C. Preoperative checklists
D. Respect for others
E. Five rights of drug administration -✔✔ answer B. Handwashing
C. Preoperative checklists
E. Five rights of drug administration
Rationale
, The number one way to prevent infection in clients! This is a major method that facilitates a safe
care environment for the client.
A nurse is working in the intensive care unit. When does the nurse call the Rapid Response Team
(RRT)?
A. An 87-year-old client awakens mildly confused, then reorients quickly.
B. A newly admitted client requests pain medication.
C. A postoperative client's dressing has mild bloody drainage.
D. A postoperative client's blood pressure suddenly drops. -✔✔ answer D. A postoperative
client's blood pressure suddenly drops.
Rationale
D. The RRT should be called whenever a client has a slow or sudden deterioration in clinical
condition.
Which role of the medical-surgical nurse is demonstrated by writing a care plan for the client who
is newly admitted to the hospital?
A. Advocate
B. Caregiver
C. Communicator
D. Educator -✔✔ answer B. Caregiver
Rationale
B. In the caregiver role, medical-surgical nurses assess clients, analyze collected information to
determine their needs, develop nursing diagnoses and collaborative problems, plan care and carry
out the plan with the healthcare team, and evaluate the care given.
A nurse supports the client and family in deciding on a "Do Not Resuscitate" order. Which ethical
principle that guides nursing clinical decision making is demonstrated in this situation?
A. Beneficence
B. Justice
C. Legality
D. Self-determination -✔✔ answer D. Self-determination
Rationale
D. Self-determination refers to the idea that clients are autonomous individuals capable of making
informed decisions about their care. When the client is not capable of self-determination, the nurse
is ethically obligated to protect the client as an advocate in the professional scope of practice.
Which important aspect of coordinating care within the interdisciplinary team is facilitated by use
of the "SBAR" and "PACE" procedures?
Surgical Nursing questions and answers
2025/2026 latest update
A nurse has recently been assigned to a medical-surgical clinical rotation. According to the scope
of medical-surgical nursing, what type of client assignments does the nurse expect to see?
A. Hospitalized children with acute and chronic illnesses
B. Hospitalized adults with acute and chronic illnesses
C. Older adults in a nursing home
D. Working adults in a corporate setting -✔✔ answer B. Hospitalized adults with acute and
chronic illnesses
Rationale
The scope of medical-surgical nursing, sometimes called adult health nursing, is to promote health
and prevent illness or injury in clients from 18 to 100 years of age or older. The most common
practice setting is the acute care hospital.
A nursing student has been assigned to the hospital's Rapid Response Team (RRT). Which
statement by the student indicates a correct understanding of the RRT member's purpose?
A. "I will be caring for clients in the hospital."
B. "I will be riding along in the hospital's ambulance."
C. "I will be admitting clients to the hospital."
D. "I will be observing code 'blue' resuscitations." -✔✔ answer A. "I will be caring for clients in
the hospital."
Rationale
A. Members of the RRT are critical care experts who are on site in the hospital and are available at
any time.
Which principal nursing actions best support a focus on client safety? Select all that apply.
A. Client restraints
B. Handwashing
C. Preoperative checklists
D. Respect for others
E. Five rights of drug administration -✔✔ answer B. Handwashing
C. Preoperative checklists
E. Five rights of drug administration
Rationale
, The number one way to prevent infection in clients! This is a major method that facilitates a safe
care environment for the client.
A nurse is working in the intensive care unit. When does the nurse call the Rapid Response Team
(RRT)?
A. An 87-year-old client awakens mildly confused, then reorients quickly.
B. A newly admitted client requests pain medication.
C. A postoperative client's dressing has mild bloody drainage.
D. A postoperative client's blood pressure suddenly drops. -✔✔ answer D. A postoperative
client's blood pressure suddenly drops.
Rationale
D. The RRT should be called whenever a client has a slow or sudden deterioration in clinical
condition.
Which role of the medical-surgical nurse is demonstrated by writing a care plan for the client who
is newly admitted to the hospital?
A. Advocate
B. Caregiver
C. Communicator
D. Educator -✔✔ answer B. Caregiver
Rationale
B. In the caregiver role, medical-surgical nurses assess clients, analyze collected information to
determine their needs, develop nursing diagnoses and collaborative problems, plan care and carry
out the plan with the healthcare team, and evaluate the care given.
A nurse supports the client and family in deciding on a "Do Not Resuscitate" order. Which ethical
principle that guides nursing clinical decision making is demonstrated in this situation?
A. Beneficence
B. Justice
C. Legality
D. Self-determination -✔✔ answer D. Self-determination
Rationale
D. Self-determination refers to the idea that clients are autonomous individuals capable of making
informed decisions about their care. When the client is not capable of self-determination, the nurse
is ethically obligated to protect the client as an advocate in the professional scope of practice.
Which important aspect of coordinating care within the interdisciplinary team is facilitated by use
of the "SBAR" and "PACE" procedures?
