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DAVIS ADVANTAGE FOR MEDICAL-SURGICAL
NURSING: MAKING CONNECTIONS TO
PRACTICE (3rd Edition, 2025/2026 Updated) —
COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION STUDY
GUIDE | PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS | EXAM REVIEW.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
UNIT I: PROFESSIONAL FOUNDATIONS OF MEDICAL-SURGICAL NURSING
1. Foundations for Medical-Surgical Nursing
2. Interprofessional Collaboration and Care Coordination
3. Cultural Considerations
4. Ethical Concepts
5. Palliative Care and End-of-Life Issues
UNIT II: CLINICAL PRINCIPLES OF MEDICAL-SURGICAL NURSING
6. Geriatric Implications for Medical-Surgical Nursing
7. Oxygen Therapy Management
8. Fluid and Electrolyte Management
9. Acid-Base Balance
10. Overview of Infusion Therapies
11. Pain Management
12. Complementary and Alternative Care Initiatives
13. Overview of Cancer Care
14. Overview of Shock and Sepsis
UNIT III: MANAGING THE SURGICAL EXPERIENCE
15. Priorities for the Preoperative Patient
16. Priorities for the Intraoperative Patient
17. Priorities for the Postoperative Patient
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UNIT IV: PROMOTING HEALTH IN PATIENTS WITH IMMUNE DISORDERS
18. Assessment of Immune Function
19. Coordinating Care for Patients With Immune Disorders
20. Coordinating Care for Patients With Connective Tissue Disorders
21. Coordinating Care for Patients With Multidrug-Resistant Organism Infectious Disorders
22. Coordinating Care for Patients With HIV
UNIT V: PROMOTING HEALTH IN PATIENTS WITH OXYGENATION DISORDERS
23. Assessment of Respiratory Function
24. Coordinating Care for Patients With Infectious Respiratory Disorders
25. Coordinating Care for Patients With Upper Airway Disorders
26. Coordinating Care for Patients With Lower Airway Disorders
27. Coordinating Care for Critically Ill Patients With Respiratory Dysfunction
UNIT VI: PROMOTING HEALTH IN PATIENTS WITH CIRCULATORY OR PERFUSION DISORDERS
28. Assessment of Cardiovascular Function
29. Coordinating Care for Patients With Cardiac Dysrhythmia
30. Coordinating Care for Patients With Cardiac Disorders
31. Coordinating Care for Patients With Vascular Disorders
32. Coordinating Care for Critically Ill Patients With Cardiovascular Dysfunction
UNIT VII: PROMOTING HEALTH IN PATIENTS WITH HEMATOLOGICAL DISORDERS
33. Assessment of Hematological Function
34. Coordinating Care for Patients With Hematological Disorders
UNIT VIII: PROMOTING HEALTH IN PATIENTS WITH NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS
35. Assessment of Neurological Function
36. Coordinating Care for Patients With Brain Disorders
37. Coordinating Care for Patients With Spinal Cord Disorders
38. Coordinating Care for Patients With Peripheral Nervous System Disorders
39. Coordinating Care for Critically Ill Patients With Neurological Dysfunction
UNIT IX: PROMOTING HEALTH IN PATIENTS WITH ENDOCRINE DISORDERS
40. Assessment of Endocrine Function
41. Coordinating Care for Patients With Pituitary Disorders
42. Coordinating Care for Patients With Adrenal Disorders
43. Coordinating Care for Patients With Thyroid and Parathyroid Disorders
44. Coordinating Care for Patients With Diabetes Mellitus
UNIT X: PROMOTING HEALTH IN PATIENTS WITH GASTROINTESTINAL DISORDERS
45. Assessment of Gastrointestinal Function
46. Coordinating Care for Patients With Oral and Esophageal Disorders
47. Coordinating Care for Patients With Stomach Disorders
48. Coordinating Care for Patients With Intestinal Disorders
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49. Coordinating Care for Patients With Hepatic Disorders
50. Coordinating Care for Patients With Biliary Disorders
UNIT XI: PROMOTING HEALTH IN PATIENTS WITH RENAL AND URINARY DISORDERS
51. Assessment of Renal and Urinary Function
52. Coordinating Care for Patients with Renal Disorders
53. Coordinating Care for Patients with Urinary Disorders
UNIT XII: PROMOTING HEALTH IN PATIENTS WITH REPRODUCTIVE DISORDERS
54. Assessment of Reproductive Function
55. Coordinating Care for Female Patients with Reproductive Disorders
56. Coordinating Care for Male Patients with Reproductive Disorders
57. Coordinating Care for Patients with Sexually Transmitted Infections
UNIT XIII: PROMOTING HEALTH IN PATIENTS WITH MUSCULOSKELETAL AND CONNECTIVE TISSUE
DISORDERS
58. Assessment of Musculoskeletal Function
59. Coordinating Care for Patients with Musculoskeletal Disorders
60. Coordinating Care for Patients with Musculoskeletal Trauma
61. Coordinating Care for Patients with Connective Tissue Disorders
UNIT XIV: PROMOTING HEALTH IN PATIENTS WITH SENSORY PERCEPTION AND INTEGUMENTARY
DISORDERS
62. Assessment of Sensory Function
63. Coordinating Care for Patients With Visual Disorders
64. Coordinating Care for Patients With Auditory Disorders
65. Coordinating Care for Patients With Skin Disorders
66. Coordinating Care for Patients With Burns
UNIT XV: PROMOTING HEALTH IN SPECIAL POPULATIONS
67. Coordinating Care for Patients With Substance Use Disorders
68. Coordinating Care for Patients with Mental Health Disorders
69. Coordinating Care for Patients with Trauma and Emergency Conditions
70. Coordinating Care for Patients With Disasters
71. Coordinating Care for Patients With Emerging Infectious Diseases
Question 1: A newly admitted medical-surgical patient asks the nurse, "What will happen
after you finish your assessment?" Which response by the nurse best reflects the nursing
process?
, Page |4
A) "The provider will see you next."
B) "I will develop a plan of care based on your needs."
C) "You will be discharged soon."
D) "The pharmacist will review your medications."
Correct Answer: B) "I will develop a plan of care based on your needs."
The nursing process is a systematic, cyclic framework (assessment, diagnosis, planning,
implementation, evaluation) that guides nursing practice. After assessment, the nurse
analyzes data, formulates nursing diagnoses, and develops a plan of care. The other
responses do not accurately describe the nursing process .
Question 2: A nurse is caring for a newly admitted adult with multiple chronic conditions.
The patient says, "I want to go home as soon as possible because I have to care for my
grandchildren." Which nursing action best demonstrates patient-centered care?
A) Provide the standard discharge teaching packet immediately
B) Ask the patient what concerns matter most and build the plan around those priorities
C) Explain that hospital priorities must come before family responsibilities
D) Delay teaching until the interprofessional team has completed all consults
Correct Answer: B) Ask the patient what concerns matter most and build the plan around
those priorities
Patient-centered care begins with learning what matters to the patient, including goals,
values, family responsibilities, and barriers to care. By asking about priorities, the nurse can
align education, discharge planning, and treatment goals with the patient's real-life context.
This improves engagement, adherence, and outcomes .
Question 3: A nurse is reviewing the plan of care for a patient with pressure injury risk. The
unit recently adopted a new skin-prevention bundle based on current evidence. Which action
best reflects evidence-based nursing care?
A) Following only the nurse manager's preference for repositioning intervals
B) Using the bundle because it combines research evidence, clinical expertise, and patient
needs
C) Waiting until the patient develops a pressure injury before starting prevention
D) Using a prevention plan that was effective in a different hospital 10 years ago
DAVIS ADVANTAGE FOR MEDICAL-SURGICAL
NURSING: MAKING CONNECTIONS TO
PRACTICE (3rd Edition, 2025/2026 Updated) —
COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION STUDY
GUIDE | PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS | EXAM REVIEW.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
UNIT I: PROFESSIONAL FOUNDATIONS OF MEDICAL-SURGICAL NURSING
1. Foundations for Medical-Surgical Nursing
2. Interprofessional Collaboration and Care Coordination
3. Cultural Considerations
4. Ethical Concepts
5. Palliative Care and End-of-Life Issues
UNIT II: CLINICAL PRINCIPLES OF MEDICAL-SURGICAL NURSING
6. Geriatric Implications for Medical-Surgical Nursing
7. Oxygen Therapy Management
8. Fluid and Electrolyte Management
9. Acid-Base Balance
10. Overview of Infusion Therapies
11. Pain Management
12. Complementary and Alternative Care Initiatives
13. Overview of Cancer Care
14. Overview of Shock and Sepsis
UNIT III: MANAGING THE SURGICAL EXPERIENCE
15. Priorities for the Preoperative Patient
16. Priorities for the Intraoperative Patient
17. Priorities for the Postoperative Patient
, Page |2
UNIT IV: PROMOTING HEALTH IN PATIENTS WITH IMMUNE DISORDERS
18. Assessment of Immune Function
19. Coordinating Care for Patients With Immune Disorders
20. Coordinating Care for Patients With Connective Tissue Disorders
21. Coordinating Care for Patients With Multidrug-Resistant Organism Infectious Disorders
22. Coordinating Care for Patients With HIV
UNIT V: PROMOTING HEALTH IN PATIENTS WITH OXYGENATION DISORDERS
23. Assessment of Respiratory Function
24. Coordinating Care for Patients With Infectious Respiratory Disorders
25. Coordinating Care for Patients With Upper Airway Disorders
26. Coordinating Care for Patients With Lower Airway Disorders
27. Coordinating Care for Critically Ill Patients With Respiratory Dysfunction
UNIT VI: PROMOTING HEALTH IN PATIENTS WITH CIRCULATORY OR PERFUSION DISORDERS
28. Assessment of Cardiovascular Function
29. Coordinating Care for Patients With Cardiac Dysrhythmia
30. Coordinating Care for Patients With Cardiac Disorders
31. Coordinating Care for Patients With Vascular Disorders
32. Coordinating Care for Critically Ill Patients With Cardiovascular Dysfunction
UNIT VII: PROMOTING HEALTH IN PATIENTS WITH HEMATOLOGICAL DISORDERS
33. Assessment of Hematological Function
34. Coordinating Care for Patients With Hematological Disorders
UNIT VIII: PROMOTING HEALTH IN PATIENTS WITH NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS
35. Assessment of Neurological Function
36. Coordinating Care for Patients With Brain Disorders
37. Coordinating Care for Patients With Spinal Cord Disorders
38. Coordinating Care for Patients With Peripheral Nervous System Disorders
39. Coordinating Care for Critically Ill Patients With Neurological Dysfunction
UNIT IX: PROMOTING HEALTH IN PATIENTS WITH ENDOCRINE DISORDERS
40. Assessment of Endocrine Function
41. Coordinating Care for Patients With Pituitary Disorders
42. Coordinating Care for Patients With Adrenal Disorders
43. Coordinating Care for Patients With Thyroid and Parathyroid Disorders
44. Coordinating Care for Patients With Diabetes Mellitus
UNIT X: PROMOTING HEALTH IN PATIENTS WITH GASTROINTESTINAL DISORDERS
45. Assessment of Gastrointestinal Function
46. Coordinating Care for Patients With Oral and Esophageal Disorders
47. Coordinating Care for Patients With Stomach Disorders
48. Coordinating Care for Patients With Intestinal Disorders
, Page |3
49. Coordinating Care for Patients With Hepatic Disorders
50. Coordinating Care for Patients With Biliary Disorders
UNIT XI: PROMOTING HEALTH IN PATIENTS WITH RENAL AND URINARY DISORDERS
51. Assessment of Renal and Urinary Function
52. Coordinating Care for Patients with Renal Disorders
53. Coordinating Care for Patients with Urinary Disorders
UNIT XII: PROMOTING HEALTH IN PATIENTS WITH REPRODUCTIVE DISORDERS
54. Assessment of Reproductive Function
55. Coordinating Care for Female Patients with Reproductive Disorders
56. Coordinating Care for Male Patients with Reproductive Disorders
57. Coordinating Care for Patients with Sexually Transmitted Infections
UNIT XIII: PROMOTING HEALTH IN PATIENTS WITH MUSCULOSKELETAL AND CONNECTIVE TISSUE
DISORDERS
58. Assessment of Musculoskeletal Function
59. Coordinating Care for Patients with Musculoskeletal Disorders
60. Coordinating Care for Patients with Musculoskeletal Trauma
61. Coordinating Care for Patients with Connective Tissue Disorders
UNIT XIV: PROMOTING HEALTH IN PATIENTS WITH SENSORY PERCEPTION AND INTEGUMENTARY
DISORDERS
62. Assessment of Sensory Function
63. Coordinating Care for Patients With Visual Disorders
64. Coordinating Care for Patients With Auditory Disorders
65. Coordinating Care for Patients With Skin Disorders
66. Coordinating Care for Patients With Burns
UNIT XV: PROMOTING HEALTH IN SPECIAL POPULATIONS
67. Coordinating Care for Patients With Substance Use Disorders
68. Coordinating Care for Patients with Mental Health Disorders
69. Coordinating Care for Patients with Trauma and Emergency Conditions
70. Coordinating Care for Patients With Disasters
71. Coordinating Care for Patients With Emerging Infectious Diseases
Question 1: A newly admitted medical-surgical patient asks the nurse, "What will happen
after you finish your assessment?" Which response by the nurse best reflects the nursing
process?
, Page |4
A) "The provider will see you next."
B) "I will develop a plan of care based on your needs."
C) "You will be discharged soon."
D) "The pharmacist will review your medications."
Correct Answer: B) "I will develop a plan of care based on your needs."
The nursing process is a systematic, cyclic framework (assessment, diagnosis, planning,
implementation, evaluation) that guides nursing practice. After assessment, the nurse
analyzes data, formulates nursing diagnoses, and develops a plan of care. The other
responses do not accurately describe the nursing process .
Question 2: A nurse is caring for a newly admitted adult with multiple chronic conditions.
The patient says, "I want to go home as soon as possible because I have to care for my
grandchildren." Which nursing action best demonstrates patient-centered care?
A) Provide the standard discharge teaching packet immediately
B) Ask the patient what concerns matter most and build the plan around those priorities
C) Explain that hospital priorities must come before family responsibilities
D) Delay teaching until the interprofessional team has completed all consults
Correct Answer: B) Ask the patient what concerns matter most and build the plan around
those priorities
Patient-centered care begins with learning what matters to the patient, including goals,
values, family responsibilities, and barriers to care. By asking about priorities, the nurse can
align education, discharge planning, and treatment goals with the patient's real-life context.
This improves engagement, adherence, and outcomes .
Question 3: A nurse is reviewing the plan of care for a patient with pressure injury risk. The
unit recently adopted a new skin-prevention bundle based on current evidence. Which action
best reflects evidence-based nursing care?
A) Following only the nurse manager's preference for repositioning intervals
B) Using the bundle because it combines research evidence, clinical expertise, and patient
needs
C) Waiting until the patient develops a pressure injury before starting prevention
D) Using a prevention plan that was effective in a different hospital 10 years ago
