Test Bank for Medical-Surgical Nursing: Concepts for
Interprofessional Collaborative Care 11th Edition by Ignatavicius,
Bebar, and Heimgartner
, Chapter 01: Overview of Professional Nursing Concepts for Medical-Surgical Nursing
Ignatavicius: Medical-Surgical Nursing, 11th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1.
A novice nurse is receiving guidance from a preceptor on a medical-surgical floor. According to
the preceptor, what should be the nurse’s top priority in professional practice?
A. Addressing the client’s overall well-being
B. Protecting clients from harm
C. Avoiding medication mistakes
D. Delivering personalized care
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
While all of these actions represent good nursing practice, the most fundamental obligation of
every nurse is ensuring client safety. Protection from harm underpins all aspects of
healthcare, as reflected in the Institute of Medicine’s landmark report To Err Is Human,
which revealed that thousands of deaths annually result from preventable medical errors.
Medication safety, comfort, and individualized care are critical, but they are subsets of the
broader principle of safeguarding clients from harm. Nurses are often the last line of defense
between patients and potential hazards, which makes vigilance and advocacy for safety the
top priority in practice. By focusing on preventing harm, nurses also create the foundation
upon which holistic and individualized care can be effectively provided.
2.
While orienting a new patient and their family to the unit, what should the nurse emphasize to
encourage the patient’s active role in ensuring their safety?
,A. Motivate both the patient and family to participate in care
B. Ask the patient to observe hand hygiene among staff
C. Allow the family to remain at the bedside
D. Remind the patient to wear their ID bracelet
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
Active participation of both patients and families creates a partnership for safety. Encouraging
questions, involvement in decisions, and speaking up if something seems wrong helps
prevent oversights. For example, families may notice subtle changes in condition or errors in
identification that staff could miss. While reminding about ID bands and hygiene are helpful
strategies, they represent limited safety measures compared with full engagement. Studies
show that engaged patients and families reduce the likelihood of adverse events and increase
satisfaction with care. Nurses can foster this collaboration by explaining routines, inviting
feedback, and empowering patients to take responsibility as part of the healthcare team.
3.
A surgical client’s blood pressure drops significantly within 30 minutes—from 142/76 mm Hg
to 88/50 mm Hg. What is the nurse’s immediate action?
A. Activate the Rapid Response Team
B. Record the change and monitor further
C. Call the healthcare provider
D. Check blood pressure again in 15 minutes
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
This dramatic and rapid decline in blood pressure signals a potentially life-threatening
, condition, such as hemorrhage, hypovolemia, or shock. The Rapid Response Team (RRT) is
specifically designed to intervene in such situations before a cardiac arrest occurs.
Documentation and rechecking vital signs would delay critical intervention, and contacting
the provider without activating the RRT risks losing valuable time. Activating the RRT
ensures immediate multidisciplinary support, including physicians, respiratory therapists,
and critical care nurses, to stabilize the patient. Prompt escalation can make the difference
between recovery and deterioration, reflecting the nurse’s critical role in early recognition
and action.
4.
A nurse aims to practice care centered on the client’s individual needs. Which of the following
actions most aligns with this approach?
A. Explore cultural factors influencing the client’s health decisions
B. Ensure physical needs are all met
C. Explain all scheduled procedures to the family
D. Show the client and family how to use the call light
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
Client-centered care means addressing the whole person, not just physical needs. Culture
significantly influences health beliefs, decision-making, and compliance with care. By
exploring cultural factors, nurses demonstrate respect, empathy, and adaptability, which
fosters trust and strengthens the nurse-client relationship. Meeting physical needs and
explaining procedures are important, but they do not capture the deeper level of
personalization that comes from cultural understanding. Recognizing cultural preferences
ensures interventions are tailored to each client’s values, promoting safety, dignity, and
adherence. In today’s diverse healthcare environments, culturally sensitive care is an
essential competency.
Interprofessional Collaborative Care 11th Edition by Ignatavicius,
Bebar, and Heimgartner
, Chapter 01: Overview of Professional Nursing Concepts for Medical-Surgical Nursing
Ignatavicius: Medical-Surgical Nursing, 11th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1.
A novice nurse is receiving guidance from a preceptor on a medical-surgical floor. According to
the preceptor, what should be the nurse’s top priority in professional practice?
A. Addressing the client’s overall well-being
B. Protecting clients from harm
C. Avoiding medication mistakes
D. Delivering personalized care
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
While all of these actions represent good nursing practice, the most fundamental obligation of
every nurse is ensuring client safety. Protection from harm underpins all aspects of
healthcare, as reflected in the Institute of Medicine’s landmark report To Err Is Human,
which revealed that thousands of deaths annually result from preventable medical errors.
Medication safety, comfort, and individualized care are critical, but they are subsets of the
broader principle of safeguarding clients from harm. Nurses are often the last line of defense
between patients and potential hazards, which makes vigilance and advocacy for safety the
top priority in practice. By focusing on preventing harm, nurses also create the foundation
upon which holistic and individualized care can be effectively provided.
2.
While orienting a new patient and their family to the unit, what should the nurse emphasize to
encourage the patient’s active role in ensuring their safety?
,A. Motivate both the patient and family to participate in care
B. Ask the patient to observe hand hygiene among staff
C. Allow the family to remain at the bedside
D. Remind the patient to wear their ID bracelet
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
Active participation of both patients and families creates a partnership for safety. Encouraging
questions, involvement in decisions, and speaking up if something seems wrong helps
prevent oversights. For example, families may notice subtle changes in condition or errors in
identification that staff could miss. While reminding about ID bands and hygiene are helpful
strategies, they represent limited safety measures compared with full engagement. Studies
show that engaged patients and families reduce the likelihood of adverse events and increase
satisfaction with care. Nurses can foster this collaboration by explaining routines, inviting
feedback, and empowering patients to take responsibility as part of the healthcare team.
3.
A surgical client’s blood pressure drops significantly within 30 minutes—from 142/76 mm Hg
to 88/50 mm Hg. What is the nurse’s immediate action?
A. Activate the Rapid Response Team
B. Record the change and monitor further
C. Call the healthcare provider
D. Check blood pressure again in 15 minutes
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
This dramatic and rapid decline in blood pressure signals a potentially life-threatening
, condition, such as hemorrhage, hypovolemia, or shock. The Rapid Response Team (RRT) is
specifically designed to intervene in such situations before a cardiac arrest occurs.
Documentation and rechecking vital signs would delay critical intervention, and contacting
the provider without activating the RRT risks losing valuable time. Activating the RRT
ensures immediate multidisciplinary support, including physicians, respiratory therapists,
and critical care nurses, to stabilize the patient. Prompt escalation can make the difference
between recovery and deterioration, reflecting the nurse’s critical role in early recognition
and action.
4.
A nurse aims to practice care centered on the client’s individual needs. Which of the following
actions most aligns with this approach?
A. Explore cultural factors influencing the client’s health decisions
B. Ensure physical needs are all met
C. Explain all scheduled procedures to the family
D. Show the client and family how to use the call light
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
Client-centered care means addressing the whole person, not just physical needs. Culture
significantly influences health beliefs, decision-making, and compliance with care. By
exploring cultural factors, nurses demonstrate respect, empathy, and adaptability, which
fosters trust and strengthens the nurse-client relationship. Meeting physical needs and
explaining procedures are important, but they do not capture the deeper level of
personalization that comes from cultural understanding. Recognizing cultural preferences
ensures interventions are tailored to each client’s values, promoting safety, dignity, and
adherence. In today’s diverse healthcare environments, culturally sensitive care is an
essential competency.
