Brunner & Suddarth's Textbook of Medical-
Surgical Nursing
15th Edition
Author(s)Janice Hinkle, Kerry H. Cheever,
Kristen Overbaugh
TEST BANK
Reference
Ch. 1 — Professional Nursing Practice
Question Stem
A nurse manager observes a staff nurse routinely documenting
subjective family concerns as "family upset." Which action best
reflects professional nursing practice?
Options
A. Counsel the family to be more specific to help
,documentation.
B. Coach the staff nurse to use objective, specific descriptors
and ask clarifying questions.
C. Accept brief notes since other nurses understand the
situation.
D. Tell the staff nurse to omit family concerns unless they affect
care.
Correct Answer
B
Rationales
• Correct (B): Professional nursing practice emphasizes
accurate, specific documentation and therapeutic
communication; coaching the nurse to elicit and record
objective, actionable information improves patient safety
and continuity of care.
• A: Counseling the family places responsibility on them
rather than improving the nurse’s assessment and
documentation skills.
• C: Accepting vague notes risks miscommunication and is
not consistent with professional standards.
• D: Omitting family concerns ignores psychosocial factors
that can affect outcomes and contradicts comprehensive
nursing assessment.
,Teaching Point
Document objective, specific information—avoid vague phrases
that impede care.
Citation
Hinkle, J., Cheever, K., & Overbaugh, K. (2022). Brunner &
Suddarth’s Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing (15th Ed.). Ch.
1.
2
Reference
Ch. 1 — Nursing
Question Stem
A newly hired nurse is creating a plan for a postoperative
patient who is anxious about self-care at discharge. Which
nursing role best matches this action?
Options
A. Caregiver only — performing tasks for the patient.
B. Patient advocate — ignoring patient preferences to follow
physician orders.
C. Educator and advocate — assessing learning needs and
tailoring discharge teaching.
D. Researcher — performing literature searches at beside.
Correct Answer
C
, Rationales
• Correct (C): Nursing encompasses teaching and advocacy;
assessing learning needs and providing tailored education
prepares the patient for safe self-care and respects patient
autonomy.
• A: Caregiving alone is incomplete; modern nursing includes
education and coordination.
• B: Advocating does not mean ignoring preferences; it
involves supporting patient choices while ensuring safe
care.
• D: Research is part of nursing scholarship but not the
immediate role needed for patient discharge teaching.
Teaching Point
Nurses combine caregiving, education, and advocacy to
promote safe patient self-care.
Citation
Hinkle, J., Cheever, K., & Overbaugh, K. (2022). Brunner &
Suddarth’s Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing (15th Ed.). Ch.
1.
3
Reference
Ch. 1 — The Patient: Consumer of Nursing and Health Care
Surgical Nursing
15th Edition
Author(s)Janice Hinkle, Kerry H. Cheever,
Kristen Overbaugh
TEST BANK
Reference
Ch. 1 — Professional Nursing Practice
Question Stem
A nurse manager observes a staff nurse routinely documenting
subjective family concerns as "family upset." Which action best
reflects professional nursing practice?
Options
A. Counsel the family to be more specific to help
,documentation.
B. Coach the staff nurse to use objective, specific descriptors
and ask clarifying questions.
C. Accept brief notes since other nurses understand the
situation.
D. Tell the staff nurse to omit family concerns unless they affect
care.
Correct Answer
B
Rationales
• Correct (B): Professional nursing practice emphasizes
accurate, specific documentation and therapeutic
communication; coaching the nurse to elicit and record
objective, actionable information improves patient safety
and continuity of care.
• A: Counseling the family places responsibility on them
rather than improving the nurse’s assessment and
documentation skills.
• C: Accepting vague notes risks miscommunication and is
not consistent with professional standards.
• D: Omitting family concerns ignores psychosocial factors
that can affect outcomes and contradicts comprehensive
nursing assessment.
,Teaching Point
Document objective, specific information—avoid vague phrases
that impede care.
Citation
Hinkle, J., Cheever, K., & Overbaugh, K. (2022). Brunner &
Suddarth’s Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing (15th Ed.). Ch.
1.
2
Reference
Ch. 1 — Nursing
Question Stem
A newly hired nurse is creating a plan for a postoperative
patient who is anxious about self-care at discharge. Which
nursing role best matches this action?
Options
A. Caregiver only — performing tasks for the patient.
B. Patient advocate — ignoring patient preferences to follow
physician orders.
C. Educator and advocate — assessing learning needs and
tailoring discharge teaching.
D. Researcher — performing literature searches at beside.
Correct Answer
C
, Rationales
• Correct (C): Nursing encompasses teaching and advocacy;
assessing learning needs and providing tailored education
prepares the patient for safe self-care and respects patient
autonomy.
• A: Caregiving alone is incomplete; modern nursing includes
education and coordination.
• B: Advocating does not mean ignoring preferences; it
involves supporting patient choices while ensuring safe
care.
• D: Research is part of nursing scholarship but not the
immediate role needed for patient discharge teaching.
Teaching Point
Nurses combine caregiving, education, and advocacy to
promote safe patient self-care.
Citation
Hinkle, J., Cheever, K., & Overbaugh, K. (2022). Brunner &
Suddarth’s Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing (15th Ed.). Ch.
1.
3
Reference
Ch. 1 — The Patient: Consumer of Nursing and Health Care
