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,Chapter 1: Introduction to Medical-Surgical Nursing Practice
Ignatavicius: Medical-Surgical Nursing, 8th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A new nurse is working with a preceptor on an inpatient medical-surgical unit. The
preceptor advises the student that which is the priority when working as a professional
nurse?
a. Attending to holistic client needs
b. Ensuring client safety
c. Not making medication errors
d. Providing client-focused care
ANS: B
All actions are appropriate for the professional nurse. However, ensuring client safety is the
priority. Up to 98,000 deaths result each year from errors in hospital care, according to the
2000 Institute of Medicine report. Many more clients have suffered injuries and less serious
outcomes. Every nurse has the responsibility to guard the client’s safety.
DIF: Understanding/Comprehension REF: 2 KEY: Patient safety
MSC: Integrated Process: Nursing Process: Intervention
NOT: Client Needs Category: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Safety and Infection
Control
2. A nurse is orienting a new client and family to the inpatient unit. What information does the
nurse provide to help the client promote his or her own safety?
a. Encourage the client and family to be active partners.
b. Have the client monitor hand hygiene in caregivers.
c. Offer the family the opportunity to stay with the client.
d. Tell the client to always wear his or her armband.
ANS: A
Each action could be important for the client or family to perform. However, encouraging
the client to be active in his or her health care as a partner is the most critical. The other
actions are very limited in scope and do not provide the broad protection that being active
and involved does.
DIF: Understanding/Comprehension REF: 3 KEY: Patient safety
MSC: Integrated Process: Teaching/Learning
NOT: Client Needs Category: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Safety and Infection
Control
3. A nurse is caring for a postoperative client on the surgical unit. The client’s blood pressure
was 142/76 mm Hg 30 minutes ago, and now is 88/50 mm Hg. What action by the nurse is
best?
a. Call the Rapid Response Team.
b. Document and continue to monitor.
c. Notify the primary care provider.
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,d. Repeat blood pressure measurement in 15 minutes.
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, ANS: A
The purpose of the Rapid Response Team (RRT) is to intervene when clients are
deteriorating before they suffer either respiratory or cardiac arrest. Since the client has
manifested a significant change, the nurse should call the RRT. Changes in blood pressure,
mental status, heart rate, and pain are particularly significant. Documentation is vital, but the
nurse must do more than document. The primary care provider should be notified, but this is
not the priority over calling the RRT. The client’s blood pressure should be reassessed
frequently, but the priority is getting the rapid care to the client.
DIF: Applying/Application REF: 3
KEY: Rapid Response Team (RRT)| medical emergencies
MSC: Integrated Process: Communication and Documentation
NOT: Client Needs Category: Physiological Integrity: Physiological Adaptation
4. A nurse wishes to provide client-centered care in all interactions. Which action by the nurse
best demonstrates this concept?
a. Assesses for cultural influences affecting health care
b. Ensures that all the clients’ basic needs are met
c. Tells the client and family about all upcoming tests
d. Thoroughly orients the client and family to the room
ANS: A
Competency in client-focused care is demonstrated when the nurse focuses on
communication, culture, respect, compassion, client education, and empowerment. By
assessing the effect of the client’s culture on health care, this nurse is practicing
client-focused care. Providing for basic needs does not demonstrate this competence.
Simply telling the client about all upcoming tests is not providing empowering education.
Orienting the client and family to the room is an important safety measure, but not directly
related to demonstrating client-centered care.
DIF: Understanding/Comprehension REF: 3
KEY: Patient-centered care| culture MSC: Integrated Process: Caring
NOT: Client Needs Category: Psychosocial Integrity
5. A client is going to be admitted for a scheduled surgical procedure. Which action does the
nurse explain is the most important thing the client can do to protect against errors?
a. Bring a list of all medications and what they are for.
b. Keep the doctor’s phone number by the telephone.
c. Make sure all providers wash hands before entering the room.
d. Write down the name of each caregiver who comes in the room.
ANS: A
Medication errors are the most common type of health care mistake. The Joint
Commission’s Speak Up campaign encourages clients to help ensure their safety. One
recommendation is for clients to know all their medications and why they take them. This
will help prevent medication errors.
DIF: Applying/Application REF: 4
KEY: Speak Up campaign| patient safety MSC: Integrated Process: Teaching/Learning
PrimeArchive
,Chapter 1: Introduction to Medical-Surgical Nursing Practice
Ignatavicius: Medical-Surgical Nursing, 8th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A new nurse is working with a preceptor on an inpatient medical-surgical unit. The
preceptor advises the student that which is the priority when working as a professional
nurse?
a. Attending to holistic client needs
b. Ensuring client safety
c. Not making medication errors
d. Providing client-focused care
ANS: B
All actions are appropriate for the professional nurse. However, ensuring client safety is the
priority. Up to 98,000 deaths result each year from errors in hospital care, according to the
2000 Institute of Medicine report. Many more clients have suffered injuries and less serious
outcomes. Every nurse has the responsibility to guard the client’s safety.
DIF: Understanding/Comprehension REF: 2 KEY: Patient safety
MSC: Integrated Process: Nursing Process: Intervention
NOT: Client Needs Category: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Safety and Infection
Control
2. A nurse is orienting a new client and family to the inpatient unit. What information does the
nurse provide to help the client promote his or her own safety?
a. Encourage the client and family to be active partners.
b. Have the client monitor hand hygiene in caregivers.
c. Offer the family the opportunity to stay with the client.
d. Tell the client to always wear his or her armband.
ANS: A
Each action could be important for the client or family to perform. However, encouraging
the client to be active in his or her health care as a partner is the most critical. The other
actions are very limited in scope and do not provide the broad protection that being active
and involved does.
DIF: Understanding/Comprehension REF: 3 KEY: Patient safety
MSC: Integrated Process: Teaching/Learning
NOT: Client Needs Category: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Safety and Infection
Control
3. A nurse is caring for a postoperative client on the surgical unit. The client’s blood pressure
was 142/76 mm Hg 30 minutes ago, and now is 88/50 mm Hg. What action by the nurse is
best?
a. Call the Rapid Response Team.
b. Document and continue to monitor.
c. Notify the primary care provider.
PrimeArchive
,d. Repeat blood pressure measurement in 15 minutes.
PrimeArchive
, ANS: A
The purpose of the Rapid Response Team (RRT) is to intervene when clients are
deteriorating before they suffer either respiratory or cardiac arrest. Since the client has
manifested a significant change, the nurse should call the RRT. Changes in blood pressure,
mental status, heart rate, and pain are particularly significant. Documentation is vital, but the
nurse must do more than document. The primary care provider should be notified, but this is
not the priority over calling the RRT. The client’s blood pressure should be reassessed
frequently, but the priority is getting the rapid care to the client.
DIF: Applying/Application REF: 3
KEY: Rapid Response Team (RRT)| medical emergencies
MSC: Integrated Process: Communication and Documentation
NOT: Client Needs Category: Physiological Integrity: Physiological Adaptation
4. A nurse wishes to provide client-centered care in all interactions. Which action by the nurse
best demonstrates this concept?
a. Assesses for cultural influences affecting health care
b. Ensures that all the clients’ basic needs are met
c. Tells the client and family about all upcoming tests
d. Thoroughly orients the client and family to the room
ANS: A
Competency in client-focused care is demonstrated when the nurse focuses on
communication, culture, respect, compassion, client education, and empowerment. By
assessing the effect of the client’s culture on health care, this nurse is practicing
client-focused care. Providing for basic needs does not demonstrate this competence.
Simply telling the client about all upcoming tests is not providing empowering education.
Orienting the client and family to the room is an important safety measure, but not directly
related to demonstrating client-centered care.
DIF: Understanding/Comprehension REF: 3
KEY: Patient-centered care| culture MSC: Integrated Process: Caring
NOT: Client Needs Category: Psychosocial Integrity
5. A client is going to be admitted for a scheduled surgical procedure. Which action does the
nurse explain is the most important thing the client can do to protect against errors?
a. Bring a list of all medications and what they are for.
b. Keep the doctor’s phone number by the telephone.
c. Make sure all providers wash hands before entering the room.
d. Write down the name of each caregiver who comes in the room.
ANS: A
Medication errors are the most common type of health care mistake. The Joint
Commission’s Speak Up campaign encourages clients to help ensure their safety. One
recommendation is for clients to know all their medications and why they take them. This
will help prevent medication errors.
DIF: Applying/Application REF: 4
KEY: Speak Up campaign| patient safety MSC: Integrated Process: Teaching/Learning
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