The document is not the original book; it's a handy collection of pre-written exam questions and answers that helps
educators gauge students' understanding of the course material.
It’s a great resource for creating quizzes and exams, saving teachers time and ensuring
students are assessed f...
Understanding Medical-Surgical Nursing 6th Edition Test Bank
Chapter 1. Critical Thinking and the Nursing Process
Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
____ 1. The nurse is caring for a group of patients on a medical-surgical
unit. Which patient should the licensed practical nurse/licensed
vocational nurse (LPN/LVN) assess first?
1. A patient with a blood glucose of 42 mg/dL
2. A patient who reports a pain level of 2
3. A patient who has just received a diagnosis of cancer
4. A patient who has a respiratory rate of 22
____ 2. The LPN/LVN enters the room of a patient who is angry and yells, “I asked 5 minutes ago for
my pain medication. I’m going to call the CEO of the hospital if you don’t get it for me now.”
Which statement by the nurse demonstrates intellectual empathy?
1. “We are short-staffed today, so it will take me longer to meet your needs.”
2. “I am sorry you had to wait, I know you must be in a lot of pain.”
3. “I had another patient who had severe pain, and I had to get to them first.”
4. “I will get you the number for the CEO, but he is aware of how busy we are.”
____ 3. The nurse is collecting data on a patient. Which data are described as subjective?
1. Respiratory rate of 26 per minute
2. Patient report of shortness of breath
3. Coarse lung sounds bilaterally
4. Cough producing green sputum
____ 4. A patient with a newly fractured femur reports a pain level of 8/10 and analgesic medication
is not due for another 50 minutes. Which action should the nurse take first?
1. Reposition the patient.
2. Give the medication in 30 minutes.
3. Notify the registered nurse (RN) or physician.
4. Tell the patient it is too early for pain medication.
____ 5. The nurse is prioritizing care based on Maslow hierarchy of needs. Which need does the nurse
identify as having the highest priority?
1. Job-related stress
2. Feeling of loneliness
3. Pain level of 9 on 0-to-10 scale
4. Lack of confidence
, Understanding Medical-Surgical Nursing 6th Edition Test Bank
____ 6. The nurse is planning care and setting goals for a newly admitted patient. Who should the
nurse include when conducting these nursing actions?
1. Patient
2. Nurse manager
3. Hospital chaplain
4. Patient’s health care provider (HCP)
____ 7. While caring for a patient 4 hours after a surgical procedure, the LPN/LVN notes
serosanguineous drainage on the dressing. Which statement should the nurse use to document
this finding?
1. “Normal drainage noted.”
2. “Moderate drainage recently noted.”
3. “Scant serosanguineous drainage seen on dressing.”
4. “Pale pink drainage 2 cm by 1 cm noted on dressing.”
____ 8. The nurse is caring for a patient using the nursing process. Which step should the nurse take
first?
1. Implementation
2. Planning
3. Nursing diagnosis
4. Assessment
____ 9. The nurse is administering morphine to a patient reporting a pain level of 8 on a 0-to-10 scale.
This describes which step of the nursing process?
1. Assessment
2. Nursing diagnosis
3. Implementation
4. Evaluation
____ 10. The nurse is developing an outcome for a patient with exacerbation of asthma. Which is the
most appropriate outcome for this patient?
1. The patient will not experience shortness of breath.
2. The patient will have a respiratory rate of 16 to 20 per minute.
3. The patient will ambulate without reporting shortness of breath.
4. The patient will not require use of an inhaler.
____ 11. The nurse suspects a patient is experiencing adverse effects to a newly prescribed
antihypertensive medication. After being informed that the effects are expected, the nurse
remains concerned and conducts an Internet search on the patient’s manifestations. Which
critical thinking behavior did the nurse implement?
1. Sense of justice
2. Intellectual courage
3. Intellectual empathy
4. Intellectual perseverance
____ 12. The nurse is identifying outcomes for a patient with fluid volume deficit. Which outcome
should the nurse use to guide this patient’s care?
1. Patient’s intake will be measured daily.
2. Patient’s intake will be 3,000 mL daily.
3. Fluids will be at the bedside for the patient.
4. Fluids the patient likes will be at the bedside.
, Understanding Medical-Surgical Nursing 6th Edition Test Bank
____ 13. The nurse is formulating nursing diagnoses for a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease (COPD). Which diagnosis is of the highest priority?
1. Activity intolerance
2. Impaired gas exchange
3. Risk for injury
4. Deficient knowledge
____ 14. An RN delegates a patient care assignment to the LPN/LVN. Which phase of the nursing
process should the LPN/LVN perform independently?
1. Assessment
2. Planning care
3. Implementation
4. Nursing diagnosis
____ 15. The LPN/LVN is reviewing a care plan for a patient who underwent abdominal surgery 2
hours ago and has a priority nursing diagnosis of acute pain. Which intervention should the
nurse implement first?
1. Teach the patient how to splint the abdomen when coughing.
2. Assist the patient with early ambulation.
3. Encourage the patient to increase fluid intake.
4. Administer hydromorphone (Dilaudid) per order as needed for pain.
____ 16. Which critical thinking trait is demonstrated when the LPN/LVN is unsure of how to perform
a dressing change and asks the RN for assistance?
1. Intellectual courage
2. Intellectual integrity
3. Intellectual humility
4. Intellectual empathy
____ 17. During morning report, the LPN/LPN is assigned a group of patients. Which patient should
the LPN/LPN see first?
1. A patient scheduled for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) due to back pain
2. A patient reporting constipation and stomach cramps
3. A 2-day postsurgical patient reporting pain at a level of 6
4. A patient with pneumonia who is short of breath and anxious
____ 18. The LPN/LVN asks a patient who received 2 mg of Morphine IV 30 minutes ago to rate his or
her pain. This describes which step of the nursing process?
1. Assessment
2. Planning
3. Implementation
4. Evaluation
____ 19. The LPN/LVN is assisting the RN in planning interventions for a patient. Which is an
example of a collaborative action?
1. Administering a medication
2. Giving a back rub
3. Assessing a patient
4. Teaching relaxation techniques
____ 20. The LPN/LVN is reviewing nursing diagnoses for a patient. Which diagnosis should the nurse
report to the RN as incorrect?
1. Risk for injury
, Understanding Medical-Surgical Nursing 6th Edition Test Bank
2. Heart failure
3. Ineffective gas exchange
4. Activity intolerance
____ 21. The LPN/LVN is caring for a group of patients. Which patient should the nurse assess first?
1. A patient with an oxygen saturation level of 96% on room air
2. A patient who has a blood pressure of 208/114 mm Hg
3. A patient who reports a pain level of 7 on a scale of 0 to 10
4. A patient with a temperature of 100.2°F
____ 22. The LPN/LVN is caring for a patient who begins to exhibit shortness of breath and chest pain.
Which action should the nurse take first?
1. Administer medication as ordered.
2. Notify the RN.
3. Document the findings in the chart.
4. Reposition the patient.
____ 23. While teaching how to apply a topical medication the patient begins to vomit. Which action
should the nurse take to meet the patient’s human needs?
1. Provide a clean gown before resuming the teaching.
2. Position an emesis basin for patient use while teaching.
3. Administer medication prescribed for nausea and vomiting.
4. Wait for the vomiting to stop and begin the teaching session again.
____ 24. A nurse approaches a person in a restaurant who appears to be experiencing respiratory
distress. Which action should the nurse perform first?
1. Diagnose the problem.
2. Assist the person to lie down.
3. Gather data from other people.
4. Collect data about the person’s condition.
____ 25. The nurse is reviewing nursing diagnoses. Which is an example of a correctly written nursing
diagnosis?
1. Acute pain related to tissue trauma as evidenced by facial grimacing and rating
pain at a level of 9 on a 0-to-10 scale
2. Pain related to appendicitis as evidenced by moaning and guarding
3. Acute pain related to guarding abdomen and rating pain at a level of 9 on a 0-to-10
scale
4. Pain as evidenced by status postsurgical procedure
____ 26. After identifying nursing diagnoses the nurse plans outcomes for a patient with
gastroesophageal reflux disease. Which outcome should the nurse use to evaluate this
patient’s care?
1. The patient will have less heartburn.
2. The patient will sleep through the night.
3. The patient’s esophageal burning will resolve 30 minutes after taking oral antacids.
4. The patient will state that burning only occurs when eating foods high in acid
content.
Multiple Response
Identify one or more choices that best complete the statement or answer the question.
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller QuizNursing. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $18.49. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
