Chapter 01: Professional Nursing

Test Bank

MULTIPLE CHOICE

1. The nurse teaches a student nurse about how to apply the nursing process when providing patient care.

Which statement, if made by the student nurse, indicates that teaching was successful?

a. The nursing process is a scientific-based method of diagnosing the patients health care problems.

b. The nursing process is a problem-solving tool used to identify and treat patients health care needs.

c. The nursing process is based on nursing theory that incorporates the biopsychosocial nature of

humans.

d. The nursing process is used primarily to explain nursing interventions to other health care

professionals.

ANS: B

The nursing process is a problem-solving approach to the identification and treatment of patients problems.

Diagnosis is only one phase of the nursing process. The primary use of the nursing process is in patient care,

not to establish nursing theory or explain nursing interventions to other health care professionals.

DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (comprehension)

TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: NCLEX: Safe and Effective Care Environment

2. The nurse describes to a student nurse how to use evidence-based practice guidelines when caring for

patients. Which statement, if made by the nurse, would be the most accurate?

a. Inferences from clinical research studies are used as a guide.

b. Patient care is based on clinical judgment, experience, and traditions.

c. Data are evaluated to show that the patient outcomes are consistently met.

d. Recommendations are based on research, clinical expertise, and patient preferences.

ANS: D

Evidence-based practice (EBP) is the use of the best research-based evidence combined with clinician

expertise. Clinical judgment based on the nurses clinical experience is part of EBP, but clinical decision

making should also incorporate current research and research-based guidelines. Evaluation of patient outcomes

is important, but interventions should be based on research from randomized control studies with a large

number of subjects.

DIF: Cognitive Level: Remember (knowledge)

TOP: Nursing Process: Planning MSC: NCLEX: Safe and Effective Care Environment

Test Bank - Lewis's Medical Surgical Nursing (11th Edition by Harding) 3

3. The nurse completes an admission database and explains that the plan of care and discharge goals will be

developed with the patients input. The patient states, How is this different from what the doctor does? Which

response would be most appropriate for the nurse to make?

a. The role of the nurse is to administer medications and other treatments prescribed by your doctor.

b. The nurses job is to help the doctor by collecting information and communicating any problems

that occur.

c. Nurses perform many of the same procedures as the doctor, but nurses are with the patients for a

longer time than the doctor.

d. In addition to caring for you while you are sick, the nurses will assist you to develop an

individualized plan to maintain your health.

ANS: D

This response is consistent with the American Nurses Association (ANA) definition of nursing, which

describes the role of nurses in promoting health. The other responses describe some of the dependent and

collaborative functions of the nursing role but do not accurately describe the nurses role in the health care

system.

DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (comprehension)

TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: NCLEX: Safe and Effective Care Environment

4. A patient who is paralyzed on the left side of the body after a stroke develops a pressure ulcer on the left hip.

Which nursing diagnosis is most appropriate?

a. Impaired physical mobility related to left-sided paralysis

b. Risk for impaired tissue integrity related to left-sided weakness

c. Impaired skin integrity related to altered circulation and pressure

d. Ineffective tissue perfusion related to inability to move independently

ANS: C

The patients major problem is the impaired skin integrity as demonstrated by the presence of a pressure ulcer.

The nurse is able to treat the cause of altered circulation and pressure by frequently repositioning the patient.

Although left-sided weakness is a problem for the patient, the nurse cannot treat the weakness. The risk for

diagnosis is not appropriate for this patient, who already has impaired tissue integrity. The patient does have

ineffective tissue perfusion, but the impaired skin integrity diagnosis indicates more clearly what the health

problem is.

DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (application)

TOP: Nursing Process: Diagnosis MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity

5. A patient has been admitted to the hospital for surgery and tells the nurse, I do not feel comfortable leaving

my children with my parents. Which action should the nurse take next?

Test Bank - Lewis's Medical Surgical Nursing (11th Edition by Harding) 4

a. Reassure the patient that these feelings are common for parents.

b. Have the patient call the children to ensure that they are doing well.

c. Gather more data about the patients feelings about the child-care arrangements.

d. Call the patients parents to determine whether adequate child care is being provided.

ANS: C

Since a complete assessment is necessary in order to identify a problem and choose an appropriate

intervention, the nurses first action should be to obtain more information. The other actions may be

appropriate, but more assessment is needed before the best intervention can be chosen.

DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (application)

OBJ: Special Questions: Prioritization TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment

MSC: NCLEX: Psychosocial Integrity

6. A patient with a bacterial infection has a nursing diagnosis of deficient fluid volume related to excessive

diaphoresis. Which outcome would the nurse recognize as most appropriate for this patient?

a. Patient has a balanced intake and output.

b. Patients bedding is changed when it becomes damp.

c. Patient understands the need for increased fluid intake.

d. Patients skin remains cool and dry throughout hospitalization.

ANS: A

This statement gives measurable data showing resolution of the problem of deficient fluid volume that was

identified in the nursing diagnosis statement. The other statements would not indicate that the problem of

deficient fluid volume was resolved.

DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (application)

TOP: Nursing Process: Planning MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity

7. A nurse asks the patient if pain was relieved after receiving medication. What is the purpose of the

evaluation phase of the nursing process?

a. To determine if interventions have been effective in meeting patient outcomes

b. To document the nursing care plan in the progress notes of the medical record

c. To decide whether the patients health problems have been completely resolved

Test Bank - Lewis's Medical Surgical Nursing (11th Edition by Harding) 5

d. To establish if the patient agrees that the nursing care provided was satisfactory

ANS: A

Evaluation consists of determining whether the desired patient outcomes have been met and whether the

nursing interventions were appropriate. The other responses do not describe the evaluation phase.

DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (comprehension)

TOP: Nursing Process: Evaluation MSC: NCLEX: Safe and Effective Care Environment

8. The nurse interviews a patient while completing the health history and physical examination. What is the

purpose of the assessment phase of the nursing process?

a. To teach interventions that relieve health problems

b. To use patient data to evaluate patient care outcomes

c. To obtain data with which to diagnose patient problems

d. To help the patient identify realistic outcomes for health problems

ANS: C

During the assessment phase, the nurse gathers information about the patient to diagnose patient problems. The

other responses are examples of the planning, intervention, and evaluation phases of the nursing process.

DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (comprehension)

TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment MSC: NCLEX: Safe and Effective Care Environment

9. Which nursing diagnosis statement is written correctly?

a. Altered tissue perfusion related to heart failure

b. Risk for impaired tissue integrity related to sacral redness

c. Ineffective coping related to response to biopsy test results

d. Altered urinary elimination related to urinary tract infection

ANS: C

This diagnosis statement includes a NANDA nursing diagnosis and an etiology that describes a patients

response to a health problem that can be treated by nursing. The use of a medical diagnosis as an etiology (as

in the responses beginning Altered tissue perfusion and Altered urinary elimination) is not appropriate. The

response beginning Risk for impaired tissue integrity uses the defining characteristic as the etiology.

DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (comprehension)

TOP: Nursing Process: Diagnosis MSC: NCLEX: Safe and Effective Care Environment

Test Bank - Lewis's Medical Surgical Nursing (11th Edition by Harding) 6

10. The nurse admits a patient to the hospital and develops a plan of care. What components should the nurse

include in the nursing diagnosis statement?

a. The problem and the suggested patient goals or outcomes

b. The problem with possible causes and the planned interventions

c. The problem, its cause, and objective data that support the problem

d. The problem with an etiology and the signs and symptoms of the problem

ANS: D

When writing nursing diagnoses, this format should be used: problem, etiology, and signs and symptoms. The

subjective, as well as objective, data should be included in the defining characteristics. Interventions and

outcomes are not included in the nursing diagnosis statement.

DIF: Cognitive Level: Remember (knowledge)

TOP: Nursing Process: Diagnosis MSC: NCLEX: Safe and Effective Care Environment

11. A nurse is caring for a patient with heart failure. Which task is appropriate for the nurse to delegate to

experienced unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP)?

a. Monitor for shortness of breath or fatigue after ambulation.

b. Instruct the patient about the need to alternate activity and rest.

c. Obtain the patients blood pressure and pulse rate after ambulation.

d. Determine whether the patient is ready to increase the activity level.

ANS: C

UAP education includes accurate vital sign measurement. Assessment and patient teaching require registered

nurse education and scope of practice and cannot be delegated.

DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (application)

OBJ: Special Questions: Delegation TOP: Nursing Process: Planning

MSC: NCLEX: Safe and Effective Care Environment

12. A nurse is caring for a group of patients on the medical-surgical unit with the help of one float registered

nurse (RN), one unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP), and one licensed practical/vocational nurse

(LPN/LVN). Which assignment, if delegated by the nurse, would be inappropriate?

a. Measurement of a patients urine output by UAP

b. Administration of oral medications by LPN/LVN

Test Bank - Lewis's Medical Surgical Nursing (11th Edition by Harding) 7

c. Check for the presence of bowel sounds and flatulence by UAP

d. Care of a patient with diabetes by RN who usually works on the pediatric unit

ANS: C

Assessment requires RN education and scope of practice and cannot be delegated to an LPN/LVN or UAP.

The other assignments made by the RN are appropriate.

DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (application)

OBJ: Special Questions: Delegation TOP: Nursing Process: Planning

MSC: NCLEX: Safe and Effective Care Environment

13. Which task is appropriate for the nurse to delegate to a licensed practical/vocational nurse (LPN/LVN)?

a. Complete the initial admission assessment and plan of care.

b. Document teaching completed before a diagnostic procedure.

c. Instruct a patient about low-fat, reduced sodium dietary restrictions.

d. Obtain bedside blood glucose on a patient before insulin administration.

ANS: D

The education and scope of practice of the LPN/LVN include activities such as obtaining glucose testing using

a finger stick. Patient teaching and the initial assessment and development of the plan of care are nursing

actions that require registered nurse education and scope of practice.

DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (application)

OBJ: Special Questions: Delegation TOP: Nursing Process: Planning

MSC: NCLEX: Safe and Effective Care Environment

14. A nurse is assigned as a case manager for a hospitalized patient with a spinal cord injury. The patient can

expect the nurse functioning in this role to perform which activity?

a. Care for the patient during hospitalization for the injuries.

b. Assist the patient with home care activities during recovery.

c. Determine what medical care the patient needs for optimal rehabilitation.

d. Coordinate the services that the patient receives in the hospital and at home.

ANS: D

The role of the case manager is to coordinate the patients care through multiple settings and levels of care to

Test Bank - Lewis's Medical Surgical Nursing (11th Edition by Harding) 8

allow the maximal patient benefit at the least cost. The case manager does not provide direct care in either the

acute or home setting. The case manager coordinates and advocates for care but does not determine what

medical care is needed; that would be completed by the health care provider or other provider.

DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (application)

TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: NCLEX: Safe and Effective Care Environment

15. The nurse is caring for an older adult patient who had surgery to repair a fractured hip. The patient needs

continued nursing care and physical therapy to improve mobility before returning home. The nurse will help to

arrange for transfer of this patient to which facility?

a. A skilled care facility

b. A residential care facility

c. A transitional care facility

d. An intermediate care facility

ANS: C

Transitional care settings are appropriate for patients who need continued rehabilitation before discharge to

home or to long-term care settings. The patient is no longer in need of the more continuous assessment and

care given in acute care settings. There is no indication that the patient will need the permanent and ongoing

medical and nursing services available in intermediate or skilled care. The patient is not yet independent

enough to transfer to a residential care facility.

DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (application)

MSC: NCLEX: Safe and Effective Care Environment