Chapter 1: Introduction to Medical-Surgical Nursing Practice
Ignatavicius: Medical-Surgical Nursing, 8th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A new nurse is
... [Show More] 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.
d. Repeat blood pressure measurement in 15 minutes. [Show Less]