Medical-Surgical Nursing NCLEX Practice Questions | All Systems | Original Study Resource | 2026
Test Bank for Brunner & Suddarth’s Textbook of
Medical-Surgical Nursing, 16th Edition by Hinkle &
Cheever | Exam Questions and Verified Answers
2026
For Educational Purposes — Original Content NCLEX Study Guide 2026
,Medical-Surgical Nursing NCLEX Practice Questions | All Systems | Original Study Resource | 2026
Table of Contents
Unit 1: Professional Nursing Practice & Ethics 3
Unit 2: Cardiovascular System 6
Unit 3: Respiratory System 14
Unit 4: Neurological System 22
Unit 5: Renal & Urinary System 30
Unit 6: Gastrointestinal System 37
Unit 7: Endocrine System 45
Unit 8: Musculoskeletal System 53
Unit 9: Integumentary System 60
Unit 10: Hematology & Oncology 67
Unit 11: Immune System & Infectious Disease 74
Unit 12: Perioperative Nursing 80
Unit 13: Fluid, Electrolyte & Acid-Base Balance 87
Unit 14: Pain Management & Palliative Care 93
For Educational Purposes — Original Content NCLEX Study Guide 2026
,Medical-Surgical Nursing NCLEX Practice Questions | All Systems | Original Study Resource | 2026
UNIT 1: PROFESSIONAL NURSING PRACTICE & ETHICS
Questions 1–20 | Scope of Practice, Ethics, Legal, Communication, Leadership
Instructions
Select the BEST answer for each question. Review the rationale after each question to reinforce your
understanding of key nursing concepts.
1. A nurse discovers that a colleague has been documenting medication administration without
actually giving the medications. What is the nurse's PRIORITY action?
A. Confront the colleague directly and ask for an explanation
B. Report the observation to the nurse manager or appropriate authority
C. Document the observation in the patient's medical record
D. Ignore the situation as it may be a misunderstanding
ANS: B Report the observation to the nurse manager or appropriate authority
Rationale: Nurses have a professional and ethical obligation to report unsafe or unethical practice.
Reporting to the nurse manager follows the chain of command and protects patient safety.
Confronting the colleague directly is not the priority. Documenting in the patient record is
inappropriate. Ignoring the situation violates the nursing Code of Ethics.
Client Needs: Safe, Effective Care Environment: Management of Care | Cognitive Level: Analysis | Category:
Professional Practice
2. A client refuses a blood transfusion based on religious beliefs. The physician insists the transfusion
is medically necessary. What is the nurse's role?
A. Administer the transfusion because the physician ordered it
B. Advocate for the client's right to refuse treatment
C. Consult the ethics committee immediately
D. Notify the family to override the client's decision
ANS: B Advocate for the client's right to refuse treatment
Rationale: Competent adults have the legal and ethical right to refuse any medical treatment,
including life-saving treatment. The nurse's role is to advocate for the client's autonomy. The nurse
should not administer treatment against a competent client's wishes. Ethics committee consultation
may follow, but advocacy is the immediate priority.
Client Needs: Safe, Effective Care Environment: Management of Care | Cognitive Level: Application |
Category: Ethics
For Educational Purposes — Original Content NCLEX Study Guide 2026
, Medical-Surgical Nursing NCLEX Practice Questions | All Systems | Original Study Resource | 2026
3. Which action by a newly licensed nurse demonstrates an understanding of the scope of nursing
practice?
A. Diagnosing the client with heart failure based on assessment findings
B. Developing a nursing care plan based on nursing diagnoses
C. Prescribing furosemide for a client with fluid overload
D. Determining the medical treatment plan for a post-op client
ANS: B Developing a nursing care plan based on nursing diagnoses
Rationale: Nursing practice includes assessment, nursing diagnosis, planning, implementation, and
evaluation. Developing care plans based on nursing diagnoses is within the nurse's scope. Medical
diagnosis and prescribing medications are outside the nurse's scope (unless an advanced practice
nurse). Ordering medications is the physician's or APRN's role.
Client Needs: Safe, Effective Care Environment | Cognitive Level: Comprehension | Category: Scope of
Practice
4. A nurse is caring for a client who speaks only Spanish. The client's adult child offers to interpret.
What is the nurse's BEST action?
A. Accept the offer as it is the most convenient option
B. Use the adult child to interpret for all medical discussions
C. Request a professional medical interpreter for clinical discussions
D. Communicate only in writing using a translation app
ANS: C Request a professional medical interpreter for clinical discussions
Rationale: Professional medical interpreters are required for accurate clinical communication. Family
members may omit, add, or alter information, and clients may not disclose sensitive information
through family. A translation app is not reliable for complex clinical discussions. Using professional
interpreters protects patient rights and ensures informed consent.
Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity | Cognitive Level: Application | Category: Communication
5. The nurse is delegating tasks to a nursing assistant (NA). Which task is APPROPRIATE for the
nurse to delegate?
A. Assessing a client's wound for signs of infection
B. Administering a PRN oral pain medication
C. Measuring and recording urine output for a stable client
For Educational Purposes — Original Content NCLEX Study Guide 2026
Test Bank for Brunner & Suddarth’s Textbook of
Medical-Surgical Nursing, 16th Edition by Hinkle &
Cheever | Exam Questions and Verified Answers
2026
For Educational Purposes — Original Content NCLEX Study Guide 2026
,Medical-Surgical Nursing NCLEX Practice Questions | All Systems | Original Study Resource | 2026
Table of Contents
Unit 1: Professional Nursing Practice & Ethics 3
Unit 2: Cardiovascular System 6
Unit 3: Respiratory System 14
Unit 4: Neurological System 22
Unit 5: Renal & Urinary System 30
Unit 6: Gastrointestinal System 37
Unit 7: Endocrine System 45
Unit 8: Musculoskeletal System 53
Unit 9: Integumentary System 60
Unit 10: Hematology & Oncology 67
Unit 11: Immune System & Infectious Disease 74
Unit 12: Perioperative Nursing 80
Unit 13: Fluid, Electrolyte & Acid-Base Balance 87
Unit 14: Pain Management & Palliative Care 93
For Educational Purposes — Original Content NCLEX Study Guide 2026
,Medical-Surgical Nursing NCLEX Practice Questions | All Systems | Original Study Resource | 2026
UNIT 1: PROFESSIONAL NURSING PRACTICE & ETHICS
Questions 1–20 | Scope of Practice, Ethics, Legal, Communication, Leadership
Instructions
Select the BEST answer for each question. Review the rationale after each question to reinforce your
understanding of key nursing concepts.
1. A nurse discovers that a colleague has been documenting medication administration without
actually giving the medications. What is the nurse's PRIORITY action?
A. Confront the colleague directly and ask for an explanation
B. Report the observation to the nurse manager or appropriate authority
C. Document the observation in the patient's medical record
D. Ignore the situation as it may be a misunderstanding
ANS: B Report the observation to the nurse manager or appropriate authority
Rationale: Nurses have a professional and ethical obligation to report unsafe or unethical practice.
Reporting to the nurse manager follows the chain of command and protects patient safety.
Confronting the colleague directly is not the priority. Documenting in the patient record is
inappropriate. Ignoring the situation violates the nursing Code of Ethics.
Client Needs: Safe, Effective Care Environment: Management of Care | Cognitive Level: Analysis | Category:
Professional Practice
2. A client refuses a blood transfusion based on religious beliefs. The physician insists the transfusion
is medically necessary. What is the nurse's role?
A. Administer the transfusion because the physician ordered it
B. Advocate for the client's right to refuse treatment
C. Consult the ethics committee immediately
D. Notify the family to override the client's decision
ANS: B Advocate for the client's right to refuse treatment
Rationale: Competent adults have the legal and ethical right to refuse any medical treatment,
including life-saving treatment. The nurse's role is to advocate for the client's autonomy. The nurse
should not administer treatment against a competent client's wishes. Ethics committee consultation
may follow, but advocacy is the immediate priority.
Client Needs: Safe, Effective Care Environment: Management of Care | Cognitive Level: Application |
Category: Ethics
For Educational Purposes — Original Content NCLEX Study Guide 2026
, Medical-Surgical Nursing NCLEX Practice Questions | All Systems | Original Study Resource | 2026
3. Which action by a newly licensed nurse demonstrates an understanding of the scope of nursing
practice?
A. Diagnosing the client with heart failure based on assessment findings
B. Developing a nursing care plan based on nursing diagnoses
C. Prescribing furosemide for a client with fluid overload
D. Determining the medical treatment plan for a post-op client
ANS: B Developing a nursing care plan based on nursing diagnoses
Rationale: Nursing practice includes assessment, nursing diagnosis, planning, implementation, and
evaluation. Developing care plans based on nursing diagnoses is within the nurse's scope. Medical
diagnosis and prescribing medications are outside the nurse's scope (unless an advanced practice
nurse). Ordering medications is the physician's or APRN's role.
Client Needs: Safe, Effective Care Environment | Cognitive Level: Comprehension | Category: Scope of
Practice
4. A nurse is caring for a client who speaks only Spanish. The client's adult child offers to interpret.
What is the nurse's BEST action?
A. Accept the offer as it is the most convenient option
B. Use the adult child to interpret for all medical discussions
C. Request a professional medical interpreter for clinical discussions
D. Communicate only in writing using a translation app
ANS: C Request a professional medical interpreter for clinical discussions
Rationale: Professional medical interpreters are required for accurate clinical communication. Family
members may omit, add, or alter information, and clients may not disclose sensitive information
through family. A translation app is not reliable for complex clinical discussions. Using professional
interpreters protects patient rights and ensures informed consent.
Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity | Cognitive Level: Application | Category: Communication
5. The nurse is delegating tasks to a nursing assistant (NA). Which task is APPROPRIATE for the
nurse to delegate?
A. Assessing a client's wound for signs of infection
B. Administering a PRN oral pain medication
C. Measuring and recording urine output for a stable client
For Educational Purposes — Original Content NCLEX Study Guide 2026
