NURSING THEORIES AND
NURSING PRACTICE
6TH EDITION
AUTHOR(S)MARLAINE SMITH
TEST BANK
1) Nursing theory as a guide to practice
Reference: Chapter 1 — Nursing Theory and the Discipline of
Nursing
Stem: A medical-surgical nurse cares for several patients with
repeated readmissions for heart failure. One patient has
difficulty following the fluid restriction, another misses follow-
up visits, and a third cannot describe the signs of worsening
symptoms. The nurse wants a framework that will organize
these varied findings and support individualized nursing care.
,Which statement best reflects the value of nursing theory in
this situation?
Options:
A. It replaces clinical judgment with a fixed set of instructions.
B. It helps the nurse interpret patient data and guide nursing
decisions.
C. It is mainly useful for documenting physician-prescribed
care.
D. It is only needed in research, not in direct patient care.
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
B is correct. Nursing theory gives the nurse an organized way
to understand patient data, identify patterns, and plan
appropriate nursing actions. In this scenario, it supports
individualized, theory-guided care rather than a one-size-fits-all
response.
A is incorrect. Theory does not replace judgment; it
strengthens clinical reasoning.
C is incorrect. Nursing theory supports independent nursing
practice, not just documentation of medical orders.
D is incorrect. Theory is used in bedside care as well as
research and education.
Teaching Point: Theory helps nurses organize assessment data
and plan individualized care.
,Citation: Smith, M. (2024). Nursing theories and nursing
practice (6th ed.). Chapter 1: Nursing theory and the discipline
of nursing.
2) Nursing as a discipline
Reference: Chapter 1 — Nursing Theory and the Discipline of
Nursing
Stem: A nurse faculty member asks students to identify an
activity that demonstrates nursing as a discipline rather than
only as a task-oriented profession. Which student example best
shows the discipline of nursing?
Options:
A. Administering medications exactly as prescribed.
B. Studying how fatigue affects self-management in older
adults.
C. Recording vital signs in the electronic health record.
D. Following the provider’s discharge instructions for wound
care.
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
B is correct. A discipline develops and expands its own
knowledge base. Studying a nursing problem and generating
new understanding reflects nursing as a scholarly discipline.
, A is incorrect. Medication administration is important practice,
but it does not by itself demonstrate knowledge development.
C is incorrect. Documentation is a professional responsibility,
not evidence of disciplinary knowledge building.
D is incorrect. Carrying out orders is part of practice, but it
does not show the creation of nursing knowledge.
Teaching Point: A discipline creates knowledge; it does not only
carry out tasks.
Citation: Smith, M. (2024). Nursing theories and nursing
practice (6th ed.). Chapter 1: Nursing theory and the discipline
of nursing.
3) Metaparadigm concept: environment
Reference: Chapter 1 — Nursing Theory and the Discipline of
Nursing
Stem: A community health nurse visits an older adult whose
worsening asthma is linked to damp housing, secondhand
smoke exposure, and difficulty accessing transportation for
clinic follow-up. The nurse notes that these factors strongly
affect the patient’s respiratory status. Which metaparadigm
concept is most clearly represented?
Options:
A. Person
NURSING PRACTICE
6TH EDITION
AUTHOR(S)MARLAINE SMITH
TEST BANK
1) Nursing theory as a guide to practice
Reference: Chapter 1 — Nursing Theory and the Discipline of
Nursing
Stem: A medical-surgical nurse cares for several patients with
repeated readmissions for heart failure. One patient has
difficulty following the fluid restriction, another misses follow-
up visits, and a third cannot describe the signs of worsening
symptoms. The nurse wants a framework that will organize
these varied findings and support individualized nursing care.
,Which statement best reflects the value of nursing theory in
this situation?
Options:
A. It replaces clinical judgment with a fixed set of instructions.
B. It helps the nurse interpret patient data and guide nursing
decisions.
C. It is mainly useful for documenting physician-prescribed
care.
D. It is only needed in research, not in direct patient care.
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
B is correct. Nursing theory gives the nurse an organized way
to understand patient data, identify patterns, and plan
appropriate nursing actions. In this scenario, it supports
individualized, theory-guided care rather than a one-size-fits-all
response.
A is incorrect. Theory does not replace judgment; it
strengthens clinical reasoning.
C is incorrect. Nursing theory supports independent nursing
practice, not just documentation of medical orders.
D is incorrect. Theory is used in bedside care as well as
research and education.
Teaching Point: Theory helps nurses organize assessment data
and plan individualized care.
,Citation: Smith, M. (2024). Nursing theories and nursing
practice (6th ed.). Chapter 1: Nursing theory and the discipline
of nursing.
2) Nursing as a discipline
Reference: Chapter 1 — Nursing Theory and the Discipline of
Nursing
Stem: A nurse faculty member asks students to identify an
activity that demonstrates nursing as a discipline rather than
only as a task-oriented profession. Which student example best
shows the discipline of nursing?
Options:
A. Administering medications exactly as prescribed.
B. Studying how fatigue affects self-management in older
adults.
C. Recording vital signs in the electronic health record.
D. Following the provider’s discharge instructions for wound
care.
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
B is correct. A discipline develops and expands its own
knowledge base. Studying a nursing problem and generating
new understanding reflects nursing as a scholarly discipline.
, A is incorrect. Medication administration is important practice,
but it does not by itself demonstrate knowledge development.
C is incorrect. Documentation is a professional responsibility,
not evidence of disciplinary knowledge building.
D is incorrect. Carrying out orders is part of practice, but it
does not show the creation of nursing knowledge.
Teaching Point: A discipline creates knowledge; it does not only
carry out tasks.
Citation: Smith, M. (2024). Nursing theories and nursing
practice (6th ed.). Chapter 1: Nursing theory and the discipline
of nursing.
3) Metaparadigm concept: environment
Reference: Chapter 1 — Nursing Theory and the Discipline of
Nursing
Stem: A community health nurse visits an older adult whose
worsening asthma is linked to damp housing, secondhand
smoke exposure, and difficulty accessing transportation for
clinic follow-up. The nurse notes that these factors strongly
affect the patient’s respiratory status. Which metaparadigm
concept is most clearly represented?
Options:
A. Person
