SMART START
2025/2026
,ADULT HEALTH
NURSING
Designed to strengthen understanding
of core nursing concepts. Covering
anatomy and physiology, surgical care,
and the management of patients with
disorders across major body systems,
this guide provides clear explanations,
practice questions, and rationales to
build confidence.
,Contents
SECTION 1: Overview of Anatomy and Physiology ....................................................................................... 2
SECTION 2: Nursing Care of the Surgical Patient ........................................................................................ 11
SECTION 3: Nursing Care of the Patient with an Integumentary Disorder................................................... 26
SECTION 4: Nursing Care of the Patient with a Musculoskeletal Disorder ................................................... 38
SECTION 5: Nursing Care of the Patient With a Gastrointestinal Disorder ................................................... 53
SECTION 6: Nursing Care of the Patient With a Gallbladder, Liver, Biliary Tract, or Exocrine Pancreatic
Disorder........................................................................................................................................................... 64
SECTION 7: Nursing Care of the Patient With a Blood or Lymphatic Disorder ............................................ 78
SECTION 8: Nursing Care of the Patient With a Cardiovascular or a Peripheral Vascular Disorder ........... 89
SECTION 9: Nursing Care of the Patient With a Respiratory Disorder ...................................................... 104
SECTION 10: Nursing Care of the Patient With a Urinary Disorder........................................................... 115
SECTION 11: Nursing Care of the Patient With an Endocrine Disorder ...................................................... 128
SECTION 12: Nursing Care of the Patient With a Reproductive Disorder ................................................... 140
SECTION 13: Nursing Care of the Patient With a Visual or Auditory Disorder .......................................... 153
SECTION 14: Nursing Care of the Patient With a Neurologic Disorder ..................................................... 164
SECTION 15: Nursing Care of the Patient With an Immune Disorder ........................................................ 177
SECTION 16: Nursing Care of the Patient With HIV/AIDS ......................................................................... 188
SECTION 17: Nursing Care of the Patient With Cancer ............................................................................. 200
SECTION 18: Nursing Professional Roles and Leadership .......................................................................... 211
1
, SECTION 1: Overview of Anatomy and Physiology
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which anatomical term refers to a direction closer to the body’s midline?
a. Anterior
b. Posterior
c. Medial
d. Cranial
ANS: C
The term medial indicates an anatomic direction toward the midline.
2. What is the smallest living unit of structure and function in the human body?
a. Cells
b. Organs
c. Electrons
d. Osmosis
ANS: A
Cells are considered to be the smallest living units of structure and function in our body.
3. Which organelle, the largest within the cell, regulates other organelles and is
responsible for cell reproduction?
a. Nucleus
b. Ribosome
c. Mitochondrion
d. Golgi apparatus
ANS: A
The nucleus is the largest organelle within the cell.
KEY: Nursing Process Step: Assessment MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity
4. When a patient reports bladder pain, which body cavity is most likely affected?
a. Pelvic
b. Mediastinum
c. Dorsal
d. Abdominal
ANS: A
A subdivision called the pelvic cavity contains the lower portion of the large intestine
(lower sigmoid colon, rectum), urinary bladder, and internal structures of the reproductive
system.
5. The four distinct phases of cell division take place during which process?
a. Diffusion.
b. Mitosis.
c. Osmosis.
d. Filtration.
2
2025/2026
,ADULT HEALTH
NURSING
Designed to strengthen understanding
of core nursing concepts. Covering
anatomy and physiology, surgical care,
and the management of patients with
disorders across major body systems,
this guide provides clear explanations,
practice questions, and rationales to
build confidence.
,Contents
SECTION 1: Overview of Anatomy and Physiology ....................................................................................... 2
SECTION 2: Nursing Care of the Surgical Patient ........................................................................................ 11
SECTION 3: Nursing Care of the Patient with an Integumentary Disorder................................................... 26
SECTION 4: Nursing Care of the Patient with a Musculoskeletal Disorder ................................................... 38
SECTION 5: Nursing Care of the Patient With a Gastrointestinal Disorder ................................................... 53
SECTION 6: Nursing Care of the Patient With a Gallbladder, Liver, Biliary Tract, or Exocrine Pancreatic
Disorder........................................................................................................................................................... 64
SECTION 7: Nursing Care of the Patient With a Blood or Lymphatic Disorder ............................................ 78
SECTION 8: Nursing Care of the Patient With a Cardiovascular or a Peripheral Vascular Disorder ........... 89
SECTION 9: Nursing Care of the Patient With a Respiratory Disorder ...................................................... 104
SECTION 10: Nursing Care of the Patient With a Urinary Disorder........................................................... 115
SECTION 11: Nursing Care of the Patient With an Endocrine Disorder ...................................................... 128
SECTION 12: Nursing Care of the Patient With a Reproductive Disorder ................................................... 140
SECTION 13: Nursing Care of the Patient With a Visual or Auditory Disorder .......................................... 153
SECTION 14: Nursing Care of the Patient With a Neurologic Disorder ..................................................... 164
SECTION 15: Nursing Care of the Patient With an Immune Disorder ........................................................ 177
SECTION 16: Nursing Care of the Patient With HIV/AIDS ......................................................................... 188
SECTION 17: Nursing Care of the Patient With Cancer ............................................................................. 200
SECTION 18: Nursing Professional Roles and Leadership .......................................................................... 211
1
, SECTION 1: Overview of Anatomy and Physiology
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which anatomical term refers to a direction closer to the body’s midline?
a. Anterior
b. Posterior
c. Medial
d. Cranial
ANS: C
The term medial indicates an anatomic direction toward the midline.
2. What is the smallest living unit of structure and function in the human body?
a. Cells
b. Organs
c. Electrons
d. Osmosis
ANS: A
Cells are considered to be the smallest living units of structure and function in our body.
3. Which organelle, the largest within the cell, regulates other organelles and is
responsible for cell reproduction?
a. Nucleus
b. Ribosome
c. Mitochondrion
d. Golgi apparatus
ANS: A
The nucleus is the largest organelle within the cell.
KEY: Nursing Process Step: Assessment MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity
4. When a patient reports bladder pain, which body cavity is most likely affected?
a. Pelvic
b. Mediastinum
c. Dorsal
d. Abdominal
ANS: A
A subdivision called the pelvic cavity contains the lower portion of the large intestine
(lower sigmoid colon, rectum), urinary bladder, and internal structures of the reproductive
system.
5. The four distinct phases of cell division take place during which process?
a. Diffusion.
b. Mitosis.
c. Osmosis.
d. Filtration.
2
