Med/Surg Exam 1 Study Guide 2026/2027) (Complete and Verified) (10pages)

1. What is SBAR? (page 15)

SBAR is a model for effective transfer of information by providing a standardized structure for

concise factual communication from nurse-to-nurse, nurse-to-physician, or nurse-to-other

healthcare provider.

S=Situation; What is the situation you want to discuss? What is happening at the present time?

Identify self, unit; Briefly state the problem.

B=Background; What is the background or circumstances leading up to the situation? Provide

admitting diagnosis and date of admission, list of current medications, allergies, IV fluids, most

recent vital signs, date and time of lab tests and results from previous tests, synopsis of treatment

to date, and code status

A=Assessment; What do you think the problem is? What is your assessment of the situation?

State what you think the problem is

R=Recommendation/Request; What should we do to correct the problem? What is your

recommendation? State specific treatments, tests needed, or patient needs to be seen now

2. How do you prioritize patient care?

Base prioritizing care of a patient based on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Focus on the patient’s

most essential needs first, including airway, breathing, and circulation, sleep status, pain status,

and risk for injury. Then focus on less pressing matters, such as patient teaching and

demonstration. It is all based on patient needs and safety.

3. What is EBP and how does it impact patient care? (page 11-12)

EBP (evidence-based practice) is a problem-solving approach to clinical decision making

involging the use of the best available evidence (e.g. research findings, data from quality

improvement projects, professional organization standards) in combination with clinician

expertise and patient preferences and values to achieve desired patient outcomes.

It delivers the highest quality of care for the best patient outcome.

Seven critical steps: 1) Creating a spirit of inquiry; 2) Ask the burning clinical question using

PICOT (Patients, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, Time period); 3) Collect most relevant

best evidence; 4) Critically appraise and synthesize the evidence; 5) Integrate evidence with

clinical expertise and patient preferences and values; 6) Evaluate the practice decision; 7) Share

outcomes of the decision

4. How does a nurse provide culturally appropriate care? What is a cultural assessment

guide? (page 31)

-Treat all patients equally; Be aware of your own biases or prejudices and work toward

eliminating them; Evaluate your own cultural beliefs and values; Learn about services and

programs that focus on specific cultural/ethnic groups; Make sure that the same standards of care

are followed for all patients regardless of culture or ethnicity; Identify healthcare practices and

cultural practices that are important to that patient; Advocate for the patient and their cultural