WGU D439 Foundations of Nursing | Objective
Assessment (OA) Complete Study Guide
2026/2027 Edition | 100+ Practice Questions with
Verified Answers & Detailed Rationales
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Passed my WGU D439 OA on the first try!"
– Sarah M., WGU Nursing Student
"I was so nervous about the Foundations of Nursing Objective Assessment. This study guide was a
lifesaver! The 85+ practice questions were incredibly similar to what I saw on the actual OA. The detailed
rationales helped me understand why the correct answer was right, not just memorize. The delegation
section (AP vs LPN vs RN scope) and the nursing process (ADPIE) were especially helpful. I passed with
flying colors! Highly recommend for any WGU nursing student."
EXAM OVERVIEW
Feature Details
Course Code WGU D439
Course Title Foundations of Nursing
Assessment Objective Assessment (OA) / Proctored Exam
Type
Academic 2026/2027
Year
Question Multiple-choice, Select-All-That-Apply (SATA), Ordered
Format Response
Content Nursing Process, Delegation, Legal/Ethical Issues, Vital Signs,
Focus Safety, Infection Control, Mobility, Elimination, Wound Care,
Professionalism
,SECTION 1: FOUNDATIONS OF NURSING & PROFESSIONALISM
1. Nursing originated from the Latin word ________________________, meaning to
nourish.
A) Nutrix
B) Nurtura
C) Nursia
D) Noxia
Correct Answer: A – Nutrix
Rationale: Nursing originated from the Latin word "nutrix," which means to nourish, foster,
or protect. This etymology reflects the caring essence of the nursing profession.
2. The American Nurses Association (ANA) defines nursing as:
A) The diagnosis and treatment of human responses to actual or potential health problems
B) The protection, promotion, and optimization of health and abilities, prevention of
illness and injury, alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of
human response and advocacy in the care of individuals, families, communities, and
populations
C) The science of caring for the sick, injured, and aged
D) The art of applying scientific knowledge to help others reach maximum health
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The ANA's formal definition of nursing emphasizes protection, promotion,
optimization of health, prevention of illness and injury, alleviation of suffering, diagnosis and
treatment of human response, and advocacy across individuals, families, communities, and
populations.
,3. The patient is the central focus of all definitions of nursing. This includes which
dimensions? (Select all that apply)
A) Physical
B) Emotional
C) Social
D) Spiritual
E) Financial
Correct Answers: A, B, C, D – Physical, Emotional, Social, Spiritual
Rationale: The patient as the central focus includes physical, emotional, social, and
spiritual dimensions. Holistic care addresses all these aspects of the person.
4. Which of the following are criteria that distinguish nursing as a profession? (Select all that
apply)
A) Well-defined body of specific and unique knowledge
B) Strong service orientation
C) Code of ethics
D) Autonomy and self-regulation
E) Profit-driven business model
Correct Answers: A, B, C, D
Rationale: Professional criteria for nursing include a well-defined body of knowledge,
service orientation, recognized authority, code of ethics, professional organization, ongoing
research, and autonomy/self-regulation.
5. Florence Nightingale is credited with:
A) Establishing the American Red Cross
B) Defining nursing as both an art and science, differentiating nursing from medicine,
and creating freestanding nursing education
, C) Writing the first nursing code of ethics
D) Founding the first nursing school in the United States
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Florence Nightingale is considered the founder of modern nursing. She defined
nursing as an art and science, differentiated it from medicine, established standards for
hospital management and nursing education, and maintained accurate patient records.
6. What are the four aims of nursing?
A) To assess, diagnose, plan, and evaluate
B) To promote health, prevent illness, restore health, and facilitate coping with
disability or death
C) To medicate, monitor, document, and discharge
D) To comfort, cure, counsel, and coordinate
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The four broad aims of nursing practice are to promote health, prevent illness,
restore health, and facilitate coping with disability or death.
7. Caring is described as:
A) A task-oriented approach to patient care
B) The essence of nursing and the most central and unifying focus of nursing
practice
C) A medical intervention prescribed by physicians
D) An optional component of nursing care
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Caring is the essence of nursing and represents the most central and unifying
focus of nursing practice. It distinguishes nursing from other healthcare disciplines.
Assessment (OA) Complete Study Guide
2026/2027 Edition | 100+ Practice Questions with
Verified Answers & Detailed Rationales
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Passed my WGU D439 OA on the first try!"
– Sarah M., WGU Nursing Student
"I was so nervous about the Foundations of Nursing Objective Assessment. This study guide was a
lifesaver! The 85+ practice questions were incredibly similar to what I saw on the actual OA. The detailed
rationales helped me understand why the correct answer was right, not just memorize. The delegation
section (AP vs LPN vs RN scope) and the nursing process (ADPIE) were especially helpful. I passed with
flying colors! Highly recommend for any WGU nursing student."
EXAM OVERVIEW
Feature Details
Course Code WGU D439
Course Title Foundations of Nursing
Assessment Objective Assessment (OA) / Proctored Exam
Type
Academic 2026/2027
Year
Question Multiple-choice, Select-All-That-Apply (SATA), Ordered
Format Response
Content Nursing Process, Delegation, Legal/Ethical Issues, Vital Signs,
Focus Safety, Infection Control, Mobility, Elimination, Wound Care,
Professionalism
,SECTION 1: FOUNDATIONS OF NURSING & PROFESSIONALISM
1. Nursing originated from the Latin word ________________________, meaning to
nourish.
A) Nutrix
B) Nurtura
C) Nursia
D) Noxia
Correct Answer: A – Nutrix
Rationale: Nursing originated from the Latin word "nutrix," which means to nourish, foster,
or protect. This etymology reflects the caring essence of the nursing profession.
2. The American Nurses Association (ANA) defines nursing as:
A) The diagnosis and treatment of human responses to actual or potential health problems
B) The protection, promotion, and optimization of health and abilities, prevention of
illness and injury, alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of
human response and advocacy in the care of individuals, families, communities, and
populations
C) The science of caring for the sick, injured, and aged
D) The art of applying scientific knowledge to help others reach maximum health
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The ANA's formal definition of nursing emphasizes protection, promotion,
optimization of health, prevention of illness and injury, alleviation of suffering, diagnosis and
treatment of human response, and advocacy across individuals, families, communities, and
populations.
,3. The patient is the central focus of all definitions of nursing. This includes which
dimensions? (Select all that apply)
A) Physical
B) Emotional
C) Social
D) Spiritual
E) Financial
Correct Answers: A, B, C, D – Physical, Emotional, Social, Spiritual
Rationale: The patient as the central focus includes physical, emotional, social, and
spiritual dimensions. Holistic care addresses all these aspects of the person.
4. Which of the following are criteria that distinguish nursing as a profession? (Select all that
apply)
A) Well-defined body of specific and unique knowledge
B) Strong service orientation
C) Code of ethics
D) Autonomy and self-regulation
E) Profit-driven business model
Correct Answers: A, B, C, D
Rationale: Professional criteria for nursing include a well-defined body of knowledge,
service orientation, recognized authority, code of ethics, professional organization, ongoing
research, and autonomy/self-regulation.
5. Florence Nightingale is credited with:
A) Establishing the American Red Cross
B) Defining nursing as both an art and science, differentiating nursing from medicine,
and creating freestanding nursing education
, C) Writing the first nursing code of ethics
D) Founding the first nursing school in the United States
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Florence Nightingale is considered the founder of modern nursing. She defined
nursing as an art and science, differentiated it from medicine, established standards for
hospital management and nursing education, and maintained accurate patient records.
6. What are the four aims of nursing?
A) To assess, diagnose, plan, and evaluate
B) To promote health, prevent illness, restore health, and facilitate coping with
disability or death
C) To medicate, monitor, document, and discharge
D) To comfort, cure, counsel, and coordinate
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The four broad aims of nursing practice are to promote health, prevent illness,
restore health, and facilitate coping with disability or death.
7. Caring is described as:
A) A task-oriented approach to patient care
B) The essence of nursing and the most central and unifying focus of nursing
practice
C) A medical intervention prescribed by physicians
D) An optional component of nursing care
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Caring is the essence of nursing and represents the most central and unifying
focus of nursing practice. It distinguishes nursing from other healthcare disciplines.
