NUR 1055 INTRODUCTION TO NURSING FINAL EXAM
PRACTICE QUESTIONS (200 Multiple-Choice Questions with
Answers, Rationales, and Citations)
1. Which of the following best describes the primary goal of nursing?
- A) To assist physicians in treatment
- B) To promote health and provide care across the lifespan
- C) To manage hospital operations
- D) To diagnose medical conditions
Rationale: The core purpose of nursing is to promote health, prevent illness, and care for individuals
across their life span. This reflects the profession's focus on holistic, patient-centered care and aligns
with the American Nurses Association (ANA) definition of nursing.
2. The Nurse Practice Act is crucial because it:
- A) Sets hospital rules for nurses
- B) Defines the scope and practice of nursing
- C) Establishes nurse-patient communication guidelines
- D) Controls healthcare policy
Rationale: The Nurse Practice Act (NPA) is a state law that legally defines nursing practice, sets the scope
of practice for licensed nurses, and protects the public by ensuring nurses meet certain standards. It is
the most important legal document for a nurse to understand.
3. What is the main purpose of evidence-based practice in nursing?
- A) To reduce nurse burnout
- B) To improve patient outcomes using current best evidence
- C) To increase hospital revenue
,- D) To replace clinical judgment
Rationale: Evidence-based practice (EBP) integrates the best current research evidence with clinical
expertise and patient preferences to guide nursing care, with the ultimate goal of achieving optimal
patient outcomes. It does not replace clinical judgment but enhances it.
4. The nursing process includes which of the following steps?
- A) Evaluation, Planning, Critique
- B) Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation
- C) Documentation, Supervision, Review
- D) Planning, Caregiving, Charting
Rationale: The nursing process is a five-step systematic, critical-thinking method used to provide
patient-centered care. The steps are assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation
(ADPIE). This framework guides all nursing actions.
5. A nurse demonstrates advocacy by:
- A) Following hospital policy without question
- B) Protecting a patient’s rights and speaking on their behalf
- C) Performing all tasks for the patient
- D) Sharing patient information with family
Rationale: Patient advocacy is a fundamental nursing role. It involves protecting a patient's rights,
ensuring they have the information to make informed decisions, and speaking up on their behalf when
necessary, especially if the patient cannot do so themselves.
,6. When a nurse maintains a patient's privacy and confidentiality, they are upholding which ethical
principle?
- A) Beneficence
- B) Fidelity
- C) Nonmaleficence
- D) Justice
Rationale: Fidelity refers to faithfulness to commitments and obligations. Maintaining confidentiality is a
promise the nursing profession makes to patients. Keeping that promise demonstrates fidelity.
Beneficence is doing good, nonmaleficence is doing no harm, and justice is fairness.
7. According to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, which patient need should a nurse prioritize?
- A) Self-esteem and respect
- B) Airway, breathing, and circulation (ABCs)
- C) Love and belonging
- D) Self-actualization
Rationale: Maslow's hierarchy of needs is often applied in nursing prioritization. The most basic
physiological needs (air, water, food, shelter, and elimination) must be met first. The ABCs (airway,
breathing, circulation) directly address the most critical physiological needs for survival.
8. The ethical principle of doing good and acting in the best interest of the patient is known as:
- A) Nonmaleficence
- B) Beneficence
- C) Justice
- D) Veracity
, Rationale: Beneficence is the duty to do good and to benefit the patient. It goes beyond simply avoiding
harm and involves actively contributing to the patient's well-being. In nursing practice, this principle
guides actions like providing comfort and competent care.
9. The "do no harm" principle is known as:
- A) Beneficence
- B) Nonmaleficence
- C) Fidelity
- D) Autonomy
Rationale: Nonmaleficence is the fundamental ethical principle that requires healthcare professionals to
avoid causing harm to patients. This includes avoiding negligent care, ensuring safe medication
administration, and preventing injury.
10. Through what is a nurse licensed to practice nursing?
- A) The American Nurses Association (ANA)
- B) National League for Nursing (NLN)
- C) The Nurse Practice Act of their state
- D) The hospital where they are employed
Rationale: Licensure to practice nursing is regulated by the individual states. The Nurse Practice Act of
each state defines the requirements for licensure, the scope of practice, and the grounds for disciplinary
action. No national license exists.
PRACTICE QUESTIONS (200 Multiple-Choice Questions with
Answers, Rationales, and Citations)
1. Which of the following best describes the primary goal of nursing?
- A) To assist physicians in treatment
- B) To promote health and provide care across the lifespan
- C) To manage hospital operations
- D) To diagnose medical conditions
Rationale: The core purpose of nursing is to promote health, prevent illness, and care for individuals
across their life span. This reflects the profession's focus on holistic, patient-centered care and aligns
with the American Nurses Association (ANA) definition of nursing.
2. The Nurse Practice Act is crucial because it:
- A) Sets hospital rules for nurses
- B) Defines the scope and practice of nursing
- C) Establishes nurse-patient communication guidelines
- D) Controls healthcare policy
Rationale: The Nurse Practice Act (NPA) is a state law that legally defines nursing practice, sets the scope
of practice for licensed nurses, and protects the public by ensuring nurses meet certain standards. It is
the most important legal document for a nurse to understand.
3. What is the main purpose of evidence-based practice in nursing?
- A) To reduce nurse burnout
- B) To improve patient outcomes using current best evidence
- C) To increase hospital revenue
,- D) To replace clinical judgment
Rationale: Evidence-based practice (EBP) integrates the best current research evidence with clinical
expertise and patient preferences to guide nursing care, with the ultimate goal of achieving optimal
patient outcomes. It does not replace clinical judgment but enhances it.
4. The nursing process includes which of the following steps?
- A) Evaluation, Planning, Critique
- B) Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation
- C) Documentation, Supervision, Review
- D) Planning, Caregiving, Charting
Rationale: The nursing process is a five-step systematic, critical-thinking method used to provide
patient-centered care. The steps are assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation
(ADPIE). This framework guides all nursing actions.
5. A nurse demonstrates advocacy by:
- A) Following hospital policy without question
- B) Protecting a patient’s rights and speaking on their behalf
- C) Performing all tasks for the patient
- D) Sharing patient information with family
Rationale: Patient advocacy is a fundamental nursing role. It involves protecting a patient's rights,
ensuring they have the information to make informed decisions, and speaking up on their behalf when
necessary, especially if the patient cannot do so themselves.
,6. When a nurse maintains a patient's privacy and confidentiality, they are upholding which ethical
principle?
- A) Beneficence
- B) Fidelity
- C) Nonmaleficence
- D) Justice
Rationale: Fidelity refers to faithfulness to commitments and obligations. Maintaining confidentiality is a
promise the nursing profession makes to patients. Keeping that promise demonstrates fidelity.
Beneficence is doing good, nonmaleficence is doing no harm, and justice is fairness.
7. According to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, which patient need should a nurse prioritize?
- A) Self-esteem and respect
- B) Airway, breathing, and circulation (ABCs)
- C) Love and belonging
- D) Self-actualization
Rationale: Maslow's hierarchy of needs is often applied in nursing prioritization. The most basic
physiological needs (air, water, food, shelter, and elimination) must be met first. The ABCs (airway,
breathing, circulation) directly address the most critical physiological needs for survival.
8. The ethical principle of doing good and acting in the best interest of the patient is known as:
- A) Nonmaleficence
- B) Beneficence
- C) Justice
- D) Veracity
, Rationale: Beneficence is the duty to do good and to benefit the patient. It goes beyond simply avoiding
harm and involves actively contributing to the patient's well-being. In nursing practice, this principle
guides actions like providing comfort and competent care.
9. The "do no harm" principle is known as:
- A) Beneficence
- B) Nonmaleficence
- C) Fidelity
- D) Autonomy
Rationale: Nonmaleficence is the fundamental ethical principle that requires healthcare professionals to
avoid causing harm to patients. This includes avoiding negligent care, ensuring safe medication
administration, and preventing injury.
10. Through what is a nurse licensed to practice nursing?
- A) The American Nurses Association (ANA)
- B) National League for Nursing (NLN)
- C) The Nurse Practice Act of their state
- D) The hospital where they are employed
Rationale: Licensure to practice nursing is regulated by the individual states. The Nurse Practice Act of
each state defines the requirements for licensure, the scope of practice, and the grounds for disciplinary
action. No national license exists.
