1|Page
GCU NSG 300 FINAL EXAM – FOUNDATIONS
OF NURSING – (2026) ACTUAL QUESTIONS
& ANSWERS 250 VERIFIED PRACTICE
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT ANSWERS &
DETAILED RATIONALES Complete Exam
Bank for Grand Canyon University | Latest
2025/2026 Edition
SECTION 1: NURSING PROCESS (ADPIE – ASSESSMENT, DIAGNOSIS,
PLANNING, IMPLEMENTATION, EVALUATION)
Questions 1–50
1. The nursing process is a framework for nursing practice. Which step involves
collecting subjective and objective data?
a) Assessment
b) Diagnosis
c) Planning
d) Evaluation
Answer: a) Assessment
Rationale: The Assessment phase involves gathering subjective data (what the
patient says) and objective data (observable, measurable data) to establish a
baseline.
2. Which phase of the nursing process involves setting measurable patient goals and
expected outcomes?
a) Assessment
b) Diagnosis
c) Planning
d) Implementation
Answer: c) Planning
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Rationale: During the Planning phase, the nurse develops measurable
goals/outcomes (SMART: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Timely) and
nursing interventions.
3. The nurse identifies that a patient has decreased breath sounds in the left lower
lobe. This is an example of:
a) Subjective data
b) Objective data
c) Nursing diagnosis
d) Medical diagnosis
Answer: b) Objective data
Rationale: Objective data are observable and measurable (e.g., vital signs, lung
sounds, wound appearance). Decreased breath sounds are objective.
4. A patient states, "I feel short of breath and anxious." This is an example of:
a) Subjective data
b) Objective data
c) Nursing diagnosis
d) Medical diagnosis
Answer: a) Subjective data
Rationale: Subjective data are what the patient tells the nurse (symptoms, feelings,
perceptions). Only the patient can report how they feel.
5. Which nursing diagnosis is written correctly?
a) Impaired Skin Integrity related to immobility as evidenced by stage 2 pressure
injury on sacrum
b) Risk for impaired skin integrity related to immobility
c) Potential for fall
d) Breathing problems
Answer: a) Impaired Skin Integrity related to immobility as evidenced by stage 2
pressure injury on sacrum
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Rationale: A correctly written nursing diagnosis includes: NANDA-I diagnosis +
related factor (related to) + defining characteristics (as evidenced by). Risk
diagnoses have no defining characteristics.
6. The nurse is developing a care plan for a patient with acute pain. Which is an
appropriately written goal?
a) Patient will be pain-free by morning
b) Patient will report pain level less than 3 on a 0–10 scale within 30 minutes of
medication administration
c) Patient will have less pain
d) Nurse will administer pain medication every 4 hours
Answer: b) Patient will report pain level less than 3 on a 0–10 scale within 30
minutes of medication administration
Rationale: Goals must be measurable and patient-centered. "Less pain" is not
measurable. Pain-free may not be realistic.
7. Which step of the nursing process involves performing nursing interventions?
a) Assessment
b) Diagnosis
c) Planning
d) Implementation
Answer: d) Implementation
Rationale: Implementation is the action phase where the nurse performs the
planned nursing interventions.
8. The nurse determines that a patient’s pain has decreased from 8/10 to 3/10 after
administering morphine. This is an example of which nursing process step?
a) Assessment
b) Diagnosis
c) Implementation
d) Evaluation
Answer: d) Evaluation
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Rationale: Evaluation measures the patient’s response to nursing interventions and
determines if goals/outcomes were met.
9. A patient is admitted with pneumonia. The medical diagnosis is pneumonia.
What is the nursing diagnosis?
a) Pneumonia
b) Impaired Gas Exchange related to alveolar inflammation as evidenced by oxygen
saturation 88%
c) Shortness of breath
d) Fever
Answer: b) Impaired Gas Exchange related to alveolar inflammation as evidenced
by oxygen saturation 88%
Rationale: Medical diagnosis identifies a disease (pneumonia). Nursing
diagnosis identifies a human response to health conditions (Impaired Gas
Exchange).
10. The nurse is using the SBAR communication tool to report a change in patient
condition to the provider. SBAR stands for:
a) Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation
b) Subjective, Background, Assessment, Report
c) Situation, Background, Action, Recommendation
d) Subjective, Background, Action, Report
Answer: a) Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation
Rationale: SBAR is a standardized communication tool used to improve patient
safety during handoffs and provider calls.
11. A nurse is caring for a patient who is NPO (nothing by mouth) before surgery.
The nurse discovers the patient ate breakfast. The nurse should:
a) Document that the patient ate and notify the provider
b) Do nothing; the patient will be fine
c) Cancel the surgery without notifying anyone
d) Administer a laxative
Answer: a) Document that the patient ate and notify the provider
GCU NSG 300 FINAL EXAM – FOUNDATIONS
OF NURSING – (2026) ACTUAL QUESTIONS
& ANSWERS 250 VERIFIED PRACTICE
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT ANSWERS &
DETAILED RATIONALES Complete Exam
Bank for Grand Canyon University | Latest
2025/2026 Edition
SECTION 1: NURSING PROCESS (ADPIE – ASSESSMENT, DIAGNOSIS,
PLANNING, IMPLEMENTATION, EVALUATION)
Questions 1–50
1. The nursing process is a framework for nursing practice. Which step involves
collecting subjective and objective data?
a) Assessment
b) Diagnosis
c) Planning
d) Evaluation
Answer: a) Assessment
Rationale: The Assessment phase involves gathering subjective data (what the
patient says) and objective data (observable, measurable data) to establish a
baseline.
2. Which phase of the nursing process involves setting measurable patient goals and
expected outcomes?
a) Assessment
b) Diagnosis
c) Planning
d) Implementation
Answer: c) Planning
,2|Page
Rationale: During the Planning phase, the nurse develops measurable
goals/outcomes (SMART: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Timely) and
nursing interventions.
3. The nurse identifies that a patient has decreased breath sounds in the left lower
lobe. This is an example of:
a) Subjective data
b) Objective data
c) Nursing diagnosis
d) Medical diagnosis
Answer: b) Objective data
Rationale: Objective data are observable and measurable (e.g., vital signs, lung
sounds, wound appearance). Decreased breath sounds are objective.
4. A patient states, "I feel short of breath and anxious." This is an example of:
a) Subjective data
b) Objective data
c) Nursing diagnosis
d) Medical diagnosis
Answer: a) Subjective data
Rationale: Subjective data are what the patient tells the nurse (symptoms, feelings,
perceptions). Only the patient can report how they feel.
5. Which nursing diagnosis is written correctly?
a) Impaired Skin Integrity related to immobility as evidenced by stage 2 pressure
injury on sacrum
b) Risk for impaired skin integrity related to immobility
c) Potential for fall
d) Breathing problems
Answer: a) Impaired Skin Integrity related to immobility as evidenced by stage 2
pressure injury on sacrum
,3|Page
Rationale: A correctly written nursing diagnosis includes: NANDA-I diagnosis +
related factor (related to) + defining characteristics (as evidenced by). Risk
diagnoses have no defining characteristics.
6. The nurse is developing a care plan for a patient with acute pain. Which is an
appropriately written goal?
a) Patient will be pain-free by morning
b) Patient will report pain level less than 3 on a 0–10 scale within 30 minutes of
medication administration
c) Patient will have less pain
d) Nurse will administer pain medication every 4 hours
Answer: b) Patient will report pain level less than 3 on a 0–10 scale within 30
minutes of medication administration
Rationale: Goals must be measurable and patient-centered. "Less pain" is not
measurable. Pain-free may not be realistic.
7. Which step of the nursing process involves performing nursing interventions?
a) Assessment
b) Diagnosis
c) Planning
d) Implementation
Answer: d) Implementation
Rationale: Implementation is the action phase where the nurse performs the
planned nursing interventions.
8. The nurse determines that a patient’s pain has decreased from 8/10 to 3/10 after
administering morphine. This is an example of which nursing process step?
a) Assessment
b) Diagnosis
c) Implementation
d) Evaluation
Answer: d) Evaluation
, 4|Page
Rationale: Evaluation measures the patient’s response to nursing interventions and
determines if goals/outcomes were met.
9. A patient is admitted with pneumonia. The medical diagnosis is pneumonia.
What is the nursing diagnosis?
a) Pneumonia
b) Impaired Gas Exchange related to alveolar inflammation as evidenced by oxygen
saturation 88%
c) Shortness of breath
d) Fever
Answer: b) Impaired Gas Exchange related to alveolar inflammation as evidenced
by oxygen saturation 88%
Rationale: Medical diagnosis identifies a disease (pneumonia). Nursing
diagnosis identifies a human response to health conditions (Impaired Gas
Exchange).
10. The nurse is using the SBAR communication tool to report a change in patient
condition to the provider. SBAR stands for:
a) Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation
b) Subjective, Background, Assessment, Report
c) Situation, Background, Action, Recommendation
d) Subjective, Background, Action, Report
Answer: a) Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation
Rationale: SBAR is a standardized communication tool used to improve patient
safety during handoffs and provider calls.
11. A nurse is caring for a patient who is NPO (nothing by mouth) before surgery.
The nurse discovers the patient ate breakfast. The nurse should:
a) Document that the patient ate and notify the provider
b) Do nothing; the patient will be fine
c) Cancel the surgery without notifying anyone
d) Administer a laxative
Answer: a) Document that the patient ate and notify the provider
