NSG 190 CAPSTONE NURSING EXAM 1 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES
2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
          Core Domains
*           - Nursing Process and Clinical Decision-Making
*          - Ethics and Professional Accountability*
*          - Legal and Regulatory Compliance*
*          - Patient Safety and Quality Improvement*
*          - Delegation and Supervision*
*          - Evidence-Based Practice and Research*
*          - Communication and Therapeutic Relationships*
*          - Cultural Competence and Health Disparities*
*           Introduction
* *          This comprehensive capstone nursing assessment evaluates*
*          critical competencies required for safe, effective nursing*
*          practice at the point of entry into professional roles.*
          The exam assesses knowledge across foundational theory,
          applied clinical judgment, regulatory standards, ethical
*          decision-making, and interprofessional collaboration.*
          All questions use multiple-choice and scenario-based
*          formats that emphasize real-world application, priority*
*          setting, and critical thinking essential for licensure*
*          and professional practice excellence.*
*
SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1–100
Question 1
A nurse is delegating tasks to an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) on a medical-surgical unit. Which task is appropriate for the nurse to delegate?
A. Assessing a patient's pain level after medication administration
B. Teaching a patient about new discharge medications
C. Assisting a stable patient with ambulation to the bathroom
D. Developing a nursing care plan for a postoperative patient
,🟢 C. Assisting a stable patient with ambulation to the bathroom
🔴 RATIONALE: Assisting stable patients with ambulation is within the UAP's scope as it involves routine activities of daily living that do not require
clinical judgment. Assessment, teaching, and care plan development require nursing knowledge and cannot be delegated.
Question 2
A patient threatens to sue a nurse for battery after receiving an injection against their will. Which element must be present for battery to occur?
A. The patient felt afraid of being touched
B. The nurse intended to harm the patient
C. Unconsented touching occurred without therapeutic justification
D. The nurse made a false statement about the patient's condition
🟢 C. Unconsented touching occurred without therapeutic justification
🔴 RATIONALE: Battery is intentional, unconsented touching that is harmful or offensive. It does not require intent to harm, only intent to perform
the touching without consent. Fear alone constitutes assault, not battery.
Question 3
Which action by a nurse demonstrates adherence to the principle of veracity?
A. Maintaining confidentiality of patient information in the hallway
B. Telling a patient the truth about a medication error that occurred
C. Keeping a promise to return to a patient at a specific time
D. Advocating for equal treatment of all patients regardless of background
🟢 B. Telling a patient the truth about a medication error that occurred
🔴 RATIONALE: Veracity means being truthful and honest. Disclosing a medication error to a patient demonstrates honesty. Confidentiality relates
to privacy, keeping promises demonstrates fidelity, and equal treatment demonstrates justice.
Question 4
A nurse is caring for a patient with a potassium level of 6.2 mEq/L. Which finding requires immediate intervention?
,A. Complaints of muscle weakness
B. Peaked T waves on the cardiac monitor
C. Nausea and vomiting
D. Diarrhea
🟢 B. Peaked T waves on the cardiac monitor
🔴 RATIONALE: Peaked T waves are an early ECG manifestation of hyperkalemia and indicate risk for life-threatening dysrhythmias. This requires
immediate intervention. Muscle weakness, nausea, and diarrhea are concerning but less immediately life-threatening.
Question 5
Which scenario requires the nurse to complete an incident report?
A. A patient refuses to take their morning medications
B. A visitor falls in the hospital hallway
C. A patient requests to leave against medical advice
D. A nurse accidentally administers medication 30 minutes late
🟢 B. A visitor falls in the hospital hallway
🔴 RATIONALE: Incident reports are completed for unexpected events causing or potentially causing harm, such as falls. A late medication
administration is a medication error that may require reporting per facility policy, but a fall is the clearest example requiring an incident report.
Question 6
A nurse is practicing evidence-based practice (EBP). What is the first step in the EBP process?
A. Critically appraise the evidence
B. Formulate a clinical question using PICOT
C. Implement the evidence into practice
D. Search for the best available evidence
🟢 B. Formulate a clinical question using PICOT
🔴 RATIONALE: The EBP process begins with identifying and formulating a clinical question using the PICOT format (Population, Intervention,
Comparison, Outcome, Time). Only after the question is defined can evidence be searched and appraised.
, Question 7
Which action by a nurse demonstrates cultural competence?
A. Assuming all patients from a specific culture have the same health beliefs
B. Asking a patient about their cultural preferences for care and healing practices
C. Providing care based solely on the nurse's own cultural values
D. Avoiding discussions about culture to prevent offending patients
🟢 B. Asking a patient about their cultural preferences for care and healing practices
🔴 RATIONALE: Cultural competence involves assessing individual patient cultural preferences and incorporating them into care. Stereotyping,
imposing personal values, or avoiding cultural discussions are barriers to culturally competent care.
Question 8
A nurse is preparing to administer medications. Which action demonstrates the "right documentation" principle?
A. Documenting the medication before administration to save time
B. Documenting the medication immediately after administration
C. Having a colleague document the medication for the nurse
D. Documenting the medication at the end of the shift
🟢 B. Documenting the medication immediately after administration
🔴 RATIONALE: Right documentation means documenting after administration to ensure accuracy and prevent medication errors. Pre-
documenting is never appropriate as it assumes the medication was given.
Question 9
A patient with cognitive impairment is being admitted. Which teaching strategy is most appropriate?
A. Provide detailed written information for the patient to read
B. Use short, simple sentences and repeat information as needed
C. Teach the patient all information in one session to avoid confusion
D. Rely solely on family members for all teaching without patient involvement
🟢 B. Use short, simple sentences and repeat information as needed
2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
          Core Domains
*           - Nursing Process and Clinical Decision-Making
*          - Ethics and Professional Accountability*
*          - Legal and Regulatory Compliance*
*          - Patient Safety and Quality Improvement*
*          - Delegation and Supervision*
*          - Evidence-Based Practice and Research*
*          - Communication and Therapeutic Relationships*
*          - Cultural Competence and Health Disparities*
*           Introduction
* *          This comprehensive capstone nursing assessment evaluates*
*          critical competencies required for safe, effective nursing*
*          practice at the point of entry into professional roles.*
          The exam assesses knowledge across foundational theory,
          applied clinical judgment, regulatory standards, ethical
*          decision-making, and interprofessional collaboration.*
          All questions use multiple-choice and scenario-based
*          formats that emphasize real-world application, priority*
*          setting, and critical thinking essential for licensure*
*          and professional practice excellence.*
*
SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1–100
Question 1
A nurse is delegating tasks to an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) on a medical-surgical unit. Which task is appropriate for the nurse to delegate?
A. Assessing a patient's pain level after medication administration
B. Teaching a patient about new discharge medications
C. Assisting a stable patient with ambulation to the bathroom
D. Developing a nursing care plan for a postoperative patient
,🟢 C. Assisting a stable patient with ambulation to the bathroom
🔴 RATIONALE: Assisting stable patients with ambulation is within the UAP's scope as it involves routine activities of daily living that do not require
clinical judgment. Assessment, teaching, and care plan development require nursing knowledge and cannot be delegated.
Question 2
A patient threatens to sue a nurse for battery after receiving an injection against their will. Which element must be present for battery to occur?
A. The patient felt afraid of being touched
B. The nurse intended to harm the patient
C. Unconsented touching occurred without therapeutic justification
D. The nurse made a false statement about the patient's condition
🟢 C. Unconsented touching occurred without therapeutic justification
🔴 RATIONALE: Battery is intentional, unconsented touching that is harmful or offensive. It does not require intent to harm, only intent to perform
the touching without consent. Fear alone constitutes assault, not battery.
Question 3
Which action by a nurse demonstrates adherence to the principle of veracity?
A. Maintaining confidentiality of patient information in the hallway
B. Telling a patient the truth about a medication error that occurred
C. Keeping a promise to return to a patient at a specific time
D. Advocating for equal treatment of all patients regardless of background
🟢 B. Telling a patient the truth about a medication error that occurred
🔴 RATIONALE: Veracity means being truthful and honest. Disclosing a medication error to a patient demonstrates honesty. Confidentiality relates
to privacy, keeping promises demonstrates fidelity, and equal treatment demonstrates justice.
Question 4
A nurse is caring for a patient with a potassium level of 6.2 mEq/L. Which finding requires immediate intervention?
,A. Complaints of muscle weakness
B. Peaked T waves on the cardiac monitor
C. Nausea and vomiting
D. Diarrhea
🟢 B. Peaked T waves on the cardiac monitor
🔴 RATIONALE: Peaked T waves are an early ECG manifestation of hyperkalemia and indicate risk for life-threatening dysrhythmias. This requires
immediate intervention. Muscle weakness, nausea, and diarrhea are concerning but less immediately life-threatening.
Question 5
Which scenario requires the nurse to complete an incident report?
A. A patient refuses to take their morning medications
B. A visitor falls in the hospital hallway
C. A patient requests to leave against medical advice
D. A nurse accidentally administers medication 30 minutes late
🟢 B. A visitor falls in the hospital hallway
🔴 RATIONALE: Incident reports are completed for unexpected events causing or potentially causing harm, such as falls. A late medication
administration is a medication error that may require reporting per facility policy, but a fall is the clearest example requiring an incident report.
Question 6
A nurse is practicing evidence-based practice (EBP). What is the first step in the EBP process?
A. Critically appraise the evidence
B. Formulate a clinical question using PICOT
C. Implement the evidence into practice
D. Search for the best available evidence
🟢 B. Formulate a clinical question using PICOT
🔴 RATIONALE: The EBP process begins with identifying and formulating a clinical question using the PICOT format (Population, Intervention,
Comparison, Outcome, Time). Only after the question is defined can evidence be searched and appraised.
, Question 7
Which action by a nurse demonstrates cultural competence?
A. Assuming all patients from a specific culture have the same health beliefs
B. Asking a patient about their cultural preferences for care and healing practices
C. Providing care based solely on the nurse's own cultural values
D. Avoiding discussions about culture to prevent offending patients
🟢 B. Asking a patient about their cultural preferences for care and healing practices
🔴 RATIONALE: Cultural competence involves assessing individual patient cultural preferences and incorporating them into care. Stereotyping,
imposing personal values, or avoiding cultural discussions are barriers to culturally competent care.
Question 8
A nurse is preparing to administer medications. Which action demonstrates the "right documentation" principle?
A. Documenting the medication before administration to save time
B. Documenting the medication immediately after administration
C. Having a colleague document the medication for the nurse
D. Documenting the medication at the end of the shift
🟢 B. Documenting the medication immediately after administration
🔴 RATIONALE: Right documentation means documenting after administration to ensure accuracy and prevent medication errors. Pre-
documenting is never appropriate as it assumes the medication was given.
Question 9
A patient with cognitive impairment is being admitted. Which teaching strategy is most appropriate?
A. Provide detailed written information for the patient to read
B. Use short, simple sentences and repeat information as needed
C. Teach the patient all information in one session to avoid confusion
D. Rely solely on family members for all teaching without patient involvement
🟢 B. Use short, simple sentences and repeat information as needed
