NR 226: Fundamentals of Patient Care | Exam 1 Midterm Update 2026
|Chamberlain
1. Which part of the nursing process involves the nurse collecting and verifying
data about the patient’s health status?
A. Diagnosis
B. Planning
C. Assessment
D. Implementation
Answer: C
Rationale: Assessment is the first step of the nursing process, where data is gathered to
create a database about the patient’s response to health concerns.
2. A patient tells the nurse, ‘I have a sharp pain in my right hip.’ What type of
data is this?
A. Objective data
B. Subjective data
C. Secondary data
D. Inferred data
Answer: B
Rationale: Subjective data are the patient’s verbal descriptions of their health problems,
such as pain.
,3. When assessing the apical pulse of a patient, where should the nurse place
the stethoscope?
A. Second intercostal space, right sternal border
B. Fourth intercostal space, left sternal border
C. Fifth intercostal space, left midclavicular line
D. Third intercostal space, right midclavicular line
Answer: C
Rationale: The apical pulse (PMI) is located at the fifth intercostal space at the left
midclavicular line.
4. Which of the following is the most important method for preventing the
spread of infection?
A. Wearing gloves at all times
B. Proper hand hygiene
C. Using a mask for all patient contact
D. Sterilizing all patient equipment
Answer: B
Rationale: Hand hygiene is recognized by the CDC as the single most important practice to
reduce the transmission of infectious agents.
5. A nurse is using an undersized blood pressure cuff on an obese patient. What
is the likely result?
A. A falsely low reading
B. A falsely high reading
C. An accurate reading if the patient is lying down
D. The cuff will not inflate
Answer: B
Rationale: Using a cuff that is too small for the limb will result in a blood pressure reading
that is falsely elevated.
, 6. Which phase of the nursing process includes the setting of measurable goals
and outcomes?
A. Assessment
B. Evaluation
C. Implementation
D. Planning
Answer: D
Rationale: During the planning phase, the nurse prioritizes diagnoses, sets patient-
centered goals, and chooses nursing interventions.
7. The nurse is caring for a patient on Droplet Precautions. Which piece of PPE is
required for standard entry?
A. Gown
B. Surgical mask
C. N95 respirator
D. Shoe covers
Answer: B
Rationale: Droplet precautions require a surgical mask when within 3-6 feet of the patient;
N95 masks are for airborne precautions.
8. Which ethical principle refers to the nurse’s obligation to do no harm to the
patient?
A. Autonomy
B. Beneficence
C. Justice
D. Nonmaleficence
Answer: D
Rationale: Nonmaleficence means the avoidance of harm or hurt to the patient.
|Chamberlain
1. Which part of the nursing process involves the nurse collecting and verifying
data about the patient’s health status?
A. Diagnosis
B. Planning
C. Assessment
D. Implementation
Answer: C
Rationale: Assessment is the first step of the nursing process, where data is gathered to
create a database about the patient’s response to health concerns.
2. A patient tells the nurse, ‘I have a sharp pain in my right hip.’ What type of
data is this?
A. Objective data
B. Subjective data
C. Secondary data
D. Inferred data
Answer: B
Rationale: Subjective data are the patient’s verbal descriptions of their health problems,
such as pain.
,3. When assessing the apical pulse of a patient, where should the nurse place
the stethoscope?
A. Second intercostal space, right sternal border
B. Fourth intercostal space, left sternal border
C. Fifth intercostal space, left midclavicular line
D. Third intercostal space, right midclavicular line
Answer: C
Rationale: The apical pulse (PMI) is located at the fifth intercostal space at the left
midclavicular line.
4. Which of the following is the most important method for preventing the
spread of infection?
A. Wearing gloves at all times
B. Proper hand hygiene
C. Using a mask for all patient contact
D. Sterilizing all patient equipment
Answer: B
Rationale: Hand hygiene is recognized by the CDC as the single most important practice to
reduce the transmission of infectious agents.
5. A nurse is using an undersized blood pressure cuff on an obese patient. What
is the likely result?
A. A falsely low reading
B. A falsely high reading
C. An accurate reading if the patient is lying down
D. The cuff will not inflate
Answer: B
Rationale: Using a cuff that is too small for the limb will result in a blood pressure reading
that is falsely elevated.
, 6. Which phase of the nursing process includes the setting of measurable goals
and outcomes?
A. Assessment
B. Evaluation
C. Implementation
D. Planning
Answer: D
Rationale: During the planning phase, the nurse prioritizes diagnoses, sets patient-
centered goals, and chooses nursing interventions.
7. The nurse is caring for a patient on Droplet Precautions. Which piece of PPE is
required for standard entry?
A. Gown
B. Surgical mask
C. N95 respirator
D. Shoe covers
Answer: B
Rationale: Droplet precautions require a surgical mask when within 3-6 feet of the patient;
N95 masks are for airborne precautions.
8. Which ethical principle refers to the nurse’s obligation to do no harm to the
patient?
A. Autonomy
B. Beneficence
C. Justice
D. Nonmaleficence
Answer: D
Rationale: Nonmaleficence means the avoidance of harm or hurt to the patient.
