NR 226: Fundamentals of Patient Care Final Exam 2026 |Chamberlain
1. A nurse is conducting the assessment phase of the nursing process. Which
activity is the nurse likely performing?
A. Setting short-term goals for the patient
B. Collecting and organizing patient health data
C. Administering prescribed pain medication
D. Evaluating if the patient met the desired outcomes
Answer: B
Rationale: Assessment is the first step of the nursing process and involves the systematic
collection and verification of data.
2. When measuring a patient’s blood pressure, the nurse uses a cuff that is too
small for the patient’s arm. What effect will this have on the reading?
A. The reading will be falsely low
B. The diastolic pressure will be unaffected
C. The reading will be accurate if the patient is supine
D. The reading will be falsely high
Answer: D
Rationale: A blood pressure cuff that is too small (narrow) will result in a falsely high
reading because it requires more pressure to occlude the artery.
,3. Which of the following is the most effective way for the nurse to prevent the
spread of infection?
A. Wearing gloves for all patient contact
B. Performing consistent hand hygiene
C. Using prophylactic antibiotics
D. Restricting visitors to the unit
Answer: B
Rationale: Hand hygiene is widely recognized as the most important and effective
technique in preventing the transmission of pathogens.
4. A nurse is assessing a patient’s risk for falls. Which factor represents the
highest risk?
A. The patient is over the age of 50
B. The patient uses a hearing aid
C. The patient has a history of a recent fall
D. The patient is on a regular diet
Answer: C
Rationale: A history of recent falls is one of the strongest predictors of future fall risk in
clinical assessment tools like the Morse Fall Scale.
5. The nurse is preparing to administer medication. Which ‘right’ of medication
administration is the nurse checking when verifying the patient’s wristband?
A. Right Route
B. Right Documentation
C. Right Dose
D. Right Patient
Answer: D
Rationale: Verifying the patient’s identity using two identifiers (like a wristband and
name/DOB) ensures the Right Patient.
, 6. A nurse makes an error while documenting in a paper medical record. How
should the nurse correct this error?
A. Use correction fluid to cover the mistake
B. Erase the entry completely
C. Scribble over the entry until it is illegible
D. Draw a single line through the error and initial it
Answer: D
Rationale: Proper legal documentation requires a single line through the error so it
remains visible, followed by the nurse’s initials.
7. When giving a bed bath, in which direction should the nurse wash the
patient’s extremities?
A. From proximal to distal
B. From distal to proximal
C. In circular motions only
D. From the dirtiest area to the cleanest area
Answer: B
Rationale: Washing from distal to proximal (fingers to axilla) promotes venous return to
the heart.
8. A patient is learning to use a walker for the first time. Which instruction
should the nurse provide?
A. Lift the walker high off the ground with every step
B. Move the walker 2 feet ahead before stepping
C. Always look down at your feet while walking
D. Move the walker and the affected leg forward together
Answer: D
Rationale: The correct sequence is to move the walker and the weaker (affected) leg
forward first, followed by the stronger leg.
1. A nurse is conducting the assessment phase of the nursing process. Which
activity is the nurse likely performing?
A. Setting short-term goals for the patient
B. Collecting and organizing patient health data
C. Administering prescribed pain medication
D. Evaluating if the patient met the desired outcomes
Answer: B
Rationale: Assessment is the first step of the nursing process and involves the systematic
collection and verification of data.
2. When measuring a patient’s blood pressure, the nurse uses a cuff that is too
small for the patient’s arm. What effect will this have on the reading?
A. The reading will be falsely low
B. The diastolic pressure will be unaffected
C. The reading will be accurate if the patient is supine
D. The reading will be falsely high
Answer: D
Rationale: A blood pressure cuff that is too small (narrow) will result in a falsely high
reading because it requires more pressure to occlude the artery.
,3. Which of the following is the most effective way for the nurse to prevent the
spread of infection?
A. Wearing gloves for all patient contact
B. Performing consistent hand hygiene
C. Using prophylactic antibiotics
D. Restricting visitors to the unit
Answer: B
Rationale: Hand hygiene is widely recognized as the most important and effective
technique in preventing the transmission of pathogens.
4. A nurse is assessing a patient’s risk for falls. Which factor represents the
highest risk?
A. The patient is over the age of 50
B. The patient uses a hearing aid
C. The patient has a history of a recent fall
D. The patient is on a regular diet
Answer: C
Rationale: A history of recent falls is one of the strongest predictors of future fall risk in
clinical assessment tools like the Morse Fall Scale.
5. The nurse is preparing to administer medication. Which ‘right’ of medication
administration is the nurse checking when verifying the patient’s wristband?
A. Right Route
B. Right Documentation
C. Right Dose
D. Right Patient
Answer: D
Rationale: Verifying the patient’s identity using two identifiers (like a wristband and
name/DOB) ensures the Right Patient.
, 6. A nurse makes an error while documenting in a paper medical record. How
should the nurse correct this error?
A. Use correction fluid to cover the mistake
B. Erase the entry completely
C. Scribble over the entry until it is illegible
D. Draw a single line through the error and initial it
Answer: D
Rationale: Proper legal documentation requires a single line through the error so it
remains visible, followed by the nurse’s initials.
7. When giving a bed bath, in which direction should the nurse wash the
patient’s extremities?
A. From proximal to distal
B. From distal to proximal
C. In circular motions only
D. From the dirtiest area to the cleanest area
Answer: B
Rationale: Washing from distal to proximal (fingers to axilla) promotes venous return to
the heart.
8. A patient is learning to use a walker for the first time. Which instruction
should the nurse provide?
A. Lift the walker high off the ground with every step
B. Move the walker 2 feet ahead before stepping
C. Always look down at your feet while walking
D. Move the walker and the affected leg forward together
Answer: D
Rationale: The correct sequence is to move the walker and the weaker (affected) leg
forward first, followed by the stronger leg.
