NURS 1117 UNIT 1 EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | FUNDAMENTALS OF NURSING STUDY
GUIDE 2026/2027
During rounds, a charge nurse hears the patient care technician yelling loudly to a patient
regarding a transfer from the bed to chair. Upon entering the room, what is the nurse's BEST
response?
a. "You need to speak to the patient quietly so you don't disturb the other patients."
b. "Let me help you with your transfer technique."
c. "When you are finished, be sure to apologize for your rough demeanor."
d. "When your patient is safe and comfortable, meet me at the desk." - ANS ✔✔D
A public health nurse is leaving the home of a young mother who has a special needs baby. The
neighbor states, "How is she doing, since the baby's father is no help?" What is the nurse's BEST
response to the neighbor?
a. "New mothers need support."
b. "The lack of a father is difficult."
c. "How are you today?"
d. "It is a very sad situation." - ANS ✔✔A
A 3-year-old child is being admitted to a medical division for vomiting, diarrhea, and
dehydration. During the admission interview, the nurse should implement which
communication techniques to elicit the most information from the patients?
a. The use of reflective questions
b. The use of closed questions
c. The use of assertive questions
d. The use of clarifying questions - ANS ✔✔D
,A nurse enters a patient's room and examines the patient's IV fluids and cardiac monitor. The
patient states, "Well, I haven't seen you before. Who are you?" What is the nurse's BEST
response?
a. "I'm just the IV therapist checking your IV."
b. "I've been transferred to this division and will be caring for you."
c. "I'm sorry, my name is John Smith and I am your nurse."
d. "My name is John Smith. I am your nurse and I'll be caring for you until 11pm" - ANS ✔✔D
A nurse enters the room of a patient with cancer. The patient is crying and states, "I feel so
alone." Which response by the nurse is the most therapeutic action?
a. The nurse stands at the [patient's bedside and states, "I understand how you feel. My mother
said the same thing when she was ill."
b. The nurse places a hand on the patient's arm and states, "You feel so alone."
c. The nurse stands in the patient's room and asks, "Why do you feel so alone? Your wife has
been here everyday."
d. The nurse holds the patient's hand and asks, "What makes you feel so alone?" - ANS ✔✔D
A nurse caring for a patient who is hospitalized following a double mastectomy is preparing a
discharge plan for the patient. Which actions should be the focus of this termination phase of
the helping relationship?
a. Determining the progress made in achieving established goals.
b. Clarifying when the patient should take medications.
c. Reporting the progress made in teaching to the staff.
d. Including all family members in the teaching session. - ANS ✔✔A
A nursing student is nervous and concerned about working at a clinical facility. Which action
would BEST decrease anxiety and ensure success in the student's provision of patient care?
a. Determining the established goals of the institution
b. Ensuring that verbal and nonverbal communication is congruent
, c. Engaging in self-talk to plan the day and decrease fear
d. Speaking with fellow colleagues about how they feel - ANS ✔✔C
A nurse is the rehabilitation division states to the head nurse: "I need the day off and you didn't
give it to me!" The head nurse replies, "Well, I wasn't aware you needed the day off, and it isn't
possible since staffing is so inadequate." Instead of this exchange, what communication by the
nurse would have been more effective?
a. "I placed a request to have 8th of August off, but I'm working and I have a doctor's
appointment."
b. "I would like to discuss my schedule with you. I requested the 8th of August off for a doctor's
appointment. Could I make an appointment?"
c. "I will need to call in on the 8th of August because I have a doctor's appointment."
d. "Since you didn't give me the 8th of August off, will I need to find someone to work for me?" -
ANS ✔✔B
During a nursing staff meeting, the nurses resolve a problem of delayed documentation by
agreeing unanimously that they will make sure all vital signs are reported and charted within 15
minutes following assessment. This is an example of which characteristics of effective
communication? Select all that apply.
a. Group decision making
b. Group leadership
c. Group power
d. Group identity
e. Group patterns of interaction
f. Group cohesiveness - ANS ✔✔A, D, E, F
A nurse notices a patient is walking to the bathroom with a stooped gait, facial grimacing, and
gasping sounds. Based on these nonverbal clues, for which condition would the nurse assess?
a. Pain
GUIDE 2026/2027
During rounds, a charge nurse hears the patient care technician yelling loudly to a patient
regarding a transfer from the bed to chair. Upon entering the room, what is the nurse's BEST
response?
a. "You need to speak to the patient quietly so you don't disturb the other patients."
b. "Let me help you with your transfer technique."
c. "When you are finished, be sure to apologize for your rough demeanor."
d. "When your patient is safe and comfortable, meet me at the desk." - ANS ✔✔D
A public health nurse is leaving the home of a young mother who has a special needs baby. The
neighbor states, "How is she doing, since the baby's father is no help?" What is the nurse's BEST
response to the neighbor?
a. "New mothers need support."
b. "The lack of a father is difficult."
c. "How are you today?"
d. "It is a very sad situation." - ANS ✔✔A
A 3-year-old child is being admitted to a medical division for vomiting, diarrhea, and
dehydration. During the admission interview, the nurse should implement which
communication techniques to elicit the most information from the patients?
a. The use of reflective questions
b. The use of closed questions
c. The use of assertive questions
d. The use of clarifying questions - ANS ✔✔D
,A nurse enters a patient's room and examines the patient's IV fluids and cardiac monitor. The
patient states, "Well, I haven't seen you before. Who are you?" What is the nurse's BEST
response?
a. "I'm just the IV therapist checking your IV."
b. "I've been transferred to this division and will be caring for you."
c. "I'm sorry, my name is John Smith and I am your nurse."
d. "My name is John Smith. I am your nurse and I'll be caring for you until 11pm" - ANS ✔✔D
A nurse enters the room of a patient with cancer. The patient is crying and states, "I feel so
alone." Which response by the nurse is the most therapeutic action?
a. The nurse stands at the [patient's bedside and states, "I understand how you feel. My mother
said the same thing when she was ill."
b. The nurse places a hand on the patient's arm and states, "You feel so alone."
c. The nurse stands in the patient's room and asks, "Why do you feel so alone? Your wife has
been here everyday."
d. The nurse holds the patient's hand and asks, "What makes you feel so alone?" - ANS ✔✔D
A nurse caring for a patient who is hospitalized following a double mastectomy is preparing a
discharge plan for the patient. Which actions should be the focus of this termination phase of
the helping relationship?
a. Determining the progress made in achieving established goals.
b. Clarifying when the patient should take medications.
c. Reporting the progress made in teaching to the staff.
d. Including all family members in the teaching session. - ANS ✔✔A
A nursing student is nervous and concerned about working at a clinical facility. Which action
would BEST decrease anxiety and ensure success in the student's provision of patient care?
a. Determining the established goals of the institution
b. Ensuring that verbal and nonverbal communication is congruent
, c. Engaging in self-talk to plan the day and decrease fear
d. Speaking with fellow colleagues about how they feel - ANS ✔✔C
A nurse is the rehabilitation division states to the head nurse: "I need the day off and you didn't
give it to me!" The head nurse replies, "Well, I wasn't aware you needed the day off, and it isn't
possible since staffing is so inadequate." Instead of this exchange, what communication by the
nurse would have been more effective?
a. "I placed a request to have 8th of August off, but I'm working and I have a doctor's
appointment."
b. "I would like to discuss my schedule with you. I requested the 8th of August off for a doctor's
appointment. Could I make an appointment?"
c. "I will need to call in on the 8th of August because I have a doctor's appointment."
d. "Since you didn't give me the 8th of August off, will I need to find someone to work for me?" -
ANS ✔✔B
During a nursing staff meeting, the nurses resolve a problem of delayed documentation by
agreeing unanimously that they will make sure all vital signs are reported and charted within 15
minutes following assessment. This is an example of which characteristics of effective
communication? Select all that apply.
a. Group decision making
b. Group leadership
c. Group power
d. Group identity
e. Group patterns of interaction
f. Group cohesiveness - ANS ✔✔A, D, E, F
A nurse notices a patient is walking to the bathroom with a stooped gait, facial grimacing, and
gasping sounds. Based on these nonverbal clues, for which condition would the nurse assess?
a. Pain
