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WGU D552 NURSING TASK 1 2026 PRACTICE
EXAM COMPLETE (150) CURRENT TESTING
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS WITH
DETAILED EXPLANATIONS|GUARANTEED
PASS.
NURSING
Prepare for the WGU D552 Nursing Task 1 Practice Exam with
practice questions covering patient care planning, clinical
reasoning, evidence-based practice, nursing documentation, and
healthcare assessment concepts. This study guide helps reinforce
essential nursing competencies and supports effective task and
assessment preparation. Designed to improve critical thinking and
boost confidence in completing performance-based nursing
assignments. Suitable for WGU nursing students.
MULTIPLE CHOICE.
Nursing Process and Critical Thinking
Q1. The nurse uses the nursing process to:
• A) Formulate a medical diagnosis
• B) Identify a client's health status and actual or potential health care problems
• C) Provide a framework for staffing and scheduling
• D) Determine the cost of nursing care
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The primary purpose of the nursing process is to establish a standardized,
evidence-based framework for identifying client health status and actual or potential
health care problems or needs. It is used to develop a plan of care to meet those needs.
The nursing process is not used for medical diagnosis, staffing, or financial determination.
Q2. Place the steps of the nursing process in correct order:
• A) Diagnosis, Evaluation, Assessment, Implementation, Planning
• B) Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation
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• C) Planning, Implementation, Assessment, Evaluation, Diagnosis
• D) Evaluation, Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct sequence of the nursing process is assessment (collect data),
diagnosis (identify problem), planning (set goals and interventions), implementation
(perform interventions), and evaluation (determine if goals were met). This order ensures
systematic client care from data collection to outcome evaluation.
Q3. Which activity is an example of the assessment phase of the nursing process?
• A) Administering prescribed pain medication
• B) Checking a client’s blood pressure and asking about pain level
• C) Writing a nursing diagnosis of acute pain
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• D) Evaluating if the client’s pain is relieved after medication
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Assessment involves collecting subjective (client says) and objective (nurse
observes/measures) data. Checking a client’s blood pressure is objective data; asking
about pain level is subjective.
Q4. A nursing diagnosis differs from a medical diagnosis in that a nursing diagnosis
focuses on:
• A) The client's physiological disease process
• B) The client's response to actual or potential health problems
• C) The surgical procedures required
• D) The financial cost of treatment
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A nursing diagnosis is a clinical judgment about an individual, family, or
community response to actual or potential health problems or life processes. It addresses
human responses (signs and symptoms) that nurses can treat independently. A medical
diagnosis identifies a disease or pathologic condition.
Q5. Which example represents a “risk for” nursing diagnosis?
• A) Impaired physical mobility related to right-sided weakness
• B) Risk for falls as evidenced by unsteady gait and history of two falls
• C) Activity intolerance related to generalized weakness
• D) Acute pain related to surgical incision
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: "Risk for" nursing diagnoses describe a vulnerability that the client does not
currently have but is at increased risk of developing. The client does not currently have a
fall, but the unsteady gait and history put them at risk.
Q6. What is the most appropriate initial nursing intervention for a client with a nursing
diagnosis of acute pain?
• A) Administer prescribed analgesic immediately
• B) Assess the client’s pain using a standardized pain scale
• C) Notify the healthcare provider for a stronger pain medication
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• D) Encourage deep breathing and distraction
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Assessment is the first step of the nursing process. The nurse must first assess
the pain (onset, location, intensity, quality, aggravating/relieving factors) before any
interventions can be implemented.
Q7. A client has a nursing diagnosis of “impaired gas exchange.” Which assessment
data is a defining characteristic for this diagnosis?
• A) Heart rate 100 bpm
• B) Oxygen saturation 86% on room air
• C) Blood pressure 130/80 mm Hg
• D) Respiratory rate 16 breaths/min
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Impaired gas exchange is characterized by abnormal blood gas levels. An O2
saturation of 86% indicates hypoxemia, which directly supports the diagnosis.
Q8. Which of the following is an example of an expected outcome for a client with a
nursing diagnosis of Impaired Skin Integrity?
• A) Client will ambulate three times a day.
• B) Client’s wound will show signs of granulation tissue within 3 days.
• C) Nurse will change the dressing every shift.
• D) Client will report a pain level of 0 on a 0-10 scale.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Expected outcomes are client-centered and focus on resolution of the
identified problem. For Impaired Skin Integrity, an outcome is improvement in the wound
condition such as granulation tissue formation.
QG. During the evaluation phase of the nursing process, the nurse:
• A) Collects initial health history data
• B) Formulates a nursing diagnosis
• C) Determines whether client goals have been met
• D) Implements nursing interventions
WGU D552 NURSING TASK 1 2026 PRACTICE
EXAM COMPLETE (150) CURRENT TESTING
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS WITH
DETAILED EXPLANATIONS|GUARANTEED
PASS.
NURSING
Prepare for the WGU D552 Nursing Task 1 Practice Exam with
practice questions covering patient care planning, clinical
reasoning, evidence-based practice, nursing documentation, and
healthcare assessment concepts. This study guide helps reinforce
essential nursing competencies and supports effective task and
assessment preparation. Designed to improve critical thinking and
boost confidence in completing performance-based nursing
assignments. Suitable for WGU nursing students.
MULTIPLE CHOICE.
Nursing Process and Critical Thinking
Q1. The nurse uses the nursing process to:
• A) Formulate a medical diagnosis
• B) Identify a client's health status and actual or potential health care problems
• C) Provide a framework for staffing and scheduling
• D) Determine the cost of nursing care
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The primary purpose of the nursing process is to establish a standardized,
evidence-based framework for identifying client health status and actual or potential
health care problems or needs. It is used to develop a plan of care to meet those needs.
The nursing process is not used for medical diagnosis, staffing, or financial determination.
Q2. Place the steps of the nursing process in correct order:
• A) Diagnosis, Evaluation, Assessment, Implementation, Planning
• B) Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation
, Page 2 of 52
• C) Planning, Implementation, Assessment, Evaluation, Diagnosis
• D) Evaluation, Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct sequence of the nursing process is assessment (collect data),
diagnosis (identify problem), planning (set goals and interventions), implementation
(perform interventions), and evaluation (determine if goals were met). This order ensures
systematic client care from data collection to outcome evaluation.
Q3. Which activity is an example of the assessment phase of the nursing process?
• A) Administering prescribed pain medication
• B) Checking a client’s blood pressure and asking about pain level
• C) Writing a nursing diagnosis of acute pain
, Page 3 of 52
• D) Evaluating if the client’s pain is relieved after medication
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Assessment involves collecting subjective (client says) and objective (nurse
observes/measures) data. Checking a client’s blood pressure is objective data; asking
about pain level is subjective.
Q4. A nursing diagnosis differs from a medical diagnosis in that a nursing diagnosis
focuses on:
• A) The client's physiological disease process
• B) The client's response to actual or potential health problems
• C) The surgical procedures required
• D) The financial cost of treatment
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A nursing diagnosis is a clinical judgment about an individual, family, or
community response to actual or potential health problems or life processes. It addresses
human responses (signs and symptoms) that nurses can treat independently. A medical
diagnosis identifies a disease or pathologic condition.
Q5. Which example represents a “risk for” nursing diagnosis?
• A) Impaired physical mobility related to right-sided weakness
• B) Risk for falls as evidenced by unsteady gait and history of two falls
• C) Activity intolerance related to generalized weakness
• D) Acute pain related to surgical incision
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: "Risk for" nursing diagnoses describe a vulnerability that the client does not
currently have but is at increased risk of developing. The client does not currently have a
fall, but the unsteady gait and history put them at risk.
Q6. What is the most appropriate initial nursing intervention for a client with a nursing
diagnosis of acute pain?
• A) Administer prescribed analgesic immediately
• B) Assess the client’s pain using a standardized pain scale
• C) Notify the healthcare provider for a stronger pain medication
, Page 4 of 52
• D) Encourage deep breathing and distraction
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Assessment is the first step of the nursing process. The nurse must first assess
the pain (onset, location, intensity, quality, aggravating/relieving factors) before any
interventions can be implemented.
Q7. A client has a nursing diagnosis of “impaired gas exchange.” Which assessment
data is a defining characteristic for this diagnosis?
• A) Heart rate 100 bpm
• B) Oxygen saturation 86% on room air
• C) Blood pressure 130/80 mm Hg
• D) Respiratory rate 16 breaths/min
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Impaired gas exchange is characterized by abnormal blood gas levels. An O2
saturation of 86% indicates hypoxemia, which directly supports the diagnosis.
Q8. Which of the following is an example of an expected outcome for a client with a
nursing diagnosis of Impaired Skin Integrity?
• A) Client will ambulate three times a day.
• B) Client’s wound will show signs of granulation tissue within 3 days.
• C) Nurse will change the dressing every shift.
• D) Client will report a pain level of 0 on a 0-10 scale.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Expected outcomes are client-centered and focus on resolution of the
identified problem. For Impaired Skin Integrity, an outcome is improvement in the wound
condition such as granulation tissue formation.
QG. During the evaluation phase of the nursing process, the nurse:
• A) Collects initial health history data
• B) Formulates a nursing diagnosis
• C) Determines whether client goals have been met
• D) Implements nursing interventions
