,NUR 155 Exam 1 | Foundations of Nursing
(2026) Q&A | Galen College
1. Which step of the nursing process involves organized and ongoing appraisal
of a holistic approach to data collection?
A) Assessment
B) Diagnosis
C) Planning
D) Evaluation
Correct Answer: Assessment
Rationale: Assessment is the first step, during which the nurse collects
subjective and objective data from the patient and other sources. Diagnosis
follows data analysis. Planning, implementation, and evaluation occur later.
2. The nurse clusters related data and identifies a nursing diagnosis. This occurs
during which phase?
A) Planning
B) Diagnosis
C) Implementation
D) Evaluation
Correct Answer: Diagnosis
,Rationale: During the diagnosis phase, the nurse analyzes assessment data,
identifies patterns, and formulates a nursing diagnosis. Planning establishes
goals, implementation carries out interventions, and evaluation measures
outcomes.
3. Prioritizing hypotheses and generating a care plan represents which nursing
process step?
A) Assessment
B) Implementation
C) Planning
D) Evaluation
Correct Answer: Planning
Rationale: Planning involves setting priorities, establishing goals, and
determining interventions based on the nursing diagnoses. This step creates the
roadmap for care before any actions are taken.
4. After implementing interventions, the nurse determines if the goals were
met. What step is this?
A) Diagnosis
B) Planning
C) Implementation
D) Evaluation
Correct Answer: Evaluation
, Rationale: Evaluation is the final step in which the nurse compares patient
outcomes to the established goals. If goals are not met, the plan may be
modified, and the cycle continues.
5. What is the outcome of critical thinking and application of knowledge to
identify patient problems and direct clinical actions?
A) Clinical judgment
B) Clinical reasoning
C) The nursing process
D) Critical thinking
Correct Answer: Clinical judgment
Rationale: Clinical judgment is the result of critical thinking and decision-
making, leading to actions that produce positive patient outcomes. Clinical
reasoning is the ability to filter data; the nursing process is the framework.
6. The ability to focus and filter clinical data to recognize what is most and least
important describes:
A) Clinical judgment
B) Clinical reasoning
C) Assessment
D) Evaluation
Correct Answer: Clinical reasoning
(2026) Q&A | Galen College
1. Which step of the nursing process involves organized and ongoing appraisal
of a holistic approach to data collection?
A) Assessment
B) Diagnosis
C) Planning
D) Evaluation
Correct Answer: Assessment
Rationale: Assessment is the first step, during which the nurse collects
subjective and objective data from the patient and other sources. Diagnosis
follows data analysis. Planning, implementation, and evaluation occur later.
2. The nurse clusters related data and identifies a nursing diagnosis. This occurs
during which phase?
A) Planning
B) Diagnosis
C) Implementation
D) Evaluation
Correct Answer: Diagnosis
,Rationale: During the diagnosis phase, the nurse analyzes assessment data,
identifies patterns, and formulates a nursing diagnosis. Planning establishes
goals, implementation carries out interventions, and evaluation measures
outcomes.
3. Prioritizing hypotheses and generating a care plan represents which nursing
process step?
A) Assessment
B) Implementation
C) Planning
D) Evaluation
Correct Answer: Planning
Rationale: Planning involves setting priorities, establishing goals, and
determining interventions based on the nursing diagnoses. This step creates the
roadmap for care before any actions are taken.
4. After implementing interventions, the nurse determines if the goals were
met. What step is this?
A) Diagnosis
B) Planning
C) Implementation
D) Evaluation
Correct Answer: Evaluation
, Rationale: Evaluation is the final step in which the nurse compares patient
outcomes to the established goals. If goals are not met, the plan may be
modified, and the cycle continues.
5. What is the outcome of critical thinking and application of knowledge to
identify patient problems and direct clinical actions?
A) Clinical judgment
B) Clinical reasoning
C) The nursing process
D) Critical thinking
Correct Answer: Clinical judgment
Rationale: Clinical judgment is the result of critical thinking and decision-
making, leading to actions that produce positive patient outcomes. Clinical
reasoning is the ability to filter data; the nursing process is the framework.
6. The ability to focus and filter clinical data to recognize what is most and least
important describes:
A) Clinical judgment
B) Clinical reasoning
C) Assessment
D) Evaluation
Correct Answer: Clinical reasoning
