Page 1 of 174
NUR 155 Foundations of Nursing Exam
Bank NCLEX Style Practice Questions with
Rationales 2026/27Fundamentals of Nursing
High Yield Review Pass Your Nursing
Fundamentals Final HESI ATI and NCLEX
RN with Confidence
SEO Description
Over 200 high yield clinical vignette style questions covering the
nursing process clinical judgment vital signs infection control safety
mobility medication administration oxygenation elimination wound care
therapeutic communication prioritization legal ethical issues and cultural
competence. Each question includes a detailed rationale for correct and
incorrect answers plus test taking strategies and memory tricks. Perfect
for nursing students preparing for course finals HESI ATI or NCLEX
RN. Written at NCLEX difficulty level with application based questions
not simple recall.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section 1 Clinical Judgment and the Nursing Process Questions 1 to 8
Section 2 Vital Signs Questions 9 to 16
Section 3 Infection Prevention and Control Questions 17 to 24
Section 4 Safety and Immobility Questions 25 to 32
Section 5 Medication Administration Questions 33 to 40
Section 6 Oxygenation Questions 41 to 46
Section 7 Fluid Electrolyte and Acid Base Balance Questions 47 to 52
Section 8 Nutrition Questions 53 to 56
Section 9 Urinary Elimination Questions 57 to 60
, Page 2 of 174
Section 10 Bowel Elimination Questions 61 to 64
Section 11 Skin Integrity and Wound Care Questions 65 to 70
Section 12 Hygiene Questions 71 to 74
Section 13 Pain Management Questions 75 to 78
Section 14 Sleep Questions 79 to 82
Section 15 Sensory Alterations Questions 83 to 86
Section 16 Loss Death and Grief Questions 87 to 90
Section 17 Stress and Coping Questions 91 to 94
Section 18 Therapeutic Communication Questions 95 to 100
Section 19 Documentation and Informatics Questions 101 to 104
Section 20 Legal Implications in Nursing Practice Questions 105 to 108
Section 21 Ethics and Values Questions 109 to 112
Section 22 Cultural Awareness Questions 113 to 116
Section 23 Spirituality Questions 117 to 120
Section 24 Health and Wellness Questions 121 to 124
Section 25 Patient Education Questions 125 to 128
Section 26 Care of Surgical Patients Questions 129 to 132
Section 27 Complementary and Alternative Therapies Questions 133 to
136
Section 28 Self Concept and Sexuality Questions 137 to 140
Section 29 Delegation and Managing Patient Care Questions 141 to 144
Section 30 Developmental Theories Questions 145 to 148
Section 31 Comprehensive Review Questions 149 to 210
SECTION 1 CLINICAL JUDGMENT AND THE NURSING
PROCESS
Question 1
A nurse walks into a patients room and observes that the patient is
diaphoretic pale and clutching their chest. The patient states I feel like an
elephant is sitting on my chest. The nurse immediately checks the
patients vital signs and prepares to administer oxygen. This scenario best
demonstrates which component of clinical judgment
, Page 3 of 174
A. Recognizing cues
B. Analyzing cues
C. Prioritizing hypotheses
D. Taking action
Verified Answer D. Taking action
Rationale Clinical judgment involves a six step process Recognize Cues
Analyze Cues Prioritize Hypotheses Generate Solutions Take Action and
Evaluate Outcomes. In this scenario the nurse has already recognized the
cues diaphoresis pallor chest pain analyzed them and prioritized the
hypothesis possible myocardial infarction. The nurse is now in the
Taking Action phase by checking vital signs and preparing oxygen. The
nurse is implementing the solutions generated to address the priority
problem.
Incorrect Answers Rationale
A. Recognizing cues While the nurse did recognize cues the scenario
describes the nurse moving beyond observation to intervention.
B. Analyzing cues Analysis involves interpreting the cues which is not
the primary action described.
C. Prioritizing hypotheses The nurse has already prioritized the
hypothesis and is now acting on it.
Review Tip Remember the six steps of clinical judgment as defined by
the NCSBN Recognize Cues Analyze Cues Prioritize Hypotheses
Generate Solutions Take Action and Evaluate Outcomes. The nursing
process ADPIE is closely related but clinical judgment is the broader
concept that includes thinking and decision making.
Question 2
A nurse is caring for a patient with pneumonia who has a fever
productive cough and shortness of breath. After reviewing the
assessment data the nurse identifies the patient problem as Impaired Gas
, Page 4 of 174
Exchange. The nurse then writes a goal for the patient to have oxygen
saturation above 92 percent within 24 hours. The nurse is currently in
which phase of the nursing process
A. Assessment
B. Diagnosis
C. Planning
D. Implementation
Verified Answer C. Planning
Rationale The nursing process consists of five steps Assessment
Diagnosis Planning Implementation and Evaluation. In the Planning
phase the nurse develops goals and outcomes for the patients identified
problems. The nurse in this scenario has already completed Assessment
collecting data and Diagnosis identifying Impaired Gas Exchange. The
nurse is now in the Planning phase by writing a specific measurable goal
for the patient.
Incorrect Answers Rationale
A. Assessment Assessment involves collecting data which has already
been done.
B. Diagnosis Diagnosis is the step where the nurse identifies the
problem which has already been done.
D. Implementation Implementation is the action phase where the nurse
carries out interventions which has not occurred yet.
Review Tip ADPIE is a mnemonic for the nursing process Assessment
Diagnosis Planning Implementation and Evaluation. Planning involves
setting goals that are specific measurable attainable realistic and time
bound SMART.
Question 3
NUR 155 Foundations of Nursing Exam
Bank NCLEX Style Practice Questions with
Rationales 2026/27Fundamentals of Nursing
High Yield Review Pass Your Nursing
Fundamentals Final HESI ATI and NCLEX
RN with Confidence
SEO Description
Over 200 high yield clinical vignette style questions covering the
nursing process clinical judgment vital signs infection control safety
mobility medication administration oxygenation elimination wound care
therapeutic communication prioritization legal ethical issues and cultural
competence. Each question includes a detailed rationale for correct and
incorrect answers plus test taking strategies and memory tricks. Perfect
for nursing students preparing for course finals HESI ATI or NCLEX
RN. Written at NCLEX difficulty level with application based questions
not simple recall.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section 1 Clinical Judgment and the Nursing Process Questions 1 to 8
Section 2 Vital Signs Questions 9 to 16
Section 3 Infection Prevention and Control Questions 17 to 24
Section 4 Safety and Immobility Questions 25 to 32
Section 5 Medication Administration Questions 33 to 40
Section 6 Oxygenation Questions 41 to 46
Section 7 Fluid Electrolyte and Acid Base Balance Questions 47 to 52
Section 8 Nutrition Questions 53 to 56
Section 9 Urinary Elimination Questions 57 to 60
, Page 2 of 174
Section 10 Bowel Elimination Questions 61 to 64
Section 11 Skin Integrity and Wound Care Questions 65 to 70
Section 12 Hygiene Questions 71 to 74
Section 13 Pain Management Questions 75 to 78
Section 14 Sleep Questions 79 to 82
Section 15 Sensory Alterations Questions 83 to 86
Section 16 Loss Death and Grief Questions 87 to 90
Section 17 Stress and Coping Questions 91 to 94
Section 18 Therapeutic Communication Questions 95 to 100
Section 19 Documentation and Informatics Questions 101 to 104
Section 20 Legal Implications in Nursing Practice Questions 105 to 108
Section 21 Ethics and Values Questions 109 to 112
Section 22 Cultural Awareness Questions 113 to 116
Section 23 Spirituality Questions 117 to 120
Section 24 Health and Wellness Questions 121 to 124
Section 25 Patient Education Questions 125 to 128
Section 26 Care of Surgical Patients Questions 129 to 132
Section 27 Complementary and Alternative Therapies Questions 133 to
136
Section 28 Self Concept and Sexuality Questions 137 to 140
Section 29 Delegation and Managing Patient Care Questions 141 to 144
Section 30 Developmental Theories Questions 145 to 148
Section 31 Comprehensive Review Questions 149 to 210
SECTION 1 CLINICAL JUDGMENT AND THE NURSING
PROCESS
Question 1
A nurse walks into a patients room and observes that the patient is
diaphoretic pale and clutching their chest. The patient states I feel like an
elephant is sitting on my chest. The nurse immediately checks the
patients vital signs and prepares to administer oxygen. This scenario best
demonstrates which component of clinical judgment
, Page 3 of 174
A. Recognizing cues
B. Analyzing cues
C. Prioritizing hypotheses
D. Taking action
Verified Answer D. Taking action
Rationale Clinical judgment involves a six step process Recognize Cues
Analyze Cues Prioritize Hypotheses Generate Solutions Take Action and
Evaluate Outcomes. In this scenario the nurse has already recognized the
cues diaphoresis pallor chest pain analyzed them and prioritized the
hypothesis possible myocardial infarction. The nurse is now in the
Taking Action phase by checking vital signs and preparing oxygen. The
nurse is implementing the solutions generated to address the priority
problem.
Incorrect Answers Rationale
A. Recognizing cues While the nurse did recognize cues the scenario
describes the nurse moving beyond observation to intervention.
B. Analyzing cues Analysis involves interpreting the cues which is not
the primary action described.
C. Prioritizing hypotheses The nurse has already prioritized the
hypothesis and is now acting on it.
Review Tip Remember the six steps of clinical judgment as defined by
the NCSBN Recognize Cues Analyze Cues Prioritize Hypotheses
Generate Solutions Take Action and Evaluate Outcomes. The nursing
process ADPIE is closely related but clinical judgment is the broader
concept that includes thinking and decision making.
Question 2
A nurse is caring for a patient with pneumonia who has a fever
productive cough and shortness of breath. After reviewing the
assessment data the nurse identifies the patient problem as Impaired Gas
, Page 4 of 174
Exchange. The nurse then writes a goal for the patient to have oxygen
saturation above 92 percent within 24 hours. The nurse is currently in
which phase of the nursing process
A. Assessment
B. Diagnosis
C. Planning
D. Implementation
Verified Answer C. Planning
Rationale The nursing process consists of five steps Assessment
Diagnosis Planning Implementation and Evaluation. In the Planning
phase the nurse develops goals and outcomes for the patients identified
problems. The nurse in this scenario has already completed Assessment
collecting data and Diagnosis identifying Impaired Gas Exchange. The
nurse is now in the Planning phase by writing a specific measurable goal
for the patient.
Incorrect Answers Rationale
A. Assessment Assessment involves collecting data which has already
been done.
B. Diagnosis Diagnosis is the step where the nurse identifies the
problem which has already been done.
D. Implementation Implementation is the action phase where the nurse
carries out interventions which has not occurred yet.
Review Tip ADPIE is a mnemonic for the nursing process Assessment
Diagnosis Planning Implementation and Evaluation. Planning involves
setting goals that are specific measurable attainable realistic and time
bound SMART.
Question 3
