NU 136/NU136 Exam 1 | Fundamentals of Nursing (2026) Actual Q&A
PDF | Galen College
,NU 136/NU136 Exam 1 | Fundamentals of Nursing (2026) Actual Q&A
PDF | Galen College
1. The nurse is obtaining a patient’s vital signs, listening to breath sounds, and
asking about the onset of chest pain. This activity is part of which phase of the
nursing process?
• A) Assessment
• B) Planning
• C) Implementation
• D) Evaluation
Correct Answer: Assessment
Rationale: Assessment is the first step of the nursing process, involving systematic collection of
subjective and objective data. Planning sets goals, implementation carries out interventions, and
evaluation determines if outcomes were met. This nurse is gathering baseline information.
2. The nurse is explaining the chain of infection to a patient. Which component
refers to the place where microorganisms live and multiply?
• A) Portal of exit
• B) Reservoir
• C) Mode of transmission
• D) Susceptible host
Correct Answer: Reservoir
Rationale: The reservoir is the habitat where the pathogen survives and multiplies, such as a
wound, animal, or contaminated water. Portal of exit is the route it leaves, mode of transmission
is how it travels, and susceptible host is a person at risk.
3. The nurse is teaching a patient who is non-weight bearing on the left leg how
to use crutches. Which instruction is correct?
• A) Place equal weight on both feet
• B) Use a four-point gait
• C) Keep the left leg off the floor and support weight on the right leg and crutches
• D) Swing both legs forward together
Correct Answer: Keep the left leg off the floor and support weight on the right leg and
crutches
Rationale: Non-weight bearing means the affected leg must not touch the ground. The patient
advances both crutches and the unaffected leg, bearing all weight on the right leg and crutches.
The other options involve weight bearing or incorrect gaits.
,NU 136/NU136 Exam 1 | Fundamentals of Nursing (2026) Actual Q&A
PDF | Galen College
4. A conscious adult patient asks which temperature route is most accurate for
routine use. The nurse should recommend which route?
• A) Rectal
• B) Axillary
• C) Temporal artery
• D) Oral
Correct Answer: Oral
Rationale: The oral route is accurate, convenient, and appropriate for conscious adults who can
follow instructions. Rectal is invasive and used for infants or unconscious patients; axillary is
less accurate; temporal artery may be used but oral is standard.
5. The nurse is performing hand hygiene. Which statement best explains why
handwashing is the single most important infection control measure?
• A) It kills all resident flora on the skin
• B) It is required only before patient contact
• C) It eliminates the need for personal protective equipment
• D) It removes transient microorganisms and interrupts the chain of infection
Correct Answer: It removes transient microorganisms and interrupts the chain of infection
Rationale: Hand hygiene removes transient flora acquired through patient contact, breaking the
chain at the mode of transmission. It does not kill all resident flora or eliminate the need for PPE,
and it is required before and after care.
6. A patient is to receive a cleansing enema. The nurse should place the patient in
which position?
• A) Supine
• B) Prone
• C) Left lateral (Sims' position)
• D) High-Fowler's
Correct Answer: C) Left lateral (Sims' position)
Rationale: The patient should be placed in the left lateral position (Sims' position) with the right
knee flexed so that the enema solution can flow by gravity down into the sigmoid colon and
rectum.
7. When lifting a heavy object from the floor, which nursing action demonstrates
proper body mechanics?
, NU 136/NU136 Exam 1 | Fundamentals of Nursing (2026) Actual Q&A
PDF | Galen College
• A) Bending at the waist with straight knees
• B) Keeping the feet close together to maintain a narrow base of support
• C) Holding the object away from the body
• D) Keeping the knees bent and using leg muscles to lift
Correct Answer: D) Keeping the knees bent and using leg muscles to lift
Rationale: Proper body mechanics include bending at the knees, maintaining a wide base of
support, and holding heavy objects close to the body's center of gravity to prevent back strain.
8. A nurse is preparing to measure a patient's blood pressure. Which error will
result in a falsely high blood pressure reading?
• A) Using a cuff that is too narrow
• B) Using a cuff that is too wide
• C) Positioning the arm above heart level
• D) Deflating the cuff too quickly
Correct Answer: A) Using a cuff that is too narrow
Rationale: A blood pressure cuff that is too narrow (or small) requires excessive pressure to
occlude the artery, resulting in a falsely high reading. A wide cuff gives a falsely low reading.
9. When performing a complete bed bath for an unconscious patient, which
action should the nurse take first?
• A) Wash the patient's face and eyes
• B) Wash the lower extremities
• C) Provide perineal care
• D) Wash the chest and abdomen
Correct Answer: A) Wash the patient's face and eyes
Rationale: A bed bath proceeds from cleanest to dirtiest areas. The face and eyes are washed first
without soap to prevent contamination from other body parts.
10. A patient is admitted with suspected tuberculosis (TB). Which type of
isolation precautions should the nurse initiate immediately?
• A) Contact precautions
• B) Droplet precautions
• C) Airborne precautions
• D) Protective environment
PDF | Galen College
,NU 136/NU136 Exam 1 | Fundamentals of Nursing (2026) Actual Q&A
PDF | Galen College
1. The nurse is obtaining a patient’s vital signs, listening to breath sounds, and
asking about the onset of chest pain. This activity is part of which phase of the
nursing process?
• A) Assessment
• B) Planning
• C) Implementation
• D) Evaluation
Correct Answer: Assessment
Rationale: Assessment is the first step of the nursing process, involving systematic collection of
subjective and objective data. Planning sets goals, implementation carries out interventions, and
evaluation determines if outcomes were met. This nurse is gathering baseline information.
2. The nurse is explaining the chain of infection to a patient. Which component
refers to the place where microorganisms live and multiply?
• A) Portal of exit
• B) Reservoir
• C) Mode of transmission
• D) Susceptible host
Correct Answer: Reservoir
Rationale: The reservoir is the habitat where the pathogen survives and multiplies, such as a
wound, animal, or contaminated water. Portal of exit is the route it leaves, mode of transmission
is how it travels, and susceptible host is a person at risk.
3. The nurse is teaching a patient who is non-weight bearing on the left leg how
to use crutches. Which instruction is correct?
• A) Place equal weight on both feet
• B) Use a four-point gait
• C) Keep the left leg off the floor and support weight on the right leg and crutches
• D) Swing both legs forward together
Correct Answer: Keep the left leg off the floor and support weight on the right leg and
crutches
Rationale: Non-weight bearing means the affected leg must not touch the ground. The patient
advances both crutches and the unaffected leg, bearing all weight on the right leg and crutches.
The other options involve weight bearing or incorrect gaits.
,NU 136/NU136 Exam 1 | Fundamentals of Nursing (2026) Actual Q&A
PDF | Galen College
4. A conscious adult patient asks which temperature route is most accurate for
routine use. The nurse should recommend which route?
• A) Rectal
• B) Axillary
• C) Temporal artery
• D) Oral
Correct Answer: Oral
Rationale: The oral route is accurate, convenient, and appropriate for conscious adults who can
follow instructions. Rectal is invasive and used for infants or unconscious patients; axillary is
less accurate; temporal artery may be used but oral is standard.
5. The nurse is performing hand hygiene. Which statement best explains why
handwashing is the single most important infection control measure?
• A) It kills all resident flora on the skin
• B) It is required only before patient contact
• C) It eliminates the need for personal protective equipment
• D) It removes transient microorganisms and interrupts the chain of infection
Correct Answer: It removes transient microorganisms and interrupts the chain of infection
Rationale: Hand hygiene removes transient flora acquired through patient contact, breaking the
chain at the mode of transmission. It does not kill all resident flora or eliminate the need for PPE,
and it is required before and after care.
6. A patient is to receive a cleansing enema. The nurse should place the patient in
which position?
• A) Supine
• B) Prone
• C) Left lateral (Sims' position)
• D) High-Fowler's
Correct Answer: C) Left lateral (Sims' position)
Rationale: The patient should be placed in the left lateral position (Sims' position) with the right
knee flexed so that the enema solution can flow by gravity down into the sigmoid colon and
rectum.
7. When lifting a heavy object from the floor, which nursing action demonstrates
proper body mechanics?
, NU 136/NU136 Exam 1 | Fundamentals of Nursing (2026) Actual Q&A
PDF | Galen College
• A) Bending at the waist with straight knees
• B) Keeping the feet close together to maintain a narrow base of support
• C) Holding the object away from the body
• D) Keeping the knees bent and using leg muscles to lift
Correct Answer: D) Keeping the knees bent and using leg muscles to lift
Rationale: Proper body mechanics include bending at the knees, maintaining a wide base of
support, and holding heavy objects close to the body's center of gravity to prevent back strain.
8. A nurse is preparing to measure a patient's blood pressure. Which error will
result in a falsely high blood pressure reading?
• A) Using a cuff that is too narrow
• B) Using a cuff that is too wide
• C) Positioning the arm above heart level
• D) Deflating the cuff too quickly
Correct Answer: A) Using a cuff that is too narrow
Rationale: A blood pressure cuff that is too narrow (or small) requires excessive pressure to
occlude the artery, resulting in a falsely high reading. A wide cuff gives a falsely low reading.
9. When performing a complete bed bath for an unconscious patient, which
action should the nurse take first?
• A) Wash the patient's face and eyes
• B) Wash the lower extremities
• C) Provide perineal care
• D) Wash the chest and abdomen
Correct Answer: A) Wash the patient's face and eyes
Rationale: A bed bath proceeds from cleanest to dirtiest areas. The face and eyes are washed first
without soap to prevent contamination from other body parts.
10. A patient is admitted with suspected tuberculosis (TB). Which type of
isolation precautions should the nurse initiate immediately?
• A) Contact precautions
• B) Droplet precautions
• C) Airborne precautions
• D) Protective environment
