NSG 3100 Exam 1 Resources Foundations of Nursing
Practice Galen College of Nursing Actual Exam
2026/2027 Complete Exam-Style Questions with
Detailed Rationales | 100% Verified | Pass Guaranteed
– A+ Graded
Part I: Foundations of Nursing Practice (Questions 1–12)
Q1. A nursing student is reviewing the steps of the nursing process before clinicals. Which step involves
setting measurable, patient-centered goals with specific timeframes?
A. Assessment
B. Diagnosis
C. Planning
D. Evaluation
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The best answer is planning, because this is the phase where you and your patient work
together to establish clear, achievable goals with deadlines—like "Patient will ambulate 50 feet with a
walker by post-op day 2." Assessment is about gathering data, diagnosis is about identifying the
problem, and evaluation comes later to see if you met those goals. This aligns with Galen's NSG 3100
curriculum on the nursing process sequence.
Q2. During morning vital signs, a nurse notes a patient's oral temperature is 101.2°F, heart rate is 96
bpm, respiratory rate is 22/min, and blood pressure is 128/78 mmHg. Based on these findings, which
action should the nurse prioritize?
A. Notify the provider immediately about the elevated temperature
B. Recheck the temperature and assess for other signs of infection
C. Document the findings and continue with the scheduled care
D. Administer acetaminophen per standing order without further assessment
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is to recheck the temperature and assess for other infection signs, because a
single elevated reading needs confirmation and context before jumping to treatment or notification. A
good nurse always validates unexpected data and looks at the whole picture—skin warmth, wound
appearance, lung sounds—before deciding the next step. This matches the nursing principle that
assessment drives clinical decision-making.
,Q3. Which of the following is the correct sequence for donning personal protective equipment (PPE)
when entering the room of a patient on contact and droplet precautions?
A. Gown → Mask → Goggles → Gloves
B. Mask → Goggles → Gown → Gloves
C. Gown → Mask → Gloves → Goggles
D. Mask → Gown → Goggles → Gloves
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The best answer is mask first, then gown, then goggles, then gloves, because this sequence
protects your respiratory tract first, then covers your clothing, shields your eyes, and finally ensures your
hands are the last thing protected before patient contact. Gloves always go on last since you touch and
adjust everything else with bare hands. This aligns with CDC standard precautions taught in foundational
nursing skills.
Q4. A nurse is caring for a patient who says, "I don't understand why I need this medication. I feel fine."
Which response demonstrates therapeutic communication and patient-centered care?
A. "Your doctor ordered it, so you really should take it."
B. "You feel fine now, but this medication prevents complications later. Can I explain how it works?"
C. "If you don't take it, your condition could get much worse."
D. "Most patients in your situation take this without any issues."
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is the one that validates the patient's feelings while offering education and
inviting dialogue, because therapeutic communication starts with acknowledging where the patient is
emotionally and then partnering with them to build understanding. Telling a patient to just obey orders
or scaring them into compliance breaks trust and shuts down conversation. This matches the patient-
centered care principle of respecting autonomy while providing information.
Q5. Which statement best describes the difference between a nursing diagnosis and a medical
diagnosis?
A. A nursing diagnosis identifies disease pathology, while a medical diagnosis describes the patient's
response to illness.
B. A nursing diagnosis describes the patient's response to actual or potential health problems, while a
medical diagnosis identifies disease or pathology.
C. A nursing diagnosis and medical diagnosis are essentially the same and can be used interchangeably.
D. A medical diagnosis is written by nurses, while a nursing diagnosis is written by physicians.
Correct Answer: B
, Rationale: The best answer is that a nursing diagnosis focuses on how the patient responds to health
challenges—things like impaired mobility or anxiety—while a medical diagnosis names the disease itself,
like pneumonia or diabetes. This distinction matters because nurses treat human responses, not
diseases, and this is core to how we plan independent nursing interventions. This aligns with NANDA-I
terminology and Galen's nursing process curriculum.
Q6. A patient with a history of heart failure has a nursing diagnosis of "Activity intolerance related to
imbalance between oxygen supply and demand." Which outcome statement is written correctly and
matches this diagnosis?
A. "The patient will have improved activity tolerance."
B. "The patient will walk 200 feet in the hallway without dyspnea or fatigue by discharge."
C. "The nurse will assist the patient with ambulation three times daily."
D. "The patient's heart failure will resolve within one week."
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is the one that states exactly what the patient will do, under what
conditions, and by when, because SMART outcomes need to be specific, measurable, achievable,
relevant, and time-bound. Saying "improved tolerance" is too vague for evaluation, and anything
focused on the nurse's actions or curing the disease misses the point of a patient-centered outcome.
This matches the nursing principle that outcomes must be observable and evaluable.
Q7. A nurse is preparing to delegate a stable patient's morning hygiene to an unlicensed assistive
personnel (UAP). Which task is appropriate to delegate, and what should the nurse communicate?
A. Delegate complete oral care and tell the UAP to report any abnormalities noticed
B. Delegate perineal care and instruct the UAP to document skin breakdown independently
C. Delegate bathing and specify what to observe and report back to the nurse
D. Delegate hair washing and tell the UAP to decide if the patient needs a shampoo
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The best answer is delegating bathing with clear instructions on what to watch for and report,
because delegation works best when you match the right task to the right person and give them a
focused reporting framework—like noting redness, bruising, or patient complaints. You never delegate
assessment or independent documentation, and you always maintain accountability for the overall care.
This aligns with the five rights of delegation taught in foundational nursing practice.
Q8. When documenting a patient's pain assessment, which entry follows best practice for legal and
accurate nursing documentation?
A. "Patient says pain is bad. Given pain med."
B. "Patient reports 8/10 sharp pain in lower right abdomen, worsened with movement. Notified
provider. Medication administered per order."
Practice Galen College of Nursing Actual Exam
2026/2027 Complete Exam-Style Questions with
Detailed Rationales | 100% Verified | Pass Guaranteed
– A+ Graded
Part I: Foundations of Nursing Practice (Questions 1–12)
Q1. A nursing student is reviewing the steps of the nursing process before clinicals. Which step involves
setting measurable, patient-centered goals with specific timeframes?
A. Assessment
B. Diagnosis
C. Planning
D. Evaluation
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The best answer is planning, because this is the phase where you and your patient work
together to establish clear, achievable goals with deadlines—like "Patient will ambulate 50 feet with a
walker by post-op day 2." Assessment is about gathering data, diagnosis is about identifying the
problem, and evaluation comes later to see if you met those goals. This aligns with Galen's NSG 3100
curriculum on the nursing process sequence.
Q2. During morning vital signs, a nurse notes a patient's oral temperature is 101.2°F, heart rate is 96
bpm, respiratory rate is 22/min, and blood pressure is 128/78 mmHg. Based on these findings, which
action should the nurse prioritize?
A. Notify the provider immediately about the elevated temperature
B. Recheck the temperature and assess for other signs of infection
C. Document the findings and continue with the scheduled care
D. Administer acetaminophen per standing order without further assessment
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is to recheck the temperature and assess for other infection signs, because a
single elevated reading needs confirmation and context before jumping to treatment or notification. A
good nurse always validates unexpected data and looks at the whole picture—skin warmth, wound
appearance, lung sounds—before deciding the next step. This matches the nursing principle that
assessment drives clinical decision-making.
,Q3. Which of the following is the correct sequence for donning personal protective equipment (PPE)
when entering the room of a patient on contact and droplet precautions?
A. Gown → Mask → Goggles → Gloves
B. Mask → Goggles → Gown → Gloves
C. Gown → Mask → Gloves → Goggles
D. Mask → Gown → Goggles → Gloves
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The best answer is mask first, then gown, then goggles, then gloves, because this sequence
protects your respiratory tract first, then covers your clothing, shields your eyes, and finally ensures your
hands are the last thing protected before patient contact. Gloves always go on last since you touch and
adjust everything else with bare hands. This aligns with CDC standard precautions taught in foundational
nursing skills.
Q4. A nurse is caring for a patient who says, "I don't understand why I need this medication. I feel fine."
Which response demonstrates therapeutic communication and patient-centered care?
A. "Your doctor ordered it, so you really should take it."
B. "You feel fine now, but this medication prevents complications later. Can I explain how it works?"
C. "If you don't take it, your condition could get much worse."
D. "Most patients in your situation take this without any issues."
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is the one that validates the patient's feelings while offering education and
inviting dialogue, because therapeutic communication starts with acknowledging where the patient is
emotionally and then partnering with them to build understanding. Telling a patient to just obey orders
or scaring them into compliance breaks trust and shuts down conversation. This matches the patient-
centered care principle of respecting autonomy while providing information.
Q5. Which statement best describes the difference between a nursing diagnosis and a medical
diagnosis?
A. A nursing diagnosis identifies disease pathology, while a medical diagnosis describes the patient's
response to illness.
B. A nursing diagnosis describes the patient's response to actual or potential health problems, while a
medical diagnosis identifies disease or pathology.
C. A nursing diagnosis and medical diagnosis are essentially the same and can be used interchangeably.
D. A medical diagnosis is written by nurses, while a nursing diagnosis is written by physicians.
Correct Answer: B
, Rationale: The best answer is that a nursing diagnosis focuses on how the patient responds to health
challenges—things like impaired mobility or anxiety—while a medical diagnosis names the disease itself,
like pneumonia or diabetes. This distinction matters because nurses treat human responses, not
diseases, and this is core to how we plan independent nursing interventions. This aligns with NANDA-I
terminology and Galen's nursing process curriculum.
Q6. A patient with a history of heart failure has a nursing diagnosis of "Activity intolerance related to
imbalance between oxygen supply and demand." Which outcome statement is written correctly and
matches this diagnosis?
A. "The patient will have improved activity tolerance."
B. "The patient will walk 200 feet in the hallway without dyspnea or fatigue by discharge."
C. "The nurse will assist the patient with ambulation three times daily."
D. "The patient's heart failure will resolve within one week."
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is the one that states exactly what the patient will do, under what
conditions, and by when, because SMART outcomes need to be specific, measurable, achievable,
relevant, and time-bound. Saying "improved tolerance" is too vague for evaluation, and anything
focused on the nurse's actions or curing the disease misses the point of a patient-centered outcome.
This matches the nursing principle that outcomes must be observable and evaluable.
Q7. A nurse is preparing to delegate a stable patient's morning hygiene to an unlicensed assistive
personnel (UAP). Which task is appropriate to delegate, and what should the nurse communicate?
A. Delegate complete oral care and tell the UAP to report any abnormalities noticed
B. Delegate perineal care and instruct the UAP to document skin breakdown independently
C. Delegate bathing and specify what to observe and report back to the nurse
D. Delegate hair washing and tell the UAP to decide if the patient needs a shampoo
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The best answer is delegating bathing with clear instructions on what to watch for and report,
because delegation works best when you match the right task to the right person and give them a
focused reporting framework—like noting redness, bruising, or patient complaints. You never delegate
assessment or independent documentation, and you always maintain accountability for the overall care.
This aligns with the five rights of delegation taught in foundational nursing practice.
Q8. When documenting a patient's pain assessment, which entry follows best practice for legal and
accurate nursing documentation?
A. "Patient says pain is bad. Given pain med."
B. "Patient reports 8/10 sharp pain in lower right abdomen, worsened with movement. Notified
provider. Medication administered per order."
