BSN Nursing Fundamentals – Exam Practice Questions &
Verified Answers with Explained Rationales (2026 Latest
Update) – Comprehensive 250-Question Practice Exam
Questions 1–250
1. A patient tells the nurse, "I'm really worried about my
surgery tomorrow." Which response is most therapeutic?
A) "Don't worry, everything will be fine."
B) "You're feeling anxious about the surgery. Tell me more
about your concerns."
C) "There's nothing to worry about."
D) "Why are you worried?"
,Answer B: "You're feeling anxious about the surgery. Tell me
more about your concerns."
Rationale: Acknowledging the patient's feelings and using
open-ended questions promotes therapeutic communication.
2. The nurse is communicating with a patient who is crying.
Which action is most appropriate?
A) Leave the room to allow privacy.
B) Remain with the patient and allow them to express their
emotions.
C) Tell the patient to stop crying.
D) Change the subject to distract the patient.
Answer B: Remain with the patient and allow them to
express their emotions.
Rationale: Therapeutic presence and allowing expression of
emotions supports the patient.
,3. A patient states, "I don't think I can do this anymore." The
nurse responds, "You're feeling like you can't go on." This is
an example of:
A) Clarification
B) Reflection
C) Focusing
D) Summarization
Answer B: Reflection
Rationale: Reflection restates the patient's feelings to
encourage further exploration.
4. Which of the following is an example of a non-therapeutic
communication technique?
A) Active listening
B) Giving advice
C) Clarification
D) Summarization
Answer B: Giving advice
, Rationale: Giving advice undermines the patient's autonomy
and is non-therapeutic.
5. The nurse is taking a patient's oral temperature. Which
finding indicates the patient is febrile?
A) 98.6°F (37.0°C)
B) 100.4°F (38.0°C) or higher
C) 97.6°F (36.4°C)
D) 99.0°F (37.2°C)
Answer B: 100.4°F (38.0°C) or higher
Rationale: A temperature of 100.4°F or higher indicates fever
(pyrexia).
6. Normal adult resting respiratory rate is:
A) 8-12 breaths/min
B) 12-20 breaths/min
C) 20-30 breaths/min
Verified Answers with Explained Rationales (2026 Latest
Update) – Comprehensive 250-Question Practice Exam
Questions 1–250
1. A patient tells the nurse, "I'm really worried about my
surgery tomorrow." Which response is most therapeutic?
A) "Don't worry, everything will be fine."
B) "You're feeling anxious about the surgery. Tell me more
about your concerns."
C) "There's nothing to worry about."
D) "Why are you worried?"
,Answer B: "You're feeling anxious about the surgery. Tell me
more about your concerns."
Rationale: Acknowledging the patient's feelings and using
open-ended questions promotes therapeutic communication.
2. The nurse is communicating with a patient who is crying.
Which action is most appropriate?
A) Leave the room to allow privacy.
B) Remain with the patient and allow them to express their
emotions.
C) Tell the patient to stop crying.
D) Change the subject to distract the patient.
Answer B: Remain with the patient and allow them to
express their emotions.
Rationale: Therapeutic presence and allowing expression of
emotions supports the patient.
,3. A patient states, "I don't think I can do this anymore." The
nurse responds, "You're feeling like you can't go on." This is
an example of:
A) Clarification
B) Reflection
C) Focusing
D) Summarization
Answer B: Reflection
Rationale: Reflection restates the patient's feelings to
encourage further exploration.
4. Which of the following is an example of a non-therapeutic
communication technique?
A) Active listening
B) Giving advice
C) Clarification
D) Summarization
Answer B: Giving advice
, Rationale: Giving advice undermines the patient's autonomy
and is non-therapeutic.
5. The nurse is taking a patient's oral temperature. Which
finding indicates the patient is febrile?
A) 98.6°F (37.0°C)
B) 100.4°F (38.0°C) or higher
C) 97.6°F (36.4°C)
D) 99.0°F (37.2°C)
Answer B: 100.4°F (38.0°C) or higher
Rationale: A temperature of 100.4°F or higher indicates fever
(pyrexia).
6. Normal adult resting respiratory rate is:
A) 8-12 breaths/min
B) 12-20 breaths/min
C) 20-30 breaths/min
