Page 1 of 88
BASIC NURSING CONCEPTS, SKILLS, AND REASONING 1E –
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM LATEST VERSION QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 2026 EDITION
BASIC NURSING CONCEPTS, SKILLS, AND REASONING 1E – COMPREHENSIVE
EXAM QUESTIONS
SECTION 1: HOW NURSES THINK (Chapters 1-8)
CHAPTER 1: NURSING PAST & PRESENT (Questions 1-25)
1. What is the most influential factor that has shaped the nursing profession?
A) Physicians' need for handmaidens
B) Societal need for healthcare outside the home
C) Military demand for nurses in the field
D) Germ theory influence on sanitation
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Throughout history, the stability of governments has been related to the
success of the military. As the survival and wellbeing of soldiers were critical, nurses
provided healthcare to the sick and injured at the battle site. The physician's
handmaiden is a nursing stereotype rather than an influence on nursing. While societal
need for healthcare outside the home and germ theory influenced healthcare
development, the military demand was the most significant factor in shaping the
profession .
2. Nursing was described as a distinct occupation in the sacred books of which
faith?
A) Buddhism
B) Christianity
C) Hinduism
D) Judaism
Correct Answer: C
, Page 2 of 88
Rationale: The Vedas, the sacred books of the Hindu faith, described Indian healthcare
practices and were the earliest writings of a distinct nursing occupation. Nursing was
not described as a distinct occupation in the sacred books of Buddhism, Christianity, or
Judaism .
3. Which individual established the American Red Cross?
A) Louisa May Alcott
B) Clara Barton
C) Dorothea Dix
D) Harriet Tubman
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Clara Barton was an American teacher, nurse, and humanitarian who
organized the American Red Cross after the Civil War. Louisa May Alcott was a novelist,
Dorothea Dix advocated for the mentally ill, and Harriet Tubman was an abolitionist and
Union spy .
4. Which is the most important reason to develop a definition of nursing?
A) Recruit more informed people into the nursing profession
B) Evaluate the degree of role satisfaction
C) Dispel the stereotypical images of nurses
D) Differentiate nursing activities from those of other health professionals
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Nursing organization leaders believe it is important to develop a definition of
nursing to bring value and understanding to the profession, differentiate nursing
activities from those of other health professionals, and help student nurses understand
what is expected of them .
5. Which best explains why it is difficult for the profession to develop a definition of
nursing?
A) There are too many different and conflicting images of nurses.
B) There are constant changes in healthcare and the activities of nurses.
C) There is disagreement among the different nursing organizations.
D) There are different education pathways and levels of practice.
Correct Answer: B
, Page 3 of 88
Rationale: Healthcare is constantly changing, and with it come changes in where, how,
and what nursing care is delivered. Constant changes make it difficult to develop a
definition. Although different nursing organizations have different definitions, they are
similar in most ways .
6. Nurses have the potential to be very influential in shaping healthcare policy.
Which factor contributes most to nurses' influence?
A) Nurses are the largest health professional group.
B) Nurses have a long history of serving the public.
C) Nurses have achieved independence from physicians.
D) Political involvement has helped refute negative images.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Nurses are trusted professionals and the largest health professional group.
As such, they have political power to effect changes. If nursing were a small group,
there would be little potential for power in shaping policies, even if all the other answers
were true .
7. In what time period did nursing care as we now know it begin?
A) Pre-civilization
B) Early civilization to 16th century
C) 16th to 17th century
D) 18th to 19th century
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Nursing care as we now know it began during the 16th to 17th century
period. This was when nursing began to transition from a spiritual focus to an emphasis
on knowledge expansion .
8. Which of the following is a characteristic of nursing practiced from early
civilization to the 16th century?
A) Most early civilizations believed that illness had supernatural causes.
B) The physician was the priest who treated disease with prayer.
C) The nurse was a nun committed to caring for the needy and homeless.
D) Nursing changed from a spiritual focus to an emphasis on knowledge expansion.
Correct Answer: A
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Rationale: Most early civilizations believed that illness had supernatural causes. This
belief shaped early healthcare practices and the role of nurses in caring for the sick .
9. Which of the following organizations has established standards for clinical
nursing practice?
A) American Nurses Association (ANA)
B) National League for Nursing (NLN)
C) International Council of Nurses (ICN)
D) State Board of Nursing
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The American Nurses Association (ANA) has established standards for
clinical nursing practice. The NLN focuses on nursing education, the ICN is an
international organization, and State Boards of Nursing regulate licensure .
10. What is the primary purpose of standards of nursing practice?
A) To provide a method by which nurses perform skills safely
B) To ensure knowledgeable, safe, comprehensive nursing care
C) To establish nursing as a profession and a discipline
D) To enable nurses to have a voice in healthcare policy
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The primary purpose of standards of nursing practice is to ensure
knowledgeable, safe, and comprehensive nursing care. Standards guide professional
practice and protect the public .
11. After graduation from an accredited nursing program and successfully passing
the NCLEX, what gives the nurse a legal right to practice?
A) Enrolling in an advanced degree program
B) Filing NCLEX results in the county of residence
C) Being licensed by the State Board of Nursing
D) Having a signed letter confirming graduation
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Being licensed by the State Board of Nursing gives the nurse a legal right to
practice. The NCLEX is the examination that determines eligibility for licensure .
BASIC NURSING CONCEPTS, SKILLS, AND REASONING 1E –
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM LATEST VERSION QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 2026 EDITION
BASIC NURSING CONCEPTS, SKILLS, AND REASONING 1E – COMPREHENSIVE
EXAM QUESTIONS
SECTION 1: HOW NURSES THINK (Chapters 1-8)
CHAPTER 1: NURSING PAST & PRESENT (Questions 1-25)
1. What is the most influential factor that has shaped the nursing profession?
A) Physicians' need for handmaidens
B) Societal need for healthcare outside the home
C) Military demand for nurses in the field
D) Germ theory influence on sanitation
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Throughout history, the stability of governments has been related to the
success of the military. As the survival and wellbeing of soldiers were critical, nurses
provided healthcare to the sick and injured at the battle site. The physician's
handmaiden is a nursing stereotype rather than an influence on nursing. While societal
need for healthcare outside the home and germ theory influenced healthcare
development, the military demand was the most significant factor in shaping the
profession .
2. Nursing was described as a distinct occupation in the sacred books of which
faith?
A) Buddhism
B) Christianity
C) Hinduism
D) Judaism
Correct Answer: C
, Page 2 of 88
Rationale: The Vedas, the sacred books of the Hindu faith, described Indian healthcare
practices and were the earliest writings of a distinct nursing occupation. Nursing was
not described as a distinct occupation in the sacred books of Buddhism, Christianity, or
Judaism .
3. Which individual established the American Red Cross?
A) Louisa May Alcott
B) Clara Barton
C) Dorothea Dix
D) Harriet Tubman
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Clara Barton was an American teacher, nurse, and humanitarian who
organized the American Red Cross after the Civil War. Louisa May Alcott was a novelist,
Dorothea Dix advocated for the mentally ill, and Harriet Tubman was an abolitionist and
Union spy .
4. Which is the most important reason to develop a definition of nursing?
A) Recruit more informed people into the nursing profession
B) Evaluate the degree of role satisfaction
C) Dispel the stereotypical images of nurses
D) Differentiate nursing activities from those of other health professionals
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Nursing organization leaders believe it is important to develop a definition of
nursing to bring value and understanding to the profession, differentiate nursing
activities from those of other health professionals, and help student nurses understand
what is expected of them .
5. Which best explains why it is difficult for the profession to develop a definition of
nursing?
A) There are too many different and conflicting images of nurses.
B) There are constant changes in healthcare and the activities of nurses.
C) There is disagreement among the different nursing organizations.
D) There are different education pathways and levels of practice.
Correct Answer: B
, Page 3 of 88
Rationale: Healthcare is constantly changing, and with it come changes in where, how,
and what nursing care is delivered. Constant changes make it difficult to develop a
definition. Although different nursing organizations have different definitions, they are
similar in most ways .
6. Nurses have the potential to be very influential in shaping healthcare policy.
Which factor contributes most to nurses' influence?
A) Nurses are the largest health professional group.
B) Nurses have a long history of serving the public.
C) Nurses have achieved independence from physicians.
D) Political involvement has helped refute negative images.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Nurses are trusted professionals and the largest health professional group.
As such, they have political power to effect changes. If nursing were a small group,
there would be little potential for power in shaping policies, even if all the other answers
were true .
7. In what time period did nursing care as we now know it begin?
A) Pre-civilization
B) Early civilization to 16th century
C) 16th to 17th century
D) 18th to 19th century
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Nursing care as we now know it began during the 16th to 17th century
period. This was when nursing began to transition from a spiritual focus to an emphasis
on knowledge expansion .
8. Which of the following is a characteristic of nursing practiced from early
civilization to the 16th century?
A) Most early civilizations believed that illness had supernatural causes.
B) The physician was the priest who treated disease with prayer.
C) The nurse was a nun committed to caring for the needy and homeless.
D) Nursing changed from a spiritual focus to an emphasis on knowledge expansion.
Correct Answer: A
, Page 4 of 88
Rationale: Most early civilizations believed that illness had supernatural causes. This
belief shaped early healthcare practices and the role of nurses in caring for the sick .
9. Which of the following organizations has established standards for clinical
nursing practice?
A) American Nurses Association (ANA)
B) National League for Nursing (NLN)
C) International Council of Nurses (ICN)
D) State Board of Nursing
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The American Nurses Association (ANA) has established standards for
clinical nursing practice. The NLN focuses on nursing education, the ICN is an
international organization, and State Boards of Nursing regulate licensure .
10. What is the primary purpose of standards of nursing practice?
A) To provide a method by which nurses perform skills safely
B) To ensure knowledgeable, safe, comprehensive nursing care
C) To establish nursing as a profession and a discipline
D) To enable nurses to have a voice in healthcare policy
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The primary purpose of standards of nursing practice is to ensure
knowledgeable, safe, and comprehensive nursing care. Standards guide professional
practice and protect the public .
11. After graduation from an accredited nursing program and successfully passing
the NCLEX, what gives the nurse a legal right to practice?
A) Enrolling in an advanced degree program
B) Filing NCLEX results in the county of residence
C) Being licensed by the State Board of Nursing
D) Having a signed letter confirming graduation
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Being licensed by the State Board of Nursing gives the nurse a legal right to
practice. The NCLEX is the examination that determines eligibility for licensure .
