D439 Foundations of Nursing Objective Assessment Study … 2026 Update • Verified Answers
✓ VERIFIED • 2026 UPDATE • 100% ACCURATE
D439 Foundations of Nursing Objective Assessment
Study Guide 2026 UPDATE |WGU
Actual Exam Questions & Verified Answers
with Detailed Rationales
Document Type: Exam (Elaborations)
Academic Year:
Total Questions: 50 Multiple Choice
Includes: Correct Answers + Full Rationales
Status: Verified & Updated for 2026
Exam (Elaborations) • Actual Questions & Rationales Page 1
,D439 Foundations of Nursing Objective Assessment Study … 2026 Update • Verified Answers
Questions & Verified Answers
1. A nurse respects a patient’s decision to refuse chemotherapy even though the family
disagrees. Which ethical principle is the nurse demonstrating?
A. Autonomy
B. Beneficence
C. Non-maleficence
D. Justice
Answer: A
Rationale: Autonomy refers to the right of patients to make their own decisions about their medical care without
their healthcare provider trying to influence the decision. Recognizing this principle allows the nurse to prioritize
care, anticipate complications, and provide accurate patient education.
2. Which ethical principle is defined as ‘doing good’ and acting in the best interest of the
patient?
A. Veracity
B. Justice
C. Fidelity
D. Beneficence
Answer: D
Rationale: Beneficence is the duty to do good and the active promotion of benevolent acts. This is an important
clinical concept because selecting the correct answer (D) requires understanding both the pathophysiology and
the practical nursing implications. Recognizing this principle allows the nurse to prioritize care, anticipate
complications, and provide accurate patient education.
3. A nurse ensures that a patient receives pain medication as promised. This is an example of
which ethical principle?
A. Fidelity
B. Justice
C. Autonomy
D. Non-maleficence
Answer: A
Rationale: Fidelity refers to faithfulness and keeping promises made to patients. Exam questions often test the
ability to distinguish this concept from closely related distractors, making a clear rationale essential for mastery.
Applying this knowledge in clinical settings supports safe, evidence-based practice and improves patient
outcomes.
Exam (Elaborations) • Actual Questions & Rationales Page 2
, D439 Foundations of Nursing Objective Assessment Study … 2026 Update • Verified Answers
4. A nurse provides equal care to a prisoner and a CEO in the same unit. Which ethical principle
is being applied?
A. Beneficence
B. Non-maleficence
C. Veracity
D. Justice
Answer: D
Rationale: Justice refers to fairness in care delivery and use of resources. Exam questions often test the ability
to distinguish this concept from closely related distractors, making a clear rationale essential for mastery.
Applying this knowledge in clinical settings supports safe, evidence-based practice and improves patient
outcomes.
5. What is the primary purpose of the Nursing Process (ADPIE)?
A. To diagnose medical conditions
B. To document insurance claims
C. To provide a systematic method for delivering patient care
D. To assign tasks to unlicensed personnel
Answer: C
Rationale: The nursing process is a systematic, patient-centered method for structuring nursing care. Applying
this knowledge in clinical settings supports safe, evidence-based practice and improves patient outcomes. This
is an important clinical concept because selecting the correct answer (C) requires understanding both the
pathophysiology and the practical nursing implications.
6. During which phase of the nursing process does the nurse collect subjective and objective
data?
A. Assessment
B. Planning
C. Implementation
D. Evaluation
Answer: A
Rationale: Assessment is the first step, involving systematic collection of all data regarding a patient’s health
status. Exam questions often test the ability to distinguish this concept from closely related distractors, making
a clear rationale essential for mastery. Applying this knowledge in clinical settings supports safe,
evidence-based practice and improves patient outcomes.
Exam (Elaborations) • Actual Questions & Rationales Page 3
✓ VERIFIED • 2026 UPDATE • 100% ACCURATE
D439 Foundations of Nursing Objective Assessment
Study Guide 2026 UPDATE |WGU
Actual Exam Questions & Verified Answers
with Detailed Rationales
Document Type: Exam (Elaborations)
Academic Year:
Total Questions: 50 Multiple Choice
Includes: Correct Answers + Full Rationales
Status: Verified & Updated for 2026
Exam (Elaborations) • Actual Questions & Rationales Page 1
,D439 Foundations of Nursing Objective Assessment Study … 2026 Update • Verified Answers
Questions & Verified Answers
1. A nurse respects a patient’s decision to refuse chemotherapy even though the family
disagrees. Which ethical principle is the nurse demonstrating?
A. Autonomy
B. Beneficence
C. Non-maleficence
D. Justice
Answer: A
Rationale: Autonomy refers to the right of patients to make their own decisions about their medical care without
their healthcare provider trying to influence the decision. Recognizing this principle allows the nurse to prioritize
care, anticipate complications, and provide accurate patient education.
2. Which ethical principle is defined as ‘doing good’ and acting in the best interest of the
patient?
A. Veracity
B. Justice
C. Fidelity
D. Beneficence
Answer: D
Rationale: Beneficence is the duty to do good and the active promotion of benevolent acts. This is an important
clinical concept because selecting the correct answer (D) requires understanding both the pathophysiology and
the practical nursing implications. Recognizing this principle allows the nurse to prioritize care, anticipate
complications, and provide accurate patient education.
3. A nurse ensures that a patient receives pain medication as promised. This is an example of
which ethical principle?
A. Fidelity
B. Justice
C. Autonomy
D. Non-maleficence
Answer: A
Rationale: Fidelity refers to faithfulness and keeping promises made to patients. Exam questions often test the
ability to distinguish this concept from closely related distractors, making a clear rationale essential for mastery.
Applying this knowledge in clinical settings supports safe, evidence-based practice and improves patient
outcomes.
Exam (Elaborations) • Actual Questions & Rationales Page 2
, D439 Foundations of Nursing Objective Assessment Study … 2026 Update • Verified Answers
4. A nurse provides equal care to a prisoner and a CEO in the same unit. Which ethical principle
is being applied?
A. Beneficence
B. Non-maleficence
C. Veracity
D. Justice
Answer: D
Rationale: Justice refers to fairness in care delivery and use of resources. Exam questions often test the ability
to distinguish this concept from closely related distractors, making a clear rationale essential for mastery.
Applying this knowledge in clinical settings supports safe, evidence-based practice and improves patient
outcomes.
5. What is the primary purpose of the Nursing Process (ADPIE)?
A. To diagnose medical conditions
B. To document insurance claims
C. To provide a systematic method for delivering patient care
D. To assign tasks to unlicensed personnel
Answer: C
Rationale: The nursing process is a systematic, patient-centered method for structuring nursing care. Applying
this knowledge in clinical settings supports safe, evidence-based practice and improves patient outcomes. This
is an important clinical concept because selecting the correct answer (C) requires understanding both the
pathophysiology and the practical nursing implications.
6. During which phase of the nursing process does the nurse collect subjective and objective
data?
A. Assessment
B. Planning
C. Implementation
D. Evaluation
Answer: A
Rationale: Assessment is the first step, involving systematic collection of all data regarding a patient’s health
status. Exam questions often test the ability to distinguish this concept from closely related distractors, making
a clear rationale essential for mastery. Applying this knowledge in clinical settings supports safe,
evidence-based practice and improves patient outcomes.
Exam (Elaborations) • Actual Questions & Rationales Page 3
