Fundamentals of Nursing / Intro to nursing I – Exam 1
Updated (2026/2027)
Exam Practice 100+ Questions & Answers with Rationales
Question 1 Nursing Process
What is the primary purpose of the nursing process?
A. To replace the medical plan of care
B. To provide a standardized framework for delivering nursing care
C. To create legal documentation for reimbursement
D. To assign tasks to unlicensed assistive personnel
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The nursing process is a systematic, problem-solving approach that guides nurses in providing individualized,
patient-centered care. It is not designed to replace the medical plan, serve purely for reimbursement, or solely for task
assignment.
Question 2 Nursing Process
Which action by the nurse is an example of the assessment phase of the nursing process?
A. Administering a prescribed pain medication
B. Measuring the patient’s blood pressure and respiratory rate
C. Writing a goal of “Patient will ambulate 50 feet by discharge”
D. Determining that the pain goal was partially met
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Measuring vital signs and collecting data are core assessment activities. Administering medication is
implementation, writing a goal is planning, and determining goal achievement is evaluation.
Question 3 Assessment
During a patient interview, the nurse asks, “How would you describe the pain you are feeling?” What type of data is the
nurse collecting?
A. Objective data
B. Secondary data
C. Subjective data
D. Tertiary data
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Subjective data are the patient’s personal perceptions, feelings, and descriptions, often referred to as symptoms.
The patient’s description of pain is a classic example of subjective data.
,Question 4 Assessment
Which source of data is considered primary during the initial nursing assessment?
A. The patient’s previous medical records
B. The patient’s family member
C. The patient
D. The consulting physician’s note
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The patient is the primary source of data. Family members and medical records are secondary sources, while the
consulting physician may contribute but is not the primary source.
Question 5 Nursing Diagnosis
A nursing diagnosis is best defined as a clinical judgment about:
A. A disease process requiring medical treatment
B. An individual, family, or community response to actual or potential health problems
C. A laboratory finding that indicates a pathophysiological condition
D. A treatment plan prescribed by the health care provider
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Nursing diagnoses focus on human responses to health conditions, not the disease itself. They describe the
patient’s reaction and provide the basis for nursing interventions.
Question 6 Nursing Diagnosis
Which component of the PES format represents the “related to” phrase in a nursing diagnosis?
A. Problem
B. Etiology
C. Signs and symptoms
D. Outcome
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: In the PES format (Problem, Etiology, Signs/Symptoms), etiology is the “related to” factor that links the problem to
its cause or contributing factors.
Question 7 Planning
During the planning phase, which action is the nurse’s priority after identifying nursing diagnoses?
A. Documenting all interventions performed
B. Evaluating the effectiveness of previous interventions
C. Setting priorities and establishing patient-centered goals
D. Reassessing the patient’s vital signs
, Correct Answer: C
Rationale: After diagnosis, planning involves prioritizing problems and developing goals and expected outcomes.
Documentation and evaluation occur later, and reassessment may be ongoing but is not the primary planning activity.
Question 8 Planning
A goal written as “Patient will walk to the nurses’ station and back by Friday” meets which SMART criterion?
A. Subjective
B. Measurable
C. Abstract
D. Symptom-focused
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: SMART goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. This goal is measurable because the
distance and day are clearly defined.
Question 9 Implementation
The nurse assists the patient with oral hygiene, repositions the patient for comfort, and provides emotional support.
These actions are examples of:
A. Dependent interventions
B. Collaborative interventions
C. Independent nursing interventions
D. Physician-initiated interventions
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Independent interventions are those that nurses can initiate without a physician’s order, based on nursing
knowledge. Comfort measures and hygiene are classic independent nursing actions.
Question 10 Implementation
During the implementation phase, which activity is essential for ensuring continuity of care?
A. Reassessment of the patient’s condition
B. Accurate and timely documentation
C. Revising nursing diagnoses
D. Setting new long-term goals
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Documentation during implementation communicates the care provided and the patient’s response, ensuring that
all team members are informed. Reassessment and revision occur but are not the primary activity ensuring continuity.
Question 11 Evaluation
Updated (2026/2027)
Exam Practice 100+ Questions & Answers with Rationales
Question 1 Nursing Process
What is the primary purpose of the nursing process?
A. To replace the medical plan of care
B. To provide a standardized framework for delivering nursing care
C. To create legal documentation for reimbursement
D. To assign tasks to unlicensed assistive personnel
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The nursing process is a systematic, problem-solving approach that guides nurses in providing individualized,
patient-centered care. It is not designed to replace the medical plan, serve purely for reimbursement, or solely for task
assignment.
Question 2 Nursing Process
Which action by the nurse is an example of the assessment phase of the nursing process?
A. Administering a prescribed pain medication
B. Measuring the patient’s blood pressure and respiratory rate
C. Writing a goal of “Patient will ambulate 50 feet by discharge”
D. Determining that the pain goal was partially met
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Measuring vital signs and collecting data are core assessment activities. Administering medication is
implementation, writing a goal is planning, and determining goal achievement is evaluation.
Question 3 Assessment
During a patient interview, the nurse asks, “How would you describe the pain you are feeling?” What type of data is the
nurse collecting?
A. Objective data
B. Secondary data
C. Subjective data
D. Tertiary data
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Subjective data are the patient’s personal perceptions, feelings, and descriptions, often referred to as symptoms.
The patient’s description of pain is a classic example of subjective data.
,Question 4 Assessment
Which source of data is considered primary during the initial nursing assessment?
A. The patient’s previous medical records
B. The patient’s family member
C. The patient
D. The consulting physician’s note
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The patient is the primary source of data. Family members and medical records are secondary sources, while the
consulting physician may contribute but is not the primary source.
Question 5 Nursing Diagnosis
A nursing diagnosis is best defined as a clinical judgment about:
A. A disease process requiring medical treatment
B. An individual, family, or community response to actual or potential health problems
C. A laboratory finding that indicates a pathophysiological condition
D. A treatment plan prescribed by the health care provider
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Nursing diagnoses focus on human responses to health conditions, not the disease itself. They describe the
patient’s reaction and provide the basis for nursing interventions.
Question 6 Nursing Diagnosis
Which component of the PES format represents the “related to” phrase in a nursing diagnosis?
A. Problem
B. Etiology
C. Signs and symptoms
D. Outcome
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: In the PES format (Problem, Etiology, Signs/Symptoms), etiology is the “related to” factor that links the problem to
its cause or contributing factors.
Question 7 Planning
During the planning phase, which action is the nurse’s priority after identifying nursing diagnoses?
A. Documenting all interventions performed
B. Evaluating the effectiveness of previous interventions
C. Setting priorities and establishing patient-centered goals
D. Reassessing the patient’s vital signs
, Correct Answer: C
Rationale: After diagnosis, planning involves prioritizing problems and developing goals and expected outcomes.
Documentation and evaluation occur later, and reassessment may be ongoing but is not the primary planning activity.
Question 8 Planning
A goal written as “Patient will walk to the nurses’ station and back by Friday” meets which SMART criterion?
A. Subjective
B. Measurable
C. Abstract
D. Symptom-focused
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: SMART goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. This goal is measurable because the
distance and day are clearly defined.
Question 9 Implementation
The nurse assists the patient with oral hygiene, repositions the patient for comfort, and provides emotional support.
These actions are examples of:
A. Dependent interventions
B. Collaborative interventions
C. Independent nursing interventions
D. Physician-initiated interventions
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Independent interventions are those that nurses can initiate without a physician’s order, based on nursing
knowledge. Comfort measures and hygiene are classic independent nursing actions.
Question 10 Implementation
During the implementation phase, which activity is essential for ensuring continuity of care?
A. Reassessment of the patient’s condition
B. Accurate and timely documentation
C. Revising nursing diagnoses
D. Setting new long-term goals
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Documentation during implementation communicates the care provided and the patient’s response, ensuring that
all team members are informed. Reassessment and revision occur but are not the primary activity ensuring continuity.
Question 11 Evaluation
