GALEN COLLEGE OF NURSING · SCHOOL OF NURSING
NSG 100 Exam #1
Practice Question Bank
Introduction to Nursing — NCLEX-Style Practice Questions with
Rationales
Topic Focus: Nursing Process, Critical Thinking, Infection Control &
Foundational Concepts
Edition 1 · September 2026
Table of Contents
1. Instructions for Use 2
2. Practice Questions with Answers & Rationales — Introduction to Nursing 2
NSG 100 · Galen College of Nursing Page 1
,NSG 100 EXAM #1 PRACTICE GUIDE INSTRUCTIONS & PRACTICE QUESTIONS
How to Use This Guide
Read each stem, choose your answer, then check the rationale directly below it. The correct
option is marked, and each wrong option is explained so you understand why it's wrong — not
just that it is.
Category: Introduction to Nursing — Nursing Process, Critical Thinking &
Infection Control
1 A systematic decision-making method focusing on identifying and treating
responses of individuals or groups to actual or potential alterations in health best
describes:
A Critical thinking
B Clinical reasoning
C Clinical judgment
D Nursing process
Why D is correct: According to NANDA, the nursing process is a five-part systematic
decision-making method focusing on identifying and treating responses of individuals or
groups to actual or potential alterations in health.
A — Critical thinking is the deliberate nonlinear process of collecting, interpreting, analyzing,
and evaluating information.
B — Clinical reasoning is the thinking process by which a nurse reaches a clinical judgment.
C — Clinical judgment is the result or outcome of critical thinking or clinical reasoning.
, 2 A nurse is caring for a group of clients. Which of the following actions by the nurse
demonstrates the use of critical thinking skills?
A Administer an influenza vaccine after asking a client about allergies.
B Check a client's armband before dispensing daily thyroid medication.
C Give a client with type 1 diabetes her morning insulin after checking her blood
glucose.
D Intervene after reviewing arterial blood gas results for a client on mechanical
ventilation.
Why D is correct: The nurse is using critical thinking when analyzing a client's critical issues
and then planning to intervene with an appropriate action.
A — This demonstrates following a standard protocol.
B — This demonstrates following safety protocols.
C — This demonstrates following a standard medication administration protocol.
3 The registered nurse (RN) is explaining Tanner's clinical judgment model to a student
nurse. Which element should the RN explain is needed first to make a clinical
judgment?
A Intuition
B Initiation of practice
C Nursing school education
D Multiple years of experience
Why C is correct: According to Tanner's clinical judgment model, thinking like a nurse
begins with nursing education, which teaches fundamental nursing skills and knowledge.
A — Intuition develops from experience and nursing knowledge over time.
B — Initiation of practice improves critical thinking skills but is not the initiating factor.
D — Experience builds on education but is not the first element.
NSG 100 Exam #1
Practice Question Bank
Introduction to Nursing — NCLEX-Style Practice Questions with
Rationales
Topic Focus: Nursing Process, Critical Thinking, Infection Control &
Foundational Concepts
Edition 1 · September 2026
Table of Contents
1. Instructions for Use 2
2. Practice Questions with Answers & Rationales — Introduction to Nursing 2
NSG 100 · Galen College of Nursing Page 1
,NSG 100 EXAM #1 PRACTICE GUIDE INSTRUCTIONS & PRACTICE QUESTIONS
How to Use This Guide
Read each stem, choose your answer, then check the rationale directly below it. The correct
option is marked, and each wrong option is explained so you understand why it's wrong — not
just that it is.
Category: Introduction to Nursing — Nursing Process, Critical Thinking &
Infection Control
1 A systematic decision-making method focusing on identifying and treating
responses of individuals or groups to actual or potential alterations in health best
describes:
A Critical thinking
B Clinical reasoning
C Clinical judgment
D Nursing process
Why D is correct: According to NANDA, the nursing process is a five-part systematic
decision-making method focusing on identifying and treating responses of individuals or
groups to actual or potential alterations in health.
A — Critical thinking is the deliberate nonlinear process of collecting, interpreting, analyzing,
and evaluating information.
B — Clinical reasoning is the thinking process by which a nurse reaches a clinical judgment.
C — Clinical judgment is the result or outcome of critical thinking or clinical reasoning.
, 2 A nurse is caring for a group of clients. Which of the following actions by the nurse
demonstrates the use of critical thinking skills?
A Administer an influenza vaccine after asking a client about allergies.
B Check a client's armband before dispensing daily thyroid medication.
C Give a client with type 1 diabetes her morning insulin after checking her blood
glucose.
D Intervene after reviewing arterial blood gas results for a client on mechanical
ventilation.
Why D is correct: The nurse is using critical thinking when analyzing a client's critical issues
and then planning to intervene with an appropriate action.
A — This demonstrates following a standard protocol.
B — This demonstrates following safety protocols.
C — This demonstrates following a standard medication administration protocol.
3 The registered nurse (RN) is explaining Tanner's clinical judgment model to a student
nurse. Which element should the RN explain is needed first to make a clinical
judgment?
A Intuition
B Initiation of practice
C Nursing school education
D Multiple years of experience
Why C is correct: According to Tanner's clinical judgment model, thinking like a nurse
begins with nursing education, which teaches fundamental nursing skills and knowledge.
A — Intuition develops from experience and nursing knowledge over time.
B — Initiation of practice improves critical thinking skills but is not the initiating factor.
D — Experience builds on education but is not the first element.
