Page 1 of 138
NU136 FUNDAMENTALS OF NURSING EXAM 2026 QUESTIONS
WITH VERIFIED QUESTIONS DETAILED RATIONALES GRADED A+
NU136 Fundamentals of Nursing — Exam Questions with Rationales
Summarized 10-Point Exam Coverage
Nursing process, critical thinking, and documentation
Vital signs and physical assessment
Infection control and asepsis
Safety, mobility, and restraints
Medication administration
Wound care and skin integrity
Nutrition, fluid, electrolyte, and acid-base balance
Perioperative and emergency nursing
Communication, patient education, ethics, and cultural competence
Pain, sleep, end-of-life care, and special populations
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Section 1: Nursing Process, Critical Thinking, and Documentation (Questions 1–30)
Q1. A nurse is collecting data from a patient who reports shortness of breath. Which phase of
the nursing process is the nurse implementing?
A. Assessment
B. Diagnosis
C. Planning
D. Evaluation
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Assessment is the first phase of the nursing process and involves collecting subjective
and objective data. The nurse is gathering information about the patient's breathing difficulty.
Q2. A nurse identifies that a patient has impaired gas exchange related to decreased oxygen
supply. This statement represents which phase of the nursing process?
A. Assessment
B. Nursing diagnosis
C. Planning
D. Implementation
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Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A nursing diagnosis is a clinical judgment about the patient's response to a health
condition. Impaired gas exchange is a NANDA-approved nursing diagnosis.
Q3. A nurse is developing a care plan for a patient with limited mobility. Which action reflects
the planning phase of the nursing process?
A. Auscultating lung sounds
B. Setting a goal for the patient to ambulate twice daily
C. Administering pain medication
D. Evaluating the patient's response to therapy
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Planning involves setting patient-centered goals and expected outcomes. Setting an
ambulation goal is an example of planning.
Q4. A nurse is implementing interventions to prevent falls in an older adult patient. Which
phase of the nursing process follows implementation?
A. Assessment
B. Diagnosis
C. Planning
D. Evaluation
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Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Evaluation is the final phase of the nursing process, in which the nurse determines
whether interventions were effective and whether goals were met.
Q5. A nurse uses clinical judgment to decide that a patient needs immediate intervention for
a sudden drop in blood pressure. This is an example of:
A. Critical thinking
B. Data collection
C. Evaluation
D. Documentation
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Critical thinking involves analyzing data and making clinical decisions. Recognizing a
sudden drop in blood pressure and acting on it demonstrates critical thinking.
Q6. A nurse is documenting patient care. Which entry indicates correct documentation?
A. "Patient seems better today."
B. "Patient is noncompliant with care."
C. "Patient ambulated 50 feet without assistance at 1000."
D. "Patient had a good day."
NU136 FUNDAMENTALS OF NURSING EXAM 2026 QUESTIONS
WITH VERIFIED QUESTIONS DETAILED RATIONALES GRADED A+
NU136 Fundamentals of Nursing — Exam Questions with Rationales
Summarized 10-Point Exam Coverage
Nursing process, critical thinking, and documentation
Vital signs and physical assessment
Infection control and asepsis
Safety, mobility, and restraints
Medication administration
Wound care and skin integrity
Nutrition, fluid, electrolyte, and acid-base balance
Perioperative and emergency nursing
Communication, patient education, ethics, and cultural competence
Pain, sleep, end-of-life care, and special populations
,Page 2 of 138
Section 1: Nursing Process, Critical Thinking, and Documentation (Questions 1–30)
Q1. A nurse is collecting data from a patient who reports shortness of breath. Which phase of
the nursing process is the nurse implementing?
A. Assessment
B. Diagnosis
C. Planning
D. Evaluation
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Assessment is the first phase of the nursing process and involves collecting subjective
and objective data. The nurse is gathering information about the patient's breathing difficulty.
Q2. A nurse identifies that a patient has impaired gas exchange related to decreased oxygen
supply. This statement represents which phase of the nursing process?
A. Assessment
B. Nursing diagnosis
C. Planning
D. Implementation
,Page 3 of 138
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A nursing diagnosis is a clinical judgment about the patient's response to a health
condition. Impaired gas exchange is a NANDA-approved nursing diagnosis.
Q3. A nurse is developing a care plan for a patient with limited mobility. Which action reflects
the planning phase of the nursing process?
A. Auscultating lung sounds
B. Setting a goal for the patient to ambulate twice daily
C. Administering pain medication
D. Evaluating the patient's response to therapy
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Planning involves setting patient-centered goals and expected outcomes. Setting an
ambulation goal is an example of planning.
Q4. A nurse is implementing interventions to prevent falls in an older adult patient. Which
phase of the nursing process follows implementation?
A. Assessment
B. Diagnosis
C. Planning
D. Evaluation
, Page 4 of 138
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Evaluation is the final phase of the nursing process, in which the nurse determines
whether interventions were effective and whether goals were met.
Q5. A nurse uses clinical judgment to decide that a patient needs immediate intervention for
a sudden drop in blood pressure. This is an example of:
A. Critical thinking
B. Data collection
C. Evaluation
D. Documentation
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Critical thinking involves analyzing data and making clinical decisions. Recognizing a
sudden drop in blood pressure and acting on it demonstrates critical thinking.
Q6. A nurse is documenting patient care. Which entry indicates correct documentation?
A. "Patient seems better today."
B. "Patient is noncompliant with care."
C. "Patient ambulated 50 feet without assistance at 1000."
D. "Patient had a good day."
