NURS 222 WEEK 1 PRACTICE TEST 2026 – HIGH-YIELD STUDY
GUIDE COMPLETE TEST BANK – 300 QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS, CHOICES & RATIONALES
SECTION 1: NURSING PROCESS & CRITICAL THINKING (Questions 1–40)
1. A nurse is using the nursing process to care for a newly admitted patient. Which phase
involves collecting subjective and objective data?
A. Planning
B. Assessment
C. Implementation
D. Evaluation
Answer: B
Rationale: Assessment is the first phase of the nursing process and involves systematic
collection of subjective (patient-reported) and objective (observable/measurable) data.
2. During which phase of the nursing process does the nurse prioritize patient problems and
establish goals?
A. Assessment
B. Diagnosis
C. Planning
D. Evaluation
Answer: C
Rationale: Planning involves prioritizing nursing diagnoses, establishing patient-centered
goals/outcomes, and selecting appropriate interventions.
3. A nurse identifies "Impaired Gas Exchange related to decreased alveolar ventilation" as a
patient problem. This statement represents which phase of the nursing process?
A. Assessment
B. Nursing diagnosis
C. Planning
D. Implementation
Answer: B
,Rationale: A nursing diagnosis is a clinical judgment about individual, family, or community
responses to actual or potential health problems. It is formulated during the diagnosis phase.
4. Which of the following is an example of subjective data?
A. Blood pressure 148/92 mm Hg
B. Patient reports "I feel short of breath"
C. Respiratory rate 26 breaths/min
D. Oxygen saturation 89% on room air
Answer: B
Rationale: Subjective data includes information the patient reports, such as feelings,
perceptions, and symptoms. "I feel short of breath" is a patient-reported symptom.
5. A nurse is evaluating the effectiveness of a patient's pain management plan. Which action
best demonstrates the evaluation phase?
A. Administering the prescribed analgesic
B. Asking the patient to rate pain on a 0–10 scale after intervention
C. Documenting the patient's initial pain level
D. Collaborating with the provider to change the order
Answer: B
Rationale: Evaluation involves determining whether the patient's goals/outcomes have been
met. Reassessing pain after intervention measures the effectiveness of the plan.
6. Which of the following best describes critical thinking in nursing?
A. Following physician orders without question
B. Using purposeful, outcome-directed reasoning to make clinical judgments
C. Relying on intuition alone
D. Memorizing facts for licensure exams
Answer: B
Rationale: Critical thinking in nursing is purposeful, outcome-directed reasoning used to make
clinical judgments and solve patient problems.
7. A nurse is caring for a patient with new-onset confusion. Which action should the nurse take
FIRST?
,A. Administer a sedative as ordered
B. Perform a focused neurological assessment
C. Document the confusion and continue monitoring
D. Notify the family of the change in status
Answer: B
Rationale: Assessment is the first step. The nurse must assess the patient's neurological status
and identify potential causes (e.g., hypoxia, hypoglycemia, medication effects) before
intervening.
8. Which nursing diagnosis is written correctly?
A. "Pneumonia related to bacterial infection"
B. "Impaired Gas Exchange related to decreased alveolar ventilation as evidenced by O2 sat
88%"
C. "Patient needs oxygen"
D. "Difficulty breathing"
Answer: B
Rationale: A properly written nursing diagnosis includes the problem, related factors (etiology),
and defining characteristics (as evidenced by). Medical diagnoses (pneumonia) are not used as
nursing diagnoses.
9. A nurse is prioritizing care for four patients. Which patient should the nurse assess FIRST?
A. Patient requesting pain medication for chronic back pain
B. Patient with new-onset chest pain and diaphoresis
C. Patient requesting assistance with ambulation
D. Patient awaiting discharge instructions
Answer: B
Rationale: Using Maslow's hierarchy and ABC (Airway, Breathing, Circulation) prioritization,
chest pain with diaphoresis suggests possible myocardial infarction and requires immediate
assessment.
10. Which phase of the nursing process involves carrying out the planned interventions?
A. Assessment
B. Diagnosis
C. Planning
D. Implementation
, Answer: D
Rationale: Implementation is the phase in which the nurse executes the interventions identified
in the care plan.
11. A nurse uses the mnemonic ADPIE. What does the "D" stand for?
A. Documentation
B. Diagnosis
C. Delegation
D. Discharge
Answer: B
Rationale: ADPIE = Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation.
12. A patient's care plan states: "Patient will ambulate 50 feet by postoperative day 2." This is
an example of:
A. A nursing diagnosis
B. A patient-centered outcome/goal
C. An intervention
D. An assessment finding
Answer: B
Rationale: A patient-centered outcome/goal is a measurable, time-specific statement of
expected patient behavior or response.
13. Which of the following is an objective data finding?
A. Patient states "I feel nauseated"
B. Patient rates pain as 7/10
C. Patient vomits 200 mL of clear liquid
D. Patient reports dizziness
Answer: C
Rationale: Objective data is observable and measurable. Vomiting 200 mL of clear liquid is
directly observed and quantified.
GUIDE COMPLETE TEST BANK – 300 QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS, CHOICES & RATIONALES
SECTION 1: NURSING PROCESS & CRITICAL THINKING (Questions 1–40)
1. A nurse is using the nursing process to care for a newly admitted patient. Which phase
involves collecting subjective and objective data?
A. Planning
B. Assessment
C. Implementation
D. Evaluation
Answer: B
Rationale: Assessment is the first phase of the nursing process and involves systematic
collection of subjective (patient-reported) and objective (observable/measurable) data.
2. During which phase of the nursing process does the nurse prioritize patient problems and
establish goals?
A. Assessment
B. Diagnosis
C. Planning
D. Evaluation
Answer: C
Rationale: Planning involves prioritizing nursing diagnoses, establishing patient-centered
goals/outcomes, and selecting appropriate interventions.
3. A nurse identifies "Impaired Gas Exchange related to decreased alveolar ventilation" as a
patient problem. This statement represents which phase of the nursing process?
A. Assessment
B. Nursing diagnosis
C. Planning
D. Implementation
Answer: B
,Rationale: A nursing diagnosis is a clinical judgment about individual, family, or community
responses to actual or potential health problems. It is formulated during the diagnosis phase.
4. Which of the following is an example of subjective data?
A. Blood pressure 148/92 mm Hg
B. Patient reports "I feel short of breath"
C. Respiratory rate 26 breaths/min
D. Oxygen saturation 89% on room air
Answer: B
Rationale: Subjective data includes information the patient reports, such as feelings,
perceptions, and symptoms. "I feel short of breath" is a patient-reported symptom.
5. A nurse is evaluating the effectiveness of a patient's pain management plan. Which action
best demonstrates the evaluation phase?
A. Administering the prescribed analgesic
B. Asking the patient to rate pain on a 0–10 scale after intervention
C. Documenting the patient's initial pain level
D. Collaborating with the provider to change the order
Answer: B
Rationale: Evaluation involves determining whether the patient's goals/outcomes have been
met. Reassessing pain after intervention measures the effectiveness of the plan.
6. Which of the following best describes critical thinking in nursing?
A. Following physician orders without question
B. Using purposeful, outcome-directed reasoning to make clinical judgments
C. Relying on intuition alone
D. Memorizing facts for licensure exams
Answer: B
Rationale: Critical thinking in nursing is purposeful, outcome-directed reasoning used to make
clinical judgments and solve patient problems.
7. A nurse is caring for a patient with new-onset confusion. Which action should the nurse take
FIRST?
,A. Administer a sedative as ordered
B. Perform a focused neurological assessment
C. Document the confusion and continue monitoring
D. Notify the family of the change in status
Answer: B
Rationale: Assessment is the first step. The nurse must assess the patient's neurological status
and identify potential causes (e.g., hypoxia, hypoglycemia, medication effects) before
intervening.
8. Which nursing diagnosis is written correctly?
A. "Pneumonia related to bacterial infection"
B. "Impaired Gas Exchange related to decreased alveolar ventilation as evidenced by O2 sat
88%"
C. "Patient needs oxygen"
D. "Difficulty breathing"
Answer: B
Rationale: A properly written nursing diagnosis includes the problem, related factors (etiology),
and defining characteristics (as evidenced by). Medical diagnoses (pneumonia) are not used as
nursing diagnoses.
9. A nurse is prioritizing care for four patients. Which patient should the nurse assess FIRST?
A. Patient requesting pain medication for chronic back pain
B. Patient with new-onset chest pain and diaphoresis
C. Patient requesting assistance with ambulation
D. Patient awaiting discharge instructions
Answer: B
Rationale: Using Maslow's hierarchy and ABC (Airway, Breathing, Circulation) prioritization,
chest pain with diaphoresis suggests possible myocardial infarction and requires immediate
assessment.
10. Which phase of the nursing process involves carrying out the planned interventions?
A. Assessment
B. Diagnosis
C. Planning
D. Implementation
, Answer: D
Rationale: Implementation is the phase in which the nurse executes the interventions identified
in the care plan.
11. A nurse uses the mnemonic ADPIE. What does the "D" stand for?
A. Documentation
B. Diagnosis
C. Delegation
D. Discharge
Answer: B
Rationale: ADPIE = Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation.
12. A patient's care plan states: "Patient will ambulate 50 feet by postoperative day 2." This is
an example of:
A. A nursing diagnosis
B. A patient-centered outcome/goal
C. An intervention
D. An assessment finding
Answer: B
Rationale: A patient-centered outcome/goal is a measurable, time-specific statement of
expected patient behavior or response.
13. Which of the following is an objective data finding?
A. Patient states "I feel nauseated"
B. Patient rates pain as 7/10
C. Patient vomits 200 mL of clear liquid
D. Patient reports dizziness
Answer: C
Rationale: Objective data is observable and measurable. Vomiting 200 mL of clear liquid is
directly observed and quantified.
