Page 1 of 76
FUNDAMENTALS OF NURSING (12TH EDITION, POTTER & PERRY) QUESTIONS 2026
EXAM LATEST VERSION SOLVED QUESTIONS & ANSWERS VERIFIED 100 %
Fundamentals of Nursing (12th Edition, Potter & Perry) — Questions with
Rationales
UNIT 1: NURSING AND THE HEALTH CARE ENVIRONMENT (25 Questions)
Chapter 1: Nursing Today
1. Which nurse most likely kept records on sanitation techniques and the effects
on health?
A) Florence Nightingale
B) Mary Nutting
C) Clara Barton
D) Lillian Wald
Rationale: Florence Nightingale was the first to keep records on sanitation techniques
and the effects on health, using statistical data to demonstrate that improved sanitation
reduced mortality rates during the Crimean War.
2. A newly licensed registered nurse asks a preceptor what best distinguishes
professional nursing from simply performing health care tasks. Which response by
the preceptor is most accurate?
A) Professional nursing focuses primarily on carrying out provider prescriptions
accurately
B) Professional nursing combines evidence-based practice with compassionate,
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patient-centered care
C) Professional nursing is defined solely by the ability to perform technical skills
D) Professional nursing is limited to hospital-based care delivery
Rationale: Professional nursing integrates evidence-based practice with
compassionate, patient-centered care, distinguishing it from task-based approaches to
healthcare delivery.
3. The nurse prescribes strategies and alternatives to attain expected outcomes.
Which step of the nursing process is this?
A) Assessment
B) Diagnosis
C) Planning
D) Evaluation
Rationale: Planning involves prescribing strategies and alternatives to attain expected
outcomes, which is the third step of the nursing process.
4. Which organization is responsible for establishing and maintaining the standards
of professional nursing practice?
A) The Joint Commission
B) The American Nurses Association (ANA)
C) The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
D) The U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Rationale: The American Nurses Association (ANA) establishes and maintains the
standards of professional nursing practice, including the Code of Ethics and Scope of
Practice.
5. A nurse is explaining the art and science of nursing to a patient. Which statement
best describes this concept?
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A) Nursing is based only on scientific knowledge
B) Nursing is based only on intuition and compassion
C) Nursing combines evidence-based practice with compassionate, holistic care
D) Nursing is a technical skill unrelated to science or art
Rationale: Nursing is both an art and a science, combining evidence-based practice
(science) with compassionate, holistic care (art).
Chapter 2: The Health Care Delivery System
6. Which of the following is a primary goal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA)?
A) To increase healthcare costs
B) To expand health insurance coverage and improve healthcare quality
C) To reduce the number of healthcare providers
D) To eliminate Medicare and Medicaid
Rationale: The ACA was enacted to expand health insurance coverage, improve
healthcare quality, and reduce healthcare costs for Americans.
7. A nurse is providing care in a community health center. Which level of care does
this represent?
A) Primary care
B) Secondary care
C) Tertiary care
D) Quaternary care
Rationale: Primary care is the first point of contact for patients and includes health
promotion, disease prevention, and treatment of common illnesses, often provided in
community health centers.
8. Which of the following is an example of a tertiary care setting?
A) A primary care clinic
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B) A community hospital
C) A specialized cancer treatment center
D) A school nursing office
Rationale: Tertiary care is highly specialized care provided in specialized facilities such
as cancer treatment centers, burn units, or cardiac surgery centers.
9. What is the role of the nurse case manager in the health care delivery system?
A) To provide direct patient care only
B) To coordinate care across settings and providers
C) To perform surgery
D) To prescribe medications
Rationale: The nurse case manager coordinates care across settings and providers,
ensuring continuity of care and efficient use of resources.
10. Which of the following is a barrier to accessing health care in the United States?
A) Lack of health insurance
B) Shortage of healthcare providers
C) Transportation challenges
D) All of the above
Rationale: Barriers to health care access include lack of insurance, provider shortages,
transportation challenges, and other social determinants of health.
Chapter 3: Population Health
11. What is population health?
A) The health status of a defined group of people
B) The health status of an individual
C) Hospital-based care
D) Emergency care
FUNDAMENTALS OF NURSING (12TH EDITION, POTTER & PERRY) QUESTIONS 2026
EXAM LATEST VERSION SOLVED QUESTIONS & ANSWERS VERIFIED 100 %
Fundamentals of Nursing (12th Edition, Potter & Perry) — Questions with
Rationales
UNIT 1: NURSING AND THE HEALTH CARE ENVIRONMENT (25 Questions)
Chapter 1: Nursing Today
1. Which nurse most likely kept records on sanitation techniques and the effects
on health?
A) Florence Nightingale
B) Mary Nutting
C) Clara Barton
D) Lillian Wald
Rationale: Florence Nightingale was the first to keep records on sanitation techniques
and the effects on health, using statistical data to demonstrate that improved sanitation
reduced mortality rates during the Crimean War.
2. A newly licensed registered nurse asks a preceptor what best distinguishes
professional nursing from simply performing health care tasks. Which response by
the preceptor is most accurate?
A) Professional nursing focuses primarily on carrying out provider prescriptions
accurately
B) Professional nursing combines evidence-based practice with compassionate,
, Page 2 of 76
patient-centered care
C) Professional nursing is defined solely by the ability to perform technical skills
D) Professional nursing is limited to hospital-based care delivery
Rationale: Professional nursing integrates evidence-based practice with
compassionate, patient-centered care, distinguishing it from task-based approaches to
healthcare delivery.
3. The nurse prescribes strategies and alternatives to attain expected outcomes.
Which step of the nursing process is this?
A) Assessment
B) Diagnosis
C) Planning
D) Evaluation
Rationale: Planning involves prescribing strategies and alternatives to attain expected
outcomes, which is the third step of the nursing process.
4. Which organization is responsible for establishing and maintaining the standards
of professional nursing practice?
A) The Joint Commission
B) The American Nurses Association (ANA)
C) The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
D) The U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Rationale: The American Nurses Association (ANA) establishes and maintains the
standards of professional nursing practice, including the Code of Ethics and Scope of
Practice.
5. A nurse is explaining the art and science of nursing to a patient. Which statement
best describes this concept?
, Page 3 of 76
A) Nursing is based only on scientific knowledge
B) Nursing is based only on intuition and compassion
C) Nursing combines evidence-based practice with compassionate, holistic care
D) Nursing is a technical skill unrelated to science or art
Rationale: Nursing is both an art and a science, combining evidence-based practice
(science) with compassionate, holistic care (art).
Chapter 2: The Health Care Delivery System
6. Which of the following is a primary goal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA)?
A) To increase healthcare costs
B) To expand health insurance coverage and improve healthcare quality
C) To reduce the number of healthcare providers
D) To eliminate Medicare and Medicaid
Rationale: The ACA was enacted to expand health insurance coverage, improve
healthcare quality, and reduce healthcare costs for Americans.
7. A nurse is providing care in a community health center. Which level of care does
this represent?
A) Primary care
B) Secondary care
C) Tertiary care
D) Quaternary care
Rationale: Primary care is the first point of contact for patients and includes health
promotion, disease prevention, and treatment of common illnesses, often provided in
community health centers.
8. Which of the following is an example of a tertiary care setting?
A) A primary care clinic
, Page 4 of 76
B) A community hospital
C) A specialized cancer treatment center
D) A school nursing office
Rationale: Tertiary care is highly specialized care provided in specialized facilities such
as cancer treatment centers, burn units, or cardiac surgery centers.
9. What is the role of the nurse case manager in the health care delivery system?
A) To provide direct patient care only
B) To coordinate care across settings and providers
C) To perform surgery
D) To prescribe medications
Rationale: The nurse case manager coordinates care across settings and providers,
ensuring continuity of care and efficient use of resources.
10. Which of the following is a barrier to accessing health care in the United States?
A) Lack of health insurance
B) Shortage of healthcare providers
C) Transportation challenges
D) All of the above
Rationale: Barriers to health care access include lack of insurance, provider shortages,
transportation challenges, and other social determinants of health.
Chapter 3: Population Health
11. What is population health?
A) The health status of a defined group of people
B) The health status of an individual
C) Hospital-based care
D) Emergency care
