,NSG 3000 Foundations of Professional
Nursing Practice Exam Prep —
Comprehensive Review + Practice
MCQs — Galen College of Nursing
2025/2026
1. A nurse is preparing to administer a prescribed medication to a patient. According to the nursing process,
which phase is the nurse performing?
A. Assessment
B. Planning
C. Implementation
D. Evaluation
Correct Answer: C. Implementation
Rationale: Administering medication is a direct nursing intervention, which places it in the implementation
phase. Assessment involves data collection, planning involves goal setting and intervention selection, and
evaluation determines whether goals were met.
2. The nurse reassesses a patient’s pain level 30 minutes after administering an analgesic. The patient reports
pain decreased from 8/10 to 3/10. Which phase of the nursing process does this represent?
A. Assessment
B. Diagnosis
,C. Planning
D. Evaluation
Correct Answer: D. Evaluation
Rationale: Evaluation is the final phase of the nursing process where the nurse determines whether the
patient’s response to interventions meets expected outcomes. Reassessing pain after intervention is a core
evaluation activity.
3. A patient reports feeling anxious about an upcoming surgery. The nurse documents this finding. This
information is best classified as:
A. Objective data
B. Subjective data
C. Diagnostic data
D. Laboratory data
Correct Answer: B. Subjective data
Rationale: Subjective data consists of information reported by the patient that cannot be independently
verified. The patient’s report of anxiety is subjective. Objective data are measurable and observable.
4. The nurse observes that a patient’s surgical incision is red, warm, and has purulent drainage. This finding is
best classified as:
A. Subjective data
B. Objective data
, C. Secondary subjective data
D. Patient-reported outcome
Correct Answer: B. Objective data
Rationale: Objective data are observable, measurable findings the nurse directly detects through assessment.
A red, warm, draining incision is visible and palpable, making it objective.
5. A newly admitted patient undergoes a comprehensive admission assessment. What is the primary purpose
of this assessment?
A. To establish a baseline for future comparison
B. To diagnose medical conditions
C. To determine insurance reimbursement
D. To evaluate the effectiveness of a single intervention
Correct Answer: A. To establish a baseline for future comparison
Rationale: A comprehensive admission assessment provides a complete baseline of the patient’s health status.
This baseline allows the nurse to identify changes over time and evaluate intervention effectiveness. Nurses do
not diagnose medical conditions.
6. According to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, which patient need should the nurse prioritize first?
A. Self-esteem needs
B. Love and belonging needs
Nursing Practice Exam Prep —
Comprehensive Review + Practice
MCQs — Galen College of Nursing
2025/2026
1. A nurse is preparing to administer a prescribed medication to a patient. According to the nursing process,
which phase is the nurse performing?
A. Assessment
B. Planning
C. Implementation
D. Evaluation
Correct Answer: C. Implementation
Rationale: Administering medication is a direct nursing intervention, which places it in the implementation
phase. Assessment involves data collection, planning involves goal setting and intervention selection, and
evaluation determines whether goals were met.
2. The nurse reassesses a patient’s pain level 30 minutes after administering an analgesic. The patient reports
pain decreased from 8/10 to 3/10. Which phase of the nursing process does this represent?
A. Assessment
B. Diagnosis
,C. Planning
D. Evaluation
Correct Answer: D. Evaluation
Rationale: Evaluation is the final phase of the nursing process where the nurse determines whether the
patient’s response to interventions meets expected outcomes. Reassessing pain after intervention is a core
evaluation activity.
3. A patient reports feeling anxious about an upcoming surgery. The nurse documents this finding. This
information is best classified as:
A. Objective data
B. Subjective data
C. Diagnostic data
D. Laboratory data
Correct Answer: B. Subjective data
Rationale: Subjective data consists of information reported by the patient that cannot be independently
verified. The patient’s report of anxiety is subjective. Objective data are measurable and observable.
4. The nurse observes that a patient’s surgical incision is red, warm, and has purulent drainage. This finding is
best classified as:
A. Subjective data
B. Objective data
, C. Secondary subjective data
D. Patient-reported outcome
Correct Answer: B. Objective data
Rationale: Objective data are observable, measurable findings the nurse directly detects through assessment.
A red, warm, draining incision is visible and palpable, making it objective.
5. A newly admitted patient undergoes a comprehensive admission assessment. What is the primary purpose
of this assessment?
A. To establish a baseline for future comparison
B. To diagnose medical conditions
C. To determine insurance reimbursement
D. To evaluate the effectiveness of a single intervention
Correct Answer: A. To establish a baseline for future comparison
Rationale: A comprehensive admission assessment provides a complete baseline of the patient’s health status.
This baseline allows the nurse to identify changes over time and evaluate intervention effectiveness. Nurses do
not diagnose medical conditions.
6. According to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, which patient need should the nurse prioritize first?
A. Self-esteem needs
B. Love and belonging needs
