,NSG 3135 Fundamental Concepts &
Skills for Nursing Practice Exam Prep —
Comprehensive Review + Practice
MCQs — Galen College of Nursing
2025/2026
1. A nurse is caring for a patient who is postoperative day 2 following abdominal surgery. The patient expresses
fear about going home because they live alone. Which action best demonstrates holistic nursing care?
A. Assuring the patient that they will be fine at home
B. Contacting social work to arrange for home health services
C. Telling the patient not to worry because the nurse will be there
D. Focusing only on the surgical incision assessment
Correct Answer: B. Contacting social work to arrange for home health services
Rationale: Holistic nursing care addresses physical, psychological, social, and spiritual needs. The patient’s fear
about living alone is a psychosocial concern requiring intervention beyond physical care. Contacting social work
addresses this need. Options A and C dismiss the patient’s concerns; option D ignores the psychosocial aspect
entirely.
2. A nurse is preparing to delegate tasks to assistive personnel (AP). Which task is appropriate for the nurse to
delegate?
A. Administering oral medications
B. Performing a sterile dressing change
C. Measuring a patient’s intake and output
,D. Assessing a patient’s pain level
Correct Answer: C. Measuring a patient’s intake and output
Rationale: Intake and output measurement is a basic task that can be delegated to AP. The nurse cannot
delegate tasks requiring nursing judgment, assessment, evaluation, or clinical decision-making. Medication
administration, sterile procedures, and pain assessment require licensed nursing judgment.
3. A nurse is caring for a patient who refuses to take a prescribed medication. Which action should the nurse
take?
A. Administer the medication by force
B. Document the refusal and notify the provider
C. Crush the medication and mix it with applesauce
D. Tell the patient they will be discharged if they refuse
Correct Answer: B. Document the refusal and notify the provider
Rationale: Patients have the right to refuse treatment. The nurse should respect patient autonomy, document
the refusal, notify the provider, and continue monitoring. Forcing medication is assault; deceptive
administration violates ethical principles; threatening discharge is coercive.
4. The nurse is caring for a patient who is to receive a blood transfusion. Which statement best describes
informed consent?
A. The nurse explains the risks and benefits of the transfusion
B. The patient understands the procedure, risks, benefits, and alternatives
, C. The patient’s family member signs the consent form
D. The nurse witnesses the patient’s signature on a blank consent form
Correct Answer: B. The patient understands the procedure, risks, benefits, and alternatives
Rationale: Informed consent requires that the patient (or legal representative) understand the procedure, risks,
benefits, and alternatives. The provider—not the nurse—is responsible for explaining this information. The
nurse witnesses the signature and confirms the patient appears to understand.
5. A nurse is caring for a patient who is terminally ill. The patient states, “I want to go home to die.” What is the
nurse’s best response?
A. “You should stay here where you can be cared for properly.”
B. “Let me talk to your family about your wishes.”
C. “I understand you want to go home. Let me discuss this with your provider and see what arrangements can
be made.”
D. “That is not possible right now.”
Correct Answer: C. “I understand you want to go home. Let me discuss this with your provider and see what
arrangements can be made.”
Rationale: The nurse should acknowledge the patient’s wishes, advocate for the patient, and collaborate with
the provider and interdisciplinary team to explore options such as hospice or home care. Dismissing the
patient’s wishes or deferring solely to family violates patient autonomy.
6. Which action by the nurse best demonstrates the principle of beneficence?
Skills for Nursing Practice Exam Prep —
Comprehensive Review + Practice
MCQs — Galen College of Nursing
2025/2026
1. A nurse is caring for a patient who is postoperative day 2 following abdominal surgery. The patient expresses
fear about going home because they live alone. Which action best demonstrates holistic nursing care?
A. Assuring the patient that they will be fine at home
B. Contacting social work to arrange for home health services
C. Telling the patient not to worry because the nurse will be there
D. Focusing only on the surgical incision assessment
Correct Answer: B. Contacting social work to arrange for home health services
Rationale: Holistic nursing care addresses physical, psychological, social, and spiritual needs. The patient’s fear
about living alone is a psychosocial concern requiring intervention beyond physical care. Contacting social work
addresses this need. Options A and C dismiss the patient’s concerns; option D ignores the psychosocial aspect
entirely.
2. A nurse is preparing to delegate tasks to assistive personnel (AP). Which task is appropriate for the nurse to
delegate?
A. Administering oral medications
B. Performing a sterile dressing change
C. Measuring a patient’s intake and output
,D. Assessing a patient’s pain level
Correct Answer: C. Measuring a patient’s intake and output
Rationale: Intake and output measurement is a basic task that can be delegated to AP. The nurse cannot
delegate tasks requiring nursing judgment, assessment, evaluation, or clinical decision-making. Medication
administration, sterile procedures, and pain assessment require licensed nursing judgment.
3. A nurse is caring for a patient who refuses to take a prescribed medication. Which action should the nurse
take?
A. Administer the medication by force
B. Document the refusal and notify the provider
C. Crush the medication and mix it with applesauce
D. Tell the patient they will be discharged if they refuse
Correct Answer: B. Document the refusal and notify the provider
Rationale: Patients have the right to refuse treatment. The nurse should respect patient autonomy, document
the refusal, notify the provider, and continue monitoring. Forcing medication is assault; deceptive
administration violates ethical principles; threatening discharge is coercive.
4. The nurse is caring for a patient who is to receive a blood transfusion. Which statement best describes
informed consent?
A. The nurse explains the risks and benefits of the transfusion
B. The patient understands the procedure, risks, benefits, and alternatives
, C. The patient’s family member signs the consent form
D. The nurse witnesses the patient’s signature on a blank consent form
Correct Answer: B. The patient understands the procedure, risks, benefits, and alternatives
Rationale: Informed consent requires that the patient (or legal representative) understand the procedure, risks,
benefits, and alternatives. The provider—not the nurse—is responsible for explaining this information. The
nurse witnesses the signature and confirms the patient appears to understand.
5. A nurse is caring for a patient who is terminally ill. The patient states, “I want to go home to die.” What is the
nurse’s best response?
A. “You should stay here where you can be cared for properly.”
B. “Let me talk to your family about your wishes.”
C. “I understand you want to go home. Let me discuss this with your provider and see what arrangements can
be made.”
D. “That is not possible right now.”
Correct Answer: C. “I understand you want to go home. Let me discuss this with your provider and see what
arrangements can be made.”
Rationale: The nurse should acknowledge the patient’s wishes, advocate for the patient, and collaborate with
the provider and interdisciplinary team to explore options such as hospice or home care. Dismissing the
patient’s wishes or deferring solely to family violates patient autonomy.
6. Which action by the nurse best demonstrates the principle of beneficence?
