NUR 155 Exam 1 | Concepts of Foundations of Nursing (2026)
Q&A | Galen College
1. What is the outcome of critical thinking and the critical application of knowledge and
experience to identify patient problems and direct clinical judgments and actions that result in
positive patient outcomes?
A) Clinical reasoning
B) Clinical judgment
C) The nursing process
D) Evidence-based practice
Correct Answer: Clinical judgment
Rationale: Clinical judgment is the outcome of critical thinking applied to patient care situations.
It involves analyzing data, recognizing patterns, and making decisions that lead to positive
patient outcomes. Clinical reasoning is the cognitive process used to analyze data, while the
nursing process is the framework that guides clinical judgment.
2. What is the ability to focus and filter clinical data to recognize what is most and least
important, allowing the nurse to identify if an actual problem is present?
A) Clinical judgment
B) Critical thinking
C) Clinical reasoning
D) Assessment
Correct Answer: Clinical reasoning
Rationale: Clinical reasoning is the ability to sift through clinical data, distinguishing relevant
from irrelevant information to identify actual or potential patient problems. It is a cognitive
,process that underpins clinical judgment. Critical thinking is a broader concept that includes
reasoning, while assessment is the data collection phase.
3. Which of the following is a required attribute for successful clinical judgment?
A) Memorization of all medications
B) Early problem recognition
C) Avoiding conflict with colleagues
D) Completing tasks quickly
Correct Answer: Early problem recognition
Rationale: Successful clinical judgment requires a strong knowledge base, proficient technical
skills, early problem recognition, effective communication, trusting relationships, previous
experience, confidence, and intuition. Early problem recognition allows the nurse to intervene
promptly and prevent complications.
4. What is the foundation of professional nursing that provides a framework for organized and
effective patient care?
A) The nursing process
B) Evidence-based practice
C) Clinical judgment
D) The chain of infection
Correct Answer: The nursing process
Rationale: The nursing process is the systematic framework that guides nurses in providing
organized, patient-centered care. It consists of five phases: assessment, diagnosis, planning,
implementation, and evaluation (ADPIE). Evidence-based practice informs interventions, but the
nursing process is the overarching framework.
,5. What is the first step of the nursing process that involves organized and ongoing appraisal of
data using a holistic approach?
A) Diagnosis
B) Planning
C) Assessment
D) Implementation
Correct Answer: Assessment
Rationale: Assessment is the first and most critical phase of the nursing process. It involves the
systematic collection of holistic data about the patient's physical, psychological, social, and
spiritual status. Without a thorough assessment, subsequent phases of the nursing process
cannot be effectively completed.
6. Which method of data collection involves using vision and smell to examine characteristics of
a whole person and individual body systems?
A) Palpation
B) Percussion
C) Inspection
D) Auscultation
Correct Answer: Inspection
Rationale: Inspection is a physical assessment technique that uses vision and smell to observe a
patient's appearance, behavior, and body systems. It is the first and most frequently used
assessment technique. Palpation uses touch, percussion uses tapping, and auscultation uses
hearing.
, 7. What is the act of breathing measured in breaths per minute?
A) Ventilation
B) Respiration
C) Oxygenation
D) Perfusion
Correct Answer: Respiration
Rationale: Respiration is the act of breathing, measured as the number of breaths per minute.
Ventilation is the movement of air in and out of the lungs, oxygenation is the process of
delivering oxygen to tissues, and perfusion is the circulation of blood through tissues.
8. What is the measurable pressure of blood in the systemic arteries?
A) Pulse pressure
B) Blood pressure
C) Mean arterial pressure
D) Central venous pressure
Correct Answer: Blood pressure
Rationale: Blood pressure is the measurable pressure exerted by circulating blood against the
walls of systemic arteries. It is expressed as systolic pressure over diastolic pressure (e.g.,
120/80 mmHg). Pulse pressure is the difference between systolic and diastolic pressures.
9. What is the purpose of an incident report in healthcare settings?
A) To assign blame to a staff member
B) To document unusual or unexpected events for quality improvement
Q&A | Galen College
1. What is the outcome of critical thinking and the critical application of knowledge and
experience to identify patient problems and direct clinical judgments and actions that result in
positive patient outcomes?
A) Clinical reasoning
B) Clinical judgment
C) The nursing process
D) Evidence-based practice
Correct Answer: Clinical judgment
Rationale: Clinical judgment is the outcome of critical thinking applied to patient care situations.
It involves analyzing data, recognizing patterns, and making decisions that lead to positive
patient outcomes. Clinical reasoning is the cognitive process used to analyze data, while the
nursing process is the framework that guides clinical judgment.
2. What is the ability to focus and filter clinical data to recognize what is most and least
important, allowing the nurse to identify if an actual problem is present?
A) Clinical judgment
B) Critical thinking
C) Clinical reasoning
D) Assessment
Correct Answer: Clinical reasoning
Rationale: Clinical reasoning is the ability to sift through clinical data, distinguishing relevant
from irrelevant information to identify actual or potential patient problems. It is a cognitive
,process that underpins clinical judgment. Critical thinking is a broader concept that includes
reasoning, while assessment is the data collection phase.
3. Which of the following is a required attribute for successful clinical judgment?
A) Memorization of all medications
B) Early problem recognition
C) Avoiding conflict with colleagues
D) Completing tasks quickly
Correct Answer: Early problem recognition
Rationale: Successful clinical judgment requires a strong knowledge base, proficient technical
skills, early problem recognition, effective communication, trusting relationships, previous
experience, confidence, and intuition. Early problem recognition allows the nurse to intervene
promptly and prevent complications.
4. What is the foundation of professional nursing that provides a framework for organized and
effective patient care?
A) The nursing process
B) Evidence-based practice
C) Clinical judgment
D) The chain of infection
Correct Answer: The nursing process
Rationale: The nursing process is the systematic framework that guides nurses in providing
organized, patient-centered care. It consists of five phases: assessment, diagnosis, planning,
implementation, and evaluation (ADPIE). Evidence-based practice informs interventions, but the
nursing process is the overarching framework.
,5. What is the first step of the nursing process that involves organized and ongoing appraisal of
data using a holistic approach?
A) Diagnosis
B) Planning
C) Assessment
D) Implementation
Correct Answer: Assessment
Rationale: Assessment is the first and most critical phase of the nursing process. It involves the
systematic collection of holistic data about the patient's physical, psychological, social, and
spiritual status. Without a thorough assessment, subsequent phases of the nursing process
cannot be effectively completed.
6. Which method of data collection involves using vision and smell to examine characteristics of
a whole person and individual body systems?
A) Palpation
B) Percussion
C) Inspection
D) Auscultation
Correct Answer: Inspection
Rationale: Inspection is a physical assessment technique that uses vision and smell to observe a
patient's appearance, behavior, and body systems. It is the first and most frequently used
assessment technique. Palpation uses touch, percussion uses tapping, and auscultation uses
hearing.
, 7. What is the act of breathing measured in breaths per minute?
A) Ventilation
B) Respiration
C) Oxygenation
D) Perfusion
Correct Answer: Respiration
Rationale: Respiration is the act of breathing, measured as the number of breaths per minute.
Ventilation is the movement of air in and out of the lungs, oxygenation is the process of
delivering oxygen to tissues, and perfusion is the circulation of blood through tissues.
8. What is the measurable pressure of blood in the systemic arteries?
A) Pulse pressure
B) Blood pressure
C) Mean arterial pressure
D) Central venous pressure
Correct Answer: Blood pressure
Rationale: Blood pressure is the measurable pressure exerted by circulating blood against the
walls of systemic arteries. It is expressed as systolic pressure over diastolic pressure (e.g.,
120/80 mmHg). Pulse pressure is the difference between systolic and diastolic pressures.
9. What is the purpose of an incident report in healthcare settings?
A) To assign blame to a staff member
B) To document unusual or unexpected events for quality improvement
