NURS 180 Midterm Exam | Pharmacology (2026) Actual Q&A
PDF | Fortis College
**Question 1:** The nurse is caring for a client who is 2 days post-operative. The client rates
pain as 8/10. The nurse administers morphine sulfate as ordered. After 30 minutes, the nurse
reassesses the pain level at 3/10. The reassessment step occurs during which phase of the
nursing process?
A) Assessment
B) Diagnosis
C) Planning
D) Evaluation
**Correct Answer: D) Evaluation**
**Rationale:** The nursing process includes Assessment (data collection), Diagnosis (identifying
problems), Planning (setting goals), Implementation (performing interventions), and Evaluation
(determining if goals were met). Reassessing pain after an intervention is an evaluation of the
effectiveness of the intervention.
---
**Question 2:** A nurse is reviewing a client's medical record and notes that the client has a
new diagnosis of hypertension. The nurse identifies the problem as "Ineffective health
maintenance related to lack of knowledge about lifestyle modifications." This is an example of
which phase of the nursing process?
A) Assessment
B) Diagnosis
C) Planning
, D) Implementation
**Correct Answer: B) Diagnosis**
**Rationale:** The nursing diagnosis phase involves analyzing assessment data to identify client
problems. "Ineffective health maintenance" is a NANDA-I approved nursing diagnosis that
describes a problem that can be treated by nursing interventions.
---
**Question 3:** A nurse is using critical thinking to prioritize client care. Which of the following
questions should the nurse ask first?
A) "What are the client's current vital signs?"
B) "Does the client have family in the waiting room?"
C) "What is the client's favorite food?"
D) "When was the client last seen by the provider?"
**Correct Answer: A) "What are the client's current vital signs?"**
**Rationale:** Critical thinking in nursing prioritizes physiological needs first (Maslow's
hierarchy). Vital signs provide immediate information about airway, breathing, and circulation
(ABCs). Family preferences and food preferences are lower priority.
---
**Question 4:** A nurse is using clinical judgment to make a decision about a client's care.
Which of the following represents the first step in the clinical judgment process?
PDF | Fortis College
**Question 1:** The nurse is caring for a client who is 2 days post-operative. The client rates
pain as 8/10. The nurse administers morphine sulfate as ordered. After 30 minutes, the nurse
reassesses the pain level at 3/10. The reassessment step occurs during which phase of the
nursing process?
A) Assessment
B) Diagnosis
C) Planning
D) Evaluation
**Correct Answer: D) Evaluation**
**Rationale:** The nursing process includes Assessment (data collection), Diagnosis (identifying
problems), Planning (setting goals), Implementation (performing interventions), and Evaluation
(determining if goals were met). Reassessing pain after an intervention is an evaluation of the
effectiveness of the intervention.
---
**Question 2:** A nurse is reviewing a client's medical record and notes that the client has a
new diagnosis of hypertension. The nurse identifies the problem as "Ineffective health
maintenance related to lack of knowledge about lifestyle modifications." This is an example of
which phase of the nursing process?
A) Assessment
B) Diagnosis
C) Planning
, D) Implementation
**Correct Answer: B) Diagnosis**
**Rationale:** The nursing diagnosis phase involves analyzing assessment data to identify client
problems. "Ineffective health maintenance" is a NANDA-I approved nursing diagnosis that
describes a problem that can be treated by nursing interventions.
---
**Question 3:** A nurse is using critical thinking to prioritize client care. Which of the following
questions should the nurse ask first?
A) "What are the client's current vital signs?"
B) "Does the client have family in the waiting room?"
C) "What is the client's favorite food?"
D) "When was the client last seen by the provider?"
**Correct Answer: A) "What are the client's current vital signs?"**
**Rationale:** Critical thinking in nursing prioritizes physiological needs first (Maslow's
hierarchy). Vital signs provide immediate information about airway, breathing, and circulation
(ABCs). Family preferences and food preferences are lower priority.
---
**Question 4:** A nurse is using clinical judgment to make a decision about a client's care.
Which of the following represents the first step in the clinical judgment process?
