West Coast University NURS 222 Exam 1 | Mental
Health/Psychiatric Nursing (2026) Q&A
1. A nurse is using the nursing process to care for a newly admitted patient. Which phase
involves collecting subjective and objective data?
A) Planning
B) Assessment
C) Implementation
D) Evaluation
Correct Answer: Assessment
Rationale: Assessment is the first phase of the nursing process and involves the systematic
collection of subjective (patient-reported) and objective (observable/measurable) data.
Planning involves goal setting, implementation involves carrying out interventions, and
evaluation determines whether goals were met.
2. During which phase of the nursing process does the nurse prioritize patient problems and
establish goals?
A) Assessment
B) Diagnosis
C) Planning
D) Evaluation
Correct Answer: Planning
Rationale: Planning involves prioritizing nursing diagnoses, establishing patient-centered goals
and outcomes, and selecting appropriate nursing interventions. Assessment is data collection,
diagnosis is problem identification, and evaluation measures outcome achievement.
,3. A nurse identifies "Impaired Gas Exchange related to decreased alveolar ventilation" as a
patient problem. This statement represents which phase of the nursing process?
A) Assessment
B) Nursing diagnosis
C) Planning
D) Implementation
Correct Answer: Nursing diagnosis
Rationale: A nursing diagnosis is a clinical judgment about individual, family, or community
responses to actual or potential health problems. It is formulated during the diagnosis phase,
which follows assessment and precedes planning.
4. Which of the following is an example of subjective data?
A) Blood pressure 148/92 mm Hg
B) Patient reports "I feel short of breath"
C) Respiratory rate 26 breaths/min
D) Oxygen saturation 89% on room air
Correct Answer: Patient reports "I feel short of breath"
Rationale: Subjective data includes information the patient reports, such as feelings,
perceptions, and symptoms. "I feel short of breath" is a patient-reported symptom. Blood
pressure, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation are objective measurements.
5. A nurse is evaluating the effectiveness of a patient's pain management plan. Which action
best demonstrates the evaluation phase?
,A) Administering the prescribed analgesic
B) Asking the patient to rate pain on a 0-10 scale after intervention
C) Documenting the patient's initial pain level
D) Collaborating with the provider to change the order
Correct Answer: Asking the patient to rate pain on a 0-10 scale after intervention
Rationale: Evaluation involves determining whether the patient's goals and outcomes have been
met. Reassessing pain after an intervention measures the effectiveness of the plan.
Administering medication is implementation, documenting initial pain is assessment, and
changing orders is planning.
6. Which of the following best describes critical thinking in nursing?
A) Following physician orders without question
B) Using purposeful, outcome-directed reasoning to make clinical judgments
C) Relying on intuition alone
D) Memorizing facts for licensure exams
Correct Answer: Using purposeful, outcome-directed reasoning to make clinical judgments
Rationale: Critical thinking in nursing is purposeful, outcome-directed reasoning used to make
clinical judgments and solve patient problems. It involves questioning, analysis, and synthesis
rather than blind obedience or intuition alone.
7. A nurse is caring for a patient with new-onset confusion. Which action should the nurse take
first?
A) Administer a sedative as ordered
B) Perform a focused neurological assessment
, C) Document the confusion and continue monitoring
D) Notify the family of the change in status
Correct Answer: Perform a focused neurological assessment
Rationale: Assessment is the first step. The nurse must assess the patient's neurological status
and identify potential causes (e.g., hypoxia, hypoglycemia, medication effects) before
intervening. Administering sedatives without assessment is unsafe.
8. Which nursing diagnosis is written correctly?
A) "Pneumonia related to bacterial infection"
B) "Impaired Gas Exchange related to decreased alveolar ventilation as evidenced by O2 sat
88%"
C) "Patient needs oxygen"
D) "Difficulty breathing"
Correct Answer: "Impaired Gas Exchange related to decreased alveolar ventilation as evidenced
by O2 sat 88%"
Rationale: A properly written nursing diagnosis includes the problem, related factors (etiology),
and defining characteristics (as evidenced by). Medical diagnoses such as pneumonia are not
used as nursing diagnoses.
9. A nurse is prioritizing care for four patients. Which patient should the nurse assess first?
A) Patient requesting pain medication for chronic back pain
B) Patient with new-onset shortness of breath and oxygen saturation of 88%
C) Patient asking for a blanket because of feeling cold
D) Patient requesting assistance with ambulation to the bathroom
Health/Psychiatric Nursing (2026) Q&A
1. A nurse is using the nursing process to care for a newly admitted patient. Which phase
involves collecting subjective and objective data?
A) Planning
B) Assessment
C) Implementation
D) Evaluation
Correct Answer: Assessment
Rationale: Assessment is the first phase of the nursing process and involves the systematic
collection of subjective (patient-reported) and objective (observable/measurable) data.
Planning involves goal setting, implementation involves carrying out interventions, and
evaluation determines whether goals were met.
2. During which phase of the nursing process does the nurse prioritize patient problems and
establish goals?
A) Assessment
B) Diagnosis
C) Planning
D) Evaluation
Correct Answer: Planning
Rationale: Planning involves prioritizing nursing diagnoses, establishing patient-centered goals
and outcomes, and selecting appropriate nursing interventions. Assessment is data collection,
diagnosis is problem identification, and evaluation measures outcome achievement.
,3. A nurse identifies "Impaired Gas Exchange related to decreased alveolar ventilation" as a
patient problem. This statement represents which phase of the nursing process?
A) Assessment
B) Nursing diagnosis
C) Planning
D) Implementation
Correct Answer: Nursing diagnosis
Rationale: A nursing diagnosis is a clinical judgment about individual, family, or community
responses to actual or potential health problems. It is formulated during the diagnosis phase,
which follows assessment and precedes planning.
4. Which of the following is an example of subjective data?
A) Blood pressure 148/92 mm Hg
B) Patient reports "I feel short of breath"
C) Respiratory rate 26 breaths/min
D) Oxygen saturation 89% on room air
Correct Answer: Patient reports "I feel short of breath"
Rationale: Subjective data includes information the patient reports, such as feelings,
perceptions, and symptoms. "I feel short of breath" is a patient-reported symptom. Blood
pressure, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation are objective measurements.
5. A nurse is evaluating the effectiveness of a patient's pain management plan. Which action
best demonstrates the evaluation phase?
,A) Administering the prescribed analgesic
B) Asking the patient to rate pain on a 0-10 scale after intervention
C) Documenting the patient's initial pain level
D) Collaborating with the provider to change the order
Correct Answer: Asking the patient to rate pain on a 0-10 scale after intervention
Rationale: Evaluation involves determining whether the patient's goals and outcomes have been
met. Reassessing pain after an intervention measures the effectiveness of the plan.
Administering medication is implementation, documenting initial pain is assessment, and
changing orders is planning.
6. Which of the following best describes critical thinking in nursing?
A) Following physician orders without question
B) Using purposeful, outcome-directed reasoning to make clinical judgments
C) Relying on intuition alone
D) Memorizing facts for licensure exams
Correct Answer: Using purposeful, outcome-directed reasoning to make clinical judgments
Rationale: Critical thinking in nursing is purposeful, outcome-directed reasoning used to make
clinical judgments and solve patient problems. It involves questioning, analysis, and synthesis
rather than blind obedience or intuition alone.
7. A nurse is caring for a patient with new-onset confusion. Which action should the nurse take
first?
A) Administer a sedative as ordered
B) Perform a focused neurological assessment
, C) Document the confusion and continue monitoring
D) Notify the family of the change in status
Correct Answer: Perform a focused neurological assessment
Rationale: Assessment is the first step. The nurse must assess the patient's neurological status
and identify potential causes (e.g., hypoxia, hypoglycemia, medication effects) before
intervening. Administering sedatives without assessment is unsafe.
8. Which nursing diagnosis is written correctly?
A) "Pneumonia related to bacterial infection"
B) "Impaired Gas Exchange related to decreased alveolar ventilation as evidenced by O2 sat
88%"
C) "Patient needs oxygen"
D) "Difficulty breathing"
Correct Answer: "Impaired Gas Exchange related to decreased alveolar ventilation as evidenced
by O2 sat 88%"
Rationale: A properly written nursing diagnosis includes the problem, related factors (etiology),
and defining characteristics (as evidenced by). Medical diagnoses such as pneumonia are not
used as nursing diagnoses.
9. A nurse is prioritizing care for four patients. Which patient should the nurse assess first?
A) Patient requesting pain medication for chronic back pain
B) Patient with new-onset shortness of breath and oxygen saturation of 88%
C) Patient asking for a blanket because of feeling cold
D) Patient requesting assistance with ambulation to the bathroom
