Galen NSG 3130 Exam 3 | Fundamental Concepts & Skills for
Nursing Practice II (2026) Actual Q&A PDF
1. A patient with a terminal illness tells the nurse, "I have lived a long life. I am ready to go."
What is the nurse's best response?
A) Offer the patient a back rub
B) Sit quietly by the patient's bedside
C) Tell the family about the patient's statement
D) Discuss with the patient how dying is part of the life cycle
Correct Answer: Sit quietly by the patient's bedside
Rationale: Sitting quietly by the patient's bedside demonstrates therapeutic presence and
allows the patient to express feelings without judgment. This response respects the patient's
readiness and provides comfort through silent support. Offering a back rub may be
inappropriate, and discussing dying may not align with the patient's immediate need.
2. The nurse is assessing a patient's use of coping skills in response to stressful situations. Which
question is most useful?
A) "Have you been evaluated for stress?"
B) "Do you have someone you can go to for help when you are stressed?"
,C) "How have you managed stressful situations in the past?"
D) "Does stress cause you to experience muscle tension or headaches?"
Correct Answer: "How have you managed stressful situations in the past?"
Rationale: Asking how the patient has managed stress in the past provides insight into effective
coping strategies and patterns. This open-ended question encourages the patient to reflect on
personal strengths. The other questions are closed-ended and do not explore the patient's
coping mechanisms.
3. A patient is told that surgery is necessary and begins to experience elevations in pulse,
respirations, and blood pressure. Which stage of anxiety is indicated by these nursing
assessments?
A) Mild
B) Moderate
C) Severe
D) Panic
Correct Answer: Moderate
Rationale: Moderate anxiety is characterized by slightly elevated vital signs such as increased
pulse, respirations, and blood pressure. The patient's perceptual field narrows, but they can still
focus with guidance. Mild anxiety involves slight arousal, while severe anxiety and panic involve
more intense physiological and psychological responses.
,4. A mother whose young daughter has died of leukemia is crying and is unable to talk about
her feelings. Which is the best response by the nurse?
A) "Everyone will remember her because she was so cute. She was one of our favorites."
B) "As hard as this is, it is probably for the best because she was in a lot of pain."
C) "She put up the good fight but now she is out of pain and in heaven."
D) "It must be hard to deal with such a precious loss."
Correct Answer: "It must be hard to deal with such a precious loss."
Rationale: This response acknowledges the mother's grief without minimizing it or offering false
reassurance. It uses therapeutic communication to validate her feelings. The other options may
come across as dismissive or may impose the nurse's own beliefs on the mother's experience.
5. A patient has been diagnosed with terminal cancer of the liver. In an in-depth conversation
with the nurse, the patient states, "I don't think that the test results could be right." According
to Kubler-Ross, the nurse identifies that this statement is associated with which stage?
A) Anxiety
B) Denial
C) Bargaining
, D) Depression
Correct Answer: Denial
Rationale: Denial is the first stage of the Kubler-Ross grief model, where the patient refuses to
accept the reality of the diagnosis. The patient may seek multiple opinions or believe there has
been a mistake. This defense mechanism buffers the initial shock of the loss.
6. A client on complete bed rest complains of back pain. Which nursing interventions use
nonpharmacologic methods to ease the discomfort? (Select all that apply.)
A) Administering a dose of morphine for pain
B) Assisting the client to a bedside chair
C) Giving the client a back massage
D) Instructing the client that the health care provider will see him tomorrow night
E) Using music that contains no words
F) Instructing the client in guided imagery
Correct Answer: Giving the client a back massage; Using music that contains no words;
Instructing the client in guided imagery
Rationale: Nonpharmacologic pain interventions include massage, music therapy, and guided
imagery. These methods address pain through the gate control theory and relaxation.
Nursing Practice II (2026) Actual Q&A PDF
1. A patient with a terminal illness tells the nurse, "I have lived a long life. I am ready to go."
What is the nurse's best response?
A) Offer the patient a back rub
B) Sit quietly by the patient's bedside
C) Tell the family about the patient's statement
D) Discuss with the patient how dying is part of the life cycle
Correct Answer: Sit quietly by the patient's bedside
Rationale: Sitting quietly by the patient's bedside demonstrates therapeutic presence and
allows the patient to express feelings without judgment. This response respects the patient's
readiness and provides comfort through silent support. Offering a back rub may be
inappropriate, and discussing dying may not align with the patient's immediate need.
2. The nurse is assessing a patient's use of coping skills in response to stressful situations. Which
question is most useful?
A) "Have you been evaluated for stress?"
B) "Do you have someone you can go to for help when you are stressed?"
,C) "How have you managed stressful situations in the past?"
D) "Does stress cause you to experience muscle tension or headaches?"
Correct Answer: "How have you managed stressful situations in the past?"
Rationale: Asking how the patient has managed stress in the past provides insight into effective
coping strategies and patterns. This open-ended question encourages the patient to reflect on
personal strengths. The other questions are closed-ended and do not explore the patient's
coping mechanisms.
3. A patient is told that surgery is necessary and begins to experience elevations in pulse,
respirations, and blood pressure. Which stage of anxiety is indicated by these nursing
assessments?
A) Mild
B) Moderate
C) Severe
D) Panic
Correct Answer: Moderate
Rationale: Moderate anxiety is characterized by slightly elevated vital signs such as increased
pulse, respirations, and blood pressure. The patient's perceptual field narrows, but they can still
focus with guidance. Mild anxiety involves slight arousal, while severe anxiety and panic involve
more intense physiological and psychological responses.
,4. A mother whose young daughter has died of leukemia is crying and is unable to talk about
her feelings. Which is the best response by the nurse?
A) "Everyone will remember her because she was so cute. She was one of our favorites."
B) "As hard as this is, it is probably for the best because she was in a lot of pain."
C) "She put up the good fight but now she is out of pain and in heaven."
D) "It must be hard to deal with such a precious loss."
Correct Answer: "It must be hard to deal with such a precious loss."
Rationale: This response acknowledges the mother's grief without minimizing it or offering false
reassurance. It uses therapeutic communication to validate her feelings. The other options may
come across as dismissive or may impose the nurse's own beliefs on the mother's experience.
5. A patient has been diagnosed with terminal cancer of the liver. In an in-depth conversation
with the nurse, the patient states, "I don't think that the test results could be right." According
to Kubler-Ross, the nurse identifies that this statement is associated with which stage?
A) Anxiety
B) Denial
C) Bargaining
, D) Depression
Correct Answer: Denial
Rationale: Denial is the first stage of the Kubler-Ross grief model, where the patient refuses to
accept the reality of the diagnosis. The patient may seek multiple opinions or believe there has
been a mistake. This defense mechanism buffers the initial shock of the loss.
6. A client on complete bed rest complains of back pain. Which nursing interventions use
nonpharmacologic methods to ease the discomfort? (Select all that apply.)
A) Administering a dose of morphine for pain
B) Assisting the client to a bedside chair
C) Giving the client a back massage
D) Instructing the client that the health care provider will see him tomorrow night
E) Using music that contains no words
F) Instructing the client in guided imagery
Correct Answer: Giving the client a back massage; Using music that contains no words;
Instructing the client in guided imagery
Rationale: Nonpharmacologic pain interventions include massage, music therapy, and guided
imagery. These methods address pain through the gate control theory and relaxation.
