Nur 155 Galen College Nursing Exam 1 And
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Questions And Solutions (Rationales) 2026
| Exam Prep Guide | Complete Exam Bank
Foundational Nursing Concepts, Patient Safety, Clinical Judgment,
Nursing Fundamentals, and Applied Practice Questions
Question 1. A nurse is preparing to administer a prescribed medication to a hospitalized
patient. The patient’s identification band displays a name that differs from the name on the
medication administration record. What is the nurse’s priority action?
A. Ask the patient to confirm the medication and proceed if the patient agrees.
B. Withhold the medication until the discrepancy is resolved using approved patient-
identification procedures.
C. Ask another nurse to verify the medication and administer it if the dosage is correct.
D. Document the discrepancy and administer the medication as prescribed.
Patient identification is a fundamental medication-safety requirement. The nurse must stop
the administration process and resolve the discrepancy using approved identifiers and facility
procedures before giving the medication. Patient confirmation alone or another nurse’s
informal approval does not eliminate the risk of a wrong-patient medication error.
Question 2. A nurse enters a patient's room and finds the patient sitting on the floor beside
the bed. The patient is awake and reports hip pain. Which action should the nurse take
first?
A. Help the patient return to bed with assistance.
B. Complete an incident report before providing further care.
C. Ask the patient to describe how the fall occurred.
D. Assess the patient's condition, including possible injury, before moving the patient.
A patient who has fallen and reports hip pain may have a fracture or another serious injury.
The nurse should assess responsiveness, breathing, circulation, pain, and signs of injury, then
,obtain appropriate assistance and follow the facility's post-fall protocol. Moving the patient
before assessing for injury may worsen the condition.
Question 3. A nursing student is preparing to perform a sterile dressing change. After
opening the sterile package, the student notices that the sterile field has become wet from
fluid spilled on the bedside table. What should the student do?
A. Consider the field contaminated and prepare a new sterile field.
B. Continue the procedure if the sterile instruments remain visibly dry.
C. Cover the wet area with a sterile towel and continue.
D. Ask the supervising nurse to inspect the field before deciding whether to continue.
Moisture can allow microorganisms to pass through a sterile barrier, a principle known as
strike-through contamination. A wet sterile field must not be used. The student should discard
the compromised setup, perform hand hygiene as appropriate, and establish a new sterile
field before proceeding.
Question 4. A patient who has been prescribed an opioid analgesic is difficult to awaken
and has slow, shallow respirations. Which action should the nurse prioritize?
A. Reassess the patient's pain level after allowing additional rest.
B. Document the findings and notify the provider during routine rounds.
C. Initiate an immediate respiratory assessment, summon appropriate emergency assistance, and
support breathing.
D. Encourage the patient to drink water to improve alertness.
Difficult arousal combined with slow, shallow breathing suggests potentially life-threatening
opioid-induced respiratory depression. The nurse must respond immediately, assess airway
and breathing, activate the appropriate emergency response, provide respiratory support,
and administer naloxone when indicated by protocol or authorized orders. Routine
documentation or delayed notification is inadequate.
Question 5. A patient is admitted with vomiting and diarrhea. The nurse observes dry oral
mucosa, decreased urine output, and dizziness when the patient stands. Which
interpretation best explains these findings?
A. The patient is experiencing fluid volume excess.
B. The patient may have deficient fluid volume.
,C. The patient is demonstrating improved renal perfusion.
D. The patient is developing an expected response to hospitalization.
Gastrointestinal fluid losses can reduce circulating volume. Dry mucous membranes, oliguria,
and orthostatic dizziness are consistent with dehydration or deficient fluid volume. The nurse
should assess vital signs, fluid intake and output, weight trends, and laboratory findings while
implementing appropriate fluid-replacement measures as prescribed.
Question 6. A patient tells the nurse, "I am frightened because I do not understand what
the surgeon plans to do." Which response best demonstrates therapeutic communication?
A. "You should not worry because this is a routine procedure."
B. "The surgeon performs this procedure frequently, so you will be fine."
C. "Try to think positively instead of worrying about the operation."
D. "Can you tell me which part of the procedure concerns you most?"
An open-ended question encourages the patient to express specific fears and helps the nurse
identify unmet informational and emotional needs. Reassurance that dismisses concerns can
discourage communication. The nurse can explore the patient's questions and arrange for the
surgeon to explain procedural details that fall outside the nurse's role.
Question 7. A nurse is caring for a patient with suspected pulmonary tuberculosis. Which
infection-control measure is most appropriate?
A. Place the patient in an airborne infection isolation room and use a fit-tested N95 respirator or
an appropriate higher-level respirator.
B. Use standard precautions only unless the patient begins coughing blood.
C. Place the patient in a positive-pressure room and wear a surgical mask.
D. Keep the room door open to improve ventilation and wear gloves when entering.
Pulmonary tuberculosis can spread through airborne particles. Appropriate precautions
include airborne isolation, suitable respiratory protection, and adherence to facility infection-
control procedures. A surgical mask alone does not provide the required respiratory
protection for routine care of a patient with suspected infectious pulmonary tuberculosis.
Question 8. A nurse receives a verbal medication order during an emergency. Which action
best reduces the risk of a medication-order error?
, A. Record the order after completing all emergency interventions.
B. Ask another staff member to remember the order while the nurse prepares the medication.
C. Write or enter the order according to policy, read it back to the prescriber, and obtain
confirmation.
D. Interpret unclear portions of the order based on the patient's diagnosis.
Read-back verification helps detect errors involving medication names, doses, routes, and
frequencies. Verbal orders should be limited to circumstances permitted by applicable law
and facility policy, documented promptly, and authenticated as required. Unclear orders must
be clarified rather than interpreted independently.
Question 9. An older adult has difficulty maintaining balance when walking to the
bathroom. The patient states, "I do not want to bother anyone by asking for help." Which
nursing intervention is most appropriate?
A. Encourage the patient to walk independently to maintain confidence.
B. Explain the importance of requesting assistance and arrange appropriate help with ambulation.
C. Restrict all bathroom trips until the patient becomes stronger.
D. Tell the patient that walking without assistance will result in disciplinary action.
A patient with impaired balance is at increased risk of falling. The nurse should communicate
respectfully, assess mobility needs, provide appropriate assistance and assistive devices, and
keep essential items accessible. Promoting safe independence is preferable to either
unsupported ambulation or unnecessary restriction.
Question 10. During a medication round, a nurse realizes that a prescribed medication was
administered to the wrong patient several minutes earlier. The patient currently appears
comfortable. What is the nurse's best next action?
A. Wait for symptoms before reporting the error.
B. Correct the medication record so that the administration appears under the intended patient.
C. Ask the receiving patient to remain quiet while the nurse checks the chart.
D. Assess the affected patient, promptly notify the appropriate clinician, and follow medication-
error reporting procedures.
A medication error requires prompt assessment and appropriate clinical intervention even
when no immediate symptoms are apparent. The nurse should notify the responsible
2 Studyguide – Best Exam Guide| All
Questions And Solutions (Rationales) 2026
| Exam Prep Guide | Complete Exam Bank
Foundational Nursing Concepts, Patient Safety, Clinical Judgment,
Nursing Fundamentals, and Applied Practice Questions
Question 1. A nurse is preparing to administer a prescribed medication to a hospitalized
patient. The patient’s identification band displays a name that differs from the name on the
medication administration record. What is the nurse’s priority action?
A. Ask the patient to confirm the medication and proceed if the patient agrees.
B. Withhold the medication until the discrepancy is resolved using approved patient-
identification procedures.
C. Ask another nurse to verify the medication and administer it if the dosage is correct.
D. Document the discrepancy and administer the medication as prescribed.
Patient identification is a fundamental medication-safety requirement. The nurse must stop
the administration process and resolve the discrepancy using approved identifiers and facility
procedures before giving the medication. Patient confirmation alone or another nurse’s
informal approval does not eliminate the risk of a wrong-patient medication error.
Question 2. A nurse enters a patient's room and finds the patient sitting on the floor beside
the bed. The patient is awake and reports hip pain. Which action should the nurse take
first?
A. Help the patient return to bed with assistance.
B. Complete an incident report before providing further care.
C. Ask the patient to describe how the fall occurred.
D. Assess the patient's condition, including possible injury, before moving the patient.
A patient who has fallen and reports hip pain may have a fracture or another serious injury.
The nurse should assess responsiveness, breathing, circulation, pain, and signs of injury, then
,obtain appropriate assistance and follow the facility's post-fall protocol. Moving the patient
before assessing for injury may worsen the condition.
Question 3. A nursing student is preparing to perform a sterile dressing change. After
opening the sterile package, the student notices that the sterile field has become wet from
fluid spilled on the bedside table. What should the student do?
A. Consider the field contaminated and prepare a new sterile field.
B. Continue the procedure if the sterile instruments remain visibly dry.
C. Cover the wet area with a sterile towel and continue.
D. Ask the supervising nurse to inspect the field before deciding whether to continue.
Moisture can allow microorganisms to pass through a sterile barrier, a principle known as
strike-through contamination. A wet sterile field must not be used. The student should discard
the compromised setup, perform hand hygiene as appropriate, and establish a new sterile
field before proceeding.
Question 4. A patient who has been prescribed an opioid analgesic is difficult to awaken
and has slow, shallow respirations. Which action should the nurse prioritize?
A. Reassess the patient's pain level after allowing additional rest.
B. Document the findings and notify the provider during routine rounds.
C. Initiate an immediate respiratory assessment, summon appropriate emergency assistance, and
support breathing.
D. Encourage the patient to drink water to improve alertness.
Difficult arousal combined with slow, shallow breathing suggests potentially life-threatening
opioid-induced respiratory depression. The nurse must respond immediately, assess airway
and breathing, activate the appropriate emergency response, provide respiratory support,
and administer naloxone when indicated by protocol or authorized orders. Routine
documentation or delayed notification is inadequate.
Question 5. A patient is admitted with vomiting and diarrhea. The nurse observes dry oral
mucosa, decreased urine output, and dizziness when the patient stands. Which
interpretation best explains these findings?
A. The patient is experiencing fluid volume excess.
B. The patient may have deficient fluid volume.
,C. The patient is demonstrating improved renal perfusion.
D. The patient is developing an expected response to hospitalization.
Gastrointestinal fluid losses can reduce circulating volume. Dry mucous membranes, oliguria,
and orthostatic dizziness are consistent with dehydration or deficient fluid volume. The nurse
should assess vital signs, fluid intake and output, weight trends, and laboratory findings while
implementing appropriate fluid-replacement measures as prescribed.
Question 6. A patient tells the nurse, "I am frightened because I do not understand what
the surgeon plans to do." Which response best demonstrates therapeutic communication?
A. "You should not worry because this is a routine procedure."
B. "The surgeon performs this procedure frequently, so you will be fine."
C. "Try to think positively instead of worrying about the operation."
D. "Can you tell me which part of the procedure concerns you most?"
An open-ended question encourages the patient to express specific fears and helps the nurse
identify unmet informational and emotional needs. Reassurance that dismisses concerns can
discourage communication. The nurse can explore the patient's questions and arrange for the
surgeon to explain procedural details that fall outside the nurse's role.
Question 7. A nurse is caring for a patient with suspected pulmonary tuberculosis. Which
infection-control measure is most appropriate?
A. Place the patient in an airborne infection isolation room and use a fit-tested N95 respirator or
an appropriate higher-level respirator.
B. Use standard precautions only unless the patient begins coughing blood.
C. Place the patient in a positive-pressure room and wear a surgical mask.
D. Keep the room door open to improve ventilation and wear gloves when entering.
Pulmonary tuberculosis can spread through airborne particles. Appropriate precautions
include airborne isolation, suitable respiratory protection, and adherence to facility infection-
control procedures. A surgical mask alone does not provide the required respiratory
protection for routine care of a patient with suspected infectious pulmonary tuberculosis.
Question 8. A nurse receives a verbal medication order during an emergency. Which action
best reduces the risk of a medication-order error?
, A. Record the order after completing all emergency interventions.
B. Ask another staff member to remember the order while the nurse prepares the medication.
C. Write or enter the order according to policy, read it back to the prescriber, and obtain
confirmation.
D. Interpret unclear portions of the order based on the patient's diagnosis.
Read-back verification helps detect errors involving medication names, doses, routes, and
frequencies. Verbal orders should be limited to circumstances permitted by applicable law
and facility policy, documented promptly, and authenticated as required. Unclear orders must
be clarified rather than interpreted independently.
Question 9. An older adult has difficulty maintaining balance when walking to the
bathroom. The patient states, "I do not want to bother anyone by asking for help." Which
nursing intervention is most appropriate?
A. Encourage the patient to walk independently to maintain confidence.
B. Explain the importance of requesting assistance and arrange appropriate help with ambulation.
C. Restrict all bathroom trips until the patient becomes stronger.
D. Tell the patient that walking without assistance will result in disciplinary action.
A patient with impaired balance is at increased risk of falling. The nurse should communicate
respectfully, assess mobility needs, provide appropriate assistance and assistive devices, and
keep essential items accessible. Promoting safe independence is preferable to either
unsupported ambulation or unnecessary restriction.
Question 10. During a medication round, a nurse realizes that a prescribed medication was
administered to the wrong patient several minutes earlier. The patient currently appears
comfortable. What is the nurse's best next action?
A. Wait for symptoms before reporting the error.
B. Correct the medication record so that the administration appears under the intended patient.
C. Ask the receiving patient to remain quiet while the nurse checks the chart.
D. Assess the affected patient, promptly notify the appropriate clinician, and follow medication-
error reporting procedures.
A medication error requires prompt assessment and appropriate clinical intervention even
when no immediate symptoms are apparent. The nurse should notify the responsible
