WGU D439 Foundations of Nursing OA Exam Prep
2026/2027 | 200 Practice Questions & Detailed Answers
| Actual Q&A Study Guide | Guarantee Pass A+ Graded
SECTION 1: NURSING PROCESS & CLINICAL JUDGMENT (Questions 1–30)
1. A nurse is collecting data about a patient's health status. Which activity is the nurse performing?
A) Planning
B) Assessment
C) Implementation
D) Evaluation
Answer: B
Explanation: Assessment is the systematic collection of data about the patient's health status. It is the
first step of the nursing process (ADPIE).
2. Which step of the nursing process involves identifying the patient's response to a health problem?
A) Assessment
B) Diagnosis
C) Planning
D) Implementation
Answer: B
Explanation: The diagnosis (analysis) phase uses critical thinking to cluster assessment data and identify
nursing diagnoses that describe the patient's response to health problems.
3. A nurse establishes measurable, patientcentered goals. Which step of the nursing process is this?
A) Assessment
B) Diagnosis
,C) Planning
D) Evaluation
Answer: C
Explanation: Planning is the phase in which the nurse sets measurable, patientcentered goals and
outcomes and develops the care plan.
4. A nurse puts the care plan into action. Which step is this?
A) Planning
B) Implementation
C) Evaluation
D) Diagnosis
Answer: B
Explanation: Implementation is the phase in which the nurse performs the planned interventions.
5. A nurse determines whether the patient's goals were met. Which step is this?
A) Assessment
B) Planning
C) Implementation
D) Evaluation
Answer: D
Explanation: Evaluation is the final step, comparing the patient's current status to expected outcomes to
determine goal achievement.
6. Which of the following is subjective data?
A) Blood pressure 142/88 mmHg
B) Heart rate 110 bpm
,C) Patient states, "My chest feels tight."
D) Diaphoresis
Answer: C
Explanation: Subjective data are what the patient reports (symptoms). Objective data are
observable/measurable (signs), such as vital signs and diaphoresis.
7. Which of the following is objective data?
A) Patient reports nausea.
B) Patient states, "I have a headache."
C) Patient describes pain as 8/10.
D) Temperature 101.2°F.
Answer: D
Explanation: Objective data are measurable and observable, such as a temperature reading. The other
options are subjective reports.
8. Which is a correctly written nursing diagnosis?
A) Pneumonia related to infection
B) Acute Pain related to surgical incision as evidenced by patient report of 8/10 pain
C) Diabetes mellitus
D) Hypertension
Answer: B
Explanation: A nursing diagnosis includes the problem, etiology (related to), and signs/symptoms (as
evidenced by). Pneumonia, diabetes, and hypertension are medical diagnoses.
9. What is the purpose of the assessment phase?
A) To establish goals
B) To collect comprehensive data about the patient
, C) To implement interventions
D) To evaluate outcomes
Answer: B
Explanation: Assessment is the systematic collection of data about the patient's health status, forming
the foundation for the rest of the nursing process.
10. Which of the following is a dependent nursing intervention?
A) Turning a patient every 2 hours
B) Administering a prescribed antibiotic
C) Teaching a patient about a lowsodium diet
D) Elevating the head of the bed
Answer: B
Explanation: Dependent interventions require a provider's order (e.g., administering medications).
Independent interventions are those the nurse can initiate without an order.
11. Which of the following is an independent nursing intervention?
A) Administering a prescribed analgesic
B) Repositioning a patient for comfort
C) Ordering a laboratory test
D) Prescribing a medication
Answer: B
Explanation: Independent interventions are actions the nurse can perform without a provider's order,
such as repositioning for comfort.
12. A nurse is prioritizing care for multiple patients. Which patient should the nurse see first?
A) A patient requesting pain medication for a headache
B) A patient who is due for a scheduled dressing change
2026/2027 | 200 Practice Questions & Detailed Answers
| Actual Q&A Study Guide | Guarantee Pass A+ Graded
SECTION 1: NURSING PROCESS & CLINICAL JUDGMENT (Questions 1–30)
1. A nurse is collecting data about a patient's health status. Which activity is the nurse performing?
A) Planning
B) Assessment
C) Implementation
D) Evaluation
Answer: B
Explanation: Assessment is the systematic collection of data about the patient's health status. It is the
first step of the nursing process (ADPIE).
2. Which step of the nursing process involves identifying the patient's response to a health problem?
A) Assessment
B) Diagnosis
C) Planning
D) Implementation
Answer: B
Explanation: The diagnosis (analysis) phase uses critical thinking to cluster assessment data and identify
nursing diagnoses that describe the patient's response to health problems.
3. A nurse establishes measurable, patientcentered goals. Which step of the nursing process is this?
A) Assessment
B) Diagnosis
,C) Planning
D) Evaluation
Answer: C
Explanation: Planning is the phase in which the nurse sets measurable, patientcentered goals and
outcomes and develops the care plan.
4. A nurse puts the care plan into action. Which step is this?
A) Planning
B) Implementation
C) Evaluation
D) Diagnosis
Answer: B
Explanation: Implementation is the phase in which the nurse performs the planned interventions.
5. A nurse determines whether the patient's goals were met. Which step is this?
A) Assessment
B) Planning
C) Implementation
D) Evaluation
Answer: D
Explanation: Evaluation is the final step, comparing the patient's current status to expected outcomes to
determine goal achievement.
6. Which of the following is subjective data?
A) Blood pressure 142/88 mmHg
B) Heart rate 110 bpm
,C) Patient states, "My chest feels tight."
D) Diaphoresis
Answer: C
Explanation: Subjective data are what the patient reports (symptoms). Objective data are
observable/measurable (signs), such as vital signs and diaphoresis.
7. Which of the following is objective data?
A) Patient reports nausea.
B) Patient states, "I have a headache."
C) Patient describes pain as 8/10.
D) Temperature 101.2°F.
Answer: D
Explanation: Objective data are measurable and observable, such as a temperature reading. The other
options are subjective reports.
8. Which is a correctly written nursing diagnosis?
A) Pneumonia related to infection
B) Acute Pain related to surgical incision as evidenced by patient report of 8/10 pain
C) Diabetes mellitus
D) Hypertension
Answer: B
Explanation: A nursing diagnosis includes the problem, etiology (related to), and signs/symptoms (as
evidenced by). Pneumonia, diabetes, and hypertension are medical diagnoses.
9. What is the purpose of the assessment phase?
A) To establish goals
B) To collect comprehensive data about the patient
, C) To implement interventions
D) To evaluate outcomes
Answer: B
Explanation: Assessment is the systematic collection of data about the patient's health status, forming
the foundation for the rest of the nursing process.
10. Which of the following is a dependent nursing intervention?
A) Turning a patient every 2 hours
B) Administering a prescribed antibiotic
C) Teaching a patient about a lowsodium diet
D) Elevating the head of the bed
Answer: B
Explanation: Dependent interventions require a provider's order (e.g., administering medications).
Independent interventions are those the nurse can initiate without an order.
11. Which of the following is an independent nursing intervention?
A) Administering a prescribed analgesic
B) Repositioning a patient for comfort
C) Ordering a laboratory test
D) Prescribing a medication
Answer: B
Explanation: Independent interventions are actions the nurse can perform without a provider's order,
such as repositioning for comfort.
12. A nurse is prioritizing care for multiple patients. Which patient should the nurse see first?
A) A patient requesting pain medication for a headache
B) A patient who is due for a scheduled dressing change
