Q&A | South College
1. Which type of assessment is performed shortly after admission to establish a
complete database for problem identification and care planning?
A) Focused assessment
B) Emergency assessment
C) Comprehensive initial assessment
D) Time-lapsed assessment
Correct Answer: Comprehensive initial assessment
Rationale: A comprehensive initial assessment gathers complete data shortly
after admission and establishes the baseline database for problem identification
and care planning. A focused assessment addresses a specific problem, an
emergency assessment targets life-threatening issues, and a time-lapsed
assessment compares current status with baseline data.
2. A patient develops new abdominal discomfort several hours after surgery.
Which assessment approach is most appropriate?
A) Perform a complete admission assessment again
B) Review only previous laboratory findings
C) Conduct a focused assessment of location, severity, and associated symptoms
D) Delay assessment until the provider examines the patient
Correct Answer: Conduct a focused assessment of location, severity, and
associated symptoms
,Rationale: A focused assessment collects data about a specific actual or potential
problem, including symptom location, onset, severity, and associated findings.
Repeating a full admission assessment is inefficient, laboratory review alone is
incomplete, and delaying assessment is unsafe.
3. What is the primary purpose of a time-lapsed assessment?
A) To identify life-threatening problems quickly
B) To compare current status with baseline data obtained earlier
C) To gather data about a new, overlooked problem
D) To establish a complete database on admission
Correct Answer: To compare current status with baseline data obtained earlier
Rationale: A time-lapsed assessment reassesses the patient’s current health
status against earlier baseline data to identify improvement, deterioration, or
changes over time. Emergency assessments identify life-threatening problems,
focused assessments target specific problems, and initial assessments establish the
database.
4. Which phase of the nursing process involves setting measurable, patient-
centered goals and expected outcomes?
A) Assessment
B) Diagnosis
C) Planning
D) Evaluation
Correct Answer: Planning
, Rationale: Planning involves setting measurable goals and expected outcomes
that guide nursing interventions. Assessment collects data, diagnosis identifies the
patient’s problems, and evaluation determines whether goals were met.
5. A nurse identifies that a patient has impaired skin integrity related to prolonged
immobilization. Which phase of the nursing process does this represent?
A) Assessment
B) Diagnosis
C) Planning
D) Implementation
Correct Answer: Diagnosis
Rationale: The nursing diagnosis identifies the patient’s actual or potential
health problem and its contributing factors. Assessment collects the data, planning
sets goals, and implementation carries out interventions.
6. Which action is part of the implementation phase of the nursing process?
A) Collecting subjective and objective data
B) Writing a nursing diagnosis
C) Repositioning a patient every two hours
D) Comparing outcomes with goals
Correct Answer: Repositioning a patient every two hours