Complete Questions with Correct Answers and
Detailed Rationales - Latest Update 2026
RNSG 1517 PROTECTION & REGULATION EXAM 5
SECTION 1: PROFESSIONAL NURSING ROLES & HISTORICAL FOUNDATIONS
1. Which historical figure is credited with establishing the first nursing school
and professional nursing standards?
• A. Clara Barton
• B. Florence Nightingale
• C. Dorothea Dix
• D. Lillian Wald
Answer: B. Florence Nightingale
Rationale: Florence Nightingale established the first nursing school at St. Thomas'
Hospital in London and is considered the founder of modern nursing, emphasizing
sanitation, data collection, and professional standards .
2. The American Nurses Association (ANA) defines nursing as the protection,
promotion, and optimization of health and abilities, prevention of illness and
injury, and:
• A. Administration of all medications prescribed by physicians
, • B. Alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of human
response
• C. Management of all healthcare facilities
• D. Provision of surgical assistance in the operating room
Answer: B. Alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of
human response
Rationale: The ANA's definition includes alleviation of suffering through the
diagnosis and treatment of human response, highlighting nursing's unique focus
on patient responses to health problems .
3. Which of the following is a core competency for professional nursing practice
as identified by the Institute of Medicine (IOM)?
• A. Provide patient-centered care
• B. Work in interdisciplinary teams
• C. Employ evidence-based practice
• D. All of the above
Answer: D. All of the above
Rationale: The IOM identified five core competencies: provide patient-centered
care, work in interdisciplinary teams, employ evidence-based practice, apply
quality improvement, and utilize informatics .
4. The nurse is caring for a patient who is expressing fear about an upcoming
surgery. Which action best demonstrates the role of the nurse as a patient
advocate?
• A. Telling the patient that everything will be fine
• B. Notifying the provider of the patient's concerns
• C. Administering a PRN anxiolytic without assessment
• D. Avoiding the topic to prevent further anxiety
, Answer: B. Notifying the provider of the patient's concerns
Rationale: Patient advocacy involves protecting patients' rights and ensuring their
concerns are heard. Notifying the provider of the patient's expressed fears
supports the patient's autonomy and voice .
5. Florence Nightingale's contributions to nursing included:
• A. Developing the first nursing code of ethics
• B. Identifying the importance of sanitation and environmental cleanliness
• C. Establishing the American Red Cross
• D. Creating the first nursing licensure exam
Answer: B. Identifying the importance of sanitation and environmental
cleanliness
Rationale: Nightingale emphasized the relationship between a clean environment
and patient health outcomes, establishing sanitation principles that dramatically
reduced mortality rates during the Crimean War .
6. The nurse is caring for a patient who is at risk for falls. Which intervention
demonstrates patient safety advocacy?
• A. Placing the patient in restraints without a provider order
• B. Implementing fall precautions (bed alarm, non-slip socks, frequent
rounding)
• C. Leaving the patient unattended in the bathroom
• D. Telling the patient to call for help but not checking on them
Answer: B. Implementing fall precautions (bed alarm, non-slip socks, frequent
rounding)
Rationale: Patient safety advocacy includes implementing evidence-based
interventions to prevent harm, such as fall precautions. Restraints require a
provider order and are a last resort .