,1. A patient reports dizziness after standing up quickly. The nurse suspects a drop in blood
pressure.
Which reasoning skill is being used?
A. Deductive reasoning
B. Emotional reasoning
C. Inductive reasoning
D. Random guessing
Answer: C. Inductive reasoning
Rationale: Inductive reasoning draws a general conclusion (possible drop in BP) from specific
observations (dizziness after standing).
2. A study shows patients who exercise regularly have a 40% lower chance of developing heart
disease.
Which conclusion is strongest?
A. Exercise prevents all heart diseases.
B. Exercise is one factor that lowers heart disease risk.
C. All people who don’t exercise will get heart disease.
D. Heart disease is caused by lack of exercise only.
Answer: B. Exercise is one factor that lowers heart disease risk.
Rationale: The study shows an association (correlation) that suggests exercise reduces risk, but
it does not prove it is the sole cause.
3. A patient’s temperature rose from 98.6°F to 101.4°F after surgery.
What inference can be made?
A. The patient may have developed an infection.
B. The thermometer is broken.
C. Fever always occurs after surgery.
D. Temperature changes are meaningless.
Answer: A. The patient may have developed an infection.
Rationale: A postoperative fever commonly suggests possible infection; it’s a plausible,
evidence-based inference needing further evaluation.
4. If all nurses must complete CPR training, and Emily is a nurse, what follows logically?
A. Emily might need CPR training.
B. Emily has completed CPR training.
C. Emily refuses CPR training.
D. Emily teaches CPR.
Answer: B. Emily has completed CPR training.
Rationale: This is deductive reasoning: given the general rule and that Emily fits the category,
the specific conclusion follows.
,5. A doctor prescribes a new medication that reduced blood pressure in 85% of test subjects.
What can we infer?
A. The drug is effective for some patients.
B. The drug works for everyone.
C. The test subjects were unhealthy.
D. Blood pressure cannot change naturally.
Answer: A. The drug is effective for some patients.
Rationale: The trial results show efficacy in a majority but not universal effectiveness;
conclusion must be limited accordingly.
6. A diabetic patient’s glucose readings drop sharply after insulin.
This demonstrates which type of relationship?
A. Direct
B. Inverse
C. Irrelevant
D. Random
Answer: B. Inverse
Rationale: As insulin (the independent variable) increases, blood glucose (the dependent
variable) decreases an inverse relationship.
7. Two nurses record the same patient’s pulse: one gets 90 bpm, the other 110 bpm.
What is the best next step?
A. Average the two results without checking
B. Recheck the pulse to confirm accuracy
C. Record both numbers as correct
D. Ignore the difference
Answer: B. Recheck the pulse to confirm accuracy.
Rationale: Conflicting measurements require verification to ensure reliable data before clinical
decisions.
8. A physical therapist believes stretching before exercise reduces injury.
What should they do to test this?
A. Survey other therapists
B. Compare injury rates between people who stretch and those who don’t
C. Assume it’s true from experience
D. Ask one client to try it once
Answer: B. Compare injury rates between people who stretch and those who don’t.
, Rationale: Comparative (controlled) data provides stronger evidence than opinion or single
anecdotes.
9. Which is an example of deductive reasoning?
A. All bacteria cause infection; pneumonia is caused by bacteria; therefore pneumonia is an
infection.
B. My patient has pneumonia, so all pneumonia causes bacteria.
C. Pneumonia may be viral or bacterial.
D. Pneumonia never spreads.
Answer: A.
Rationale: Deduction applies a general rule (bacteria → infection) to a specific case (pneumonia
caused by bacteria) to produce a logical conclusion.
10. A patient’s heart rate increased after caffeine intake.
Which reasoning best explains this?
A. Cause and effect
B. Random chance
C. Emotional reasoning
D. Unsupported claim
Answer: A. Cause and effect
Rationale: Caffeine is a stimulant known to raise heart rate; inferring causation is reasonable
when supported by known physiology.
11. If 30% of clinic patients report fatigue, how many in a group of 120 might report it?
A. 24
B. 30
C. 36
D. 40
Answer: C. 36
Rationale: 30% of 120 = 0.30 × 120 = 36.
12. A blood sample shows elevated white blood cell count.
What inference is most likely?
A. The patient has an infection or inflammation.
B. The patient is healthy.
C. The lab made an error.
D. The patient lacks iron.
Answer: A. The patient has an infection or inflammation.
pressure.
Which reasoning skill is being used?
A. Deductive reasoning
B. Emotional reasoning
C. Inductive reasoning
D. Random guessing
Answer: C. Inductive reasoning
Rationale: Inductive reasoning draws a general conclusion (possible drop in BP) from specific
observations (dizziness after standing).
2. A study shows patients who exercise regularly have a 40% lower chance of developing heart
disease.
Which conclusion is strongest?
A. Exercise prevents all heart diseases.
B. Exercise is one factor that lowers heart disease risk.
C. All people who don’t exercise will get heart disease.
D. Heart disease is caused by lack of exercise only.
Answer: B. Exercise is one factor that lowers heart disease risk.
Rationale: The study shows an association (correlation) that suggests exercise reduces risk, but
it does not prove it is the sole cause.
3. A patient’s temperature rose from 98.6°F to 101.4°F after surgery.
What inference can be made?
A. The patient may have developed an infection.
B. The thermometer is broken.
C. Fever always occurs after surgery.
D. Temperature changes are meaningless.
Answer: A. The patient may have developed an infection.
Rationale: A postoperative fever commonly suggests possible infection; it’s a plausible,
evidence-based inference needing further evaluation.
4. If all nurses must complete CPR training, and Emily is a nurse, what follows logically?
A. Emily might need CPR training.
B. Emily has completed CPR training.
C. Emily refuses CPR training.
D. Emily teaches CPR.
Answer: B. Emily has completed CPR training.
Rationale: This is deductive reasoning: given the general rule and that Emily fits the category,
the specific conclusion follows.
,5. A doctor prescribes a new medication that reduced blood pressure in 85% of test subjects.
What can we infer?
A. The drug is effective for some patients.
B. The drug works for everyone.
C. The test subjects were unhealthy.
D. Blood pressure cannot change naturally.
Answer: A. The drug is effective for some patients.
Rationale: The trial results show efficacy in a majority but not universal effectiveness;
conclusion must be limited accordingly.
6. A diabetic patient’s glucose readings drop sharply after insulin.
This demonstrates which type of relationship?
A. Direct
B. Inverse
C. Irrelevant
D. Random
Answer: B. Inverse
Rationale: As insulin (the independent variable) increases, blood glucose (the dependent
variable) decreases an inverse relationship.
7. Two nurses record the same patient’s pulse: one gets 90 bpm, the other 110 bpm.
What is the best next step?
A. Average the two results without checking
B. Recheck the pulse to confirm accuracy
C. Record both numbers as correct
D. Ignore the difference
Answer: B. Recheck the pulse to confirm accuracy.
Rationale: Conflicting measurements require verification to ensure reliable data before clinical
decisions.
8. A physical therapist believes stretching before exercise reduces injury.
What should they do to test this?
A. Survey other therapists
B. Compare injury rates between people who stretch and those who don’t
C. Assume it’s true from experience
D. Ask one client to try it once
Answer: B. Compare injury rates between people who stretch and those who don’t.
, Rationale: Comparative (controlled) data provides stronger evidence than opinion or single
anecdotes.
9. Which is an example of deductive reasoning?
A. All bacteria cause infection; pneumonia is caused by bacteria; therefore pneumonia is an
infection.
B. My patient has pneumonia, so all pneumonia causes bacteria.
C. Pneumonia may be viral or bacterial.
D. Pneumonia never spreads.
Answer: A.
Rationale: Deduction applies a general rule (bacteria → infection) to a specific case (pneumonia
caused by bacteria) to produce a logical conclusion.
10. A patient’s heart rate increased after caffeine intake.
Which reasoning best explains this?
A. Cause and effect
B. Random chance
C. Emotional reasoning
D. Unsupported claim
Answer: A. Cause and effect
Rationale: Caffeine is a stimulant known to raise heart rate; inferring causation is reasonable
when supported by known physiology.
11. If 30% of clinic patients report fatigue, how many in a group of 120 might report it?
A. 24
B. 30
C. 36
D. 40
Answer: C. 36
Rationale: 30% of 120 = 0.30 × 120 = 36.
12. A blood sample shows elevated white blood cell count.
What inference is most likely?
A. The patient has an infection or inflammation.
B. The patient is healthy.
C. The lab made an error.
D. The patient lacks iron.
Answer: A. The patient has an infection or inflammation.
