NUR 210 & NUR 242 Fundamentals and Med-Surg Foundations
Comprehensive Exam 2026 |Galen College
1. A nurse is caring for a client who has a prescription for a clear liquid diet.
Which of the following food items should the nurse offer the client?
A. Vanilla pudding
B. Orange juice with pulp
C. Cream of wheat
D. Apple juice
Answer: D
Rationale: Clear liquids are those that are transparent and liquid at room temperature.
Apple juice is clear, whereas pudding and cream of wheat are considered full liquids or
solid foods.
2. Which of the following actions is the priority when a nurse discovers a fire in
a client’s room?
A. Extinguish the fire
B. Contain the fire
C. Rescue the client
D. Activate the fire alarm
Answer: C
Rationale: The RACE acronym guides fire safety: Rescue, Alarm, Contain, Extinguish.
Rescuing the client from immediate danger is always the first priority.
,3. A nurse is performing a skin assessment on an older adult client. Which of the
following findings is an expected age-related change?
A. Thinning of the epidermis
B. Increased skin elasticity
C. Increased subcutaneous fat
D. Heightened oil production
Answer: A
Rationale: Aging leads to the thinning of the epidermis and dermis, loss of subcutaneous
fat, and decreased elasticity and moisture.
4. What is the first action a nurse should take when a client reports feeling dizzy
while sitting up on the side of the bed?
A. Obtain a blood pressure reading
B. Call the rapid response team
C. Assist the client back to a supine position
D. Offer the client a drink of water
Answer: C
Rationale: The client is likely experiencing orthostatic hypotension. The priority is safety;
returning the client to a supine position prevents falls and improves cerebral blood flow.
5. Which vital sign should the nurse assess first for a client who is suspected of
having a systemic infection?
A. Blood pressure
B. Heart rate
C. Temperature
D. Respiratory rate
Answer: C
Rationale: Temperature is a primary indicator of infection. An elevated temperature
(fever) is a systemic response to pathogens.
, 6. A nurse is preparing to administer an intramuscular injection. Which angle
should the nurse use?
A. 15 degrees
B. 90 degrees
C. 45 degrees
D. 30 degrees
Answer: B
Rationale: Intramuscular (IM) injections are administered at a 90-degree angle to ensure
the medication reaches the muscle tissue.
7. Which of the following is a characteristic of a Stage 2 pressure injury?
A. Non-blanchable erythema of intact skin
B. Full-thickness skin loss with visible fat
C. Full-thickness tissue loss with exposed bone
D. Partial-thickness skin loss with exposed dermis
Answer: D
Rationale: Stage 2 pressure injuries involve partial-thickness loss of the dermis, appearing
as a shallow open ulcer or a ruptured/intact serum-filled blister.
8. The nurse is using the nursing process to care for a client. Which activity is
part of the assessment phase?
A. Developing client goals
B. Administering pain medication
C. Collecting data about the client’s health status
D. Evaluating the effectiveness of interventions
Answer: C
Rationale: The assessment phase involves the systematic collection of subjective and
objective data. Developing goals is planning; administering meds is implementation;
evaluation is the final phase.
Comprehensive Exam 2026 |Galen College
1. A nurse is caring for a client who has a prescription for a clear liquid diet.
Which of the following food items should the nurse offer the client?
A. Vanilla pudding
B. Orange juice with pulp
C. Cream of wheat
D. Apple juice
Answer: D
Rationale: Clear liquids are those that are transparent and liquid at room temperature.
Apple juice is clear, whereas pudding and cream of wheat are considered full liquids or
solid foods.
2. Which of the following actions is the priority when a nurse discovers a fire in
a client’s room?
A. Extinguish the fire
B. Contain the fire
C. Rescue the client
D. Activate the fire alarm
Answer: C
Rationale: The RACE acronym guides fire safety: Rescue, Alarm, Contain, Extinguish.
Rescuing the client from immediate danger is always the first priority.
,3. A nurse is performing a skin assessment on an older adult client. Which of the
following findings is an expected age-related change?
A. Thinning of the epidermis
B. Increased skin elasticity
C. Increased subcutaneous fat
D. Heightened oil production
Answer: A
Rationale: Aging leads to the thinning of the epidermis and dermis, loss of subcutaneous
fat, and decreased elasticity and moisture.
4. What is the first action a nurse should take when a client reports feeling dizzy
while sitting up on the side of the bed?
A. Obtain a blood pressure reading
B. Call the rapid response team
C. Assist the client back to a supine position
D. Offer the client a drink of water
Answer: C
Rationale: The client is likely experiencing orthostatic hypotension. The priority is safety;
returning the client to a supine position prevents falls and improves cerebral blood flow.
5. Which vital sign should the nurse assess first for a client who is suspected of
having a systemic infection?
A. Blood pressure
B. Heart rate
C. Temperature
D. Respiratory rate
Answer: C
Rationale: Temperature is a primary indicator of infection. An elevated temperature
(fever) is a systemic response to pathogens.
, 6. A nurse is preparing to administer an intramuscular injection. Which angle
should the nurse use?
A. 15 degrees
B. 90 degrees
C. 45 degrees
D. 30 degrees
Answer: B
Rationale: Intramuscular (IM) injections are administered at a 90-degree angle to ensure
the medication reaches the muscle tissue.
7. Which of the following is a characteristic of a Stage 2 pressure injury?
A. Non-blanchable erythema of intact skin
B. Full-thickness skin loss with visible fat
C. Full-thickness tissue loss with exposed bone
D. Partial-thickness skin loss with exposed dermis
Answer: D
Rationale: Stage 2 pressure injuries involve partial-thickness loss of the dermis, appearing
as a shallow open ulcer or a ruptured/intact serum-filled blister.
8. The nurse is using the nursing process to care for a client. Which activity is
part of the assessment phase?
A. Developing client goals
B. Administering pain medication
C. Collecting data about the client’s health status
D. Evaluating the effectiveness of interventions
Answer: C
Rationale: The assessment phase involves the systematic collection of subjective and
objective data. Developing goals is planning; administering meds is implementation;
evaluation is the final phase.
