NUR 114 STUDY GUIDE 2026 FINAL EXAM
PREP NURSING FUNDAMENTALS
1. What is the primary purpose of the nursing process?
A. To diagnose medical diseases
B. To provide a systematic, rational method of organizing and delivering care
C. To prescribe medications
D. To establish hospital policies
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The nursing process is a scientific, problem-solving approach used by
nurses to identify patient needs and deliver individualized care.
2. Which of the following is the correct order of the nursing process?
A. Evaluation, Assessment, Planning, Implementation, Diagnosis
B. Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation
C. Planning, Assessment, Diagnosis, Evaluation, Implementation
D. Diagnosis, Assessment, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct sequence is Assessment (gathering data), Diagnosis (analyzing
data), Planning (setting goals), Implementation (carrying out interventions), and
Evaluation (determining effectiveness).
,3. A nurse is collecting data about a patient's sleep patterns. This type of data is
classified as:
A. Objective data
B. Subjective data
C. Secondary data
D. Historical data
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Subjective data are what the patient says or feels, such as "I feel tired."
Objective data are measurable and observable, like a respiratory rate of 20.
4. During the evaluation phase of the nursing process, a nurse determines that a
patient's pain level remains at an 8 out of 10 after administering medication. What is the
next best action?
A. Document the findings and discontinue the intervention
B. Reassess the patient and revise the plan of care
C. Blame the patient for not responding to the medication
D. Wait 24 hours to see if the pain improves
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Evaluation involves comparing patient responses to expected outcomes. If
the outcome is not met, the nurse must reassess the situation, modify the care plan,
and implement new interventions.
5. Which statement best defines a nursing diagnosis?
A. A medical disease identified by a physician
B. A clinical judgment about human response to health conditions
C. A prescribed treatment for a specific illness
D. An administrative task assigned by the charge nurse
Correct Answer: B
,Rationale: A nursing diagnosis is a clinical judgment about individual, family, or
community responses to actual or potential health problems or life processes.
6. According to Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, which need must be addressed first?
A. Self-actualization
B. Esteem
C. Love and belonging
D. Physiological needs
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Maslow's theory dictates that basic physiological needs (oxygen, water, food)
must be met before addressing higher-level needs like safety, love, esteem, and self-
actualization.
7. A patient is recovering from a heart attack and is expressing anxiety about dying.
According to Maslow, which level of need is this?
A. Physiological
B. Safety and security
C. Love and belonging
D. Self-actualization
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Fear of death and anxiety about the future fall under safety and security
needs.
8. A patient is admitted for a fractured leg and states they are lonely because their
family cannot visit. This represents a need at which level of Maslow's hierarchy?
A. Safety and security
B. Love and belonging
C. Esteem
, D. Physiological
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Relationships, affection, and family support are categorized under love and
belonging needs.
9. The nurse is prioritizing care for four patients. Which patient should the nurse see
first?
A. A patient requesting a sleeping pill
B. A patient who needs a routine blood pressure check
C. A patient with chest pain and shortness of breath
D. A patient asking for a glass of water
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Using Maslow's hierarchy and the ABCs of prioritization, physiological needs
related to life-threatening situations (chest pain/SOB) always take precedence.
10. When using Maslow's hierarchy to prioritize care, which nursing intervention
addresses the highest level of need?
A. Administering oxygen to a patient with low saturation
B. Providing a bedpan to an incontinent patient
C. Encouraging a patient to set goals for rehabilitation
D. Administering pain medication for a post-op patient
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Setting goals for rehabilitation addresses self-actualization or esteem,
which are higher-level needs compared to physiological needs (oxygen, elimination)
and safety needs (pain management).
11. The nurse is taking a health history. Which question is an open-ended question?
A. "Are you in pain?"
PREP NURSING FUNDAMENTALS
1. What is the primary purpose of the nursing process?
A. To diagnose medical diseases
B. To provide a systematic, rational method of organizing and delivering care
C. To prescribe medications
D. To establish hospital policies
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The nursing process is a scientific, problem-solving approach used by
nurses to identify patient needs and deliver individualized care.
2. Which of the following is the correct order of the nursing process?
A. Evaluation, Assessment, Planning, Implementation, Diagnosis
B. Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation
C. Planning, Assessment, Diagnosis, Evaluation, Implementation
D. Diagnosis, Assessment, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct sequence is Assessment (gathering data), Diagnosis (analyzing
data), Planning (setting goals), Implementation (carrying out interventions), and
Evaluation (determining effectiveness).
,3. A nurse is collecting data about a patient's sleep patterns. This type of data is
classified as:
A. Objective data
B. Subjective data
C. Secondary data
D. Historical data
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Subjective data are what the patient says or feels, such as "I feel tired."
Objective data are measurable and observable, like a respiratory rate of 20.
4. During the evaluation phase of the nursing process, a nurse determines that a
patient's pain level remains at an 8 out of 10 after administering medication. What is the
next best action?
A. Document the findings and discontinue the intervention
B. Reassess the patient and revise the plan of care
C. Blame the patient for not responding to the medication
D. Wait 24 hours to see if the pain improves
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Evaluation involves comparing patient responses to expected outcomes. If
the outcome is not met, the nurse must reassess the situation, modify the care plan,
and implement new interventions.
5. Which statement best defines a nursing diagnosis?
A. A medical disease identified by a physician
B. A clinical judgment about human response to health conditions
C. A prescribed treatment for a specific illness
D. An administrative task assigned by the charge nurse
Correct Answer: B
,Rationale: A nursing diagnosis is a clinical judgment about individual, family, or
community responses to actual or potential health problems or life processes.
6. According to Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, which need must be addressed first?
A. Self-actualization
B. Esteem
C. Love and belonging
D. Physiological needs
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Maslow's theory dictates that basic physiological needs (oxygen, water, food)
must be met before addressing higher-level needs like safety, love, esteem, and self-
actualization.
7. A patient is recovering from a heart attack and is expressing anxiety about dying.
According to Maslow, which level of need is this?
A. Physiological
B. Safety and security
C. Love and belonging
D. Self-actualization
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Fear of death and anxiety about the future fall under safety and security
needs.
8. A patient is admitted for a fractured leg and states they are lonely because their
family cannot visit. This represents a need at which level of Maslow's hierarchy?
A. Safety and security
B. Love and belonging
C. Esteem
, D. Physiological
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Relationships, affection, and family support are categorized under love and
belonging needs.
9. The nurse is prioritizing care for four patients. Which patient should the nurse see
first?
A. A patient requesting a sleeping pill
B. A patient who needs a routine blood pressure check
C. A patient with chest pain and shortness of breath
D. A patient asking for a glass of water
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Using Maslow's hierarchy and the ABCs of prioritization, physiological needs
related to life-threatening situations (chest pain/SOB) always take precedence.
10. When using Maslow's hierarchy to prioritize care, which nursing intervention
addresses the highest level of need?
A. Administering oxygen to a patient with low saturation
B. Providing a bedpan to an incontinent patient
C. Encouraging a patient to set goals for rehabilitation
D. Administering pain medication for a post-op patient
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Setting goals for rehabilitation addresses self-actualization or esteem,
which are higher-level needs compared to physiological needs (oxygen, elimination)
and safety needs (pain management).
11. The nurse is taking a health history. Which question is an open-ended question?
A. "Are you in pain?"
