NR 452 Capstone Course Week 1 Comprehensive Study Guide 2026
|Chamberlain College
1. When a nurse is prioritizing care for multiple patients, which patient should
be seen first according to the ABC framework?
A. A patient reporting a pain level of 8/10 after surgery
B. A patient with a respiratory rate of 28 and audible wheezing
C. A patient needing discharge instructions for home care
D. A patient whose IV site is slightly red and tender
Answer: B
Rationale: The ABC (Airway, Breathing, Circulation) framework identifies respiratory
distress as the highest priority.
2. Which task is most appropriate for a nurse to delegate to an Unlicensed
Assistive Personnel (UAP)?
A. Assisting a stable patient with ambulation in the hall
B. Performing a sterile dressing change on a central line
C. Evaluating the effectiveness of pain medication
D. Teaching a patient how to use an incentive spirometer
Answer: A
Rationale: UAPs can perform routine tasks for stable patients such as ADLs and
ambulation; assessment, teaching, and sterile procedures are reserved for the RN.
,3. The nurse is using the SBAR tool to communicate with a physician. Which
information belongs in the ‘B’ (Background) section?
A. The patient’s current blood pressure and heart rate
B. A brief summary of the patient’s medical history and admission diagnosis
C. The nurse’s suggestion to increase the IV fluid rate
D. The reason the nurse is calling about the patient’s change in status
Answer: B
Rationale: ‘B’ stands for Background, which includes history, allergies, and admission
diagnosis.
4. A nurse recognizes a conflict between two staff members regarding the
holiday schedule. Which conflict resolution strategy involves both parties giving
up something to reach a solution?
A. Competing
B. Collaborating
C. Avoiding
D. Compromising
Answer: D
Rationale: Compromising involves a ‘lose-lose’ or ‘give-and-take’ approach where both
sides yield something.
5. Which ethical principle is the nurse upholding when they support a patient’s
decision to refuse a life-saving blood transfusion?
A. Autonomy
B. Justice
C. Beneficence
D. Nonmaleficence
Answer: A
, Rationale: Autonomy refers to the right of the patient to make their own healthcare
decisions.
6. In the Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) hierarchy, which of the following is
considered the highest level of evidence?
A. Systematic reviews or Meta-analyses
B. Expert opinion
C. Case studies
D. Single randomized controlled trials (RCTs)
Answer: A
Rationale: Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of RCTs are at the top of the evidence
pyramid.
7. A nurse is participating in a Quality Improvement (QI) project. What is the
primary purpose of the ‘Plan-Do-Study-Act’ (PDSA) cycle?
A. To test a change on a small scale to see if it results in improvement
B. To assign blame for medical errors
C. To satisfy hospital accreditation requirements only
D. To reduce the cost of patient care regardless of outcomes
Answer: A
Rationale: The PDSA cycle is a model for testing small-scale changes to improve quality.
8. Which leadership style is characterized by a leader who inspires and
motivates followers to achieve extraordinary outcomes and develop their own
leadership capacity?
A. Laissez-faire
B. Transactional
C. Transformational
D. Autocratic
Answer: C
|Chamberlain College
1. When a nurse is prioritizing care for multiple patients, which patient should
be seen first according to the ABC framework?
A. A patient reporting a pain level of 8/10 after surgery
B. A patient with a respiratory rate of 28 and audible wheezing
C. A patient needing discharge instructions for home care
D. A patient whose IV site is slightly red and tender
Answer: B
Rationale: The ABC (Airway, Breathing, Circulation) framework identifies respiratory
distress as the highest priority.
2. Which task is most appropriate for a nurse to delegate to an Unlicensed
Assistive Personnel (UAP)?
A. Assisting a stable patient with ambulation in the hall
B. Performing a sterile dressing change on a central line
C. Evaluating the effectiveness of pain medication
D. Teaching a patient how to use an incentive spirometer
Answer: A
Rationale: UAPs can perform routine tasks for stable patients such as ADLs and
ambulation; assessment, teaching, and sterile procedures are reserved for the RN.
,3. The nurse is using the SBAR tool to communicate with a physician. Which
information belongs in the ‘B’ (Background) section?
A. The patient’s current blood pressure and heart rate
B. A brief summary of the patient’s medical history and admission diagnosis
C. The nurse’s suggestion to increase the IV fluid rate
D. The reason the nurse is calling about the patient’s change in status
Answer: B
Rationale: ‘B’ stands for Background, which includes history, allergies, and admission
diagnosis.
4. A nurse recognizes a conflict between two staff members regarding the
holiday schedule. Which conflict resolution strategy involves both parties giving
up something to reach a solution?
A. Competing
B. Collaborating
C. Avoiding
D. Compromising
Answer: D
Rationale: Compromising involves a ‘lose-lose’ or ‘give-and-take’ approach where both
sides yield something.
5. Which ethical principle is the nurse upholding when they support a patient’s
decision to refuse a life-saving blood transfusion?
A. Autonomy
B. Justice
C. Beneficence
D. Nonmaleficence
Answer: A
, Rationale: Autonomy refers to the right of the patient to make their own healthcare
decisions.
6. In the Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) hierarchy, which of the following is
considered the highest level of evidence?
A. Systematic reviews or Meta-analyses
B. Expert opinion
C. Case studies
D. Single randomized controlled trials (RCTs)
Answer: A
Rationale: Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of RCTs are at the top of the evidence
pyramid.
7. A nurse is participating in a Quality Improvement (QI) project. What is the
primary purpose of the ‘Plan-Do-Study-Act’ (PDSA) cycle?
A. To test a change on a small scale to see if it results in improvement
B. To assign blame for medical errors
C. To satisfy hospital accreditation requirements only
D. To reduce the cost of patient care regardless of outcomes
Answer: A
Rationale: The PDSA cycle is a model for testing small-scale changes to improve quality.
8. Which leadership style is characterized by a leader who inspires and
motivates followers to achieve extraordinary outcomes and develop their own
leadership capacity?
A. Laissez-faire
B. Transactional
C. Transformational
D. Autocratic
Answer: C
