NUR155 / NUR 155 Test 4: Foundations of
Nursing – Galen Actual Exam Complete
Questions & Rationales | Foundational Skills |
Pass Guaranteed - A+ Graded
Fundamental Nursing Concepts & Professional Practice
Q1: When writing a nursing diagnosis statement, which component represents the
"problem" or the response to the health condition that the nurse is treating?
A. The etiology
B. The defining characteristics
C. The NANDA label [CORRECT]
D. The collaborative problem
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The best answer is C because the NANDA label serves as the problem
statement that identifies the patient's health issue or response, while the etiology is the
"related to" part and defining characteristics are the "as evidenced by" part.
Q2: During the evaluation phase of the nursing process, a nurse finds that a patient has
not achieved the expected outcome for "Impaired Skin Integrity." What is the next logical
step in the process?
A. Terminate the care plan immediately.
B. Reassess the patient and modify the care plan as needed. [CORRECT]
C. Document that the goal was met to avoid legal issues.
D. Delegate the reassessment to the nursing assistant.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: That matches the nursing process because evaluation isn't the end; if the
outcome isn't met, you circle back to reassessment to see why the current plan isn't
working and adjust it accordingly.
Q3: A nurse is documenting a patient's complaint of chest pain. Which entry is the most
accurate example of subjective data?
A. "Patient reports sharp pain in left chest, rating 7/10." [CORRECT]
B. "Heart rate 102 bpm, patient diaphoretic."
C. "ST segment elevation noted on telemetry monitor."
,D. "Lung sounds clear bilaterally."
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Remember that subjective data is what the patient tells you; a report of pain
is something only the patient can feel and describe, unlike the vital signs or lung sounds
which you observe yourself.
Q4: When prioritizing patient care using Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, which patient
need should the nurse address first?
A. The patient's need for social interaction with family.
B. The patient's need for self-esteem regarding their diagnosis.
C. The patient's need for oxygenation and airway clearance. [CORRECT]
D. The patient's need to understand their medication regimen.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: In foundations we focus on safety first, so physiological needs like breathing
and circulation are at the base of Maslow's pyramid and always take priority over
psychosocial or educational needs.
Q5: Which scenario describes a violation of HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act)?
A. A nurse discusses a patient's condition with the assigned physician at the nurse's
station.
B. A nurse asks a patient to sign a consent form for surgery in front of the family.
C. A nurse posts a photo of a patient's unique tattoo on social media without identifying
the patient by name. [CORRECT]
D. A nurse provides a report to the oncoming nurse in a private conference room.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The best answer is C because even without a name, unique identifiers like
tattoos or specific details can violate patient privacy laws, whereas sharing information
with the care team is necessary for treatment.
Q6: A nurse is preparing to delegate a task to an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP).
Which of the following tasks is appropriate to delegate?
A. Performing the initial admission assessment for a new patient.
B. Administering IV push medications.
C. Obtaining a daily weight on a stable patient. [CORRECT]
D. Developing the patient's care plan.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: This runs correctly because obtaining vital signs like weight and standard
hygiene tasks are within the UAP's scope of practice, whereas assessment, planning,
and medication administration require RN licensure.
, Q7: Using the SOAP method of documentation, where should the nurse record the
patient's statement of "I feel short of breath when I walk to the bathroom"?
A. Subjective [CORRECT]
B. Objective
C. Assessment
D. Plan
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: That matches the charting standard because the "S" in SOAP stands for
Subjective, which covers anything the patient verbally reports to the nurse.
Q8: A nurse accidentally administers the wrong dose of medication to a patient. After
ensuring the patient is stable, what is the most important legal requirement?
A. Call the pharmacist to apologize.
B. Complete an incident report according to facility policy. [CORRECT]
C. Ask the charge nurse not to tell anyone.
D. Document the error in the nurse's personal notes only.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is B because accurate documentation of the event through
an incident report is required for risk management and patient safety, ensuring the event
is tracked for future prevention.
Q9: Which statement best defines the "Standard of Care" in nursing practice?
A. The minimum level of performance a prudent nurse should provide. [CORRECT]
B. The specific rules set forth by the hospital administration only.
C. The perfect care provided by an expert specialist.
D. The care outlined in a patient's Living Will.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: This runs correctly because the legal standard is based on what a
reasonable, prudent nurse with similar education and experience would do in that
specific situation.
Q10: A patient scheduled for surgery signs the informed consent form but later says
they are unsure about the procedure. What is the nurse's responsibility?
A. Explain the procedure again in detail to reassure the patient.
B. Remind the patient that they already signed the paper.
C. Notify the provider to clarify the procedure with the patient. [CORRECT]
D. Tell the patient they can back out only if they call a lawyer.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Remember that informed consent is an ongoing process; if the patient shows
lack of understanding, the nurse must advocate for them and get the provider (who
performs the procedure) to address the questions.
Nursing – Galen Actual Exam Complete
Questions & Rationales | Foundational Skills |
Pass Guaranteed - A+ Graded
Fundamental Nursing Concepts & Professional Practice
Q1: When writing a nursing diagnosis statement, which component represents the
"problem" or the response to the health condition that the nurse is treating?
A. The etiology
B. The defining characteristics
C. The NANDA label [CORRECT]
D. The collaborative problem
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The best answer is C because the NANDA label serves as the problem
statement that identifies the patient's health issue or response, while the etiology is the
"related to" part and defining characteristics are the "as evidenced by" part.
Q2: During the evaluation phase of the nursing process, a nurse finds that a patient has
not achieved the expected outcome for "Impaired Skin Integrity." What is the next logical
step in the process?
A. Terminate the care plan immediately.
B. Reassess the patient and modify the care plan as needed. [CORRECT]
C. Document that the goal was met to avoid legal issues.
D. Delegate the reassessment to the nursing assistant.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: That matches the nursing process because evaluation isn't the end; if the
outcome isn't met, you circle back to reassessment to see why the current plan isn't
working and adjust it accordingly.
Q3: A nurse is documenting a patient's complaint of chest pain. Which entry is the most
accurate example of subjective data?
A. "Patient reports sharp pain in left chest, rating 7/10." [CORRECT]
B. "Heart rate 102 bpm, patient diaphoretic."
C. "ST segment elevation noted on telemetry monitor."
,D. "Lung sounds clear bilaterally."
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Remember that subjective data is what the patient tells you; a report of pain
is something only the patient can feel and describe, unlike the vital signs or lung sounds
which you observe yourself.
Q4: When prioritizing patient care using Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, which patient
need should the nurse address first?
A. The patient's need for social interaction with family.
B. The patient's need for self-esteem regarding their diagnosis.
C. The patient's need for oxygenation and airway clearance. [CORRECT]
D. The patient's need to understand their medication regimen.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: In foundations we focus on safety first, so physiological needs like breathing
and circulation are at the base of Maslow's pyramid and always take priority over
psychosocial or educational needs.
Q5: Which scenario describes a violation of HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act)?
A. A nurse discusses a patient's condition with the assigned physician at the nurse's
station.
B. A nurse asks a patient to sign a consent form for surgery in front of the family.
C. A nurse posts a photo of a patient's unique tattoo on social media without identifying
the patient by name. [CORRECT]
D. A nurse provides a report to the oncoming nurse in a private conference room.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The best answer is C because even without a name, unique identifiers like
tattoos or specific details can violate patient privacy laws, whereas sharing information
with the care team is necessary for treatment.
Q6: A nurse is preparing to delegate a task to an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP).
Which of the following tasks is appropriate to delegate?
A. Performing the initial admission assessment for a new patient.
B. Administering IV push medications.
C. Obtaining a daily weight on a stable patient. [CORRECT]
D. Developing the patient's care plan.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: This runs correctly because obtaining vital signs like weight and standard
hygiene tasks are within the UAP's scope of practice, whereas assessment, planning,
and medication administration require RN licensure.
, Q7: Using the SOAP method of documentation, where should the nurse record the
patient's statement of "I feel short of breath when I walk to the bathroom"?
A. Subjective [CORRECT]
B. Objective
C. Assessment
D. Plan
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: That matches the charting standard because the "S" in SOAP stands for
Subjective, which covers anything the patient verbally reports to the nurse.
Q8: A nurse accidentally administers the wrong dose of medication to a patient. After
ensuring the patient is stable, what is the most important legal requirement?
A. Call the pharmacist to apologize.
B. Complete an incident report according to facility policy. [CORRECT]
C. Ask the charge nurse not to tell anyone.
D. Document the error in the nurse's personal notes only.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is B because accurate documentation of the event through
an incident report is required for risk management and patient safety, ensuring the event
is tracked for future prevention.
Q9: Which statement best defines the "Standard of Care" in nursing practice?
A. The minimum level of performance a prudent nurse should provide. [CORRECT]
B. The specific rules set forth by the hospital administration only.
C. The perfect care provided by an expert specialist.
D. The care outlined in a patient's Living Will.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: This runs correctly because the legal standard is based on what a
reasonable, prudent nurse with similar education and experience would do in that
specific situation.
Q10: A patient scheduled for surgery signs the informed consent form but later says
they are unsure about the procedure. What is the nurse's responsibility?
A. Explain the procedure again in detail to reassure the patient.
B. Remind the patient that they already signed the paper.
C. Notify the provider to clarify the procedure with the patient. [CORRECT]
D. Tell the patient they can back out only if they call a lawyer.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Remember that informed consent is an ongoing process; if the patient shows
lack of understanding, the nurse must advocate for them and get the provider (who
performs the procedure) to address the questions.
