NUR 156 – EXAM 2 – FOUNDATIONS OF NURSING – GALEN COLLEGE OF NURSING QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
Core Domains
- Safety and Infection Control
- Health Promotion and Maintenance
- Psychosocial Integrity
- Basic Care and Comfort
- Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
- Reduction of Risk Potential
- Physiological Adaptation
- Legal and Ethical Issues in Nursing
- Communication and Therapeutic Relationships
- Nursing Process and Critical Thinking
Introduction
*This comprehensive examination is designed to assess foundational nursing knowledge and clinical judgment
essential for success in NUR 156 at Galen College of Nursing. The exam evaluates understanding of core
concepts including patient safety, infection control, basic care, pharmacological principles, legal and ethical
standards, and therapeutic communication. Each multiple-choice question integrates real-world clinical
scenarios to test application, analysis, and decision-making skills. Emphasis is placed on the nursing process,
prioritization, delegation, and evidence-based practice. By engaging with these questions, students will
reinforce critical thinking abilities and prepare for both classroom examinations and clinical practice. All answers
are verified and accompanied by detailed rationales to support deep learning.*
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SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1 – 100
Question 1
A nurse is caring for a patient who reports pain rated 8 on a 0-10 scale. The physician has ordered morphine 4
mg IV push. Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Assess the patient’s respiratory rate
B. Administer the morphine as ordered
C. Ask the patient about allergies
D. Check the patient’s last bowel movement
🟢A
🔴 RATIONALE: Respiratory depression is a life-threatening side effect of opioids. The nurse must assess
respiratory rate before administering morphine to ensure safety (rate ≥12/min typically required).
Question 2
A patient with type 2 diabetes mellitus has an order for regular insulin 6 units subcutaneously before meals.
Which site should the nurse select for fastest absorption?
A. Deltoid
B. Abdomen
C. Thigh
D. Ventrogluteal
🟢B
,🔴 RATIONALE: The abdomen provides the fastest and most consistent absorption of subcutaneous insulin due
to increased blood flow and less variable adipose tissue.
Question 3
A nurse notices another healthcare worker remove a sterile glove, then touch a clean dressing with the bare
hand. Which action is most appropriate?
A. Ignore the action to avoid conflict
B. Report the worker to the charge nurse
C. Remind the worker to perform hand hygiene and use new gloves
D. Document the incident in the patient’s chart
🟢C
🔴 RATIONALE: Constructive, immediate feedback promotes a safety culture. Reminding the worker corrects the
breach without unnecessary escalation and protects the patient from infection.
Question 4
A patient with heart failure is prescribed furosemide 40 mg PO daily. Which laboratory value requires the most
immediate follow-up?
A. Sodium 135 mEq/L
B. Potassium 2.9 mEq/L
C. Glucose 110 mg/dL
D. Creatinine 0.8 mg/dL
🟢B
, 🔴 RATIONALE: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that causes potassium wasting. A potassium level of 2.9 mEq/L
indicates severe hypokalemia, which increases risk of cardiac arrhythmias and requires prompt intervention.
Question 5
While performing a sterile dressing change, a nurse drops a sterile gauze pad onto the sterile field but outside
the 1-inch border. What should the nurse do?
A. Continue using the gauze pad since it landed on the sterile field
B. Discard the gauze pad and replace it with a new sterile one
C. Move the gauze pad to the center of the field to continue use
D. Pick up the gauze pad with sterile forceps and continue
🟢B
🔴 RATIONALE: The 1-inch border of a sterile field is considered non-sterile. Any item that touches or is inside
that border is contaminated and must be replaced.
Question 6
A nurse is delegating tasks to unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP). Which task is most appropriate for the UAP
to perform?
A. Assess a patient’s surgical incision
B. Administer a tube feeding
C. Measure a patient’s oral intake and urinary output
D. Teach a patient how to use an incentive spirometer
🟢C
CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
Core Domains
- Safety and Infection Control
- Health Promotion and Maintenance
- Psychosocial Integrity
- Basic Care and Comfort
- Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
- Reduction of Risk Potential
- Physiological Adaptation
- Legal and Ethical Issues in Nursing
- Communication and Therapeutic Relationships
- Nursing Process and Critical Thinking
Introduction
*This comprehensive examination is designed to assess foundational nursing knowledge and clinical judgment
essential for success in NUR 156 at Galen College of Nursing. The exam evaluates understanding of core
concepts including patient safety, infection control, basic care, pharmacological principles, legal and ethical
standards, and therapeutic communication. Each multiple-choice question integrates real-world clinical
scenarios to test application, analysis, and decision-making skills. Emphasis is placed on the nursing process,
prioritization, delegation, and evidence-based practice. By engaging with these questions, students will
reinforce critical thinking abilities and prepare for both classroom examinations and clinical practice. All answers
are verified and accompanied by detailed rationales to support deep learning.*
,────────────────────────────
SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1 – 100
Question 1
A nurse is caring for a patient who reports pain rated 8 on a 0-10 scale. The physician has ordered morphine 4
mg IV push. Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Assess the patient’s respiratory rate
B. Administer the morphine as ordered
C. Ask the patient about allergies
D. Check the patient’s last bowel movement
🟢A
🔴 RATIONALE: Respiratory depression is a life-threatening side effect of opioids. The nurse must assess
respiratory rate before administering morphine to ensure safety (rate ≥12/min typically required).
Question 2
A patient with type 2 diabetes mellitus has an order for regular insulin 6 units subcutaneously before meals.
Which site should the nurse select for fastest absorption?
A. Deltoid
B. Abdomen
C. Thigh
D. Ventrogluteal
🟢B
,🔴 RATIONALE: The abdomen provides the fastest and most consistent absorption of subcutaneous insulin due
to increased blood flow and less variable adipose tissue.
Question 3
A nurse notices another healthcare worker remove a sterile glove, then touch a clean dressing with the bare
hand. Which action is most appropriate?
A. Ignore the action to avoid conflict
B. Report the worker to the charge nurse
C. Remind the worker to perform hand hygiene and use new gloves
D. Document the incident in the patient’s chart
🟢C
🔴 RATIONALE: Constructive, immediate feedback promotes a safety culture. Reminding the worker corrects the
breach without unnecessary escalation and protects the patient from infection.
Question 4
A patient with heart failure is prescribed furosemide 40 mg PO daily. Which laboratory value requires the most
immediate follow-up?
A. Sodium 135 mEq/L
B. Potassium 2.9 mEq/L
C. Glucose 110 mg/dL
D. Creatinine 0.8 mg/dL
🟢B
, 🔴 RATIONALE: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that causes potassium wasting. A potassium level of 2.9 mEq/L
indicates severe hypokalemia, which increases risk of cardiac arrhythmias and requires prompt intervention.
Question 5
While performing a sterile dressing change, a nurse drops a sterile gauze pad onto the sterile field but outside
the 1-inch border. What should the nurse do?
A. Continue using the gauze pad since it landed on the sterile field
B. Discard the gauze pad and replace it with a new sterile one
C. Move the gauze pad to the center of the field to continue use
D. Pick up the gauze pad with sterile forceps and continue
🟢B
🔴 RATIONALE: The 1-inch border of a sterile field is considered non-sterile. Any item that touches or is inside
that border is contaminated and must be replaced.
Question 6
A nurse is delegating tasks to unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP). Which task is most appropriate for the UAP
to perform?
A. Assess a patient’s surgical incision
B. Administer a tube feeding
C. Measure a patient’s oral intake and urinary output
D. Teach a patient how to use an incentive spirometer
🟢C
