BSN Week 7 Midterm Review: Clinical Judgment & Case Studies
2026|Galen College
1. Which phase of the NCSBN Clinical Judgment Measurement Model
(NCJMM) involves identifying relevant data from the patient’s medical
record or physical exam?
A. Analyze Cues
B. Generate Solutions
C. Recognize Cues
D. Evaluate Outcomes
Answer: C
Rationale: Recognizing cues is the first step, where the nurse identifies significant data
points, such as abnormal vital signs or patient symptoms.
2. A nurse identifies that a patient with COPD is experiencing increased
shortness of breath and uses accessory muscles. Which step of the Clinical
Judgment Model is the nurse performing when they link these symptoms to
potential gas exchange impairment?
A. Prioritize Hypotheses
B. Take Action
C. Analyze Cues
D. Recognize Cues
Answer: C
Rationale: Analyzing cues involves linking data to a pathophysiological process or a
specific patient problem.
,3. When a nurse determines which patient problem is the most urgent based on
the risk of airway obstruction, which part of the Clinical Judgment Model is
being used?
A. Generate Solutions
B. Prioritize Hypotheses
C. Recognize Cues
D. Evaluate Outcomes
Answer: B
Rationale: Prioritizing hypotheses involves ranking problems based on urgency, risk, or
importance (often using ABCs or Maslow’s).
4. The nurse is planning interventions to help a patient manage post-operative
pain. This action corresponds to which step of the Clinical Judgment Model?
A. Generate Solutions
B. Take Action
C. Analyze Cues
D. Recognize Cues
Answer: A
Rationale: Generating solutions involves developing a plan of care and identifying
evidence-based interventions to address prioritized hypotheses.
5. After administering a bolus of IV fluids to a dehydrated patient, the nurse
reassesses the blood pressure. Which stage of clinical judgment is this?
A. Recognize Cues
B. Prioritize Hypotheses
C. Take Action
D. Evaluate Outcomes
Answer: D
, Rationale: Evaluating outcomes involves comparing the patient’s current status against
expected results to determine the effectiveness of interventions.
6. Which ethical principle is the nurse upholding when they support a patient’s
decision to refuse a life-saving blood transfusion?
A. Beneficence
B. Non-maleficence
C. Autonomy
D. Justice
Answer: C
Rationale: Autonomy refers to the right of the patient to make their own healthcare
decisions without coercion.
7. A nurse administers an ordered medication to the wrong patient. The nurse
immediately notifies the physician and completes an incident report. This
demonstrates which professional value?
A. Altruism
B. Social Justice
C. Accountability
D. Human Dignity
Answer: C
Rationale: Accountability is being responsible for one’s actions and admitting mistakes to
ensure patient safety.
2026|Galen College
1. Which phase of the NCSBN Clinical Judgment Measurement Model
(NCJMM) involves identifying relevant data from the patient’s medical
record or physical exam?
A. Analyze Cues
B. Generate Solutions
C. Recognize Cues
D. Evaluate Outcomes
Answer: C
Rationale: Recognizing cues is the first step, where the nurse identifies significant data
points, such as abnormal vital signs or patient symptoms.
2. A nurse identifies that a patient with COPD is experiencing increased
shortness of breath and uses accessory muscles. Which step of the Clinical
Judgment Model is the nurse performing when they link these symptoms to
potential gas exchange impairment?
A. Prioritize Hypotheses
B. Take Action
C. Analyze Cues
D. Recognize Cues
Answer: C
Rationale: Analyzing cues involves linking data to a pathophysiological process or a
specific patient problem.
,3. When a nurse determines which patient problem is the most urgent based on
the risk of airway obstruction, which part of the Clinical Judgment Model is
being used?
A. Generate Solutions
B. Prioritize Hypotheses
C. Recognize Cues
D. Evaluate Outcomes
Answer: B
Rationale: Prioritizing hypotheses involves ranking problems based on urgency, risk, or
importance (often using ABCs or Maslow’s).
4. The nurse is planning interventions to help a patient manage post-operative
pain. This action corresponds to which step of the Clinical Judgment Model?
A. Generate Solutions
B. Take Action
C. Analyze Cues
D. Recognize Cues
Answer: A
Rationale: Generating solutions involves developing a plan of care and identifying
evidence-based interventions to address prioritized hypotheses.
5. After administering a bolus of IV fluids to a dehydrated patient, the nurse
reassesses the blood pressure. Which stage of clinical judgment is this?
A. Recognize Cues
B. Prioritize Hypotheses
C. Take Action
D. Evaluate Outcomes
Answer: D
, Rationale: Evaluating outcomes involves comparing the patient’s current status against
expected results to determine the effectiveness of interventions.
6. Which ethical principle is the nurse upholding when they support a patient’s
decision to refuse a life-saving blood transfusion?
A. Beneficence
B. Non-maleficence
C. Autonomy
D. Justice
Answer: C
Rationale: Autonomy refers to the right of the patient to make their own healthcare
decisions without coercion.
7. A nurse administers an ordered medication to the wrong patient. The nurse
immediately notifies the physician and completes an incident report. This
demonstrates which professional value?
A. Altruism
B. Social Justice
C. Accountability
D. Human Dignity
Answer: C
Rationale: Accountability is being responsible for one’s actions and admitting mistakes to
ensure patient safety.
