with Detailed Rationales (2026/2027 Edition)
GALEN COLLEGE OF NURSING
Duration: 2 Hours 30 Minutes
Total Marks: 100
Total Number of Questions: 30
Instructions:
● This paper consists of THREE sections: Section A, Section B, and Section C.
● Answer ALL questions.
● Write your answers clearly in the spaces provided.
● Non-programmable calculators are permitted for calculation questions.
● Read each question carefully before answering.
SECTION A: MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS
[40 Marks]
Answer ALL questions. Each question carries 2 marks.
Question 1:
A nurse is assessing a patient's temperature and obtains a reading of 38.9°C (102°F).
According to standard classification, this temperature is categorized as:
Options:
A) Low-grade fever
B) Moderate fever
C) High fever
D) Hyperpyrexia
Correct Answer: B) Moderate fever
Marks: 2
,Rationale:
A temperature of 38.9°C (102°F) falls within the moderate fever range of 38.3°C to
39.4°C (101°F to 103°F). This classification is essential for determining the urgency of
nursing interventions and communicating patient status accurately to the healthcare
team.
Question 2:
When performing auscultation of the heart, the nurse places the stethoscope at the fifth
intercostal space, left midclavicular line. This landmark corresponds to which cardiac
valve area?
Options:
A) Aortic valve area
B) Pulmonic valve area
C) Tricuspid valve area
D) Mitral (apical) valve area
Correct Answer: D) Mitral (apical) valve area
Marks: 2
Rationale:
The mitral valve area, also known as the apical area or the point of maximal impulse
(PMI), is located at the fifth intercostal space along the left midclavicular line. Accurate
landmark identification is critical for correct cardiac auscultation and detecting valvular
abnormalities.
Question 3:
Which of the following is the PRIMARY purpose of the nursing process?
Options:
A) To provide a standardized documentation format
B) To establish a systematic framework for delivering patient-centered care
, C) To ensure compliance with hospital accreditation standards
D) To create a legal record of nursing actions
Correct Answer: B) To establish a systematic framework for delivering patient-centered
care
Marks: 2
Rationale:
The nursing process—assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, and
evaluation—serves as a systematic, patient-centered framework that guides nurses in
making clinical decisions and delivering individualized care. While documentation and
legal considerations are important, they are secondary to the primary purpose of
organizing care delivery.
Question 4:
A patient reports pain rated 7/10 on the numeric rating scale. According to the Joint
Commission standards, how often should the nurse reassess this patient's pain after
administering an analgesic?
Options:
A) Within 15 minutes
B) Within 30 minutes
C) Within 1 hour
D) Within 2 hours
Correct Answer: B) Within 30 minutes
Marks: 2
Rationale:
The Joint Commission requires that pain be reassessed within 30 minutes after
administration of an analgesic medication to evaluate effectiveness and determine if