NURS 330 CAPSTONE EXAM 1 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS
RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | LATEST EXAM UPDATE 2026/2027
Section One: Questions 1–100
1. A nurse is using the nursing process to guide care for a patient newly diagnosed with diabetes. In which
phase does the nurse formulate a nursing diagnosis?
A. Assessment
B. Diagnosis
C. Planning
D. Implementation
🟢 B. Diagnosis
🔴 RATIONALE: The diagnosis phase of the nursing process involves analyzing assessment data to identify
patient problems, risks, and strengths, which are then articulated as nursing diagnoses .
2. A patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is admitted with shortness of breath. Which
characteristic is most indicative of a chronic illness?
A. Rapid onset of symptoms
B. Requires long-term management
C. Is typically curable with treatment
D. Has a single, identifiable cause
🟢 B. Requires long-term management
🔴 RATIONALE: Chronic illnesses are characterized by their indefinite duration and the need for long-term
,management, as opposed to acute illnesses which are typically short and often curable .
3. An older adult patient is recovering from a hip replacement. Which action should the nurse prioritize to
prevent a common complication?
A. Administering pain medication on a schedule
B. Encouraging deep breathing and coughing
C. Performing frequent neurovascular checks
D. Assisting the patient to ambulate early
🟢 D. Assisting the patient to ambulate early
🔴 RATIONALE: Early ambulation is a key nursing intervention to prevent complications such as deep vein
thrombosis and pneumonia, which are significant risks for postoperative patients.
4. A nurse is creating a SMART goal for a patient with hypertension. Which goal is correctly written?
A. The patient will maintain a healthy lifestyle.
B. The patient will take their blood pressure daily.
C. The patient will reduce their sodium intake.
D. The patient will achieve a blood pressure of <130/80 mmHg within one month.
🟢 D. The patient will achieve a blood pressure of <130/80 mmHg within one month.
🔴 RATIONALE: This goal is Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound (SMART). It provides a
clear, quantifiable target and a specific timeframe for evaluation .
5. A patient reports a pain level of 8/10 one hour after receiving oral analgesia. What is the nurse's priority
action?
,A. Document the patient's report and re-assess in 4 hours.
B. Administer a PRN dose of a different analgesic as ordered.
C. Encourage the patient to use non-pharmacological methods.
D. Notify the healthcare provider immediately.
🟢 B. Administer a PRN dose of a different analgesic as ordered.
🔴 RATIONALE: The nurse's priority is to address the patient's uncontrolled pain. If the current analgesic is
ineffective, administering a different PRN analgesic, if ordered, is an appropriate intervention to provide relief.
6. Which ethical principle is primarily being upheld when a nurse ensures a patient has all the necessary
information to make a decision about their care?
A. Justice
B. Nonmaleficence
C. Autonomy
D. Fidelity
🟢 C. Autonomy
🔴 RATIONALE: Autonomy refers to the patient's right to self-determination. By providing complete
information, the nurse enables the patient to make an informed, voluntary decision, thereby respecting their
autonomy .
7. A nurse on a medical-surgical unit is implementing a new fall prevention protocol. This is an example of:
A. A randomized controlled trial.
B. A quality improvement initiative.
, C. A nursing research study.
D. A clinical simulation.
🟢 B. A quality improvement initiative.
🔴 RATIONALE: Quality improvement (QI) involves systematic actions to improve healthcare processes and
outcomes. Implementing a fall prevention protocol to enhance patient safety is a classic example of a QI
project .
8. A nurse is assessing an older adult patient and notes dry, flaky skin, decreased turgor, and brittle nails.
These findings are most consistent with:
A. Age-related integumentary changes.
B. An allergic reaction.
C. A fungal infection.
D. Signs of dehydration.
🟢 A. Age-related integumentary changes.
🔴 RATIONALE: As part of the normal aging process, the skin loses elasticity, becomes drier, and nails can
become more brittle. These are expected age-related changes in the integumentary system .
9. During a shift report, the nurse uses the ISBAR framework. What does the "B" stand for?
A. Baseline
B. Background
C. Breathing
D. Behavior
RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | LATEST EXAM UPDATE 2026/2027
Section One: Questions 1–100
1. A nurse is using the nursing process to guide care for a patient newly diagnosed with diabetes. In which
phase does the nurse formulate a nursing diagnosis?
A. Assessment
B. Diagnosis
C. Planning
D. Implementation
🟢 B. Diagnosis
🔴 RATIONALE: The diagnosis phase of the nursing process involves analyzing assessment data to identify
patient problems, risks, and strengths, which are then articulated as nursing diagnoses .
2. A patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is admitted with shortness of breath. Which
characteristic is most indicative of a chronic illness?
A. Rapid onset of symptoms
B. Requires long-term management
C. Is typically curable with treatment
D. Has a single, identifiable cause
🟢 B. Requires long-term management
🔴 RATIONALE: Chronic illnesses are characterized by their indefinite duration and the need for long-term
,management, as opposed to acute illnesses which are typically short and often curable .
3. An older adult patient is recovering from a hip replacement. Which action should the nurse prioritize to
prevent a common complication?
A. Administering pain medication on a schedule
B. Encouraging deep breathing and coughing
C. Performing frequent neurovascular checks
D. Assisting the patient to ambulate early
🟢 D. Assisting the patient to ambulate early
🔴 RATIONALE: Early ambulation is a key nursing intervention to prevent complications such as deep vein
thrombosis and pneumonia, which are significant risks for postoperative patients.
4. A nurse is creating a SMART goal for a patient with hypertension. Which goal is correctly written?
A. The patient will maintain a healthy lifestyle.
B. The patient will take their blood pressure daily.
C. The patient will reduce their sodium intake.
D. The patient will achieve a blood pressure of <130/80 mmHg within one month.
🟢 D. The patient will achieve a blood pressure of <130/80 mmHg within one month.
🔴 RATIONALE: This goal is Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound (SMART). It provides a
clear, quantifiable target and a specific timeframe for evaluation .
5. A patient reports a pain level of 8/10 one hour after receiving oral analgesia. What is the nurse's priority
action?
,A. Document the patient's report and re-assess in 4 hours.
B. Administer a PRN dose of a different analgesic as ordered.
C. Encourage the patient to use non-pharmacological methods.
D. Notify the healthcare provider immediately.
🟢 B. Administer a PRN dose of a different analgesic as ordered.
🔴 RATIONALE: The nurse's priority is to address the patient's uncontrolled pain. If the current analgesic is
ineffective, administering a different PRN analgesic, if ordered, is an appropriate intervention to provide relief.
6. Which ethical principle is primarily being upheld when a nurse ensures a patient has all the necessary
information to make a decision about their care?
A. Justice
B. Nonmaleficence
C. Autonomy
D. Fidelity
🟢 C. Autonomy
🔴 RATIONALE: Autonomy refers to the patient's right to self-determination. By providing complete
information, the nurse enables the patient to make an informed, voluntary decision, thereby respecting their
autonomy .
7. A nurse on a medical-surgical unit is implementing a new fall prevention protocol. This is an example of:
A. A randomized controlled trial.
B. A quality improvement initiative.
, C. A nursing research study.
D. A clinical simulation.
🟢 B. A quality improvement initiative.
🔴 RATIONALE: Quality improvement (QI) involves systematic actions to improve healthcare processes and
outcomes. Implementing a fall prevention protocol to enhance patient safety is a classic example of a QI
project .
8. A nurse is assessing an older adult patient and notes dry, flaky skin, decreased turgor, and brittle nails.
These findings are most consistent with:
A. Age-related integumentary changes.
B. An allergic reaction.
C. A fungal infection.
D. Signs of dehydration.
🟢 A. Age-related integumentary changes.
🔴 RATIONALE: As part of the normal aging process, the skin loses elasticity, becomes drier, and nails can
become more brittle. These are expected age-related changes in the integumentary system .
9. During a shift report, the nurse uses the ISBAR framework. What does the "B" stand for?
A. Baseline
B. Background
C. Breathing
D. Behavior
