,NU 136/NU136 Exam 1 | Fundamentals of Nursing
(2026) Q&A | Galen College
1. The nurse is obtaining a patient’s vital signs, listening to breath sounds, and
asking about the onset of chest pain. This activity is part of which phase of the
nursing process?
A) Assessment
B) Planning
C) Implementation
D) Evaluation
Correct Answer: Assessment
Rationale: Assessment is the first step of the nursing process, involving
systematic collection of subjective and objective data. Planning sets goals,
implementation carries out interventions, and evaluation determines if
outcomes were met. This nurse is gathering baseline information.
2. The nurse is explaining the chain of infection to a patient. Which component
refers to the place where microorganisms live and multiply?
A) Portal of exit
B) Reservoir
C) Mode of transmission
D) Susceptible host
Correct Answer: Reservoir
,Rationale: The reservoir is the habitat where the pathogen survives and
multiplies, such as a wound, animal, or contaminated water. Portal of exit is the
route it leaves, mode of transmission is how it travels, and susceptible host is a
person at risk.
3. The nurse is teaching a patient who is non-weight bearing on the left leg how
to use crutches. Which instruction is correct?
A) Place equal weight on both feet
B) Use a four-point gait
C) Keep the left leg off the floor and support weight on the right leg and
crutches
D) Swing both legs forward together
Correct Answer: Keep the left leg off the floor and support weight on the right
leg and crutches
Rationale: Non-weight bearing means the affected leg must not touch the
ground. The patient advances both crutches and the unaffected leg, bearing all
weight on the right leg and crutches. The other options involve weight bearing
or incorrect gaits.
4. A conscious adult patient asks which temperature route is most accurate for
routine use. The nurse should recommend which route?
A) Rectal
B) Axillary
C) Temporal artery
D) Oral
, Correct Answer: Oral
Rationale: The oral route is accurate, convenient, and appropriate for conscious
adults who can follow instructions. Rectal is invasive and used for infants or
unconscious patients; axillary is less accurate; temporal artery may be used but
oral is standard.
5. The nurse is performing hand hygiene. Which statement best explains why
handwashing is the single most important infection control measure?
A) It kills all resident flora on the skin
B) It is required only before patient contact
C) It eliminates the need for personal protective equipment
D) It removes transient microorganisms and interrupts the chain of infection
Correct Answer: It removes transient microorganisms and interrupts the chain
of infection
Rationale: Hand hygiene removes transient flora acquired through patient
contact, breaking the chain at the mode of transmission. It does not kill all
resident flora or eliminate the need for PPE, and it is required before and after
care.
6. A patient is to receive a cleansing enema. The nurse should place the patient
in which position?
A) Supine
B) Prone
(2026) Q&A | Galen College
1. The nurse is obtaining a patient’s vital signs, listening to breath sounds, and
asking about the onset of chest pain. This activity is part of which phase of the
nursing process?
A) Assessment
B) Planning
C) Implementation
D) Evaluation
Correct Answer: Assessment
Rationale: Assessment is the first step of the nursing process, involving
systematic collection of subjective and objective data. Planning sets goals,
implementation carries out interventions, and evaluation determines if
outcomes were met. This nurse is gathering baseline information.
2. The nurse is explaining the chain of infection to a patient. Which component
refers to the place where microorganisms live and multiply?
A) Portal of exit
B) Reservoir
C) Mode of transmission
D) Susceptible host
Correct Answer: Reservoir
,Rationale: The reservoir is the habitat where the pathogen survives and
multiplies, such as a wound, animal, or contaminated water. Portal of exit is the
route it leaves, mode of transmission is how it travels, and susceptible host is a
person at risk.
3. The nurse is teaching a patient who is non-weight bearing on the left leg how
to use crutches. Which instruction is correct?
A) Place equal weight on both feet
B) Use a four-point gait
C) Keep the left leg off the floor and support weight on the right leg and
crutches
D) Swing both legs forward together
Correct Answer: Keep the left leg off the floor and support weight on the right
leg and crutches
Rationale: Non-weight bearing means the affected leg must not touch the
ground. The patient advances both crutches and the unaffected leg, bearing all
weight on the right leg and crutches. The other options involve weight bearing
or incorrect gaits.
4. A conscious adult patient asks which temperature route is most accurate for
routine use. The nurse should recommend which route?
A) Rectal
B) Axillary
C) Temporal artery
D) Oral
, Correct Answer: Oral
Rationale: The oral route is accurate, convenient, and appropriate for conscious
adults who can follow instructions. Rectal is invasive and used for infants or
unconscious patients; axillary is less accurate; temporal artery may be used but
oral is standard.
5. The nurse is performing hand hygiene. Which statement best explains why
handwashing is the single most important infection control measure?
A) It kills all resident flora on the skin
B) It is required only before patient contact
C) It eliminates the need for personal protective equipment
D) It removes transient microorganisms and interrupts the chain of infection
Correct Answer: It removes transient microorganisms and interrupts the chain
of infection
Rationale: Hand hygiene removes transient flora acquired through patient
contact, breaking the chain at the mode of transmission. It does not kill all
resident flora or eliminate the need for PPE, and it is required before and after
care.
6. A patient is to receive a cleansing enema. The nurse should place the patient
in which position?
A) Supine
B) Prone
