,NU 136 Exam 1 | Fundamentals of Nursing | Galen
College | Q & A | 2026 Edition (PDF)
1. Which of the following best describes the World Health Organization's definition of health?
A) The absence of disease or infirmity
B) A state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being
C) The ability to perform activities of daily living independently
D) Freedom from pain and physical limitations
Correct Answer: A state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being
Expert Rationale: The WHO defines health as "a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-
being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity." This holistic definition acknowledges that health
is multidimensional and subjective, influenced by culture, education, and social factors. The other
options reflect incomplete or outdated definitions.
2. What is the primary difference between a disease and an illness?
A) Disease is subjective, while illness is objective
B) Disease is a pathologic process, while illness is the patient's perception of being unwell
C) Disease is always chronic, while illness is always acute
D) Disease affects only physical health, while illness affects mental health
Correct Answer: Disease is a pathologic process, while illness is the patient's perception of being unwell
Expert Rationale: Disease refers to a pathologic process such as infection or organ dysfunction, while
illness is the patient's perception and experience of being unwell. Disease can be present without the
patient feeling ill, and a patient can feel ill without an identifiable disease. This distinction is
fundamental to patient-centered care.
3. A nurse is teaching a community group about primary prevention strategies. Which example should
the nurse include?
,A) Annual mammograms for women over 40
B) Vaccinations and sunscreen use
C) Cardiac rehabilitation after a heart attack
D) Blood pressure screening at a health fair
Correct Answer: Vaccinations and sunscreen use
Expert Rationale: Primary prevention aims to prevent disease before it occurs through measures such as
vaccinations, sunscreen use, helmets, and healthy lifestyle choices. Mammograms and blood pressure
screening are secondary prevention (early detection), and cardiac rehabilitation is tertiary prevention
(managing established disease).
4. According to the syllabus for NU 136, which of the following is emphasized as a core component of
the course?
A) Advanced pharmacology and drug interactions
B) Clinical judgment skills and patient safety
C) Leadership and management in healthcare
D) Research methodology and evidence synthesis
Correct Answer: Clinical judgment skills and patient safety
Expert Rationale: The NU 136 syllabus emphasizes communication, clinical judgment, vital signs, body
mechanics, aseptic technique, nutrition, and patient safety. Students are challenged to use clinical
judgment guided by established standards and best practices. Advanced pharmacology and leadership
are covered in later courses.
5. A patient presents with a sudden illness from which recovery is expected. Which type of illness is this?
A) Chronic illness
B) Terminal illness
C) Acute illness
D) Secondary illness
, Correct Answer: Acute illness
Expert Rationale: An acute illness is a sudden illness from which a person is expected to recover. Chronic
illnesses are ongoing health problems of a generally incurable nature (e.g., diabetes). Terminal illnesses
are incurable and result in death. Secondary illnesses result from or are caused by a primary illness.
6. A nurse collects vital signs, auscultates lung sounds, and asks the patient about pain. These actions
represent which step of the nursing process?
A) Planning
B) Assessment
C) Implementation
D) Evaluation
Correct Answer: Assessment
Expert Rationale: Assessment is the systematic collection of subjective and objective data to form a
database. Vital signs, lung sounds, and patient interview are all assessment activities. Planning involves
setting goals, implementation is carrying out interventions, and evaluation measures outcome
achievement.
7. After analyzing assessment data, the nurse identifies that the patient is at risk for falls. This action falls
under which phase of the nursing process?
A) Assessment
B) Diagnosis
C) Planning
D) Implementation
Correct Answer: Diagnosis
Expert Rationale: Diagnosis involves analyzing collected data to identify actual or potential health
problems. Identifying a risk for falls is a nursing diagnosis. Assessment gathers data, planning sets goals,
College | Q & A | 2026 Edition (PDF)
1. Which of the following best describes the World Health Organization's definition of health?
A) The absence of disease or infirmity
B) A state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being
C) The ability to perform activities of daily living independently
D) Freedom from pain and physical limitations
Correct Answer: A state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being
Expert Rationale: The WHO defines health as "a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-
being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity." This holistic definition acknowledges that health
is multidimensional and subjective, influenced by culture, education, and social factors. The other
options reflect incomplete or outdated definitions.
2. What is the primary difference between a disease and an illness?
A) Disease is subjective, while illness is objective
B) Disease is a pathologic process, while illness is the patient's perception of being unwell
C) Disease is always chronic, while illness is always acute
D) Disease affects only physical health, while illness affects mental health
Correct Answer: Disease is a pathologic process, while illness is the patient's perception of being unwell
Expert Rationale: Disease refers to a pathologic process such as infection or organ dysfunction, while
illness is the patient's perception and experience of being unwell. Disease can be present without the
patient feeling ill, and a patient can feel ill without an identifiable disease. This distinction is
fundamental to patient-centered care.
3. A nurse is teaching a community group about primary prevention strategies. Which example should
the nurse include?
,A) Annual mammograms for women over 40
B) Vaccinations and sunscreen use
C) Cardiac rehabilitation after a heart attack
D) Blood pressure screening at a health fair
Correct Answer: Vaccinations and sunscreen use
Expert Rationale: Primary prevention aims to prevent disease before it occurs through measures such as
vaccinations, sunscreen use, helmets, and healthy lifestyle choices. Mammograms and blood pressure
screening are secondary prevention (early detection), and cardiac rehabilitation is tertiary prevention
(managing established disease).
4. According to the syllabus for NU 136, which of the following is emphasized as a core component of
the course?
A) Advanced pharmacology and drug interactions
B) Clinical judgment skills and patient safety
C) Leadership and management in healthcare
D) Research methodology and evidence synthesis
Correct Answer: Clinical judgment skills and patient safety
Expert Rationale: The NU 136 syllabus emphasizes communication, clinical judgment, vital signs, body
mechanics, aseptic technique, nutrition, and patient safety. Students are challenged to use clinical
judgment guided by established standards and best practices. Advanced pharmacology and leadership
are covered in later courses.
5. A patient presents with a sudden illness from which recovery is expected. Which type of illness is this?
A) Chronic illness
B) Terminal illness
C) Acute illness
D) Secondary illness
, Correct Answer: Acute illness
Expert Rationale: An acute illness is a sudden illness from which a person is expected to recover. Chronic
illnesses are ongoing health problems of a generally incurable nature (e.g., diabetes). Terminal illnesses
are incurable and result in death. Secondary illnesses result from or are caused by a primary illness.
6. A nurse collects vital signs, auscultates lung sounds, and asks the patient about pain. These actions
represent which step of the nursing process?
A) Planning
B) Assessment
C) Implementation
D) Evaluation
Correct Answer: Assessment
Expert Rationale: Assessment is the systematic collection of subjective and objective data to form a
database. Vital signs, lung sounds, and patient interview are all assessment activities. Planning involves
setting goals, implementation is carrying out interventions, and evaluation measures outcome
achievement.
7. After analyzing assessment data, the nurse identifies that the patient is at risk for falls. This action falls
under which phase of the nursing process?
A) Assessment
B) Diagnosis
C) Planning
D) Implementation
Correct Answer: Diagnosis
Expert Rationale: Diagnosis involves analyzing collected data to identify actual or potential health
problems. Identifying a risk for falls is a nursing diagnosis. Assessment gathers data, planning sets goals,
