RNSG 1500: Bridge to Professional
Nursing Practice
1. A nursing student is learning about the history of nursing. Which individual is
credited with establishing the first nursing philosophy based on health
maintenance and restoration?
A. Dorothea Dix
B. Florence Nightingale
C. Clara Barton
D. Mary Mahoney
Answer: B. Florence Nightingale's environmental theory focused on manipulating the
patient's environment to promote health and healing, establishing a foundational
philosophy for modern nursing.
2. A nurse is using the nursing process to care for a patient. In which phase does
the nurse analyze the data collected to formulate a clinical judgment about the
patient's response to health problems?
A. Assessment
B. Diagnosis
C. Planning
D. Evaluation
Answer: B. The diagnosis phase involves analyzing the assessment data to identify
patient problems, risks, and strengths, which are then articulated as nursing diagnoses.
3. A nurse is preparing to administer a medication. Which of the following is the
most important legal safeguard for the nurse?
A. The six rights of medication administration
B. The patient's verbal consent
C. The physician's order
,D. The medication's expiration date
Answer: A. The six rights (right patient, drug, dose, route, time, and documentation) are
a critical legal and safety safeguard to prevent medication errors.
4. A patient tells a nurse, "I don't want to take that medicine, it makes me feel
sick." The nurse responds, "The doctor ordered it, so you must take it." This is an
example of which type of unethical behavior?
A. Paternalism
B. Nonmaleficence
C. Beneficence
D. Veracity
Answer: A. Paternalism involves a healthcare provider making decisions for a patient
without respecting the patient's autonomy or preferences.
5. A nurse is caring for a patient who is a Jehovah's Witness and refuses a life-
saving blood transfusion. What is the most appropriate action for the nurse to
take?
A. Administer the transfusion to save the patient's life.
B. Respect the patient's decision and explore alternative treatments.
C. Call the patient's family to get consent.
D. Contact a hospital administrator to override the patient's decision.
Answer: B. Respect for patient autonomy dictates that the nurse must respect the
patient's informed refusal of treatment, even if it may lead to harm.
6. Which of the following is the best description of evidence-based practice (EBP)?
A. Following hospital policies and procedures
B. Using the latest research to make clinical decisions
C. Combining best research evidence, clinical expertise, and patient preferences
D. Relying on the advice of experienced colleagues
Answer: C. EBP is a problem-solving approach that integrates the best current evidence
from research, clinical expertise, and patient values and preferences.
,7. The nurse is caring for a patient from a culture different from her own. To
provide culturally competent care, the nurse should first:
A. Ask the patient to adopt the cultural practices of the healthcare system.
B. Ignore cultural differences to avoid stereotyping.
C. Assess the patient's own cultural beliefs and health practices.
D. Rely on a cultural guidebook for all patients from that culture.
Answer: C. The first step in providing culturally competent care is to conduct a cultural
assessment to understand the patient's unique beliefs, values, and practices.
8. A nurse notices that a colleague is impaired by alcohol while on duty. The
nurse's first responsibility is to:
A. Ignore it if the colleague is a friend.
B. Report the colleague to the nurse manager.
C. Confront the colleague directly and privately.
D. Monitor the colleague's behavior closely.
Answer: B. Reporting an impaired colleague to the nurse manager is a professional and
ethical obligation to protect patient safety.
9. The nurse is discharging a patient who is non-English speaking. What is the
most appropriate way to provide discharge instructions?
A. Provide written instructions in English and rely on the patient to get a translation.
B. Use a family member who is fluent in both languages as an interpreter.
C. Use a certified medical interpreter.
D. Use a translation app on a smartphone.
Answer: C. A certified medical interpreter is trained in medical terminology and cultural
nuances, ensuring accurate communication and preventing errors.
10. A new graduate nurse is experiencing role transition stress. Which of the
following is the most effective strategy to manage this stress?
A. Avoiding asking questions to appear competent.
B. Working long hours to prove dedication.
C. Seeking mentorship and support from experienced nurses.
, D. Isolating from colleagues to focus on work.
Answer: C. A mentor can provide guidance, support, and a safe space to discuss
challenges, facilitating a smoother transition into the professional role.
11. The nurse is assessing a patient's pulse. Which site is most commonly used to
assess the apical pulse?
A. Radial artery
B. Brachial artery
C. Carotid artery
D. Apex of the heart
Answer: D. The apical pulse is auscultated at the apex of the heart, which is located at
the 5th intercostal space at the midclavicular line.
12. The nurse is implementing the "Planning" phase of the nursing process. What
is the primary outcome of this phase?
A. Collecting patient data
B. Establishing patient-centered goals and expected outcomes
C. Performing nursing interventions
D. Determining if patient outcomes were met
Answer: B. The planning phase involves setting measurable, realistic, and patient-
centered goals and expected outcomes to guide the implementation phase.
13. A nurse is caring for a patient who is a member of a marginalized community.
The nurse notes the patient has limited access to healthcare. This is an example of:
A. Cultural imposition
B. Health disparity
C. Stereotyping
D. Ethnocentrism
Answer: B. Health disparities are preventable differences in the burden of disease,
injury, violence, or opportunities to achieve optimal health that are experienced by
socially disadvantaged populations.
Nursing Practice
1. A nursing student is learning about the history of nursing. Which individual is
credited with establishing the first nursing philosophy based on health
maintenance and restoration?
A. Dorothea Dix
B. Florence Nightingale
C. Clara Barton
D. Mary Mahoney
Answer: B. Florence Nightingale's environmental theory focused on manipulating the
patient's environment to promote health and healing, establishing a foundational
philosophy for modern nursing.
2. A nurse is using the nursing process to care for a patient. In which phase does
the nurse analyze the data collected to formulate a clinical judgment about the
patient's response to health problems?
A. Assessment
B. Diagnosis
C. Planning
D. Evaluation
Answer: B. The diagnosis phase involves analyzing the assessment data to identify
patient problems, risks, and strengths, which are then articulated as nursing diagnoses.
3. A nurse is preparing to administer a medication. Which of the following is the
most important legal safeguard for the nurse?
A. The six rights of medication administration
B. The patient's verbal consent
C. The physician's order
,D. The medication's expiration date
Answer: A. The six rights (right patient, drug, dose, route, time, and documentation) are
a critical legal and safety safeguard to prevent medication errors.
4. A patient tells a nurse, "I don't want to take that medicine, it makes me feel
sick." The nurse responds, "The doctor ordered it, so you must take it." This is an
example of which type of unethical behavior?
A. Paternalism
B. Nonmaleficence
C. Beneficence
D. Veracity
Answer: A. Paternalism involves a healthcare provider making decisions for a patient
without respecting the patient's autonomy or preferences.
5. A nurse is caring for a patient who is a Jehovah's Witness and refuses a life-
saving blood transfusion. What is the most appropriate action for the nurse to
take?
A. Administer the transfusion to save the patient's life.
B. Respect the patient's decision and explore alternative treatments.
C. Call the patient's family to get consent.
D. Contact a hospital administrator to override the patient's decision.
Answer: B. Respect for patient autonomy dictates that the nurse must respect the
patient's informed refusal of treatment, even if it may lead to harm.
6. Which of the following is the best description of evidence-based practice (EBP)?
A. Following hospital policies and procedures
B. Using the latest research to make clinical decisions
C. Combining best research evidence, clinical expertise, and patient preferences
D. Relying on the advice of experienced colleagues
Answer: C. EBP is a problem-solving approach that integrates the best current evidence
from research, clinical expertise, and patient values and preferences.
,7. The nurse is caring for a patient from a culture different from her own. To
provide culturally competent care, the nurse should first:
A. Ask the patient to adopt the cultural practices of the healthcare system.
B. Ignore cultural differences to avoid stereotyping.
C. Assess the patient's own cultural beliefs and health practices.
D. Rely on a cultural guidebook for all patients from that culture.
Answer: C. The first step in providing culturally competent care is to conduct a cultural
assessment to understand the patient's unique beliefs, values, and practices.
8. A nurse notices that a colleague is impaired by alcohol while on duty. The
nurse's first responsibility is to:
A. Ignore it if the colleague is a friend.
B. Report the colleague to the nurse manager.
C. Confront the colleague directly and privately.
D. Monitor the colleague's behavior closely.
Answer: B. Reporting an impaired colleague to the nurse manager is a professional and
ethical obligation to protect patient safety.
9. The nurse is discharging a patient who is non-English speaking. What is the
most appropriate way to provide discharge instructions?
A. Provide written instructions in English and rely on the patient to get a translation.
B. Use a family member who is fluent in both languages as an interpreter.
C. Use a certified medical interpreter.
D. Use a translation app on a smartphone.
Answer: C. A certified medical interpreter is trained in medical terminology and cultural
nuances, ensuring accurate communication and preventing errors.
10. A new graduate nurse is experiencing role transition stress. Which of the
following is the most effective strategy to manage this stress?
A. Avoiding asking questions to appear competent.
B. Working long hours to prove dedication.
C. Seeking mentorship and support from experienced nurses.
, D. Isolating from colleagues to focus on work.
Answer: C. A mentor can provide guidance, support, and a safe space to discuss
challenges, facilitating a smoother transition into the professional role.
11. The nurse is assessing a patient's pulse. Which site is most commonly used to
assess the apical pulse?
A. Radial artery
B. Brachial artery
C. Carotid artery
D. Apex of the heart
Answer: D. The apical pulse is auscultated at the apex of the heart, which is located at
the 5th intercostal space at the midclavicular line.
12. The nurse is implementing the "Planning" phase of the nursing process. What
is the primary outcome of this phase?
A. Collecting patient data
B. Establishing patient-centered goals and expected outcomes
C. Performing nursing interventions
D. Determining if patient outcomes were met
Answer: B. The planning phase involves setting measurable, realistic, and patient-
centered goals and expected outcomes to guide the implementation phase.
13. A nurse is caring for a patient who is a member of a marginalized community.
The nurse notes the patient has limited access to healthcare. This is an example of:
A. Cultural imposition
B. Health disparity
C. Stereotyping
D. Ethnocentrism
Answer: B. Health disparities are preventable differences in the burden of disease,
injury, violence, or opportunities to achieve optimal health that are experienced by
socially disadvantaged populations.
