NS 332 FUNDAMENTALS EXAM II | PRACTICE QUESTIONS & ANSWERS | COMPREHENSIVE
NCLEX NURSING STUDY GUIDE 2026/2027
A nursing student tells the clinical instructor that their patient is fine and has "no complaints."
Which question by the faculty coaches the student to provide evidence that supports their
assessments?
A. "Could you tell me how you validated this?"
B. "Do you think your patient feels free to share their concerns?"
C. "That's good to hear. Tell me about the care you provided."
D. "Please reassess the patient; they were admitted with a serious problem." - correct answer
✔✔a. The instructor is reminding the student that all data must be validated. Questioning the
use of the word "fine" allows the nurse to determine if this is a social and reflexive response,
and there may be another need the nurse can meet. Concluding that the patient does not trust
the student is premature and is based on an invalidated inference. Saying "That's good to hear"
and asking the student to describe the care provided is incorrect because it accepts the
invalidated inference. Telling the student to reassess the patient because they were admitted
with a serious problem is incorrect because it is possible that the condition is resolving.
A nursery nurse notifies the nurse practitioner (NP) that a newborn has signs of jaundice. The
NP performs a brief skin assessment, then orders a blood test for bilirubin levels. Which type of
assessment has the NP performed?
A. Comprehensive
B. Initial
C. Time-lapsed
D. Quick priority - correct answer ✔✔d. A quick priority assessment (QPA) is a short, focused
assessment to obtain the most important information first. A comprehensive initial assessment
is performed shortly after admission. The time-lapsed assessment is used to compare a patient's
current status to baseline data obtained earlier.
,The nurse is admitting a pregnant patient to the hospital for treatment of pregnancy-induced
hypertension. The patient asks the nurse, "Why are you doing a history and physical exam when
the doctor just did one?" What statements will the nurse use to explain the primary purpose of
the nursing assessment? Select all that apply.
A. "The nursing assessment will allow us to plan and deliver individualized, holistic nursing care
that draws on your strengths."
B. "It's hospital policy. I know we ask a lot of questions, but I will try to make this quick."
C. "As a nursing student, I need to develop assessment skills about your health status and need
for nursing care."
D. "This validates that your responses with the medical exam are consistent and that all our data
are accurate."
E. "I will check your health status and see what kind of nursing care you may need."
F. "This is to determine the necessity for referring your nur - correct answer ✔✔a, e, f. Medical
assessments target data pointing to pathologic conditions, whereas nursing assessments focus
on the patient's responses to actual and potential health problems. The initial comprehensive
nursing assessment results in baseline data that enable the nurse to make a judgment about a
patient's health status, the ability to manage their own health care and the need for nursing. It
also helps nurses plan and deliver individualized, holistic nursing care that draws on the
patient's strengths and promotes optimum functioning, independence, and well-being, and
enables the nurse to refer the finding(s) to the health care provider or collaborate with other
health care professionals where indicated. Citing hospital policy or student learning is a
secondary reason, and although it may be true that a nurse may need to develop assessment
skills, it is not the main reason for a nursing history and assessment. The assessment augments
the medical examination but is not performed to check its accuracy.
During shift report, a nurse says that a patient has no integumentary changes or skin care
needs. During assessment, the nurse observes reddened areas over bony prominences. What
action will the nurse take?
A. Correct the initial assessment form
B. Redo the initial assessment and document current findings
,C. Conduct and document an emergency assessment
D. Perform and document a focused assessment of skin integrity - correct answer ✔✔d.
Perform a focused skin assessment for the new problem, documenting the current date. The
initial assessment was entered in the permanent health record, correct at the time, and cannot
legally be rewritten. An emergency assessment is performed for a life-threatening problem.
A nursing student is performing a nursing history for the first time. The student asks the primary
nurse how anyone learns all the questions needed to get complete baseline data. What would
be the nurse's best reply?
A. "There's a lot to learn at first, but once it becomes part of you, you just ask the same
questions over and over in each situation until you can do it in your sleep!"
B. "You make the basic questions a part of you and apply critical thinking to modify them, to
help you plan quality care."
C. "It is really hard to learn how to do this well, as each history is different. I often feel like I'm
starting fresh with each new patient."
D. "Don't worry about learning all of the questions to ask. Every facility has its own assessment
form you must use." - correct answer ✔✔b. Once a nurse learns what constitutes the minimum
data set, it can be adapted to each patient situation. It is not true that each assessment is the
same even when using the same minimum data set, nor is it true that each assessment is
uniquely different. Nurses committed to thoughtful, person-centered practice individualize their
questions to each patient and situation. When using a standard facility assessment tool the
nurse must still use critical thinking to individualize questions or follow up on patient
information.
The nurse collects subjective and objective data during a patient assessment. When
documenting, which data points will the nurse include as subjective data? Select all that apply.
A. Feeling nauseated
B. Edematous ankles
C. Feeling anxious about test results
, D. Report of left arm tingling
E. Pain rated 7 on a scale of 1 to 10
F. Oral temperature of 101°F - correct answer ✔✔a, c, d, e. Subjective data are information
perceived only by the affected person. Examples of subjective data are feeling nauseated,
anxious, tingling, and experiencing pain. Objective data are observable and measurable data
that can be seen, heard, felt, or measured by someone other than the person experiencing
them. Examples of objective data are fever or 101°F or edema.
When a nurse enters the patient's room to begin a nursing history, the nurse notes the patient's
spouse is present. After greeting them, what action will the nurse take?
A. Thank the spouse for being present
B. Ask the spouse if they want to remain
C. Ask the spouse to leave
D. Ask the patient if they would like the spouse to stay - correct answer ✔✔d. The patient has
the right to privacy and to determine who will be present during the nursing history and exam.
The nurse does not presume the patient's preference, as the decision belongs to the patient,
not their spouse.
A nurse is performing an initial comprehensive assessment of a patient admitted to a long-term
care facility. The nurse begins the assessment by asking the patient, "How would you describe
your health status and well-being?" and, "What do you do to keep yourself healthy?" These
questions reflect what model for organizing data?
A. Maslow's hierarchy of needs
B. Gordon's functional health patterns
C. Human response patterns
D. Body system model - correct answer ✔✔b. Gordon's functional health patterns begin with
the patient's perception of health and well-being and progress to data about nutritional-
metabolic patterns, elimination patterns, activity, sleep/rest, self-perception, role relationship,
sexuality, coping, and values/beliefs. Maslow's model is based on the human needs hierarchy.
NCLEX NURSING STUDY GUIDE 2026/2027
A nursing student tells the clinical instructor that their patient is fine and has "no complaints."
Which question by the faculty coaches the student to provide evidence that supports their
assessments?
A. "Could you tell me how you validated this?"
B. "Do you think your patient feels free to share their concerns?"
C. "That's good to hear. Tell me about the care you provided."
D. "Please reassess the patient; they were admitted with a serious problem." - correct answer
✔✔a. The instructor is reminding the student that all data must be validated. Questioning the
use of the word "fine" allows the nurse to determine if this is a social and reflexive response,
and there may be another need the nurse can meet. Concluding that the patient does not trust
the student is premature and is based on an invalidated inference. Saying "That's good to hear"
and asking the student to describe the care provided is incorrect because it accepts the
invalidated inference. Telling the student to reassess the patient because they were admitted
with a serious problem is incorrect because it is possible that the condition is resolving.
A nursery nurse notifies the nurse practitioner (NP) that a newborn has signs of jaundice. The
NP performs a brief skin assessment, then orders a blood test for bilirubin levels. Which type of
assessment has the NP performed?
A. Comprehensive
B. Initial
C. Time-lapsed
D. Quick priority - correct answer ✔✔d. A quick priority assessment (QPA) is a short, focused
assessment to obtain the most important information first. A comprehensive initial assessment
is performed shortly after admission. The time-lapsed assessment is used to compare a patient's
current status to baseline data obtained earlier.
,The nurse is admitting a pregnant patient to the hospital for treatment of pregnancy-induced
hypertension. The patient asks the nurse, "Why are you doing a history and physical exam when
the doctor just did one?" What statements will the nurse use to explain the primary purpose of
the nursing assessment? Select all that apply.
A. "The nursing assessment will allow us to plan and deliver individualized, holistic nursing care
that draws on your strengths."
B. "It's hospital policy. I know we ask a lot of questions, but I will try to make this quick."
C. "As a nursing student, I need to develop assessment skills about your health status and need
for nursing care."
D. "This validates that your responses with the medical exam are consistent and that all our data
are accurate."
E. "I will check your health status and see what kind of nursing care you may need."
F. "This is to determine the necessity for referring your nur - correct answer ✔✔a, e, f. Medical
assessments target data pointing to pathologic conditions, whereas nursing assessments focus
on the patient's responses to actual and potential health problems. The initial comprehensive
nursing assessment results in baseline data that enable the nurse to make a judgment about a
patient's health status, the ability to manage their own health care and the need for nursing. It
also helps nurses plan and deliver individualized, holistic nursing care that draws on the
patient's strengths and promotes optimum functioning, independence, and well-being, and
enables the nurse to refer the finding(s) to the health care provider or collaborate with other
health care professionals where indicated. Citing hospital policy or student learning is a
secondary reason, and although it may be true that a nurse may need to develop assessment
skills, it is not the main reason for a nursing history and assessment. The assessment augments
the medical examination but is not performed to check its accuracy.
During shift report, a nurse says that a patient has no integumentary changes or skin care
needs. During assessment, the nurse observes reddened areas over bony prominences. What
action will the nurse take?
A. Correct the initial assessment form
B. Redo the initial assessment and document current findings
,C. Conduct and document an emergency assessment
D. Perform and document a focused assessment of skin integrity - correct answer ✔✔d.
Perform a focused skin assessment for the new problem, documenting the current date. The
initial assessment was entered in the permanent health record, correct at the time, and cannot
legally be rewritten. An emergency assessment is performed for a life-threatening problem.
A nursing student is performing a nursing history for the first time. The student asks the primary
nurse how anyone learns all the questions needed to get complete baseline data. What would
be the nurse's best reply?
A. "There's a lot to learn at first, but once it becomes part of you, you just ask the same
questions over and over in each situation until you can do it in your sleep!"
B. "You make the basic questions a part of you and apply critical thinking to modify them, to
help you plan quality care."
C. "It is really hard to learn how to do this well, as each history is different. I often feel like I'm
starting fresh with each new patient."
D. "Don't worry about learning all of the questions to ask. Every facility has its own assessment
form you must use." - correct answer ✔✔b. Once a nurse learns what constitutes the minimum
data set, it can be adapted to each patient situation. It is not true that each assessment is the
same even when using the same minimum data set, nor is it true that each assessment is
uniquely different. Nurses committed to thoughtful, person-centered practice individualize their
questions to each patient and situation. When using a standard facility assessment tool the
nurse must still use critical thinking to individualize questions or follow up on patient
information.
The nurse collects subjective and objective data during a patient assessment. When
documenting, which data points will the nurse include as subjective data? Select all that apply.
A. Feeling nauseated
B. Edematous ankles
C. Feeling anxious about test results
, D. Report of left arm tingling
E. Pain rated 7 on a scale of 1 to 10
F. Oral temperature of 101°F - correct answer ✔✔a, c, d, e. Subjective data are information
perceived only by the affected person. Examples of subjective data are feeling nauseated,
anxious, tingling, and experiencing pain. Objective data are observable and measurable data
that can be seen, heard, felt, or measured by someone other than the person experiencing
them. Examples of objective data are fever or 101°F or edema.
When a nurse enters the patient's room to begin a nursing history, the nurse notes the patient's
spouse is present. After greeting them, what action will the nurse take?
A. Thank the spouse for being present
B. Ask the spouse if they want to remain
C. Ask the spouse to leave
D. Ask the patient if they would like the spouse to stay - correct answer ✔✔d. The patient has
the right to privacy and to determine who will be present during the nursing history and exam.
The nurse does not presume the patient's preference, as the decision belongs to the patient,
not their spouse.
A nurse is performing an initial comprehensive assessment of a patient admitted to a long-term
care facility. The nurse begins the assessment by asking the patient, "How would you describe
your health status and well-being?" and, "What do you do to keep yourself healthy?" These
questions reflect what model for organizing data?
A. Maslow's hierarchy of needs
B. Gordon's functional health patterns
C. Human response patterns
D. Body system model - correct answer ✔✔b. Gordon's functional health patterns begin with
the patient's perception of health and well-being and progress to data about nutritional-
metabolic patterns, elimination patterns, activity, sleep/rest, self-perception, role relationship,
sexuality, coping, and values/beliefs. Maslow's model is based on the human needs hierarchy.
