NU 136 EXAM 1 FUNDAMENTALS OF
NURSING 2026/2027 | Complete Study Guide
| Verified Questions & Correct Answers with
Detailed Rationales | Galen College Exam
Prep
NU 136 EXAM 1: FUNDAMENTALS OF NURSING 2026/2027 | Complete Study
Guide
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════
════════════════════════
DOCUMENT OVERVIEW:
• This comprehensive study guide contains 200 verified multiple-choice questions
designed to prepare you for the NU 136 Exam 1 Fundamentals of Nursing course at
Galen College, covering all essential nursing knowledge and clinical competencies.
• Study effectively by reviewing each question carefully, attempting to answer
before checking the correct option, and reading all rationales thoroughly to
understand the reasoning behind each answer and reinforce your foundational
nursing knowledge.
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════
════════════════════════
QUESTION 1: Which of the following best describes the primary goal of the
nursing process?
A) To diagnose medical conditions
B) To provide systematic, organized care to patients
C) To replace physician responsibilities
D) To document all patient interactions
E) To administer medications safely
CORRECT ANSWER: B) To provide systematic, organized care to patients
RATIONALE: The nursing process is a systematic, dynamic, and organized approach
to providing nursing care. It involves assessment, diagnosis, planning,
,implementation, and evaluation to ensure that patients receive comprehensive,
individualized care. While documentation, medication administration, and other
tasks are part of nursing, the primary overarching goal is to deliver organized,
systematic care addressing patient needs.
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────
────────────────────────
QUESTION 2: During the assessment phase of the nursing process, the nurse
gathers information primarily through:
A) Reviewing medical history only
B) Observation, interview, and physical examination
C) Listening to family members' concerns
D) Reading previous nurse's notes
E) Administering diagnostic tests
CORRECT ANSWER: B) Observation, interview, and physical examination
RATIONALE: Assessment, the first step of the nursing process, involves systematic
collection of data through multiple methods: observation (visual and auditory cues),
interview (subjective information from patient), and physical examination (objective
findings). While reviewing medical history and previous notes provides context, the
primary methods of gathering current patient data are these three direct methods.
This comprehensive data collection forms the foundation for accurate nursing
diagnosis.
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────
────────────────────────
QUESTION 3: What is the main difference between a nursing diagnosis and a
medical diagnosis?
A) Nursing diagnoses are more serious
B) Medical diagnoses identify diseases; nursing diagnoses address patient
responses to illness
C) Nursing diagnoses are permanent
,D) Medical diagnoses are only made by nurses
E) There is no significant difference
CORRECT ANSWER: B) Medical diagnoses identify diseases; nursing diagnoses
address patient responses to illness
RATIONALE: A medical diagnosis identifies a disease or pathological condition (e.g.,
pneumonia, diabetes), whereas a nursing diagnosis identifies how an individual,
family, or community responds to actual or potential health problems and life
processes. Nursing diagnoses focus on the patient's holistic response to
health/illness situations, including physical, emotional, and social aspects. This
distinction is fundamental to nursing practice and requires different interventions.
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────
────────────────────────
QUESTION 4: A nurse uses critical thinking when:
A) Following protocols without question
B) Making decisions based solely on intuition
C) Analyzing information and questioning assumptions
D) Doing what is quickest and most efficient
E) Relying only on experience
CORRECT ANSWER: C) Analyzing information and questioning assumptions
RATIONALE: Critical thinking in nursing involves purposeful, organized cognitive
processes used to analyze information, evaluate evidence, question assumptions,
and make sound clinical judgments. It requires reflective thinking, logical reasoning,
and consideration of alternatives. While experience, intuition, and protocols have
roles in nursing, true critical thinking goes beyond these by incorporating analysis,
evaluation, and questioning. This higher-order thinking is essential for safe and
effective patient care.
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────
────────────────────────
, QUESTION 5: Which communication technique is most effective for building
trust with a patient?
A) Using medical jargon to sound professional
B) Active listening and demonstrating empathy
C) Maintaining a formal, distant demeanor
D) Providing immediate solutions without questions
E) Speaking loudly and clearly
CORRECT ANSWER: B) Active listening and demonstrating empathy
RATIONALE: Active listening—paying full attention, showing genuine interest, and
reflecting back what the patient says—combined with empathy builds therapeutic
relationships and trust. This allows patients to feel valued and understood. Using
medical jargon may confuse patients; a distant demeanor discourages
communication; jumping to solutions ignores patient concerns; and speaking loudly
doesn't equate to effective communication. Therapeutic communication is
foundational to nursing care and patient satisfaction.
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────
────────────────────────
QUESTION 6: A nurse should use open-ended questions primarily to:
A) Speed up patient interviews
B) Encourage patients to provide detailed information
C) Minimize patient anxiety
D) Assess patient compliance
E) Document findings efficiently
CORRECT ANSWER: B) Encourage patients to provide detailed information
RATIONALE: Open-ended questions (those requiring more than a yes/no answer)
encourage patients to elaborate and provide comprehensive information about
their experiences, concerns, and health history. Examples include "Tell me about
NURSING 2026/2027 | Complete Study Guide
| Verified Questions & Correct Answers with
Detailed Rationales | Galen College Exam
Prep
NU 136 EXAM 1: FUNDAMENTALS OF NURSING 2026/2027 | Complete Study
Guide
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════
════════════════════════
DOCUMENT OVERVIEW:
• This comprehensive study guide contains 200 verified multiple-choice questions
designed to prepare you for the NU 136 Exam 1 Fundamentals of Nursing course at
Galen College, covering all essential nursing knowledge and clinical competencies.
• Study effectively by reviewing each question carefully, attempting to answer
before checking the correct option, and reading all rationales thoroughly to
understand the reasoning behind each answer and reinforce your foundational
nursing knowledge.
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════
════════════════════════
QUESTION 1: Which of the following best describes the primary goal of the
nursing process?
A) To diagnose medical conditions
B) To provide systematic, organized care to patients
C) To replace physician responsibilities
D) To document all patient interactions
E) To administer medications safely
CORRECT ANSWER: B) To provide systematic, organized care to patients
RATIONALE: The nursing process is a systematic, dynamic, and organized approach
to providing nursing care. It involves assessment, diagnosis, planning,
,implementation, and evaluation to ensure that patients receive comprehensive,
individualized care. While documentation, medication administration, and other
tasks are part of nursing, the primary overarching goal is to deliver organized,
systematic care addressing patient needs.
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────
────────────────────────
QUESTION 2: During the assessment phase of the nursing process, the nurse
gathers information primarily through:
A) Reviewing medical history only
B) Observation, interview, and physical examination
C) Listening to family members' concerns
D) Reading previous nurse's notes
E) Administering diagnostic tests
CORRECT ANSWER: B) Observation, interview, and physical examination
RATIONALE: Assessment, the first step of the nursing process, involves systematic
collection of data through multiple methods: observation (visual and auditory cues),
interview (subjective information from patient), and physical examination (objective
findings). While reviewing medical history and previous notes provides context, the
primary methods of gathering current patient data are these three direct methods.
This comprehensive data collection forms the foundation for accurate nursing
diagnosis.
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────
────────────────────────
QUESTION 3: What is the main difference between a nursing diagnosis and a
medical diagnosis?
A) Nursing diagnoses are more serious
B) Medical diagnoses identify diseases; nursing diagnoses address patient
responses to illness
C) Nursing diagnoses are permanent
,D) Medical diagnoses are only made by nurses
E) There is no significant difference
CORRECT ANSWER: B) Medical diagnoses identify diseases; nursing diagnoses
address patient responses to illness
RATIONALE: A medical diagnosis identifies a disease or pathological condition (e.g.,
pneumonia, diabetes), whereas a nursing diagnosis identifies how an individual,
family, or community responds to actual or potential health problems and life
processes. Nursing diagnoses focus on the patient's holistic response to
health/illness situations, including physical, emotional, and social aspects. This
distinction is fundamental to nursing practice and requires different interventions.
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────
────────────────────────
QUESTION 4: A nurse uses critical thinking when:
A) Following protocols without question
B) Making decisions based solely on intuition
C) Analyzing information and questioning assumptions
D) Doing what is quickest and most efficient
E) Relying only on experience
CORRECT ANSWER: C) Analyzing information and questioning assumptions
RATIONALE: Critical thinking in nursing involves purposeful, organized cognitive
processes used to analyze information, evaluate evidence, question assumptions,
and make sound clinical judgments. It requires reflective thinking, logical reasoning,
and consideration of alternatives. While experience, intuition, and protocols have
roles in nursing, true critical thinking goes beyond these by incorporating analysis,
evaluation, and questioning. This higher-order thinking is essential for safe and
effective patient care.
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────
────────────────────────
, QUESTION 5: Which communication technique is most effective for building
trust with a patient?
A) Using medical jargon to sound professional
B) Active listening and demonstrating empathy
C) Maintaining a formal, distant demeanor
D) Providing immediate solutions without questions
E) Speaking loudly and clearly
CORRECT ANSWER: B) Active listening and demonstrating empathy
RATIONALE: Active listening—paying full attention, showing genuine interest, and
reflecting back what the patient says—combined with empathy builds therapeutic
relationships and trust. This allows patients to feel valued and understood. Using
medical jargon may confuse patients; a distant demeanor discourages
communication; jumping to solutions ignores patient concerns; and speaking loudly
doesn't equate to effective communication. Therapeutic communication is
foundational to nursing care and patient satisfaction.
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────
────────────────────────
QUESTION 6: A nurse should use open-ended questions primarily to:
A) Speed up patient interviews
B) Encourage patients to provide detailed information
C) Minimize patient anxiety
D) Assess patient compliance
E) Document findings efficiently
CORRECT ANSWER: B) Encourage patients to provide detailed information
RATIONALE: Open-ended questions (those requiring more than a yes/no answer)
encourage patients to elaborate and provide comprehensive information about
their experiences, concerns, and health history. Examples include "Tell me about
