NU136 EXAM 3 | NU 136 FUNDAMENTALS OF NURSING EXAM PRACTICE |
STUDY GUIDE | TESTBANK | PRACTICE QUESTIONS & ANSWERS | EXAM
PREPARATION | LATEST UPDATE 2026/2027 | ADVANCED REVIEW |
COMPREHENSIVE PRACTICE EXAM
Examiner:
Galen College of Nursing (Course Assessment – NU136 Fundamentals of
Nursing)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Infection Prevention and Medical Asepsis
2. Sterile Technique
3. Medication Administration
4. Intravenous Therapy Fundamentals
5. Pain Assessment and Management
6. Perioperative Nursing Care
7. Wound Assessment and Dressing Changes
8. Documentation and Clinical Judgment
9. Patient Safety and Quality Improvement
10. Professional Nursing Responsibilities
INFECTION CONTROL || ASEPSIS || STERILE TECHNIQUE || MEDICATION
ADMINISTRATION || SAFE DOSAGE || PAIN MANAGEMENT || WOUND CARE ||
PERIOPERATIVE NURSING || PATIENT SAFETY || QUALITY IMPROVEMENT ||
CLINICAL JUDGMENT || NURSING PROCESS || EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE ||
DOCUMENTATION || ETHICS || COMMUNICATION || IV THERAPY || RISK
REDUCTION || PRIORITIZATION || FUNDAMENTALS OF NURSING
QUESTION 1.
A nurse prepares to perform a sterile dressing change. While opening the sterile
field, the outer wrapper brushes against the nurse's scrub top. Which action
best maintains sterile technique?
,A. Discard the sterile field and obtain a new sterile setup.
B. Continue because only the outer wrapper touched the uniform.
C. Add sterile gloves before proceeding.
D. Place an additional sterile drape over the field.
🔴 Correct Answer: A. Discard the sterile field and obtain a new sterile setup.
🔵 Explanation: Any event that creates uncertainty about sterility requires the
nurse to consider the field contaminated. Because the integrity of the setup cannot
be guaranteed, replacing it is the safest action. The remaining options attempt to
compensate for potential contamination rather than eliminating the risk.
QUESTION 2.
A postoperative patient reports increasing incisional pain despite receiving
prescribed analgesics. Which nursing action demonstrates the highest level of
clinical judgment?
A. Administer another analgesic immediately.
B. Reassess the incision, vital signs, and associated symptoms before
intervening.
C. Document the complaint and reassess in one hour.
D. Encourage distraction techniques only.
🔴 Correct Answer: B. Reassess the incision, vital signs, and associated
symptoms before intervening.
🔵 Explanation: Worsening postoperative pain may indicate complications such
as bleeding or infection rather than inadequate pain control. A focused
reassessment identifies the underlying cause and guides appropriate
interventions. Simply administering additional medication could delay recognition
of a serious problem.
QUESTION 3.
,A nurse prepares medications for four patients. Which situation requires
immediate intervention?
A. Administering oral medications with applesauce.
B. Crushing an extended-release tablet before administration.
C. Confirming allergies before medication administration.
D. Scanning the patient's identification band.
🔴 Correct Answer: B. Crushing an extended-release tablet before
administration.
🔵 Explanation: Extended-release formulations are designed to release
medication gradually. Crushing them may result in dose dumping, toxicity, or
therapeutic failure. The other actions are consistent with safe medication
administration when appropriate.
QUESTION 4.
A patient receiving IV fluids develops swelling, coolness, and discomfort at the
insertion site. Which complication is most likely occurring?
A. Phlebitis
B. Local infection
C. Air embolism
D. Infiltration
🔴 Correct Answer: D. Infiltration
🔵 Explanation: Infiltration occurs when IV fluid leaks into surrounding tissue,
producing swelling, cool skin, and discomfort. Phlebitis typically presents with
warmth, redness, and tenderness along the vein. Air embolism and infection
produce different clinical findings.
QUESTION 5.
, A nurse evaluates a patient's wound healing five days after surgery. Which
finding most strongly suggests infection?
A. Pink wound edges
B. Small amount of serous drainage
C. Purulent drainage with increasing erythema
D. Mild tenderness during dressing change
🔴 Correct Answer: C. Purulent drainage with increasing erythema
🔵 Explanation: Purulent drainage accompanied by worsening redness strongly
indicates infection requiring further evaluation. Mild discomfort, pink wound
edges, and limited serous drainage are commonly associated with normal healing
during the inflammatory phase.
QUESTION 6.
A patient scheduled for surgery states, "I'm not sure why I'm having this
operation." What is the nurse's priority response?
A. Witness the consent signature.
B. Notify the surgeon before proceeding.
C. Explain the surgical procedure independently.
D. Ask the family member to explain the procedure.
🔴 Correct Answer: B. Notify the surgeon before proceeding.
🔵 Explanation: Informed consent requires that the patient understand the
procedure, risks, benefits, and alternatives. If understanding is questionable, the
surgeon must provide clarification before consent remains valid. The nurse should
not independently provide procedural explanations beyond reinforcing previously
given information.
QUESTION 7.
STUDY GUIDE | TESTBANK | PRACTICE QUESTIONS & ANSWERS | EXAM
PREPARATION | LATEST UPDATE 2026/2027 | ADVANCED REVIEW |
COMPREHENSIVE PRACTICE EXAM
Examiner:
Galen College of Nursing (Course Assessment – NU136 Fundamentals of
Nursing)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Infection Prevention and Medical Asepsis
2. Sterile Technique
3. Medication Administration
4. Intravenous Therapy Fundamentals
5. Pain Assessment and Management
6. Perioperative Nursing Care
7. Wound Assessment and Dressing Changes
8. Documentation and Clinical Judgment
9. Patient Safety and Quality Improvement
10. Professional Nursing Responsibilities
INFECTION CONTROL || ASEPSIS || STERILE TECHNIQUE || MEDICATION
ADMINISTRATION || SAFE DOSAGE || PAIN MANAGEMENT || WOUND CARE ||
PERIOPERATIVE NURSING || PATIENT SAFETY || QUALITY IMPROVEMENT ||
CLINICAL JUDGMENT || NURSING PROCESS || EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE ||
DOCUMENTATION || ETHICS || COMMUNICATION || IV THERAPY || RISK
REDUCTION || PRIORITIZATION || FUNDAMENTALS OF NURSING
QUESTION 1.
A nurse prepares to perform a sterile dressing change. While opening the sterile
field, the outer wrapper brushes against the nurse's scrub top. Which action
best maintains sterile technique?
,A. Discard the sterile field and obtain a new sterile setup.
B. Continue because only the outer wrapper touched the uniform.
C. Add sterile gloves before proceeding.
D. Place an additional sterile drape over the field.
🔴 Correct Answer: A. Discard the sterile field and obtain a new sterile setup.
🔵 Explanation: Any event that creates uncertainty about sterility requires the
nurse to consider the field contaminated. Because the integrity of the setup cannot
be guaranteed, replacing it is the safest action. The remaining options attempt to
compensate for potential contamination rather than eliminating the risk.
QUESTION 2.
A postoperative patient reports increasing incisional pain despite receiving
prescribed analgesics. Which nursing action demonstrates the highest level of
clinical judgment?
A. Administer another analgesic immediately.
B. Reassess the incision, vital signs, and associated symptoms before
intervening.
C. Document the complaint and reassess in one hour.
D. Encourage distraction techniques only.
🔴 Correct Answer: B. Reassess the incision, vital signs, and associated
symptoms before intervening.
🔵 Explanation: Worsening postoperative pain may indicate complications such
as bleeding or infection rather than inadequate pain control. A focused
reassessment identifies the underlying cause and guides appropriate
interventions. Simply administering additional medication could delay recognition
of a serious problem.
QUESTION 3.
,A nurse prepares medications for four patients. Which situation requires
immediate intervention?
A. Administering oral medications with applesauce.
B. Crushing an extended-release tablet before administration.
C. Confirming allergies before medication administration.
D. Scanning the patient's identification band.
🔴 Correct Answer: B. Crushing an extended-release tablet before
administration.
🔵 Explanation: Extended-release formulations are designed to release
medication gradually. Crushing them may result in dose dumping, toxicity, or
therapeutic failure. The other actions are consistent with safe medication
administration when appropriate.
QUESTION 4.
A patient receiving IV fluids develops swelling, coolness, and discomfort at the
insertion site. Which complication is most likely occurring?
A. Phlebitis
B. Local infection
C. Air embolism
D. Infiltration
🔴 Correct Answer: D. Infiltration
🔵 Explanation: Infiltration occurs when IV fluid leaks into surrounding tissue,
producing swelling, cool skin, and discomfort. Phlebitis typically presents with
warmth, redness, and tenderness along the vein. Air embolism and infection
produce different clinical findings.
QUESTION 5.
, A nurse evaluates a patient's wound healing five days after surgery. Which
finding most strongly suggests infection?
A. Pink wound edges
B. Small amount of serous drainage
C. Purulent drainage with increasing erythema
D. Mild tenderness during dressing change
🔴 Correct Answer: C. Purulent drainage with increasing erythema
🔵 Explanation: Purulent drainage accompanied by worsening redness strongly
indicates infection requiring further evaluation. Mild discomfort, pink wound
edges, and limited serous drainage are commonly associated with normal healing
during the inflammatory phase.
QUESTION 6.
A patient scheduled for surgery states, "I'm not sure why I'm having this
operation." What is the nurse's priority response?
A. Witness the consent signature.
B. Notify the surgeon before proceeding.
C. Explain the surgical procedure independently.
D. Ask the family member to explain the procedure.
🔴 Correct Answer: B. Notify the surgeon before proceeding.
🔵 Explanation: Informed consent requires that the patient understand the
procedure, risks, benefits, and alternatives. If understanding is questionable, the
surgeon must provide clarification before consent remains valid. The nurse should
not independently provide procedural explanations beyond reinforcing previously
given information.
QUESTION 7.
