,NSG3100/NSG 3100 Exam 2 | Fundamental Concepts & Skills
for Nursing Practice | Galen College | Q & A | 2026/2027
Edition (PDF)
1. A nurse is assessing a client who reports dizziness upon standing. The client's supine blood pressure is
138/84 mm Hg, and the standing blood pressure is 106/68 mm Hg. Which condition should the nurse
document?
A) Orthostatic hypotension
B) Essential hypertension
C) Syncope
D) Postural tachycardia
Correct Answer: Orthostatic hypotension
Rationale: Orthostatic hypotension is defined as a drop in systolic blood pressure of at least 20 mm Hg
or a drop in diastolic blood pressure of at least 10 mm Hg upon standing. This client's systolic BP
dropped by 32 mm Hg (from 138 to 106), which meets the criteria. Syncope involves actual loss of
consciousness, which is not described here.
2. A nurse is preparing to administer a blood transfusion. Which action is most important to prevent a
transfusion reaction?
A) Premedicate the client with diphenhydramine
B) Verify the client's identity and the blood product with another licensed nurse
C) Ensure the client has signed a consent form for the transfusion
D) Obtain a baseline set of vital signs
Correct Answer: Verify the client's identity and the blood product with another licensed nurse
Rationale: Verification of the client's identity and the blood product with another licensed nurse is the
most critical step to prevent transfusion errors. This two-nurse verification process ensures the right
blood is given to the right client.
,3. Which client meets the criteria for selection of the apical site for assessment of the pulse rather than
a radial pulse?
A) A client who is in shock
B) A client whose pulse changes with body position changes
C) A client with an arrhythmia
D) A client who had surgery less than 24 hours ago
Correct Answer: A client with an arrhythmia
Rationale: The apical rate confirms the rate and determines the actual cardiac rhythm for a client with
an abnormal rhythm; a radial pulse would only reveal the heart rate and suggest an arrhythmia. For
clients in shock, the carotid or femoral pulse is used.
4. A nurse is applying a sterile dressing. The edges of the sterile drape are in contact with a non-sterile
table surface below. What is the correct action?
A) Continue the procedure; the 1-inch border around the drape is considered sterile
B) Continue the procedure; the 1-inch border around the drape is considered non-sterile
C) Discard the entire sterile field and start over
D) Cut off the contaminated edges and continue
Correct Answer: Discard the entire sterile field and start over
Rationale: The edges of the sterile drape are in contact with the non-sterile table surface below, making
them contaminated. The 1-inch border of a sterile field is considered non-sterile. Any item that touches
that border is contaminated and cannot be used, so the entire field must be discarded.
5. Which of the following is the most effective way to break the chain of infection?
A) Wearing gloves for all client contact
B) Proper hand hygiene before and after client care
C) Using disposable equipment only
D) Placing all clients on contact precautions
, Correct Answer: Proper hand hygiene before and after client care
Rationale: Hand hygiene is the single most effective measure to prevent the transmission of pathogens
in healthcare settings. It is the cornerstone of infection prevention and should be performed before and
after every client contact.
6. A client is diagnosed with Clostridioides difficile (C. diff). Which type of precaution is appropriate for
this client?
A) Airborne precautions
B) Droplet precautions
C) Contact precautions
D) Protective isolation
Correct Answer: Contact precautions
Rationale: C. diff is transmitted via direct contact with contaminated surfaces or fecal matter. Contact
precautions, including the use of gowns and gloves, are required. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are not
effective against C. diff spores; handwashing with soap and water is essential.
7. What is the correct sequence for donning personal protective equipment (PPE)?
A) Gown, goggles, mask, gloves
B) Gown, gloves, goggles, mask
C) Gown, mask, goggles, gloves
D) Goggles, gown, gloves, mask
Correct Answer: Gown, mask, goggles, gloves
Rationale: The correct sequence for donning PPE is: gown first, then mask, then goggles or face shield,
and gloves last. This order ensures proper coverage and minimizes contamination risk. Gloves are always
put on last.
for Nursing Practice | Galen College | Q & A | 2026/2027
Edition (PDF)
1. A nurse is assessing a client who reports dizziness upon standing. The client's supine blood pressure is
138/84 mm Hg, and the standing blood pressure is 106/68 mm Hg. Which condition should the nurse
document?
A) Orthostatic hypotension
B) Essential hypertension
C) Syncope
D) Postural tachycardia
Correct Answer: Orthostatic hypotension
Rationale: Orthostatic hypotension is defined as a drop in systolic blood pressure of at least 20 mm Hg
or a drop in diastolic blood pressure of at least 10 mm Hg upon standing. This client's systolic BP
dropped by 32 mm Hg (from 138 to 106), which meets the criteria. Syncope involves actual loss of
consciousness, which is not described here.
2. A nurse is preparing to administer a blood transfusion. Which action is most important to prevent a
transfusion reaction?
A) Premedicate the client with diphenhydramine
B) Verify the client's identity and the blood product with another licensed nurse
C) Ensure the client has signed a consent form for the transfusion
D) Obtain a baseline set of vital signs
Correct Answer: Verify the client's identity and the blood product with another licensed nurse
Rationale: Verification of the client's identity and the blood product with another licensed nurse is the
most critical step to prevent transfusion errors. This two-nurse verification process ensures the right
blood is given to the right client.
,3. Which client meets the criteria for selection of the apical site for assessment of the pulse rather than
a radial pulse?
A) A client who is in shock
B) A client whose pulse changes with body position changes
C) A client with an arrhythmia
D) A client who had surgery less than 24 hours ago
Correct Answer: A client with an arrhythmia
Rationale: The apical rate confirms the rate and determines the actual cardiac rhythm for a client with
an abnormal rhythm; a radial pulse would only reveal the heart rate and suggest an arrhythmia. For
clients in shock, the carotid or femoral pulse is used.
4. A nurse is applying a sterile dressing. The edges of the sterile drape are in contact with a non-sterile
table surface below. What is the correct action?
A) Continue the procedure; the 1-inch border around the drape is considered sterile
B) Continue the procedure; the 1-inch border around the drape is considered non-sterile
C) Discard the entire sterile field and start over
D) Cut off the contaminated edges and continue
Correct Answer: Discard the entire sterile field and start over
Rationale: The edges of the sterile drape are in contact with the non-sterile table surface below, making
them contaminated. The 1-inch border of a sterile field is considered non-sterile. Any item that touches
that border is contaminated and cannot be used, so the entire field must be discarded.
5. Which of the following is the most effective way to break the chain of infection?
A) Wearing gloves for all client contact
B) Proper hand hygiene before and after client care
C) Using disposable equipment only
D) Placing all clients on contact precautions
, Correct Answer: Proper hand hygiene before and after client care
Rationale: Hand hygiene is the single most effective measure to prevent the transmission of pathogens
in healthcare settings. It is the cornerstone of infection prevention and should be performed before and
after every client contact.
6. A client is diagnosed with Clostridioides difficile (C. diff). Which type of precaution is appropriate for
this client?
A) Airborne precautions
B) Droplet precautions
C) Contact precautions
D) Protective isolation
Correct Answer: Contact precautions
Rationale: C. diff is transmitted via direct contact with contaminated surfaces or fecal matter. Contact
precautions, including the use of gowns and gloves, are required. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are not
effective against C. diff spores; handwashing with soap and water is essential.
7. What is the correct sequence for donning personal protective equipment (PPE)?
A) Gown, goggles, mask, gloves
B) Gown, gloves, goggles, mask
C) Gown, mask, goggles, gloves
D) Goggles, gown, gloves, mask
Correct Answer: Gown, mask, goggles, gloves
Rationale: The correct sequence for donning PPE is: gown first, then mask, then goggles or face shield,
and gloves last. This order ensures proper coverage and minimizes contamination risk. Gloves are always
put on last.
