WGU D439 – Foundations of Nursing
Exam Questions and Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationales 2026
Q&A | Instant Download Pdf.
1. Which nursing action best reflects patient-centered care?
A. Completing documentation before interacting with the patient
B. Encouraging the patient to participate in care decisions
C. Making decisions without discussing options with the patient
D. Following routines regardless of patient preferences
Correct Answer: B. Encouraging the patient to participate in care
decisions
Rationale: Patient-centered care emphasizes respect for patient values,
preferences, and goals. Involving patients in decision-making promotes
autonomy, satisfaction, adherence to treatment, and improved health
outcomes.
2. Which organization primarily develops standards of nursing
practice in the United States?
A. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
B. National Institutes of Health (NIH)
,C. American Nurses Association (ANA)
D. Joint Commission
Correct Answer: C. American Nurses Association (ANA)
Rationale: The ANA establishes Standards of Practice and the Code of
Ethics for Nurses, providing guidance for safe, ethical, and professional
nursing practice across healthcare settings.
3. A nurse is preparing to administer medication. Which action
demonstrates accountability?
A. Delegating medication administration to an unlicensed assistive
personnel
B. Verifying the medication order before administration
C. Asking another nurse to administer all medications
D. Documenting medications before giving them
Correct Answer: B. Verifying the medication order before
administration
Rationale: Accountability requires nurses to accept responsibility for
their actions. Verifying medication orders before administration helps
prevent medication errors and ensures patient safety.
4. Which principle is most important when maintaining patient
confidentiality?
A. Discussing patient information in public areas
B. Sharing information only with authorized healthcare providers
,C. Posting patient updates on social media without names
D. Allowing visitors to review the patient's chart
Correct Answer: B. Sharing information only with authorized
healthcare providers
Rationale: Patient confidentiality is protected by privacy laws and
ethical standards. Health information should only be shared with
individuals directly involved in the patient's care.
5. During the assessment phase of the nursing process, the nurse
should first:
A. Develop patient goals
B. Collect subjective and objective data
C. Evaluate interventions
D. Implement nursing interventions
Correct Answer: B. Collect subjective and objective data
Rationale: Assessment is the first step of the nursing process and
involves gathering comprehensive information about the patient's
physical, psychological, social, and environmental status.
6. Which example represents subjective assessment data?
A. Blood pressure is 132/84 mm Hg.
B. Temperature is 37.1°C (98.8°F).
C. The patient reports severe abdominal pain.
D. Respiratory rate is 20 breaths per minute.
, Correct Answer: C. The patient reports severe abdominal pain.
Rationale: Subjective data consist of symptoms reported by the patient,
such as pain, nausea, or fatigue. Objective data are measurable
observations obtained by the nurse.
7. Which nursing diagnosis focuses on actual patient responses
rather than medical conditions?
A. Pneumonia
B. Diabetes mellitus
C. Impaired physical mobility
D. Congestive heart failure
Correct Answer: C. Impaired physical mobility
Rationale: Nursing diagnoses describe patient responses to health
conditions and guide nursing interventions. Medical diagnoses identify
diseases or pathological conditions.
8. Which communication technique best encourages a patient to
elaborate?
A. Asking leading questions
B. Using open-ended questions
C. Interrupting the patient frequently
D. Changing the subject quickly
Correct Answer: B. Using open-ended questions
Exam Questions and Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationales 2026
Q&A | Instant Download Pdf.
1. Which nursing action best reflects patient-centered care?
A. Completing documentation before interacting with the patient
B. Encouraging the patient to participate in care decisions
C. Making decisions without discussing options with the patient
D. Following routines regardless of patient preferences
Correct Answer: B. Encouraging the patient to participate in care
decisions
Rationale: Patient-centered care emphasizes respect for patient values,
preferences, and goals. Involving patients in decision-making promotes
autonomy, satisfaction, adherence to treatment, and improved health
outcomes.
2. Which organization primarily develops standards of nursing
practice in the United States?
A. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
B. National Institutes of Health (NIH)
,C. American Nurses Association (ANA)
D. Joint Commission
Correct Answer: C. American Nurses Association (ANA)
Rationale: The ANA establishes Standards of Practice and the Code of
Ethics for Nurses, providing guidance for safe, ethical, and professional
nursing practice across healthcare settings.
3. A nurse is preparing to administer medication. Which action
demonstrates accountability?
A. Delegating medication administration to an unlicensed assistive
personnel
B. Verifying the medication order before administration
C. Asking another nurse to administer all medications
D. Documenting medications before giving them
Correct Answer: B. Verifying the medication order before
administration
Rationale: Accountability requires nurses to accept responsibility for
their actions. Verifying medication orders before administration helps
prevent medication errors and ensures patient safety.
4. Which principle is most important when maintaining patient
confidentiality?
A. Discussing patient information in public areas
B. Sharing information only with authorized healthcare providers
,C. Posting patient updates on social media without names
D. Allowing visitors to review the patient's chart
Correct Answer: B. Sharing information only with authorized
healthcare providers
Rationale: Patient confidentiality is protected by privacy laws and
ethical standards. Health information should only be shared with
individuals directly involved in the patient's care.
5. During the assessment phase of the nursing process, the nurse
should first:
A. Develop patient goals
B. Collect subjective and objective data
C. Evaluate interventions
D. Implement nursing interventions
Correct Answer: B. Collect subjective and objective data
Rationale: Assessment is the first step of the nursing process and
involves gathering comprehensive information about the patient's
physical, psychological, social, and environmental status.
6. Which example represents subjective assessment data?
A. Blood pressure is 132/84 mm Hg.
B. Temperature is 37.1°C (98.8°F).
C. The patient reports severe abdominal pain.
D. Respiratory rate is 20 breaths per minute.
, Correct Answer: C. The patient reports severe abdominal pain.
Rationale: Subjective data consist of symptoms reported by the patient,
such as pain, nausea, or fatigue. Objective data are measurable
observations obtained by the nurse.
7. Which nursing diagnosis focuses on actual patient responses
rather than medical conditions?
A. Pneumonia
B. Diabetes mellitus
C. Impaired physical mobility
D. Congestive heart failure
Correct Answer: C. Impaired physical mobility
Rationale: Nursing diagnoses describe patient responses to health
conditions and guide nursing interventions. Medical diagnoses identify
diseases or pathological conditions.
8. Which communication technique best encourages a patient to
elaborate?
A. Asking leading questions
B. Using open-ended questions
C. Interrupting the patient frequently
D. Changing the subject quickly
Correct Answer: B. Using open-ended questions
