NURS 142 – EXAM 1 (CLASS 1 & 2) – COMPLETE PRACTICE BANK MCQs
| CORRECT ANSWERS | DETAILED RATIONALES |COMPREHENSIVE
LATEST VERSION 2026/2027 (PASS GUARANTEE)
SECTION 1: CLINICAL DECISION-MAKING & THE NURSING PROCESS (Questions 1–60)
1. Which of the following best defines clinical judgment in nursing?
A) The ability to memorize medical facts and recall them during patient care
B) A conclusion about a patient's needs or health problems and the decisions to
take or avoid action based on the patient's response
C) The process of following physician orders without deviation
D) A standardized checklist used to evaluate all patients equally
Answer: B
Rationale: Clinical judgment is defined as a conclusion about a patient's needs or
health problems and/or the decisions to take or avoid action, use or modify
standard approaches, or create new approaches based on the patient's response.
It goes beyond memorization and requires critical thinking and adaptation to
individual patient responses.
2. What are the four broad goals of nursing?
A) Assess, Diagnose, Plan, Evaluate
B) Promote health, prevent illness, treat human responses to illness, and
advocate for individuals, families, and populations
C) Administer medications, document care, discharge patients, and follow
protocols
D) Communicate, collaborate, delegate, and evaluate
Answer: B
1
,Rationale: The four broad goals of nursing are to promote health, prevent illness,
treat human responses to illness, and advocate for individuals, families, and
populations. The other options list nursing process steps or specific tasks, not the
overarching professional goals.
3. The nursing process consists of which five steps in correct order?
A) Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation
B) Assessment, Prescription, Treatment, Monitoring, Discharge
C) Observation, Documentation, Planning, Implementation, Review
D) Evaluation, Planning, Diagnosis, Implementation, Assessment
Answer: A
Rationale: The nursing process is ADPIE: Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning,
Implementation, and Evaluation. This order is systematic and sequential, though
steps may overlap in practice.
4. The nursing process is best described as:
A) A rigid, unchangeable sequence that must be followed exactly in order
B) A systematic, rational, changing, problem-solving framework that guides
nursing practice
C) A documentation tool used only for legal purposes
D) A set of tasks assigned by the physician
Answer: B
Rationale: The nursing process is systematic, rational, dynamic, and problem-
solving. It is not rigid—steps often overlap and are revisited as the patient's
2
,condition changes. It is the foundation of all nursing care, not merely
documentation or task completion.
5. A nurse collects data about a patient's vital signs, medical history, and current
symptoms. This step of the nursing process is called:
A) Planning
B) Implementation
C) Assessment
D) Evaluation
Answer: C
Rationale: Assessment is the first step of the nursing process and involves
systematic data collection (subjective and objective) to establish a baseline and
identify patient needs.
6. A nurse analyzes assessment data and identifies that a patient has "Impaired
Skin Integrity related to immobility." This is an example of which nursing process
step?
A) Assessment
B) Diagnosis
C) Planning
D) Implementation
Answer: B
Rationale: Diagnosis is the second step, where the nurse analyzes and clusters
data to formulate actual or potential nursing diagnoses. "Impaired Skin Integrity"
is a NANDA-I nursing diagnosis, not a medical diagnosis.
3
, 7. Which of the following is an example of a properly written nursing diagnosis?
A) Pneumonia
B) Acute chest pain
C) Ineffective Airway Clearance related to increased secretions as evidenced by
dyspnea
D) Myocardial Infarction
Answer: C
Rationale: "Ineffective Airway Clearance" is a NANDA-I nursing diagnosis that
describes the patient's response to a health problem. It includes the related factor
(increased secretions) and the defining characteristic (dyspnea). Pneumonia and
MI are medical diagnoses. "Acute chest pain" is a symptom, not a formal nursing
diagnosis.
8. During the planning phase of the nursing process, the nurse:
A) Collects data from the patient
B) Writes measurable, patient-centered goals and selects nursing interventions
C) Carries out the nursing interventions
D) Determines whether the patient's goals have been met
Answer: B
Rationale: Planning involves setting goals (expected outcomes) and selecting
evidence-based interventions. Data collection is assessment; carrying out
interventions is implementation; determining goal achievement is evaluation.
4
| CORRECT ANSWERS | DETAILED RATIONALES |COMPREHENSIVE
LATEST VERSION 2026/2027 (PASS GUARANTEE)
SECTION 1: CLINICAL DECISION-MAKING & THE NURSING PROCESS (Questions 1–60)
1. Which of the following best defines clinical judgment in nursing?
A) The ability to memorize medical facts and recall them during patient care
B) A conclusion about a patient's needs or health problems and the decisions to
take or avoid action based on the patient's response
C) The process of following physician orders without deviation
D) A standardized checklist used to evaluate all patients equally
Answer: B
Rationale: Clinical judgment is defined as a conclusion about a patient's needs or
health problems and/or the decisions to take or avoid action, use or modify
standard approaches, or create new approaches based on the patient's response.
It goes beyond memorization and requires critical thinking and adaptation to
individual patient responses.
2. What are the four broad goals of nursing?
A) Assess, Diagnose, Plan, Evaluate
B) Promote health, prevent illness, treat human responses to illness, and
advocate for individuals, families, and populations
C) Administer medications, document care, discharge patients, and follow
protocols
D) Communicate, collaborate, delegate, and evaluate
Answer: B
1
,Rationale: The four broad goals of nursing are to promote health, prevent illness,
treat human responses to illness, and advocate for individuals, families, and
populations. The other options list nursing process steps or specific tasks, not the
overarching professional goals.
3. The nursing process consists of which five steps in correct order?
A) Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation
B) Assessment, Prescription, Treatment, Monitoring, Discharge
C) Observation, Documentation, Planning, Implementation, Review
D) Evaluation, Planning, Diagnosis, Implementation, Assessment
Answer: A
Rationale: The nursing process is ADPIE: Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning,
Implementation, and Evaluation. This order is systematic and sequential, though
steps may overlap in practice.
4. The nursing process is best described as:
A) A rigid, unchangeable sequence that must be followed exactly in order
B) A systematic, rational, changing, problem-solving framework that guides
nursing practice
C) A documentation tool used only for legal purposes
D) A set of tasks assigned by the physician
Answer: B
Rationale: The nursing process is systematic, rational, dynamic, and problem-
solving. It is not rigid—steps often overlap and are revisited as the patient's
2
,condition changes. It is the foundation of all nursing care, not merely
documentation or task completion.
5. A nurse collects data about a patient's vital signs, medical history, and current
symptoms. This step of the nursing process is called:
A) Planning
B) Implementation
C) Assessment
D) Evaluation
Answer: C
Rationale: Assessment is the first step of the nursing process and involves
systematic data collection (subjective and objective) to establish a baseline and
identify patient needs.
6. A nurse analyzes assessment data and identifies that a patient has "Impaired
Skin Integrity related to immobility." This is an example of which nursing process
step?
A) Assessment
B) Diagnosis
C) Planning
D) Implementation
Answer: B
Rationale: Diagnosis is the second step, where the nurse analyzes and clusters
data to formulate actual or potential nursing diagnoses. "Impaired Skin Integrity"
is a NANDA-I nursing diagnosis, not a medical diagnosis.
3
, 7. Which of the following is an example of a properly written nursing diagnosis?
A) Pneumonia
B) Acute chest pain
C) Ineffective Airway Clearance related to increased secretions as evidenced by
dyspnea
D) Myocardial Infarction
Answer: C
Rationale: "Ineffective Airway Clearance" is a NANDA-I nursing diagnosis that
describes the patient's response to a health problem. It includes the related factor
(increased secretions) and the defining characteristic (dyspnea). Pneumonia and
MI are medical diagnoses. "Acute chest pain" is a symptom, not a formal nursing
diagnosis.
8. During the planning phase of the nursing process, the nurse:
A) Collects data from the patient
B) Writes measurable, patient-centered goals and selects nursing interventions
C) Carries out the nursing interventions
D) Determines whether the patient's goals have been met
Answer: B
Rationale: Planning involves setting goals (expected outcomes) and selecting
evidence-based interventions. Data collection is assessment; carrying out
interventions is implementation; determining goal achievement is evaluation.
4
