NUR 100 Exam (pdf) | 2026/2027 | Foundations Q&A | Nursing
Fundamentals
1. Which of the following best describes the primary purpose of the nursing
process?
A) To provide a framework for documenting patient care
B) To establish a systematic method for delivering individualized, goal-
directed nursing care
C) To replace clinical judgment with standardized protocols
D) To satisfy legal requirements for patient charting
Correct Answer: To establish a systematic method for delivering
individualized, goal-directed nursing care
Rationale: The nursing process is a systematic, client-centered method for
delivering care through five steps: assessment, diagnosis, planning,
implementation, and evaluation. It provides a framework for critical thinking
and individualized care. Documentation is important but is not the primary
purpose.
2. Which organization played a key role in establishing the nursing process
as a systematic framework for nursing practice?
A) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
B) World Health Organization (WHO)
C) American Nurses Association (ANA)
D) National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN)
Correct Answer: American Nurses Association (ANA)
Rationale: The ANA established the nursing process as a systematic
framework that outlines the standards of practice guiding assessment,
,diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation. The CDC focuses on
disease control, WHO on global health, and NCSBN on licensure.
3. A nurse is collecting subjective and objective data about a newly admitted
patient. This action occurs during which phase of the nursing process?
A) Planning
B) Diagnosis
C) Assessment
D) Implementation
Correct Answer: Assessment
Rationale: Assessment involves collecting subjective data (what the patient
says) and objective data (observable and measurable findings). This is the
first step of the nursing process. Planning involves goal-setting, diagnosis
involves analyzing data, and implementation involves carrying out
interventions.
4. During which phase of the nursing process does the nurse formulate
S.M.A.R.T. goals for the patient?
A) Assessment
B) Diagnosis
C) Planning
D) Evaluation
Correct Answer: Planning
Rationale: During the planning phase, the nurse collaborates with the patient
to set specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-bound goals.
,Assessment involves data collection, diagnosis identifies problems, and
evaluation determines if goals were met.
5. A nurse administers morphine sulfate as ordered for a patient reporting
severe pain. This action reflects which step of the nursing process?
A) Assessment
B) Diagnosis
C) Planning
D) Implementation
Correct Answer: Implementation
Rationale: Implementation is the step in which the nurse carries out the
planned interventions. Administering medication is a direct nursing
intervention. Assessment involves data collection, diagnosis identifies
problems, and planning involves goal-setting.
6. After administering a pain medication, the nurse reassesses the patient's
pain level 30 minutes later. This action reflects which step of the nursing
process?
A) Assessment
B) Diagnosis
C) Implementation
D) Evaluation
Correct Answer: Evaluation
Rationale: Evaluation involves determining whether the patient's goals have
been met and whether interventions were effective. Reassessing pain after
medication administration evaluates the effectiveness of the intervention.
, 7. A nurse is reviewing the steps of the nursing process. Which action occurs
during the assessment phase?
A) Determining that the patient's pain has decreased from 8 to 3 on a 0–10
scale
B) Administering morphine sulfate as ordered for severe pain
C) Asking the patient to rate their pain level on a 0–10 scale
D) Writing a nursing diagnosis of "Acute Pain"
Correct Answer: Asking the patient to rate their pain level on a 0–10 scale
Rationale: Assessment involves collecting subjective and objective data.
Asking the patient to rate pain is data collection. Determining pain decrease
is evaluation, administering medication is implementation, and writing a
diagnosis is the diagnosis phase.
8. A patient reports chest pain. The nurse gathers data about the pain's
location, intensity, and quality. This data collection is part of which
component of critical thinking in nursing?
A) Knowing the scientific rationale for the intervention
B) Possessing the necessary psychomotor and interpersonal skills
C) Functioning within a particular setting to use available resources
D) Assessing systematically and comprehensively
Correct Answer: Assessing systematically and comprehensively
Rationale: Critical thinking in nursing involves systematic and comprehensive
assessment. Gathering data about pain location, intensity, and quality
demonstrates systematic data collection. The other options relate to other
aspects of critical thinking and nursing practice.
Fundamentals
1. Which of the following best describes the primary purpose of the nursing
process?
A) To provide a framework for documenting patient care
B) To establish a systematic method for delivering individualized, goal-
directed nursing care
C) To replace clinical judgment with standardized protocols
D) To satisfy legal requirements for patient charting
Correct Answer: To establish a systematic method for delivering
individualized, goal-directed nursing care
Rationale: The nursing process is a systematic, client-centered method for
delivering care through five steps: assessment, diagnosis, planning,
implementation, and evaluation. It provides a framework for critical thinking
and individualized care. Documentation is important but is not the primary
purpose.
2. Which organization played a key role in establishing the nursing process
as a systematic framework for nursing practice?
A) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
B) World Health Organization (WHO)
C) American Nurses Association (ANA)
D) National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN)
Correct Answer: American Nurses Association (ANA)
Rationale: The ANA established the nursing process as a systematic
framework that outlines the standards of practice guiding assessment,
,diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation. The CDC focuses on
disease control, WHO on global health, and NCSBN on licensure.
3. A nurse is collecting subjective and objective data about a newly admitted
patient. This action occurs during which phase of the nursing process?
A) Planning
B) Diagnosis
C) Assessment
D) Implementation
Correct Answer: Assessment
Rationale: Assessment involves collecting subjective data (what the patient
says) and objective data (observable and measurable findings). This is the
first step of the nursing process. Planning involves goal-setting, diagnosis
involves analyzing data, and implementation involves carrying out
interventions.
4. During which phase of the nursing process does the nurse formulate
S.M.A.R.T. goals for the patient?
A) Assessment
B) Diagnosis
C) Planning
D) Evaluation
Correct Answer: Planning
Rationale: During the planning phase, the nurse collaborates with the patient
to set specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-bound goals.
,Assessment involves data collection, diagnosis identifies problems, and
evaluation determines if goals were met.
5. A nurse administers morphine sulfate as ordered for a patient reporting
severe pain. This action reflects which step of the nursing process?
A) Assessment
B) Diagnosis
C) Planning
D) Implementation
Correct Answer: Implementation
Rationale: Implementation is the step in which the nurse carries out the
planned interventions. Administering medication is a direct nursing
intervention. Assessment involves data collection, diagnosis identifies
problems, and planning involves goal-setting.
6. After administering a pain medication, the nurse reassesses the patient's
pain level 30 minutes later. This action reflects which step of the nursing
process?
A) Assessment
B) Diagnosis
C) Implementation
D) Evaluation
Correct Answer: Evaluation
Rationale: Evaluation involves determining whether the patient's goals have
been met and whether interventions were effective. Reassessing pain after
medication administration evaluates the effectiveness of the intervention.
, 7. A nurse is reviewing the steps of the nursing process. Which action occurs
during the assessment phase?
A) Determining that the patient's pain has decreased from 8 to 3 on a 0–10
scale
B) Administering morphine sulfate as ordered for severe pain
C) Asking the patient to rate their pain level on a 0–10 scale
D) Writing a nursing diagnosis of "Acute Pain"
Correct Answer: Asking the patient to rate their pain level on a 0–10 scale
Rationale: Assessment involves collecting subjective and objective data.
Asking the patient to rate pain is data collection. Determining pain decrease
is evaluation, administering medication is implementation, and writing a
diagnosis is the diagnosis phase.
8. A patient reports chest pain. The nurse gathers data about the pain's
location, intensity, and quality. This data collection is part of which
component of critical thinking in nursing?
A) Knowing the scientific rationale for the intervention
B) Possessing the necessary psychomotor and interpersonal skills
C) Functioning within a particular setting to use available resources
D) Assessing systematically and comprehensively
Correct Answer: Assessing systematically and comprehensively
Rationale: Critical thinking in nursing involves systematic and comprehensive
assessment. Gathering data about pain location, intensity, and quality
demonstrates systematic data collection. The other options relate to other
aspects of critical thinking and nursing practice.
