ADN Exam 1: Fundamentals, Health Assessment & Acid-Base
2026/2027 Update |Galen College
1. What is the first step of the nursing process (ADPIE)?
A. Diagnosis
B. Implementation
C. Planning
D. Assessment
Answer: D
Rationale: Assessment is the first step, involving the systematic collection of data about a
patient’s health status.
2. A patient has a pH of 7.25, a PaCO2 of 50 mmHg, and an HCO3 of 24 mEq/L.
How would the nurse interpret this ABG?
A. Metabolic Acidosis
B. Respiratory Acidosis
C. Respiratory Alkalosis
D. Metabolic Alkalosis
Answer: B
Rationale: A pH below 7.35 indicates acidosis. A high CO2 (above 45) indicates a
respiratory cause. Since HCO3 is normal, it is uncompensated respiratory acidosis.
,3. In which order should the nurse perform an abdominal assessment?
A. Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation
B. Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion, Palpation
C. Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation, Inspection
D. Auscultation, Inspection, Palpation, Percussion
Answer: B
Rationale: Auscultation is done before percussion and palpation to avoid stimulating
bowel sounds that were not originally present.
4. Which ethical principle refers to the nurse’s obligation to do no harm?
A. Autonomy
B. Justice
C. Fidelity
D. Non-maleficence
Answer: D
Rationale: Non-maleficence is the duty to do no harm to the patient.
5. A nurse is assessing a patient’s radial pulse and finds it to be 52 beats per
minute. This is documented as:
A. Tachycardia
B. Normal sinus rhythm
C. Pulse deficit
D. Bradycardia
Answer: D
Rationale: Bradycardia is defined as a heart rate less than 60 beats per minute in an adult.
, 6. When assessing skin turgor in an elderly patient, where is the best location to
check?
A. The back of the hand
B. The sternum or clavicle
C. The forearm
D. The abdomen
Answer: B
Rationale: In older adults, skin on the hands loses elasticity; the sternum or subclavicular
area provides a more accurate assessment of hydration.
7. Which of the following values represents a normal arterial blood pH?
A. 7.00 - 7.10
B. 7.35 - 7.45
C. 7.45 - 7.55
D. 6.35 - 6.45
Answer: B
Rationale: The normal range for arterial blood pH is 7.35 to 7.45.
8. The nurse is caring for a patient with C. difficile. Which infection control
precaution is required?
A. Standard Precautions only
B. Droplet Precautions
C. Contact Precautions
D. Airborne Precautions
Answer: C
Rationale: C. diff requires Contact Precautions, including gown and gloves, and
handwashing with soap and water rather than alcohol-based rub.
2026/2027 Update |Galen College
1. What is the first step of the nursing process (ADPIE)?
A. Diagnosis
B. Implementation
C. Planning
D. Assessment
Answer: D
Rationale: Assessment is the first step, involving the systematic collection of data about a
patient’s health status.
2. A patient has a pH of 7.25, a PaCO2 of 50 mmHg, and an HCO3 of 24 mEq/L.
How would the nurse interpret this ABG?
A. Metabolic Acidosis
B. Respiratory Acidosis
C. Respiratory Alkalosis
D. Metabolic Alkalosis
Answer: B
Rationale: A pH below 7.35 indicates acidosis. A high CO2 (above 45) indicates a
respiratory cause. Since HCO3 is normal, it is uncompensated respiratory acidosis.
,3. In which order should the nurse perform an abdominal assessment?
A. Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation
B. Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion, Palpation
C. Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation, Inspection
D. Auscultation, Inspection, Palpation, Percussion
Answer: B
Rationale: Auscultation is done before percussion and palpation to avoid stimulating
bowel sounds that were not originally present.
4. Which ethical principle refers to the nurse’s obligation to do no harm?
A. Autonomy
B. Justice
C. Fidelity
D. Non-maleficence
Answer: D
Rationale: Non-maleficence is the duty to do no harm to the patient.
5. A nurse is assessing a patient’s radial pulse and finds it to be 52 beats per
minute. This is documented as:
A. Tachycardia
B. Normal sinus rhythm
C. Pulse deficit
D. Bradycardia
Answer: D
Rationale: Bradycardia is defined as a heart rate less than 60 beats per minute in an adult.
, 6. When assessing skin turgor in an elderly patient, where is the best location to
check?
A. The back of the hand
B. The sternum or clavicle
C. The forearm
D. The abdomen
Answer: B
Rationale: In older adults, skin on the hands loses elasticity; the sternum or subclavicular
area provides a more accurate assessment of hydration.
7. Which of the following values represents a normal arterial blood pH?
A. 7.00 - 7.10
B. 7.35 - 7.45
C. 7.45 - 7.55
D. 6.35 - 6.45
Answer: B
Rationale: The normal range for arterial blood pH is 7.35 to 7.45.
8. The nurse is caring for a patient with C. difficile. Which infection control
precaution is required?
A. Standard Precautions only
B. Droplet Precautions
C. Contact Precautions
D. Airborne Precautions
Answer: C
Rationale: C. diff requires Contact Precautions, including gown and gloves, and
handwashing with soap and water rather than alcohol-based rub.
