NSG 300 Exam 1 – Foundations of Nursing – (2026)
Questions & Study Guide (Grand Canyon
University)
SECTION 1: NURSING HISTORY & THEORIES
Q1. Who is considered the founder of modern nursing?
• A) Clara Barton
• B) Florence Nightingale
• C) Dorothea Dix
• D) Mary Mahoney
Answer: B) Florence Nightingale
Rationale: Florence Nightingale is considered the founder of modern nursing. She
established the first nursing school, improved sanitation during the Crimean War,
and wrote "Notes on Nursing." Her environmental theory emphasized clean air,
pure water, efficient drainage, and light .
Q2. Florence Nightingale's contributions to nursing included:
• A) Establishing the American Red Cross
• B) Improving sanitation and reducing infection rates
• C) Developing the first nursing theory of caring
• D) Founding the first nursing school in the United States
Answer: B) Improving sanitation and reducing infection rates
Rationale: Nightingale's work during the Crimean War demonstrated that
improved sanitation dramatically reduced infection and mortality rates. She
emphasized clean water, ventilation, and handwashing .
,Q3. Which nursing theorist developed the Theory of Human Caring (caring
moments)?
• A) Jean Watson
• B) Dorothea Orem
• C) Hildegard Peplau
• D) Madeleine Leininger
Answer: A) Jean Watson
Rationale: Jean Watson's Theory of Human Caring emphasizes the caring
relationship between nurse and patient. She introduced the concept of "caring
moments" and the Caritas Processes .
Q4. Dorothea Orem is known for which nursing theory?
• A) Theory of Interpersonal Relations
• B) Self-Care Deficit Theory
• C) Theory of Cultural Care Diversity
• D) Adaptation Model
Answer: B) Self-Care Deficit Theory
Rationale: Orem's Self-Care Deficit Theory proposes that nursing care is needed
when patients cannot perform self-care activities necessary for health and well-
being. Nursing helps patients meet their self-care needs .
Q5. Hildegard Peplau is known for her theory of:
• A) Interpersonal relations
• B) Adaptation
• C) Human caring
• D) Self-care
,Answer: A) Interpersonal relations
Rationale: Peplau's Theory of Interpersonal Relations focuses on the nurse-
patient relationship and describes phases: orientation, identification, exploitation,
and resolution .
Q6. Madeleine Leininger is known for:
• A) The theory of cultural care diversity and universality (transcultural
nursing)
• B) The theory of human caring
• C) The behavioral systems model
• D) The science of unitary human beings
Answer: A) The theory of cultural care diversity and universality (transcultural
nursing)
Rationale: Leininger is the founder of transcultural nursing, emphasizing that
culture influences health beliefs, practices, and care. This theory is essential for
providing culturally competent care .
Q7. The American Nurses Association (ANA) defines nursing as:
• A) The diagnosis and treatment of disease
• B) The diagnosis and treatment of human responses to actual or potential
health problems
• C) The administration of medications
• D) The provision of comfort measures only
Answer: B) The diagnosis and treatment of human responses to actual or
potential health problems
, Rationale: The ANA's definition of nursing includes the diagnosis and treatment of
human responses to health problems, emphasizing holistic care rather than just
disease treatment .
Q8. Who was the first African American professional nurse in the United States?
• A) Mary Mahoney
• B) Lillian Wald
• C) Clara Barton
• D) Linda Richards
Answer: A) Mary Mahoney
Rationale: Mary Mahoney was the first African American professional nurse in the
United States. She was a leader in promoting diversity in nursing .
Q9. Clara Barton is best known for:
• A) Founding the American Red Cross
• B) Establishing the first nursing school
• C) Developing the first nursing theory
• D) Serving as the first president of the ANA
Answer: A) Founding the American Red Cross
Rationale: Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross in 1881 and was known
for her humanitarian work during the Civil War .
Q10. The "metaparadigm" of nursing includes four concepts:
• A) Person, environment, health, nursing
• B) Patient, family, community, care
• C) Diagnosis, intervention, outcome, evaluation
Questions & Study Guide (Grand Canyon
University)
SECTION 1: NURSING HISTORY & THEORIES
Q1. Who is considered the founder of modern nursing?
• A) Clara Barton
• B) Florence Nightingale
• C) Dorothea Dix
• D) Mary Mahoney
Answer: B) Florence Nightingale
Rationale: Florence Nightingale is considered the founder of modern nursing. She
established the first nursing school, improved sanitation during the Crimean War,
and wrote "Notes on Nursing." Her environmental theory emphasized clean air,
pure water, efficient drainage, and light .
Q2. Florence Nightingale's contributions to nursing included:
• A) Establishing the American Red Cross
• B) Improving sanitation and reducing infection rates
• C) Developing the first nursing theory of caring
• D) Founding the first nursing school in the United States
Answer: B) Improving sanitation and reducing infection rates
Rationale: Nightingale's work during the Crimean War demonstrated that
improved sanitation dramatically reduced infection and mortality rates. She
emphasized clean water, ventilation, and handwashing .
,Q3. Which nursing theorist developed the Theory of Human Caring (caring
moments)?
• A) Jean Watson
• B) Dorothea Orem
• C) Hildegard Peplau
• D) Madeleine Leininger
Answer: A) Jean Watson
Rationale: Jean Watson's Theory of Human Caring emphasizes the caring
relationship between nurse and patient. She introduced the concept of "caring
moments" and the Caritas Processes .
Q4. Dorothea Orem is known for which nursing theory?
• A) Theory of Interpersonal Relations
• B) Self-Care Deficit Theory
• C) Theory of Cultural Care Diversity
• D) Adaptation Model
Answer: B) Self-Care Deficit Theory
Rationale: Orem's Self-Care Deficit Theory proposes that nursing care is needed
when patients cannot perform self-care activities necessary for health and well-
being. Nursing helps patients meet their self-care needs .
Q5. Hildegard Peplau is known for her theory of:
• A) Interpersonal relations
• B) Adaptation
• C) Human caring
• D) Self-care
,Answer: A) Interpersonal relations
Rationale: Peplau's Theory of Interpersonal Relations focuses on the nurse-
patient relationship and describes phases: orientation, identification, exploitation,
and resolution .
Q6. Madeleine Leininger is known for:
• A) The theory of cultural care diversity and universality (transcultural
nursing)
• B) The theory of human caring
• C) The behavioral systems model
• D) The science of unitary human beings
Answer: A) The theory of cultural care diversity and universality (transcultural
nursing)
Rationale: Leininger is the founder of transcultural nursing, emphasizing that
culture influences health beliefs, practices, and care. This theory is essential for
providing culturally competent care .
Q7. The American Nurses Association (ANA) defines nursing as:
• A) The diagnosis and treatment of disease
• B) The diagnosis and treatment of human responses to actual or potential
health problems
• C) The administration of medications
• D) The provision of comfort measures only
Answer: B) The diagnosis and treatment of human responses to actual or
potential health problems
, Rationale: The ANA's definition of nursing includes the diagnosis and treatment of
human responses to health problems, emphasizing holistic care rather than just
disease treatment .
Q8. Who was the first African American professional nurse in the United States?
• A) Mary Mahoney
• B) Lillian Wald
• C) Clara Barton
• D) Linda Richards
Answer: A) Mary Mahoney
Rationale: Mary Mahoney was the first African American professional nurse in the
United States. She was a leader in promoting diversity in nursing .
Q9. Clara Barton is best known for:
• A) Founding the American Red Cross
• B) Establishing the first nursing school
• C) Developing the first nursing theory
• D) Serving as the first president of the ANA
Answer: A) Founding the American Red Cross
Rationale: Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross in 1881 and was known
for her humanitarian work during the Civil War .
Q10. The "metaparadigm" of nursing includes four concepts:
• A) Person, environment, health, nursing
• B) Patient, family, community, care
• C) Diagnosis, intervention, outcome, evaluation
