Galen College NSG 4500 Exam 1 (pdf) | 2026/2027 | Evidence-Based
Practice | Nursing
1. According to the Galen College of Nursing NSG 4500 course syllabus,
which textbook is required for evidence-based practice in nursing?
A) Polit & Beck's Nursing Research
B) Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt's Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing &
Healthcare
C) Burns & Grove's The Practice of Nursing Research
D) Houser's Nursing Research: Reading, Using, and Creating Evidence
Correct Answer: Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt's Evidence-Based Practice in
Nursing & Healthcare
Rationale: The Galen NSG 4500 syllabus explicitly lists Melnyk & Fineout-
Overholt's "Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing & Healthcare" as the required
textbook for the course. Polit & Beck's "Nursing Research" is a recommended
resource, while the other texts are not specified in the syllabus.
2. A nurse is caring for four patients on a medical-surgical unit. Which patient
should the nurse assess first?
A) A post-operative patient who is stable but awaiting discharge
B) A patient with pneumonia who has a sudden oxygen saturation drop from
95% to 88%
C) A patient scheduled for routine morning labs
D) A patient with hypertension who requests education on dietary changes
Correct Answer: A patient with pneumonia who has a sudden oxygen
saturation drop from 95% to 88%
,Rationale: The nurse should prioritize patients with acute changes in
condition that may threaten life or safety. A sudden drop in oxygen
saturation indicates respiratory compromise and requires immediate
attention.
3. A nurse is delegating care to a licensed practical nurse (LPN). Which task
is appropriate to delegate?
A) Performing the initial patient assessment
B) Administering oral medications to stable patients
C) Developing the plan of care for a newly admitted patient
D) Evaluating the effectiveness of interventions for a post-op patient
Correct Answer: Administering oral medications to stable patients
Rationale: LPNs can safely administer medications to stable patients and
perform routine care under RN supervision. Assessment, planning, and
evaluation are RN responsibilities.
4. On a busy unit, the nurse has four patients: a patient with chest pain, a
patient with a scheduled dressing change, a patient needing teaching on
insulin, and a patient requesting pain medication for a mild headache. Which
action should the nurse take first?
A) Administer pain medication to the patient with a headache
B) Begin teaching the patient about insulin
C) Assess the patient with chest pain
D) Perform the scheduled dressing change
Correct Answer: Assess the patient with chest pain
,Rationale: Chest pain may indicate a life-threatening condition such as
myocardial infarction. Prioritization follows the ABCs and potential for harm.
5. A nurse is planning care for four patients. Which patient requires the
nurse's immediate attention?
A) A patient requesting help ambulating to the bathroom
B) A patient with newly noted confusion and agitation
C) A patient ready for discharge
D) A patient requesting assistance with a bath
Correct Answer: A patient with newly noted confusion and agitation
Rationale: New-onset confusion may indicate hypoxia, infection, or metabolic
imbalance. It is a sudden change requiring prompt assessment.
6. A nurse is delegating tasks to unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP). Which
of the following tasks is appropriate to delegate?
A) Performing a blood glucose assessment
B) Administering intravenous medications
C) Assisting a patient with activities of daily living
D) Inserting a urinary catheter
Correct Answer: Assisting a patient with activities of daily living
Rationale: UAPs can safely assist with bathing, feeding, and mobility. Tasks
that require clinical judgment, assessment, or invasive procedures must be
performed by licensed nurses.
, 7. A nurse receives a report at the beginning of a shift. Which patient should
the nurse assess first?
A) A patient scheduled for routine labs
B) A patient with a blood glucose of 120 mg/dL
C) A patient reporting sudden shortness of breath
D) A patient requesting assistance with ambulation
Correct Answer: A patient reporting sudden shortness of breath
Rationale: Sudden shortness of breath may indicate a life-threatening
condition and takes priority over routine care.
8. A patient with diabetes reports feeling dizzy and shaky. Which action
should the nurse take first?
A) Offer a glass of water
B) Check the patient's blood glucose
C) Assist the patient to ambulate
D) Administer scheduled insulin
Correct Answer: Check the patient's blood glucose
Rationale: Hypoglycemia can be life-threatening. Assessment of blood
glucose is the first step to determine immediate intervention.
9. A nurse is delegating tasks to a new LPN. Which task is safe to delegate?
A) Initiating patient education on newly prescribed medications
B) Administering intramuscular injections to stable patients
C) Performing a comprehensive admission assessment
Practice | Nursing
1. According to the Galen College of Nursing NSG 4500 course syllabus,
which textbook is required for evidence-based practice in nursing?
A) Polit & Beck's Nursing Research
B) Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt's Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing &
Healthcare
C) Burns & Grove's The Practice of Nursing Research
D) Houser's Nursing Research: Reading, Using, and Creating Evidence
Correct Answer: Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt's Evidence-Based Practice in
Nursing & Healthcare
Rationale: The Galen NSG 4500 syllabus explicitly lists Melnyk & Fineout-
Overholt's "Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing & Healthcare" as the required
textbook for the course. Polit & Beck's "Nursing Research" is a recommended
resource, while the other texts are not specified in the syllabus.
2. A nurse is caring for four patients on a medical-surgical unit. Which patient
should the nurse assess first?
A) A post-operative patient who is stable but awaiting discharge
B) A patient with pneumonia who has a sudden oxygen saturation drop from
95% to 88%
C) A patient scheduled for routine morning labs
D) A patient with hypertension who requests education on dietary changes
Correct Answer: A patient with pneumonia who has a sudden oxygen
saturation drop from 95% to 88%
,Rationale: The nurse should prioritize patients with acute changes in
condition that may threaten life or safety. A sudden drop in oxygen
saturation indicates respiratory compromise and requires immediate
attention.
3. A nurse is delegating care to a licensed practical nurse (LPN). Which task
is appropriate to delegate?
A) Performing the initial patient assessment
B) Administering oral medications to stable patients
C) Developing the plan of care for a newly admitted patient
D) Evaluating the effectiveness of interventions for a post-op patient
Correct Answer: Administering oral medications to stable patients
Rationale: LPNs can safely administer medications to stable patients and
perform routine care under RN supervision. Assessment, planning, and
evaluation are RN responsibilities.
4. On a busy unit, the nurse has four patients: a patient with chest pain, a
patient with a scheduled dressing change, a patient needing teaching on
insulin, and a patient requesting pain medication for a mild headache. Which
action should the nurse take first?
A) Administer pain medication to the patient with a headache
B) Begin teaching the patient about insulin
C) Assess the patient with chest pain
D) Perform the scheduled dressing change
Correct Answer: Assess the patient with chest pain
,Rationale: Chest pain may indicate a life-threatening condition such as
myocardial infarction. Prioritization follows the ABCs and potential for harm.
5. A nurse is planning care for four patients. Which patient requires the
nurse's immediate attention?
A) A patient requesting help ambulating to the bathroom
B) A patient with newly noted confusion and agitation
C) A patient ready for discharge
D) A patient requesting assistance with a bath
Correct Answer: A patient with newly noted confusion and agitation
Rationale: New-onset confusion may indicate hypoxia, infection, or metabolic
imbalance. It is a sudden change requiring prompt assessment.
6. A nurse is delegating tasks to unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP). Which
of the following tasks is appropriate to delegate?
A) Performing a blood glucose assessment
B) Administering intravenous medications
C) Assisting a patient with activities of daily living
D) Inserting a urinary catheter
Correct Answer: Assisting a patient with activities of daily living
Rationale: UAPs can safely assist with bathing, feeding, and mobility. Tasks
that require clinical judgment, assessment, or invasive procedures must be
performed by licensed nurses.
, 7. A nurse receives a report at the beginning of a shift. Which patient should
the nurse assess first?
A) A patient scheduled for routine labs
B) A patient with a blood glucose of 120 mg/dL
C) A patient reporting sudden shortness of breath
D) A patient requesting assistance with ambulation
Correct Answer: A patient reporting sudden shortness of breath
Rationale: Sudden shortness of breath may indicate a life-threatening
condition and takes priority over routine care.
8. A patient with diabetes reports feeling dizzy and shaky. Which action
should the nurse take first?
A) Offer a glass of water
B) Check the patient's blood glucose
C) Assist the patient to ambulate
D) Administer scheduled insulin
Correct Answer: Check the patient's blood glucose
Rationale: Hypoglycemia can be life-threatening. Assessment of blood
glucose is the first step to determine immediate intervention.
9. A nurse is delegating tasks to a new LPN. Which task is safe to delegate?
A) Initiating patient education on newly prescribed medications
B) Administering intramuscular injections to stable patients
C) Performing a comprehensive admission assessment
