Page |1
NU 136 EXAM 2 FUNDAMENTALS OF NURSING
ACTUAL EXAM [ QUESTION 1- 200] AND ANSWERS
UPDATED 2026/2027| 100% VERIFIED|DETAILED
RATIONALES –PASS GUARANTEED A+ GRADED
|INSTANT DOWNLOAD
Introduction:
**This NU 136 Exam 2 Fundamentals of Nursing practice set provides a comprehensive review
of essential nursing concepts commonly assessed in an introductory fundamentals course. The
questions emphasize clinical judgment, prioritization, patient safety, assessment, communication,
infection prevention, documentation, mobility, nutrition, elimination, comfort, and basic nursing
interventions. Rather than reproducing a brain dump or purported confidential examination, the
questions are newly written to help learners apply nursing principles to realistic clinical
situations. The practice set is particularly useful for developing the ability to recognize expected
findings, identify complications, select appropriate nursing interventions, and determine which
patient requires attention first. Each question contains one best answer followed by an
educational rationale explaining the reasoning behind the correct response and the limitations of
the distractors. Students can use the bank for self-testing, classroom review, remediation, or
preparation for instructor-developed examinations. Repeated practice with scenario-based
questions can strengthen clinical reasoning, improve recall of fundamental principles, and help
candidates approach examination questions systematically and confidently.**
Core Domains Covered:
1. Nursing Assessment and Clinical Judgment — Applying systematic assessment, recognizing
significant findings, and identifying priorities of care.
2. Patient Safety — Preventing falls, medication errors, aspiration, injury, and other avoidable
complications.
3. Infection Prevention and Control — Applying standard precautions, transmission-based
precautions, hand hygiene, and aseptic principles.
4. Communication and Therapeutic Relationships — Using therapeutic communication,
active listening, appropriate boundaries, and patient-centered interactions.
5. Mobility, Positioning, and Skin Integrity — Promoting safe movement, preventing pressure
injuries, and recognizing risks associated with immobility.
6. Nutrition, Hydration, and Elimination — Supporting nutritional status, fluid balance,
bowel function, and urinary function.
7. Comfort, Sleep, Hygiene, and Basic Care — Providing individualized assistance with
hygiene, rest, comfort, and activities of daily living.
8. Documentation, Ethics, and Professional Practice — Maintaining accurate records,
protecting confidentiality, respecting autonomy, and practicing within nursing responsibilities.
QUESTIONS 1–100
Question 1
,Page |2
A nurse begins an initial assessment of a newly admitted patient. Which action should the nurse
perform first?
A) Review the patient's family medical history
B) Assess the patient's immediate physiological needs
C) Ask about the patient's preferred discharge destination
D) Complete the social history
Rationale: The correct answer is B because immediate physiological needs take priority during
an initial assessment. The nurse should first identify threats to airway, breathing, circulation, or
other urgent physiological problems. Family history and social information are important but do
not take precedence over potentially unstable conditions. Discharge planning is also important
but occurs after immediate safety and assessment needs have been addressed.
Question 2
A patient reports sudden shortness of breath while resting in bed. What is the nurse's priority
action?
A) Document the complaint in the medical record
B) Assess respiratory status immediately
C) Ask the patient about recent dietary intake
D) Provide a complete health-history questionnaire
Rationale: The correct answer is B because sudden dyspnea may indicate an acute respiratory
problem. The nurse should rapidly assess respiratory rate, effort, oxygenation, breath sounds,
and other relevant findings. Documentation is necessary but should follow assessment and
intervention. Dietary history and a comprehensive questionnaire are not immediate priorities.
Question 3
Which assessment finding requires the most immediate nursing attention?
A) Mild nausea after breakfast
B) Patient reports difficulty sleeping
C) Patient requests assistance with bathing
D) Respiratory rate of 8 breaths per minute with increasing drowsiness
Rationale: The correct answer is D because marked respiratory depression accompanied by
altered level of consciousness can threaten airway and breathing. The ABC framework places
breathing ahead of comfort and routine care. Mild nausea, insomnia, and bathing assistance are
lower-priority concerns when compared with possible respiratory compromise.
Question 4
,Page |3
A nurse is performing a focused assessment after a patient reports abdominal discomfort. Which
approach is most appropriate?
A) Assess only the area identified by the patient
B) Collect relevant subjective and objective data related to the complaint
C) Delay assessment until the physician arrives
D) Perform a complete head-to-toe assessment before asking questions
Rationale: The correct answer is B because a focused assessment gathers both subjective and
objective information relevant to the presenting problem. Limiting the assessment to one exact
area may miss associated findings. The nurse should not unnecessarily delay assessment, and a
full head-to-toe assessment is not always required before addressing a focused complaint.
Question 5
Which statement best demonstrates objective data?
A) "I feel dizzy."
B) "My pain is severe."
C) Blood pressure is 88/54 mmHg
D) "I feel anxious."
Rationale: The correct answer is C because objective data are measurable or observable
findings obtained through examination or measurement. The other statements describe
subjective symptoms reported by the patient and cannot be directly measured by the nurse.
Question 6
A patient says, "I am really worried about what will happen after surgery." Which response is
most therapeutic?
A) "Don't worry; everything will be fine."
B) "You should focus on getting better."
C) "Tell me what concerns you most about the surgery."
D) "Many patients feel that way before surgery."
Rationale: The correct answer is C because it acknowledges the patient's concern and
encourages expression of feelings. False reassurance can minimize the patient's anxiety. Telling
the patient to focus on recovery changes the subject, while generalizing the experience does not
explore the patient's individual concerns.
Question 7
A patient begins crying while discussing a recent diagnosis. What should the nurse do?
, Page |4
A) Immediately change the subject
B) Tell the patient to remain positive
C) Remain present and allow the patient time to express emotions
D) Leave the room to provide privacy
Rationale: The correct answer is C because therapeutic presence allows the patient to process
emotions without feeling dismissed. Changing the subject or providing unrealistic reassurance
can interfere with communication. Leaving automatically may make the patient feel abandoned
rather than supported.
Question 8
Which nurse statement is an example of an open-ended question?
A) "Is your pain worse today?"
B) "Did you sleep last night?"
C) "Does your stomach hurt?"
D) "Can you describe what you have been experiencing?"
Rationale: The correct answer is D because an open-ended question encourages the patient to
provide a broader description. Questions requiring yes/no answers are closed-ended and are
useful for specific information but do not encourage extensive discussion.
Question 9
A patient asks the nurse, "Do you think my treatment will work?" What is the best response?
A) "It will definitely work."
B) "Your family probably knows more about that."
C) "What concerns do you have about the treatment?"
D) "You should ask another patient."
Rationale: The correct answer is C because it explores the patient's concern without making
promises or giving inappropriate assurances. The nurse should provide accurate information
within the scope of practice and collaborate with the appropriate healthcare professional when
needed.
Question 10
Which action best demonstrates active listening?
A) Interrupting frequently to clarify minor details
B) Planning the next question while the patient speaks
C) Maintaining appropriate attention and reflecting important statements
D) Avoiding eye contact throughout the conversation
NU 136 EXAM 2 FUNDAMENTALS OF NURSING
ACTUAL EXAM [ QUESTION 1- 200] AND ANSWERS
UPDATED 2026/2027| 100% VERIFIED|DETAILED
RATIONALES –PASS GUARANTEED A+ GRADED
|INSTANT DOWNLOAD
Introduction:
**This NU 136 Exam 2 Fundamentals of Nursing practice set provides a comprehensive review
of essential nursing concepts commonly assessed in an introductory fundamentals course. The
questions emphasize clinical judgment, prioritization, patient safety, assessment, communication,
infection prevention, documentation, mobility, nutrition, elimination, comfort, and basic nursing
interventions. Rather than reproducing a brain dump or purported confidential examination, the
questions are newly written to help learners apply nursing principles to realistic clinical
situations. The practice set is particularly useful for developing the ability to recognize expected
findings, identify complications, select appropriate nursing interventions, and determine which
patient requires attention first. Each question contains one best answer followed by an
educational rationale explaining the reasoning behind the correct response and the limitations of
the distractors. Students can use the bank for self-testing, classroom review, remediation, or
preparation for instructor-developed examinations. Repeated practice with scenario-based
questions can strengthen clinical reasoning, improve recall of fundamental principles, and help
candidates approach examination questions systematically and confidently.**
Core Domains Covered:
1. Nursing Assessment and Clinical Judgment — Applying systematic assessment, recognizing
significant findings, and identifying priorities of care.
2. Patient Safety — Preventing falls, medication errors, aspiration, injury, and other avoidable
complications.
3. Infection Prevention and Control — Applying standard precautions, transmission-based
precautions, hand hygiene, and aseptic principles.
4. Communication and Therapeutic Relationships — Using therapeutic communication,
active listening, appropriate boundaries, and patient-centered interactions.
5. Mobility, Positioning, and Skin Integrity — Promoting safe movement, preventing pressure
injuries, and recognizing risks associated with immobility.
6. Nutrition, Hydration, and Elimination — Supporting nutritional status, fluid balance,
bowel function, and urinary function.
7. Comfort, Sleep, Hygiene, and Basic Care — Providing individualized assistance with
hygiene, rest, comfort, and activities of daily living.
8. Documentation, Ethics, and Professional Practice — Maintaining accurate records,
protecting confidentiality, respecting autonomy, and practicing within nursing responsibilities.
QUESTIONS 1–100
Question 1
,Page |2
A nurse begins an initial assessment of a newly admitted patient. Which action should the nurse
perform first?
A) Review the patient's family medical history
B) Assess the patient's immediate physiological needs
C) Ask about the patient's preferred discharge destination
D) Complete the social history
Rationale: The correct answer is B because immediate physiological needs take priority during
an initial assessment. The nurse should first identify threats to airway, breathing, circulation, or
other urgent physiological problems. Family history and social information are important but do
not take precedence over potentially unstable conditions. Discharge planning is also important
but occurs after immediate safety and assessment needs have been addressed.
Question 2
A patient reports sudden shortness of breath while resting in bed. What is the nurse's priority
action?
A) Document the complaint in the medical record
B) Assess respiratory status immediately
C) Ask the patient about recent dietary intake
D) Provide a complete health-history questionnaire
Rationale: The correct answer is B because sudden dyspnea may indicate an acute respiratory
problem. The nurse should rapidly assess respiratory rate, effort, oxygenation, breath sounds,
and other relevant findings. Documentation is necessary but should follow assessment and
intervention. Dietary history and a comprehensive questionnaire are not immediate priorities.
Question 3
Which assessment finding requires the most immediate nursing attention?
A) Mild nausea after breakfast
B) Patient reports difficulty sleeping
C) Patient requests assistance with bathing
D) Respiratory rate of 8 breaths per minute with increasing drowsiness
Rationale: The correct answer is D because marked respiratory depression accompanied by
altered level of consciousness can threaten airway and breathing. The ABC framework places
breathing ahead of comfort and routine care. Mild nausea, insomnia, and bathing assistance are
lower-priority concerns when compared with possible respiratory compromise.
Question 4
,Page |3
A nurse is performing a focused assessment after a patient reports abdominal discomfort. Which
approach is most appropriate?
A) Assess only the area identified by the patient
B) Collect relevant subjective and objective data related to the complaint
C) Delay assessment until the physician arrives
D) Perform a complete head-to-toe assessment before asking questions
Rationale: The correct answer is B because a focused assessment gathers both subjective and
objective information relevant to the presenting problem. Limiting the assessment to one exact
area may miss associated findings. The nurse should not unnecessarily delay assessment, and a
full head-to-toe assessment is not always required before addressing a focused complaint.
Question 5
Which statement best demonstrates objective data?
A) "I feel dizzy."
B) "My pain is severe."
C) Blood pressure is 88/54 mmHg
D) "I feel anxious."
Rationale: The correct answer is C because objective data are measurable or observable
findings obtained through examination or measurement. The other statements describe
subjective symptoms reported by the patient and cannot be directly measured by the nurse.
Question 6
A patient says, "I am really worried about what will happen after surgery." Which response is
most therapeutic?
A) "Don't worry; everything will be fine."
B) "You should focus on getting better."
C) "Tell me what concerns you most about the surgery."
D) "Many patients feel that way before surgery."
Rationale: The correct answer is C because it acknowledges the patient's concern and
encourages expression of feelings. False reassurance can minimize the patient's anxiety. Telling
the patient to focus on recovery changes the subject, while generalizing the experience does not
explore the patient's individual concerns.
Question 7
A patient begins crying while discussing a recent diagnosis. What should the nurse do?
, Page |4
A) Immediately change the subject
B) Tell the patient to remain positive
C) Remain present and allow the patient time to express emotions
D) Leave the room to provide privacy
Rationale: The correct answer is C because therapeutic presence allows the patient to process
emotions without feeling dismissed. Changing the subject or providing unrealistic reassurance
can interfere with communication. Leaving automatically may make the patient feel abandoned
rather than supported.
Question 8
Which nurse statement is an example of an open-ended question?
A) "Is your pain worse today?"
B) "Did you sleep last night?"
C) "Does your stomach hurt?"
D) "Can you describe what you have been experiencing?"
Rationale: The correct answer is D because an open-ended question encourages the patient to
provide a broader description. Questions requiring yes/no answers are closed-ended and are
useful for specific information but do not encourage extensive discussion.
Question 9
A patient asks the nurse, "Do you think my treatment will work?" What is the best response?
A) "It will definitely work."
B) "Your family probably knows more about that."
C) "What concerns do you have about the treatment?"
D) "You should ask another patient."
Rationale: The correct answer is C because it explores the patient's concern without making
promises or giving inappropriate assurances. The nurse should provide accurate information
within the scope of practice and collaborate with the appropriate healthcare professional when
needed.
Question 10
Which action best demonstrates active listening?
A) Interrupting frequently to clarify minor details
B) Planning the next question while the patient speaks
C) Maintaining appropriate attention and reflecting important statements
D) Avoiding eye contact throughout the conversation
