Test Bank _ Fundamentals Of Nursing 12th
Edition, (2025) By Patricia A . Potter and 4 more
CATEGORY 1: FOUNDATIONAL CONCEPTS & PROFESSIONAL
PRACTICE
1. A nurse is caring for a patient who refuses a prescribed medication. The nurse explains the
benefits and risks but the patient continues to refuse. The nurse documents the refusal and
does not administer the medication. This action demonstrates which ethical principle?
A. Beneficence
B. Autonomy
C. Justice
D. Nonmaleficence
Answer: B
Rationale: Autonomy is the right of a competent individual to make their own healthcare
decisions. By respecting the patient's refusal, the nurse upholds this principle. Beneficence
(doing good) would be giving the medication, Justice is fairness, and Nonmaleficence is "do
no harm."
2. A nursing student is preparing a care plan and includes "Patient will ambulate 50 feet by
day 2" as an outcome. This is an example of which type of statement?
A. Nursing diagnosis
B. Goal/Outcome
C. Nursing intervention
D. Evaluation criteria
Answer: B
Rationale: This is a patient-centered, measurable, and time-specific goal/outcome
statement. It describes what the patient will achieve, not what the nurse will do.
3. A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a patient. The patient asks, "Why do I need to
know all of this?" The nurse's best response is based on which legal doctrine?
A. Standard of care
B. Informed consent
C. Patient Self-Determination Act
D. Good Samaritan Act
Answer: B
,Rationale: Informed consent requires that patients understand the risks, benefits, and
alternatives of their treatment and care. Discharge teaching is an extension of this, ensuring
the patient can safely continue care at home.
4. A nurse is caring for a patient who is a member of a cultural group that uses alternative
healing practices. The nurse incorporates these practices into the plan of care. This is an
example of:
A. Cultural imposition
B. Cultural competence
C. Cultural blindness
D. Stereotyping
Answer: B
Rationale: Cultural competence involves respecting and integrating a patient's cultural
beliefs and practices into their healthcare. Cultural imposition is forcing one's own beliefs,
cultural blindness is ignoring differences, and stereotyping is making assumptions.
5. A nurse is documenting in the electronic health record. Which entry is most legally sound?
A. "Patient seems upset today."
B. "Patient is in a bad mood."
C. "Patient states, 'I feel anxious about my surgery tomorrow.'"
D. "Patient is not cooperating."
Answer: C
Rationale: The most legally sound documentation is objective, factual, and uses the patient's
exact words in quotation marks. Subjective opinions ("seems upset," "bad mood," "not
cooperating") are vague and can be misinterpreted.
6. A new nurse is feeling overwhelmed and is considering leaving the profession. Which
resource would be most helpful for addressing burnout?
A. Continuing education courses
B. The hospital's employee assistance program (EAP)
C. Reading nursing journals
D. Asking for a transfer to a different unit
Answer: B
Rationale: Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) provide confidential counseling and
support for stress, burnout, and personal issues. Continuing education and journals are
educational, not therapeutic. Transferring may not address the underlying burnout.
7. A nurse is caring for a patient with a terminal illness. The patient asks the nurse to "help
me end my suffering." The nurse feels conflicted. This situation is best described as:
A. An ethical dilemma
B. A legal issue
,C. A values conflict
D. A moral distress
Answer: A
Rationale: An ethical dilemma occurs when two or more ethical principles conflict (e.g.,
autonomy vs. nonmaleficence). The nurse is torn between respecting the patient's wishes
and the duty to preserve life. Moral distress is knowing the right thing to do but being
unable to do it due to constraints.
8. The nurse is caring for a patient who is a devout Muslim. The patient requests a specific
diet. The nurse should:
A. Explain that the hospital menu is standardized.
B. Contact the dietary department to accommodate the request.
C. Tell the patient to eat what is provided.
D. Ask the patient to compromise.
Answer: B
Rationale: Culturally competent care requires accommodating a patient's religious dietary
needs. The nurse should act as an advocate and contact the dietary department to provide
halal or other appropriate meals.
9. A nurse is reviewing the ANA Code of Ethics. Which principle emphasizes the nurse's duty
to the patient above all else?
A. Provision 1
B. Provision 2
C. Provision 3
D. Provision 4
Answer: B
Rationale: Provision 2 of the ANA Code of Ethics states that "the nurse's primary
commitment is to the patient, whether an individual, family, group, community, or
population."
10. A nurse is teaching a patient about their medication. The patient is able to repeat the
instructions back to the nurse. This is an example of:
A. Assessment
B. Implementation
C. Evaluation
D. Planning
Answer: C
, Rationale: Evaluation is the phase where the nurse determines if the patient has achieved
the desired outcomes. The patient's ability to repeat the instructions indicates that the
teaching intervention was effective.
11. Which of the following is an example of a dependent nursing intervention?
A. Turning a patient every 2 hours
B. Providing patient education
C. Administering an oral medication
D. Performing a wound dressing change
Answer: C
Rationale: Dependent interventions require a physician's order. Administering an oral
medication is a dependent function. Turning, teaching, and wound care are independent
nursing interventions (though wound care may sometimes require an order, it is often within
nursing scope without one).
12. A nurse is providing care to a patient from a culture that values "family decision-making."
The patient's family wants to make all healthcare decisions. The nurse should:
A. Insist that the patient make their own decisions.
B. Respect the family's role and involve them in decision-making.
C. Call the ethics committee.
D. Ignore the family and speak only to the patient.
Answer: B
Rationale: Cultural competence requires adapting care to the patient's cultural norms. In
collectivist cultures, the family often makes decisions. The nurse should respect this while
also ensuring the patient's wishes are known.
13. The nurse is documenting a patient's vital signs. The blood pressure is 140/90. The nurse
documents this as "hypertensive." This is an example of:
A. Accurate documentation
B. A nursing diagnosis
C. An inference
D. Objective data
Answer: C
Rationale: The blood pressure reading is objective data. However, labeling it as
"hypertensive" is an inference or interpretation made by the nurse. The nurse should
document the objective data and allow the provider to make the diagnosis.
14. A patient is about to undergo a surgical procedure. The nurse witnesses the patient's
signature on the consent form. This means the nurse:
A. Explains the procedure to the patient.
B. Confirms that the patient is competent and signed voluntarily.
Edition, (2025) By Patricia A . Potter and 4 more
CATEGORY 1: FOUNDATIONAL CONCEPTS & PROFESSIONAL
PRACTICE
1. A nurse is caring for a patient who refuses a prescribed medication. The nurse explains the
benefits and risks but the patient continues to refuse. The nurse documents the refusal and
does not administer the medication. This action demonstrates which ethical principle?
A. Beneficence
B. Autonomy
C. Justice
D. Nonmaleficence
Answer: B
Rationale: Autonomy is the right of a competent individual to make their own healthcare
decisions. By respecting the patient's refusal, the nurse upholds this principle. Beneficence
(doing good) would be giving the medication, Justice is fairness, and Nonmaleficence is "do
no harm."
2. A nursing student is preparing a care plan and includes "Patient will ambulate 50 feet by
day 2" as an outcome. This is an example of which type of statement?
A. Nursing diagnosis
B. Goal/Outcome
C. Nursing intervention
D. Evaluation criteria
Answer: B
Rationale: This is a patient-centered, measurable, and time-specific goal/outcome
statement. It describes what the patient will achieve, not what the nurse will do.
3. A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a patient. The patient asks, "Why do I need to
know all of this?" The nurse's best response is based on which legal doctrine?
A. Standard of care
B. Informed consent
C. Patient Self-Determination Act
D. Good Samaritan Act
Answer: B
,Rationale: Informed consent requires that patients understand the risks, benefits, and
alternatives of their treatment and care. Discharge teaching is an extension of this, ensuring
the patient can safely continue care at home.
4. A nurse is caring for a patient who is a member of a cultural group that uses alternative
healing practices. The nurse incorporates these practices into the plan of care. This is an
example of:
A. Cultural imposition
B. Cultural competence
C. Cultural blindness
D. Stereotyping
Answer: B
Rationale: Cultural competence involves respecting and integrating a patient's cultural
beliefs and practices into their healthcare. Cultural imposition is forcing one's own beliefs,
cultural blindness is ignoring differences, and stereotyping is making assumptions.
5. A nurse is documenting in the electronic health record. Which entry is most legally sound?
A. "Patient seems upset today."
B. "Patient is in a bad mood."
C. "Patient states, 'I feel anxious about my surgery tomorrow.'"
D. "Patient is not cooperating."
Answer: C
Rationale: The most legally sound documentation is objective, factual, and uses the patient's
exact words in quotation marks. Subjective opinions ("seems upset," "bad mood," "not
cooperating") are vague and can be misinterpreted.
6. A new nurse is feeling overwhelmed and is considering leaving the profession. Which
resource would be most helpful for addressing burnout?
A. Continuing education courses
B. The hospital's employee assistance program (EAP)
C. Reading nursing journals
D. Asking for a transfer to a different unit
Answer: B
Rationale: Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) provide confidential counseling and
support for stress, burnout, and personal issues. Continuing education and journals are
educational, not therapeutic. Transferring may not address the underlying burnout.
7. A nurse is caring for a patient with a terminal illness. The patient asks the nurse to "help
me end my suffering." The nurse feels conflicted. This situation is best described as:
A. An ethical dilemma
B. A legal issue
,C. A values conflict
D. A moral distress
Answer: A
Rationale: An ethical dilemma occurs when two or more ethical principles conflict (e.g.,
autonomy vs. nonmaleficence). The nurse is torn between respecting the patient's wishes
and the duty to preserve life. Moral distress is knowing the right thing to do but being
unable to do it due to constraints.
8. The nurse is caring for a patient who is a devout Muslim. The patient requests a specific
diet. The nurse should:
A. Explain that the hospital menu is standardized.
B. Contact the dietary department to accommodate the request.
C. Tell the patient to eat what is provided.
D. Ask the patient to compromise.
Answer: B
Rationale: Culturally competent care requires accommodating a patient's religious dietary
needs. The nurse should act as an advocate and contact the dietary department to provide
halal or other appropriate meals.
9. A nurse is reviewing the ANA Code of Ethics. Which principle emphasizes the nurse's duty
to the patient above all else?
A. Provision 1
B. Provision 2
C. Provision 3
D. Provision 4
Answer: B
Rationale: Provision 2 of the ANA Code of Ethics states that "the nurse's primary
commitment is to the patient, whether an individual, family, group, community, or
population."
10. A nurse is teaching a patient about their medication. The patient is able to repeat the
instructions back to the nurse. This is an example of:
A. Assessment
B. Implementation
C. Evaluation
D. Planning
Answer: C
, Rationale: Evaluation is the phase where the nurse determines if the patient has achieved
the desired outcomes. The patient's ability to repeat the instructions indicates that the
teaching intervention was effective.
11. Which of the following is an example of a dependent nursing intervention?
A. Turning a patient every 2 hours
B. Providing patient education
C. Administering an oral medication
D. Performing a wound dressing change
Answer: C
Rationale: Dependent interventions require a physician's order. Administering an oral
medication is a dependent function. Turning, teaching, and wound care are independent
nursing interventions (though wound care may sometimes require an order, it is often within
nursing scope without one).
12. A nurse is providing care to a patient from a culture that values "family decision-making."
The patient's family wants to make all healthcare decisions. The nurse should:
A. Insist that the patient make their own decisions.
B. Respect the family's role and involve them in decision-making.
C. Call the ethics committee.
D. Ignore the family and speak only to the patient.
Answer: B
Rationale: Cultural competence requires adapting care to the patient's cultural norms. In
collectivist cultures, the family often makes decisions. The nurse should respect this while
also ensuring the patient's wishes are known.
13. The nurse is documenting a patient's vital signs. The blood pressure is 140/90. The nurse
documents this as "hypertensive." This is an example of:
A. Accurate documentation
B. A nursing diagnosis
C. An inference
D. Objective data
Answer: C
Rationale: The blood pressure reading is objective data. However, labeling it as
"hypertensive" is an inference or interpretation made by the nurse. The nurse should
document the objective data and allow the provider to make the diagnosis.
14. A patient is about to undergo a surgical procedure. The nurse witnesses the patient's
signature on the consent form. This means the nurse:
A. Explains the procedure to the patient.
B. Confirms that the patient is competent and signed voluntarily.
