,WGU D439 Foundations of Nursing Objective Assessment |
Questions & Answers | 2026/2027
1.** Nursing originated from the Latin word meaning to nourish, foster, or
protect. What is this word?
A) Nurtura
B) Nutrix
C) Nursia
D) Noxia
**Correct Answer:** B) Nutrix
**Rationale:** The word "nutrix" is the Latin root from which nursing derives.
It signifies the foundational caring and protective role of nursing, which has
shaped the profession's identity and core values from its earliest origins.
---
**2.** The American Nurses Association (ANA) defines nursing as:
A) The diagnosis and treatment of human responses to actual or potential
health problems
B) The protection, promotion, and optimization of health and abilities,
prevention of illness and injury, alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis
and treatment of human response and advocacy in the care of individuals,
families, communities, and populations
C) The science of caring for the sick, injured, and aged
D) The art of applying scientific knowledge to help others reach maximum
health
,**Correct Answer:** B) The protection, promotion, and optimization of health
and abilities, prevention of illness and injury, alleviation of suffering through
the diagnosis and treatment of human response and advocacy in the care of
individuals, families, communities, and populations
**Rationale:** The ANA provides the authoritative definition of nursing that
emphasizes protection, health optimization, suffering alleviation, and
advocacy across all levels of care. This comprehensive definition
distinguishes professional nursing from other healthcare roles.
---
**3.** Which nursing theorist is associated with the Theory of Human Caring?
A) Florence Nightingale
B) Dorothea Orem
C) Jean Watson
D) Betty Neuman
**Correct Answer:** C) Jean Watson
**Rationale:** Jean Watson developed the Theory of Human Caring, which
emphasizes caring as the essence of nursing and focuses on the nurse-
patient relationship. Nightingale is known for environmental theory, Orem for
self-care deficit theory, and Neuman for the systems model.
---
**4.** A nurse is caring for a client from a different cultural background.
Which action best demonstrates cultural competence?
, A) Ignoring cultural differences to avoid offending the patient
B) Assessing the patient's cultural beliefs and incorporating them into the
care plan
C) Insisting the patient follow standard Western medical practices
D) Requesting that the patient be transferred to another nurse
**Correct Answer:** B) Assessing the patient's cultural beliefs and
incorporating them into the care plan
**Rationale:** Cultural competence requires actively learning about and
respecting a patient's cultural beliefs, values, and practices, then integrating
that understanding into individualized care. Ignoring or dismissing cultural
differences undermines patient trust and quality of care.
---
**5.** A nursing student is studying the history of nursing. Which individual is
credited with establishing the first nursing school and is known for
environmental theory?
A) Clara Barton
B) Florence Nightingale
C) Mary Mahoney
D) Lillian Wald
**Correct Answer:** B) Florence Nightingale
Questions & Answers | 2026/2027
1.** Nursing originated from the Latin word meaning to nourish, foster, or
protect. What is this word?
A) Nurtura
B) Nutrix
C) Nursia
D) Noxia
**Correct Answer:** B) Nutrix
**Rationale:** The word "nutrix" is the Latin root from which nursing derives.
It signifies the foundational caring and protective role of nursing, which has
shaped the profession's identity and core values from its earliest origins.
---
**2.** The American Nurses Association (ANA) defines nursing as:
A) The diagnosis and treatment of human responses to actual or potential
health problems
B) The protection, promotion, and optimization of health and abilities,
prevention of illness and injury, alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis
and treatment of human response and advocacy in the care of individuals,
families, communities, and populations
C) The science of caring for the sick, injured, and aged
D) The art of applying scientific knowledge to help others reach maximum
health
,**Correct Answer:** B) The protection, promotion, and optimization of health
and abilities, prevention of illness and injury, alleviation of suffering through
the diagnosis and treatment of human response and advocacy in the care of
individuals, families, communities, and populations
**Rationale:** The ANA provides the authoritative definition of nursing that
emphasizes protection, health optimization, suffering alleviation, and
advocacy across all levels of care. This comprehensive definition
distinguishes professional nursing from other healthcare roles.
---
**3.** Which nursing theorist is associated with the Theory of Human Caring?
A) Florence Nightingale
B) Dorothea Orem
C) Jean Watson
D) Betty Neuman
**Correct Answer:** C) Jean Watson
**Rationale:** Jean Watson developed the Theory of Human Caring, which
emphasizes caring as the essence of nursing and focuses on the nurse-
patient relationship. Nightingale is known for environmental theory, Orem for
self-care deficit theory, and Neuman for the systems model.
---
**4.** A nurse is caring for a client from a different cultural background.
Which action best demonstrates cultural competence?
, A) Ignoring cultural differences to avoid offending the patient
B) Assessing the patient's cultural beliefs and incorporating them into the
care plan
C) Insisting the patient follow standard Western medical practices
D) Requesting that the patient be transferred to another nurse
**Correct Answer:** B) Assessing the patient's cultural beliefs and
incorporating them into the care plan
**Rationale:** Cultural competence requires actively learning about and
respecting a patient's cultural beliefs, values, and practices, then integrating
that understanding into individualized care. Ignoring or dismissing cultural
differences undermines patient trust and quality of care.
---
**5.** A nursing student is studying the history of nursing. Which individual is
credited with establishing the first nursing school and is known for
environmental theory?
A) Clara Barton
B) Florence Nightingale
C) Mary Mahoney
D) Lillian Wald
**Correct Answer:** B) Florence Nightingale
