BSN206 EXAM 2026-2027 QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS
FOUNDATIONS OF NURSING FUNDAMENTALS
Comprehensive Assessment
Year: 2026–2027 | Total Questions: 100 | 100% VERIFIED
Introduction
The BSN206 Foundations of Nursing Fundamentals examination is a comprehensive
assessment designed to evaluate nursing students' mastery of core concepts essential for
safe, competent, and evidence-based clinical nursing execution. This question bank covers
all key domains of the nursing fundamentals curriculum: (1) Nursing Process and Critical
Thinking, encompassing the five-step nursing process (ADPIE), clinical reasoning, nursing
diagnosis, SMART goal formulation, evidence-based methodology, and delegation
principles; (2) Infection Control and Safety, addressing standard and transmission-based
precautions, hand hygiene, sterile and medical asepsis, fall prevention, and restraint
application; (3) Medication Administration, covering the rights of medication
administration, injection techniques, controlled substance management, IV therapy, and
drug calculations; (4) Vital Signs and Physical Assessment, including cardiovascular,
respiratory, and neurological assessment, pulse oximetry, pain assessment, and
documentation of findings; (5) Mobility and Immobility, addressing complications of
immobility, assistive device use, pressure injury staging, range-of-motion protocols, and
transfer techniques; (6) Nutrition and Fluid/Electrolyte Balance, encompassing electrolyte
imbalances, acid-base balance, enteral and parenteral nutrition, intake and output
monitoring, and therapeutic diet education; (7) Hygiene and Patient Comfort, covering
bathing techniques, oral and eye care, skin integrity maintenance, sleep promotion, and
non-pharmacological comfort measures; and (8) Professional Ethics and Communication,
addressing patient autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, therapeutic communication,
cultural competence, HIPAA compliance, documentation standards, and advance directives.
Each of the 100 questions is mapped to a distinct sub-topic, ensuring thorough coverage
aligned with the nursing fundamentals domain blueprint. Successful completion
demonstrates academic readiness for progression to advanced clinical nursing coursework
and professional nursing operations.
Question 1: The FIRST step of the nursing process is:
, A. Assessment — the systematic collection of subjective and objective patient
data
B. Evaluating the effectiveness of interventions
C. Planning measurable patient outcomes
D. Implementing nursing interventions
Correct Answer: A. Assessment — the systematic collection of subjective and
objective patient data
Rationale: Assessment is always the first step, providing the data foundation for all
subsequent steps. Planning (A) follows diagnosis. Implementation (B) follows planning.
Evaluation (D) is the final step.
Question 2: A nursing diagnosis differs from a medical diagnosis in that it:
A. Requires physician authorization before it can be formulated
B. Focuses exclusively on prescribing medications
C. Is formulated only by licensed physicians
D. Identifies actual or potential health problems that nurses can independently
manage through nursing interventions
Correct Answer: D. Identifies actual or potential health problems that nurses can
independently manage through nursing interventions
Rationale: Nursing diagnoses guide independent nursing care. They do not require
physician authorization (A), involve medication prescribing (C), or originate from
physicians (D).
Question 3: A SMART goal in nursing care planning is characterized by being:
A. Simple, Minimal, Avoidable, Reactive, Temporary
B. Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound
C. Standardized, Mandatory, Absolute, Restrictive, Total
D. Subjective, Measurable, Approximate, Random, Timeless
Correct Answer: B. Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound
,Rationale: SMART criteria ensure goals are clear and evaluable. The other options present
fabricated or incorrect expansions of the acronym.
Question 4: During the evaluation phase of the nursing process, the nurse determines that
a patient goal has NOT been met. The MOST appropriate action is to:
A. Terminate all nursing care immediately
B. Reassess the patient, identify barriers to goal achievement, and modify the
care plan accordingly
C. Blame the patient for non-compliance without further investigation
D. Document that the goal was met despite evidence to the contrary
Correct Answer: B. Reassess the patient, identify barriers to goal achievement, and
modify the care plan accordingly
Rationale: Unmet goals require reassessment and plan modification. Terminating care (A)
is abandonment. False documentation (C) is illegal. Blaming the patient (D) is
unprofessional and non-therapeutic.
Question 5: Clinical reasoning in nursing requires the nurse to:
A. Follow only memorized protocols without considering individual patient
circumstances
B. Defer all clinical decisions entirely to the physician
C. Rely solely on intuition without any evidence-based information
D. Integrate knowledge, experience, patient data, and critical thinking to make
sound clinical judgments for each unique situation
Correct Answer: D. Integrate knowledge, experience, patient data, and critical
thinking to make sound clinical judgments for each unique situation
Rationale: Clinical reasoning synthesizes multiple information sources for individualized
decisions. Rigid protocol adherence (A), total deferral (C), and pure intuition (D)
compromise patient care quality.
Question 6: Maslow's hierarchy of needs is applied in nursing PRIMARILY to:
A. Prioritize nursing interventions by addressing lower-level physiological and
safety needs before higher-level psychosocial needs
, B. Organize the medication administration record alphabetically
C. Determine the patient's insurance coverage and payment ability
D. Schedule staff break times during a shift
Correct Answer: A. Prioritize nursing interventions by addressing lower-level
physiological and safety needs before higher-level psychosocial needs
Rationale: Maslow's hierarchy guides prioritization of care from basic survival needs
upward. Insurance (A), staff scheduling (C), and medication organization (D) are unrelated
to this theoretical framework.
Question 7: Subjective data collected during a nursing assessment includes:
A. Laboratory test results from the electronic health record
B. Blood pressure readings obtained by the nurse
C. The patient's verbal description of their pain quality, location, and intensity
D. Observable skin color changes noted during inspection
Correct Answer: C. The patient's verbal description of their pain quality, location, and
intensity
Rationale: Subjective data is information reported by the patient (symptoms, feelings,
perceptions). Blood pressure (A), lab results (C), and observable findings (D) are objective
data.
Question 8: The nurse is creating a concept map for a patient with heart failure. A concept
map is BEST described as:
A. A visual diagram that organizes and links nursing assessments, diagnoses,
interventions, and outcomes to show relationships among patient problems
B. A financial planning tool for estimating hospital costs
C. A geographic map showing the location of the nearest hospital
D. A standardized physician order form
Correct Answer: A. A visual diagram that organizes and links nursing assessments,
diagnoses, interventions, and outcomes to show relationships among patient
problems
CORRECT ANSWERS
FOUNDATIONS OF NURSING FUNDAMENTALS
Comprehensive Assessment
Year: 2026–2027 | Total Questions: 100 | 100% VERIFIED
Introduction
The BSN206 Foundations of Nursing Fundamentals examination is a comprehensive
assessment designed to evaluate nursing students' mastery of core concepts essential for
safe, competent, and evidence-based clinical nursing execution. This question bank covers
all key domains of the nursing fundamentals curriculum: (1) Nursing Process and Critical
Thinking, encompassing the five-step nursing process (ADPIE), clinical reasoning, nursing
diagnosis, SMART goal formulation, evidence-based methodology, and delegation
principles; (2) Infection Control and Safety, addressing standard and transmission-based
precautions, hand hygiene, sterile and medical asepsis, fall prevention, and restraint
application; (3) Medication Administration, covering the rights of medication
administration, injection techniques, controlled substance management, IV therapy, and
drug calculations; (4) Vital Signs and Physical Assessment, including cardiovascular,
respiratory, and neurological assessment, pulse oximetry, pain assessment, and
documentation of findings; (5) Mobility and Immobility, addressing complications of
immobility, assistive device use, pressure injury staging, range-of-motion protocols, and
transfer techniques; (6) Nutrition and Fluid/Electrolyte Balance, encompassing electrolyte
imbalances, acid-base balance, enteral and parenteral nutrition, intake and output
monitoring, and therapeutic diet education; (7) Hygiene and Patient Comfort, covering
bathing techniques, oral and eye care, skin integrity maintenance, sleep promotion, and
non-pharmacological comfort measures; and (8) Professional Ethics and Communication,
addressing patient autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, therapeutic communication,
cultural competence, HIPAA compliance, documentation standards, and advance directives.
Each of the 100 questions is mapped to a distinct sub-topic, ensuring thorough coverage
aligned with the nursing fundamentals domain blueprint. Successful completion
demonstrates academic readiness for progression to advanced clinical nursing coursework
and professional nursing operations.
Question 1: The FIRST step of the nursing process is:
, A. Assessment — the systematic collection of subjective and objective patient
data
B. Evaluating the effectiveness of interventions
C. Planning measurable patient outcomes
D. Implementing nursing interventions
Correct Answer: A. Assessment — the systematic collection of subjective and
objective patient data
Rationale: Assessment is always the first step, providing the data foundation for all
subsequent steps. Planning (A) follows diagnosis. Implementation (B) follows planning.
Evaluation (D) is the final step.
Question 2: A nursing diagnosis differs from a medical diagnosis in that it:
A. Requires physician authorization before it can be formulated
B. Focuses exclusively on prescribing medications
C. Is formulated only by licensed physicians
D. Identifies actual or potential health problems that nurses can independently
manage through nursing interventions
Correct Answer: D. Identifies actual or potential health problems that nurses can
independently manage through nursing interventions
Rationale: Nursing diagnoses guide independent nursing care. They do not require
physician authorization (A), involve medication prescribing (C), or originate from
physicians (D).
Question 3: A SMART goal in nursing care planning is characterized by being:
A. Simple, Minimal, Avoidable, Reactive, Temporary
B. Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound
C. Standardized, Mandatory, Absolute, Restrictive, Total
D. Subjective, Measurable, Approximate, Random, Timeless
Correct Answer: B. Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound
,Rationale: SMART criteria ensure goals are clear and evaluable. The other options present
fabricated or incorrect expansions of the acronym.
Question 4: During the evaluation phase of the nursing process, the nurse determines that
a patient goal has NOT been met. The MOST appropriate action is to:
A. Terminate all nursing care immediately
B. Reassess the patient, identify barriers to goal achievement, and modify the
care plan accordingly
C. Blame the patient for non-compliance without further investigation
D. Document that the goal was met despite evidence to the contrary
Correct Answer: B. Reassess the patient, identify barriers to goal achievement, and
modify the care plan accordingly
Rationale: Unmet goals require reassessment and plan modification. Terminating care (A)
is abandonment. False documentation (C) is illegal. Blaming the patient (D) is
unprofessional and non-therapeutic.
Question 5: Clinical reasoning in nursing requires the nurse to:
A. Follow only memorized protocols without considering individual patient
circumstances
B. Defer all clinical decisions entirely to the physician
C. Rely solely on intuition without any evidence-based information
D. Integrate knowledge, experience, patient data, and critical thinking to make
sound clinical judgments for each unique situation
Correct Answer: D. Integrate knowledge, experience, patient data, and critical
thinking to make sound clinical judgments for each unique situation
Rationale: Clinical reasoning synthesizes multiple information sources for individualized
decisions. Rigid protocol adherence (A), total deferral (C), and pure intuition (D)
compromise patient care quality.
Question 6: Maslow's hierarchy of needs is applied in nursing PRIMARILY to:
A. Prioritize nursing interventions by addressing lower-level physiological and
safety needs before higher-level psychosocial needs
, B. Organize the medication administration record alphabetically
C. Determine the patient's insurance coverage and payment ability
D. Schedule staff break times during a shift
Correct Answer: A. Prioritize nursing interventions by addressing lower-level
physiological and safety needs before higher-level psychosocial needs
Rationale: Maslow's hierarchy guides prioritization of care from basic survival needs
upward. Insurance (A), staff scheduling (C), and medication organization (D) are unrelated
to this theoretical framework.
Question 7: Subjective data collected during a nursing assessment includes:
A. Laboratory test results from the electronic health record
B. Blood pressure readings obtained by the nurse
C. The patient's verbal description of their pain quality, location, and intensity
D. Observable skin color changes noted during inspection
Correct Answer: C. The patient's verbal description of their pain quality, location, and
intensity
Rationale: Subjective data is information reported by the patient (symptoms, feelings,
perceptions). Blood pressure (A), lab results (C), and observable findings (D) are objective
data.
Question 8: The nurse is creating a concept map for a patient with heart failure. A concept
map is BEST described as:
A. A visual diagram that organizes and links nursing assessments, diagnoses,
interventions, and outcomes to show relationships among patient problems
B. A financial planning tool for estimating hospital costs
C. A geographic map showing the location of the nearest hospital
D. A standardized physician order form
Correct Answer: A. A visual diagram that organizes and links nursing assessments,
diagnoses, interventions, and outcomes to show relationships among patient
problems
