First-Year Nursing
Fundamentals 2026 |
Beginner Nursing Study
Guide, Practice Questions,
Answers & Exam Review |
Complete Ethics Study
Guide
Updated 2026 Questions and Answers
100% Verified Exam Prep and Comprehensive
Rationales
Included
,Vital signs Temperature, pulse, respirations, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, and pain level
used to assess a patient's current condition.
Normal adult temperature About 97°F to 99°F, or 36.1°C to 37.2°C.
Normal adult pulse 60 to 100 beats per minute.
Normal adult respirations 12 to 20 breaths per minute.
Normal adult blood pressure Around 120/80 mmHg; low or high values should be assessed in context.
Normal adult oxygen saturation Usually 95% to 100%; lower values may indicate impaired oxygenation.
Pain assessment Assess location, quality, severity, timing, aggravating factors, relieving factors, and
patient response to interventions.
Head-to-toe assessment A systematic assessment of the patient from head to toe, including neurological,
respiratory, cardiac, gastrointestinal, skin, mobility, and safety findings.
Focused assessment A more specific assessment based on the patient's main problem or change in
condition.
Subjective data Information the patient reports, such as pain, nausea, dizziness, or anxiety.
Objective data Information the nurse observes or measures, such as vital signs, swelling, wounds,
lung sounds, or lab values.
ADPIE The nursing process: Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, and
Evaluation.
Assessment Collecting patient information through observation, questions, physical exam, vital
signs, and chart review.
Nursing diagnosis A clinical judgment about a patient's response to an actual or potential health
problem.
Planning Setting patient-centered goals and deciding appropriate nursing interventions.
, Implementation Carrying out nursing interventions.
Evaluation Determining whether the patient's goals were met and whether care needs to
change.
SMART goal A patient goal that is specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-based.
Nursing intervention An action performed by the nurse to help improve patient outcomes.
Nursing rationale The reason why a nursing intervention is appropriate or helpful.
Priority setting Deciding which patient problem or nursing action is most urgent.
ABCs Airway, breathing, and circulation; used to prioritize patient care.
Airway priority The nurse should first address anything that blocks or threatens the patient's
airway.
Breathing priority The nurse should assess and intervene for oxygenation or ventilation problems.
Circulation priority The nurse should address perfusion problems such as bleeding, low blood
pressure, or shock.
Acute vs chronic Acute problems are new or worsening; chronic problems are long-term and may be
less urgent unless unstable.
Stable vs unstable An unstable patient has signs of deterioration or a condition that needs immediate
action.
Expected finding A finding commonly seen with the patient's condition or treatment.
Unexpected finding A finding that may indicate a complication or worsening condition.
First nursing action Usually assess the patient first unless immediate safety or lifesaving intervention is
required.
Fundamentals 2026 |
Beginner Nursing Study
Guide, Practice Questions,
Answers & Exam Review |
Complete Ethics Study
Guide
Updated 2026 Questions and Answers
100% Verified Exam Prep and Comprehensive
Rationales
Included
,Vital signs Temperature, pulse, respirations, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, and pain level
used to assess a patient's current condition.
Normal adult temperature About 97°F to 99°F, or 36.1°C to 37.2°C.
Normal adult pulse 60 to 100 beats per minute.
Normal adult respirations 12 to 20 breaths per minute.
Normal adult blood pressure Around 120/80 mmHg; low or high values should be assessed in context.
Normal adult oxygen saturation Usually 95% to 100%; lower values may indicate impaired oxygenation.
Pain assessment Assess location, quality, severity, timing, aggravating factors, relieving factors, and
patient response to interventions.
Head-to-toe assessment A systematic assessment of the patient from head to toe, including neurological,
respiratory, cardiac, gastrointestinal, skin, mobility, and safety findings.
Focused assessment A more specific assessment based on the patient's main problem or change in
condition.
Subjective data Information the patient reports, such as pain, nausea, dizziness, or anxiety.
Objective data Information the nurse observes or measures, such as vital signs, swelling, wounds,
lung sounds, or lab values.
ADPIE The nursing process: Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, and
Evaluation.
Assessment Collecting patient information through observation, questions, physical exam, vital
signs, and chart review.
Nursing diagnosis A clinical judgment about a patient's response to an actual or potential health
problem.
Planning Setting patient-centered goals and deciding appropriate nursing interventions.
, Implementation Carrying out nursing interventions.
Evaluation Determining whether the patient's goals were met and whether care needs to
change.
SMART goal A patient goal that is specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-based.
Nursing intervention An action performed by the nurse to help improve patient outcomes.
Nursing rationale The reason why a nursing intervention is appropriate or helpful.
Priority setting Deciding which patient problem or nursing action is most urgent.
ABCs Airway, breathing, and circulation; used to prioritize patient care.
Airway priority The nurse should first address anything that blocks or threatens the patient's
airway.
Breathing priority The nurse should assess and intervene for oxygenation or ventilation problems.
Circulation priority The nurse should address perfusion problems such as bleeding, low blood
pressure, or shock.
Acute vs chronic Acute problems are new or worsening; chronic problems are long-term and may be
less urgent unless unstable.
Stable vs unstable An unstable patient has signs of deterioration or a condition that needs immediate
action.
Expected finding A finding commonly seen with the patient's condition or treatment.
Unexpected finding A finding that may indicate a complication or worsening condition.
First nursing action Usually assess the patient first unless immediate safety or lifesaving intervention is
required.
