NSG 3130 Fundamental Concepts and Skills of Nursing II Exam 1 Prep Test Bank 2026
NSG 3130 Exam 1 Prep Test Bank 2026
NSG 3130 Fundamental Concepts and Skills for Nursing Practice II - Exam 1
Answered Prep Questions
Institution: Galen College of Nursing | Course: NSG 3130 Fundamental Concepts and Skills of Nursing II
| Exam: Exam 1 Prep Test Bank 2026 | Total Questions: 100
Cognitive Levels: 25% Recall / 55% Application / 20% Analysis | Style: 75% Scenario-Based / 25% Direct
Recall & Calculation | Sections: 7 | Rationale: Fundamental Nursing Clinical Reasoning
This NSG 3130 Exam 1 Prep Test Bank reflects the rigor of fundamental nursing concepts and
clinical skills at Galen College of Nursing. Each question integrates the nursing process (ADPIE),
clinical judgment, safety, infection control, pharmacology principles, fluid/electrolyte and
acid-base balance, perioperative and wound care, oxygenation, mobility, and integrated case
scenarios. Rationales emphasize evidence-based practice aligned with current ANA, CDC, AHRQ,
AACN, and The Joint Commission standards. Distractors are constructed around common NSG
3130 Exam 1 pitfalls including medication calculation errors, prioritization mistakes, ABG
misinterpretation, and improper technique.
SECTION 1: Advanced Nursing Process and Clinical Judgment
(ADPIE, Clinical Reasoning, Prioritization, & Maslow's Hierarchy) -
Q1-Q18
Q1: A nurse is caring for four assigned patients. Which patient should the nurse
assess first based on the ABC priority framework?
A. A 65-year-old with a blood pressure of 160/90 mmHg reporting a mild headache.
B. A 72-year-old with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who has an
SpO2 of 88% on room air and is using accessory muscles to breathe.
**[CORRECT]**
C. A 45-year-old postoperative patient requesting pain medication at a reported pain level of
7/10.
D. A 58-year-old with type 2 diabetes whose blood glucose is 220 mg/dL before lunch.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Using the ABC (Airway, Breathing, Circulation) priority framework, the patient
with COPD, SpO2 of 88% on room air, and accessory muscle use has the highest priority
because respiratory distress indicates compromised breathing and may progress to
respiratory failure. The nurse must assess this patient first to determine if oxygen therapy or
escalation of care is needed. Hypertension with a mild headache is important but not
immediately life-threatening. Pain management and elevated blood glucose are real needs,
but they fall lower in the prioritization hierarchy when compared with actual or potential
airway/breathing compromise.
NSG 3130 Exam 1 Prep Test Bank - 100 Questions Page 1
,NSG 3130 Fundamental Concepts and Skills of Nursing II Exam 1 Prep Test Bank 2026
Q2: A nurse is developing a plan of care for a patient with a nursing diagnosis of
"Acute Pain related to surgical incision as evidenced by patient rating pain 8/10
and grimacing." Which component of the nursing process does this statement
represent?
A. Assessment
B. Diagnosis **[CORRECT]**
C. Planning
D. Implementation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The statement uses the PES format (Problem, Etiology, Signs/symptoms) which is
the standardized format for formulating a nursing diagnosis in the diagnostic phase of the
nursing process (ADPIE). The problem ("Acute Pain"), etiology ("related to surgical incision"),
and defining characteristics ("as evidenced by...") together establish the nursing diagnosis.
Assessment involves data collection; planning involves setting goals and outcomes;
implementation involves executing interventions. This question tests knowledge of the
nursing process structure and language.
Q3: A nurse is using Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs to prioritize care for multiple
patients. Which patient need should be addressed first?
A. A patient who is tearful and states, "I feel like I have no purpose since my diagnosis."
B. A patient who is scheduled for physical therapy and ambulation training.
C. A patient with an oxygen saturation of 86% on room air and labored
respirations. **[CORRECT]**
D. A patient requesting information about discharge medications.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Maslow's Hierarchy prioritizes physiologic needs (oxygenation, hydration,
nutrition, elimination) at the base level, which must be addressed before safety,
love/belonging, esteem, or self-actualization needs. A patient with SpO2 86% and labored
respirations has a critical physiologic need requiring immediate intervention. Emotional
distress (love/belonging/esteem) and education (self-actualization) are important but fall
higher on the hierarchy and are addressed after physiologic stability is ensured. Ambulation
training is a safety/physical need but is less immediate than the airway/breathing
compromise.
NSG 3130 Exam 1 Prep Test Bank - 100 Questions Page 2
,NSG 3130 Fundamental Concepts and Skills of Nursing II Exam 1 Prep Test Bank 2026
Q4: A nurse finishes collecting assessment data on a patient admitted with heart
failure. Which action by the nurse best represents the "Planning" phase of the
nursing process?
A. Identifying the nursing diagnosis of "Decreased Cardiac Output."
B. Administering furosemide 40 mg IV push as ordered.
C. Establishing the goal: "Patient will maintain a urine output of at least 30 mL/hr
within 4 hours." **[CORRECT]**
D. Documenting the patient's response to the furosemide.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Planning involves setting measurable, achievable, patient-centered goals and
outcomes, identifying expected outcomes, and selecting evidence-based nursing
interventions. "Patient will maintain a urine output of at least 30 mL/hr within 4 hours" is a
SMART goal (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time-bound) and represents
planning. Identifying the nursing diagnosis is the diagnostic phase; administering furosemide
is implementation; documenting the response is evaluation. The nursing process is cyclical,
but each component has distinct characteristics.
Q5: A nurse evaluates a patient's response to a pain intervention 30 minutes after
administering morphine 4 mg IV. The patient reports pain decreased from 8/10 to
3/10 and is resting quietly. Which statement best documents the evaluation
phase?
A. "Morphine 4 mg IV administered per protocol."
B. "Patient reports decreased pain from 8/10 to 3/10; resting quietly with no signs
of respiratory depression." **[CORRECT]**
C. "Patient will continue to need pain medication every 4 hours."
D. "Acute Pain related to surgical incision."
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Evaluation involves comparing the patient's response to the established goals
and expected outcomes. Documenting the patient's reported pain reduction, current comfort
level, and absence of adverse effects (respiratory depression) is the appropriate evaluation
documentation. The first option is implementation documentation; the third is a future plan,
not evaluation; the fourth is the nursing diagnosis. Effective evaluation documentation
supports continuity of care and demonstrates accountability.
NSG 3130 Exam 1 Prep Test Bank - 100 Questions Page 3
, NSG 3130 Fundamental Concepts and Skills of Nursing II Exam 1 Prep Test Bank 2026
Q6: A nurse is caring for a patient who suddenly becomes unresponsive. The nurse
uses clinical reasoning to assess the situation, recognize the emergency, and
initiate the emergency response system. This thinking process is best described
as:
A. Reflective thinking
B. Intuitive thinking
C. Critical thinking **[CORRECT]**
D. Creative thinking
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Critical thinking in nursing involves purposeful, goal-directed thinking that uses
cognitive processes such as interpretation, analysis, evaluation, inference, and explanation to
make sound clinical judgments. In this scenario, the nurse analyzes data (unresponsiveness),
recognizes a clinical emergency, and takes action (calling for help). Intuitive thinking relies
more on pattern recognition from experience; reflective thinking occurs after an event to
consider what was learned. Critical thinking integrates knowledge, experience, and reasoning
to guide action.
Q7: A nurse is assigning tasks to a licensed practical nurse (LPN) and a nursing
assistant (NAP). Which of the following tasks is most appropriate to delegate to
the LPN?
A. Ambulating a patient who is two days postoperative for the first time.
B. Administering an oral medication to a stable patient. **[CORRECT]**
C. Performing the initial admission assessment of a new patient.
D. Teaching a patient about a newly prescribed insulin regimen.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The LPN scope of practice includes administering oral medications to stable
patients, performing routine treatments, and monitoring stable patients. Initial admission
assessments, complex patient teaching (such as a new insulin regimen), and the first
ambulation of a postoperative patient require the assessment and clinical judgment of the
registered nurse. Delegation must consider the Five Rights of Delegation (right task, right
circumstance, right person, right direction/communication, right supervision/evaluation). The
RN retains accountability for the overall plan of care.
NSG 3130 Exam 1 Prep Test Bank - 100 Questions Page 4
NSG 3130 Exam 1 Prep Test Bank 2026
NSG 3130 Fundamental Concepts and Skills for Nursing Practice II - Exam 1
Answered Prep Questions
Institution: Galen College of Nursing | Course: NSG 3130 Fundamental Concepts and Skills of Nursing II
| Exam: Exam 1 Prep Test Bank 2026 | Total Questions: 100
Cognitive Levels: 25% Recall / 55% Application / 20% Analysis | Style: 75% Scenario-Based / 25% Direct
Recall & Calculation | Sections: 7 | Rationale: Fundamental Nursing Clinical Reasoning
This NSG 3130 Exam 1 Prep Test Bank reflects the rigor of fundamental nursing concepts and
clinical skills at Galen College of Nursing. Each question integrates the nursing process (ADPIE),
clinical judgment, safety, infection control, pharmacology principles, fluid/electrolyte and
acid-base balance, perioperative and wound care, oxygenation, mobility, and integrated case
scenarios. Rationales emphasize evidence-based practice aligned with current ANA, CDC, AHRQ,
AACN, and The Joint Commission standards. Distractors are constructed around common NSG
3130 Exam 1 pitfalls including medication calculation errors, prioritization mistakes, ABG
misinterpretation, and improper technique.
SECTION 1: Advanced Nursing Process and Clinical Judgment
(ADPIE, Clinical Reasoning, Prioritization, & Maslow's Hierarchy) -
Q1-Q18
Q1: A nurse is caring for four assigned patients. Which patient should the nurse
assess first based on the ABC priority framework?
A. A 65-year-old with a blood pressure of 160/90 mmHg reporting a mild headache.
B. A 72-year-old with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who has an
SpO2 of 88% on room air and is using accessory muscles to breathe.
**[CORRECT]**
C. A 45-year-old postoperative patient requesting pain medication at a reported pain level of
7/10.
D. A 58-year-old with type 2 diabetes whose blood glucose is 220 mg/dL before lunch.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Using the ABC (Airway, Breathing, Circulation) priority framework, the patient
with COPD, SpO2 of 88% on room air, and accessory muscle use has the highest priority
because respiratory distress indicates compromised breathing and may progress to
respiratory failure. The nurse must assess this patient first to determine if oxygen therapy or
escalation of care is needed. Hypertension with a mild headache is important but not
immediately life-threatening. Pain management and elevated blood glucose are real needs,
but they fall lower in the prioritization hierarchy when compared with actual or potential
airway/breathing compromise.
NSG 3130 Exam 1 Prep Test Bank - 100 Questions Page 1
,NSG 3130 Fundamental Concepts and Skills of Nursing II Exam 1 Prep Test Bank 2026
Q2: A nurse is developing a plan of care for a patient with a nursing diagnosis of
"Acute Pain related to surgical incision as evidenced by patient rating pain 8/10
and grimacing." Which component of the nursing process does this statement
represent?
A. Assessment
B. Diagnosis **[CORRECT]**
C. Planning
D. Implementation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The statement uses the PES format (Problem, Etiology, Signs/symptoms) which is
the standardized format for formulating a nursing diagnosis in the diagnostic phase of the
nursing process (ADPIE). The problem ("Acute Pain"), etiology ("related to surgical incision"),
and defining characteristics ("as evidenced by...") together establish the nursing diagnosis.
Assessment involves data collection; planning involves setting goals and outcomes;
implementation involves executing interventions. This question tests knowledge of the
nursing process structure and language.
Q3: A nurse is using Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs to prioritize care for multiple
patients. Which patient need should be addressed first?
A. A patient who is tearful and states, "I feel like I have no purpose since my diagnosis."
B. A patient who is scheduled for physical therapy and ambulation training.
C. A patient with an oxygen saturation of 86% on room air and labored
respirations. **[CORRECT]**
D. A patient requesting information about discharge medications.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Maslow's Hierarchy prioritizes physiologic needs (oxygenation, hydration,
nutrition, elimination) at the base level, which must be addressed before safety,
love/belonging, esteem, or self-actualization needs. A patient with SpO2 86% and labored
respirations has a critical physiologic need requiring immediate intervention. Emotional
distress (love/belonging/esteem) and education (self-actualization) are important but fall
higher on the hierarchy and are addressed after physiologic stability is ensured. Ambulation
training is a safety/physical need but is less immediate than the airway/breathing
compromise.
NSG 3130 Exam 1 Prep Test Bank - 100 Questions Page 2
,NSG 3130 Fundamental Concepts and Skills of Nursing II Exam 1 Prep Test Bank 2026
Q4: A nurse finishes collecting assessment data on a patient admitted with heart
failure. Which action by the nurse best represents the "Planning" phase of the
nursing process?
A. Identifying the nursing diagnosis of "Decreased Cardiac Output."
B. Administering furosemide 40 mg IV push as ordered.
C. Establishing the goal: "Patient will maintain a urine output of at least 30 mL/hr
within 4 hours." **[CORRECT]**
D. Documenting the patient's response to the furosemide.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Planning involves setting measurable, achievable, patient-centered goals and
outcomes, identifying expected outcomes, and selecting evidence-based nursing
interventions. "Patient will maintain a urine output of at least 30 mL/hr within 4 hours" is a
SMART goal (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time-bound) and represents
planning. Identifying the nursing diagnosis is the diagnostic phase; administering furosemide
is implementation; documenting the response is evaluation. The nursing process is cyclical,
but each component has distinct characteristics.
Q5: A nurse evaluates a patient's response to a pain intervention 30 minutes after
administering morphine 4 mg IV. The patient reports pain decreased from 8/10 to
3/10 and is resting quietly. Which statement best documents the evaluation
phase?
A. "Morphine 4 mg IV administered per protocol."
B. "Patient reports decreased pain from 8/10 to 3/10; resting quietly with no signs
of respiratory depression." **[CORRECT]**
C. "Patient will continue to need pain medication every 4 hours."
D. "Acute Pain related to surgical incision."
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Evaluation involves comparing the patient's response to the established goals
and expected outcomes. Documenting the patient's reported pain reduction, current comfort
level, and absence of adverse effects (respiratory depression) is the appropriate evaluation
documentation. The first option is implementation documentation; the third is a future plan,
not evaluation; the fourth is the nursing diagnosis. Effective evaluation documentation
supports continuity of care and demonstrates accountability.
NSG 3130 Exam 1 Prep Test Bank - 100 Questions Page 3
, NSG 3130 Fundamental Concepts and Skills of Nursing II Exam 1 Prep Test Bank 2026
Q6: A nurse is caring for a patient who suddenly becomes unresponsive. The nurse
uses clinical reasoning to assess the situation, recognize the emergency, and
initiate the emergency response system. This thinking process is best described
as:
A. Reflective thinking
B. Intuitive thinking
C. Critical thinking **[CORRECT]**
D. Creative thinking
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Critical thinking in nursing involves purposeful, goal-directed thinking that uses
cognitive processes such as interpretation, analysis, evaluation, inference, and explanation to
make sound clinical judgments. In this scenario, the nurse analyzes data (unresponsiveness),
recognizes a clinical emergency, and takes action (calling for help). Intuitive thinking relies
more on pattern recognition from experience; reflective thinking occurs after an event to
consider what was learned. Critical thinking integrates knowledge, experience, and reasoning
to guide action.
Q7: A nurse is assigning tasks to a licensed practical nurse (LPN) and a nursing
assistant (NAP). Which of the following tasks is most appropriate to delegate to
the LPN?
A. Ambulating a patient who is two days postoperative for the first time.
B. Administering an oral medication to a stable patient. **[CORRECT]**
C. Performing the initial admission assessment of a new patient.
D. Teaching a patient about a newly prescribed insulin regimen.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The LPN scope of practice includes administering oral medications to stable
patients, performing routine treatments, and monitoring stable patients. Initial admission
assessments, complex patient teaching (such as a new insulin regimen), and the first
ambulation of a postoperative patient require the assessment and clinical judgment of the
registered nurse. Delegation must consider the Five Rights of Delegation (right task, right
circumstance, right person, right direction/communication, right supervision/evaluation). The
RN retains accountability for the overall plan of care.
NSG 3130 Exam 1 Prep Test Bank - 100 Questions Page 4
