FUNDAMENTALS OF NURSING
EXAM 1 ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS 2026/2027
MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS AND DETAILED RATIONALES
Comprehensive nursing examination resource based on the supplied concepts
Which historical contribution is most closely associated with Florence Nightingale's development of
modern nursing?
A. Establishing nursing as a discipline separate from medicine and emphasizing sanitation and environmental care
B. Creating the first national nursing licensure examination
C. Establishing the American Red Cross during the Civil War
D. Creating the first community health nursing agency
CORRECT ANSWER: A
RATIONALE: Nightingale emphasized clean air, sanitation, nutrition, observation, record keeping, and systematic nursing
education. Her work helped establish nursing as a distinct professional discipline rather than simply an extension of
medical practice.
A nurse is reviewing Nightingale's approach to patient care. Which intervention best reflects her
environmental principles?
A. Keeping the patient's surroundings clean and ensuring adequate ventilation
B. Limiting all communication with the patient
C. Avoiding nutritional assessment unless the patient requests food
D. Focusing exclusively on medication administration
CORRECT ANSWER: A
RATIONALE: Nightingale considered the environment an important influence on recovery. Clean surroundings, ventilation,
nutrition, sanitation, and attention to patient needs were central elements of her approach.
Which historical figure is most closely associated with organizing volunteer nurses for soldiers during
the American Civil War under the Union government?
A. Dorothea Dix
B. Lillian Wald
C. Florence Nightingale
D. Mary Seacole
CORRECT ANSWER: A
RATIONALE: Dorothea Dix was appointed to organize women volunteers who provided nursing care to Union soldiers. Her
wartime contribution was significant to the development of organized nursing service in the United States.
Which contribution is most closely associated with Clara Barton?
A. Providing care in field hospitals and later founding the American Red Cross
B. Establishing Nightingale's first nursing school in London
C. Creating the first nurse practitioner program
FUNDAMENTALS OF NURSING • EXAM 1 QUESTIONS
, D. Developing the modern nursing process
CORRECT ANSWER: A
RATIONALE: Clara Barton provided care during the Civil War, including in field settings, and later became associated with
founding the American Red Cross.
Which nursing pioneer is strongly associated with bringing nursing services into the community and
addressing the needs of people living in urban poverty?
A. Lillian Wald
B. Dorothea Dix
C. Florence Nightingale
D. Clara Barton
CORRECT ANSWER: A
RATIONALE: Lillian Wald is closely associated with public health nursing and community-based care. Her work emphasized
bringing nursing services to people in their homes and communities, particularly underserved populations.
Which statement best describes an important feature of Nightingale's nursing education philosophy?
A. Nurses should receive organized education from experienced nurses and continue developing professionally
B. Nurses should learn only by observing physicians
C. Nursing education is unnecessary once a nurse has learned basic procedures
D. Nurses should focus on illness and avoid health promotion
CORRECT ANSWER: A
RATIONALE: Nightingale promoted formal nursing education and continuing professional development. She also
emphasized that nursing education should be taught within the nursing profession.
A nursing instructor asks students to identify a major goal of contemporary nursing. Which response
is most appropriate?
A. Promote wellness, prevent illness, support coping, and help restore health
B. Diagnose every disease independently of the health-care team
C. Replace all other health-care professionals
D. Focus only on treating acute physical symptoms
CORRECT ANSWER: A
RATIONALE: Modern nursing addresses health promotion, illness prevention, restoration of health, and adaptation or
coping. Nursing is broader than simply performing treatments for disease.
Which nursing role involves directly assisting a patient with interventions intended to maintain,
improve, or restore health?
A. Caregiver
B. Educator
C. Collaborator
D. Manager
CORRECT ANSWER: A
FUNDAMENTALS OF NURSING • EXAM 1 QUESTIONS
,RATIONALE: The caregiver role involves providing direct nursing care and implementing interventions that support health,
recovery, comfort, safety, and functioning.
A practical nurse teaches a patient how to follow a prescribed home-care routine and explains
measures to reduce future health risks. Which nursing role is being demonstrated?
A. Educator
B. Manager
C. Collaborator
D. Researcher
CORRECT ANSWER: A
RATIONALE: Patient teaching and counseling are central components of the educator role. The purpose is to increase
understanding, promote wellness, prevent complications, and support self-care.
A practical nurse communicates with the registered nurse and other members of the health-care
team to ensure that patient information is shared appropriately. Which role is demonstrated?
A. Collaborator
B. Caregiver
C. Educator
D. Technician
CORRECT ANSWER: A
RATIONALE: Collaboration involves working with the RN and other members of the health-care team to coordinate care,
communicate relevant information, and promote continuity.
Which activity is most consistent with the manager role of a practical nurse within an appropriate
scope of practice?
A. Assigning appropriate routine tasks to assistive personnel while maintaining accountability for assigned care
B. Independently diagnosing a patient's medical condition
C. Prescribing medications without authorization
D. Replacing the registered nurse in all clinical decisions
CORRECT ANSWER: A
RATIONALE: Depending on jurisdiction and organizational policy, a practical nurse may coordinate or assign appropriate
tasks within the permitted scope. Delegation must consider patient needs, personnel competency, and applicable law.
What is the primary purpose of a nurse practice act?
A. To regulate nursing practice and establish legal standards intended to protect the public
B. To determine hospital room assignments
C. To replace institutional policies
D. To establish a nurse's personal philosophy of care
CORRECT ANSWER: A
RATIONALE: Nurse practice acts are laws that define and regulate nursing practice within a jurisdiction. They establish
legal boundaries and standards intended to protect the public.
FUNDAMENTALS OF NURSING • EXAM 1 QUESTIONS
, A nurse is uncertain whether a particular procedure falls within the nurse's legal scope of practice.
What is the best initial approach?
A. Review the applicable nurse practice act and organizational policies and seek appropriate guidance
B. Perform the procedure because another nurse performed it previously
C. Ask the patient whether the nurse should perform it
D. Assume that every procedure is within nursing scope
CORRECT ANSWER: A
RATIONALE: Scope of practice is determined by applicable law, regulations, professional standards, education, competency,
and organizational policy. When uncertain, the nurse should verify requirements rather than assume authorization.
Which statement best describes evidence-based nursing?
A. Integrating the best available research evidence with clinical expertise and patient considerations when making care
decisions
B. Following personal habits regardless of evidence
C. Using only information found in social media posts
D. Replacing clinical judgment with one research article
CORRECT ANSWER: A
RATIONALE: Evidence-based nursing uses the best available evidence while also considering professional expertise, patient
preferences and circumstances, and the clinical context.
FUNDAMENTALS OF NURSING • EXAM 1 QUESTIONS
EXAM 1 ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS 2026/2027
MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS AND DETAILED RATIONALES
Comprehensive nursing examination resource based on the supplied concepts
Which historical contribution is most closely associated with Florence Nightingale's development of
modern nursing?
A. Establishing nursing as a discipline separate from medicine and emphasizing sanitation and environmental care
B. Creating the first national nursing licensure examination
C. Establishing the American Red Cross during the Civil War
D. Creating the first community health nursing agency
CORRECT ANSWER: A
RATIONALE: Nightingale emphasized clean air, sanitation, nutrition, observation, record keeping, and systematic nursing
education. Her work helped establish nursing as a distinct professional discipline rather than simply an extension of
medical practice.
A nurse is reviewing Nightingale's approach to patient care. Which intervention best reflects her
environmental principles?
A. Keeping the patient's surroundings clean and ensuring adequate ventilation
B. Limiting all communication with the patient
C. Avoiding nutritional assessment unless the patient requests food
D. Focusing exclusively on medication administration
CORRECT ANSWER: A
RATIONALE: Nightingale considered the environment an important influence on recovery. Clean surroundings, ventilation,
nutrition, sanitation, and attention to patient needs were central elements of her approach.
Which historical figure is most closely associated with organizing volunteer nurses for soldiers during
the American Civil War under the Union government?
A. Dorothea Dix
B. Lillian Wald
C. Florence Nightingale
D. Mary Seacole
CORRECT ANSWER: A
RATIONALE: Dorothea Dix was appointed to organize women volunteers who provided nursing care to Union soldiers. Her
wartime contribution was significant to the development of organized nursing service in the United States.
Which contribution is most closely associated with Clara Barton?
A. Providing care in field hospitals and later founding the American Red Cross
B. Establishing Nightingale's first nursing school in London
C. Creating the first nurse practitioner program
FUNDAMENTALS OF NURSING • EXAM 1 QUESTIONS
, D. Developing the modern nursing process
CORRECT ANSWER: A
RATIONALE: Clara Barton provided care during the Civil War, including in field settings, and later became associated with
founding the American Red Cross.
Which nursing pioneer is strongly associated with bringing nursing services into the community and
addressing the needs of people living in urban poverty?
A. Lillian Wald
B. Dorothea Dix
C. Florence Nightingale
D. Clara Barton
CORRECT ANSWER: A
RATIONALE: Lillian Wald is closely associated with public health nursing and community-based care. Her work emphasized
bringing nursing services to people in their homes and communities, particularly underserved populations.
Which statement best describes an important feature of Nightingale's nursing education philosophy?
A. Nurses should receive organized education from experienced nurses and continue developing professionally
B. Nurses should learn only by observing physicians
C. Nursing education is unnecessary once a nurse has learned basic procedures
D. Nurses should focus on illness and avoid health promotion
CORRECT ANSWER: A
RATIONALE: Nightingale promoted formal nursing education and continuing professional development. She also
emphasized that nursing education should be taught within the nursing profession.
A nursing instructor asks students to identify a major goal of contemporary nursing. Which response
is most appropriate?
A. Promote wellness, prevent illness, support coping, and help restore health
B. Diagnose every disease independently of the health-care team
C. Replace all other health-care professionals
D. Focus only on treating acute physical symptoms
CORRECT ANSWER: A
RATIONALE: Modern nursing addresses health promotion, illness prevention, restoration of health, and adaptation or
coping. Nursing is broader than simply performing treatments for disease.
Which nursing role involves directly assisting a patient with interventions intended to maintain,
improve, or restore health?
A. Caregiver
B. Educator
C. Collaborator
D. Manager
CORRECT ANSWER: A
FUNDAMENTALS OF NURSING • EXAM 1 QUESTIONS
,RATIONALE: The caregiver role involves providing direct nursing care and implementing interventions that support health,
recovery, comfort, safety, and functioning.
A practical nurse teaches a patient how to follow a prescribed home-care routine and explains
measures to reduce future health risks. Which nursing role is being demonstrated?
A. Educator
B. Manager
C. Collaborator
D. Researcher
CORRECT ANSWER: A
RATIONALE: Patient teaching and counseling are central components of the educator role. The purpose is to increase
understanding, promote wellness, prevent complications, and support self-care.
A practical nurse communicates with the registered nurse and other members of the health-care
team to ensure that patient information is shared appropriately. Which role is demonstrated?
A. Collaborator
B. Caregiver
C. Educator
D. Technician
CORRECT ANSWER: A
RATIONALE: Collaboration involves working with the RN and other members of the health-care team to coordinate care,
communicate relevant information, and promote continuity.
Which activity is most consistent with the manager role of a practical nurse within an appropriate
scope of practice?
A. Assigning appropriate routine tasks to assistive personnel while maintaining accountability for assigned care
B. Independently diagnosing a patient's medical condition
C. Prescribing medications without authorization
D. Replacing the registered nurse in all clinical decisions
CORRECT ANSWER: A
RATIONALE: Depending on jurisdiction and organizational policy, a practical nurse may coordinate or assign appropriate
tasks within the permitted scope. Delegation must consider patient needs, personnel competency, and applicable law.
What is the primary purpose of a nurse practice act?
A. To regulate nursing practice and establish legal standards intended to protect the public
B. To determine hospital room assignments
C. To replace institutional policies
D. To establish a nurse's personal philosophy of care
CORRECT ANSWER: A
RATIONALE: Nurse practice acts are laws that define and regulate nursing practice within a jurisdiction. They establish
legal boundaries and standards intended to protect the public.
FUNDAMENTALS OF NURSING • EXAM 1 QUESTIONS
, A nurse is uncertain whether a particular procedure falls within the nurse's legal scope of practice.
What is the best initial approach?
A. Review the applicable nurse practice act and organizational policies and seek appropriate guidance
B. Perform the procedure because another nurse performed it previously
C. Ask the patient whether the nurse should perform it
D. Assume that every procedure is within nursing scope
CORRECT ANSWER: A
RATIONALE: Scope of practice is determined by applicable law, regulations, professional standards, education, competency,
and organizational policy. When uncertain, the nurse should verify requirements rather than assume authorization.
Which statement best describes evidence-based nursing?
A. Integrating the best available research evidence with clinical expertise and patient considerations when making care
decisions
B. Following personal habits regardless of evidence
C. Using only information found in social media posts
D. Replacing clinical judgment with one research article
CORRECT ANSWER: A
RATIONALE: Evidence-based nursing uses the best available evidence while also considering professional expertise, patient
preferences and circumstances, and the clinical context.
FUNDAMENTALS OF NURSING • EXAM 1 QUESTIONS
