Galen NSG 3100 Exam 1 | Fundamental Concepts
& Skills I (2026) Actual Q&A PDF
1. A nurse is preparing to administer a medication to a patient. What is
the priority action to ensure safety?
A) Administer the medication quickly to save time
B) Verify the "five rights" of medication administration
C) Skip patient identification if the patient is known
D) Ignore the medication order if it seems incorrect
Correct Answer: Verify the "five rights" of medication administration
Rationale: The "five rights" (right patient, drug, dose, route, and time)
are a fundamental safety check that must be performed before every
medication administration to prevent errors. Skipping identification or
ignoring orders is unsafe and violates nursing standards.
2. The nurse is measuring blood pressures as part of a community health
fair. Which blood pressure reading would cause the nurse to refer the
patient for follow-up regarding hypertension?
A) 108/70 mmHg
B) 118/76 mmHg
C) 122/80 mmHg
D) 148/94 mmHg
Correct Answer: 148/94 mmHg
Rationale: A blood pressure of 148/94 mmHg is above the normal range
(120/80 mmHg) and meets the criteria for hypertension, requiring medical
follow-up. The other readings are within normal or prehypertensive ranges
and do not require immediate referral.
,3. A patient has a temperature of 38.5°C (101.3°F). What is the priority
nursing action?
A) Ignore the temperature and reassess later
B) Administer antipyretics as prescribed
C) Restrict fluids to prevent chilling
D) Encourage ambulation to reduce fever
Correct Answer: Administer antipyretics as prescribed
Rationale: A fever of 101.3°F indicates a pyretic response that may
require antipyretic therapy to reduce temperature and improve patient
comfort, per evidence-based practice. Fluid restriction and ignoring the
fever are inappropriate, and ambulation does not directly reduce fever.
4. A patient is at risk for falls due to a 10% decrease in mobility. What is
the priority nursing intervention?
A) Encourage unsupervised ambulation to build strength
B) Implement fall precautions such as bed alarms and non-slip socks
C) Restrict mobility completely to prevent any injury
D) Administer sedatives to reduce agitation
Correct Answer: Implement fall precautions such as bed alarms and
non-slip socks
Rationale: Fall precautions, including bed alarms, non-slip socks, and
keeping the bed in the lowest position, are evidence-based interventions
that reduce fall risk while promoting safety. Restricting mobility and
administering sedatives can increase fall risk.
5. A nurse is performing hand hygiene. What is the minimum duration for
effective handwashing with soap and water?
A) 5 seconds
,B) 15-20 seconds
C) 60 seconds
D) 2 minutes
Correct Answer: 15-20 seconds
Rationale: CDC guidelines recommend washing hands with soap and
water for at least 15-20 seconds to effectively remove pathogens. Shorter
durations are inadequate for removing microorganisms, and longer
durations are not necessary for routine handwashing.
6. A patient reports a 15% increase in pain. What is the priority step in the
nursing process?
A) Ignore the pain and reassess later
B) Assess pain characteristics including location, intensity, and quality
C) Administer analgesics immediately without assessment
D) Restrict movement to prevent further pain
Correct Answer: Assess pain characteristics including location, intensity,
and quality
Rationale: Assessment is the first step in the nursing process. Before any
intervention, the nurse must assess the pain to determine its cause,
severity, and characteristics. Immediate administration of analgesics
without assessment is unsafe.
7. A patient is on contact precautions for MRSA. What is the priority
nursing action?
A) Wear a gown and gloves when entering the room
B) Wear only gloves when providing care
C) Keep the door closed at all times
D) Place the patient in a negative-pressure room
, Correct Answer: Wear a gown and gloves when entering the room
Rationale: Contact precautions require the use of gown and gloves to
prevent transmission of multidrug-resistant organisms like MRSA.
Negative-pressure rooms are for airborne precautions, and door closure
alone is insufficient.
8. What is the correct order of the nursing process?
A) Planning, Assessment, Implementation, Diagnosis, Evaluation
B) Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation
C) Diagnosis, Assessment, Planning, Evaluation, Implementation
D) Assessment, Planning, Diagnosis, Implementation, Evaluation
Correct Answer: Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation,
Evaluation
Rationale: The nursing process follows a specific sequence: Assessment
(collect data), Diagnosis (analyze data), Planning (develop goals),
Implementation (carry out plan), and Evaluation (measure outcomes). This
systematic, rational method provides individualized nursing care.
9. Which action should the nurse take first when beginning to formulate a
patient's plan of care?
A) List possible treatment options
B) Identify realistic outcome indicators
C) Consult with healthcare team members
D) Rank patient concerns from assessment data
Correct Answer: Rank patient concerns from assessment data
& Skills I (2026) Actual Q&A PDF
1. A nurse is preparing to administer a medication to a patient. What is
the priority action to ensure safety?
A) Administer the medication quickly to save time
B) Verify the "five rights" of medication administration
C) Skip patient identification if the patient is known
D) Ignore the medication order if it seems incorrect
Correct Answer: Verify the "five rights" of medication administration
Rationale: The "five rights" (right patient, drug, dose, route, and time)
are a fundamental safety check that must be performed before every
medication administration to prevent errors. Skipping identification or
ignoring orders is unsafe and violates nursing standards.
2. The nurse is measuring blood pressures as part of a community health
fair. Which blood pressure reading would cause the nurse to refer the
patient for follow-up regarding hypertension?
A) 108/70 mmHg
B) 118/76 mmHg
C) 122/80 mmHg
D) 148/94 mmHg
Correct Answer: 148/94 mmHg
Rationale: A blood pressure of 148/94 mmHg is above the normal range
(120/80 mmHg) and meets the criteria for hypertension, requiring medical
follow-up. The other readings are within normal or prehypertensive ranges
and do not require immediate referral.
,3. A patient has a temperature of 38.5°C (101.3°F). What is the priority
nursing action?
A) Ignore the temperature and reassess later
B) Administer antipyretics as prescribed
C) Restrict fluids to prevent chilling
D) Encourage ambulation to reduce fever
Correct Answer: Administer antipyretics as prescribed
Rationale: A fever of 101.3°F indicates a pyretic response that may
require antipyretic therapy to reduce temperature and improve patient
comfort, per evidence-based practice. Fluid restriction and ignoring the
fever are inappropriate, and ambulation does not directly reduce fever.
4. A patient is at risk for falls due to a 10% decrease in mobility. What is
the priority nursing intervention?
A) Encourage unsupervised ambulation to build strength
B) Implement fall precautions such as bed alarms and non-slip socks
C) Restrict mobility completely to prevent any injury
D) Administer sedatives to reduce agitation
Correct Answer: Implement fall precautions such as bed alarms and
non-slip socks
Rationale: Fall precautions, including bed alarms, non-slip socks, and
keeping the bed in the lowest position, are evidence-based interventions
that reduce fall risk while promoting safety. Restricting mobility and
administering sedatives can increase fall risk.
5. A nurse is performing hand hygiene. What is the minimum duration for
effective handwashing with soap and water?
A) 5 seconds
,B) 15-20 seconds
C) 60 seconds
D) 2 minutes
Correct Answer: 15-20 seconds
Rationale: CDC guidelines recommend washing hands with soap and
water for at least 15-20 seconds to effectively remove pathogens. Shorter
durations are inadequate for removing microorganisms, and longer
durations are not necessary for routine handwashing.
6. A patient reports a 15% increase in pain. What is the priority step in the
nursing process?
A) Ignore the pain and reassess later
B) Assess pain characteristics including location, intensity, and quality
C) Administer analgesics immediately without assessment
D) Restrict movement to prevent further pain
Correct Answer: Assess pain characteristics including location, intensity,
and quality
Rationale: Assessment is the first step in the nursing process. Before any
intervention, the nurse must assess the pain to determine its cause,
severity, and characteristics. Immediate administration of analgesics
without assessment is unsafe.
7. A patient is on contact precautions for MRSA. What is the priority
nursing action?
A) Wear a gown and gloves when entering the room
B) Wear only gloves when providing care
C) Keep the door closed at all times
D) Place the patient in a negative-pressure room
, Correct Answer: Wear a gown and gloves when entering the room
Rationale: Contact precautions require the use of gown and gloves to
prevent transmission of multidrug-resistant organisms like MRSA.
Negative-pressure rooms are for airborne precautions, and door closure
alone is insufficient.
8. What is the correct order of the nursing process?
A) Planning, Assessment, Implementation, Diagnosis, Evaluation
B) Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation
C) Diagnosis, Assessment, Planning, Evaluation, Implementation
D) Assessment, Planning, Diagnosis, Implementation, Evaluation
Correct Answer: Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation,
Evaluation
Rationale: The nursing process follows a specific sequence: Assessment
(collect data), Diagnosis (analyze data), Planning (develop goals),
Implementation (carry out plan), and Evaluation (measure outcomes). This
systematic, rational method provides individualized nursing care.
9. Which action should the nurse take first when beginning to formulate a
patient's plan of care?
A) List possible treatment options
B) Identify realistic outcome indicators
C) Consult with healthcare team members
D) Rank patient concerns from assessment data
Correct Answer: Rank patient concerns from assessment data
