GALEN COLLEGE - NUR 283 COMP 1–3 EXAMS EXAM-ALL
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS PLUS DETAILED RATIONALES |
COMPLETE STUDYGUIDE | DOWNLOAD INSTANT PDF 2027-
2028
1. A newly licensed RN is transitioning from student practice to independent professional
practice. Which action best demonstrates accountability for professional nursing practice?
A. Performing only tasks specifically assigned by another nurse
B. Accepting responsibility for decisions and seeking assistance when the limits of competence
are reached
C. Delegating unfamiliar responsibilities to experienced UAPs
D. Avoiding independent decisions until the first annual evaluation
Answer: B
Rationale: Accountability means accepting responsibility for one's professional actions,
recognizing limitations, and obtaining assistance when necessary. Delegation does not
transfer the RN's accountability for patient outcomes.
2. A nurse is assigned a client whose condition is deteriorating. The nurse recognizes that
the client's needs exceed the nurse's current level of competence. What is the best action?
A. Continue caring for the client independently to gain experience
B. Ask the UAP to monitor the client
C. Notify the charge nurse and request appropriate assistance or reassignment
D. Wait until the next shift to report the concern
Answer: C
Rationale: Professional practice requires nurses to recognize limitations and protect patient
safety. Escalating the concern to the charge nurse allows appropriate resources and expertise
to be provided.
3. A nurse notices that a colleague repeatedly documents assessments that were not
performed. Which action is most appropriate?
A. Ignore the behavior unless a patient is harmed
B. Discuss the concern with other coworkers
C. Alter the colleague's documentation
,D. Follow the organization's reporting process and address the concern through the appropriate
chain of command
Answer: D
Rationale: Falsification of clinical documentation is a serious professional and patient-safety
concern. The nurse should use established reporting channels and avoid gossip, retaliation, or
altering another nurse's documentation.
4. A nurse is caring for a competent adult who refuses a recommended treatment after
receiving information about the benefits and risks. Which ethical principle is primarily
involved?
A. Autonomy
B. Justice
C. Fidelity
D. Nonmaleficence
Answer: A
Rationale: Autonomy is the patient's right to make informed decisions regarding personal
healthcare, including the right to refuse treatment.
5. A nurse discovers that a prescribed medication dose appears inconsistent with the
client's age and renal function. What should the nurse do?
A. Administer the medication because the provider prescribed it
B. Ask the family whether the dose seems appropriate
C. Hold the medication and clarify the prescription
D. Change the dose based on nursing judgment
Answer: C
Rationale: Nurses have an obligation to identify potentially unsafe orders and clarify them
before administration. The nurse should not independently change a prescription.
6. A nurse is caring for a client who speaks limited English. The client's adult child offers to
interpret complex discharge instructions. What is the best nursing action?
,A. Accept the family member because the client knows the person
B. Use a qualified medical interpreter
C. Ask another bilingual client to interpret
D. Provide written instructions only
Answer: B
Rationale: Qualified medical interpreters improve accuracy, confidentiality, and informed
decision-making. Family members should not routinely be used for complex healthcare
interpretation.
7. A client tells the nurse, “I don't understand why I need this procedure.” What should the
nurse do?
A. Explain all procedural risks independently and obtain consent
B. Tell the client to sign because the provider ordered the procedure
C. Ask the family to explain the procedure
D. Notify the provider that additional explanation is needed before consent
Answer: D
Rationale: The provider performing the procedure is responsible for explaining its nature,
risks, benefits, and alternatives as required. The nurse can reinforce information but should
not replace the provider's informed-consent discussion.
8. A nurse accidentally administers the wrong medication to a client. The client is currently
asymptomatic. Which action should occur first?
A. Assess the client for adverse effects
B. Complete an incident report before assessing the client
C. Notify the client's family
D. Document that the correct medication was administered
Answer: A
Rationale: The client's immediate safety takes priority after a medication error. The nurse
should assess the client, initiate appropriate treatment, notify the provider as indicated, and
then complete required reporting and documentation.
, 9. A nurse is preparing to delegate care to a UAP. Which activity is most appropriate to
delegate for a stable client?
A. Initial assessment of chest pain
B. Evaluation of a newly developed pressure injury
C. Assistance with bathing and routine hygiene
D. Teaching use of an incentive spirometer
Answer: C
Rationale: Routine hygiene for a stable client is within the typical scope of UAP delegation.
Assessment, evaluation, and patient teaching require nursing judgment.
10. Which task should the RN retain rather than delegate to a UAP?
A. Obtaining routine vital signs for a stable client
B. Assisting a stable client with feeding
C. Measuring urine output
D. Evaluating whether a client understands newly prescribed medications
Answer: D
Rationale: Evaluating learning requires assessment and clinical judgment and therefore
remains the RN's responsibility. Routine data collection and basic care may be delegated when
appropriate.
11. A UAP reports that a client who was previously stable is now confused and has a blood
pressure of 84/50 mmHg. What should the RN do first?
A. Ask the UAP to recheck the blood pressure in one hour
B. Assess the client immediately
C. Document the finding at the end of the shift
D. Delegate the assessment to another UAP
Answer: B
Rationale: New confusion and hypotension may indicate acute deterioration. The RN must
promptly assess the client and determine appropriate interventions.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS PLUS DETAILED RATIONALES |
COMPLETE STUDYGUIDE | DOWNLOAD INSTANT PDF 2027-
2028
1. A newly licensed RN is transitioning from student practice to independent professional
practice. Which action best demonstrates accountability for professional nursing practice?
A. Performing only tasks specifically assigned by another nurse
B. Accepting responsibility for decisions and seeking assistance when the limits of competence
are reached
C. Delegating unfamiliar responsibilities to experienced UAPs
D. Avoiding independent decisions until the first annual evaluation
Answer: B
Rationale: Accountability means accepting responsibility for one's professional actions,
recognizing limitations, and obtaining assistance when necessary. Delegation does not
transfer the RN's accountability for patient outcomes.
2. A nurse is assigned a client whose condition is deteriorating. The nurse recognizes that
the client's needs exceed the nurse's current level of competence. What is the best action?
A. Continue caring for the client independently to gain experience
B. Ask the UAP to monitor the client
C. Notify the charge nurse and request appropriate assistance or reassignment
D. Wait until the next shift to report the concern
Answer: C
Rationale: Professional practice requires nurses to recognize limitations and protect patient
safety. Escalating the concern to the charge nurse allows appropriate resources and expertise
to be provided.
3. A nurse notices that a colleague repeatedly documents assessments that were not
performed. Which action is most appropriate?
A. Ignore the behavior unless a patient is harmed
B. Discuss the concern with other coworkers
C. Alter the colleague's documentation
,D. Follow the organization's reporting process and address the concern through the appropriate
chain of command
Answer: D
Rationale: Falsification of clinical documentation is a serious professional and patient-safety
concern. The nurse should use established reporting channels and avoid gossip, retaliation, or
altering another nurse's documentation.
4. A nurse is caring for a competent adult who refuses a recommended treatment after
receiving information about the benefits and risks. Which ethical principle is primarily
involved?
A. Autonomy
B. Justice
C. Fidelity
D. Nonmaleficence
Answer: A
Rationale: Autonomy is the patient's right to make informed decisions regarding personal
healthcare, including the right to refuse treatment.
5. A nurse discovers that a prescribed medication dose appears inconsistent with the
client's age and renal function. What should the nurse do?
A. Administer the medication because the provider prescribed it
B. Ask the family whether the dose seems appropriate
C. Hold the medication and clarify the prescription
D. Change the dose based on nursing judgment
Answer: C
Rationale: Nurses have an obligation to identify potentially unsafe orders and clarify them
before administration. The nurse should not independently change a prescription.
6. A nurse is caring for a client who speaks limited English. The client's adult child offers to
interpret complex discharge instructions. What is the best nursing action?
,A. Accept the family member because the client knows the person
B. Use a qualified medical interpreter
C. Ask another bilingual client to interpret
D. Provide written instructions only
Answer: B
Rationale: Qualified medical interpreters improve accuracy, confidentiality, and informed
decision-making. Family members should not routinely be used for complex healthcare
interpretation.
7. A client tells the nurse, “I don't understand why I need this procedure.” What should the
nurse do?
A. Explain all procedural risks independently and obtain consent
B. Tell the client to sign because the provider ordered the procedure
C. Ask the family to explain the procedure
D. Notify the provider that additional explanation is needed before consent
Answer: D
Rationale: The provider performing the procedure is responsible for explaining its nature,
risks, benefits, and alternatives as required. The nurse can reinforce information but should
not replace the provider's informed-consent discussion.
8. A nurse accidentally administers the wrong medication to a client. The client is currently
asymptomatic. Which action should occur first?
A. Assess the client for adverse effects
B. Complete an incident report before assessing the client
C. Notify the client's family
D. Document that the correct medication was administered
Answer: A
Rationale: The client's immediate safety takes priority after a medication error. The nurse
should assess the client, initiate appropriate treatment, notify the provider as indicated, and
then complete required reporting and documentation.
, 9. A nurse is preparing to delegate care to a UAP. Which activity is most appropriate to
delegate for a stable client?
A. Initial assessment of chest pain
B. Evaluation of a newly developed pressure injury
C. Assistance with bathing and routine hygiene
D. Teaching use of an incentive spirometer
Answer: C
Rationale: Routine hygiene for a stable client is within the typical scope of UAP delegation.
Assessment, evaluation, and patient teaching require nursing judgment.
10. Which task should the RN retain rather than delegate to a UAP?
A. Obtaining routine vital signs for a stable client
B. Assisting a stable client with feeding
C. Measuring urine output
D. Evaluating whether a client understands newly prescribed medications
Answer: D
Rationale: Evaluating learning requires assessment and clinical judgment and therefore
remains the RN's responsibility. Routine data collection and basic care may be delegated when
appropriate.
11. A UAP reports that a client who was previously stable is now confused and has a blood
pressure of 84/50 mmHg. What should the RN do first?
A. Ask the UAP to recheck the blood pressure in one hour
B. Assess the client immediately
C. Document the finding at the end of the shift
D. Delegate the assessment to another UAP
Answer: B
Rationale: New confusion and hypotension may indicate acute deterioration. The RN must
promptly assess the client and determine appropriate interventions.
