NSG 3100 Fundamental Concepts & Skills I Exam 2026/2027 |
Galen College Of Nursing | 75-Question And Answers With
Rationale
Question 1.
A nurse is preparing to administer a scheduled oral medication to a patient who is NPO for a procedure in 2 hours. The
nurse's most appropriate action is to:
A. Administer the medication with a small sip of water and document the exception.
B. Hold the medication and notify the prescribing provider.
C. Crush the tablet and administer it sublingually to bypass the GI tract.
D. Administer the medication as scheduled since oral meds are not affected by NPO status. Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
When a patient is NPO (nothing by mouth) prior to a procedure, all oral medications must be held unless specifically
ordered otherwise by the provider. The nurse must notify the prescribing provider to determine if the medication is critical,
should be given with a small sip of water, rescheduled, or given via an alternative route. Self-administering or altering the
route without an order constitutes unauthorized practice.
Question 2.
During morning assessment, a nurse notes a patient's oral temperature is 38.9 C (102 F), pulse 110 bpm, respirations
24/min, and blood pressure 118/72 mmHg. The nurse recognizes these findings are consistent with:
A. The body's compensatory response to infection.
B. Hypovolemic shock.
C. Orthostatic hypotension.
D. Bradycardia secondary to increased intracranial pressure.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
Fever (pyrexia) triggers physiological responses including tachycardia (increased heart rate) and tachypnea (increased
respiratory rate) as the body attempts to meet increased metabolic demands and dissipate heat. This pattern is
characteristic of the body's compensatory response to infection or inflammation. Hypovolemic shock would typically
present with hypotension, orthostatic hypotension requires positional vital sign changes, and increased ICP causes
bradycardia with hypertension (Cushing's triad).
Question 3.
A nurse is caring for a patient with a diagnosis of Clostridioides difficile (C. diff). Which infection control precaution is most
appropriate?
A. Standard precautions only, with emphasis on hand hygiene using alcohol-based sanitizer.
B. Contact precautions, with handwashing using soap and water.
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,C. Droplet precautions, with placement in a negative-pressure room.
D. Airborne precautions, requiring an N95 respirator for all staff.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
C. difficile is transmitted via the fecal-oral route and requires contact precautions, including gown and gloves for room
entry. Crucially, alcohol-based hand sanitizers are ineffective against C. diff spores; thorough handwashing with soap and
water is required because the mechanical friction removes spores. Droplet precautions are for pathogens transmitted via
respiratory droplets (e.g., influenza), and airborne precautions are for airborne particles (e.g., tuberculosis, measles).
Question 4.
A nurse enters a patient's room and finds the patient on the floor beside the bed. The patient is conscious and states, 'I
tried to get to the bathroom by myself.' The nurse's first priority action is to:
A. Call for assistance and assess the patient for injuries.
B. Immediately return the patient to bed to prevent further injury.
C. Document the incident in the electronic health record.
D. Notify the patient's family of the fall.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
The nurse's first priority after a fall is to call for help and conduct a thorough assessment for injuries before moving the
patient. Moving the patient prematurely could exacerbate fractures, spinal injuries, or internal bleeding. Assessment must
precede documentation, notification, or repositioning. This follows the nursing process and patient safety protocols.
Question 5.
A nurse is preparing to administer 0.125 mg of digoxin orally. The available tablets are 0.25 mg each. How many tablets
should the nurse administer?
A. 0.5 tablet
B. 1 tablet
C. 2 tablets
D. 0.25 tablet
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
Using the dosage calculation formula (Desired / Have = Amount): 0.125 mg / 0.25 mg = 0.5 tablet. The nurse should
administer half of one 0.25 mg tablet. It is critical to verify this calculation independently and have another nurse double-
check high-alert medications like digoxin before administration.
Question 6.
A patient with a history of heart failure is being discharged. The nurse is teaching about daily weight monitoring. The patient
should be instructed to notify the provider if weight gain exceeds:
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, A. 1 pound in 1 day.
B. 2 to 3 pounds in 1 day or 5 pounds in 1 week.
C. 5 pounds in 1 day or 10 pounds in 1 week.
D. 10 pounds in 1 month.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
For patients with heart failure, a weight gain of 2 to 3 pounds (1 to 1.5 kg) in 24 hours or 5 pounds (2.3 kg) in one week
indicates fluid retention and potential exacerbation of heart failure. Early detection allows for timely intervention with
diuretic therapy before acute decompensation occurs. Patients should weigh themselves at the same time daily, wearing
similar clothing, after voiding.
Question 7.
During a sterile dressing change, the nurse accidentally touches the sterile field with an ungloved hand. The most
appropriate nursing action is to:
A. Continue the procedure quickly to minimize contamination time.
B. Apply sterile gloves over the ungloved hand and continue.
C. Discard the contaminated supplies and begin the procedure again.
D. Have another nurse complete the procedure while observing.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Once a sterile field is contaminated, it is no longer sterile. The principles of aseptic technique require that any break in
sterility necessitates starting over with new sterile supplies. Continuing with a contaminated field places the patient at risk
for infection. Sterility cannot be restored by adding gloves or working faster.
Question 8.
A nurse is assessing a patient's pain using the PQRST method. When asking about the 'Q' (Quality), the nurse should
inquire about:
A. What triggers or worsens the pain.
B. Whether the pain is sharp, dull, burning, or aching.
C. The severity on a scale of 0 to 10.
D. The region of the body where the pain is located.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
The PQRST pain assessment mnemonic stands for: P (Provocation/Palliation-what makes it better or worse), Q (Quality-
description of the pain such as sharp, dull, throbbing, burning), R (Region/Radiation-location and spread), S (Severity-
intensity rating), and T (Timing-onset, duration, frequency). Quality specifically refers to the character or nature of the pain
sensation.
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Galen College Of Nursing | 75-Question And Answers With
Rationale
Question 1.
A nurse is preparing to administer a scheduled oral medication to a patient who is NPO for a procedure in 2 hours. The
nurse's most appropriate action is to:
A. Administer the medication with a small sip of water and document the exception.
B. Hold the medication and notify the prescribing provider.
C. Crush the tablet and administer it sublingually to bypass the GI tract.
D. Administer the medication as scheduled since oral meds are not affected by NPO status. Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
When a patient is NPO (nothing by mouth) prior to a procedure, all oral medications must be held unless specifically
ordered otherwise by the provider. The nurse must notify the prescribing provider to determine if the medication is critical,
should be given with a small sip of water, rescheduled, or given via an alternative route. Self-administering or altering the
route without an order constitutes unauthorized practice.
Question 2.
During morning assessment, a nurse notes a patient's oral temperature is 38.9 C (102 F), pulse 110 bpm, respirations
24/min, and blood pressure 118/72 mmHg. The nurse recognizes these findings are consistent with:
A. The body's compensatory response to infection.
B. Hypovolemic shock.
C. Orthostatic hypotension.
D. Bradycardia secondary to increased intracranial pressure.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
Fever (pyrexia) triggers physiological responses including tachycardia (increased heart rate) and tachypnea (increased
respiratory rate) as the body attempts to meet increased metabolic demands and dissipate heat. This pattern is
characteristic of the body's compensatory response to infection or inflammation. Hypovolemic shock would typically
present with hypotension, orthostatic hypotension requires positional vital sign changes, and increased ICP causes
bradycardia with hypertension (Cushing's triad).
Question 3.
A nurse is caring for a patient with a diagnosis of Clostridioides difficile (C. diff). Which infection control precaution is most
appropriate?
A. Standard precautions only, with emphasis on hand hygiene using alcohol-based sanitizer.
B. Contact precautions, with handwashing using soap and water.
Page 1
,C. Droplet precautions, with placement in a negative-pressure room.
D. Airborne precautions, requiring an N95 respirator for all staff.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
C. difficile is transmitted via the fecal-oral route and requires contact precautions, including gown and gloves for room
entry. Crucially, alcohol-based hand sanitizers are ineffective against C. diff spores; thorough handwashing with soap and
water is required because the mechanical friction removes spores. Droplet precautions are for pathogens transmitted via
respiratory droplets (e.g., influenza), and airborne precautions are for airborne particles (e.g., tuberculosis, measles).
Question 4.
A nurse enters a patient's room and finds the patient on the floor beside the bed. The patient is conscious and states, 'I
tried to get to the bathroom by myself.' The nurse's first priority action is to:
A. Call for assistance and assess the patient for injuries.
B. Immediately return the patient to bed to prevent further injury.
C. Document the incident in the electronic health record.
D. Notify the patient's family of the fall.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
The nurse's first priority after a fall is to call for help and conduct a thorough assessment for injuries before moving the
patient. Moving the patient prematurely could exacerbate fractures, spinal injuries, or internal bleeding. Assessment must
precede documentation, notification, or repositioning. This follows the nursing process and patient safety protocols.
Question 5.
A nurse is preparing to administer 0.125 mg of digoxin orally. The available tablets are 0.25 mg each. How many tablets
should the nurse administer?
A. 0.5 tablet
B. 1 tablet
C. 2 tablets
D. 0.25 tablet
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
Using the dosage calculation formula (Desired / Have = Amount): 0.125 mg / 0.25 mg = 0.5 tablet. The nurse should
administer half of one 0.25 mg tablet. It is critical to verify this calculation independently and have another nurse double-
check high-alert medications like digoxin before administration.
Question 6.
A patient with a history of heart failure is being discharged. The nurse is teaching about daily weight monitoring. The patient
should be instructed to notify the provider if weight gain exceeds:
Page 2
, A. 1 pound in 1 day.
B. 2 to 3 pounds in 1 day or 5 pounds in 1 week.
C. 5 pounds in 1 day or 10 pounds in 1 week.
D. 10 pounds in 1 month.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
For patients with heart failure, a weight gain of 2 to 3 pounds (1 to 1.5 kg) in 24 hours or 5 pounds (2.3 kg) in one week
indicates fluid retention and potential exacerbation of heart failure. Early detection allows for timely intervention with
diuretic therapy before acute decompensation occurs. Patients should weigh themselves at the same time daily, wearing
similar clothing, after voiding.
Question 7.
During a sterile dressing change, the nurse accidentally touches the sterile field with an ungloved hand. The most
appropriate nursing action is to:
A. Continue the procedure quickly to minimize contamination time.
B. Apply sterile gloves over the ungloved hand and continue.
C. Discard the contaminated supplies and begin the procedure again.
D. Have another nurse complete the procedure while observing.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Once a sterile field is contaminated, it is no longer sterile. The principles of aseptic technique require that any break in
sterility necessitates starting over with new sterile supplies. Continuing with a contaminated field places the patient at risk
for infection. Sterility cannot be restored by adding gloves or working faster.
Question 8.
A nurse is assessing a patient's pain using the PQRST method. When asking about the 'Q' (Quality), the nurse should
inquire about:
A. What triggers or worsens the pain.
B. Whether the pain is sharp, dull, burning, or aching.
C. The severity on a scale of 0 to 10.
D. The region of the body where the pain is located.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
The PQRST pain assessment mnemonic stands for: P (Provocation/Palliation-what makes it better or worse), Q (Quality-
description of the pain such as sharp, dull, throbbing, burning), R (Region/Radiation-location and spread), S (Severity-
intensity rating), and T (Timing-onset, duration, frequency). Quality specifically refers to the character or nature of the pain
sensation.
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