NR 224 – FUNDAMENTALS OF NURSING COMPREHENSIVE FINAL
EXAM CHAMBERLAIN UNIVERSITY | 2026 EDITION 200 VERIFIED
QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED RATIONALES LATEST UPDATE
EXAM OVERVIEW & TEST STRUCTURE
This comprehensive final exam covers ALL content from NR 224 Fundamentals of
Nursing, including:
- The Nursing Process (ADPIE) and Critical Thinking
- Infection Prevention and Control / Transmission-Based Precautions
- PPE and Medical/Surgical Asepsis
- Vital Signs and Health Assessment
- Mobility, Body Mechanics, and Immobility Complications
- Patient Safety and Error Prevention
- Skin Integrity and Wound Care
- Pain Management (Pharmacological and Nonpharmacological)
- Medication Administration (Rights, Routes, and Dosage Calculations)
- Nutrition and Hydration
- Bowel Elimination (Constipation, Diarrhea, Ostomies)
- Urinary Elimination (Catheters, Incontinence, UTIs)
- Oxygenation and Respiratory Support
- Fluid and Electrolyte Balance
- Sleep and Rest
- Stress and Coping
- Loss, Grief, and Dying
- Sensory Alterations
- Self-Concept and Sexuality
- Spirituality and Culture
- Client Education
- Perioperative Nursing
- Legal and Ethical Concepts
- Documentation (EMR/EHR, SOAP)
SECTION 1: NURSING PROCESS, CRITICAL THINKING & DOCUMENTATION
(Questions 1–25)
QUESTION 1
What is the primary purpose of the nursing process?
A) To implement standardized procedures
1
,B) To ensure compliance with hospital policies
C) To provide a structured approach to patient care
D) To facilitate communication between different healthcare providers
ANSWER: C) To provide a structured approach to patient care
RATIONALE: The nursing process is a systematic framework for delivering
holistic, individualized, and effective patient-centered care.
While it does aid communication and compliance, its primary purpose is to
guide nurses in assessing, diagnosing, planning, implementing, and
evaluating care in a structured, thoughtful manner.
QUESTION 2
In which order will the nurse use the nursing process steps during the
clinical decision-making process?
A) Evaluating goals → Assessing patient needs → Planning priorities of care →
Determining nursing diagnosis → Implementing nursing interventions
B) Assessing patient needs → Determining nursing diagnosis → Planning
priorities of care → Implementing nursing interventions → Evaluating goals
C) Planning priorities of care → Assessing patient needs → Determining nursing
diagnosis → Implementing nursing interventions → Evaluating goals
D) Determining nursing diagnosis → Assessing patient needs → Planning
priorities of care → Implementing nursing interventions → Evaluating goals
ANSWER: B) Assessing → Diagnosis → Planning → Implementation → Evaluation
RATIONALE: The nursing process follows a specific order: Assessment (collect
data), Diagnosis (identify the problem), Planning (set goals and outcomes),
Implementation (take action), and Evaluation (determine if goals were met).
This systematic approach ensures thorough and logical clinical reasoning.
QUESTION 3
Which patient scenario is most indicative of critical thinking by the nurse?
A) Offering pain-relief medication based solely on the healthcare provider's
orders
B) Asking the patient what pain-relief methods (pharmacological and
nonpharmacological) have worked in the past
C) Explaining to the patient that self-reporting of severe pain is not
2
, consistent with the minor procedure that was performed
D) Administering pain-relief medication according to what was given during the
previous shift
ANSWER: B) Asking the patient what pain-relief methods (pharmacological and
nonpharmacological) have worked in the past
RATIONALE: Critical thinking involves gathering comprehensive data,
considering patient preferences, and exploring options beyond standard
orders. This action individualizes care and demonstrates
thoughtful clinical reasoning rather than simply following orders or routines.
QUESTION 4
Completing a comprehensive database of patient information is done during
which phase of the nursing process?
A) Diagnosis
B) Planning
C) Assessment
D) Implementation
ANSWER: C) Assessment
RATIONALE: The Assessment phase involves collecting comprehensive data about
the patient, including subjective (patient-reported) and objective
(observable/measurable) information. This data forms the
foundation for all subsequent phases of the nursing process.
QUESTION 5
After data collection and analysis to identify patient problems, what is the
next phase of the nursing process?
A) Assessment
B) Diagnosis
C) Planning
D) Implementation
ANSWER: B) Diagnosis
3
, RATIONALE: The Diagnosis phase follows Assessment. During this phase, the
nurse
analyzes the collected data to identify actual or potential patient problems
and formulates nursing diagnoses. A nursing diagnosis is a
clinical judgment about the patient's response to health conditions.
QUESTION 6
Read the following nursing diagnosis: "Impaired gas exchange related to lack
of oxygen flow as evidenced by patient exhibiting shortness of breath and
nasal cannula out of patient's nose." Which part identifies the defining
characteristic(s)?
A) Impaired gas exchange
B) Related to lack of oxygen flow
C) Shortness of breath and nasal cannula out of nose
D) As evidenced by
ANSWER: C) Shortness of breath and nasal cannula out of nose
RATIONALE: Defining characteristics are the signs and symptoms that support the
nursing diagnosis; they are the "as evidenced by" (AEB) portion.
The diagnosis statement includes the problem (Impaired gas exchange), the
etiology/related factors (lack of oxygen flow), and the defining
characteristics (shortness of breath, nasal cannula out of nose).
QUESTION 7
Give an appropriate goal for this nursing diagnosis: "Acute pain related to
surgical site infection as evidenced by patient rating pain 9/10 continuously."
A) Patient will be pain-free by the end of the shift
B) Patient will rate pain less than 4/10 on the pain scale by 1200
C) Patient will receive pain medication every 4 hours
D) Patient will have no surgical site infection
ANSWER: B) Patient will rate pain less than 4/10 on the pain scale by 1200
RATIONALE: Goals should be SMART: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic,
and Timely. "Patient will rate pain less than 4/10 on the pain
scale by 1200" is measurable, specific, and time-bound.
"Pain-free" may not be realistic, and "receive medication" is an intervention,
4
EXAM CHAMBERLAIN UNIVERSITY | 2026 EDITION 200 VERIFIED
QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED RATIONALES LATEST UPDATE
EXAM OVERVIEW & TEST STRUCTURE
This comprehensive final exam covers ALL content from NR 224 Fundamentals of
Nursing, including:
- The Nursing Process (ADPIE) and Critical Thinking
- Infection Prevention and Control / Transmission-Based Precautions
- PPE and Medical/Surgical Asepsis
- Vital Signs and Health Assessment
- Mobility, Body Mechanics, and Immobility Complications
- Patient Safety and Error Prevention
- Skin Integrity and Wound Care
- Pain Management (Pharmacological and Nonpharmacological)
- Medication Administration (Rights, Routes, and Dosage Calculations)
- Nutrition and Hydration
- Bowel Elimination (Constipation, Diarrhea, Ostomies)
- Urinary Elimination (Catheters, Incontinence, UTIs)
- Oxygenation and Respiratory Support
- Fluid and Electrolyte Balance
- Sleep and Rest
- Stress and Coping
- Loss, Grief, and Dying
- Sensory Alterations
- Self-Concept and Sexuality
- Spirituality and Culture
- Client Education
- Perioperative Nursing
- Legal and Ethical Concepts
- Documentation (EMR/EHR, SOAP)
SECTION 1: NURSING PROCESS, CRITICAL THINKING & DOCUMENTATION
(Questions 1–25)
QUESTION 1
What is the primary purpose of the nursing process?
A) To implement standardized procedures
1
,B) To ensure compliance with hospital policies
C) To provide a structured approach to patient care
D) To facilitate communication between different healthcare providers
ANSWER: C) To provide a structured approach to patient care
RATIONALE: The nursing process is a systematic framework for delivering
holistic, individualized, and effective patient-centered care.
While it does aid communication and compliance, its primary purpose is to
guide nurses in assessing, diagnosing, planning, implementing, and
evaluating care in a structured, thoughtful manner.
QUESTION 2
In which order will the nurse use the nursing process steps during the
clinical decision-making process?
A) Evaluating goals → Assessing patient needs → Planning priorities of care →
Determining nursing diagnosis → Implementing nursing interventions
B) Assessing patient needs → Determining nursing diagnosis → Planning
priorities of care → Implementing nursing interventions → Evaluating goals
C) Planning priorities of care → Assessing patient needs → Determining nursing
diagnosis → Implementing nursing interventions → Evaluating goals
D) Determining nursing diagnosis → Assessing patient needs → Planning
priorities of care → Implementing nursing interventions → Evaluating goals
ANSWER: B) Assessing → Diagnosis → Planning → Implementation → Evaluation
RATIONALE: The nursing process follows a specific order: Assessment (collect
data), Diagnosis (identify the problem), Planning (set goals and outcomes),
Implementation (take action), and Evaluation (determine if goals were met).
This systematic approach ensures thorough and logical clinical reasoning.
QUESTION 3
Which patient scenario is most indicative of critical thinking by the nurse?
A) Offering pain-relief medication based solely on the healthcare provider's
orders
B) Asking the patient what pain-relief methods (pharmacological and
nonpharmacological) have worked in the past
C) Explaining to the patient that self-reporting of severe pain is not
2
, consistent with the minor procedure that was performed
D) Administering pain-relief medication according to what was given during the
previous shift
ANSWER: B) Asking the patient what pain-relief methods (pharmacological and
nonpharmacological) have worked in the past
RATIONALE: Critical thinking involves gathering comprehensive data,
considering patient preferences, and exploring options beyond standard
orders. This action individualizes care and demonstrates
thoughtful clinical reasoning rather than simply following orders or routines.
QUESTION 4
Completing a comprehensive database of patient information is done during
which phase of the nursing process?
A) Diagnosis
B) Planning
C) Assessment
D) Implementation
ANSWER: C) Assessment
RATIONALE: The Assessment phase involves collecting comprehensive data about
the patient, including subjective (patient-reported) and objective
(observable/measurable) information. This data forms the
foundation for all subsequent phases of the nursing process.
QUESTION 5
After data collection and analysis to identify patient problems, what is the
next phase of the nursing process?
A) Assessment
B) Diagnosis
C) Planning
D) Implementation
ANSWER: B) Diagnosis
3
, RATIONALE: The Diagnosis phase follows Assessment. During this phase, the
nurse
analyzes the collected data to identify actual or potential patient problems
and formulates nursing diagnoses. A nursing diagnosis is a
clinical judgment about the patient's response to health conditions.
QUESTION 6
Read the following nursing diagnosis: "Impaired gas exchange related to lack
of oxygen flow as evidenced by patient exhibiting shortness of breath and
nasal cannula out of patient's nose." Which part identifies the defining
characteristic(s)?
A) Impaired gas exchange
B) Related to lack of oxygen flow
C) Shortness of breath and nasal cannula out of nose
D) As evidenced by
ANSWER: C) Shortness of breath and nasal cannula out of nose
RATIONALE: Defining characteristics are the signs and symptoms that support the
nursing diagnosis; they are the "as evidenced by" (AEB) portion.
The diagnosis statement includes the problem (Impaired gas exchange), the
etiology/related factors (lack of oxygen flow), and the defining
characteristics (shortness of breath, nasal cannula out of nose).
QUESTION 7
Give an appropriate goal for this nursing diagnosis: "Acute pain related to
surgical site infection as evidenced by patient rating pain 9/10 continuously."
A) Patient will be pain-free by the end of the shift
B) Patient will rate pain less than 4/10 on the pain scale by 1200
C) Patient will receive pain medication every 4 hours
D) Patient will have no surgical site infection
ANSWER: B) Patient will rate pain less than 4/10 on the pain scale by 1200
RATIONALE: Goals should be SMART: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic,
and Timely. "Patient will rate pain less than 4/10 on the pain
scale by 1200" is measurable, specific, and time-bound.
"Pain-free" may not be realistic, and "receive medication" is an intervention,
4
