,NU 136 EXAM 1 Fundamentals of Nursing Questions And Answers
2026/2027 Galen College
Q1. Which statement best describes health?
A) The complete absence of disease in every situation
B) A static physical condition that does not change
C) A dynamic state involving physical, emotional, social, and other
dimensions of well-being
D) A condition determined only by laboratory results
Correct Answer: C) A dynamic state involving physical, emotional, social, and
other dimensions of well-being
Rationale: Health is multidimensional and dynamic. It involves more than
the absence of disease and can change in response to biological,
psychological, social, environmental, and other factors.
Q2. Which factor is an example of a social determinant that can
influence health?
A) Access to safe housing
B) Blood type
C) Eye color
D) Heart valve structure
Correct Answer: A) Access to safe housing
Rationale: Housing, income, education, transportation, food access, and
social support can influence exposure to health risks and access to
healthcare.
Q3. Which term describes a subjective experience of not feeling
well?
A) Health promotion
B) Illness
C) Prevention
D) Wellness
Correct Answer: B) Illness
Rationale: Illness refers to a person's subjective experience of feeling
unwell, whereas disease generally refers to an identifiable pathologic
process.
,Q4. What distinguishes disease from illness?
A) Disease is always subjective, whereas illness is objective.
B) Disease refers to a pathologic process, while illness describes the person's
experience of being unwell.
C) Disease and illness always mean exactly the same thing.
D) Illness can occur only when laboratory abnormalities are present.
Correct Answer: B) Disease refers to a pathologic process, while illness
describes the person's experience of being unwell.
Rationale: Disease describes an abnormal physiologic or structural process,
while illness describes how the individual perceives and experiences that
condition.
Q5. Which example represents primary illness?
A) Pneumonia developing after prolonged hospitalization
B) Skin irritation caused by treatment for another condition
C) Hypertension resulting from renal disease
D) An illness occurring independently rather than as a consequence of
another health problem
Correct Answer: D) An illness occurring independently rather than as a
consequence of another health problem
Rationale: A primary illness is the original health problem rather than a
condition caused by another disease or treatment.
Q6. Which example represents secondary illness?
A) A new condition that develops as a consequence of another health
problem
B) A disorder occurring independently
C) A normal adaptation to exercise
D) A preventive health behavior
Correct Answer: A) A new condition that develops as a consequence of
another health problem
Rationale: Secondary illness develops because of another illness,
treatment, complication, or underlying health problem.
Q7. Which concept describes the body's ability to maintain internal
stability while adjusting to change?
, A) Homeostasis
B) Infection
C) Immunity
D) Asepsis
Correct Answer: A) Homeostasis
Rationale: Homeostasis is the dynamic maintenance of relatively stable
internal conditions despite changes inside or outside the body.
Q8. Which response is most closely associated with sympathetic
nervous-system activation during acute stress?
A) Decreased heart rate
B) Increased digestive activity
C) Dilated pupils and increased heart rate
D) Increased salivation and slowed breathing
Correct Answer: C) Dilated pupils and increased heart rate
Rationale: Sympathetic activation prepares the body for action by
increasing heart rate, redistributing blood flow, dilating pupils, and promoting
bronchodilation.
Q9. Which sequence represents the stages of the general
adaptation syndrome?
A) Exhaustion → resistance → alarm
B) Alarm → resistance → exhaustion
C) Resistance → alarm → exhaustion
D) Alarm → exhaustion → resistance
Correct Answer: B) Alarm → resistance → exhaustion
Rationale: The general adaptation syndrome describes an initial alarm
response, followed by resistance as the body adapts, and eventual
exhaustion when prolonged stress depletes adaptive resources.
Q10. Which phase of the general adaptation syndrome involves the
body's initial fight-or-flight response?
A) Exhaustion
B) Resistance
C) Alarm
D) Recovery
2026/2027 Galen College
Q1. Which statement best describes health?
A) The complete absence of disease in every situation
B) A static physical condition that does not change
C) A dynamic state involving physical, emotional, social, and other
dimensions of well-being
D) A condition determined only by laboratory results
Correct Answer: C) A dynamic state involving physical, emotional, social, and
other dimensions of well-being
Rationale: Health is multidimensional and dynamic. It involves more than
the absence of disease and can change in response to biological,
psychological, social, environmental, and other factors.
Q2. Which factor is an example of a social determinant that can
influence health?
A) Access to safe housing
B) Blood type
C) Eye color
D) Heart valve structure
Correct Answer: A) Access to safe housing
Rationale: Housing, income, education, transportation, food access, and
social support can influence exposure to health risks and access to
healthcare.
Q3. Which term describes a subjective experience of not feeling
well?
A) Health promotion
B) Illness
C) Prevention
D) Wellness
Correct Answer: B) Illness
Rationale: Illness refers to a person's subjective experience of feeling
unwell, whereas disease generally refers to an identifiable pathologic
process.
,Q4. What distinguishes disease from illness?
A) Disease is always subjective, whereas illness is objective.
B) Disease refers to a pathologic process, while illness describes the person's
experience of being unwell.
C) Disease and illness always mean exactly the same thing.
D) Illness can occur only when laboratory abnormalities are present.
Correct Answer: B) Disease refers to a pathologic process, while illness
describes the person's experience of being unwell.
Rationale: Disease describes an abnormal physiologic or structural process,
while illness describes how the individual perceives and experiences that
condition.
Q5. Which example represents primary illness?
A) Pneumonia developing after prolonged hospitalization
B) Skin irritation caused by treatment for another condition
C) Hypertension resulting from renal disease
D) An illness occurring independently rather than as a consequence of
another health problem
Correct Answer: D) An illness occurring independently rather than as a
consequence of another health problem
Rationale: A primary illness is the original health problem rather than a
condition caused by another disease or treatment.
Q6. Which example represents secondary illness?
A) A new condition that develops as a consequence of another health
problem
B) A disorder occurring independently
C) A normal adaptation to exercise
D) A preventive health behavior
Correct Answer: A) A new condition that develops as a consequence of
another health problem
Rationale: Secondary illness develops because of another illness,
treatment, complication, or underlying health problem.
Q7. Which concept describes the body's ability to maintain internal
stability while adjusting to change?
, A) Homeostasis
B) Infection
C) Immunity
D) Asepsis
Correct Answer: A) Homeostasis
Rationale: Homeostasis is the dynamic maintenance of relatively stable
internal conditions despite changes inside or outside the body.
Q8. Which response is most closely associated with sympathetic
nervous-system activation during acute stress?
A) Decreased heart rate
B) Increased digestive activity
C) Dilated pupils and increased heart rate
D) Increased salivation and slowed breathing
Correct Answer: C) Dilated pupils and increased heart rate
Rationale: Sympathetic activation prepares the body for action by
increasing heart rate, redistributing blood flow, dilating pupils, and promoting
bronchodilation.
Q9. Which sequence represents the stages of the general
adaptation syndrome?
A) Exhaustion → resistance → alarm
B) Alarm → resistance → exhaustion
C) Resistance → alarm → exhaustion
D) Alarm → exhaustion → resistance
Correct Answer: B) Alarm → resistance → exhaustion
Rationale: The general adaptation syndrome describes an initial alarm
response, followed by resistance as the body adapts, and eventual
exhaustion when prolonged stress depletes adaptive resources.
Q10. Which phase of the general adaptation syndrome involves the
body's initial fight-or-flight response?
A) Exhaustion
B) Resistance
C) Alarm
D) Recovery
