NU 501 Unit 8 Exam: Nursing Theories
and Professional Practice with
correct answers and rationale
graded A+
1. Which nursing theorist is recognized as the founder of modern nursing and emphasized
environmental manipulation?
A. Virginia Henderson
B. Florence Nightingale
C. Dorothea Orem
D. Jean Watson
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Florence Nightingale is universally acknowledged as the founder of modern nursing. Her
Environmental Theory stressed the importance of clean air, water, efficient drainage, cleanliness,
and light in promoting health and recovery.
2. The central theme of Virginia Henderson’s theory is helping the individual to gain independence in
performing which activities?
A. Self-care requisites
B. 14 components of basic nursing care
C. Interpersonal relations
D. Adaptation modes
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Henderson identified 14 basic components of nursing care that encompass all functions of
the nurse, aimed at helping the patient achieve independence as rapidly as possible.
3. Which theory defines nursing as a human science of caring and emphasizes the transpersonal
caring relationship?
A. Theory of Cultural Care
,B. Science of Unitary Human Beings
C. Theory of Human Caring
D. Adaptation Model
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring views nursing as a human science involving art
and ethics, centered on the transpersonal caring-healing relationship and 10 carative factors.
4. Dorothea Orem’s Self-Care Deficit Theory is composed of three nested theories. Which of the
following is NOT one of them?
A. Theory of Self-Care
B. Theory of Self-Care Deficit
C. Theory of Nursing Systems
D. Theory of Goal Attainment
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Orem’s grand theory includes the Theory of Self-Care, Theory of Self-Care Deficit, and
Theory of Nursing Systems. Theory of Goal Attainment is Imogene King’s framework.
5. According to the Roy Adaptation Model, the environment is defined as:
A. A set of energy fields
B. All conditions, circumstances, and influences surrounding the person
C. The cultural and social structure dimensions
D. The unitary pattern of the person
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Sister Callista Roy defines the environment as all conditions, circumstances, and
influences that surround and affect the development and behavior of the person, which the person
must adapt to.
6. A patient states, “I need to understand what is happening to me.” This concern aligns best with
which of the self-care requisites identified by Orem?
A. Universal self-care requisites
,B. Developmental self-care requisites
C. Health deviation self-care requisites
D. Therapeutic self-care demand
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Health deviation self-care requisites exist for persons who are ill, injured, under medical
diagnosis or treatment, and include seeking and securing appropriate medical assistance and
learning about the health condition.
7. Which theorist developed the Concept of “Nursing as Caring” and described the general theme of
“nursing as a way of living out caring in relation to others”?
A. Madeleine Leininger
B. Anne Boykin & Savina Schoenhofer
C. Patricia Benner
D. Nola Pender
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Boykin and Schoenhofer’s theory of Nursing as Caring posits that all persons are caring,
and nursing is a discipline of knowledge and an expression of living caring in relationships.
8. The central focus of Patricia Benner’s Novice to Expert model is the acquisition of:
A. Theoretical knowledge
B. Clinical wisdom through experiential learning
C. Carative processes
D. Cultural competence
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Benner’s model describes how nurses develop clinical competence and intuition through
practical experience, moving from novice to expert through stages of skill acquisition.
9. In Leininger’s Culture Care Diversity and Universality Theory, culturally congruent care aims to:
A. Impose the nurse’s health beliefs on the patient
B. Provide care that ignores cultural differences
, C. Fit the patient’s cultural values, beliefs, and lifeways
D. Standardize nursing interventions for all ethnic groups
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Leininger’s theory promotes care that is meaningful, tailored, and respectful of the
individual’s cultural beliefs and practices to achieve health and well-being.
10. Martha Rogers’ Science of Unitary Human Beings views the person as:
A. A bio-psycho-social being
B. An irreducible, pan-dimensional energy field
C. A behavioral system with subsystems
D. An adaptive system with coping mechanisms
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Rogers conceptualized the person as a unified, irreducible whole, an energy field
continuously interacting with the environmental field, characterized by pattern and organization.
11. According to King’s Theory of Goal Attainment, what is the primary purpose of the nurse-client
interaction?
A. To provide self-care assistance
B. To restore adaptation
C. To help clients attain, maintain, or regain health through mutual goal setting
D. To strengthen the field pattern
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: King’s theory focuses on the interpersonal process where the nurse and client
communicate, set mutual goals, and take actions to achieve them for health restoration.
12. The “carative factors” in Watson’s theory later evolved into what concept?
A. Clinical caritas processes
B. Caring competencies
C. Cultural care modalities
and Professional Practice with
correct answers and rationale
graded A+
1. Which nursing theorist is recognized as the founder of modern nursing and emphasized
environmental manipulation?
A. Virginia Henderson
B. Florence Nightingale
C. Dorothea Orem
D. Jean Watson
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Florence Nightingale is universally acknowledged as the founder of modern nursing. Her
Environmental Theory stressed the importance of clean air, water, efficient drainage, cleanliness,
and light in promoting health and recovery.
2. The central theme of Virginia Henderson’s theory is helping the individual to gain independence in
performing which activities?
A. Self-care requisites
B. 14 components of basic nursing care
C. Interpersonal relations
D. Adaptation modes
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Henderson identified 14 basic components of nursing care that encompass all functions of
the nurse, aimed at helping the patient achieve independence as rapidly as possible.
3. Which theory defines nursing as a human science of caring and emphasizes the transpersonal
caring relationship?
A. Theory of Cultural Care
,B. Science of Unitary Human Beings
C. Theory of Human Caring
D. Adaptation Model
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring views nursing as a human science involving art
and ethics, centered on the transpersonal caring-healing relationship and 10 carative factors.
4. Dorothea Orem’s Self-Care Deficit Theory is composed of three nested theories. Which of the
following is NOT one of them?
A. Theory of Self-Care
B. Theory of Self-Care Deficit
C. Theory of Nursing Systems
D. Theory of Goal Attainment
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Orem’s grand theory includes the Theory of Self-Care, Theory of Self-Care Deficit, and
Theory of Nursing Systems. Theory of Goal Attainment is Imogene King’s framework.
5. According to the Roy Adaptation Model, the environment is defined as:
A. A set of energy fields
B. All conditions, circumstances, and influences surrounding the person
C. The cultural and social structure dimensions
D. The unitary pattern of the person
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Sister Callista Roy defines the environment as all conditions, circumstances, and
influences that surround and affect the development and behavior of the person, which the person
must adapt to.
6. A patient states, “I need to understand what is happening to me.” This concern aligns best with
which of the self-care requisites identified by Orem?
A. Universal self-care requisites
,B. Developmental self-care requisites
C. Health deviation self-care requisites
D. Therapeutic self-care demand
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Health deviation self-care requisites exist for persons who are ill, injured, under medical
diagnosis or treatment, and include seeking and securing appropriate medical assistance and
learning about the health condition.
7. Which theorist developed the Concept of “Nursing as Caring” and described the general theme of
“nursing as a way of living out caring in relation to others”?
A. Madeleine Leininger
B. Anne Boykin & Savina Schoenhofer
C. Patricia Benner
D. Nola Pender
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Boykin and Schoenhofer’s theory of Nursing as Caring posits that all persons are caring,
and nursing is a discipline of knowledge and an expression of living caring in relationships.
8. The central focus of Patricia Benner’s Novice to Expert model is the acquisition of:
A. Theoretical knowledge
B. Clinical wisdom through experiential learning
C. Carative processes
D. Cultural competence
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Benner’s model describes how nurses develop clinical competence and intuition through
practical experience, moving from novice to expert through stages of skill acquisition.
9. In Leininger’s Culture Care Diversity and Universality Theory, culturally congruent care aims to:
A. Impose the nurse’s health beliefs on the patient
B. Provide care that ignores cultural differences
, C. Fit the patient’s cultural values, beliefs, and lifeways
D. Standardize nursing interventions for all ethnic groups
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Leininger’s theory promotes care that is meaningful, tailored, and respectful of the
individual’s cultural beliefs and practices to achieve health and well-being.
10. Martha Rogers’ Science of Unitary Human Beings views the person as:
A. A bio-psycho-social being
B. An irreducible, pan-dimensional energy field
C. A behavioral system with subsystems
D. An adaptive system with coping mechanisms
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Rogers conceptualized the person as a unified, irreducible whole, an energy field
continuously interacting with the environmental field, characterized by pattern and organization.
11. According to King’s Theory of Goal Attainment, what is the primary purpose of the nurse-client
interaction?
A. To provide self-care assistance
B. To restore adaptation
C. To help clients attain, maintain, or regain health through mutual goal setting
D. To strengthen the field pattern
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: King’s theory focuses on the interpersonal process where the nurse and client
communicate, set mutual goals, and take actions to achieve them for health restoration.
12. The “carative factors” in Watson’s theory later evolved into what concept?
A. Clinical caritas processes
B. Caring competencies
C. Cultural care modalities
