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NUR 212 Foundations of Nursing Practice
Exam 1 Preparation: Nursing Process,
Health Assessment, Electrolyte Balance,
and Medication Administration
Description
This practice examination assesses foundational nursing competencies
required for NUR 212 Exam 1. Content spans the nursing process
clinical judgment subjective and objective data collection abdominal
assessment electrolyte imbalances IV fluid therapy and essential
medication considerations. Questions emphasize application level
decision making and prioritization using frameworks such as ABC
and Maslow. Rationales explain both correct and incorrect options to
reinforce critical thinking and NCLEX style test taking strategies.
Section 1 Questions 1 to 50
1. A nurse is interviewing a patient about their pain level and
reviewing the medical record for previous vital signs. Which phase of
the nursing process is the nurse performing?
A. Planning
B. Implementation
C. Assessment
D. Evaluation
C. Assessment
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Assessment is the first phase of the nursing process and involves
collecting subjective data through patient interview and objective data
through medical record review. Planning involves setting goals
implementation involves carrying out interventions and evaluation
determines if outcomes were met.
2. During morning report a nurse states that a patient has a respiratory
rate of 24 reports feeling anxious and has a blood pressure of 142 over
88. Which data are subjective?
A. Respiratory rate of 24 and blood pressure of 142 over 88
B. Only the blood pressure of 142 over 88
C. The patient reports feeling anxious
D. All the data provided are objective
C. The patient reports feeling anxious
Subjective data are information perceived only by the affected person
and cannot be measured or verified by another such as feelings and
sensations. Objective data are observable and measurable such as vital
signs.
3. A nurse writes the following goal for a patient Patient will
ambulate 50 feet using a walker without dyspnea by discharge. Which
SMART criterion is missing if the goal does not specify the exact date
or time frame?
A. Specific
B. Measurable
C. Attainable
D. Time bound
D. Time bound
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SMART goals must be Specific Measurable Attainable Relevant and
Time bound. Specifying by discharge provides a deadline but if no
time frame is stated the Time bound component is missing.
4. A nurse is caring for four patients. Which patient should the nurse
assess first using the ABC priority framework?
A. A patient requesting a PRN pain medication for a headache rated 3
out of 10
B. A patient with stable vital signs who needs discharge teaching
C. A patient with a new oxygen saturation of 86 percent on room air
D. A patient who needs assistance to the bathroom
C. A patient with a new oxygen saturation of 86 percent on room air
The ABC framework prioritizes Airway Breathing and Circulation. A
patient with oxygen saturation of 86 percent has a breathing problem
that is life threatening and requires immediate assessment.
5. A patient with diabetes has a nursing diagnosis of Risk for unstable
blood glucose level related to lack of adherence to diabetic diet.
Which statement best differentiates this from a medical diagnosis?
A. The nursing diagnosis focuses on the disease pathology
B. The nursing diagnosis describes a human response to a health
condition
C. The nursing diagnosis is made only by the provider
D. The nursing diagnosis remains unchanged throughout the hospital
stay
B. The nursing diagnosis describes a human response to a health
condition
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A nursing diagnosis describes a patient human response to an actual
or potential health problem whereas a medical diagnosis identifies a
disease or pathology. Nursing diagnoses are dynamic and change as
patient status changes.
6. A nurse notices a postoperative patient has increasing incisional
drainage elevated heart rate and reports increasing pain. Using the
clinical judgment model which step is the nurse performing when
comparing these findings to expected postoperative norms?
A. Generate solutions
B. Take action
C. Analyze cues
D. Evaluate outcomes
C. Analyze cues
Analyzing cues involves comparing collected data against expected
norms and standards to identify patterns and significance. Generating
solutions comes after analysis.
7. Which type of patient database is used for a limited or short term
problem in any setting?
A. Complete database
B. Focused or problem centered database
C. Follow up database
D. Emergency database
B. Focused or problem centered database
A focused or problem centered database is used for limited or short
term problems and is appropriate in all settings including hospitals
primary care and long term care.
NUR 212 Foundations of Nursing Practice
Exam 1 Preparation: Nursing Process,
Health Assessment, Electrolyte Balance,
and Medication Administration
Description
This practice examination assesses foundational nursing competencies
required for NUR 212 Exam 1. Content spans the nursing process
clinical judgment subjective and objective data collection abdominal
assessment electrolyte imbalances IV fluid therapy and essential
medication considerations. Questions emphasize application level
decision making and prioritization using frameworks such as ABC
and Maslow. Rationales explain both correct and incorrect options to
reinforce critical thinking and NCLEX style test taking strategies.
Section 1 Questions 1 to 50
1. A nurse is interviewing a patient about their pain level and
reviewing the medical record for previous vital signs. Which phase of
the nursing process is the nurse performing?
A. Planning
B. Implementation
C. Assessment
D. Evaluation
C. Assessment
, Page |2
Assessment is the first phase of the nursing process and involves
collecting subjective data through patient interview and objective data
through medical record review. Planning involves setting goals
implementation involves carrying out interventions and evaluation
determines if outcomes were met.
2. During morning report a nurse states that a patient has a respiratory
rate of 24 reports feeling anxious and has a blood pressure of 142 over
88. Which data are subjective?
A. Respiratory rate of 24 and blood pressure of 142 over 88
B. Only the blood pressure of 142 over 88
C. The patient reports feeling anxious
D. All the data provided are objective
C. The patient reports feeling anxious
Subjective data are information perceived only by the affected person
and cannot be measured or verified by another such as feelings and
sensations. Objective data are observable and measurable such as vital
signs.
3. A nurse writes the following goal for a patient Patient will
ambulate 50 feet using a walker without dyspnea by discharge. Which
SMART criterion is missing if the goal does not specify the exact date
or time frame?
A. Specific
B. Measurable
C. Attainable
D. Time bound
D. Time bound
, Page |3
SMART goals must be Specific Measurable Attainable Relevant and
Time bound. Specifying by discharge provides a deadline but if no
time frame is stated the Time bound component is missing.
4. A nurse is caring for four patients. Which patient should the nurse
assess first using the ABC priority framework?
A. A patient requesting a PRN pain medication for a headache rated 3
out of 10
B. A patient with stable vital signs who needs discharge teaching
C. A patient with a new oxygen saturation of 86 percent on room air
D. A patient who needs assistance to the bathroom
C. A patient with a new oxygen saturation of 86 percent on room air
The ABC framework prioritizes Airway Breathing and Circulation. A
patient with oxygen saturation of 86 percent has a breathing problem
that is life threatening and requires immediate assessment.
5. A patient with diabetes has a nursing diagnosis of Risk for unstable
blood glucose level related to lack of adherence to diabetic diet.
Which statement best differentiates this from a medical diagnosis?
A. The nursing diagnosis focuses on the disease pathology
B. The nursing diagnosis describes a human response to a health
condition
C. The nursing diagnosis is made only by the provider
D. The nursing diagnosis remains unchanged throughout the hospital
stay
B. The nursing diagnosis describes a human response to a health
condition
, Page |4
A nursing diagnosis describes a patient human response to an actual
or potential health problem whereas a medical diagnosis identifies a
disease or pathology. Nursing diagnoses are dynamic and change as
patient status changes.
6. A nurse notices a postoperative patient has increasing incisional
drainage elevated heart rate and reports increasing pain. Using the
clinical judgment model which step is the nurse performing when
comparing these findings to expected postoperative norms?
A. Generate solutions
B. Take action
C. Analyze cues
D. Evaluate outcomes
C. Analyze cues
Analyzing cues involves comparing collected data against expected
norms and standards to identify patterns and significance. Generating
solutions comes after analysis.
7. Which type of patient database is used for a limited or short term
problem in any setting?
A. Complete database
B. Focused or problem centered database
C. Follow up database
D. Emergency database
B. Focused or problem centered database
A focused or problem centered database is used for limited or short
term problems and is appropriate in all settings including hospitals
primary care and long term care.
