NACE Foundations of Nursing 2026 | Questions, Answers &
Detailed Rationales
Section 1 — Nursing Process, Clinical Judgment & Professional Practice
1. Which nursing-process step involves collecting subjective and
objective data?
A. Planning
B. Assessment
C. Implementation
D. Evaluation
Answer: B. Assessment
Rationale: Assessment is the systematic collection of information about
the patient's physical, psychological, social, cultural, and functional
status.
2. Which finding is subjective data?
A. Blood pressure 146/88 mmHg
B. Temperature 38.2°C
C. Patient reports severe abdominal pain
D. Respiratory rate 24/min
Answer: C. Patient reports severe abdominal pain
Rationale: Subjective data are symptoms reported by the patient. Vital
signs and observed findings are objective data.
3. Which is an example of objective data?
A. "I feel dizzy."
B. "My stomach hurts."
,C. "I am worried."
D. Oxygen saturation of 89%
Answer: D. Oxygen saturation of 89%
Rationale: Objective data can be measured or directly observed by the
nurse.
4. A nurse identifies that a patient's oxygen saturation has fallen from
96% to 88%. What should the nurse do first?
A. Document the finding at the end of the shift
B. Assess the patient's respiratory status
C. Call the patient's family
D. Prepare discharge instructions
Answer: B. Assess the patient's respiratory status
Rationale: A significant change in oxygen saturation requires prompt
assessment to determine the patient's condition and appropriate
intervention.
5. Which activity best represents the planning phase?
A. Obtaining a blood pressure
B. Identifying a nursing diagnosis
C. Establishing measurable patient outcomes
D. Reassessing pain after medication
Answer: C. Establishing measurable patient outcomes
Rationale: Planning involves setting priorities, establishing goals and
outcomes, and selecting appropriate nursing interventions.
6. Which outcome is written correctly?
A. Patient will feel better.
B. Patient will have improved health.
,C. Patient will ambulate 50 feet with a walker by 1400 today.
D. Nurse will encourage ambulation.
Answer: C. Patient will ambulate 50 feet with a walker by 1400 today.
Rationale: The outcome is specific, measurable, observable, and time
limited.
7. Which action represents implementation?
A. Collecting patient history
B. Administering a prescribed medication
C. Determining whether a goal was achieved
D. Identifying a nursing diagnosis
Answer: B. Administering a prescribed medication
Rationale: Implementation involves carrying out appropriate nursing
interventions.
8. A nurse determines that a patient's pain decreased from 8/10 to
3/10 after medication. Which nursing-process phase is this?
A. Assessment
B. Planning
C. Implementation
D. Evaluation
Answer: D. Evaluation
Rationale: Evaluation determines whether interventions produced the
desired outcomes.
9. What is the primary purpose of the nursing process?
A. Replace medical diagnosis
B. Provide individualized patient-centered care
, C. Reduce documentation
D. Eliminate the need for clinical judgment
Answer: B. Provide individualized patient-centered care
Rationale: The nursing process provides a systematic framework for
assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating individualized care.
10. Which patient should the nurse assess first?
A. Patient requesting a blanket
B. Patient reporting sudden difficulty breathing
C. Patient requesting discharge paperwork
D. Patient waiting for a routine bath
Answer: B. Patient reporting sudden difficulty breathing
Rationale: Airway and breathing concerns take priority because
oxygenation is essential for life.
11. Which nursing action demonstrates critical thinking?
A. Following every routine without question
B. Ignoring unexpected findings
C. Comparing new findings with the patient's baseline
D. Waiting until the shift ends to reassess
Answer: C. Comparing new findings with the patient's baseline
Rationale: Clinical judgment requires recognizing changes and
interpreting them in context.
12. A nurse receives several assessment findings. Which should
receive priority?
A. Mild dry skin
B. New onset confusion
Detailed Rationales
Section 1 — Nursing Process, Clinical Judgment & Professional Practice
1. Which nursing-process step involves collecting subjective and
objective data?
A. Planning
B. Assessment
C. Implementation
D. Evaluation
Answer: B. Assessment
Rationale: Assessment is the systematic collection of information about
the patient's physical, psychological, social, cultural, and functional
status.
2. Which finding is subjective data?
A. Blood pressure 146/88 mmHg
B. Temperature 38.2°C
C. Patient reports severe abdominal pain
D. Respiratory rate 24/min
Answer: C. Patient reports severe abdominal pain
Rationale: Subjective data are symptoms reported by the patient. Vital
signs and observed findings are objective data.
3. Which is an example of objective data?
A. "I feel dizzy."
B. "My stomach hurts."
,C. "I am worried."
D. Oxygen saturation of 89%
Answer: D. Oxygen saturation of 89%
Rationale: Objective data can be measured or directly observed by the
nurse.
4. A nurse identifies that a patient's oxygen saturation has fallen from
96% to 88%. What should the nurse do first?
A. Document the finding at the end of the shift
B. Assess the patient's respiratory status
C. Call the patient's family
D. Prepare discharge instructions
Answer: B. Assess the patient's respiratory status
Rationale: A significant change in oxygen saturation requires prompt
assessment to determine the patient's condition and appropriate
intervention.
5. Which activity best represents the planning phase?
A. Obtaining a blood pressure
B. Identifying a nursing diagnosis
C. Establishing measurable patient outcomes
D. Reassessing pain after medication
Answer: C. Establishing measurable patient outcomes
Rationale: Planning involves setting priorities, establishing goals and
outcomes, and selecting appropriate nursing interventions.
6. Which outcome is written correctly?
A. Patient will feel better.
B. Patient will have improved health.
,C. Patient will ambulate 50 feet with a walker by 1400 today.
D. Nurse will encourage ambulation.
Answer: C. Patient will ambulate 50 feet with a walker by 1400 today.
Rationale: The outcome is specific, measurable, observable, and time
limited.
7. Which action represents implementation?
A. Collecting patient history
B. Administering a prescribed medication
C. Determining whether a goal was achieved
D. Identifying a nursing diagnosis
Answer: B. Administering a prescribed medication
Rationale: Implementation involves carrying out appropriate nursing
interventions.
8. A nurse determines that a patient's pain decreased from 8/10 to
3/10 after medication. Which nursing-process phase is this?
A. Assessment
B. Planning
C. Implementation
D. Evaluation
Answer: D. Evaluation
Rationale: Evaluation determines whether interventions produced the
desired outcomes.
9. What is the primary purpose of the nursing process?
A. Replace medical diagnosis
B. Provide individualized patient-centered care
, C. Reduce documentation
D. Eliminate the need for clinical judgment
Answer: B. Provide individualized patient-centered care
Rationale: The nursing process provides a systematic framework for
assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating individualized care.
10. Which patient should the nurse assess first?
A. Patient requesting a blanket
B. Patient reporting sudden difficulty breathing
C. Patient requesting discharge paperwork
D. Patient waiting for a routine bath
Answer: B. Patient reporting sudden difficulty breathing
Rationale: Airway and breathing concerns take priority because
oxygenation is essential for life.
11. Which nursing action demonstrates critical thinking?
A. Following every routine without question
B. Ignoring unexpected findings
C. Comparing new findings with the patient's baseline
D. Waiting until the shift ends to reassess
Answer: C. Comparing new findings with the patient's baseline
Rationale: Clinical judgment requires recognizing changes and
interpreting them in context.
12. A nurse receives several assessment findings. Which should
receive priority?
A. Mild dry skin
B. New onset confusion
