WGU BSN Nursing Objective Assessment
ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT
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,UNIT 1: NURSING FUNDAMENTALS & PATIENT CARE
1. A nurse is assessing a patient's pain level. Which pain scale is most appropriate for a 4-year-old child?
A) Numeric rating scale (0-10)
B) Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale
C) Visual Analog Scale
D) Verbal Descriptor Scale
Answer: B
Rationale: The Wong-Baker FACES scale uses pictures of faces and is developmentally appropriate for young children
(ages 3-7) who may not understand numeric scales. The numeric rating scale is better for older children and adults.
2. A nurse is preparing to administer a medication via nasogastric tube. What is the priority nursing action?
A) Flush the tube with 30 mL of water after administration
B) Verify tube placement by aspirating gastric contents and checking pH
C) Administer medications all at once to save time
D) Position the patient supine
,Answer: B
Rationale: Verifying tube placement is the priority to prevent aspiration and ensure medication reaches the stomach.
Gastric pH should be ≤5.5. The patient should be positioned at 30-45 degrees, and each medication should be
administered separately with flushing between medications.
3. Which assessment finding indicates a patient is experiencing fluid volume deficit?
A) Bounding pulse
B) Jugular vein distention
C) Decreased skin turgor
D) Crackles in the lungs
Answer: C
Rationale: Decreased skin turgor is a classic sign of dehydration/fluid volume deficit. Bounding pulse, JVD, and crackles
are signs of fluid volume excess.
4. A nurse is caring for a patient with a Stage II pressure ulcer. Which characteristic describes this stage?
, A) Intact skin with non-blanchable redness
B) Partial-thickness skin loss involving epidermis and/or dermis
C) Full-thickness skin loss with visible subcutaneous fat
D) Full-thickness tissue loss with exposed bone, tendon, or muscle
Answer: B
Rationale: Stage II pressure ulcers involve partial-thickness loss of dermis presenting as a shallow open ulcer with a red-
pink wound bed. Stage I is intact skin with non-blanchable redness. Stage III is full-thickness loss with subcutaneous fat
visible. Stage IV involves exposed bone, tendon, or muscle.
5. What is the priority nursing intervention for a patient experiencing a seizure?
A) Restrain the patient's extremities
B) Place a tongue blade in the mouth
C) Protect the patient from injury and maintain airway
D) Administer oral anticonvulsants immediately
Answer: C
ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT
DOWNLOAD PDF
,UNIT 1: NURSING FUNDAMENTALS & PATIENT CARE
1. A nurse is assessing a patient's pain level. Which pain scale is most appropriate for a 4-year-old child?
A) Numeric rating scale (0-10)
B) Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale
C) Visual Analog Scale
D) Verbal Descriptor Scale
Answer: B
Rationale: The Wong-Baker FACES scale uses pictures of faces and is developmentally appropriate for young children
(ages 3-7) who may not understand numeric scales. The numeric rating scale is better for older children and adults.
2. A nurse is preparing to administer a medication via nasogastric tube. What is the priority nursing action?
A) Flush the tube with 30 mL of water after administration
B) Verify tube placement by aspirating gastric contents and checking pH
C) Administer medications all at once to save time
D) Position the patient supine
,Answer: B
Rationale: Verifying tube placement is the priority to prevent aspiration and ensure medication reaches the stomach.
Gastric pH should be ≤5.5. The patient should be positioned at 30-45 degrees, and each medication should be
administered separately with flushing between medications.
3. Which assessment finding indicates a patient is experiencing fluid volume deficit?
A) Bounding pulse
B) Jugular vein distention
C) Decreased skin turgor
D) Crackles in the lungs
Answer: C
Rationale: Decreased skin turgor is a classic sign of dehydration/fluid volume deficit. Bounding pulse, JVD, and crackles
are signs of fluid volume excess.
4. A nurse is caring for a patient with a Stage II pressure ulcer. Which characteristic describes this stage?
, A) Intact skin with non-blanchable redness
B) Partial-thickness skin loss involving epidermis and/or dermis
C) Full-thickness skin loss with visible subcutaneous fat
D) Full-thickness tissue loss with exposed bone, tendon, or muscle
Answer: B
Rationale: Stage II pressure ulcers involve partial-thickness loss of dermis presenting as a shallow open ulcer with a red-
pink wound bed. Stage I is intact skin with non-blanchable redness. Stage III is full-thickness loss with subcutaneous fat
visible. Stage IV involves exposed bone, tendon, or muscle.
5. What is the priority nursing intervention for a patient experiencing a seizure?
A) Restrain the patient's extremities
B) Place a tongue blade in the mouth
C) Protect the patient from injury and maintain airway
D) Administer oral anticonvulsants immediately
Answer: C
