WGU Nursing Capstone Assessment ACTUAL
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS PLUS
RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD
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WGU Nursing Capstone Assessment
100 Questions with Answers and Rationales
,Domain 1: Leadership and Professionalism (Questions 1-25)
1. A nurse is acting as a charge nurse on a medical-surgical unit. Two staff nurses call in sick, and the unit is at capacity.
Which action should the charge nurse take first?
A. Call the nursing supervisor to report the shortage.
B. Ask the nurses currently on shift to work a double shift.
C. Assess the acuity of the patients on the unit.
D. Refuse to accept new admissions to the unit.
Answer: C
Rationale: The first step in the nursing process is assessment. Before delegating, requesting overtime, or escalating, the
charge nurse must assess the current workload and acuity to determine the safest staffing plan.
2. A nurse is delegating tasks to a UAP (Unlicensed Assistive Personnel). Which task is appropriate to delegate?
A. Administering a scheduled oral medication.
B. Evaluating a patient's understanding of a new diet.
C. Ambulating a stable patient who had surgery 2 days ago.
,D. Teaching a patient how to use an incentive spirometer.
Answer: C
Rationale: Ambulating a stable patient is a standard, non-invasive task within the UAP's scope of practice. Medication
administration, evaluation, and teaching require the clinical judgment of a licensed nurse.
3. The nurse manager is implementing a new evidence-based fall prevention protocol. Which strategy is most effective for
ensuring staff compliance?
A. Posting the policy on the unit bulletin board.
B. Sending an email with the updated policy attached.
C. Engaging bedside nurses in the development of the protocol.
D. Auditing charts monthly and disciplining non-compliant staff.
Answer: C
Rationale: Staff buy-in is highest when bedside nurses are involved in the decision-making and development process.
This fosters ownership and understanding of the evidence.
4. A nurse witnesses a colleague taking a controlled substance from the Pyxis (medication dispensing system) for
personal use. What is the nurse's priority action?
A. Confront the colleague directly.
B. Report the colleague to the state board of nursing.
, C. Report the observation to the nurse manager or supervisor immediately.
D. Ignore the behavior to avoid conflict.
Answer: C
Rationale: The priority is patient safety. The nurse must report the suspected diversion immediately to the supervisor so
the colleague can be removed from patient care and an investigation can begin.
5. Which action by a newly licensed nurse indicates an understanding of the concept of "just culture"?
A. Reporting a medication error promptly to learn from the system failure.
B. Hiding a minor error to avoid disciplinary action.
C. Blaming a colleague for a mistake.
D. Refusing to report errors to protect the team.
Answer: A
Rationale: A "just culture" encourages reporting errors and near misses without fear of retribution for system failures, while
still holding individuals accountable for reckless behavior.
6. A nurse is preparing to delegate a task. Which of the "Five Rights of Delegation" is being applied when the nurse
ensures the UAP has the necessary skills?
A. Right Task
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS PLUS
RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD
WGU Nursing Capstone Assessment
100 Questions with Answers and Rationales
,Domain 1: Leadership and Professionalism (Questions 1-25)
1. A nurse is acting as a charge nurse on a medical-surgical unit. Two staff nurses call in sick, and the unit is at capacity.
Which action should the charge nurse take first?
A. Call the nursing supervisor to report the shortage.
B. Ask the nurses currently on shift to work a double shift.
C. Assess the acuity of the patients on the unit.
D. Refuse to accept new admissions to the unit.
Answer: C
Rationale: The first step in the nursing process is assessment. Before delegating, requesting overtime, or escalating, the
charge nurse must assess the current workload and acuity to determine the safest staffing plan.
2. A nurse is delegating tasks to a UAP (Unlicensed Assistive Personnel). Which task is appropriate to delegate?
A. Administering a scheduled oral medication.
B. Evaluating a patient's understanding of a new diet.
C. Ambulating a stable patient who had surgery 2 days ago.
,D. Teaching a patient how to use an incentive spirometer.
Answer: C
Rationale: Ambulating a stable patient is a standard, non-invasive task within the UAP's scope of practice. Medication
administration, evaluation, and teaching require the clinical judgment of a licensed nurse.
3. The nurse manager is implementing a new evidence-based fall prevention protocol. Which strategy is most effective for
ensuring staff compliance?
A. Posting the policy on the unit bulletin board.
B. Sending an email with the updated policy attached.
C. Engaging bedside nurses in the development of the protocol.
D. Auditing charts monthly and disciplining non-compliant staff.
Answer: C
Rationale: Staff buy-in is highest when bedside nurses are involved in the decision-making and development process.
This fosters ownership and understanding of the evidence.
4. A nurse witnesses a colleague taking a controlled substance from the Pyxis (medication dispensing system) for
personal use. What is the nurse's priority action?
A. Confront the colleague directly.
B. Report the colleague to the state board of nursing.
, C. Report the observation to the nurse manager or supervisor immediately.
D. Ignore the behavior to avoid conflict.
Answer: C
Rationale: The priority is patient safety. The nurse must report the suspected diversion immediately to the supervisor so
the colleague can be removed from patient care and an investigation can begin.
5. Which action by a newly licensed nurse indicates an understanding of the concept of "just culture"?
A. Reporting a medication error promptly to learn from the system failure.
B. Hiding a minor error to avoid disciplinary action.
C. Blaming a colleague for a mistake.
D. Refusing to report errors to protect the team.
Answer: A
Rationale: A "just culture" encourages reporting errors and near misses without fear of retribution for system failures, while
still holding individuals accountable for reckless behavior.
6. A nurse is preparing to delegate a task. Which of the "Five Rights of Delegation" is being applied when the nurse
ensures the UAP has the necessary skills?
A. Right Task
