1
NSG 3130 EXAM 3 2026/2027 | FUNDAMENTAL
CONCEPTS & SKILLS FOR NURSING PRACTICE II |
40 VERIFIED Q&A | DETAILED RATIONALES | NGN-
ALIGNED | PASS GUARANTEED – A+ GRADED
SECTION 1: STRESS & ADAPTATION – Questions 1-12
Q1: General Adaptation Syndrome Stages
The nurse is teaching a patient about the body's response to stress. The nurse explains that the
General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) consists of which three stages?
A. Alarm, recovery, and exhaustion
B. Alarm, resistance, and exhaustion
C. Anxiety, resistance, and recovery
D. Alarm, adaptation, and exhaustion
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) is a model of the body's stress response,
consisting of three stages: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion . The body responds in the same way to
any demand, whether it be physical, emotional, pleasant, or unpleasant .
Q2: GAS – Exhaustion Stage
The nurse is assessing a patient who has been under prolonged, severe stress. The patient reports
feeling exhausted and unable to cope. The nurse understands that the patient is likely in which stage
of the General Adaptation Syndrome?
A. Alarm stage
B. Resistance stage
C. Exhaustion stage
D. Recovery stage
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: In the exhaustion phase of the General Adaptation Syndrome, the body becomes
overwhelmed and there are no resources left to facilitate recovery. This stage occurs when the
body's adaptive mechanisms are depleted after prolonged exposure to a stressor .
Q3: GAS – Alarm Stage
The nurse is assessing a patient who has experienced a sudden traumatic event. The patient's heart
rate is elevated, and they report feeling a "rush" of energy. The nurse recognizes this as which stage
of the General Adaptation Syndrome?
, 2
A. Alarm stage
B. Resistance stage
C. Exhaustion stage
D. Recovery stage
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The alarm stage is the initial response to a stressor, where the body's "fight or flight"
response is activated. The general adaptation syndrome is evoked when the stimulation or stressor
is strong enough to activate the autonomic nervous branch of the central nervous system .
Q4: Sense of Coherence
The nurse is caring for a patient experiencing stress. The patient asks, "Why do some people seem to
handle stress better than others?" The nurse's response is based on the understanding that the
theory explaining variation in response to stress among individuals is identified by which term?
A. Coping mechanism
B. Sense of coherence
C. Defense mechanism
D. Adaptation theory
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Sense of coherence is a theory that explains the variation in response to stress among
individuals. It is composed of three elements: comprehensibility (the ability to grasp life events),
meaningfulness (seeing problems as challenges), and manageability (the ability to use available
resources) .
Q5: Definition of Stress
What is stress in the nursing context?
A. A specific response to a physical demand
B. A nonspecific response of the body to any demand made upon it
C. A psychological reaction to a traumatic event
D. A voluntary response to an environmental challenge
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Stress is a nonspecific response of the body to any demand made upon it .
Q6: Stress and Homeostasis
How does stress relate to homeostasis?
A. Stress maintains homeostasis
B. Stressors disrupt balance, triggering adaptive responses to restore equilibrium
C. Homeostasis prevents stress
D. Stress and homeostasis are unrelated
NSG 3130 EXAM 3 2026/2027 | FUNDAMENTAL
CONCEPTS & SKILLS FOR NURSING PRACTICE II |
40 VERIFIED Q&A | DETAILED RATIONALES | NGN-
ALIGNED | PASS GUARANTEED – A+ GRADED
SECTION 1: STRESS & ADAPTATION – Questions 1-12
Q1: General Adaptation Syndrome Stages
The nurse is teaching a patient about the body's response to stress. The nurse explains that the
General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) consists of which three stages?
A. Alarm, recovery, and exhaustion
B. Alarm, resistance, and exhaustion
C. Anxiety, resistance, and recovery
D. Alarm, adaptation, and exhaustion
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) is a model of the body's stress response,
consisting of three stages: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion . The body responds in the same way to
any demand, whether it be physical, emotional, pleasant, or unpleasant .
Q2: GAS – Exhaustion Stage
The nurse is assessing a patient who has been under prolonged, severe stress. The patient reports
feeling exhausted and unable to cope. The nurse understands that the patient is likely in which stage
of the General Adaptation Syndrome?
A. Alarm stage
B. Resistance stage
C. Exhaustion stage
D. Recovery stage
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: In the exhaustion phase of the General Adaptation Syndrome, the body becomes
overwhelmed and there are no resources left to facilitate recovery. This stage occurs when the
body's adaptive mechanisms are depleted after prolonged exposure to a stressor .
Q3: GAS – Alarm Stage
The nurse is assessing a patient who has experienced a sudden traumatic event. The patient's heart
rate is elevated, and they report feeling a "rush" of energy. The nurse recognizes this as which stage
of the General Adaptation Syndrome?
, 2
A. Alarm stage
B. Resistance stage
C. Exhaustion stage
D. Recovery stage
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The alarm stage is the initial response to a stressor, where the body's "fight or flight"
response is activated. The general adaptation syndrome is evoked when the stimulation or stressor
is strong enough to activate the autonomic nervous branch of the central nervous system .
Q4: Sense of Coherence
The nurse is caring for a patient experiencing stress. The patient asks, "Why do some people seem to
handle stress better than others?" The nurse's response is based on the understanding that the
theory explaining variation in response to stress among individuals is identified by which term?
A. Coping mechanism
B. Sense of coherence
C. Defense mechanism
D. Adaptation theory
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Sense of coherence is a theory that explains the variation in response to stress among
individuals. It is composed of three elements: comprehensibility (the ability to grasp life events),
meaningfulness (seeing problems as challenges), and manageability (the ability to use available
resources) .
Q5: Definition of Stress
What is stress in the nursing context?
A. A specific response to a physical demand
B. A nonspecific response of the body to any demand made upon it
C. A psychological reaction to a traumatic event
D. A voluntary response to an environmental challenge
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Stress is a nonspecific response of the body to any demand made upon it .
Q6: Stress and Homeostasis
How does stress relate to homeostasis?
A. Stress maintains homeostasis
B. Stressors disrupt balance, triggering adaptive responses to restore equilibrium
C. Homeostasis prevents stress
D. Stress and homeostasis are unrelated
