TexTbook: FundamenTals oF nursing, 9Th ediTion
auThors: PaTricia a. PoTTer, anne griFFin Perry,
PaTricia a. sTockerT, amy m. hall
TargeT audience: associaTe degree nursing (adn)
sTudenTs in The uniTed sTaTes
licensing exam alignmenT: nclex-rn (2026 TesT Plan)
ParT coverage: uniT i (chaPTers 1–5) and uniT ii
(chaPTers 6–10)
QuesTions: 1–100
CHAPTER 1: NURSING TODAY — Questions 1–12
1. A nurse is explaining the science and art of nursing to a student. Which
statement best describes why nursing is considered an art?
A. Nursing is based on a body of knowledge and evidence-based practices.
B. Nursing delivers care with compassion, caring, and respect for each patient’s
dignity and individuality.
C. Nursing requires the use of critical thinking skills to administer care.
D. Nursing integrates knowledge from the basic sciences and nursing.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Nursing is an art because it involves delivering care with
compassion, caring, and respect for each patient’s dignity and individuality .
Option A describes the science of nursing. Option C describes the critical
thinking component of nursing practice. Option D describes the integration of
knowledge that supports evidence-based practice. Understanding the dual
nature of nursing as both an art and a science is foundational for professional
practice.
2. According to Benner’s levels of proficiency, a nurse who has been in the
same clinical position for 2 to 3 years and can anticipate nursing care needs is
at which level?
,A. Novice
B. Advanced beginner
C. Competent
D. Proficient
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A competent nurse has been in the same clinical position for 2 to 3
years, understands the organization and specific care required by the type of
patients, and can anticipate nursing care and establish long-range goals .
Option A (Novice) describes a beginner with no experience who relies on rules.
Option B (Advanced beginner) describes a nurse with some observational
experience who can identify meaningful aspects of care. Option D (Proficient)
describes a nurse with more than 2 to 3 years of experience who perceives a
patient’s clinical situation as a whole.
3. A nurse is caring for a patient on a ventilator. The nurse bathes the patient,
talks to them in a soothing manner, and explains what will happen next.
Which nursing roles is the nurse demonstrating? (Select all that apply.)
A. Caregiver
B. Decision-maker
C. Communicator
D. Educator
E. Patient advocate
Correct Answer: A, C, D
Rationale: The nurse is fulfilling the role of caregiver by providing care and
speaking in a soothing manner. The nurse is acting as a communicator by
talking to the patient even if the patient cannot respond. The nurse is acting as
an educator by informing the patient of the care that will be performed .
Option B (Decision-maker) is not demonstrated in this scenario. Option E
(Patient advocate) is not demonstrated because the nurse is not speaking on
behalf of the patient.
4. The Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) initiative has identified
which key competencies for nurses? (Select all that apply.)
,A. Patient-centered care
B. Teamwork and collaboration
C. Evidence-based practice
D. Quality improvement
E. Correct documentation
Correct Answer: A, B, C, D
Rationale: QSEN has identified patient-centered care, teamwork and
collaboration, evidence-based practice, and quality improvement as key
competencies for nurses to improve the quality and safety of patient care .
Additional key competencies include safety and informatics. Option E (Correct
documentation) is an important nursing responsibility but is not one of the
QSEN key competencies.
5. A nurse is explaining the four broad aims of nursing practice to a group of
students. Which of the following is NOT one of these aims?
A. To promote health
B. To prevent illness
C. To increase hospital revenue
D. To facilitate coping with disability or death
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The four aims of nursing are: to promote health, to prevent illness,
to restore health, and to facilitate coping with disability or death. Option C (to
increase hospital revenue) is not a nursing aim but rather an administrative or
institutional goal. While financial considerations exist in healthcare, they are
not part of nursing’s professional aims. Options A, B, and D are all legitimate
aims of nursing practice.
6. A nurse is caring for a patient who expresses a desire to learn more about a
diabetic diet to gain better control of blood sugar. The nurse’s actions will be
based on which non-nursing theory?
A. Change theory
B. Maslow’s hierarchy of human needs
, C. Neuman systems model
D. Watson’s theory of caring
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The patient has identified a need for change, which will guide the
nurse’s actions based on change theory . Option B (Maslow’s hierarchy) helps
nurses prioritize actions but does not specifically address the change process.
Options C (Neuman) and D (Watson) are nursing theorists, not non-nursing
theories. Understanding non-nursing theories that inform practice helps nurses
select appropriate frameworks for patient care.
7. A nurse is discussing the major difference between nursing students today
and nursing students 50 years ago. Which statement best describes this
difference?
A. Today’s students are less caring.
B. Today’s students are more intelligent.
C. Today’s students reflect a more diverse population.
D. Today’s students are less likely to be competent nurses.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Nursing students 50 years ago were mostly women and entered
nursing school immediately after graduating from high school. Many of today’s
nursing students have pursued other career paths prior to nursing, are of
various ethnic backgrounds, and have jobs and families to consider while
attending nursing school. In addition, many more men have entered the field of
nursing over the last 50 years . Option A is not supported by evidence. Option B
is not a documented difference. Option D is not supported by evidence.
8. A nurse is acting as a patient advocate. Which action best demonstrates
this role?
A. Making decisions for the patient
B. Protecting the patient’s rights and ensuring their preferences are respected
C. Telling the patient what the nurse thinks is best
D. Avoiding discussion of the patient’s concerns
Correct Answer: B
auThors: PaTricia a. PoTTer, anne griFFin Perry,
PaTricia a. sTockerT, amy m. hall
TargeT audience: associaTe degree nursing (adn)
sTudenTs in The uniTed sTaTes
licensing exam alignmenT: nclex-rn (2026 TesT Plan)
ParT coverage: uniT i (chaPTers 1–5) and uniT ii
(chaPTers 6–10)
QuesTions: 1–100
CHAPTER 1: NURSING TODAY — Questions 1–12
1. A nurse is explaining the science and art of nursing to a student. Which
statement best describes why nursing is considered an art?
A. Nursing is based on a body of knowledge and evidence-based practices.
B. Nursing delivers care with compassion, caring, and respect for each patient’s
dignity and individuality.
C. Nursing requires the use of critical thinking skills to administer care.
D. Nursing integrates knowledge from the basic sciences and nursing.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Nursing is an art because it involves delivering care with
compassion, caring, and respect for each patient’s dignity and individuality .
Option A describes the science of nursing. Option C describes the critical
thinking component of nursing practice. Option D describes the integration of
knowledge that supports evidence-based practice. Understanding the dual
nature of nursing as both an art and a science is foundational for professional
practice.
2. According to Benner’s levels of proficiency, a nurse who has been in the
same clinical position for 2 to 3 years and can anticipate nursing care needs is
at which level?
,A. Novice
B. Advanced beginner
C. Competent
D. Proficient
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A competent nurse has been in the same clinical position for 2 to 3
years, understands the organization and specific care required by the type of
patients, and can anticipate nursing care and establish long-range goals .
Option A (Novice) describes a beginner with no experience who relies on rules.
Option B (Advanced beginner) describes a nurse with some observational
experience who can identify meaningful aspects of care. Option D (Proficient)
describes a nurse with more than 2 to 3 years of experience who perceives a
patient’s clinical situation as a whole.
3. A nurse is caring for a patient on a ventilator. The nurse bathes the patient,
talks to them in a soothing manner, and explains what will happen next.
Which nursing roles is the nurse demonstrating? (Select all that apply.)
A. Caregiver
B. Decision-maker
C. Communicator
D. Educator
E. Patient advocate
Correct Answer: A, C, D
Rationale: The nurse is fulfilling the role of caregiver by providing care and
speaking in a soothing manner. The nurse is acting as a communicator by
talking to the patient even if the patient cannot respond. The nurse is acting as
an educator by informing the patient of the care that will be performed .
Option B (Decision-maker) is not demonstrated in this scenario. Option E
(Patient advocate) is not demonstrated because the nurse is not speaking on
behalf of the patient.
4. The Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) initiative has identified
which key competencies for nurses? (Select all that apply.)
,A. Patient-centered care
B. Teamwork and collaboration
C. Evidence-based practice
D. Quality improvement
E. Correct documentation
Correct Answer: A, B, C, D
Rationale: QSEN has identified patient-centered care, teamwork and
collaboration, evidence-based practice, and quality improvement as key
competencies for nurses to improve the quality and safety of patient care .
Additional key competencies include safety and informatics. Option E (Correct
documentation) is an important nursing responsibility but is not one of the
QSEN key competencies.
5. A nurse is explaining the four broad aims of nursing practice to a group of
students. Which of the following is NOT one of these aims?
A. To promote health
B. To prevent illness
C. To increase hospital revenue
D. To facilitate coping with disability or death
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The four aims of nursing are: to promote health, to prevent illness,
to restore health, and to facilitate coping with disability or death. Option C (to
increase hospital revenue) is not a nursing aim but rather an administrative or
institutional goal. While financial considerations exist in healthcare, they are
not part of nursing’s professional aims. Options A, B, and D are all legitimate
aims of nursing practice.
6. A nurse is caring for a patient who expresses a desire to learn more about a
diabetic diet to gain better control of blood sugar. The nurse’s actions will be
based on which non-nursing theory?
A. Change theory
B. Maslow’s hierarchy of human needs
, C. Neuman systems model
D. Watson’s theory of caring
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The patient has identified a need for change, which will guide the
nurse’s actions based on change theory . Option B (Maslow’s hierarchy) helps
nurses prioritize actions but does not specifically address the change process.
Options C (Neuman) and D (Watson) are nursing theorists, not non-nursing
theories. Understanding non-nursing theories that inform practice helps nurses
select appropriate frameworks for patient care.
7. A nurse is discussing the major difference between nursing students today
and nursing students 50 years ago. Which statement best describes this
difference?
A. Today’s students are less caring.
B. Today’s students are more intelligent.
C. Today’s students reflect a more diverse population.
D. Today’s students are less likely to be competent nurses.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Nursing students 50 years ago were mostly women and entered
nursing school immediately after graduating from high school. Many of today’s
nursing students have pursued other career paths prior to nursing, are of
various ethnic backgrounds, and have jobs and families to consider while
attending nursing school. In addition, many more men have entered the field of
nursing over the last 50 years . Option A is not supported by evidence. Option B
is not a documented difference. Option D is not supported by evidence.
8. A nurse is acting as a patient advocate. Which action best demonstrates
this role?
A. Making decisions for the patient
B. Protecting the patient’s rights and ensuring their preferences are respected
C. Telling the patient what the nurse thinks is best
D. Avoiding discussion of the patient’s concerns
Correct Answer: B
