TexTbook: FundamenTals oF nursing, 10Th
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
ParT coverage: uniT 1 (chaPTers 1–5) and uniT 2
(chaPTers 6–10)
QuesTions: 1–100
CHAPTER 1: NURSING TODAY — Questions 1–12
1. A nurse is describing Florence Nightingale's contributions to nursing. Which statement best
describes Nightingale's theory of nursing care?
A. Nursing care focuses on meeting the client's psychological needs.
B. Nursing care focuses on achieving a maximal level of wellness.
C. Nursing care focuses on health maintenance and restoration by manipulating the environment.
D. Nursing care focuses on interpersonal interactions with the client.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Florence Nightingale believed the role of the nurse was to put the client's body in the best
state to remain free of disease or to recover from disease. Her theory focused on facilitating the
body's reparative processes by manipulating the client's environment . Option A is incorrect because
although Nightingale may have addressed psychological needs, this was not the focus of her theory.
Option B is incorrect because Nightingale's theory did not focus on achieving maximal wellness.
Option D is incorrect because interpersonal interactions were not the focus of Nightingale's theory.
Understanding Nightingale's environmental theory is foundational for nursing practice.
2. A nurse is explaining the purpose of the Nurse Practice Act to a group of nursing students. Which
statement by a student indicates correct understanding?
A. "The Nurse Practice Act provides voluntary accreditation for nursing programs."
B. "The Nurse Practice Act defines and regulates nursing practice within each state."
C. "The Nurse Practice Act establishes salary standards for nurses."
D. "The Nurse Practice Act is a federal law that applies uniformly across all states."
Correct Answer: B
,Rationale: The Nurse Practice Act is the law that defines and regulates the practice of nursing within
each state. Each state has its own Nurse Practice Act that governs licensure and practice . Option A is
incorrect because accreditation is provided by organizations such as the National League for Nursing,
not the Nurse Practice Act. Option C is incorrect because salary standards are not determined by the
Nurse Practice Act. Option D is incorrect because nursing practice acts are state laws, not federal
laws, and vary by state. Knowledge of the Nurse Practice Act is essential for safe and legal nursing
practice.
3. A nurse is working with a group that lobbies at the state and federal level for advancement of
nursing's role and economic interests. Which organization is this?
A. State Board of Nursing
B. American Nurses Association
C. American Hospital Association
D. National Student Nurses Association
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The American Nurses Association (ANA) hires lobbyists at the state and federal level to
promote the advancement of health care and the economic and general welfare of nurses . Option A
(State Board of Nursing) primarily focuses on licensure of nurses within its own state. Option C
(American Hospital Association) does not focus on nurses' economic issues and the advancement of
the nursing role. Option D (National Student Nurses Association) focuses on issues of importance for
nursing students. Understanding professional organizations helps nurses advocate for their
profession.
4. A nurse is moving from one state to another and will begin working in a hospital. Which factor is
most important for the nurse to consider?
A. The new state's Nurse Practice Act
B. The standard for nursing practice in the new city
C. The clinical ladder of mobility at the new hospital
D. The requirement for continuing education units in the new state
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Although most states have similar practice acts, each state has its own Nurse Practice Act
that regulates the licensure and practice of nursing within that state. Knowledge of the Nurse
Practice Act is necessary to provide safe and legal nursing care . Option B is incorrect because
standards of nursing practice are not specific to a city but to the profession itself. Option C is
incorrect because although the clinical ladder may be of interest, it is not the most important factor.
Option D is incorrect because while continuing education may be required, the Nurse Practice Act is
of higher importance for safe and legal practice.
5. According to Benner's levels of proficiency, a nurse who has had some observational experience
and can identify meaningful aspects of nursing care is at which level?
,A. Novice
B. Advanced beginner
C. Competent
D. Proficient
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: An advanced beginner is a nurse who has had some level of experience with the situation.
This experience may only be observational in nature, but the nurse is able to identify meaningful
aspects or principles of nursing care . Option A (Novice) describes a beginner with no experience
who relies on rules. Option C (Competent) describes a nurse who has been on the job for 2-3 years
and can anticipate nursing care needs. Option D (Proficient) describes a nurse who perceives clinical
situations as a whole. Understanding Benner's model helps nurses recognize their own professional
development.
6. A nurse is caring for a client who is scheduled for surgery. The client states, "I don't understand
what the doctor is going to do." Which nursing role is the nurse demonstrating when explaining
the procedure and verifying the client's understanding?
A. Advocate
B. Educator
C. Manager
D. Caregiver
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The educator role involves explaining concepts and facts about health, describing the
reason for routine care activities, and evaluating the client's progress in learning . Option A
(Advocate) involves protecting the client's rights and ensuring informed consent, but the specific act
of teaching is the educator role. Option C (Manager) involves coordinating staff and resources.
Option D (Caregiver) involves providing direct physical and emotional care. Distinguishing between
overlapping nursing roles is essential for professional practice.
7. A nurse is explaining the aims of nursing to a client. Which of the following is NOT one of the
four broad aims of nursing practice?
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. Understanding these aims helps nurses articulate their professional role.
, 8. A nurse is preparing to administer a medication to a client. Which action demonstrates the
nurse's autonomy in nursing practice?
A. Administering a medication without an order
B. Initiating independent nursing interventions without medical orders
C. Ignoring facility policies
D. Delegating all tasks to unlicensed personnel
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Autonomy is an essential element of professional nursing that involves the initiation of
independent nursing interventions without medical orders . Option A is incorrect because
administering medication without an order is unsafe and illegal. Option C is incorrect because nurses
must follow facility policies. Option D is incorrect because delegation must be appropriate and within
scope of practice. Autonomy is a hallmark of professional nursing practice.
9. A nurse is discussing the nursing process with a student. Which statement by the student
indicates correct understanding of the five steps?
A. "The nursing process is a linear process that ends after evaluation."
B. "The nursing process includes assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation."
C. "The nursing process requires a physician's order to begin."
D. "The nursing process is only used in hospital settings."
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The nursing process is a systematic problem-solving method by which nurses individualize
care for each client. The five steps are assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, and
evaluation . Option A is incorrect because the nursing process is cyclical and ongoing, not linear.
Option C is incorrect because the nursing process is within the independent scope of nursing
practice. Option D is incorrect because the nursing process is used in all healthcare settings.
10. A nurse is providing care to a client who requires assistance with activities of daily living.
Which aim of nursing is the nurse fulfilling?
A. To promote health
B. To prevent illness
C. To restore health
D. To facilitate coping with disability or death
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Restoring health focuses on helping clients return to their previous level of function or
achieve optimal function after illness or injury. Assisting with activities of daily living when a client is
unable to perform them independently is an example of restoring health . Option A (Promote health)
focuses on wellness and prevention. Option B (Prevent illness) focuses on immunization and health
education. Option D (Facilitate coping) focuses on helping clients and families cope with disability or
death. Understanding the aims of nursing helps nurses articulate their professional role.
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
ParT coverage: uniT 1 (chaPTers 1–5) and uniT 2
(chaPTers 6–10)
QuesTions: 1–100
CHAPTER 1: NURSING TODAY — Questions 1–12
1. A nurse is describing Florence Nightingale's contributions to nursing. Which statement best
describes Nightingale's theory of nursing care?
A. Nursing care focuses on meeting the client's psychological needs.
B. Nursing care focuses on achieving a maximal level of wellness.
C. Nursing care focuses on health maintenance and restoration by manipulating the environment.
D. Nursing care focuses on interpersonal interactions with the client.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Florence Nightingale believed the role of the nurse was to put the client's body in the best
state to remain free of disease or to recover from disease. Her theory focused on facilitating the
body's reparative processes by manipulating the client's environment . Option A is incorrect because
although Nightingale may have addressed psychological needs, this was not the focus of her theory.
Option B is incorrect because Nightingale's theory did not focus on achieving maximal wellness.
Option D is incorrect because interpersonal interactions were not the focus of Nightingale's theory.
Understanding Nightingale's environmental theory is foundational for nursing practice.
2. A nurse is explaining the purpose of the Nurse Practice Act to a group of nursing students. Which
statement by a student indicates correct understanding?
A. "The Nurse Practice Act provides voluntary accreditation for nursing programs."
B. "The Nurse Practice Act defines and regulates nursing practice within each state."
C. "The Nurse Practice Act establishes salary standards for nurses."
D. "The Nurse Practice Act is a federal law that applies uniformly across all states."
Correct Answer: B
,Rationale: The Nurse Practice Act is the law that defines and regulates the practice of nursing within
each state. Each state has its own Nurse Practice Act that governs licensure and practice . Option A is
incorrect because accreditation is provided by organizations such as the National League for Nursing,
not the Nurse Practice Act. Option C is incorrect because salary standards are not determined by the
Nurse Practice Act. Option D is incorrect because nursing practice acts are state laws, not federal
laws, and vary by state. Knowledge of the Nurse Practice Act is essential for safe and legal nursing
practice.
3. A nurse is working with a group that lobbies at the state and federal level for advancement of
nursing's role and economic interests. Which organization is this?
A. State Board of Nursing
B. American Nurses Association
C. American Hospital Association
D. National Student Nurses Association
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The American Nurses Association (ANA) hires lobbyists at the state and federal level to
promote the advancement of health care and the economic and general welfare of nurses . Option A
(State Board of Nursing) primarily focuses on licensure of nurses within its own state. Option C
(American Hospital Association) does not focus on nurses' economic issues and the advancement of
the nursing role. Option D (National Student Nurses Association) focuses on issues of importance for
nursing students. Understanding professional organizations helps nurses advocate for their
profession.
4. A nurse is moving from one state to another and will begin working in a hospital. Which factor is
most important for the nurse to consider?
A. The new state's Nurse Practice Act
B. The standard for nursing practice in the new city
C. The clinical ladder of mobility at the new hospital
D. The requirement for continuing education units in the new state
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Although most states have similar practice acts, each state has its own Nurse Practice Act
that regulates the licensure and practice of nursing within that state. Knowledge of the Nurse
Practice Act is necessary to provide safe and legal nursing care . Option B is incorrect because
standards of nursing practice are not specific to a city but to the profession itself. Option C is
incorrect because although the clinical ladder may be of interest, it is not the most important factor.
Option D is incorrect because while continuing education may be required, the Nurse Practice Act is
of higher importance for safe and legal practice.
5. According to Benner's levels of proficiency, a nurse who has had some observational experience
and can identify meaningful aspects of nursing care is at which level?
,A. Novice
B. Advanced beginner
C. Competent
D. Proficient
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: An advanced beginner is a nurse who has had some level of experience with the situation.
This experience may only be observational in nature, but the nurse is able to identify meaningful
aspects or principles of nursing care . Option A (Novice) describes a beginner with no experience
who relies on rules. Option C (Competent) describes a nurse who has been on the job for 2-3 years
and can anticipate nursing care needs. Option D (Proficient) describes a nurse who perceives clinical
situations as a whole. Understanding Benner's model helps nurses recognize their own professional
development.
6. A nurse is caring for a client who is scheduled for surgery. The client states, "I don't understand
what the doctor is going to do." Which nursing role is the nurse demonstrating when explaining
the procedure and verifying the client's understanding?
A. Advocate
B. Educator
C. Manager
D. Caregiver
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The educator role involves explaining concepts and facts about health, describing the
reason for routine care activities, and evaluating the client's progress in learning . Option A
(Advocate) involves protecting the client's rights and ensuring informed consent, but the specific act
of teaching is the educator role. Option C (Manager) involves coordinating staff and resources.
Option D (Caregiver) involves providing direct physical and emotional care. Distinguishing between
overlapping nursing roles is essential for professional practice.
7. A nurse is explaining the aims of nursing to a client. Which of the following is NOT one of the
four broad aims of nursing practice?
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. Understanding these aims helps nurses articulate their professional role.
, 8. A nurse is preparing to administer a medication to a client. Which action demonstrates the
nurse's autonomy in nursing practice?
A. Administering a medication without an order
B. Initiating independent nursing interventions without medical orders
C. Ignoring facility policies
D. Delegating all tasks to unlicensed personnel
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Autonomy is an essential element of professional nursing that involves the initiation of
independent nursing interventions without medical orders . Option A is incorrect because
administering medication without an order is unsafe and illegal. Option C is incorrect because nurses
must follow facility policies. Option D is incorrect because delegation must be appropriate and within
scope of practice. Autonomy is a hallmark of professional nursing practice.
9. A nurse is discussing the nursing process with a student. Which statement by the student
indicates correct understanding of the five steps?
A. "The nursing process is a linear process that ends after evaluation."
B. "The nursing process includes assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation."
C. "The nursing process requires a physician's order to begin."
D. "The nursing process is only used in hospital settings."
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The nursing process is a systematic problem-solving method by which nurses individualize
care for each client. The five steps are assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, and
evaluation . Option A is incorrect because the nursing process is cyclical and ongoing, not linear.
Option C is incorrect because the nursing process is within the independent scope of nursing
practice. Option D is incorrect because the nursing process is used in all healthcare settings.
10. A nurse is providing care to a client who requires assistance with activities of daily living.
Which aim of nursing is the nurse fulfilling?
A. To promote health
B. To prevent illness
C. To restore health
D. To facilitate coping with disability or death
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Restoring health focuses on helping clients return to their previous level of function or
achieve optimal function after illness or injury. Assisting with activities of daily living when a client is
unable to perform them independently is an example of restoring health . Option A (Promote health)
focuses on wellness and prevention. Option B (Prevent illness) focuses on immunization and health
education. Option D (Facilitate coping) focuses on helping clients and families cope with disability or
death. Understanding the aims of nursing helps nurses articulate their professional role.
