BSN Nursing Fundamentals – Exam Practice Questions & Verified Answers with Explained Rationales (2026
Latest Update) – Comprehensive 250-Question Practice Exam
Questions 1–250
1. A patient tells the nurse, "I'm really worried about my surgery tomorrow." Which response is most
therapeutic?
A) "Don't worry, everything will be fine."
B) "You're feeling anxious about the surgery. Tell me more about your concerns."
C) "There's nothing to worry about."
D) "Why are you worried?"
Answer B: "You're feeling anxious about the surgery. Tell me more about your concerns."
Rationale: Acknowledging the patient's feelings and using open-ended questions promotes therapeutic
communication.
2. The nurse is communicating with a patient who is crying. Which action is most appropriate?
A) Leave the room to allow privacy.
B) Remain with the patient and allow them to express their emotions.
C) Tell the patient to stop crying.
D) Change the subject to distract the patient.
Answer B: Remain with the patient and allow them to express their emotions.
Rationale: Therapeutic presence and allowing expression of emotions supports the patient.
3. A patient states, "I don't think I can do this anymore." The nurse responds, "You're feeling like you
can't go on." This is an example of:
A) Clarification
B) Reflection
C) Focusing
D) Summarization
Answer B: Reflection
Rationale: Reflection restates the patient's feelings to encourage further exploration.
,4. Which of the following is an example of a non-therapeutic communication technique?
A) Active listening
B) Giving advice
C) Clarification
D) Summarization
Answer B: Giving advice
Rationale: Giving advice undermines the patient's autonomy and is non-therapeutic.
5. The nurse is taking a patient's oral temperature. Which finding indicates the patient is febrile?
A) 98.6°F (37.0°C)
B) 100.4°F (38.0°C) or higher
C) 97.6°F (36.4°C)
D) 99.0°F (37.2°C)
Answer B: 100.4°F (38.0°C) or higher
Rationale: A temperature of 100.4°F or higher indicates fever (pyrexia).
6. Normal adult resting respiratory rate is:
A) 8-12 breaths/min
B) 12-20 breaths/min
C) 20-30 breaths/min
D) 4-8 breaths/min
Answer B: 12-20 breaths/min
Rationale: Normal respiratory rate for adults is 12-20 breaths per minute.
7. A patient's radial pulse is 52 beats/min and regular. The nurse should:
A) Document as normal
B) Document as bradycardia and assess for symptoms
C) Notify the provider immediately
D) Administer atropine
Answer B: Document as bradycardia and assess for symptoms
Rationale: Normal pulse is 60-100/min; bradycardia is <60/min and requires assessment.
,8. A patient's blood pressure is 142/92 mmHg. The nurse classifies this as:
A) Normal
B) Elevated
C) Stage 1 hypertension
D) Stage 2 hypertension
Answer C: Stage 1 hypertension
Rationale: Stage 1 hypertension is 130-139/80-89 mmHg; Stage 1 is 140-159/90-99.
9. Which pulse site is used to assess circulation to the foot?
A) Radial
B) Brachial
C) Dorsalis pedis
D) Carotid
Answer C: Dorsalis pedis
Rationale: Dorsalis pedis and posterior tibial pulses assess foot circulation.
10. A patient has an oxygen saturation of 88% on room air. The nurse should:
A) Document and continue monitoring
B) Apply oxygen and notify the provider
C) Increase the patient's fluid intake
D) Have the patient take deep breaths
Answer B: Apply oxygen and notify the provider
Rationale: Normal SpO2 is >95%; 88% indicates hypoxemia requiring intervention.
11. A patient is coughing and has a fever. The nurse should implement which type of precautions?
A) Contact
B) Droplet
C) Airborne
D) Protective
Answer B: Droplet
Rationale: Cough and fever suggest droplet-transmissible infection; droplet precautions are indicated.
, 12. A patient with tuberculosis requires which type of isolation?
j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0
A) Contact
j0
B) Droplet
j0
C) Airborne
j0
D) Standard
j0
Answer C: Airborne
j0 j0
Rationale: TB requires airborne precautions (N95 respirator, negative pressure room).
j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0
13. A patient with C. difficile requires which type of precautions?
j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0
A) Contact
j0
B) Droplet
j0
C) Airborne
j0
D) Standard
j0
Answer A: Contactj0 j0
Rationale: C. difficile requires contact precautions (gloves, gown) and soap/water hand hygiene.
j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0
14. Which of the following is the most effective way to prevent the spread of infection?
j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0
A) Wearing gloves
j0 j0
B) Hand hygiene
j0 j0
C) Wearing a mask
j0 j0 j0
D) Isolation
j0
Answer B: Hand hygiene
j0 j0 j0
Rationale: Hand hygiene is the single most effective measure to prevent infection transmission.
j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0
15. A nurse is preparing to insert a Foley catheter. Which technique is used?
j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0
A) Clean technique
j0 j0
B) Sterile technique
j0 j0
C) Contact precautions
j0 j0
D) Droplet precautions
j0 j0
Answer B: Sterile technique
j0 j0 j0
Rationale: Urinary catheter insertion requires sterile technique to prevent infection.
j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0
Latest Update) – Comprehensive 250-Question Practice Exam
Questions 1–250
1. A patient tells the nurse, "I'm really worried about my surgery tomorrow." Which response is most
therapeutic?
A) "Don't worry, everything will be fine."
B) "You're feeling anxious about the surgery. Tell me more about your concerns."
C) "There's nothing to worry about."
D) "Why are you worried?"
Answer B: "You're feeling anxious about the surgery. Tell me more about your concerns."
Rationale: Acknowledging the patient's feelings and using open-ended questions promotes therapeutic
communication.
2. The nurse is communicating with a patient who is crying. Which action is most appropriate?
A) Leave the room to allow privacy.
B) Remain with the patient and allow them to express their emotions.
C) Tell the patient to stop crying.
D) Change the subject to distract the patient.
Answer B: Remain with the patient and allow them to express their emotions.
Rationale: Therapeutic presence and allowing expression of emotions supports the patient.
3. A patient states, "I don't think I can do this anymore." The nurse responds, "You're feeling like you
can't go on." This is an example of:
A) Clarification
B) Reflection
C) Focusing
D) Summarization
Answer B: Reflection
Rationale: Reflection restates the patient's feelings to encourage further exploration.
,4. Which of the following is an example of a non-therapeutic communication technique?
A) Active listening
B) Giving advice
C) Clarification
D) Summarization
Answer B: Giving advice
Rationale: Giving advice undermines the patient's autonomy and is non-therapeutic.
5. The nurse is taking a patient's oral temperature. Which finding indicates the patient is febrile?
A) 98.6°F (37.0°C)
B) 100.4°F (38.0°C) or higher
C) 97.6°F (36.4°C)
D) 99.0°F (37.2°C)
Answer B: 100.4°F (38.0°C) or higher
Rationale: A temperature of 100.4°F or higher indicates fever (pyrexia).
6. Normal adult resting respiratory rate is:
A) 8-12 breaths/min
B) 12-20 breaths/min
C) 20-30 breaths/min
D) 4-8 breaths/min
Answer B: 12-20 breaths/min
Rationale: Normal respiratory rate for adults is 12-20 breaths per minute.
7. A patient's radial pulse is 52 beats/min and regular. The nurse should:
A) Document as normal
B) Document as bradycardia and assess for symptoms
C) Notify the provider immediately
D) Administer atropine
Answer B: Document as bradycardia and assess for symptoms
Rationale: Normal pulse is 60-100/min; bradycardia is <60/min and requires assessment.
,8. A patient's blood pressure is 142/92 mmHg. The nurse classifies this as:
A) Normal
B) Elevated
C) Stage 1 hypertension
D) Stage 2 hypertension
Answer C: Stage 1 hypertension
Rationale: Stage 1 hypertension is 130-139/80-89 mmHg; Stage 1 is 140-159/90-99.
9. Which pulse site is used to assess circulation to the foot?
A) Radial
B) Brachial
C) Dorsalis pedis
D) Carotid
Answer C: Dorsalis pedis
Rationale: Dorsalis pedis and posterior tibial pulses assess foot circulation.
10. A patient has an oxygen saturation of 88% on room air. The nurse should:
A) Document and continue monitoring
B) Apply oxygen and notify the provider
C) Increase the patient's fluid intake
D) Have the patient take deep breaths
Answer B: Apply oxygen and notify the provider
Rationale: Normal SpO2 is >95%; 88% indicates hypoxemia requiring intervention.
11. A patient is coughing and has a fever. The nurse should implement which type of precautions?
A) Contact
B) Droplet
C) Airborne
D) Protective
Answer B: Droplet
Rationale: Cough and fever suggest droplet-transmissible infection; droplet precautions are indicated.
, 12. A patient with tuberculosis requires which type of isolation?
j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0
A) Contact
j0
B) Droplet
j0
C) Airborne
j0
D) Standard
j0
Answer C: Airborne
j0 j0
Rationale: TB requires airborne precautions (N95 respirator, negative pressure room).
j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0
13. A patient with C. difficile requires which type of precautions?
j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0
A) Contact
j0
B) Droplet
j0
C) Airborne
j0
D) Standard
j0
Answer A: Contactj0 j0
Rationale: C. difficile requires contact precautions (gloves, gown) and soap/water hand hygiene.
j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0
14. Which of the following is the most effective way to prevent the spread of infection?
j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0
A) Wearing gloves
j0 j0
B) Hand hygiene
j0 j0
C) Wearing a mask
j0 j0 j0
D) Isolation
j0
Answer B: Hand hygiene
j0 j0 j0
Rationale: Hand hygiene is the single most effective measure to prevent infection transmission.
j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0
15. A nurse is preparing to insert a Foley catheter. Which technique is used?
j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0
A) Clean technique
j0 j0
B) Sterile technique
j0 j0
C) Contact precautions
j0 j0
D) Droplet precautions
j0 j0
Answer B: Sterile technique
j0 j0 j0
Rationale: Urinary catheter insertion requires sterile technique to prevent infection.
j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0 j0
