GALEN NUR 282
Exam 3 Staffing, Quality,
Safety & Risk Management
75 Original Questions with Detailed Rationales
2026/2027 EDITION
Staffing • scheduling • quality improvement • patient safety • law • ethics • change
Unofficial, independent educational practice. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Galen College of Nursing, ATI, NCSBN, NCLEX, AHRQ, IHI, or The Joint
Commission. Always follow current law, faculty direction, and organizational policy.
, Exam 3 Blueprint and Study Method
Complete all questions without viewing the yellow rationale panels. Mark confidence for each response, then remediate by
identifying the measure, safety principle, legal duty, staffing factor, or change-management step that controls the decision.
Domain Questions Core judgment
Staffing and scheduling 1-15 Acuity, workload, skill mix, fatigue
Quality improvement 16-30 Aims, measures, PDSA, variation
Patient safety and risk 31-45 Events, just culture, RCA, controls
Performance, legal and ethical 46-60 Feedback, competence, duties, fairness
Change, finance and integration 61-75 Adoption, sustainability, stewardship
Suggested benchmark: 64-75 = strong readiness; 53-63 = targeted review; 0-52 = rebuild frameworks and retest. This is a
study benchmark, not an official Galen cut score.
Exam logic: protect immediate safety first; distinguish outcome, process, balancing, and structure measures; investigate causes
before corrective action; use strong system controls; preserve autonomy, fairness, and documentation integrity.
NUR 282 | Exam 3 Staffing, Quality, Safety & Risk Management Page 2
, 1. Why is census alone insufficient for safe staffing?
A. Only budget matters
B. Census is never measured
C. It does not reflect acuity, turnover, surveillance needs, skill mix, or complexity
D. All clients require identical care
Correct answer: C. It does not reflect acuity, turnover, surveillance needs, skill mix, or complexity
Rationale: Two units with the same census can have very different workloads. Staffing decisions should combine patient intensity,
staff competence, admissions, discharges, geography, and available support.
2. Which assignment is safest when one RN has the strongest critical-care experience?
A. Assign by room number only
B. Give every nurse the same number regardless of acuity
C. Let staff select only preferred clients
D. Assign the RN the most unstable and complex client while balancing total workload
Correct answer: D. Assign the RN the most unstable and complex client while balancing total workload
Rationale: Assignments should match patient risk with demonstrated competence. Equal numbers do not necessarily create safe or
equitable workload.
3. A medical-surgical RN floats to a specialty unit. What should the charge nurse do first?
A. Assign the sickest client
B. Verify competence and provide an assignment, orientation, and resource support that match it
C. Assume RN licensure covers every specialty task
D. Place the float nurse in charge
Correct answer: B. Verify competence and provide an assignment, orientation, and resource support that match it
Rationale: Floating does not automatically expand competence. The receiving leader must assess skills and provide appropriate
support before assigning care.
NUR 282 | Exam 3 Staffing, Quality, Safety & Risk Management Page 3
Exam 3 Staffing, Quality,
Safety & Risk Management
75 Original Questions with Detailed Rationales
2026/2027 EDITION
Staffing • scheduling • quality improvement • patient safety • law • ethics • change
Unofficial, independent educational practice. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Galen College of Nursing, ATI, NCSBN, NCLEX, AHRQ, IHI, or The Joint
Commission. Always follow current law, faculty direction, and organizational policy.
, Exam 3 Blueprint and Study Method
Complete all questions without viewing the yellow rationale panels. Mark confidence for each response, then remediate by
identifying the measure, safety principle, legal duty, staffing factor, or change-management step that controls the decision.
Domain Questions Core judgment
Staffing and scheduling 1-15 Acuity, workload, skill mix, fatigue
Quality improvement 16-30 Aims, measures, PDSA, variation
Patient safety and risk 31-45 Events, just culture, RCA, controls
Performance, legal and ethical 46-60 Feedback, competence, duties, fairness
Change, finance and integration 61-75 Adoption, sustainability, stewardship
Suggested benchmark: 64-75 = strong readiness; 53-63 = targeted review; 0-52 = rebuild frameworks and retest. This is a
study benchmark, not an official Galen cut score.
Exam logic: protect immediate safety first; distinguish outcome, process, balancing, and structure measures; investigate causes
before corrective action; use strong system controls; preserve autonomy, fairness, and documentation integrity.
NUR 282 | Exam 3 Staffing, Quality, Safety & Risk Management Page 2
, 1. Why is census alone insufficient for safe staffing?
A. Only budget matters
B. Census is never measured
C. It does not reflect acuity, turnover, surveillance needs, skill mix, or complexity
D. All clients require identical care
Correct answer: C. It does not reflect acuity, turnover, surveillance needs, skill mix, or complexity
Rationale: Two units with the same census can have very different workloads. Staffing decisions should combine patient intensity,
staff competence, admissions, discharges, geography, and available support.
2. Which assignment is safest when one RN has the strongest critical-care experience?
A. Assign by room number only
B. Give every nurse the same number regardless of acuity
C. Let staff select only preferred clients
D. Assign the RN the most unstable and complex client while balancing total workload
Correct answer: D. Assign the RN the most unstable and complex client while balancing total workload
Rationale: Assignments should match patient risk with demonstrated competence. Equal numbers do not necessarily create safe or
equitable workload.
3. A medical-surgical RN floats to a specialty unit. What should the charge nurse do first?
A. Assign the sickest client
B. Verify competence and provide an assignment, orientation, and resource support that match it
C. Assume RN licensure covers every specialty task
D. Place the float nurse in charge
Correct answer: B. Verify competence and provide an assignment, orientation, and resource support that match it
Rationale: Floating does not automatically expand competence. The receiving leader must assess skills and provide appropriate
support before assigning care.
NUR 282 | Exam 3 Staffing, Quality, Safety & Risk Management Page 3
