NSG 526 FAMILY NURSING
EXAM 2 & EXAM 3 COMBINED / FINAL EXAM • FALL 2026
100 Multiple-Choice Questions | Correct Answers and Detailed Rationales
Compiled only from the supplied exam PDFs; one source is labeled Herzing University Exam 2 and the other Wilkes Exam 3. This is not a verified
official Fall 2026 examination.
1. A nurse gently reminds an older adult of the date, location, and current circumstances,
using capacities that remain intact. Which intervention is illustrated?
A. Cognitive flooding
B. Reality orientation
C. Projective identification
D. Communication triad
✓ Correct Answer: B. Reality orientation
Rationale: Reality orientation attempts to support awareness of present surroundings and circumstances. This
approach relies on preserved abilities while clinicians periodically assess confusion or disorientation rather than
forcing confrontation.
2. A child uses play to release strong feelings and reduce inner emotional tension. Which
therapeutic function is illustrated?
A. Equifinality
B. Role allocation
C. Instrumental functioning
D. Catharsis
✓ Correct Answer: D. Catharsis
Rationale: Catharsis refers to the release of pent-up emotion that reduces internal tension. Expressive play gives
children a way to process feelings that they may not yet be able to discuss directly.
NSG 526 | Exam 2 & 3 Combined | Fall 2026 Page 1
, 3. Which family theory emphasizes that the family is part of larger suprasystems and that
external systems affect family functioning?
A. Structural-Functional Theory
B. Family Development Theory
C. Family Systems Theory
D. Ecosocial Theory
✓ Correct Answer: C. Family Systems Theory
Rationale: Family Systems Theory views the family as an open system that interacts with its environment,
including community, healthcare, and social systems. External systems can significantly influence family
functioning and health outcomes. This perspective encourages nurses to assess not only internal family dynamics
but also the broader context in which families live
4. Which theoretical approach originally emphasized unconscious drives and defense
mechanisms in understanding behavior?
A. Psychodynamic theory rooted in Freud's psychoanalysis
B. Social learning through tokens alone
C. Disaster triage theory
D. Family Development Theory
✓ Correct Answer: A. Psychodynamic theory rooted in Freud's psychoanalysis
Rationale: Psychodynamic theory developed from Freud's psychoanalysis and its attention to unconscious
processes and defenses. Although the theory has evolved, understanding internal conflict remains a distinguishing
focus of this approach.
5. Which of the following is the best example of a question that assesses a family's
instrumental functioning?
A. "How do you express love to each other?"
B. "What are your family's spiritual beliefs?"
C. "Who does the grocery shopping and cooking?"
D. "How do you celebrate holidays together?"
✓ Correct Answer: C. "Who does the grocery shopping and cooking?"
Rationale: Instrumental functioning refers to the routine activities of daily living, such as meal preparation,
cleaning, childcare, and healthcare management. Questions about grocery shopping and cooking reveal role
allocation and daily routines. Expressive functioning addresses emotional communication, beliefs, and
celebrations. Understanding instrumental functioning helps nurses identify caregiving burden and potential areas
for intervention
NSG 526 | Exam 2 & 3 Combined | Fall 2026 Page 2
, 6. A nurse is using the CFAM to assess a family. Which question assesses the family's
developmental status?
A. "How do family members express sadness?"
B. "What changes has your family experienced recently?"
C. "Who handles household finances?"
D. "What are your family's rules about television?"
✓ Correct Answer: B. "What changes has your family experienced recently?"
Rationale: Developmental assessment in the CFAM focuses on the family's life cycle stage and transitions.
Asking about recent changes helps nurses understand stressors and adaptations the family is facing. Television
rules and financial management assess functional status, while expressing sadness assesses emotional
functioning. Understanding developmental transitions helps nurses anticipate family needs and provide
anticipatory guidance
7. Which clinician developed dialectical behavior therapy for borderline personality disorder?
A. Marsha Linehan
B. Erik Erikson
C. Sigmund Freud
D. John Bowlby
✓ Correct Answer: A. Marsha Linehan
Rationale: Marsha Linehan developed dialectical behavior therapy, a psychosocial treatment described for
borderline personality disorder. Its approach focuses on teaching skills to manage intense emotion and
maladaptive behavioral responses.
8. In the CFAM, which of the following is an example of assessing a family's developmental
status?
A. "What are your family's rules about bedtime?"
B. "What transitions has your family experienced recently?"
C. "Who provides childcare when parents work?"
D. "How do you handle disagreements?"
✓ Correct Answer: B. "What transitions has your family experienced recently?"
Rationale: Developmental assessment in the CFAM focuses on the family's life cycle stage and transitions
between stages. Asking about recent transitions helps nurses understand normative and non-normative stressors
the family is facing. Rules about bedtime and childcare arrangements assess functional status, while handling
disagreements assesses communication patterns. Transitions often prompt family system reorganization
NSG 526 | Exam 2 & 3 Combined | Fall 2026 Page 3
, 9. A person remains overwhelmed after repeated coping attempts fail and demonstrates
serious disorganization. In Caplan's model, which phase best matches this state?
A. Precrisis functioning
B. Phase 2
C. Phase 4
D. Phase 1
✓ Correct Answer: C. Phase 4
Rationale: Phase 4 describes anxiety so severe that previous attempts have not restored balance and
disorganization emerges. The earlier phases involve escalating stress and attempts to respond, before this level of
crisis occurs.
10. A nurse is assessing a family using the CFAM. Which question assesses the family's
functional status?
A. "What is your family's ethnic background?"
B. "How does your family solve problems together?"
C. "What stage of the life cycle is your family in?"
D. "Who are the members of your household?"
✓ Correct Answer: B. "How does your family solve problems together?"
Rationale: Functional assessment in the CFAM examines how families operate, including problem- solving,
communication, and role functioning. Questions about problem-solving reveal instrumental functioning and coping
strategies. Ethnic background assesses structural elements, life cycle stage assesses developmental status, and
household composition assesses internal structure. Understanding family problem-solving helps nurses tailor
interventions to family strengths
11. According to Caplan's crisis sequence, a new stressor first raises anxiety and prompts
familiar problem-solving strategies. Which phase is illustrated?
A. Phase 4
B. Phase 1
C. Phase 2
D. Phase 3
✓ Correct Answer: B. Phase 1
Rationale: In the first phase, a problem increases anxiety and the person attempts the usual coping strategies.
Only when those attempts fail does the sequence progress to intensified anxiety and less effective trial-and-error
responses.
NSG 526 | Exam 2 & 3 Combined | Fall 2026 Page 4
EXAM 2 & EXAM 3 COMBINED / FINAL EXAM • FALL 2026
100 Multiple-Choice Questions | Correct Answers and Detailed Rationales
Compiled only from the supplied exam PDFs; one source is labeled Herzing University Exam 2 and the other Wilkes Exam 3. This is not a verified
official Fall 2026 examination.
1. A nurse gently reminds an older adult of the date, location, and current circumstances,
using capacities that remain intact. Which intervention is illustrated?
A. Cognitive flooding
B. Reality orientation
C. Projective identification
D. Communication triad
✓ Correct Answer: B. Reality orientation
Rationale: Reality orientation attempts to support awareness of present surroundings and circumstances. This
approach relies on preserved abilities while clinicians periodically assess confusion or disorientation rather than
forcing confrontation.
2. A child uses play to release strong feelings and reduce inner emotional tension. Which
therapeutic function is illustrated?
A. Equifinality
B. Role allocation
C. Instrumental functioning
D. Catharsis
✓ Correct Answer: D. Catharsis
Rationale: Catharsis refers to the release of pent-up emotion that reduces internal tension. Expressive play gives
children a way to process feelings that they may not yet be able to discuss directly.
NSG 526 | Exam 2 & 3 Combined | Fall 2026 Page 1
, 3. Which family theory emphasizes that the family is part of larger suprasystems and that
external systems affect family functioning?
A. Structural-Functional Theory
B. Family Development Theory
C. Family Systems Theory
D. Ecosocial Theory
✓ Correct Answer: C. Family Systems Theory
Rationale: Family Systems Theory views the family as an open system that interacts with its environment,
including community, healthcare, and social systems. External systems can significantly influence family
functioning and health outcomes. This perspective encourages nurses to assess not only internal family dynamics
but also the broader context in which families live
4. Which theoretical approach originally emphasized unconscious drives and defense
mechanisms in understanding behavior?
A. Psychodynamic theory rooted in Freud's psychoanalysis
B. Social learning through tokens alone
C. Disaster triage theory
D. Family Development Theory
✓ Correct Answer: A. Psychodynamic theory rooted in Freud's psychoanalysis
Rationale: Psychodynamic theory developed from Freud's psychoanalysis and its attention to unconscious
processes and defenses. Although the theory has evolved, understanding internal conflict remains a distinguishing
focus of this approach.
5. Which of the following is the best example of a question that assesses a family's
instrumental functioning?
A. "How do you express love to each other?"
B. "What are your family's spiritual beliefs?"
C. "Who does the grocery shopping and cooking?"
D. "How do you celebrate holidays together?"
✓ Correct Answer: C. "Who does the grocery shopping and cooking?"
Rationale: Instrumental functioning refers to the routine activities of daily living, such as meal preparation,
cleaning, childcare, and healthcare management. Questions about grocery shopping and cooking reveal role
allocation and daily routines. Expressive functioning addresses emotional communication, beliefs, and
celebrations. Understanding instrumental functioning helps nurses identify caregiving burden and potential areas
for intervention
NSG 526 | Exam 2 & 3 Combined | Fall 2026 Page 2
, 6. A nurse is using the CFAM to assess a family. Which question assesses the family's
developmental status?
A. "How do family members express sadness?"
B. "What changes has your family experienced recently?"
C. "Who handles household finances?"
D. "What are your family's rules about television?"
✓ Correct Answer: B. "What changes has your family experienced recently?"
Rationale: Developmental assessment in the CFAM focuses on the family's life cycle stage and transitions.
Asking about recent changes helps nurses understand stressors and adaptations the family is facing. Television
rules and financial management assess functional status, while expressing sadness assesses emotional
functioning. Understanding developmental transitions helps nurses anticipate family needs and provide
anticipatory guidance
7. Which clinician developed dialectical behavior therapy for borderline personality disorder?
A. Marsha Linehan
B. Erik Erikson
C. Sigmund Freud
D. John Bowlby
✓ Correct Answer: A. Marsha Linehan
Rationale: Marsha Linehan developed dialectical behavior therapy, a psychosocial treatment described for
borderline personality disorder. Its approach focuses on teaching skills to manage intense emotion and
maladaptive behavioral responses.
8. In the CFAM, which of the following is an example of assessing a family's developmental
status?
A. "What are your family's rules about bedtime?"
B. "What transitions has your family experienced recently?"
C. "Who provides childcare when parents work?"
D. "How do you handle disagreements?"
✓ Correct Answer: B. "What transitions has your family experienced recently?"
Rationale: Developmental assessment in the CFAM focuses on the family's life cycle stage and transitions
between stages. Asking about recent transitions helps nurses understand normative and non-normative stressors
the family is facing. Rules about bedtime and childcare arrangements assess functional status, while handling
disagreements assesses communication patterns. Transitions often prompt family system reorganization
NSG 526 | Exam 2 & 3 Combined | Fall 2026 Page 3
, 9. A person remains overwhelmed after repeated coping attempts fail and demonstrates
serious disorganization. In Caplan's model, which phase best matches this state?
A. Precrisis functioning
B. Phase 2
C. Phase 4
D. Phase 1
✓ Correct Answer: C. Phase 4
Rationale: Phase 4 describes anxiety so severe that previous attempts have not restored balance and
disorganization emerges. The earlier phases involve escalating stress and attempts to respond, before this level of
crisis occurs.
10. A nurse is assessing a family using the CFAM. Which question assesses the family's
functional status?
A. "What is your family's ethnic background?"
B. "How does your family solve problems together?"
C. "What stage of the life cycle is your family in?"
D. "Who are the members of your household?"
✓ Correct Answer: B. "How does your family solve problems together?"
Rationale: Functional assessment in the CFAM examines how families operate, including problem- solving,
communication, and role functioning. Questions about problem-solving reveal instrumental functioning and coping
strategies. Ethnic background assesses structural elements, life cycle stage assesses developmental status, and
household composition assesses internal structure. Understanding family problem-solving helps nurses tailor
interventions to family strengths
11. According to Caplan's crisis sequence, a new stressor first raises anxiety and prompts
familiar problem-solving strategies. Which phase is illustrated?
A. Phase 4
B. Phase 1
C. Phase 2
D. Phase 3
✓ Correct Answer: B. Phase 1
Rationale: In the first phase, a problem increases anxiety and the person attempts the usual coping strategies.
Only when those attempts fail does the sequence progress to intensified anxiety and less effective trial-and-error
responses.
NSG 526 | Exam 2 & 3 Combined | Fall 2026 Page 4
