, 1. An oncology nurse with 15 years of experience, certification in the area of oncology
nursing, and a master's degree is considered to be an expert in her area of practice and
works on an oncology unit in a large teaching hospital. Based upon this description,
which of the following career roles best describes this nurse's role, taking into account
her qualifications and experience?
A) Clinical nurse specialist
B) Nurse entrepreneur
C) Nurse practitioner
D) Nurse educator
Ans: A
Feedback:
A clinical nurse specialist is a nurse with an advanced degree, education, or experience
who is considered to be an expert in a specialized area of nursing. The clinical nurse
specialist carries out direct patient care; consultation; teaching of patients, families, and
staff; and research. A nurse practitioner has an advanced degree and works in a variety
of settings to deliver primary care. A nurse educator usually has an advanced degree and
teaches in the educational or clinical setting. A nurse entrepreneur may manage a clinic
or health-related business.
2. What guidelines do nurses follow to identify the patient's health care needs and
strengths, to establish and carry out a plan of care to meet those needs, and to evaluate
the effectiveness of the plan to meet established outcomes?
A) Nursing process
B) ANA Standards of Professional Performance
C) Evidence-based practice guidelines
D) Nurse Practice Acts
Ans: A
Feedback:
The nursing process is one of the major guidelines for nursing practice. Nurses
implement their roles through the nursing process. The nursing process is used by the
nurse to identify the patient's health care needs and strengths, to establish and carry out a
plan of care to meet those needs, and to evaluate the effectiveness of the plan to meet
established outcomes.
3. Which of the following organizations is the best source of information when a nurse
wishes to determine whether an action is within the scope of nursing practice?
A) American Nurses Association (ANA)
B) American Association of Colleges in Nursing (AACN)
C) National League for Nursing (NLN)
D) International Council of Nurses (ICN)
Ans: A
Feedback:
The ANA produces the 2003 Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice, which defines
the activities specific and unique to nursing. The AACN addresses educational
Page 1
, standards, while the NLN promotes and fosters various aspects of nursing. The ICN
provides a venue for national nursing organizations to collaborate, but does not define
standards and scope of practice.
4. Who is considered to be the founder of professional nursing?
A) Dorothea Dix
B) Lillian Wald
C) Florence Nightingale
D) Clara Barton
Ans: C
Feedback:
Florence Nightingale is considered to be the founder of professional nursing. She
elevated the status of nursing to a respected occupation, improved the quality of nursing
care, and founded modern nursing education. Although the other choices are women
who were important to the development of nursing, none of them is considered the
founder.
5. Which of the following nursing pioneers established the Red Cross in the United States
in 1882?
A) Florence Nightingale
B) Clara Barton
C) Dorothea Dix
D) Jane Addams
Ans: B
Feedback:
Clara Barton volunteered to care for wounds and feed union soldiers during the civil
war, served as the supervisor of nurses for the Army of the James, organized hospitals
and nurses, and established the Red Cross in the United States in 1882.
6. A nurse practitioner is caring for a couple who are the parents of an infant diagnosed
with Down Syndrome. The nurse makes referrals for a parent support group for the
family. This is an example of which nursing role?
A) Teacher/Educator
B) Leader
C) Counselor
D) Collaborator
Ans: C
Feedback:
Counseling skills involve the use of therapeutic interpersonal communication skills to
provide information, make appropriate referrals, and facilitate the patient's problem-
solving and decision-making skills. The teacher/educator uses communication skills to
assess, implement, and evaluate individualized teaching plans to meet learning needs of
clients and their families. A leader displays an assertive, self-confident practice of
Page 2
, nursing when providing care, effecting change, and functioning with groups. The
collaborator uses skills in organization, communication, and advocacy to facilitate the
functions of all members of the health care team as they provide patient care.
7. A nurse is providing nursing care in a neighborhood clinic to single, pregnant teens.
Which of the following actions is the best example of using the counselor role as a
nurse?
A) Discussing the legal aspects of adoption for teens wishing to place their infants with a
family
B) Searching the Internet for information on child care for the teens who wish to return to
school
C) Conducting a client interview and documenting the information on the client's chart
D) Referring a teen who admits having suicidal thoughts to a mental health care specialist
Ans: D
Feedback:
The role of the counselor includes making appropriate referrals. Discussing legal issues
is the role of the advocate and searching for information on the Internet is the role of a
researcher. Conducting a client interview would fall under the role of the caregiver.
8. A nurse instructor explains the concept of health to her students. Which of the following
statements accurately describes this state of being?
A) Health is a state of optimal functioning.
B) Health is an absence of illness.
C) Health is always an objective state.
D) Health is not determined by the patient.
Ans: A
Feedback:
Health is a state of optimal functioning or well-being. As defined by the World Health
Organization, one's health includes physical, social, and mental components and is not
merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Health is often a subjective state; a person
may be medically diagnosed with an illness but still consider himself or herself healthy.
9. A nurse incorporates the health promotion guidelines established by the U.S.
Department of Health document: Healthy People 2010. Which of the following is a
health indicator discussed in this document?
A) Cancer
B) Obesity
C) Diabetes
D) Hypertension
Ans: B
Feedback:
The 10 leading indicators of health established by Healthy People 2010 are: physical
activity, excessive weight and obesity, tobacco use, substance abuse, responsible sexual
Page 3
nursing, and a master's degree is considered to be an expert in her area of practice and
works on an oncology unit in a large teaching hospital. Based upon this description,
which of the following career roles best describes this nurse's role, taking into account
her qualifications and experience?
A) Clinical nurse specialist
B) Nurse entrepreneur
C) Nurse practitioner
D) Nurse educator
Ans: A
Feedback:
A clinical nurse specialist is a nurse with an advanced degree, education, or experience
who is considered to be an expert in a specialized area of nursing. The clinical nurse
specialist carries out direct patient care; consultation; teaching of patients, families, and
staff; and research. A nurse practitioner has an advanced degree and works in a variety
of settings to deliver primary care. A nurse educator usually has an advanced degree and
teaches in the educational or clinical setting. A nurse entrepreneur may manage a clinic
or health-related business.
2. What guidelines do nurses follow to identify the patient's health care needs and
strengths, to establish and carry out a plan of care to meet those needs, and to evaluate
the effectiveness of the plan to meet established outcomes?
A) Nursing process
B) ANA Standards of Professional Performance
C) Evidence-based practice guidelines
D) Nurse Practice Acts
Ans: A
Feedback:
The nursing process is one of the major guidelines for nursing practice. Nurses
implement their roles through the nursing process. The nursing process is used by the
nurse to identify the patient's health care needs and strengths, to establish and carry out a
plan of care to meet those needs, and to evaluate the effectiveness of the plan to meet
established outcomes.
3. Which of the following organizations is the best source of information when a nurse
wishes to determine whether an action is within the scope of nursing practice?
A) American Nurses Association (ANA)
B) American Association of Colleges in Nursing (AACN)
C) National League for Nursing (NLN)
D) International Council of Nurses (ICN)
Ans: A
Feedback:
The ANA produces the 2003 Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice, which defines
the activities specific and unique to nursing. The AACN addresses educational
Page 1
, standards, while the NLN promotes and fosters various aspects of nursing. The ICN
provides a venue for national nursing organizations to collaborate, but does not define
standards and scope of practice.
4. Who is considered to be the founder of professional nursing?
A) Dorothea Dix
B) Lillian Wald
C) Florence Nightingale
D) Clara Barton
Ans: C
Feedback:
Florence Nightingale is considered to be the founder of professional nursing. She
elevated the status of nursing to a respected occupation, improved the quality of nursing
care, and founded modern nursing education. Although the other choices are women
who were important to the development of nursing, none of them is considered the
founder.
5. Which of the following nursing pioneers established the Red Cross in the United States
in 1882?
A) Florence Nightingale
B) Clara Barton
C) Dorothea Dix
D) Jane Addams
Ans: B
Feedback:
Clara Barton volunteered to care for wounds and feed union soldiers during the civil
war, served as the supervisor of nurses for the Army of the James, organized hospitals
and nurses, and established the Red Cross in the United States in 1882.
6. A nurse practitioner is caring for a couple who are the parents of an infant diagnosed
with Down Syndrome. The nurse makes referrals for a parent support group for the
family. This is an example of which nursing role?
A) Teacher/Educator
B) Leader
C) Counselor
D) Collaborator
Ans: C
Feedback:
Counseling skills involve the use of therapeutic interpersonal communication skills to
provide information, make appropriate referrals, and facilitate the patient's problem-
solving and decision-making skills. The teacher/educator uses communication skills to
assess, implement, and evaluate individualized teaching plans to meet learning needs of
clients and their families. A leader displays an assertive, self-confident practice of
Page 2
, nursing when providing care, effecting change, and functioning with groups. The
collaborator uses skills in organization, communication, and advocacy to facilitate the
functions of all members of the health care team as they provide patient care.
7. A nurse is providing nursing care in a neighborhood clinic to single, pregnant teens.
Which of the following actions is the best example of using the counselor role as a
nurse?
A) Discussing the legal aspects of adoption for teens wishing to place their infants with a
family
B) Searching the Internet for information on child care for the teens who wish to return to
school
C) Conducting a client interview and documenting the information on the client's chart
D) Referring a teen who admits having suicidal thoughts to a mental health care specialist
Ans: D
Feedback:
The role of the counselor includes making appropriate referrals. Discussing legal issues
is the role of the advocate and searching for information on the Internet is the role of a
researcher. Conducting a client interview would fall under the role of the caregiver.
8. A nurse instructor explains the concept of health to her students. Which of the following
statements accurately describes this state of being?
A) Health is a state of optimal functioning.
B) Health is an absence of illness.
C) Health is always an objective state.
D) Health is not determined by the patient.
Ans: A
Feedback:
Health is a state of optimal functioning or well-being. As defined by the World Health
Organization, one's health includes physical, social, and mental components and is not
merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Health is often a subjective state; a person
may be medically diagnosed with an illness but still consider himself or herself healthy.
9. A nurse incorporates the health promotion guidelines established by the U.S.
Department of Health document: Healthy People 2010. Which of the following is a
health indicator discussed in this document?
A) Cancer
B) Obesity
C) Diabetes
D) Hypertension
Ans: B
Feedback:
The 10 leading indicators of health established by Healthy People 2010 are: physical
activity, excessive weight and obesity, tobacco use, substance abuse, responsible sexual
Page 3
