,OpenStax Fundamentals of Nursing
Student Answer Guide
Chapter 1: Introduction to the Nursing Profession: Evolution, Theories, and Practice ................. 3
Chapter 2: Communication ............................................................................................................. 9
Chapter 3: Healthcare Delivery Systems ...................................................................................... 13
Chapter 4: Health, Wellness, and Community-Based Health Care............................................... 16
Chapter 5: Cultural Competence .................................................................................................. 21
Chapter 6: Promoting Individualized Care .................................................................................... 25
Chapter 7: Vital Signs .................................................................................................................... 28
Chapter 8: Admission, Transfer, and Discharge............................................................................ 32
Chapter 9: Safety and Security...................................................................................................... 36
Chapter 10: Infection Control and Prevention ............................................................................. 39
Chapter 11: Medication Administration ....................................................................................... 43
Chapter 12: Assessment: Recognizing Cues ................................................................................. 48
Chapter 13: Diagnosis and Planning: Analyzing, Prioritizing, and Generating Solutions ............. 56
Chapter 14: Implementation and Evaluation: Taking Action, Evaluating Outcomes, and
Documentation ............................................................................................................................. 61
Chapter 15: Evidence-Based Research, Quality Improvement, and Collaborative Practice ........ 70
Chapter 16: Legal and Ethical Considerations .............................................................................. 74
Chapter 17: Patient and Family Education ................................................................................... 79
Chapter 18: Leadership and Management in Nursing .................................................................. 83
Chapter 19: Oxygenation and Perfusion ....................................................................................... 89
Chapter 20: Fluid, Electrolyte, and Acid-Base Balance ................................................................. 92
Chapter 21: Nutrition .................................................................................................................... 95
Chapter 22: Activity ...................................................................................................................... 98
Chapter 23: Neuromuscular Function ........................................................................................ 102
Chapter 24: Skin Integrity ........................................................................................................... 106
Chapter 25: Hygiene ................................................................................................................... 110
Chapter 26: Urinary Elimination ................................................................................................. 113
Chapter 27: Bowel Elimination ................................................................................................... 118
2
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10/29/2025
,OpenStax Fundamentals of Nursing Student Answer Guide
Chapter 28: Sleep and Rest ......................................................................................................... 124
Chapter 29: Sensory Alterations ................................................................................................. 128
Chapter 30: Pain Assessment ..................................................................................................... 133
Chapter 31: Perioperative Nursing Care ..................................................................................... 137
Chapter 32: Self-Concept ............................................................................................................ 143
Chapter 33: Sexuality .................................................................................................................. 147
Chapter 34: Stress, Adaptation, and Homeostasis ..................................................................... 150
Chapter 35: Spirituality ............................................................................................................... 154
Chapter 36: Grief, Loss, Death, and Dying .................................................................................. 157
Chapter 37: Family Dynamics ..................................................................................................... 162
Chapter 38: Growth and Development ...................................................................................... 166
Chapter 39: Conception Through Adolescence .......................................................................... 169
Chapter 40: Young and Middle-Aged Adults .............................................................................. 173
Chapter 41: Older Adults ............................................................................................................ 177
Chapter 42: Caring for Patients with Disability and Chronic Illness ........................................... 181
Chapter 43: Clinical Judgment and Critical Thinking .................................................................. 184
Chapter 1: Introduction to the Nursing Profession: Evolution, Theories,
and Practice
Review Questions
1. During the Middle Ages, who primarily undertook nursing duties, and where did they
provide care?
a. family members in their homes
b. monks and nuns in monasteries and convents
c. herbalists in communities
d. military personnel in wartime hospitals
[Answer: B]
3. What milestone marked Florence Nightingale’s influence on the formalization and
professionalization of nursing education?
a. establishment of the ANA
b. creation of the first nursing school
c. introduction of evidence-based practice
d. development of specialized nursing fields
[Answer: B]
5. What nursing program is designed to prepare individuals for entry-level positions in health
care and requires graduates to pass the NCLEX-PN for licensure?
a. Associate degree in nursing (ADN)
3
, b. Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN)
c. Master of Science in nursing (MSN)
d. Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)/Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN)
[Answer: D]
7. What ais athe aprimary agoal aof athe aDoctor aof aNursing apractice a(DNP) aprogram?
a. preparation afor aleadership aroles ain aacademia
b. research-focused adoctoral aeducation
c. emphasis aon aadvanced aclinical apractice, aleadership, aand aevidence-based adecision-
making
d. integration aof atheory, aresearch, aand apublic ahealth ain anursing apractice a
[Answer: aC]
9. Which aglobal aorganization asignificantly ainfluences athe adevelopment aof athe anursing
aprofession aon aa aglobal ascale aand aoffers aguidance aregarding athe ascope aof apractice afor
anurses aaround athe aworld?
a. state aBONs
b. QSEN
c. ICN
d. ANA a
[Answer: aC]
11. The anurse ais aprecepting aa anursing astudent aduring aa aclinical arotation. aWhat astatement
amade aby athe astudent awould awarrant afurther aeducation?
a. “Nursing astandards aserve aas aa aframework afor aproviding asafe, aquality acare.”
b. “Nursing astandards aalign awith athe aoverarching aprinciples aof athe anursing
aprofession.”
c. “Nursing astandards aarticulate athe aexpectations aand aethical aconduct arequired aof
anurses.”
d. “Nursing astandards amay abe aincorporated ainto apractice aif athe anurse achooses ato ado
aso.”
[Answer: aD]
13. What ais athe aprimary apurpose aof anursing atheories? a a
a. to adictate amedical ainterventions
b. to aprovide aa aframework afor anursing apractice
c. to aestablish ahealthcare apolicies
d. to areplace amedical aguidelines a
[Answer: aB]
15. In athe alate atwentieth acentury, awhat ashift aoccurred ain athe adevelopment aof anursing
atheories? a a
a. a adecline ain athe aemphasis aon aevidence-based apractice
b. a amove atoward atask-oriented aapproaches
c. a adecrease ain athe aimportance aof aresearch aintegration
d. a aproliferation aof atheories aaddressing avarious aaspects aof anursing, ahealth, aand acare
a
4
For more free, peer-reviewed, openly licensed resources visit OpenStax.org.
10/29/2025
Student Answer Guide
Chapter 1: Introduction to the Nursing Profession: Evolution, Theories, and Practice ................. 3
Chapter 2: Communication ............................................................................................................. 9
Chapter 3: Healthcare Delivery Systems ...................................................................................... 13
Chapter 4: Health, Wellness, and Community-Based Health Care............................................... 16
Chapter 5: Cultural Competence .................................................................................................. 21
Chapter 6: Promoting Individualized Care .................................................................................... 25
Chapter 7: Vital Signs .................................................................................................................... 28
Chapter 8: Admission, Transfer, and Discharge............................................................................ 32
Chapter 9: Safety and Security...................................................................................................... 36
Chapter 10: Infection Control and Prevention ............................................................................. 39
Chapter 11: Medication Administration ....................................................................................... 43
Chapter 12: Assessment: Recognizing Cues ................................................................................. 48
Chapter 13: Diagnosis and Planning: Analyzing, Prioritizing, and Generating Solutions ............. 56
Chapter 14: Implementation and Evaluation: Taking Action, Evaluating Outcomes, and
Documentation ............................................................................................................................. 61
Chapter 15: Evidence-Based Research, Quality Improvement, and Collaborative Practice ........ 70
Chapter 16: Legal and Ethical Considerations .............................................................................. 74
Chapter 17: Patient and Family Education ................................................................................... 79
Chapter 18: Leadership and Management in Nursing .................................................................. 83
Chapter 19: Oxygenation and Perfusion ....................................................................................... 89
Chapter 20: Fluid, Electrolyte, and Acid-Base Balance ................................................................. 92
Chapter 21: Nutrition .................................................................................................................... 95
Chapter 22: Activity ...................................................................................................................... 98
Chapter 23: Neuromuscular Function ........................................................................................ 102
Chapter 24: Skin Integrity ........................................................................................................... 106
Chapter 25: Hygiene ................................................................................................................... 110
Chapter 26: Urinary Elimination ................................................................................................. 113
Chapter 27: Bowel Elimination ................................................................................................... 118
2
For more free, peer-reviewed, openly licensed resources visit OpenStax.org.
10/29/2025
,OpenStax Fundamentals of Nursing Student Answer Guide
Chapter 28: Sleep and Rest ......................................................................................................... 124
Chapter 29: Sensory Alterations ................................................................................................. 128
Chapter 30: Pain Assessment ..................................................................................................... 133
Chapter 31: Perioperative Nursing Care ..................................................................................... 137
Chapter 32: Self-Concept ............................................................................................................ 143
Chapter 33: Sexuality .................................................................................................................. 147
Chapter 34: Stress, Adaptation, and Homeostasis ..................................................................... 150
Chapter 35: Spirituality ............................................................................................................... 154
Chapter 36: Grief, Loss, Death, and Dying .................................................................................. 157
Chapter 37: Family Dynamics ..................................................................................................... 162
Chapter 38: Growth and Development ...................................................................................... 166
Chapter 39: Conception Through Adolescence .......................................................................... 169
Chapter 40: Young and Middle-Aged Adults .............................................................................. 173
Chapter 41: Older Adults ............................................................................................................ 177
Chapter 42: Caring for Patients with Disability and Chronic Illness ........................................... 181
Chapter 43: Clinical Judgment and Critical Thinking .................................................................. 184
Chapter 1: Introduction to the Nursing Profession: Evolution, Theories,
and Practice
Review Questions
1. During the Middle Ages, who primarily undertook nursing duties, and where did they
provide care?
a. family members in their homes
b. monks and nuns in monasteries and convents
c. herbalists in communities
d. military personnel in wartime hospitals
[Answer: B]
3. What milestone marked Florence Nightingale’s influence on the formalization and
professionalization of nursing education?
a. establishment of the ANA
b. creation of the first nursing school
c. introduction of evidence-based practice
d. development of specialized nursing fields
[Answer: B]
5. What nursing program is designed to prepare individuals for entry-level positions in health
care and requires graduates to pass the NCLEX-PN for licensure?
a. Associate degree in nursing (ADN)
3
, b. Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN)
c. Master of Science in nursing (MSN)
d. Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)/Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN)
[Answer: D]
7. What ais athe aprimary agoal aof athe aDoctor aof aNursing apractice a(DNP) aprogram?
a. preparation afor aleadership aroles ain aacademia
b. research-focused adoctoral aeducation
c. emphasis aon aadvanced aclinical apractice, aleadership, aand aevidence-based adecision-
making
d. integration aof atheory, aresearch, aand apublic ahealth ain anursing apractice a
[Answer: aC]
9. Which aglobal aorganization asignificantly ainfluences athe adevelopment aof athe anursing
aprofession aon aa aglobal ascale aand aoffers aguidance aregarding athe ascope aof apractice afor
anurses aaround athe aworld?
a. state aBONs
b. QSEN
c. ICN
d. ANA a
[Answer: aC]
11. The anurse ais aprecepting aa anursing astudent aduring aa aclinical arotation. aWhat astatement
amade aby athe astudent awould awarrant afurther aeducation?
a. “Nursing astandards aserve aas aa aframework afor aproviding asafe, aquality acare.”
b. “Nursing astandards aalign awith athe aoverarching aprinciples aof athe anursing
aprofession.”
c. “Nursing astandards aarticulate athe aexpectations aand aethical aconduct arequired aof
anurses.”
d. “Nursing astandards amay abe aincorporated ainto apractice aif athe anurse achooses ato ado
aso.”
[Answer: aD]
13. What ais athe aprimary apurpose aof anursing atheories? a a
a. to adictate amedical ainterventions
b. to aprovide aa aframework afor anursing apractice
c. to aestablish ahealthcare apolicies
d. to areplace amedical aguidelines a
[Answer: aB]
15. In athe alate atwentieth acentury, awhat ashift aoccurred ain athe adevelopment aof anursing
atheories? a a
a. a adecline ain athe aemphasis aon aevidence-based apractice
b. a amove atoward atask-oriented aapproaches
c. a adecrease ain athe aimportance aof aresearch aintegration
d. a aproliferation aof atheories aaddressing avarious aaspects aof anursing, ahealth, aand acare
a
4
For more free, peer-reviewed, openly licensed resources visit OpenStax.org.
10/29/2025
