Nursing Process Review // Ch. 16-20 of
Potter: Fundamentals of Nursing, 11th
Edition Exam Questions and Answers
(Latest Update 2026)
The nurse is using critical thinking skills during the first phase of the
nursing process. Which action indicates the nurse is in the first
phase?
a. Completes a comprehensive database.
b. Identifies pertinent nursing diagnoses.
c. Intervenes based on priorities of patient care.
d. Determines whether outcomes have been achieved. -
correct answer ✅ANS: A
The assessment phase of the nursing process involves data
collection to complete a thorough patient database and is the first
phase. Identifying nursing diagnoses occurs during the diagnosis
phase or second phase. the nurse carries out interventions during
the implementation phase (fourth phase) and determining whether
outcomes have been achieved takes place during the evaluation
phase (fifth phase) of the nursing process.
A nurse is using the problem-specific approach to data collection.
Which action will the nurse take first?
a. Completing the questions in chronological order
b. Focusing on the patient's presenting situation
,Nursing Process Review // Ch. 16-20 of
Potter: Fundamentals of Nursing, 11th
Edition Exam Questions and Answers
(Latest Update 2026)
c. Making accurate interpretations of the data
d. Conducting an observational overview -
correct answer ✅ANS: B
A problem-specific approach focuses on the patient's current
problem or presenting situation rather than on an observational
overview. the database is not always completed using a
chronological approach if focusing on the current problem. Making
interpretations of the data is not data collection. Data
interpretation occurs while appropriate nursing diagnoses are
assigned. the question is asking about data collection.
After reviewing the database, the nurse discovers that the patient's
vital signs have not been recorded by the nursing assistive
personnel (NAP). Which clinical decision should the nurse make?
a. Administer scheduled medications assuming that the NAP would
have reported abnormal vital signs.
b. Have the patient transported to the radiology department for a
scheduled x-ray and review vital signs upon return.
c. Ask the NAP to record the patient's vital signs before
administering medications.
,Nursing Process Review // Ch. 16-20 of
Potter: Fundamentals of Nursing, 11th
Edition Exam Questions and Answers
(Latest Update 2026)
d. Omit the vital signs because the patient is presently in no
distress. -
correct answer ✅ANS: C
The nurse should ask the nursing assistive personnel to record the
vital signs for review before administering medicines or
transporting the patient to another department. the nurse should
not make assumptions when providing high-quality patient care,
and omitting the vital signs is not an appropriate action.
The nurse is gathering data on a patient. Which data will the nurse
report as objective data?
a. States ―doesn't feel good‖
b. Reports a headache
c. Respirations 16
d. Nauseated -
correct answer ✅ANS: C
Objective data are observations or measurements of a patient's
health status, like respirations. Inspecting the condition of a surgical
incision or wound, describing an observed behavior, and measuring
blood pressure are examples of objective data. States ―doesn't feel
good,‖ reports a headache, and nausea are all subjective data.
, Nursing Process Review // Ch. 16-20 of
Potter: Fundamentals of Nursing, 11th
Edition Exam Questions and Answers
(Latest Update 2026)
Subjective data include thepatient's feelings, perceptions, and
reported symptoms. Only patients provide subjective data relevant
to their health condition.
A patient expresses fear of going home and being alone. Vital signs
are stable, and the incision is nearly completely healed. What can
thenurse infer from the subjective data?
a. The patient can now perform the dressing changes without help.
b. The patient can begin retaking all of the previous medications.
c. The patient is fearful of being discharged.
d. The patient's surgery was not successful. -
correct answer ✅ANS: C
Subjective data include expressions of fear of going home and being
alone. These data indicate (use inference) that the patient is
apprehensive about discharge. Expressing fear is not an appropriate
sign that a patient is able to perform dressing changes
independently. An order from a health care provider is required
before a patient is taught to resume previous medications. the
nurse cannot infer that surgery was not successful if the incision is
nearly completely healed.
Potter: Fundamentals of Nursing, 11th
Edition Exam Questions and Answers
(Latest Update 2026)
The nurse is using critical thinking skills during the first phase of the
nursing process. Which action indicates the nurse is in the first
phase?
a. Completes a comprehensive database.
b. Identifies pertinent nursing diagnoses.
c. Intervenes based on priorities of patient care.
d. Determines whether outcomes have been achieved. -
correct answer ✅ANS: A
The assessment phase of the nursing process involves data
collection to complete a thorough patient database and is the first
phase. Identifying nursing diagnoses occurs during the diagnosis
phase or second phase. the nurse carries out interventions during
the implementation phase (fourth phase) and determining whether
outcomes have been achieved takes place during the evaluation
phase (fifth phase) of the nursing process.
A nurse is using the problem-specific approach to data collection.
Which action will the nurse take first?
a. Completing the questions in chronological order
b. Focusing on the patient's presenting situation
,Nursing Process Review // Ch. 16-20 of
Potter: Fundamentals of Nursing, 11th
Edition Exam Questions and Answers
(Latest Update 2026)
c. Making accurate interpretations of the data
d. Conducting an observational overview -
correct answer ✅ANS: B
A problem-specific approach focuses on the patient's current
problem or presenting situation rather than on an observational
overview. the database is not always completed using a
chronological approach if focusing on the current problem. Making
interpretations of the data is not data collection. Data
interpretation occurs while appropriate nursing diagnoses are
assigned. the question is asking about data collection.
After reviewing the database, the nurse discovers that the patient's
vital signs have not been recorded by the nursing assistive
personnel (NAP). Which clinical decision should the nurse make?
a. Administer scheduled medications assuming that the NAP would
have reported abnormal vital signs.
b. Have the patient transported to the radiology department for a
scheduled x-ray and review vital signs upon return.
c. Ask the NAP to record the patient's vital signs before
administering medications.
,Nursing Process Review // Ch. 16-20 of
Potter: Fundamentals of Nursing, 11th
Edition Exam Questions and Answers
(Latest Update 2026)
d. Omit the vital signs because the patient is presently in no
distress. -
correct answer ✅ANS: C
The nurse should ask the nursing assistive personnel to record the
vital signs for review before administering medicines or
transporting the patient to another department. the nurse should
not make assumptions when providing high-quality patient care,
and omitting the vital signs is not an appropriate action.
The nurse is gathering data on a patient. Which data will the nurse
report as objective data?
a. States ―doesn't feel good‖
b. Reports a headache
c. Respirations 16
d. Nauseated -
correct answer ✅ANS: C
Objective data are observations or measurements of a patient's
health status, like respirations. Inspecting the condition of a surgical
incision or wound, describing an observed behavior, and measuring
blood pressure are examples of objective data. States ―doesn't feel
good,‖ reports a headache, and nausea are all subjective data.
, Nursing Process Review // Ch. 16-20 of
Potter: Fundamentals of Nursing, 11th
Edition Exam Questions and Answers
(Latest Update 2026)
Subjective data include thepatient's feelings, perceptions, and
reported symptoms. Only patients provide subjective data relevant
to their health condition.
A patient expresses fear of going home and being alone. Vital signs
are stable, and the incision is nearly completely healed. What can
thenurse infer from the subjective data?
a. The patient can now perform the dressing changes without help.
b. The patient can begin retaking all of the previous medications.
c. The patient is fearful of being discharged.
d. The patient's surgery was not successful. -
correct answer ✅ANS: C
Subjective data include expressions of fear of going home and being
alone. These data indicate (use inference) that the patient is
apprehensive about discharge. Expressing fear is not an appropriate
sign that a patient is able to perform dressing changes
independently. An order from a health care provider is required
before a patient is taught to resume previous medications. the
nurse cannot infer that surgery was not successful if the incision is
nearly completely healed.
