Penn State University
1 MAXE 152 SRUN
PSU
Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing · BSN Program
NURSING
MAKING LIFE BETTER
EST. 1855
NURS 251: Exam 1 — Foundations of Professional Nursing
N U R S I N G P R O C E SS · C L I N I C A L J U D G M E N T · L E G A L / E T H I C A L CO N C E PTS · CO M M U N I C AT I O N ·
D E L E G AT I O N · S A F E TY
INSTITUTION Penn State University COURSE CODE NURS 251
PROGRAM Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) ACADEMIC YEAR
EXAM TITLE NURS 251 — Exam 1: Foundations of TOTAL QUESTIONS 40 Questions
Professional Nursing
COURSE TITLE Foundations of Professional Nursing · FORMAT Multiple Choice — Select the Single Best
Nursing Process & Clinical Judgment Answer
EXAMINATION INSTRUCTIONS
▸ Questions cover the nursing process, clinical judgment, legal/ethical concepts, therapeutic communication, delegation, and
safety.
▸ Select the single best answer based on NCLEX-PN/RN prioritization frameworks and nursing fundamentals.
▸ Pay careful attention to scope of practice, delegation rules, and therapeutic vs. non-therapeutic communication.
▸ Correct answers and detailed rationales appear below each question for comprehensive exam preparation.
NURSING PROCESS · CLINICAL JUDGMENT · LEGAL/ETHICS · Questions 1
COMMUNICATION · DELEGATION · SAFETY – 40
1. What two components make up nursing?
A. Medication administration and wound care
B. Science (pathophysiology and pharmacology) and Art (caring, empathy, communication)
C. Documentation and time management
D. Leadership and management only
CORRECT ANSWER B. Science (pathophysiology and pharmacology) and Art (caring, empathy, communication)
RATIONALE Nursing is both a science (requiring knowledge of pathophysiology, pharmacology, and evidence-based
practice) and an art (requiring caring, empathy, therapeutic communication, and holistic patient-centered
care). This duality distinguishes nursing from purely technical healthcare roles. The art of nursing transforms
clinical knowledge into healing relationships.
, 2. If a patient's rights are threatened, what is the nurse's first action?
A. Document the situation
B. Advocate for the patient
C. Notify the charge nurse at the end of the shift
D. Wait for the provider to address it
CORRECT ANSWER B. Advocate for the patient
RATIONALE Advocacy is a fundamental nursing role—the nurse protects the patient's rights, safety, and autonomy. When
rights are threatened, the nurse must act immediately to advocate, not wait. The acronym CAELC summarizes
nursing roles: Caregiver, Advocate, Educator, Leader, Collaborator. Advocacy takes precedence when patient
rights are at risk.
3. What is the first step in the nursing process?
A. Planning
B. Diagnosis
C. Assessment
D. Implementation
CORRECT ANSWER C. Assessment
RATIONALE Assessment is ALWAYS the first step of the nursing process (ADPIE: Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning,
Implementation, Evaluation). The nurse collects and analyzes data before identifying problems or planning
interventions. Assessment includes subjective data (what the patient reports—symptoms) and objective data
(observable findings—vital signs, labs, physical exam).
4. Which type of data is subjective in a patient assessment?
A. Vital signs
B. Lab results
C. Data the patient reports, such as "I have pain"
D. Observed redness and swelling
CORRECT ANSWER C. Data the patient reports, such as "I have pain"
RATIONALE Subjective data (symptoms) are what the patient states—pain, nausea, dizziness, fatigue. These cannot be
independently verified or measured. Objective data (signs) are measurable and observable: vital signs, lab
values, physical exam findings. The PQRST method helps systematically assess pain: Provocation, Quality,
Radiation, Severity, Timing.
5. What are the priority assessments in nursing?
A. Pain first, then breathing, then circulation
B. A-Airway, B-Breathing, C-Circulation, D-Do neuro assessment, E-Elimination, Pain (5th vital sign)
C. Elimination, nutrition, mobility, sleep
D. Psychosocial, spiritual, cultural, developmental
CORRECT ANSWER B. A-Airway, B-Breathing, C-Circulation, D-Do neuro assessment, E-Elimination, Pain (5th vital sign)
RATIONALE The ABCDE priority framework ensures life-threatening conditions are addressed first: Airway (patent?),
Breathing (respiratory rate, O2 sat, lung sounds), Circulation (pulse, BP, perfusion), Disability (neuro status—
LOC, pupils), and Exposure/Elimination (GI/GU). Pain is the 5th vital sign. This systematic approach prevents
critical findings from being missed.
1 MAXE 152 SRUN
PSU
Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing · BSN Program
NURSING
MAKING LIFE BETTER
EST. 1855
NURS 251: Exam 1 — Foundations of Professional Nursing
N U R S I N G P R O C E SS · C L I N I C A L J U D G M E N T · L E G A L / E T H I C A L CO N C E PTS · CO M M U N I C AT I O N ·
D E L E G AT I O N · S A F E TY
INSTITUTION Penn State University COURSE CODE NURS 251
PROGRAM Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) ACADEMIC YEAR
EXAM TITLE NURS 251 — Exam 1: Foundations of TOTAL QUESTIONS 40 Questions
Professional Nursing
COURSE TITLE Foundations of Professional Nursing · FORMAT Multiple Choice — Select the Single Best
Nursing Process & Clinical Judgment Answer
EXAMINATION INSTRUCTIONS
▸ Questions cover the nursing process, clinical judgment, legal/ethical concepts, therapeutic communication, delegation, and
safety.
▸ Select the single best answer based on NCLEX-PN/RN prioritization frameworks and nursing fundamentals.
▸ Pay careful attention to scope of practice, delegation rules, and therapeutic vs. non-therapeutic communication.
▸ Correct answers and detailed rationales appear below each question for comprehensive exam preparation.
NURSING PROCESS · CLINICAL JUDGMENT · LEGAL/ETHICS · Questions 1
COMMUNICATION · DELEGATION · SAFETY – 40
1. What two components make up nursing?
A. Medication administration and wound care
B. Science (pathophysiology and pharmacology) and Art (caring, empathy, communication)
C. Documentation and time management
D. Leadership and management only
CORRECT ANSWER B. Science (pathophysiology and pharmacology) and Art (caring, empathy, communication)
RATIONALE Nursing is both a science (requiring knowledge of pathophysiology, pharmacology, and evidence-based
practice) and an art (requiring caring, empathy, therapeutic communication, and holistic patient-centered
care). This duality distinguishes nursing from purely technical healthcare roles. The art of nursing transforms
clinical knowledge into healing relationships.
, 2. If a patient's rights are threatened, what is the nurse's first action?
A. Document the situation
B. Advocate for the patient
C. Notify the charge nurse at the end of the shift
D. Wait for the provider to address it
CORRECT ANSWER B. Advocate for the patient
RATIONALE Advocacy is a fundamental nursing role—the nurse protects the patient's rights, safety, and autonomy. When
rights are threatened, the nurse must act immediately to advocate, not wait. The acronym CAELC summarizes
nursing roles: Caregiver, Advocate, Educator, Leader, Collaborator. Advocacy takes precedence when patient
rights are at risk.
3. What is the first step in the nursing process?
A. Planning
B. Diagnosis
C. Assessment
D. Implementation
CORRECT ANSWER C. Assessment
RATIONALE Assessment is ALWAYS the first step of the nursing process (ADPIE: Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning,
Implementation, Evaluation). The nurse collects and analyzes data before identifying problems or planning
interventions. Assessment includes subjective data (what the patient reports—symptoms) and objective data
(observable findings—vital signs, labs, physical exam).
4. Which type of data is subjective in a patient assessment?
A. Vital signs
B. Lab results
C. Data the patient reports, such as "I have pain"
D. Observed redness and swelling
CORRECT ANSWER C. Data the patient reports, such as "I have pain"
RATIONALE Subjective data (symptoms) are what the patient states—pain, nausea, dizziness, fatigue. These cannot be
independently verified or measured. Objective data (signs) are measurable and observable: vital signs, lab
values, physical exam findings. The PQRST method helps systematically assess pain: Provocation, Quality,
Radiation, Severity, Timing.
5. What are the priority assessments in nursing?
A. Pain first, then breathing, then circulation
B. A-Airway, B-Breathing, C-Circulation, D-Do neuro assessment, E-Elimination, Pain (5th vital sign)
C. Elimination, nutrition, mobility, sleep
D. Psychosocial, spiritual, cultural, developmental
CORRECT ANSWER B. A-Airway, B-Breathing, C-Circulation, D-Do neuro assessment, E-Elimination, Pain (5th vital sign)
RATIONALE The ABCDE priority framework ensures life-threatening conditions are addressed first: Airway (patent?),
Breathing (respiratory rate, O2 sat, lung sounds), Circulation (pulse, BP, perfusion), Disability (neuro status—
LOC, pupils), and Exposure/Elimination (GI/GU). Pain is the 5th vital sign. This systematic approach prevents
critical findings from being missed.
