Miami Dade College
1 MAXE · CDM
★ ★
MDC School of Nursing
EST. 1960
THE COLLEGE OF THE AMERICAN DREAM.
MDC — Examination 1
F U N DA M E N TA LS · V I TA L S I G N S · PA I N · N U T R I T I O N · E L I M I N AT I O N
INSTITUTION Miami Dade College COURSE CODE MDC 1
PROGRAM Associate of Science in Nursing — ACADEMIC YEAR
ADN
EXAM TITLE MDC Examination 1 — COURSE TITLE Fundamentals of Nursing
Fundamentals Review
TOTAL QUESTIONS 70 Questions FORMAT Multiple Choice — Select the
Single Best Answer
EXAMINATION INSTRUCTIONS
▸ Select the single best answer for each multiple-choice question.
▸ Content covers physiological needs, vital signs, pain assessment, nutrition, elimination, and
fluid/electrolytes.
▸ Normal reference ranges are integrated throughout rationales.
▸ Correct answers and clinical rationales appear below each question for board review purposes.
▸ All data reflects current evidence-based nursing practice.
, COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION Questions 1 – 70
1. What type of needs are essential for the maintenance of life?
A. Safety and security needs
B. Love and belonging needs
C. Basic physiological needs
D. Self-esteem needs
CORRECT ANSWER C — Basic physiological needs.
RATIONALE Basic physiological needs form the foundation of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs —
they are essential for the maintenance of life and must be met before higher-level
needs can be addressed. These include: air (oxygen), food, water, temperature
regulation, elimination, rest, sex, physical activity, and blood flow (perfusion).
Without these fundamental needs being met, the human body cannot survive.
Safety and security, love/belonging, and self-esteem are important but are at
higher levels of the hierarchy and become priorities only after physiological needs
are stable.
,2. What do basic physiological needs include? (Select all that apply.)
A. Air, Food, Water, Temperature regulation, Elimination, Rest, Sex, Physical Activity, and
Blood flow (perfusion)
B. Self-esteem, confidence, and achievement
C. Friendship, family, and intimacy
D. Creativity, morality, and problem-solving
CORRECT ANSWER A — Air, Food, Water, Temperature regulation, Elimination, Rest, Sex,
Physical Activity, and Blood flow (perfusion).
RATIONALE Maslow's physiological needs are the most fundamental requirements for
survival. They include: oxygen (air — the highest priority per ABC framework),
nutrition (food), hydration (water), thermoregulation (temperature), waste
elimination, rest/sleep, sexual function (procreation), physical activity, and
adequate perfusion (blood flow to deliver oxygen and nutrients). The nurse must
assess these basic needs and intervene when they are compromised. Blood flow
(perfusion) is particularly critical because it is necessary to meet other basic
needs — without adequate perfusion, tissues cannot receive oxygen or nutrients.
3. Safety and security needs would include what type of necessities?
A. Self-actualization and peak experiences
B. Protection from physical harm, adequate shelter, and freedom from fear and anxiety
C. Oxygen, water, and nutrition
D. Prestige and feelings of accomplishment
CORRECT ANSWER B — Protection from physical harm, adequate shelter, and freedom from
fear and anxiety.
RATIONALE Safety and security needs are the second level of Maslow's hierarchy, addressed
after physiological needs are met. They include: protection from physical harm
(falls prevention, infection control), adequate shelter (safe housing), and freedom
from fear and anxiety (psychological safety). In nursing, safety needs translate to:
fall precautions, medication safety, infection prevention, clear communication,
and creating a therapeutic environment where the client feels secure. The nurse
must assess both physical safety hazards and psychological safety concerns.
, 4. One of the most critical nursing interventions the nurse has is the ability to monitor and
interpret which client data?
A. Dietary preferences
B. Vital signs
C. Recreational activities
D. Clothing choices
CORRECT ANSWER B — Vital signs.
RATIONALE Vital signs — temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure, oxygen saturation,
and pain (the fifth vital sign) — are the most fundamental and critical nursing
assessment data. They provide objective information about the client's
physiological status, help detect changes in condition, evaluate responses to
treatment, and identify life-threatening abnormalities. The nurse must know
normal ranges, accurately measure each parameter, recognize abnormal values,
and intervene appropriately. Trends in vital signs are often more clinically
significant than single measurements. Vital sign monitoring is a core nursing
responsibility and a key component of patient safety.
5. Temperature regulation (thermoregulation) is determined using the client's:
A. Pulse rate
B. Temperature
C. Respiratory rate
D. Blood pressure
CORRECT ANSWER B — Temperature.
RATIONALE Body temperature is the measure of thermoregulation — the balance between
heat production and heat loss. Normal adult temperature range is 96.4–99.5°F
(35.8–37.5°C). Temperature can be measured by multiple routes: temporal (non-
invasive, forehead), oral, tympanic (ear), axillary (armpit), and rectal (most
invasive — most accurate core temperature). The temporal artery thermometer is
the most common non-invasive method. Rectal is the most invasive but provides
the closest approximation to core temperature. The nurse selects the appropriate
route based on client age, condition, and safety considerations.
1 MAXE · CDM
★ ★
MDC School of Nursing
EST. 1960
THE COLLEGE OF THE AMERICAN DREAM.
MDC — Examination 1
F U N DA M E N TA LS · V I TA L S I G N S · PA I N · N U T R I T I O N · E L I M I N AT I O N
INSTITUTION Miami Dade College COURSE CODE MDC 1
PROGRAM Associate of Science in Nursing — ACADEMIC YEAR
ADN
EXAM TITLE MDC Examination 1 — COURSE TITLE Fundamentals of Nursing
Fundamentals Review
TOTAL QUESTIONS 70 Questions FORMAT Multiple Choice — Select the
Single Best Answer
EXAMINATION INSTRUCTIONS
▸ Select the single best answer for each multiple-choice question.
▸ Content covers physiological needs, vital signs, pain assessment, nutrition, elimination, and
fluid/electrolytes.
▸ Normal reference ranges are integrated throughout rationales.
▸ Correct answers and clinical rationales appear below each question for board review purposes.
▸ All data reflects current evidence-based nursing practice.
, COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION Questions 1 – 70
1. What type of needs are essential for the maintenance of life?
A. Safety and security needs
B. Love and belonging needs
C. Basic physiological needs
D. Self-esteem needs
CORRECT ANSWER C — Basic physiological needs.
RATIONALE Basic physiological needs form the foundation of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs —
they are essential for the maintenance of life and must be met before higher-level
needs can be addressed. These include: air (oxygen), food, water, temperature
regulation, elimination, rest, sex, physical activity, and blood flow (perfusion).
Without these fundamental needs being met, the human body cannot survive.
Safety and security, love/belonging, and self-esteem are important but are at
higher levels of the hierarchy and become priorities only after physiological needs
are stable.
,2. What do basic physiological needs include? (Select all that apply.)
A. Air, Food, Water, Temperature regulation, Elimination, Rest, Sex, Physical Activity, and
Blood flow (perfusion)
B. Self-esteem, confidence, and achievement
C. Friendship, family, and intimacy
D. Creativity, morality, and problem-solving
CORRECT ANSWER A — Air, Food, Water, Temperature regulation, Elimination, Rest, Sex,
Physical Activity, and Blood flow (perfusion).
RATIONALE Maslow's physiological needs are the most fundamental requirements for
survival. They include: oxygen (air — the highest priority per ABC framework),
nutrition (food), hydration (water), thermoregulation (temperature), waste
elimination, rest/sleep, sexual function (procreation), physical activity, and
adequate perfusion (blood flow to deliver oxygen and nutrients). The nurse must
assess these basic needs and intervene when they are compromised. Blood flow
(perfusion) is particularly critical because it is necessary to meet other basic
needs — without adequate perfusion, tissues cannot receive oxygen or nutrients.
3. Safety and security needs would include what type of necessities?
A. Self-actualization and peak experiences
B. Protection from physical harm, adequate shelter, and freedom from fear and anxiety
C. Oxygen, water, and nutrition
D. Prestige and feelings of accomplishment
CORRECT ANSWER B — Protection from physical harm, adequate shelter, and freedom from
fear and anxiety.
RATIONALE Safety and security needs are the second level of Maslow's hierarchy, addressed
after physiological needs are met. They include: protection from physical harm
(falls prevention, infection control), adequate shelter (safe housing), and freedom
from fear and anxiety (psychological safety). In nursing, safety needs translate to:
fall precautions, medication safety, infection prevention, clear communication,
and creating a therapeutic environment where the client feels secure. The nurse
must assess both physical safety hazards and psychological safety concerns.
, 4. One of the most critical nursing interventions the nurse has is the ability to monitor and
interpret which client data?
A. Dietary preferences
B. Vital signs
C. Recreational activities
D. Clothing choices
CORRECT ANSWER B — Vital signs.
RATIONALE Vital signs — temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure, oxygen saturation,
and pain (the fifth vital sign) — are the most fundamental and critical nursing
assessment data. They provide objective information about the client's
physiological status, help detect changes in condition, evaluate responses to
treatment, and identify life-threatening abnormalities. The nurse must know
normal ranges, accurately measure each parameter, recognize abnormal values,
and intervene appropriately. Trends in vital signs are often more clinically
significant than single measurements. Vital sign monitoring is a core nursing
responsibility and a key component of patient safety.
5. Temperature regulation (thermoregulation) is determined using the client's:
A. Pulse rate
B. Temperature
C. Respiratory rate
D. Blood pressure
CORRECT ANSWER B — Temperature.
RATIONALE Body temperature is the measure of thermoregulation — the balance between
heat production and heat loss. Normal adult temperature range is 96.4–99.5°F
(35.8–37.5°C). Temperature can be measured by multiple routes: temporal (non-
invasive, forehead), oral, tympanic (ear), axillary (armpit), and rectal (most
invasive — most accurate core temperature). The temporal artery thermometer is
the most common non-invasive method. Rectal is the most invasive but provides
the closest approximation to core temperature. The nurse selects the appropriate
route based on client age, condition, and safety considerations.
