NSG 3100 Exam 1 Fundamental Concepts & Skills | Latest
Update 2026/2027 | 200 Questions and Verified Answers |
Galen College Complete Q&A Guide | A+ Graded
SECTION 1: NURSING PROCESS AND CRITICAL THINKING (Questions 130)
1. A nurse is admitting a patient to the medicalsurgical unit. Which action represents the assessment
phase of the nursing process?
A) The nurse administers pain medication as ordered
B) The nurse obtains the patient's blood pressure, heart rate, and respiratory rate
C) The nurse develops a plan of care for the patient
D) The nurse evaluates the effectiveness of the pain medication
Answer: B) The nurse obtains the patient's blood pressure, heart rate, and respiratory rate
Explanation: The assessment phase of the nursing process involves collecting subjective and objective
data about the patient. Vital signs are objective data collected during assessment.
2. A nurse is formulating a nursing diagnosis. Which statement correctly describes an actual nursing
diagnosis?
A) "Risk for falls related to unsteady gait"
B) "Impaired skin integrity related to immobility as evidenced by stage 2 pressure injury on the sacrum"
C) "Readiness for enhanced coping"
D) "Risk for infection related to surgical incision"
Answer: B) "Impaired skin integrity related to immobility as evidenced by stage 2 pressure injury on the
sacrum"
,Explanation: An actual nursing diagnosis describes a problem that currently exists, supported by defining
characteristics (evidence). It includes the problem, etiology (related to), and signs/symptoms (as
evidenced by).
3. A nurse is writing goals for a patient's plan of care. Which goal is written correctly using SMART
criteria?
A) "Patient will ambulate in the hallway"
B) "Patient will be more mobile by discharge"
C) "Patient will ambulate 50 feet with a walker by the end of the shift"
D) "Patient will walk when feeling better"
Answer: C) "Patient will ambulate 50 feet with a walker by the end of the shift"
Explanation: SMART goals are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timebound. Option C
includes a specific activity (ambulate 50 feet with walker), measurable criteria, and a time frame (by the
end of the shift).
4. A nurse is caring for a patient with diabetes. The patient's blood glucose is 250 mg/dL. The nurse
administers insulin as ordered. This action represents which phase of the nursing process?
A) Assessment
B) Diagnosis
C) Planning
D) Implementation
Answer: D) Implementation
,Explanation: Implementation is the phase of the nursing process where the nurse carries out the
planned interventions. Administering insulin is an intervention based on the care plan.
5. Which nursing diagnosis is written correctly as a potential (risk) diagnosis?
A) "Risk for falls related to weakness"
B) "Ineffective airway clearance related to increased secretions"
C) "Acute pain related to surgical incision"
D) "Impaired physical mobility related to stroke"
Answer: A) "Risk for falls related to weakness"
Explanation: A risk nursing diagnosis describes a problem that does not yet exist but for which the
patient is at increased risk. It is written as "Risk for [problem] related to [risk factors]."
6. A nurse evaluates a patient's response to pain medication 30 minutes after administration. This action
represents which phase of the nursing process?
A) Assessment
B) Planning
C) Implementation
D) Evaluation
Answer: D) Evaluation
Explanation: Evaluation is the phase where the nurse determines whether the patient's goals have been
met and whether interventions were effective.
, 7. A nurse identifies that a patient is at risk for skin breakdown due to immobility. Which type of nursing
diagnosis is this?
A) Actual nursing diagnosis
B) Risk nursing diagnosis
C) Health promotion nursing diagnosis
D) Syndrome nursing diagnosis
Answer: B) Risk nursing diagnosis
Explanation: A risk nursing diagnosis describes a vulnerability to develop a problem; the patient does not
currently have the problem. "Risk for impaired skin integrity" is a risk diagnosis.
8. A nurse is using critical thinking to prioritize patient care. Which action demonstrates critical thinking?
A) Following routine without questioning
B) Considering multiple solutions before acting
C) Implementing the first intervention that comes to mind
D) Relying solely on intuition
Answer: B) Considering multiple solutions before acting
Explanation: Critical thinking involves analyzing information, considering alternatives, and making
informed decisions based on evidence and reasoning.
9. Which statement is an example of a correctly written nursing diagnosis?
Update 2026/2027 | 200 Questions and Verified Answers |
Galen College Complete Q&A Guide | A+ Graded
SECTION 1: NURSING PROCESS AND CRITICAL THINKING (Questions 130)
1. A nurse is admitting a patient to the medicalsurgical unit. Which action represents the assessment
phase of the nursing process?
A) The nurse administers pain medication as ordered
B) The nurse obtains the patient's blood pressure, heart rate, and respiratory rate
C) The nurse develops a plan of care for the patient
D) The nurse evaluates the effectiveness of the pain medication
Answer: B) The nurse obtains the patient's blood pressure, heart rate, and respiratory rate
Explanation: The assessment phase of the nursing process involves collecting subjective and objective
data about the patient. Vital signs are objective data collected during assessment.
2. A nurse is formulating a nursing diagnosis. Which statement correctly describes an actual nursing
diagnosis?
A) "Risk for falls related to unsteady gait"
B) "Impaired skin integrity related to immobility as evidenced by stage 2 pressure injury on the sacrum"
C) "Readiness for enhanced coping"
D) "Risk for infection related to surgical incision"
Answer: B) "Impaired skin integrity related to immobility as evidenced by stage 2 pressure injury on the
sacrum"
,Explanation: An actual nursing diagnosis describes a problem that currently exists, supported by defining
characteristics (evidence). It includes the problem, etiology (related to), and signs/symptoms (as
evidenced by).
3. A nurse is writing goals for a patient's plan of care. Which goal is written correctly using SMART
criteria?
A) "Patient will ambulate in the hallway"
B) "Patient will be more mobile by discharge"
C) "Patient will ambulate 50 feet with a walker by the end of the shift"
D) "Patient will walk when feeling better"
Answer: C) "Patient will ambulate 50 feet with a walker by the end of the shift"
Explanation: SMART goals are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timebound. Option C
includes a specific activity (ambulate 50 feet with walker), measurable criteria, and a time frame (by the
end of the shift).
4. A nurse is caring for a patient with diabetes. The patient's blood glucose is 250 mg/dL. The nurse
administers insulin as ordered. This action represents which phase of the nursing process?
A) Assessment
B) Diagnosis
C) Planning
D) Implementation
Answer: D) Implementation
,Explanation: Implementation is the phase of the nursing process where the nurse carries out the
planned interventions. Administering insulin is an intervention based on the care plan.
5. Which nursing diagnosis is written correctly as a potential (risk) diagnosis?
A) "Risk for falls related to weakness"
B) "Ineffective airway clearance related to increased secretions"
C) "Acute pain related to surgical incision"
D) "Impaired physical mobility related to stroke"
Answer: A) "Risk for falls related to weakness"
Explanation: A risk nursing diagnosis describes a problem that does not yet exist but for which the
patient is at increased risk. It is written as "Risk for [problem] related to [risk factors]."
6. A nurse evaluates a patient's response to pain medication 30 minutes after administration. This action
represents which phase of the nursing process?
A) Assessment
B) Planning
C) Implementation
D) Evaluation
Answer: D) Evaluation
Explanation: Evaluation is the phase where the nurse determines whether the patient's goals have been
met and whether interventions were effective.
, 7. A nurse identifies that a patient is at risk for skin breakdown due to immobility. Which type of nursing
diagnosis is this?
A) Actual nursing diagnosis
B) Risk nursing diagnosis
C) Health promotion nursing diagnosis
D) Syndrome nursing diagnosis
Answer: B) Risk nursing diagnosis
Explanation: A risk nursing diagnosis describes a vulnerability to develop a problem; the patient does not
currently have the problem. "Risk for impaired skin integrity" is a risk diagnosis.
8. A nurse is using critical thinking to prioritize patient care. Which action demonstrates critical thinking?
A) Following routine without questioning
B) Considering multiple solutions before acting
C) Implementing the first intervention that comes to mind
D) Relying solely on intuition
Answer: B) Considering multiple solutions before acting
Explanation: Critical thinking involves analyzing information, considering alternatives, and making
informed decisions based on evidence and reasoning.
9. Which statement is an example of a correctly written nursing diagnosis?
