NUR 212 Exam 1 Practice Questions | Nursing Fundamentals,
QSEN & Professional Nursing (2026/2027)
1. A nurse is reviewing the American Nurses Association (ANA)
Standards of Professional Performance. Which action by the nurse
best demonstrates the standard of professional ethics?
• A. Documenting client care at the end of the shift from memory
• B. Safeguarding a client’s confidential health information in all
interactions
• C. Delegating complex client assessments to unlicensed assistive
personnel
• D. Refusing to participate in hospital quality improvement
committees
• Correct Answer: B
• Rationale: Safeguarding confidentiality and client privacy is a core
ethical and professional standard in nursing. Documenting from
memory late, delegating outside of scope, and refusing committee
work violate professional standards and accountability.
2. A client scheduled for a major surgical procedure expresses fear and
states they do not fully understand the risks. The nurse notifies the
surgeon. Which ethical principle is the nurse primarily upholding?
• A. Beneficence
• B. Autonomy
• C. Justice
, • D. Fidelity
• Correct Answer: B
• Rationale: Autonomy refers to the client’s right to make self-
determined decisions based on full understanding and voluntary
consent. Ensuring the client is fully informed before surgery
supports their autonomy.
3. What is the primary role of the nurse when obtaining a client's
signature on an informed consent form for an invasive procedure?
• A. Explain the specific surgical risks and alternative treatments to
the client.
• B. Verify that the client is competent, understands the procedure,
and is signing voluntarily, then act as a witness.
• C. Decide whether the surgical procedure is medically necessary
for the client.
• D. Provide a detailed medical diagnosis to the client's family.
• Correct Answer: B
• Rationale: The healthcare provider performing the procedure is
legally responsible for explaining risks, benefits, and alternatives.
The nurse’s role is to verify comprehension, ensure voluntary
consent, witness the signature, and advocate if the client lacks
clarity.
4. Which legal element must be proven for a nurse to be found liable
in a malpractice (professional negligence) lawsuit?
• A. Duty, breach of duty, causation, and damages
, • B. Intent to harm, assault, battery, and false imprisonment
• C. Failure to document, loss of license, and criminal record
• D. Professional membership lapse and client dissatisfaction
• Correct Answer: A
• Rationale: Malpractice is an unintentional tort requiring four
elements: a professional duty owed to the client, a breach of that
duty, direct causation between the breach and the injury, and
actual damages/injury sustained by the client.
5. A nurse administers a medication despite the client stating, "That
pill looks different than my usual one," without checking the order.
The client suffers an adverse drug reaction. This action constitutes
which type of tort?
• A. Intentional tort of battery
• B. Unintentional tort of negligence / malpractice
• C. Quasi-intentional tort of defamation
• D. Criminal breach of contract
• Correct Answer: B
• Rationale: Administering medication without verifying client
concerns or orders when a duty of care exists represents a breach
of the standard of care resulting in harm, which is unintentional
negligence/malpractice.
6. A nurse threatens to apply physical restraints to an uncooperative
older adult client if they attempt to get out of bed unassisted. Which
intentional tort has the nurse committed?
, • A. Battery
• B. Assault
• C. Invasion of privacy
• D. False imprisonment
• Correct Answer: B
• Rationale: Assault is an intentional threat or attempt to inflict
bodily harm or offensive contact that creates a reasonable
apprehension of imminent harm in the client. Battery is the actual
physical contact.
7. A nurse physically restrains a oriented client to a bed without a
medical order or clinical necessity to prevent them from walking
around the unit. What tort does this represent?
• A. Assault
• B. Battery and False Imprisonment
• C. Defamation of character
• D. Negligence
• Correct Answer: B
• Rationale: Restraining a competent client without a valid order or
clinical justification constitutes false imprisonment (unlawful
restraint) and battery (unauthorized physical contact).
8. Which ethical principle obligates a nurse to do good and act in the
best interest of the client?
• A. Nonmaleficence
QSEN & Professional Nursing (2026/2027)
1. A nurse is reviewing the American Nurses Association (ANA)
Standards of Professional Performance. Which action by the nurse
best demonstrates the standard of professional ethics?
• A. Documenting client care at the end of the shift from memory
• B. Safeguarding a client’s confidential health information in all
interactions
• C. Delegating complex client assessments to unlicensed assistive
personnel
• D. Refusing to participate in hospital quality improvement
committees
• Correct Answer: B
• Rationale: Safeguarding confidentiality and client privacy is a core
ethical and professional standard in nursing. Documenting from
memory late, delegating outside of scope, and refusing committee
work violate professional standards and accountability.
2. A client scheduled for a major surgical procedure expresses fear and
states they do not fully understand the risks. The nurse notifies the
surgeon. Which ethical principle is the nurse primarily upholding?
• A. Beneficence
• B. Autonomy
• C. Justice
, • D. Fidelity
• Correct Answer: B
• Rationale: Autonomy refers to the client’s right to make self-
determined decisions based on full understanding and voluntary
consent. Ensuring the client is fully informed before surgery
supports their autonomy.
3. What is the primary role of the nurse when obtaining a client's
signature on an informed consent form for an invasive procedure?
• A. Explain the specific surgical risks and alternative treatments to
the client.
• B. Verify that the client is competent, understands the procedure,
and is signing voluntarily, then act as a witness.
• C. Decide whether the surgical procedure is medically necessary
for the client.
• D. Provide a detailed medical diagnosis to the client's family.
• Correct Answer: B
• Rationale: The healthcare provider performing the procedure is
legally responsible for explaining risks, benefits, and alternatives.
The nurse’s role is to verify comprehension, ensure voluntary
consent, witness the signature, and advocate if the client lacks
clarity.
4. Which legal element must be proven for a nurse to be found liable
in a malpractice (professional negligence) lawsuit?
• A. Duty, breach of duty, causation, and damages
, • B. Intent to harm, assault, battery, and false imprisonment
• C. Failure to document, loss of license, and criminal record
• D. Professional membership lapse and client dissatisfaction
• Correct Answer: A
• Rationale: Malpractice is an unintentional tort requiring four
elements: a professional duty owed to the client, a breach of that
duty, direct causation between the breach and the injury, and
actual damages/injury sustained by the client.
5. A nurse administers a medication despite the client stating, "That
pill looks different than my usual one," without checking the order.
The client suffers an adverse drug reaction. This action constitutes
which type of tort?
• A. Intentional tort of battery
• B. Unintentional tort of negligence / malpractice
• C. Quasi-intentional tort of defamation
• D. Criminal breach of contract
• Correct Answer: B
• Rationale: Administering medication without verifying client
concerns or orders when a duty of care exists represents a breach
of the standard of care resulting in harm, which is unintentional
negligence/malpractice.
6. A nurse threatens to apply physical restraints to an uncooperative
older adult client if they attempt to get out of bed unassisted. Which
intentional tort has the nurse committed?
, • A. Battery
• B. Assault
• C. Invasion of privacy
• D. False imprisonment
• Correct Answer: B
• Rationale: Assault is an intentional threat or attempt to inflict
bodily harm or offensive contact that creates a reasonable
apprehension of imminent harm in the client. Battery is the actual
physical contact.
7. A nurse physically restrains a oriented client to a bed without a
medical order or clinical necessity to prevent them from walking
around the unit. What tort does this represent?
• A. Assault
• B. Battery and False Imprisonment
• C. Defamation of character
• D. Negligence
• Correct Answer: B
• Rationale: Restraining a competent client without a valid order or
clinical justification constitutes false imprisonment (unlawful
restraint) and battery (unauthorized physical contact).
8. Which ethical principle obligates a nurse to do good and act in the
best interest of the client?
• A. Nonmaleficence
