Nursing Fundamentals Midterm Examination
Comprehensive 150-Question Multiple-Choice
Test
Title: Nursing Fundamentals Midterm: Foundations of Professional Practice, Nursing Process, Safety,
Infection Control, Vital Signs, Medication Administration, Communication, Ethics, and Basic Nursing
Skills — A Comprehensive 150-Question Assessment for First-Year Nursing Students
Table of Contents
Section Topic Question Range
I Nursing Foundations, Theories & Historical Perspectives 1–20
II Nursing Process & Critical Thinking 21–40
III Communication & Therapeutic Relationships 41–55
IV Patient Safety, Infection Control & Asepsis 56–80
V Vital Signs & Physical Assessment 81–100
VI Medication Administration 101–120
VII Ethical & Legal Principles in Nursing 121–135
VIII Basic Nursing Skills, Comfort & Documentation 136–150
SECTION I: NURSING FOUNDATIONS, THEORIES & HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES
🟢 1. Who is considered the founder of modern nursing and established the first nursing philosophy
based on environmental factors?
A) Dorothea Orem
B) Virginia Henderson
,C) Florence Nightingale
D) Jean Watson
🔴🔴 Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Florence Nightingale is universally recognized as the founder of modern nursing. She
established the first nursing philosophy centered on the manipulation of the environment to promote
health and healing. Her work during the Crimean War and her subsequent writings laid the foundation
for professional nursing practice.
🟢 2. A nurse is caring for a client who states, "I am not ready to die." Which nursing theorist focused on
the 14 basic needs, including the need for life and health?
A) Florence Nightingale
B) Virginia Henderson
C) Dorothea Orem
D) Jean Watson
🔴🔴 Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Virginia Henderson's theory focuses on the 14 basic needs that all humans need to survive
and thrive, ranging from breathing normally to worshiping according to one's faith. Nightingale focused
on environment; Orem focused on self-care deficits; Watson focused on caring transpersonal
relationships.
🟢 3. According to Dorothea Orem's Self-Care Deficit Theory, nursing is required when:
A) The client is experiencing anxiety
B) The client cannot meet their self-care needs independently
C) The client requests nursing assistance
D) The family requests nursing intervention
🔴🔴 Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Orem's theory posits that nursing is needed when an individual is unable to perform self-care
activities independently. The nurse's role is to help the client meet those needs until they can resume
self-care. This may involve acting for, guiding, supporting, or teaching the client.
🟢 4. The primary goal of nursing as defined by the American Nurses Association (ANA) includes:
A) Diagnosing all diseases
B) Prescribing medications independently
C) Promoting health, preventing illness, and providing care
D) Performing surgical procedures
🔴🔴 Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Nursing focuses on health promotion, illness prevention, restoration of health, alleviation of
,suffering, and patient advocacy. Nurses do not diagnose diseases or prescribe medications
independently, nor do they perform surgery.
🟢 5. A client-centered nursing theory:
A) Focuses on the needs and problems of clients
B) Focuses on interaction between the nurse and client
C) Focuses on the interaction between nurse and client in an environment
D) Serves as a means to test working hypotheses
🔴🔴 Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A client-centered theory places the client's needs and problems at the center of nursing care.
It emphasizes the uniqueness of each client and the importance of tailoring care to meet individual
needs.
🟢 6. According to Betty Neuman's theory, a person is defined as:
A) An organism striving to reduce tension generated by needs
B) A unity functioning biologically, symbolically, and socially
C) A system composed of physiologic, socio-cultural, and environmental variables
D) An individual with vital reparative processes to deal with disease
🔴🔴 Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Betty Neuman's Systems Model defines a person as a system composed of physiologic, socio-
cultural, and environmental variables that interact with each other. The person is viewed holistically as a
system that responds to stressors in the internal and external environment.
🟢 7. Which action best demonstrates patient-centered care?
A) Making decisions without consulting the patient
B) Following the same care plan for every patient
C) Incorporating the patient's preferences into care decisions
D) Allowing only the physician to communicate with the patient
🔴🔴 Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Patient-centered care respects the patient's preferences, values, needs, and choices. It
involves the patient in decision-making processes and tailors care to the individual rather than applying
a one-size-fits-all approach.
🟢 8. Which statement best describes evidence-based practice (EBP)?
A) Using only personal experience
B) Following tradition regardless of evidence
, C) Combining research evidence, clinical expertise, and patient preferences
D) Using information found on social media
🔴🔴 Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Evidence-based practice integrates the best available research evidence with clinical
expertise and patient values and circumstances. This triad ensures that nursing care is both scientifically
grounded and individualized to the patient's unique situation.
🟢 9. The principle applied when conducting a physical examination includes:
A) Stand on the left side of the patient
B) Perform the assessment in a toe-to-head approach
C) Proceed from the most invasive to the least invasive procedures
D) Always perform the physical assessment using a systematic approach
🔴🔴 Correct Answer: D
Rationale: A systematic approach ensures that the physical assessment is thorough and consistent,
preventing omissions. The standard approach is head-to-toe and typically proceeds from least invasive
to most invasive to minimize patient discomfort.
🟢 10. Which nursing activity is an example of health promotion?
A) Treating a myocardial infarction
B) Teaching adolescents about healthy nutrition
C) Administering antibiotics for pneumonia
D) Changing a surgical dressing
🔴🔴 Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Health promotion involves activities that help people improve or maintain wellness before
illness occurs. Teaching adolescents about healthy nutrition is a preventive measure that promotes long-
term health. The other options involve treating existing conditions or providing acute care.
🟢 11. The role of the nurse as an advocate involves:
A) Making decisions for the patient
B) Protecting the patient's rights and speaking on their behalf
C) Performing tasks delegated by the physician
D) Maintaining the status quo of the healthcare system
🔴🔴 Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Patient advocacy is a fundamental nursing role that involves protecting the patient's rights,
ensuring informed consent, and speaking on the patient's behalf when they cannot do so themselves. It
empowers patients to make informed decisions about their care.
Comprehensive 150-Question Multiple-Choice
Test
Title: Nursing Fundamentals Midterm: Foundations of Professional Practice, Nursing Process, Safety,
Infection Control, Vital Signs, Medication Administration, Communication, Ethics, and Basic Nursing
Skills — A Comprehensive 150-Question Assessment for First-Year Nursing Students
Table of Contents
Section Topic Question Range
I Nursing Foundations, Theories & Historical Perspectives 1–20
II Nursing Process & Critical Thinking 21–40
III Communication & Therapeutic Relationships 41–55
IV Patient Safety, Infection Control & Asepsis 56–80
V Vital Signs & Physical Assessment 81–100
VI Medication Administration 101–120
VII Ethical & Legal Principles in Nursing 121–135
VIII Basic Nursing Skills, Comfort & Documentation 136–150
SECTION I: NURSING FOUNDATIONS, THEORIES & HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES
🟢 1. Who is considered the founder of modern nursing and established the first nursing philosophy
based on environmental factors?
A) Dorothea Orem
B) Virginia Henderson
,C) Florence Nightingale
D) Jean Watson
🔴🔴 Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Florence Nightingale is universally recognized as the founder of modern nursing. She
established the first nursing philosophy centered on the manipulation of the environment to promote
health and healing. Her work during the Crimean War and her subsequent writings laid the foundation
for professional nursing practice.
🟢 2. A nurse is caring for a client who states, "I am not ready to die." Which nursing theorist focused on
the 14 basic needs, including the need for life and health?
A) Florence Nightingale
B) Virginia Henderson
C) Dorothea Orem
D) Jean Watson
🔴🔴 Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Virginia Henderson's theory focuses on the 14 basic needs that all humans need to survive
and thrive, ranging from breathing normally to worshiping according to one's faith. Nightingale focused
on environment; Orem focused on self-care deficits; Watson focused on caring transpersonal
relationships.
🟢 3. According to Dorothea Orem's Self-Care Deficit Theory, nursing is required when:
A) The client is experiencing anxiety
B) The client cannot meet their self-care needs independently
C) The client requests nursing assistance
D) The family requests nursing intervention
🔴🔴 Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Orem's theory posits that nursing is needed when an individual is unable to perform self-care
activities independently. The nurse's role is to help the client meet those needs until they can resume
self-care. This may involve acting for, guiding, supporting, or teaching the client.
🟢 4. The primary goal of nursing as defined by the American Nurses Association (ANA) includes:
A) Diagnosing all diseases
B) Prescribing medications independently
C) Promoting health, preventing illness, and providing care
D) Performing surgical procedures
🔴🔴 Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Nursing focuses on health promotion, illness prevention, restoration of health, alleviation of
,suffering, and patient advocacy. Nurses do not diagnose diseases or prescribe medications
independently, nor do they perform surgery.
🟢 5. A client-centered nursing theory:
A) Focuses on the needs and problems of clients
B) Focuses on interaction between the nurse and client
C) Focuses on the interaction between nurse and client in an environment
D) Serves as a means to test working hypotheses
🔴🔴 Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A client-centered theory places the client's needs and problems at the center of nursing care.
It emphasizes the uniqueness of each client and the importance of tailoring care to meet individual
needs.
🟢 6. According to Betty Neuman's theory, a person is defined as:
A) An organism striving to reduce tension generated by needs
B) A unity functioning biologically, symbolically, and socially
C) A system composed of physiologic, socio-cultural, and environmental variables
D) An individual with vital reparative processes to deal with disease
🔴🔴 Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Betty Neuman's Systems Model defines a person as a system composed of physiologic, socio-
cultural, and environmental variables that interact with each other. The person is viewed holistically as a
system that responds to stressors in the internal and external environment.
🟢 7. Which action best demonstrates patient-centered care?
A) Making decisions without consulting the patient
B) Following the same care plan for every patient
C) Incorporating the patient's preferences into care decisions
D) Allowing only the physician to communicate with the patient
🔴🔴 Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Patient-centered care respects the patient's preferences, values, needs, and choices. It
involves the patient in decision-making processes and tailors care to the individual rather than applying
a one-size-fits-all approach.
🟢 8. Which statement best describes evidence-based practice (EBP)?
A) Using only personal experience
B) Following tradition regardless of evidence
, C) Combining research evidence, clinical expertise, and patient preferences
D) Using information found on social media
🔴🔴 Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Evidence-based practice integrates the best available research evidence with clinical
expertise and patient values and circumstances. This triad ensures that nursing care is both scientifically
grounded and individualized to the patient's unique situation.
🟢 9. The principle applied when conducting a physical examination includes:
A) Stand on the left side of the patient
B) Perform the assessment in a toe-to-head approach
C) Proceed from the most invasive to the least invasive procedures
D) Always perform the physical assessment using a systematic approach
🔴🔴 Correct Answer: D
Rationale: A systematic approach ensures that the physical assessment is thorough and consistent,
preventing omissions. The standard approach is head-to-toe and typically proceeds from least invasive
to most invasive to minimize patient discomfort.
🟢 10. Which nursing activity is an example of health promotion?
A) Treating a myocardial infarction
B) Teaching adolescents about healthy nutrition
C) Administering antibiotics for pneumonia
D) Changing a surgical dressing
🔴🔴 Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Health promotion involves activities that help people improve or maintain wellness before
illness occurs. Teaching adolescents about healthy nutrition is a preventive measure that promotes long-
term health. The other options involve treating existing conditions or providing acute care.
🟢 11. The role of the nurse as an advocate involves:
A) Making decisions for the patient
B) Protecting the patient's rights and speaking on their behalf
C) Performing tasks delegated by the physician
D) Maintaining the status quo of the healthcare system
🔴🔴 Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Patient advocacy is a fundamental nursing role that involves protecting the patient's rights,
ensuring informed consent, and speaking on the patient's behalf when they cannot do so themselves. It
empowers patients to make informed decisions about their care.
