,OpenStax Fundamentals of Nursing
Student Answer Guide
Chapter 1: Introduction to the Nursing Profession: Evolution, Theories, and Practice ................. 3
Chapter 2: Communication ........................................................................................................... 10
Chapter 3: Healthcare Delivery Systems ...................................................................................... 13
Chapter 4: Health, Wellness, and Community-Based Health Care............................................... 17
Chapter 5: Cultural Competence .................................................................................................. 21
Chapter 6: Promoting Individualized Care .................................................................................... 26
Chapter 7: Vital Signs .................................................................................................................... 29
Chapter 8: Admission, Transfer, and Discharge............................................................................ 33
Chapter 9: Safety and Security...................................................................................................... 37
Chapter 10: Infection Control and Prevention ............................................................................. 40
Chapter 11: Medication Administration ....................................................................................... 44
Chapter 12: Assessment: Recognizing Cues ................................................................................. 49
Chapter 13: Diagnosis and Planning: Analyzing, Prioritizing, and Generating Solutions ............. 57
Chapter 14: Implementation and Evaluation: Taking Action, Evaluating Outcomes, and
Documentation ............................................................................................................................. 63
Chapter 15: Evidence-Based Research, Quality Improvement, and Collaborative Practice ........ 72
Chapter 16: Legal and Ethical Considerations .............................................................................. 77
Chapter 17: Patient and Family Education ................................................................................... 81
Chapter 18: Leadership and Management in Nursing .................................................................. 85
Chapter 19: Oxygenation and Perfusion ....................................................................................... 92
Chapter 20: Fluid, Electrolyte, and Acid-Base Balance ................................................................. 95
Chapter 21: Nutrition .................................................................................................................... 98
Chapter 22: Activity .................................................................................................................... 101
Chapter 23: Neuromuscular Function ........................................................................................ 106
Chapter 24: Skin Integrity ........................................................................................................... 110
Chapter 25: Hygiene ................................................................................................................... 114
Chapter 26: Urinary Elimination ................................................................................................. 117
Chapter 27: Bowel Elimination ................................................................................................... 122
2
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10/29/2025
,OpenStax Fundamentals of Nursing Student Answer Guide
Chapter 28: Sleep and Rest ......................................................................................................... 129
Chapter 29: Sensory Alterations ................................................................................................. 133
Chapter 30: Pain Assessment ..................................................................................................... 138
Chapter 31: Perioperative Nursing Care ..................................................................................... 142
Chapter 32: Self-Concept ............................................................................................................ 148
Chapter 33: Sexuality .................................................................................................................. 152
Chapter 34: Stress, Adaptation, and Homeostasis ..................................................................... 155
Chapter 35: Spirituality ............................................................................................................... 159
Chapter 36: Grief, Loss, Death, and Dying .................................................................................. 162
Chapter 37: Family Dynamics ..................................................................................................... 167
Chapter 38: Growth and Development ...................................................................................... 171
Chapter 39: Conception Through Adolescence .......................................................................... 175
Chapter 40: Young and Middle-Aged Adults .............................................................................. 178
Chapter 41: Older Adults ............................................................................................................ 182
Chapter 42: Caring for Patients with Disability and Chronic Illness ........................................... 187
Chapter 43: Clinical Judgment and Critical Thinking .................................................................. 190
Chapter 1: Introduction to the Nursing Profession: Evolution, Theories,
and Practice
Review Questions
1. During the Middle Ages, who primarily undertook nursing duties, and where did they
provide care?
a. family members in their homes
b. monks and nuns in monasteries and convents
c. herbalists in communities
d. military personnel in wartime hospitals
[Answer: B]
3. What milestone marked Florence Nightingale’s influence on the formalization and
professionalization of nursing education?
a. establishment of the ANA
b. creation of the first nursing school
c. introduction of evidence-based practice
d. development of specialized nursing fields
[Answer: B]
5. What nursing program is designed to prepare individuals for entry-level positions in health
care and requires graduates to pass the NCLEX-PN for licensure?
a. Associate degree in nursing (ADN)
3
, b. Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN)
c. Master of Science in nursing (MSN)
d. Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)/Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN)
[Answer: D]
7. What fsis fsthe fsprimary fsgoal fsof fsthe fsDoctor fsof fsNursing fspractice fs(DNP) fsprogram?
a. preparation fsfor fsleadership fsroles fsin fsacademia
b. research-focused fsdoctoral fseducation
c. emphasis fson fsadvanced fsclinical fspractice, fsleadership, fsand fsevidence-based
fsdecision-making
d. integration fsof fstheory, fsresearch, fsand fspublic fshealth fsin fsnursing fspractice fs
[Answer: fsC]
9. Which fsglobal fsorganization fssignificantly fsinfluences fsthe fsdevelopment fsof fsthe fsnursing
fsprofession fson fsa fsglobal fsscale fsand fsoffers fsguidance fsregarding fsthe fsscope fsof fspractice
fsfor fsnurses fsaround fsthe fsworld?
a. state fsBONs
b. QSEN
c. ICN
d. ANA fs
[Answer: fsC]
11. The fsnurse fsis fsprecepting fsa fsnursing fsstudent fsduring fsa fsclinical fsrotation. fsWhat
fsstatement fsmade fsby fsthe fsstudent fswould fswarrant fsfurther fseducation?
a. “Nursing fsstandards fsserve fsas fsa fsframework fsfor fsproviding fssafe, fsquality fscare.”
b. “Nursing fsstandards fsalign fswith fsthe fsoverarching fsprinciples fsof fsthe fsnursing
fsprofession.”
c. “Nursing fsstandards fsarticulate fsthe fsexpectations fsand fsethical fsconduct fsrequired fsof
fsnurses.”
d. “Nursing fsstandards fsmay fsbe fsincorporated fsinto fspractice fsif fsthe fsnurse fschooses fsto
fsdo fsso.”
[Answer: fsD]
13. What fsis fsthe fsprimary fspurpose fsof fsnursing fstheories? fs fs
a. to fsdictate fsmedical fsinterventions
b. to fsprovide fsa fsframework fsfor fsnursing fspractice
c. to fsestablish fshealthcare fspolicies
d. to fsreplace fsmedical fsguidelines fs
[Answer: fsB]
15. In fsthe fslate fstwentieth fscentury, fswhat fsshift fsoccurred fsin fsthe fsdevelopment fsof fsnursing
fstheories? fs fs
a. a fsdecline fsin fsthe fsemphasis fson fsevidence-based fspractice
b. a fsmove fstoward fstask-oriented fsapproaches
c. a fsdecrease fsin fsthe fsimportance fsof fsresearch fsintegration
d. a fsproliferation fsof fstheories fsaddressing fsvarious fsaspects fsof fsnursing, fshealth, fsand
fscare fs
4
For more free, peer-reviewed, openly licensed resources visit OpenStax.org.
10/29/2025
Student Answer Guide
Chapter 1: Introduction to the Nursing Profession: Evolution, Theories, and Practice ................. 3
Chapter 2: Communication ........................................................................................................... 10
Chapter 3: Healthcare Delivery Systems ...................................................................................... 13
Chapter 4: Health, Wellness, and Community-Based Health Care............................................... 17
Chapter 5: Cultural Competence .................................................................................................. 21
Chapter 6: Promoting Individualized Care .................................................................................... 26
Chapter 7: Vital Signs .................................................................................................................... 29
Chapter 8: Admission, Transfer, and Discharge............................................................................ 33
Chapter 9: Safety and Security...................................................................................................... 37
Chapter 10: Infection Control and Prevention ............................................................................. 40
Chapter 11: Medication Administration ....................................................................................... 44
Chapter 12: Assessment: Recognizing Cues ................................................................................. 49
Chapter 13: Diagnosis and Planning: Analyzing, Prioritizing, and Generating Solutions ............. 57
Chapter 14: Implementation and Evaluation: Taking Action, Evaluating Outcomes, and
Documentation ............................................................................................................................. 63
Chapter 15: Evidence-Based Research, Quality Improvement, and Collaborative Practice ........ 72
Chapter 16: Legal and Ethical Considerations .............................................................................. 77
Chapter 17: Patient and Family Education ................................................................................... 81
Chapter 18: Leadership and Management in Nursing .................................................................. 85
Chapter 19: Oxygenation and Perfusion ....................................................................................... 92
Chapter 20: Fluid, Electrolyte, and Acid-Base Balance ................................................................. 95
Chapter 21: Nutrition .................................................................................................................... 98
Chapter 22: Activity .................................................................................................................... 101
Chapter 23: Neuromuscular Function ........................................................................................ 106
Chapter 24: Skin Integrity ........................................................................................................... 110
Chapter 25: Hygiene ................................................................................................................... 114
Chapter 26: Urinary Elimination ................................................................................................. 117
Chapter 27: Bowel Elimination ................................................................................................... 122
2
For more free, peer-reviewed, openly licensed resources visit OpenStax.org.
10/29/2025
,OpenStax Fundamentals of Nursing Student Answer Guide
Chapter 28: Sleep and Rest ......................................................................................................... 129
Chapter 29: Sensory Alterations ................................................................................................. 133
Chapter 30: Pain Assessment ..................................................................................................... 138
Chapter 31: Perioperative Nursing Care ..................................................................................... 142
Chapter 32: Self-Concept ............................................................................................................ 148
Chapter 33: Sexuality .................................................................................................................. 152
Chapter 34: Stress, Adaptation, and Homeostasis ..................................................................... 155
Chapter 35: Spirituality ............................................................................................................... 159
Chapter 36: Grief, Loss, Death, and Dying .................................................................................. 162
Chapter 37: Family Dynamics ..................................................................................................... 167
Chapter 38: Growth and Development ...................................................................................... 171
Chapter 39: Conception Through Adolescence .......................................................................... 175
Chapter 40: Young and Middle-Aged Adults .............................................................................. 178
Chapter 41: Older Adults ............................................................................................................ 182
Chapter 42: Caring for Patients with Disability and Chronic Illness ........................................... 187
Chapter 43: Clinical Judgment and Critical Thinking .................................................................. 190
Chapter 1: Introduction to the Nursing Profession: Evolution, Theories,
and Practice
Review Questions
1. During the Middle Ages, who primarily undertook nursing duties, and where did they
provide care?
a. family members in their homes
b. monks and nuns in monasteries and convents
c. herbalists in communities
d. military personnel in wartime hospitals
[Answer: B]
3. What milestone marked Florence Nightingale’s influence on the formalization and
professionalization of nursing education?
a. establishment of the ANA
b. creation of the first nursing school
c. introduction of evidence-based practice
d. development of specialized nursing fields
[Answer: B]
5. What nursing program is designed to prepare individuals for entry-level positions in health
care and requires graduates to pass the NCLEX-PN for licensure?
a. Associate degree in nursing (ADN)
3
, b. Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN)
c. Master of Science in nursing (MSN)
d. Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)/Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN)
[Answer: D]
7. What fsis fsthe fsprimary fsgoal fsof fsthe fsDoctor fsof fsNursing fspractice fs(DNP) fsprogram?
a. preparation fsfor fsleadership fsroles fsin fsacademia
b. research-focused fsdoctoral fseducation
c. emphasis fson fsadvanced fsclinical fspractice, fsleadership, fsand fsevidence-based
fsdecision-making
d. integration fsof fstheory, fsresearch, fsand fspublic fshealth fsin fsnursing fspractice fs
[Answer: fsC]
9. Which fsglobal fsorganization fssignificantly fsinfluences fsthe fsdevelopment fsof fsthe fsnursing
fsprofession fson fsa fsglobal fsscale fsand fsoffers fsguidance fsregarding fsthe fsscope fsof fspractice
fsfor fsnurses fsaround fsthe fsworld?
a. state fsBONs
b. QSEN
c. ICN
d. ANA fs
[Answer: fsC]
11. The fsnurse fsis fsprecepting fsa fsnursing fsstudent fsduring fsa fsclinical fsrotation. fsWhat
fsstatement fsmade fsby fsthe fsstudent fswould fswarrant fsfurther fseducation?
a. “Nursing fsstandards fsserve fsas fsa fsframework fsfor fsproviding fssafe, fsquality fscare.”
b. “Nursing fsstandards fsalign fswith fsthe fsoverarching fsprinciples fsof fsthe fsnursing
fsprofession.”
c. “Nursing fsstandards fsarticulate fsthe fsexpectations fsand fsethical fsconduct fsrequired fsof
fsnurses.”
d. “Nursing fsstandards fsmay fsbe fsincorporated fsinto fspractice fsif fsthe fsnurse fschooses fsto
fsdo fsso.”
[Answer: fsD]
13. What fsis fsthe fsprimary fspurpose fsof fsnursing fstheories? fs fs
a. to fsdictate fsmedical fsinterventions
b. to fsprovide fsa fsframework fsfor fsnursing fspractice
c. to fsestablish fshealthcare fspolicies
d. to fsreplace fsmedical fsguidelines fs
[Answer: fsB]
15. In fsthe fslate fstwentieth fscentury, fswhat fsshift fsoccurred fsin fsthe fsdevelopment fsof fsnursing
fstheories? fs fs
a. a fsdecline fsin fsthe fsemphasis fson fsevidence-based fspractice
b. a fsmove fstoward fstask-oriented fsapproaches
c. a fsdecrease fsin fsthe fsimportance fsof fsresearch fsintegration
d. a fsproliferation fsof fstheories fsaddressing fsvarious fsaspects fsof fsnursing, fshealth, fsand
fscare fs
4
For more free, peer-reviewed, openly licensed resources visit OpenStax.org.
10/29/2025
