NUR 104 M4.8 Midterm Exam 2026|
Excelsior University| Actual Exam
Questions and Correct Answers
Question: Which elements must be included in a comprehensive risk management program?
Select all that apply.
Safety needs of patients, staff, and visitors.
Multidisciplinary team membership.
Focus on high-risk areas such as medication errors.
Strategies to promote affordability of health care.
Needs and preferences of patients.
Correct Answers: Safety needs of patients, staff, and visitors; Multidisciplinary team
membership; Focus on high-risk areas such as medication errors; Needs and preferences of
patients.
Explanation: A comprehensive risk management program in healthcare focuses on identifying,
assessing, and mitigating risks to ensure safety and quality care. It must address the safety of all
individuals in the facility (patients, staff, visitors), involve a multidisciplinary team for diverse
perspectives, prioritize high-risk areas like medication errors to prevent harm, and consider
patient needs and preferences to tailor risk strategies effectively. Strategies for affordability of
healthcare are not a core component of risk management, as they relate more to financial and
access policies.
Question: Which criterion defines nursing as a profession?
A strong service orientation
An undefined body of knowledge
A dependence on the medical profession
Correct Answer: A strong service orientation.
,Explanation: Nursing is recognized as a profession due to its strong service orientation, which
emphasizes altruistic care, ethical standards, and commitment to public welfare. An undefined
body of knowledge would contradict professionalism, as professions require a specialized,
evidence-based knowledge base. Dependence on the medical profession undermines nursing's
autonomy and independent scope of practice.
Question: Which patient care issue is addressed by the Patient Self-Determination Act?
Informed consent
Advance directives
Right to refuse treatment
Correct Answer: Advance directives.
Explanation: The Patient Self-Determination Act (1990) requires healthcare facilities to inform
patients about their rights to make decisions about their own care, specifically focusing on
advance directives like living wills and durable powers of attorney. Informed consent and the
right to refuse treatment are related ethical principles but are not the primary focus of this act.
Question: Which is the most important question for a nurse to ask a patient prior to witnessing
the patient signature on the consent form for surgery?
“Do you want the surgeon to speak with a family member?”
“Has your surgeon explained the procedure to you?”
“Can you tell me about your instructions when you are discharged home?”
Correct Answer: “Has your surgeon explained the procedure to you?”
Explanation: Before witnessing a consent form, the nurse must ensure the patient has received
adequate information from the surgeon (the responsible provider) to make an informed decision.
This confirms informed consent. Questions about family involvement or discharge instructions
are secondary and not directly related to validating consent for the procedure.
Question: A student is choosing an educational path and desires a nursing degree with a track that
contains community nursing and leadership, as well as liberal arts. The student would best be
suited in which type of program?
Baccalaureate program
, Certification in a nursing specialty
Diploma nursing program
Correct Answer: Baccalaureate program.
Explanation: A baccalaureate (BSN) program typically includes coursework in community
health, leadership, and liberal arts, providing a broad education that prepares nurses for diverse
roles. Diploma programs focus more on clinical skills in hospital settings, and specialty
certifications are post-licensure.
Question: Which statements are examples of the Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) recommendations
for transforming the nursing profession? Select all that apply.
The nurse practitioner has been practicing in one state and is moving to another state that has a
scope of-practice that is more limiting.
The nurse is a graduate with an associate degree and enrolls in a program to obtain a bachelor’s
degree in nursing without taking any additional courses.
The nurse participates in a state-wide committee with other health professionals and legislators
to address human trafficking.
The nurse notes an increase in hospitalized clients who have heart failure and implements a
research study addressing this issue.
The chief nursing officer at the hospital who is a nonvoting board member.
Correct Answers: The nurse participates in a state-wide committee with other health
professionals and legislators to address human trafficking; The nurse notes an increase in
hospitalized clients who have heart failure and implements a research study addressing this issue.
Explanation: The IOM's "The Future of Nursing" report (2010) recommends nurses achieve
higher education levels, practice to the full extent of their training, participate in policy-making
and leadership (e.g., committees on issues like human trafficking), and lead in research and
evidence-based practice improvements (e.g., heart failure studies). The other options either
contradict recommendations (e.g., limiting scope of practice, nonvoting roles) or misrepresent
educational pathways (e.g., no additional courses for BSN).
Question: Which strategy should a nurse use to increase the patient’s compliance with education
provided by the nurse?
Include the client and family as partners.
Excelsior University| Actual Exam
Questions and Correct Answers
Question: Which elements must be included in a comprehensive risk management program?
Select all that apply.
Safety needs of patients, staff, and visitors.
Multidisciplinary team membership.
Focus on high-risk areas such as medication errors.
Strategies to promote affordability of health care.
Needs and preferences of patients.
Correct Answers: Safety needs of patients, staff, and visitors; Multidisciplinary team
membership; Focus on high-risk areas such as medication errors; Needs and preferences of
patients.
Explanation: A comprehensive risk management program in healthcare focuses on identifying,
assessing, and mitigating risks to ensure safety and quality care. It must address the safety of all
individuals in the facility (patients, staff, visitors), involve a multidisciplinary team for diverse
perspectives, prioritize high-risk areas like medication errors to prevent harm, and consider
patient needs and preferences to tailor risk strategies effectively. Strategies for affordability of
healthcare are not a core component of risk management, as they relate more to financial and
access policies.
Question: Which criterion defines nursing as a profession?
A strong service orientation
An undefined body of knowledge
A dependence on the medical profession
Correct Answer: A strong service orientation.
,Explanation: Nursing is recognized as a profession due to its strong service orientation, which
emphasizes altruistic care, ethical standards, and commitment to public welfare. An undefined
body of knowledge would contradict professionalism, as professions require a specialized,
evidence-based knowledge base. Dependence on the medical profession undermines nursing's
autonomy and independent scope of practice.
Question: Which patient care issue is addressed by the Patient Self-Determination Act?
Informed consent
Advance directives
Right to refuse treatment
Correct Answer: Advance directives.
Explanation: The Patient Self-Determination Act (1990) requires healthcare facilities to inform
patients about their rights to make decisions about their own care, specifically focusing on
advance directives like living wills and durable powers of attorney. Informed consent and the
right to refuse treatment are related ethical principles but are not the primary focus of this act.
Question: Which is the most important question for a nurse to ask a patient prior to witnessing
the patient signature on the consent form for surgery?
“Do you want the surgeon to speak with a family member?”
“Has your surgeon explained the procedure to you?”
“Can you tell me about your instructions when you are discharged home?”
Correct Answer: “Has your surgeon explained the procedure to you?”
Explanation: Before witnessing a consent form, the nurse must ensure the patient has received
adequate information from the surgeon (the responsible provider) to make an informed decision.
This confirms informed consent. Questions about family involvement or discharge instructions
are secondary and not directly related to validating consent for the procedure.
Question: A student is choosing an educational path and desires a nursing degree with a track that
contains community nursing and leadership, as well as liberal arts. The student would best be
suited in which type of program?
Baccalaureate program
, Certification in a nursing specialty
Diploma nursing program
Correct Answer: Baccalaureate program.
Explanation: A baccalaureate (BSN) program typically includes coursework in community
health, leadership, and liberal arts, providing a broad education that prepares nurses for diverse
roles. Diploma programs focus more on clinical skills in hospital settings, and specialty
certifications are post-licensure.
Question: Which statements are examples of the Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) recommendations
for transforming the nursing profession? Select all that apply.
The nurse practitioner has been practicing in one state and is moving to another state that has a
scope of-practice that is more limiting.
The nurse is a graduate with an associate degree and enrolls in a program to obtain a bachelor’s
degree in nursing without taking any additional courses.
The nurse participates in a state-wide committee with other health professionals and legislators
to address human trafficking.
The nurse notes an increase in hospitalized clients who have heart failure and implements a
research study addressing this issue.
The chief nursing officer at the hospital who is a nonvoting board member.
Correct Answers: The nurse participates in a state-wide committee with other health
professionals and legislators to address human trafficking; The nurse notes an increase in
hospitalized clients who have heart failure and implements a research study addressing this issue.
Explanation: The IOM's "The Future of Nursing" report (2010) recommends nurses achieve
higher education levels, practice to the full extent of their training, participate in policy-making
and leadership (e.g., committees on issues like human trafficking), and lead in research and
evidence-based practice improvements (e.g., heart failure studies). The other options either
contradict recommendations (e.g., limiting scope of practice, nonvoting roles) or misrepresent
educational pathways (e.g., no additional courses for BSN).
Question: Which strategy should a nurse use to increase the patient’s compliance with education
provided by the nurse?
Include the client and family as partners.
