Fundamentals of Nursing Exam Study Guide
During rounds, a charge nurse hears the patient care technician yelling loudly to a patient regarding a
transfer from the bed to chair. When entering the room, what is the nurse's best response?
a) "You need to speak to the patient quietly. You are disturbing the patient."
b) "Let me help you with your transfer technique."
c) "When you are finished, be sure to apologize for your rough demeanor."
d) "When your patient is safe and comfortable, me me at the desk." - ANSWER:D - discuss any concerns
privately
A public health nurse is leaving the home of a young mother who has a special needs baby. The neighbor
states, "How is she doing, since the baby's father is no help?" What is the nurse's best response?
a) "New mothers need support."
b) "The lack of a father is difficult."
c) "How are you today?"
d) "It is a very sad situation." - ANSWER:A - maintain confidentiality; non judgemental
A 3-year-old child is being admitted to a medical division for vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration. During
the admission interview, the nurse should implement which communication techniques to elicit the most
information from the parents?
a) the use of reflective questions
b) the use of closed questions
c) the use of assertive questions
d) the use of clarifying questions - ANSWER:D - allows nurse to gain understanding of a patients
comment.
A nurse enters a patient's room and examines the patient's IV fluids and cardiac monitor. The patient
states, "Well, I haven't seen you before. Who are you?" What is the nurse's best response?
a) "I'm just the IV therapist checking you IV."
b) "I've been transferred to this division ans will be caring for you."
,c) "I'm sorry, my name is John Smith and I am your nurse."
d) "My name is John Smith, I am your nurse and I'll be caring for you until 11 p.m." - ANSWER:D - identify
self, let patient know what will be happening, and time period
A nurse enters the room of a patient with cancer. The patient is crying and states, "I feel so alone."
Which statement is the most therapeutic?
a) the nurse stands at the patient's bedside and states, "I understand how you feel. My mother said the
same thing when she was ill."
b) the nurse places a hand on the patient's arm and states, "You feel so alone."
c) the nurse stands in the patient's room and asks, "Why do you feel so alone? You wife has been here
every day."
d) the nurse holds the patient's hand and asks, "What makes you feel so alone?" - ANSWER:D - touch
conveys acceptance; open-ended question allows free verbalizing by patient
A nurse caring for a patient who is hospitalized following a double mastectomy is preparing a discharge
plan for the patient. Which action should be the focus of this termination phase of the helping
relationship?
a) determining the progress made in achieving established goals
b) clarifying when the patient should take medications
c) reporting the progress made in teaching the staff
d) including all family members in the teaching session - ANSWER:A - termination phase occurs when the
conclusion of the initial agreement is acknowledged
A nursing student is nervous and concerned about the work she is about to do at the clinical facility. To
allay anxiety and be successful in her provision of care, it is most important for her to:
a) determine the established goals of the institution
b) be sure her verbal and nonverbal communication is congruent
c) engage in self-talk to plan her day and decrease her fear
d) speak with her fellow colleagues about how they feel - ANSWER:C - by engaging in self-talk, or
intrapersonal communication, the student can plan day and enhance clinical performance to decrease
fear and anxiety
A nurse in the rehab division states her head nurse, Mr. Tyler, "I need the day off and you didn't give it to
me!" The head nurse replies, "Well, I wasn't aware you needed the day off, and it isn't possible since
, staffing is so inadequate." Instead of this exchange, what communication by the nurse would have been
more effective?
a) "Mr. Tyler, I placed a request to have August 8th off, but I'm working and I have a doctor's
appointment."
b) "Mr. Tyler, I would like to discuss my schedule with you. I requested the 8th of August off for a doctor's
appointment. Could I make my appointment?"
c) "Mr. Tyler, I will need to call in on the 8th because I have a doctor's appointment."
d) "Mr. Tyler, since you didn't give me the 8th off, will I need to find someone to work for me?" -
ANSWER:B - implementation of nonthreatening information by showing respect
During a nursing staff meeting, the nurses resolve a problem of delayed documentation by agreeing
unanimously that they will make sure all vital signs are reported and charted within 15 minutes following
assessment. This is an example of which characteristics of effective communication? Select all that apply.
a) group decision making
b) group leadership
c) group power
d) group identity
e) group patterns of interaction
f) group cohesiveness - ANSWER:A, D, E, F
A nurse sees a patient walking to the bathroom with a stooped gait, facial grimacing, and gasping
sounds. It is important that the nurse assess the patient for:
a) pain
b) anxiety
c) depression
d) fluid volume deficit - ANSWER:A
A nursing student is preparing to administer morning care to a patient. What is the most important
question that the nursing student should ask the patient about personal hygiene?
a) "Would you prefer a bath or a shower?"
b) "May I help you with a bed bath now or later this morning?"
During rounds, a charge nurse hears the patient care technician yelling loudly to a patient regarding a
transfer from the bed to chair. When entering the room, what is the nurse's best response?
a) "You need to speak to the patient quietly. You are disturbing the patient."
b) "Let me help you with your transfer technique."
c) "When you are finished, be sure to apologize for your rough demeanor."
d) "When your patient is safe and comfortable, me me at the desk." - ANSWER:D - discuss any concerns
privately
A public health nurse is leaving the home of a young mother who has a special needs baby. The neighbor
states, "How is she doing, since the baby's father is no help?" What is the nurse's best response?
a) "New mothers need support."
b) "The lack of a father is difficult."
c) "How are you today?"
d) "It is a very sad situation." - ANSWER:A - maintain confidentiality; non judgemental
A 3-year-old child is being admitted to a medical division for vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration. During
the admission interview, the nurse should implement which communication techniques to elicit the most
information from the parents?
a) the use of reflective questions
b) the use of closed questions
c) the use of assertive questions
d) the use of clarifying questions - ANSWER:D - allows nurse to gain understanding of a patients
comment.
A nurse enters a patient's room and examines the patient's IV fluids and cardiac monitor. The patient
states, "Well, I haven't seen you before. Who are you?" What is the nurse's best response?
a) "I'm just the IV therapist checking you IV."
b) "I've been transferred to this division ans will be caring for you."
,c) "I'm sorry, my name is John Smith and I am your nurse."
d) "My name is John Smith, I am your nurse and I'll be caring for you until 11 p.m." - ANSWER:D - identify
self, let patient know what will be happening, and time period
A nurse enters the room of a patient with cancer. The patient is crying and states, "I feel so alone."
Which statement is the most therapeutic?
a) the nurse stands at the patient's bedside and states, "I understand how you feel. My mother said the
same thing when she was ill."
b) the nurse places a hand on the patient's arm and states, "You feel so alone."
c) the nurse stands in the patient's room and asks, "Why do you feel so alone? You wife has been here
every day."
d) the nurse holds the patient's hand and asks, "What makes you feel so alone?" - ANSWER:D - touch
conveys acceptance; open-ended question allows free verbalizing by patient
A nurse caring for a patient who is hospitalized following a double mastectomy is preparing a discharge
plan for the patient. Which action should be the focus of this termination phase of the helping
relationship?
a) determining the progress made in achieving established goals
b) clarifying when the patient should take medications
c) reporting the progress made in teaching the staff
d) including all family members in the teaching session - ANSWER:A - termination phase occurs when the
conclusion of the initial agreement is acknowledged
A nursing student is nervous and concerned about the work she is about to do at the clinical facility. To
allay anxiety and be successful in her provision of care, it is most important for her to:
a) determine the established goals of the institution
b) be sure her verbal and nonverbal communication is congruent
c) engage in self-talk to plan her day and decrease her fear
d) speak with her fellow colleagues about how they feel - ANSWER:C - by engaging in self-talk, or
intrapersonal communication, the student can plan day and enhance clinical performance to decrease
fear and anxiety
A nurse in the rehab division states her head nurse, Mr. Tyler, "I need the day off and you didn't give it to
me!" The head nurse replies, "Well, I wasn't aware you needed the day off, and it isn't possible since
, staffing is so inadequate." Instead of this exchange, what communication by the nurse would have been
more effective?
a) "Mr. Tyler, I placed a request to have August 8th off, but I'm working and I have a doctor's
appointment."
b) "Mr. Tyler, I would like to discuss my schedule with you. I requested the 8th of August off for a doctor's
appointment. Could I make my appointment?"
c) "Mr. Tyler, I will need to call in on the 8th because I have a doctor's appointment."
d) "Mr. Tyler, since you didn't give me the 8th off, will I need to find someone to work for me?" -
ANSWER:B - implementation of nonthreatening information by showing respect
During a nursing staff meeting, the nurses resolve a problem of delayed documentation by agreeing
unanimously that they will make sure all vital signs are reported and charted within 15 minutes following
assessment. This is an example of which characteristics of effective communication? Select all that apply.
a) group decision making
b) group leadership
c) group power
d) group identity
e) group patterns of interaction
f) group cohesiveness - ANSWER:A, D, E, F
A nurse sees a patient walking to the bathroom with a stooped gait, facial grimacing, and gasping
sounds. It is important that the nurse assess the patient for:
a) pain
b) anxiety
c) depression
d) fluid volume deficit - ANSWER:A
A nursing student is preparing to administer morning care to a patient. What is the most important
question that the nursing student should ask the patient about personal hygiene?
a) "Would you prefer a bath or a shower?"
b) "May I help you with a bed bath now or later this morning?"
