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Fundamentals of Nursing · Fundamentals of Nursing Practice Quiz

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Showing all 15 practice questions with expert explanatory rationales.

Question 1 of 15

Case excerpt

A patient develops sudden facial droop and unilateral weakness; the family gives a precise time the patient was last normal.

What is the most appropriate nursing response?

A. Ignore the finding if the patient is alert
B. Activate the stroke response and communicate the last-known-well time.
C. Reassure the patient without completing an assessment
D. Delay escalation until symptoms worsen
E. Perform an intervention outside the prescription

Expert Explanatory Rationale

Correct Answer: B. Activate the stroke response and communicate the last-known-well time.

The last-known-well time is essential to time-sensitive stroke decisions.

Question 2 of 15

Case excerpt

A bedbound patient has nonblanchable redness over the sacrum.

Which action should the nurse take first?

A. Change the treatment without an order
B. Ask an untrained person to make the clinical decision
C. Offload pressure and implement an individualized pressure-injury prevention plan.
D. Repeat the same action without checking the patient's response
E. Postpone follow-up until the next shift

Expert Explanatory Rationale

Correct Answer: C. Offload pressure and implement an individualized pressure-injury prevention plan.

Nonblanchable redness may indicate a stage 1 pressure injury; pressure relief is essential.

Question 3 of 15

Case excerpt

A peripheral IV site is cool, swollen, pale, and painful.

Which intervention best addresses the immediate concern?

A. Skip the required safety check
B. Discontinue monitoring
C. Encourage activity that may worsen the condition
D. Give an unrelated medication
E. Stop the infusion and assess for infiltration.

Expert Explanatory Rationale

Correct Answer: E. Stop the infusion and assess for infiltration.

These findings are consistent with infiltration and require stopping the infusion.

Question 4 of 15

Case excerpt

A patient coughs repeatedly while drinking thin liquids after a stroke.

What should the nurse do next?

A. Stop oral intake and follow the swallowing-safety plan.
B. Provide advice unrelated to the clinical problem
C. Proceed without verifying the order
D. Assume the finding is expected
E. Wait for the next appointment

Expert Explanatory Rationale

Correct Answer: A. Stop oral intake and follow the swallowing-safety plan.

Coughing with swallowing may indicate aspiration and requires reassessment.

Question 5 of 15

Case excerpt

A urine culture is ordered for a patient with an indwelling urinary catheter.

Which nursing action is the priority?

A. Wait until the next routine round
B. Continue the current plan without reassessment
C. Ask the patient to manage the problem independently
D. Collect the specimen aseptically from the disinfected sampling port.
E. Document the finding without intervening

Expert Explanatory Rationale

Correct Answer: D. Collect the specimen aseptically from the disinfected sampling port.

Urine from the drainage bag may be stagnant or contaminated.

Question 6 of 15

Case excerpt

A patient taking an anticoagulant reports black stools and dizziness.

What is the most appropriate nursing response?

A. Assess promptly and notify the provider about possible bleeding.
B. Ignore the finding if the patient is alert
C. Perform an intervention outside the prescription
D. Reassure the patient without completing an assessment
E. Delay escalation until symptoms worsen

Expert Explanatory Rationale

Correct Answer: A. Assess promptly and notify the provider about possible bleeding.

Melena and dizziness may indicate gastrointestinal hemorrhage.

Question 7 of 15

Case excerpt

A patient becomes lightheaded when standing after several days of bed rest.

Which action should the nurse take first?

A. Ask an untrained person to make the clinical decision
B. Repeat the same action without checking the patient's response
C. Change the treatment without an order
D. Postpone follow-up until the next shift
E. Assist the patient to sit or lie down and reassess.

Expert Explanatory Rationale

Correct Answer: E. Assist the patient to sit or lie down and reassess.

Orthostatic symptoms increase fall risk and require safe positioning.

Question 8 of 15

Case excerpt

A medication administration record conflicts with the patient's documented severe allergy.

Which intervention best addresses the immediate concern?

A. Discontinue monitoring
B. Encourage activity that may worsen the condition
C. Give an unrelated medication
D. Hold the medication and clarify the order before administration.
E. Skip the required safety check

Expert Explanatory Rationale

Correct Answer: D. Hold the medication and clarify the order before administration.

Potential allergy conflicts must be resolved before exposure.

Question 9 of 15

Case excerpt

A new colostomy stoma appears dusky and nearly black.

What should the nurse do next?

A. Report the color change promptly for urgent evaluation.
B. Assume the finding is expected
C. Wait for the next appointment
D. Provide advice unrelated to the clinical problem
E. Proceed without verifying the order

Expert Explanatory Rationale

Correct Answer: A. Report the color change promptly for urgent evaluation.

A healthy stoma is moist and pink to red; dusky or black tissue may indicate impaired perfusion.

Question 10 of 15

Case excerpt

A patient on contact precautions needs assistance with personal care.

Which nursing action is the priority (Select all that apply)?

A. Clarify an unclear order before proceeding
B. Ignore a new warning sign
C. Reassess the patient's response
D. Change a prescription independently
E. Use appropriate safety precautions

Expert Explanatory Rationale

Correct Answer: A. Clarify an unclear order before proceeding; C. Reassess the patient's response; E. Use appropriate safety precautions

Correct PPE and hand hygiene reduce transmission.

Question 11 of 15

Case excerpt

A patient with diabetes is alert, shaky, and has a glucose of 58 mg/dL.

What is the most appropriate nursing response (Select all that apply)?

A. Monitor for complications
B. Ignore a new warning sign
C. Provide patient or caregiver teaching
D. Change a prescription independently
E. Use the correct equipment and technique

Expert Explanatory Rationale

Correct Answer: A. Monitor for complications; C. Provide patient or caregiver teaching; E. Use the correct equipment and technique

An alert patient who can swallow can usually receive oral rapid-acting carbohydrate.

Question 12 of 15

Case excerpt

A patient with a nasogastric tube has a changed external tube marking and new nausea.

Which action should the nurse take first (Select all that apply)?

A. Follow the prescribed plan or facility protocol
B. Change a prescription independently
C. Ignore a new warning sign
D. Communicate the concern to the appropriate clinician
E. Assess the patient and relevant clinical findings

Expert Explanatory Rationale

Correct Answer: A. Follow the prescribed plan or facility protocol; D. Communicate the concern to the appropriate clinician; E. Assess the patient and relevant clinical findings

A changed marking may indicate displacement; blind advancement is unsafe.

Question 13 of 15

Case excerpt

A patient with oxygen prescribed by nasal cannula reports increased breathlessness.

Which intervention best addresses the immediate concern (Select all that apply)?

A. Reassess the patient's response
B. Change a prescription independently
C. Ignore a new warning sign
D. Clarify an unclear order before proceeding
E. Use appropriate safety precautions

Expert Explanatory Rationale

Correct Answer: A. Reassess the patient's response; D. Clarify an unclear order before proceeding; E. Use appropriate safety precautions

Oxygen is a medication and should be adjusted within prescribed parameters.

Question 14 of 15

Case excerpt

A patient receiving an opioid is difficult to arouse and has slow respirations.

What should the nurse do next (Select all that apply)?

A. Change a prescription independently
B. Ignore a new warning sign
C. Use the correct equipment and technique
D. Provide patient or caregiver teaching
E. Monitor for complications

Expert Explanatory Rationale

Correct Answer: C. Use the correct equipment and technique; D. Provide patient or caregiver teaching; E. Monitor for complications

Opioid-related respiratory depression is a medical emergency.

Question 15 of 15

Case excerpt

A patient is prescribed 1,000 mL of IV fluid over 8 hours.

Which nursing action is the priority?

Expert Explanatory Rationale

Correct Answer: 125

1,000 mL divided by 8 hours equals 125 mL/hr.

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