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Fundamentals of Nursing · Nursing Fundamentals Practice Questions

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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. This item is presented in the context of nursing fundamentals practice questions.

What should the nurse do next?

A. Proceed without verifying the order
B. Activate the stroke response and communicate the last-known-well time.
C. Assume the finding is expected
D. Wait for the next appointment
E. Provide advice unrelated to the clinical problem

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. This item is presented in the context of nursing fundamentals practice questions.

Which nursing action is the priority?

A. Offload pressure and implement an individualized pressure-injury prevention plan.
B. Continue the current plan without reassessment
C. Wait until the next routine round
D. Ask the patient to manage the problem independently
E. Document the finding without intervening

Expert Explanatory Rationale

Correct Answer: A. 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. This item is presented in the context of nursing fundamentals practice questions.

What is the most appropriate nursing response?

A. Delay escalation until symptoms worsen
B. Ignore the finding if the patient is alert
C. Reassure the patient without completing an assessment
D. Stop the infusion and assess for infiltration.
E. Perform an intervention outside the prescription

Expert Explanatory Rationale

Correct Answer: D. 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. This item is presented in the context of nursing fundamentals practice questions.

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. Postpone follow-up until the next shift
D. Stop oral intake and follow the swallowing-safety plan.
E. Change the treatment without an order

Expert Explanatory Rationale

Correct Answer: D. 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. This item is presented in the context of nursing fundamentals practice questions.

Which intervention best addresses the immediate concern?

A. Skip the required safety check
B. Collect the specimen aseptically from the disinfected sampling port.
C. Discontinue monitoring
D. Encourage activity that may worsen the condition
E. Give an unrelated medication

Expert Explanatory Rationale

Correct Answer: B. 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. This item is presented in the context of nursing fundamentals practice questions.

What should the nurse do next?

A. Assess promptly and notify the provider about possible bleeding.
B. Assume the finding is expected
C. Provide advice unrelated to the clinical problem
D. Wait for the next appointment
E. Proceed without verifying the order

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. This item is presented in the context of nursing fundamentals practice questions.

Which nursing action is the priority?

A. Ask the patient to manage the problem independently
B. Document the finding without intervening
C. Continue the current plan without reassessment
D. Assist the patient to sit or lie down and reassess.
E. Wait until the next routine round

Expert Explanatory Rationale

Correct Answer: D. 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. This item is presented in the context of nursing fundamentals practice questions.

What is the most appropriate nursing response?

A. Delay escalation until symptoms worsen
B. Ignore the finding if the patient is alert
C. Reassure the patient without completing an assessment
D. Perform an intervention outside the prescription
E. Hold the medication and clarify the order before administration.

Expert Explanatory Rationale

Correct Answer: E. 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. This item is presented in the context of nursing fundamentals practice questions.

Which action should the nurse take first?

A. Repeat the same action without checking the patient's response
B. Ask an untrained person to make the clinical decision
C. Postpone follow-up until the next shift
D. Change the treatment without an order
E. Report the color change promptly for urgent evaluation.

Expert Explanatory Rationale

Correct Answer: E. 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. This item is presented in the context of nursing fundamentals practice questions.

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

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

Expert Explanatory Rationale

Correct Answer: A. Reassess the patient's response; B. Clarify an unclear order before proceeding; C. 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. This item is presented in the context of nursing fundamentals practice questions.

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

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

Expert Explanatory Rationale

Correct Answer: A. Monitor for complications; C. Provide patient or caregiver teaching; D. 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. This item is presented in the context of nursing fundamentals practice questions.

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

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

Expert Explanatory Rationale

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

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. This item is presented in the context of nursing fundamentals practice questions.

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

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

Expert Explanatory Rationale

Correct Answer: A. Reassess the patient's response; C. Clarify an unclear order before proceeding; D. 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. This item is presented in the context of nursing fundamentals practice questions.

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

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

Expert Explanatory Rationale

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

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. This item is presented in the context of nursing fundamentals practice questions.

Which intervention best addresses the immediate concern?

Expert Explanatory Rationale

Correct Answer: 125

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

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