Galen NU 131 Exam 1 2026/2027 | Nursing and Healthcare I | Complete Study Guide with Q&A | History of Nursing, Health Promotion, Critical Thinking & Nurse Practice Act | Verified Answers with Rationales | Grade A+ | Downloadable PDF

INSTANT PDF DOWNLOAD—This comprehensive study guide is specifically designed for Galen College of Nursing students preparing for NU 131 Nursing and Healthcare I Exam 1 for the 2026/2027 academic year. Based on verified exam materials from top-selling student resources , this resource contains expertly verified practice questions and 100% correct answers with detailed rationales to help you master core foundational nursing concepts and achieve a top score (Grade A+). This comprehensive guide covers all major topics tested on NU 131 Exam 1 : History of Nursing : First school of nursing founded in Kaiserswerth, Germany (1863) with Florence Nightingale as its most famous pupil . Florence Nightingale's contributions include stressing the importance of environment, careful observation, holistic care, and critical thinking . Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross; Lillian Wald founded public health nursing; Dorothea Dix advocated for the mentally ill and organized a corps of female nurses during the Civil War . Mary Seacole was a Jamaican nurse who treated soldiers during the Crimean War using tropical medicine and herbs . Healthcare Reform & National Goals : The Affordable Care Act (2010) expanded Medicaid, required employer-provided health insurance, prevented discrimination based on pre-existing conditions, and imposed a surtax for non-coverage . Healthy People 2020 has two major goals: increasing the quality and years of healthy living and eliminating health disparities . Health, Wellness & Prevention : The WHO defines health as "a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease" . Health promotion is goal-oriented toward achieving optimal wellness . Primary prevention focuses on preventing disease (immunizations, health education); secondary prevention focuses on early detection (screenings); tertiary prevention focuses on restoring function and compensating for losses (rehabilitation) . Holistic health considers physical, mental, social, and spiritual well-being . Nursing Roles & Care Delivery Models : Primary nursing gives an RN responsibility for total patient care; a disadvantage is staffing cost . Case management focuses on achieving patient outcomes within a specified timeframe, providing cost-effective, quality care for patients with complex needs . Team nursing involves an RN, LPN/LVN, and CNA working together . LVN/LPNs comprise the second largest group of healthcare workers in the U.S. . Surgical technicians assist in setting up equipment and supplies in the operating room . Nurse Practice Act & Legal Framework : The Nurse Practice Act (NPA) is based on state legislation that regulates nursing practice, aimed at protecting the public and establishing State Boards of Nursing . The NPA defines the practice of professional nursing, sets minimal educational qualifications, sets legal titles, and provides for disciplinary action . Common disciplinary actions include: fraud and deceit, criminal activity, negligence, violation of the NPA, incompetence, unethical conduct, and alcohol/other drug abuse . Informed consent requires that an adult has been informed of all risks before agreeing to participate . Critical Thinking & the Nursing Process : Critical thinking is purposeful, outcome-focused thinking driven by patient needs, based on logic and intuition, guided by professional standards, and involves constant reevaluation . The nursing process consists of four steps: Assessment (gathering and reviewing information), Planning (developing diagnosis, goals, and interventions), Implementation (providing care), and Evaluation (comparing actual outcomes to expected outcomes) . Non-focused thinking occurs when the brain is engaged without conscious thought; habitual thinking is "automatic pilot" . Directed thinking is purposeful and outcome-oriented . Sample Questions Include : "Year the first school of nursing was founded" → 1863 (Kaiserswerth, Germany) "Who founded the American Red Cross?" → Clara Barton "Healthy People 2020's two major goals are increasing quality and years of healthy life and:" → Eliminating health disparities "In early civilization, illness was believed to be caused by:" → Supernatural forces "Mrs. Jackson brings her 6-month-old infant to the clinic for immunization. This demonstrates which level of prevention?" → Primary prevention "A disadvantage of primary nursing is the:" → Cost of staffing "What does the Nurse Practice Act primarily do?" → Defines nursing practice and establishes standards for nurses in each state "The first understanding of disease processes occurred with the:" → Advent of bacteriology "Mental health is best described as:" → Realistic and adaptive All questions include complete rationales based on current evidence-based practice, nursing fundamentals standards, and Galen College curriculum requirements. DOCUMENT ACCESS: This study guide is available as an instant digital download (PDF) immediately upon purchase. Fully text-searchable, printable, and accessible anytime through your user account. 100% satisfaction guarantee. Trusted by thousands of Galen nursing students for NU 131 exam preparation and mastering foundational nursing concepts.