Galen NU 131 Exam 3 2026/2027 | Nursing and Healthcare I | Complete Study Guide with Q&A | Nursing Process, Ethics, Legal Issues, Patient Education & QSEN Competencies | 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 3 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 3 : Nursing Process & Critical Thinking : The nursing process consists of Assessment (collecting data), Diagnosis (identifying health problems), Planning (setting goals and interventions), Implementation (carrying out care), and Evaluation (measuring outcomes) . Critical thinking is purposeful, outcome-focused thinking driven by patient needs, based on logic and intuition, guided by professional standards . Diagnostic reasoning involves analyzing data to formulate nursing diagnoses . Outcome identification establishes measurable goals before planning interventions . Non-focused thinking occurs when the brain is engaged without conscious thought; habitual thinking is "automatic pilot"; directed thinking is purposeful and outcome-oriented . Patient Education & Learning Domains : Cognitive learning involves knowledge acquisition and intellectual skills (understanding, remembering). Affective learning involves attitudes, values, and feelings (empathy, acceptance). Psychomotor learning involves physical skills and coordination (injections, dressing changes). Factors affecting learning include motivation, readiness, environment, health literacy, developmental stage, and cultural background . Teach-back method asks the patient to explain the information in their own words to verify understanding . Health & Wellness Continuum : WHO defines health as "a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease" . Illness is the subjective experience of disease; disease is the objective pathological process . Acute illness has sudden onset, short duration; chronic illness persists over time, often with periods of remission and exacerbation . Health promotion focuses on wellness and prevention; disease prevention focuses on avoiding illness . Primary prevention prevents disease before it occurs (immunizations, education); secondary prevention detects disease early (screenings); tertiary prevention restores function after disease (rehabilitation) . Ethical & Legal Principles : Autonomy respects patient's right to self-determination . Beneficence requires doing good . Nonmaleficence requires doing no harm . Justice requires fairness . Fidelity requires keeping promises . Veracity requires truthfulness . Informed consent requires that an adult has been informed of all risks before agreeing to participate . Advance directives (living will, durable power of attorney for healthcare) document patient's wishes for end-of-life care . HIPAA protects patient privacy and confidentiality . Negligence is failure to provide care that a reasonably prudent person would provide; malpractice is professional negligence . Assault is threatening to harm; battery is actual harmful touching; false imprisonment is unjustified restraint . Mandatory reporting requires reporting suspected abuse, neglect, and certain communicable diseases . Cultural & Spiritual Aspects of Care : Cultural competence is the ability to provide care within the patient's cultural context; cultural humility involves ongoing self-reflection about personal biases . Ethnocentrism is the belief that one's own culture is superior . FICA spiritual assessment assesses Faith, Importance, Influence, Community, and Address/Action . Culturally congruent care aligns with patient's cultural values and practices . Interprofessional Collaboration & Delegation : The five rights of delegation are: right task, right circumstances, right person, right direction/communication, right supervision/evaluation . LPN/LVN can administer medications (except IV push), monitor stable patients, reinforce teaching; UAP can perform ADLs, vital signs, I&O, ambulation . Chain of command ensures appropriate reporting of concerns . Collaboration involves working together toward shared goals; coordination organizes care activities . Documentation & Informatics : SOAP notes document Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan . PIE charting documents Problem, Intervention, Evaluation . Electronic health records (EHR) improve accessibility, legibility, and coordination . Incident reports document unexpected events; they are not part of the patient record and are used for quality improvement . QSEN Competencies : Patient-centered care respects patient preferences and values . Teamwork and collaboration functions effectively within nursing and interprofessional teams . Evidence-based practice integrates best evidence with clinical expertise . Quality improvement uses data to monitor outcomes and improve care . Safety minimizes risk of harm . Informatics uses technology to communicate and manage knowledge . National Patient Safety Goals focus on patient identification, communication, medication safety, fall prevention, and pressure ulcer prevention . Sample Questions Include : "What are the five steps of the nursing process in correct order?" → Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation "A nurse is teaching a patient how to self-administer insulin. This is an example of which learning domain?" → Psychomotor (physical skill development) "A patient with terminal cancer completes a living will stating they do not want CPR if their heart stops. This is an example of which ethical principle?" → Autonomy (right to self-determination) "A nurse threatens to apply restraints if a patient does not cooperate. This is an example of:" → Assault (threat of harmful contact) "Which QSEN competency focuses on using technology to communicate and manage knowledge?" → Informatics "What is the correct order of donning PPE?" → Gown, mask, goggles, gloves "What is the primary purpose of the Nurse Practice Act?" → Protect the public 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 competencies .