NU 518 Nursing Theory Exam 3 Study Guide 2026/2027 South
Alabama University
1. Which of the following best defines middle-range nursing theories?
A. Theories that are limited in scope and address specific phenomena or populations.
B. Theories that cover the entire nursing metaparadigm and are highly abstract.
C. Theories that consist of one or two sentences defining a task.
D. Theories borrowed from other disciplines without modification.
Answer: A
Rationale: Middle-range theories are more specific than grand theories but more general
than practice theories, making them useful for empirical testing and clinical application.
2. In Mishel’s Uncertainty in Illness Theory, how is uncertainty initially
appraised?
A. As a positive opportunity for growth only.
B. As an immediate threat to life.
C. As a neutral state that requires no intervention.
D. As either a danger or an opportunity.
Answer: D
Rationale: Mishel suggests that patients first appraise uncertainty as either a danger
(leading to coping to reduce it) or an opportunity (leading to coping to maintain it).
,3. According to Pender’s Health Promotion Model, what is the primary
motivator for behavioral change?
A. Fear of disease and illness complications.
B. The desire to increase well-being and actualize human health potential.
C. Compliance with medical orders.
D. The cost-benefit analysis of insurance premiums.
Answer: B
Rationale: Pender’s model focuses on health promotion as an active process directed
toward enhancing health, rather than just avoiding disease.
4. Lenz’s Theory of Unpleasant Symptoms identifies three categories of factors
that influence symptoms. What are they?
A. Biological, Psychological, and Social.
B. Acute, Chronic, and Terminal.
C. Genetic, Environmental, and Behavioral.
D. Physiological, Psychological, and Situational.
Answer: D
Rationale: The Theory of Unpleasant Symptoms posits that physiological, psychological,
and situational factors interact to influence the experience of symptoms.
5. What is the core concept of Reed’s Self-Transcendence Theory?
A. The expansion of self-boundaries in multiple dimensions.
B. The complete isolation of the self from the environment.
C. Strict adherence to physical exercise to improve mental health.
D. The biological aging process of cells.
Answer: A
Rationale: Self-transcendence is the capacity to expand self-boundaries intrapersonally,
interpersonally, transpersonally, and temporally.
, 6. Swanson’s Theory of Caring defines ‘Doing For’ as:
A. Sustaining faith in the other’s capacity to get through an event.
B. Doing for the other as they would do for themselves if it were possible.
C. Being emotionally present to the other.
D. Striving to understand an event as it has meaning in the life of the other.
Answer: B
Rationale: Swanson defines ‘Doing For’ as performing tasks for the patient that they would
do for themselves if they had the strength, knowledge, or ability.
7. In the Theory of Chronic Sorrow, what are ‘milestones’ or ‘trigger events’?
A. Events that resolve the sorrow permanently.
B. Occurrences that cause a recurrence of grief in a person with a chronic condition.
C. The final stages of the grieving process according to Kübler-Ross.
D. Legal requirements for documenting patient progress.
Answer: B
Rationale: Trigger events or milestones are circumstances that bring the loss to the
forefront and re-awaken the feelings of sorrow.
8. Which level of nursing theory is the most concrete and provides specific
directions for practice?
A. Grand Theory.
B. Practice Theory.
C. Middle Range Theory.
D. Conceptual Framework.
Answer: B
Rationale: Practice theories (or situation-specific theories) are the most narrow and
provide direct guidance for specific nursing interventions and outcomes.
Alabama University
1. Which of the following best defines middle-range nursing theories?
A. Theories that are limited in scope and address specific phenomena or populations.
B. Theories that cover the entire nursing metaparadigm and are highly abstract.
C. Theories that consist of one or two sentences defining a task.
D. Theories borrowed from other disciplines without modification.
Answer: A
Rationale: Middle-range theories are more specific than grand theories but more general
than practice theories, making them useful for empirical testing and clinical application.
2. In Mishel’s Uncertainty in Illness Theory, how is uncertainty initially
appraised?
A. As a positive opportunity for growth only.
B. As an immediate threat to life.
C. As a neutral state that requires no intervention.
D. As either a danger or an opportunity.
Answer: D
Rationale: Mishel suggests that patients first appraise uncertainty as either a danger
(leading to coping to reduce it) or an opportunity (leading to coping to maintain it).
,3. According to Pender’s Health Promotion Model, what is the primary
motivator for behavioral change?
A. Fear of disease and illness complications.
B. The desire to increase well-being and actualize human health potential.
C. Compliance with medical orders.
D. The cost-benefit analysis of insurance premiums.
Answer: B
Rationale: Pender’s model focuses on health promotion as an active process directed
toward enhancing health, rather than just avoiding disease.
4. Lenz’s Theory of Unpleasant Symptoms identifies three categories of factors
that influence symptoms. What are they?
A. Biological, Psychological, and Social.
B. Acute, Chronic, and Terminal.
C. Genetic, Environmental, and Behavioral.
D. Physiological, Psychological, and Situational.
Answer: D
Rationale: The Theory of Unpleasant Symptoms posits that physiological, psychological,
and situational factors interact to influence the experience of symptoms.
5. What is the core concept of Reed’s Self-Transcendence Theory?
A. The expansion of self-boundaries in multiple dimensions.
B. The complete isolation of the self from the environment.
C. Strict adherence to physical exercise to improve mental health.
D. The biological aging process of cells.
Answer: A
Rationale: Self-transcendence is the capacity to expand self-boundaries intrapersonally,
interpersonally, transpersonally, and temporally.
, 6. Swanson’s Theory of Caring defines ‘Doing For’ as:
A. Sustaining faith in the other’s capacity to get through an event.
B. Doing for the other as they would do for themselves if it were possible.
C. Being emotionally present to the other.
D. Striving to understand an event as it has meaning in the life of the other.
Answer: B
Rationale: Swanson defines ‘Doing For’ as performing tasks for the patient that they would
do for themselves if they had the strength, knowledge, or ability.
7. In the Theory of Chronic Sorrow, what are ‘milestones’ or ‘trigger events’?
A. Events that resolve the sorrow permanently.
B. Occurrences that cause a recurrence of grief in a person with a chronic condition.
C. The final stages of the grieving process according to Kübler-Ross.
D. Legal requirements for documenting patient progress.
Answer: B
Rationale: Trigger events or milestones are circumstances that bring the loss to the
forefront and re-awaken the feelings of sorrow.
8. Which level of nursing theory is the most concrete and provides specific
directions for practice?
A. Grand Theory.
B. Practice Theory.
C. Middle Range Theory.
D. Conceptual Framework.
Answer: B
Rationale: Practice theories (or situation-specific theories) are the most narrow and
provide direct guidance for specific nursing interventions and outcomes.
