1|Page
NUR 242 EXAM 1 – 2026/2027 FUNDAMENTALS
OF MEDICAL-SURGICAL NURSING 300
QUESTIONS | ANSWERS & RATIONALES | A+
GRADE
## Table of Contents
| Section | Topic | Questions |
|---------|------------------------------|-----------|
| 1 | Nursing Process & Clinical Judgment | 1–40 |
| 2 | Patient Safety & Quality Improvement | 41–80 |
| 3 | Medication Administration & Calculations | 81–120 |
| 4 | Documentation & Legal/Ethical Issues | 121–160 |
| 5 | Communication & Patient Education | 161–195 |
| 6 | Mobility & Immobility | 196–230 |
| 7 | Hygiene & Skin Care | 231–260 |
| 8 | Nutrition & Hydration | 261–300 |
---
,2|Page
## Section 1: Nursing Process & Clinical Judgment
**Questions 1–40**
**1.** Which phase of the nursing process involves collecting
subjective and objective data?
A) Assessment
B) Diagnosis
C) Planning
D) Evaluation
**Answer: A** – Assessment is the first step.
**2.** A nurse measures a patient's blood pressure and heart rate. This is
an example of:
A) Subjective data
B) Objective data
C) Primary data
D) Secondary data
**Answer: B** – Objective data are measurable and observable.
**3.** A patient reports feeling nauseous and dizzy. This is an example
of:
A) Objective data
B) Subjective data
,3|Page
C) Secondary data
D) Assessment data
**Answer: B** – Subjective data are what the patient reports.
**4.** Which nursing diagnosis is written correctly?
A) Pain related to surgery
B) Acute Pain related to surgical incision as evidenced by patient report
of 8/10 pain
C) Acute Pain
D) Risk for Pain
**Answer: B** – Correct format: (NANDA label) related to (etiology)
as evidenced by (defining characteristics).
**5.** Which part of a nursing diagnosis describes the cause of the
problem?
A) Defining characteristics
B) Etiology
C) NANDA label
D) Descriptor
**Answer: B** – Etiology = related to.
**6.** A nurse identifies that a patient is at risk for falls. This is an
example of:
, 4|Page
A) Actual nursing diagnosis
B) Risk nursing diagnosis
C) Health promotion diagnosis
D) Medical diagnosis
**Answer: B** – Risk diagnosis: problem has not occurred yet.
**7.** Which step of the nursing process involves setting goals and
outcomes?
A) Assessment
B) Diagnosis
C) Planning
D) Implementation
**Answer: C** – Planning includes goal setting.
**8.** A SMART goal should be:
A) Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Timely
B) Simple, Manageable, Achievable, Relevant, Timely
C) Specific, Meaningful, Achievable, Relevant, Testable
D) Subjective, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Timely
**Answer: A** – SMART goals.
**9.** A nurse administers a prescribed medication. This is which phase
of the nursing process?
NUR 242 EXAM 1 – 2026/2027 FUNDAMENTALS
OF MEDICAL-SURGICAL NURSING 300
QUESTIONS | ANSWERS & RATIONALES | A+
GRADE
## Table of Contents
| Section | Topic | Questions |
|---------|------------------------------|-----------|
| 1 | Nursing Process & Clinical Judgment | 1–40 |
| 2 | Patient Safety & Quality Improvement | 41–80 |
| 3 | Medication Administration & Calculations | 81–120 |
| 4 | Documentation & Legal/Ethical Issues | 121–160 |
| 5 | Communication & Patient Education | 161–195 |
| 6 | Mobility & Immobility | 196–230 |
| 7 | Hygiene & Skin Care | 231–260 |
| 8 | Nutrition & Hydration | 261–300 |
---
,2|Page
## Section 1: Nursing Process & Clinical Judgment
**Questions 1–40**
**1.** Which phase of the nursing process involves collecting
subjective and objective data?
A) Assessment
B) Diagnosis
C) Planning
D) Evaluation
**Answer: A** – Assessment is the first step.
**2.** A nurse measures a patient's blood pressure and heart rate. This is
an example of:
A) Subjective data
B) Objective data
C) Primary data
D) Secondary data
**Answer: B** – Objective data are measurable and observable.
**3.** A patient reports feeling nauseous and dizzy. This is an example
of:
A) Objective data
B) Subjective data
,3|Page
C) Secondary data
D) Assessment data
**Answer: B** – Subjective data are what the patient reports.
**4.** Which nursing diagnosis is written correctly?
A) Pain related to surgery
B) Acute Pain related to surgical incision as evidenced by patient report
of 8/10 pain
C) Acute Pain
D) Risk for Pain
**Answer: B** – Correct format: (NANDA label) related to (etiology)
as evidenced by (defining characteristics).
**5.** Which part of a nursing diagnosis describes the cause of the
problem?
A) Defining characteristics
B) Etiology
C) NANDA label
D) Descriptor
**Answer: B** – Etiology = related to.
**6.** A nurse identifies that a patient is at risk for falls. This is an
example of:
, 4|Page
A) Actual nursing diagnosis
B) Risk nursing diagnosis
C) Health promotion diagnosis
D) Medical diagnosis
**Answer: B** – Risk diagnosis: problem has not occurred yet.
**7.** Which step of the nursing process involves setting goals and
outcomes?
A) Assessment
B) Diagnosis
C) Planning
D) Implementation
**Answer: C** – Planning includes goal setting.
**8.** A SMART goal should be:
A) Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Timely
B) Simple, Manageable, Achievable, Relevant, Timely
C) Specific, Meaningful, Achievable, Relevant, Testable
D) Subjective, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Timely
**Answer: A** – SMART goals.
**9.** A nurse administers a prescribed medication. This is which phase
of the nursing process?
