NSG 3130 Exam 3
Fundamental Concepts and Skills for Nursing Practice
II
Galen College of Nursing
2026/2027 |Newly Released
50 Verified questions & Answers with Detailed Rationales
Graded A+
Loss, Grief, Stress & Coping
Q1: The nurse is caring for a patient who was just told their cancer has returned after being in
remission for years. The patient smiles and says, "The lab results must be wrong. I feel great."
The nurse identifies this statement as most consistent with which Kübler‑Ross stage of grieving?
A. Depression
B. Anger
C. Denial [CORRECT]
D. Acceptance
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The best answer is Denial because the patient is refusing to accept the reality of the
diagnosis and acting as if everything is fine, which is a common first defense mechanism to
protect oneself from overwhelming shock.
Q2: A nursing student asks the instructor to define the difference between palliative care and
hospice care. Which explanation by the instructor is most accurate?
A. Palliative care is only for patients who are actively dying, while hospice is for any stage of
serious illness.
B. Hospice care is for patients with a life expectancy of 6 months or less who have stopped
curative treatment, while palliative care can be provided at any time during a serious
illness. [CORRECT]
C. There is no difference; the terms are interchangeable.
D. Palliative care focuses on physical comfort, while hospice focuses on spiritual care only.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer distinguishes hospice as a specific type of palliative care focused on
the last 6 months of life and comfort, whereas palliative care can begin at diagnosis and be
provided alongside curative treatments.
, Q3: A patient who recently underwent a mastectomy is crying and tells the nurse, "I feel like I
am less of a woman now and I am afraid my husband won’t find me attractive." Which
statement by the nurse best addresses the patient’s self-concept?
A. "You are still the same person you were before the surgery."
B. "You should be grateful the cancer is gone."
C. "It sounds like your body image has changed, and you are worried about how this
affects your sexuality and self-worth. Can you tell me more about that?" [CORRECT]
D. "Many women wear prostheses that look very natural."
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The best answer uses a therapeutic communication technique to explore the patient’s
feelings rather than offering a platitude or false reassurance. It validates the patient’s concern
about body image and relationships.
Q4: The nurse is discussing legal documentation regarding end -of-life decisions with a group of
students. Which documents are essential components of an advance directive? Select all that
apply.
A. Living Will
B. Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare
C. Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order
D. Provider’s Progress Notes [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: A, B
Rationale: The best answers are A and B because these are the two main legal documents that
make up an advance directive: a Living Will detailing specific wishes, and a Durable Power of
Attorney appointing a surrogate decision-maker. A DNR is a specific medical order, not the
directive itself.
Q5: A middle-aged man whose spouse died suddenly is observed yelling at the hospital staff,
blaming them for not saving her, and saying, "It’s not fair! She took care of everything!" The
nurse recognizes this behavior as characteristic of which Kübler‑Ross stage?
A. Denial
B. Anger [CORRECT]
C. Bargaining
D. Depression
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is Anger because the patient is projecting his frustration and grief
onto the healthcare system and expressing feelings of injustice and resentment, which are typical
of the second stage.
Fundamental Concepts and Skills for Nursing Practice
II
Galen College of Nursing
2026/2027 |Newly Released
50 Verified questions & Answers with Detailed Rationales
Graded A+
Loss, Grief, Stress & Coping
Q1: The nurse is caring for a patient who was just told their cancer has returned after being in
remission for years. The patient smiles and says, "The lab results must be wrong. I feel great."
The nurse identifies this statement as most consistent with which Kübler‑Ross stage of grieving?
A. Depression
B. Anger
C. Denial [CORRECT]
D. Acceptance
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The best answer is Denial because the patient is refusing to accept the reality of the
diagnosis and acting as if everything is fine, which is a common first defense mechanism to
protect oneself from overwhelming shock.
Q2: A nursing student asks the instructor to define the difference between palliative care and
hospice care. Which explanation by the instructor is most accurate?
A. Palliative care is only for patients who are actively dying, while hospice is for any stage of
serious illness.
B. Hospice care is for patients with a life expectancy of 6 months or less who have stopped
curative treatment, while palliative care can be provided at any time during a serious
illness. [CORRECT]
C. There is no difference; the terms are interchangeable.
D. Palliative care focuses on physical comfort, while hospice focuses on spiritual care only.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer distinguishes hospice as a specific type of palliative care focused on
the last 6 months of life and comfort, whereas palliative care can begin at diagnosis and be
provided alongside curative treatments.
, Q3: A patient who recently underwent a mastectomy is crying and tells the nurse, "I feel like I
am less of a woman now and I am afraid my husband won’t find me attractive." Which
statement by the nurse best addresses the patient’s self-concept?
A. "You are still the same person you were before the surgery."
B. "You should be grateful the cancer is gone."
C. "It sounds like your body image has changed, and you are worried about how this
affects your sexuality and self-worth. Can you tell me more about that?" [CORRECT]
D. "Many women wear prostheses that look very natural."
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The best answer uses a therapeutic communication technique to explore the patient’s
feelings rather than offering a platitude or false reassurance. It validates the patient’s concern
about body image and relationships.
Q4: The nurse is discussing legal documentation regarding end -of-life decisions with a group of
students. Which documents are essential components of an advance directive? Select all that
apply.
A. Living Will
B. Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare
C. Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order
D. Provider’s Progress Notes [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: A, B
Rationale: The best answers are A and B because these are the two main legal documents that
make up an advance directive: a Living Will detailing specific wishes, and a Durable Power of
Attorney appointing a surrogate decision-maker. A DNR is a specific medical order, not the
directive itself.
Q5: A middle-aged man whose spouse died suddenly is observed yelling at the hospital staff,
blaming them for not saving her, and saying, "It’s not fair! She took care of everything!" The
nurse recognizes this behavior as characteristic of which Kübler‑Ross stage?
A. Denial
B. Anger [CORRECT]
C. Bargaining
D. Depression
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is Anger because the patient is projecting his frustration and grief
onto the healthcare system and expressing feelings of injustice and resentment, which are typical
of the second stage.
