NUR 160 Exam 1 – Fundamental Concepts of
Practical Nursing II Hondros College of Nursing –
2026/2027 Updated verified questions with
answers & rationales
Section 1: Legal & Ethical Issues (Questions 1–20)
1. A nurse witnesses a colleague administering medication without a provider’s order. What is the
nurse’s best action?
A. Ignore it because the colleague is experienced.
B. Report the incident to the nursing supervisor immediately.
C. Confront the colleague in the medication room.
D. Document the incident in the patient’s chart.
Correct Answer: B
• A rationale: Ignoring violates the legal duty to report unsafe practice.
• B rationale: Correct; reporting to the supervisor follows chain of command and protects patient
safety.
• C rationale: Confrontation may escalate conflict; proper channel is supervisor.
• D rationale: Documentation in patient chart is inappropriate unless patient affected; incident
report goes to risk management.
2. A patient refuses a life-saving blood transfusion due to religious beliefs. The nurse should:
A. Administer the blood transfusion quietly.
B. Respect the patient’s refusal and notify the provider.
C. Call a family meeting to change the patient’s mind.
D. Document refusal but administer anyway under implied consent.
Correct Answer: B
• A rationale: Violates patient autonomy and could lead to battery charges.
• B rationale: Correct; competent adults have right to refuse treatment.
• C rationale: Coercion violates ethical principles.
, • D rationale: Administering against refusal is assault/battery.
3. A nursing student fails to report a medication error. This could result in:
A. No consequences if no harm occurred.
B. Liability only for the supervising nurse.
C. Disciplinary action including possible dismissal.
D. Automatic license revocation.
Correct Answer: C
• A rationale: Failure to report is a professional violation even without harm.
• B rationale: Both student and supervisor may share liability.
• C rationale: Correct; schools and boards take unreported errors seriously.
• D rationale: Revocation is possible but not automatic; disciplinary process first.
4. Which action represents a violation of HIPAA?
A. Discussing a patient’s condition with the patient’s spouse.
B. Leaving a computer with patient records unlocked in a hallway.
C. Faxing records to another hospital with a signed release.
D. Giving report to the oncoming nurse at the nurses’ station.
Correct Answer: B
• A rationale: Permitted if patient has consented or spouse is involved in care.
• B rationale: Correct; unlocked screen allows unauthorized viewing.
• C rationale: Appropriate with release and proper cover sheet.
• D rationale: Necessary for continuity of care.
5. A patient falls in the bathroom. The nurse completes an incident report. Where should the report
be sent?
A. Patient’s medical record.
B. Risk management department.
C. Family of the patient.
D. State Board of Nursing.
Correct Answer: B
• A rationale: Incident reports are not part of the medical record (discoverability issue).
• B rationale: Correct; risk management analyzes trends.
• C rationale: Family is informed but does not receive the report.
• D rationale: Only sent if gross negligence or licensing violation.
6. A nurse is asked to float to an unfamiliar unit. The nurse has no training on that unit’s equipment.
Legally, the nurse should:
,A. Refuse the assignment and go home.
B. Accept the assignment and hope for the best.
C. Accept but inform the supervisor of lack of competency.
D. Accept and ask a CNA to operate the equipment.
Correct Answer: C
• A rationale: Refusal may be considered abandonment if not justified.
• B rationale: Practicing beyond competency risks negligence.
• C rationale: Correct; nurse can accept but must clarify limits.
• D rationale: CNAs cannot perform tasks requiring nursing judgment.
7. A patient with a DNR order goes into cardiac arrest. The nurse should:
A. Begin CPR until the provider arrives.
B. Call a code blue immediately.
C. Provide comfort measures only.
D. Ask the family what to do.
Correct Answer: C
• A rationale: DNR means no CPR; doing so violates order.
• B rationale: Code blue would initiate CPR.
• C rationale: Correct; follow DNR – comfort care.
• D rationale: Family cannot override a valid DNR.
8. Which is an example of assault?
A. Restraining a patient without consent.
B. Threatening to give a shot if the patient does not cooperate.
C. Accidentally dropping a patient during transfer.
D. Forgetting to give ordered pain medication.
Correct Answer: B
• A rationale: This is battery (unlawful touching).
• B rationale: Correct; assault is threat of harm.
• C rationale: Potential negligence/accident.
• D rationale: Omission – negligence.
9. A nurse suspects a colleague is impaired due to alcohol smell. Best action:
A. Ignore it to avoid conflict.
B. Report to the nursing supervisor.
C. Confront the colleague in the break room.
D. Call the police.
, Correct Answer: B
• A rationale: Endangers patients.
• B rationale: Correct; duty to report to supervisor.
• C rationale: Not proper chain; supervisor handles.
• D rationale: Police not first step unless immediate danger.
10. A nursing student administers insulin without instructor supervision. This is:
A. Acceptable if the student has practiced before.
B. A violation of the Nurse Practice Act.
C. Permitted if the student signs a waiver.
D. Only a problem if patient is harmed.
Correct Answer: B
• A rationale: Students must be supervised.
• B rationale: Correct; practicing without license/supervision violates law.
• C rationale: Waivers are invalid for illegal acts.
• D rationale: Violation exists regardless of outcome.
11. A patient asks the nurse to keep a secret about a plan to harm someone. The nurse should:
A. Promise to keep the secret.
B. Report the threat to authorities.
C. Ignore it as unlikely.
D. Tell the patient’s family.
Correct Answer: B
• A rationale: Duty to warn overrides confidentiality (Tarasoff).
• B rationale: Correct; protect potential victim.
• C rationale: Failure to act is negligent.
• D rationale: Report to proper authorities, not family.
12. A nurse charts “patient is faking pain to get drugs.” This is:
A. Appropriate professional judgment.
B. Defamation.
C. Required documentation.
D. Protected peer review.
Correct Answer: B
• A rationale: Subjective, judgmental, unprofessional.
• B rationale: Correct; written defamation is libel.
Practical Nursing II Hondros College of Nursing –
2026/2027 Updated verified questions with
answers & rationales
Section 1: Legal & Ethical Issues (Questions 1–20)
1. A nurse witnesses a colleague administering medication without a provider’s order. What is the
nurse’s best action?
A. Ignore it because the colleague is experienced.
B. Report the incident to the nursing supervisor immediately.
C. Confront the colleague in the medication room.
D. Document the incident in the patient’s chart.
Correct Answer: B
• A rationale: Ignoring violates the legal duty to report unsafe practice.
• B rationale: Correct; reporting to the supervisor follows chain of command and protects patient
safety.
• C rationale: Confrontation may escalate conflict; proper channel is supervisor.
• D rationale: Documentation in patient chart is inappropriate unless patient affected; incident
report goes to risk management.
2. A patient refuses a life-saving blood transfusion due to religious beliefs. The nurse should:
A. Administer the blood transfusion quietly.
B. Respect the patient’s refusal and notify the provider.
C. Call a family meeting to change the patient’s mind.
D. Document refusal but administer anyway under implied consent.
Correct Answer: B
• A rationale: Violates patient autonomy and could lead to battery charges.
• B rationale: Correct; competent adults have right to refuse treatment.
• C rationale: Coercion violates ethical principles.
, • D rationale: Administering against refusal is assault/battery.
3. A nursing student fails to report a medication error. This could result in:
A. No consequences if no harm occurred.
B. Liability only for the supervising nurse.
C. Disciplinary action including possible dismissal.
D. Automatic license revocation.
Correct Answer: C
• A rationale: Failure to report is a professional violation even without harm.
• B rationale: Both student and supervisor may share liability.
• C rationale: Correct; schools and boards take unreported errors seriously.
• D rationale: Revocation is possible but not automatic; disciplinary process first.
4. Which action represents a violation of HIPAA?
A. Discussing a patient’s condition with the patient’s spouse.
B. Leaving a computer with patient records unlocked in a hallway.
C. Faxing records to another hospital with a signed release.
D. Giving report to the oncoming nurse at the nurses’ station.
Correct Answer: B
• A rationale: Permitted if patient has consented or spouse is involved in care.
• B rationale: Correct; unlocked screen allows unauthorized viewing.
• C rationale: Appropriate with release and proper cover sheet.
• D rationale: Necessary for continuity of care.
5. A patient falls in the bathroom. The nurse completes an incident report. Where should the report
be sent?
A. Patient’s medical record.
B. Risk management department.
C. Family of the patient.
D. State Board of Nursing.
Correct Answer: B
• A rationale: Incident reports are not part of the medical record (discoverability issue).
• B rationale: Correct; risk management analyzes trends.
• C rationale: Family is informed but does not receive the report.
• D rationale: Only sent if gross negligence or licensing violation.
6. A nurse is asked to float to an unfamiliar unit. The nurse has no training on that unit’s equipment.
Legally, the nurse should:
,A. Refuse the assignment and go home.
B. Accept the assignment and hope for the best.
C. Accept but inform the supervisor of lack of competency.
D. Accept and ask a CNA to operate the equipment.
Correct Answer: C
• A rationale: Refusal may be considered abandonment if not justified.
• B rationale: Practicing beyond competency risks negligence.
• C rationale: Correct; nurse can accept but must clarify limits.
• D rationale: CNAs cannot perform tasks requiring nursing judgment.
7. A patient with a DNR order goes into cardiac arrest. The nurse should:
A. Begin CPR until the provider arrives.
B. Call a code blue immediately.
C. Provide comfort measures only.
D. Ask the family what to do.
Correct Answer: C
• A rationale: DNR means no CPR; doing so violates order.
• B rationale: Code blue would initiate CPR.
• C rationale: Correct; follow DNR – comfort care.
• D rationale: Family cannot override a valid DNR.
8. Which is an example of assault?
A. Restraining a patient without consent.
B. Threatening to give a shot if the patient does not cooperate.
C. Accidentally dropping a patient during transfer.
D. Forgetting to give ordered pain medication.
Correct Answer: B
• A rationale: This is battery (unlawful touching).
• B rationale: Correct; assault is threat of harm.
• C rationale: Potential negligence/accident.
• D rationale: Omission – negligence.
9. A nurse suspects a colleague is impaired due to alcohol smell. Best action:
A. Ignore it to avoid conflict.
B. Report to the nursing supervisor.
C. Confront the colleague in the break room.
D. Call the police.
, Correct Answer: B
• A rationale: Endangers patients.
• B rationale: Correct; duty to report to supervisor.
• C rationale: Not proper chain; supervisor handles.
• D rationale: Police not first step unless immediate danger.
10. A nursing student administers insulin without instructor supervision. This is:
A. Acceptable if the student has practiced before.
B. A violation of the Nurse Practice Act.
C. Permitted if the student signs a waiver.
D. Only a problem if patient is harmed.
Correct Answer: B
• A rationale: Students must be supervised.
• B rationale: Correct; practicing without license/supervision violates law.
• C rationale: Waivers are invalid for illegal acts.
• D rationale: Violation exists regardless of outcome.
11. A patient asks the nurse to keep a secret about a plan to harm someone. The nurse should:
A. Promise to keep the secret.
B. Report the threat to authorities.
C. Ignore it as unlikely.
D. Tell the patient’s family.
Correct Answer: B
• A rationale: Duty to warn overrides confidentiality (Tarasoff).
• B rationale: Correct; protect potential victim.
• C rationale: Failure to act is negligent.
• D rationale: Report to proper authorities, not family.
12. A nurse charts “patient is faking pain to get drugs.” This is:
A. Appropriate professional judgment.
B. Defamation.
C. Required documentation.
D. Protected peer review.
Correct Answer: B
• A rationale: Subjective, judgmental, unprofessional.
• B rationale: Correct; written defamation is libel.
