1
NSG 3100 Exam 1 Galen College Fundamentals
of Nursing Actual Exam 2026/2027 – Complete
Exam-Style Questions with Detailed Rationales |
Pass Guaranteed – A+ Graded
[SECTION 1: NURSING HISTORY, THEORIES & PROFESSIONALISM — Questions 1-12]
Q1: Which nurse is credited with establishing the first school of nursing and emphasizing
environmental cleanliness as the primary factor in patient recovery?
A. Clara Barton
B. Dorothea Dix
C. Florence Nightingale
D. Virginia Henderson
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Florence Nightingale is known as the founder of modern nursing. During the Crimean
War, she reduced mortality rates by improving sanitation, ventilation, and cleanliness in the
hospital environment, establishing that environmental factors significantly impact patient
outcomes. Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross, and Dorothea Dix advocated for the
mentally ill. Henderson later defined the 14 basic needs, but Nightingale pioneered
environmental theory.
Q2: According to Dorothea Orem’s Self-Care Deficit theory, when does nursing care become
necessary?
A. When the patient is in critical condition
B. When the patient is unable to meet their own self-care requisites
C. When the physician orders a nursing intervention
D. When the family requests assistance
Correct Answer: B
,2
Rationale: Orem's theory posits that nursing is required when a patient is unable to perform self-
care activities to maintain life, health, and well-being. The nurse assists by performing the care
for them (wholly compensatory system) or helping them do it (supportive-educative system). It is
not based solely on critical condition or physician orders, but on the patient's capacity to care for
themselves.
Q3: Which of the following statements best describes Virginia Henderson’s definition of
nursing?
A. The unique function of the nurse is to assist the individual, sick or well, in the performance of
those activities contributing to health or its recovery.
B. Nursing is the diagnosis and treatment of human responses to actual or potential health
problems.
C. Caring is the central and unifying domain of nursing.
D. The goal of nursing is to promote adaptation in four modes.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Henderson defined nursing as helping the individual (sick or well) perform activities
contributing to health or recovery that they would perform unaided if they had the necessary
strength, will, or knowledge. Option B refers to the ANA definition of nursing (Roy/Orlando),
Option C is Watson, and Option D is Roy.
Q4: Patricia Benner’s "Novice to Expert" theory proposes that nursing knowledge is acquired
through:
A. Strict adherence to evidence-based guidelines.
B. Extensive theoretical study and written exams.
C. Clinical experience and mentorship, moving through five stages of skill acquisition.
D. Genetic inheritance of caring traits.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Benner’s model suggests that nurses move through five stages of proficiency: Novice,
Advanced Beginner, Competent, Proficient, and Expert. This progression occurs through direct
,3
clinical experience and mentorship, where the nurse moves from relying on abstract rules to
using past concrete situations to understand current care needs.
Q5: Which nurse theorist is best known for her "Science of Unitary Human Beings" and the
concept of "Caritas"?
A. Madeleine Leininger
B. Jean Watson
C. Callista Roy
D. Martha Rogers
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Jean Watson developed the Theory of Human Caring, focusing on the "caritas"
processes (loving-kindness, sensitivity) as the core of nursing practice. Martha Rogers (Science
of Unitary Human Beings) focused on energy fields, while Leininger focused on Culture Care
diversity and universality.
Q6: Sister Callista Roy’s Adaptation Model identifies four adaptive modes. Which of the
following is NOT one of the four modes?
A. Physiologic
B. Self-Concept
C. Role Function
D. Spiritual
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Roy's four adaptive modes are Physiologic, Self-Concept/Group Identity, Role
Function, and Interdependence. While spiritual considerations are integrated into care, they are
not classified as one of the primary distinct adaptive modes in her model.
Q7: Hildegard Peplau’s Interpersonal Relations Theory focuses on which of the following
phases?
, 4
A. Assessment, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation
B. Orientation, Exploitation, Resolution
C. Pre-convention, Conventional, Post-conventional
D. Trust, Mistrust, Autonomy
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Peplau’s theory focuses on the nurse-patient relationship, which develops through
three phases: Orientation (where the patient seeks help), Exploitation (where the patient uses
professional help), and Resolution (where the patient lets go of old goals and adopts new ones.
Options C and D refer to developmental theories like Kohlberg and Erikson.
Q8: Who was the first professionally trained African American nurse in the United States?
A. Sojourner Truth
B. Mary Eliza Mahoney
C. Harriet Tubman
D. Lillian Wald
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Mary Eliza Mahoney was the first African American to graduate from a nursing
program in the United States in 1879. Sojourner Truth was an abolitionist, and Harriet Tubman
was known for her role in the Underground Railroad but was not a professionally trained nurse.
Q9: Which historical figure is credited with founding the American Red Cross?
A. Florence Nightingale
B. Clara Barton
C. Dorothea Dix
D. Lillian Wald
Correct Answer: B
NSG 3100 Exam 1 Galen College Fundamentals
of Nursing Actual Exam 2026/2027 – Complete
Exam-Style Questions with Detailed Rationales |
Pass Guaranteed – A+ Graded
[SECTION 1: NURSING HISTORY, THEORIES & PROFESSIONALISM — Questions 1-12]
Q1: Which nurse is credited with establishing the first school of nursing and emphasizing
environmental cleanliness as the primary factor in patient recovery?
A. Clara Barton
B. Dorothea Dix
C. Florence Nightingale
D. Virginia Henderson
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Florence Nightingale is known as the founder of modern nursing. During the Crimean
War, she reduced mortality rates by improving sanitation, ventilation, and cleanliness in the
hospital environment, establishing that environmental factors significantly impact patient
outcomes. Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross, and Dorothea Dix advocated for the
mentally ill. Henderson later defined the 14 basic needs, but Nightingale pioneered
environmental theory.
Q2: According to Dorothea Orem’s Self-Care Deficit theory, when does nursing care become
necessary?
A. When the patient is in critical condition
B. When the patient is unable to meet their own self-care requisites
C. When the physician orders a nursing intervention
D. When the family requests assistance
Correct Answer: B
,2
Rationale: Orem's theory posits that nursing is required when a patient is unable to perform self-
care activities to maintain life, health, and well-being. The nurse assists by performing the care
for them (wholly compensatory system) or helping them do it (supportive-educative system). It is
not based solely on critical condition or physician orders, but on the patient's capacity to care for
themselves.
Q3: Which of the following statements best describes Virginia Henderson’s definition of
nursing?
A. The unique function of the nurse is to assist the individual, sick or well, in the performance of
those activities contributing to health or its recovery.
B. Nursing is the diagnosis and treatment of human responses to actual or potential health
problems.
C. Caring is the central and unifying domain of nursing.
D. The goal of nursing is to promote adaptation in four modes.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Henderson defined nursing as helping the individual (sick or well) perform activities
contributing to health or recovery that they would perform unaided if they had the necessary
strength, will, or knowledge. Option B refers to the ANA definition of nursing (Roy/Orlando),
Option C is Watson, and Option D is Roy.
Q4: Patricia Benner’s "Novice to Expert" theory proposes that nursing knowledge is acquired
through:
A. Strict adherence to evidence-based guidelines.
B. Extensive theoretical study and written exams.
C. Clinical experience and mentorship, moving through five stages of skill acquisition.
D. Genetic inheritance of caring traits.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Benner’s model suggests that nurses move through five stages of proficiency: Novice,
Advanced Beginner, Competent, Proficient, and Expert. This progression occurs through direct
,3
clinical experience and mentorship, where the nurse moves from relying on abstract rules to
using past concrete situations to understand current care needs.
Q5: Which nurse theorist is best known for her "Science of Unitary Human Beings" and the
concept of "Caritas"?
A. Madeleine Leininger
B. Jean Watson
C. Callista Roy
D. Martha Rogers
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Jean Watson developed the Theory of Human Caring, focusing on the "caritas"
processes (loving-kindness, sensitivity) as the core of nursing practice. Martha Rogers (Science
of Unitary Human Beings) focused on energy fields, while Leininger focused on Culture Care
diversity and universality.
Q6: Sister Callista Roy’s Adaptation Model identifies four adaptive modes. Which of the
following is NOT one of the four modes?
A. Physiologic
B. Self-Concept
C. Role Function
D. Spiritual
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Roy's four adaptive modes are Physiologic, Self-Concept/Group Identity, Role
Function, and Interdependence. While spiritual considerations are integrated into care, they are
not classified as one of the primary distinct adaptive modes in her model.
Q7: Hildegard Peplau’s Interpersonal Relations Theory focuses on which of the following
phases?
, 4
A. Assessment, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation
B. Orientation, Exploitation, Resolution
C. Pre-convention, Conventional, Post-conventional
D. Trust, Mistrust, Autonomy
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Peplau’s theory focuses on the nurse-patient relationship, which develops through
three phases: Orientation (where the patient seeks help), Exploitation (where the patient uses
professional help), and Resolution (where the patient lets go of old goals and adopts new ones.
Options C and D refer to developmental theories like Kohlberg and Erikson.
Q8: Who was the first professionally trained African American nurse in the United States?
A. Sojourner Truth
B. Mary Eliza Mahoney
C. Harriet Tubman
D. Lillian Wald
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Mary Eliza Mahoney was the first African American to graduate from a nursing
program in the United States in 1879. Sojourner Truth was an abolitionist, and Harriet Tubman
was known for her role in the Underground Railroad but was not a professionally trained nurse.
Q9: Which historical figure is credited with founding the American Red Cross?
A. Florence Nightingale
B. Clara Barton
C. Dorothea Dix
D. Lillian Wald
Correct Answer: B
