Chamberlain University
1 MAXE 422 RN
★ ★
College of Nursing & Public Health
C
C A R E • CO M P E T E N C E • CO N F I D E N C E
EST. 1889
NR 224 — Fundamentals of Nursing
E X A M 1 : C R I T I C A L T H I N K I N G , N U R S I N G P R O C E SS , I N F E C T I O N CO N T R O L , M O B I L I TY &
V I TA L S I G N S
INSTITUTION Chamberlain University — COURSE NR 224 – Fundamentals of
College of Nursing & Public Nursing
Health
EXAM VERSION Latest Update TOTAL QUESTIONS 90 Q&A with Clinical Rationale
FORMAT Multiple Choice – Select the GRADE A – 100% Correct Verified
Single Best Answer Answers
EXAMINATION STUDY GUIDE
▸ This document contains verified Q&A for NR 224 Fundamentals of Nursing Exam 1 (2025/2026 Update).
▸ Covers critical thinking, nursing process, diagnostic reasoning, infection control, PPE, asepsis, mobility aids,
crutch gaits, patient positioning, immobility complications, and vital signs.
▸ Each answer includes clinical rationale based on evidence-based practice and Chamberlain University nursing
curriculum standards.
▸ Use this guide to prepare for the exam and for clinical application in foundational nursing practice.
SECTION I — CRITICAL THINKING & NURSING PROCESS Q1–Q16
1. While assessing a patient, the nurse observes the patient's IV line is not infusing at the ordered rate.
The nurse assesses for pain at the IV site, checks the flow regulator, looks to see if the patient is lying
on the tubing, checks the point of connection between the tubing and the IV catheter, and then checks
the condition of the site where the IV catheter enters the patient's skin. After the nurse readjusts the
flow rate, the infusion begins at the correct rate. This is an example of:
CORRECT ANSWER: D. Problem solving
RATIONALE: Problem solving involves identifying a problem (IV not infusing at ordered rate) and systematically
working through potential causes to find a solution. The nurse used a step-by-step approach to identify the cause and
correct the flow rate.
,2. The nurse sits down to talk with a patient who lost her sister 2 weeks ago. The patient reports she is
unable to sleep, feels very fatigued during the day, and is having trouble at work. The nurse asks her to
clarify the type of trouble. The patient explains she can't concentrate or even solve simple problems.
The nurse records the results of the assessment, describing the patient as having ineffective coping.
This is an example of:
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Diagnostic reasoning
RATIONALE: Diagnostic reasoning is the process of analyzing assessment data to make a judgment or diagnosis
(ineffective coping). The nurse gathered data, clarified information, and formulated a nursing diagnosis.
3. A patient on a surgical unit develops sudden shortness of breath and a drop in BP. The staff respond,
but the patient dies 30 minutes later. The manager on the nursing unit calls the staff involved in the
emergency response together. The staff discusses what occurred over the 30 minute time frame, the
actions taken, and whether other steps should have been implemented. The nurses in this situation
are:
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Conducting reflective practice
RATIONALE: Reflective practice involves reviewing clinical experiences to learn and improve future performance.
The group discussion after the event demonstrates reflective practice and quality improvement.
4. A nurse has worked on an oncology unit for 3 years. One patient has become visibly weaker and states,
"I feel funny". The nurse knows how patients often have behavior changes before developing sepsis
when they have cancer. The nurse asks the patient questions to assess thinking skills and notices the
patient shivering. The nurse goes to the phone, calls the physician, and begins the conversation by
saying, "I believe that your patient is developing sepsis. I want to report symptoms I'm seeing." What
examples of critical thinking concepts does the nurse show? (Select all that apply)
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Analyticity, D. Self-confidence
RATIONALE: Analyticity: The nurse analyzed the patient's symptoms (weakness, behavior change, shivering) to
identify sepsis risk. Self-confidence: The nurse confidently stated her belief that the patient was developing sepsis and
reported findings to the physician.
5. A nurse who is working on a surgical unit is caring for four different patients. Patient A will be
discharged home and is in need of instruction about wound care. Patients B and C have returned from
the operating room within an hour of each other, and both require vital signs and monitoring of their
intravenous (IV) lines. Patient D is resting following a visit by physical therapy. Which of the following
activities by the nurse represent(s) use of clinical decision making for groups of patients? (Select all
that apply)
CORRECT ANSWER: A and C
RATIONALE: Clinical decision making for groups involves prioritizing and combining care activities. Involving Patient
A in decisions and combining care for Patients B and C demonstrates efficient group management.
, 6. The surgical unit has initiated the use of a pain-rating scale to assess patients' pain severity during
their postoperative recovery. The registered nurse (RN) looks at the pain flow sheet to see the pain
scores recorded for a patient over the last 24 hours. Use of the pain scale is an example of which
intellectual standard?
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Consistent
RATIONALE: Using a standardized pain scale ensures consistency in pain assessment across different nurses and
shifts. Consistency allows for accurate trending of pain over time.
7. During a home health visit the nurse prepares to instruct a patient in how to perform range-of-motion
(ROM) exercises for an injured shoulder. The nurse verifies that the patient took an analgesic 30
minutes before arrival. After discussing the purpose and demonstrating each one, the nurse has the
patient perform them. After two attempts with only the second of three exercises, the patient stops
and says, "This hurts too much. I don't see why I have to do this so many times." The nurse applies the
critical thinking attitude of integrity in which of the following actions?
CORRECT ANSWER: A
RATIONALE: Integrity involves being honest and following through with necessary care while acknowledging patient
concerns. The nurse acknowledges the patient's pain but reinforces the necessity of the exercises.
8. The nurse cared for a 14-year-old with renal failure who died near the end of the work shift. The health
care team tried for 45 minutes to resuscitate the child with no success. The family was devastated by
the loss. Which of the following examples of journal entries might best help the nurse reflect and think
about this clinical experience? (Select all that apply)
CORRECT ANSWER: B, C, D
RATIONALE: Reflective journaling includes clinical details, emotional responses, and future learning. Describing
clinical efforts, the personal meaning of the experience, and how to approach differently promotes professional
growth.
9. A nurse has been working on a surgical unit for 3 weeks. A patient requires a Foley catheter to be
inserted, so the nurse reads the procedure manual for the institution to review how to insert it. The
level of critical thinking the nurse is using is:
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Basic critical thinking
RATIONALE: Basic critical thinking involves following rules and procedures without independent analysis. The nurse
is following the procedure manual rather than making independent clinical judgments.
1 MAXE 422 RN
★ ★
College of Nursing & Public Health
C
C A R E • CO M P E T E N C E • CO N F I D E N C E
EST. 1889
NR 224 — Fundamentals of Nursing
E X A M 1 : C R I T I C A L T H I N K I N G , N U R S I N G P R O C E SS , I N F E C T I O N CO N T R O L , M O B I L I TY &
V I TA L S I G N S
INSTITUTION Chamberlain University — COURSE NR 224 – Fundamentals of
College of Nursing & Public Nursing
Health
EXAM VERSION Latest Update TOTAL QUESTIONS 90 Q&A with Clinical Rationale
FORMAT Multiple Choice – Select the GRADE A – 100% Correct Verified
Single Best Answer Answers
EXAMINATION STUDY GUIDE
▸ This document contains verified Q&A for NR 224 Fundamentals of Nursing Exam 1 (2025/2026 Update).
▸ Covers critical thinking, nursing process, diagnostic reasoning, infection control, PPE, asepsis, mobility aids,
crutch gaits, patient positioning, immobility complications, and vital signs.
▸ Each answer includes clinical rationale based on evidence-based practice and Chamberlain University nursing
curriculum standards.
▸ Use this guide to prepare for the exam and for clinical application in foundational nursing practice.
SECTION I — CRITICAL THINKING & NURSING PROCESS Q1–Q16
1. While assessing a patient, the nurse observes the patient's IV line is not infusing at the ordered rate.
The nurse assesses for pain at the IV site, checks the flow regulator, looks to see if the patient is lying
on the tubing, checks the point of connection between the tubing and the IV catheter, and then checks
the condition of the site where the IV catheter enters the patient's skin. After the nurse readjusts the
flow rate, the infusion begins at the correct rate. This is an example of:
CORRECT ANSWER: D. Problem solving
RATIONALE: Problem solving involves identifying a problem (IV not infusing at ordered rate) and systematically
working through potential causes to find a solution. The nurse used a step-by-step approach to identify the cause and
correct the flow rate.
,2. The nurse sits down to talk with a patient who lost her sister 2 weeks ago. The patient reports she is
unable to sleep, feels very fatigued during the day, and is having trouble at work. The nurse asks her to
clarify the type of trouble. The patient explains she can't concentrate or even solve simple problems.
The nurse records the results of the assessment, describing the patient as having ineffective coping.
This is an example of:
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Diagnostic reasoning
RATIONALE: Diagnostic reasoning is the process of analyzing assessment data to make a judgment or diagnosis
(ineffective coping). The nurse gathered data, clarified information, and formulated a nursing diagnosis.
3. A patient on a surgical unit develops sudden shortness of breath and a drop in BP. The staff respond,
but the patient dies 30 minutes later. The manager on the nursing unit calls the staff involved in the
emergency response together. The staff discusses what occurred over the 30 minute time frame, the
actions taken, and whether other steps should have been implemented. The nurses in this situation
are:
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Conducting reflective practice
RATIONALE: Reflective practice involves reviewing clinical experiences to learn and improve future performance.
The group discussion after the event demonstrates reflective practice and quality improvement.
4. A nurse has worked on an oncology unit for 3 years. One patient has become visibly weaker and states,
"I feel funny". The nurse knows how patients often have behavior changes before developing sepsis
when they have cancer. The nurse asks the patient questions to assess thinking skills and notices the
patient shivering. The nurse goes to the phone, calls the physician, and begins the conversation by
saying, "I believe that your patient is developing sepsis. I want to report symptoms I'm seeing." What
examples of critical thinking concepts does the nurse show? (Select all that apply)
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Analyticity, D. Self-confidence
RATIONALE: Analyticity: The nurse analyzed the patient's symptoms (weakness, behavior change, shivering) to
identify sepsis risk. Self-confidence: The nurse confidently stated her belief that the patient was developing sepsis and
reported findings to the physician.
5. A nurse who is working on a surgical unit is caring for four different patients. Patient A will be
discharged home and is in need of instruction about wound care. Patients B and C have returned from
the operating room within an hour of each other, and both require vital signs and monitoring of their
intravenous (IV) lines. Patient D is resting following a visit by physical therapy. Which of the following
activities by the nurse represent(s) use of clinical decision making for groups of patients? (Select all
that apply)
CORRECT ANSWER: A and C
RATIONALE: Clinical decision making for groups involves prioritizing and combining care activities. Involving Patient
A in decisions and combining care for Patients B and C demonstrates efficient group management.
, 6. The surgical unit has initiated the use of a pain-rating scale to assess patients' pain severity during
their postoperative recovery. The registered nurse (RN) looks at the pain flow sheet to see the pain
scores recorded for a patient over the last 24 hours. Use of the pain scale is an example of which
intellectual standard?
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Consistent
RATIONALE: Using a standardized pain scale ensures consistency in pain assessment across different nurses and
shifts. Consistency allows for accurate trending of pain over time.
7. During a home health visit the nurse prepares to instruct a patient in how to perform range-of-motion
(ROM) exercises for an injured shoulder. The nurse verifies that the patient took an analgesic 30
minutes before arrival. After discussing the purpose and demonstrating each one, the nurse has the
patient perform them. After two attempts with only the second of three exercises, the patient stops
and says, "This hurts too much. I don't see why I have to do this so many times." The nurse applies the
critical thinking attitude of integrity in which of the following actions?
CORRECT ANSWER: A
RATIONALE: Integrity involves being honest and following through with necessary care while acknowledging patient
concerns. The nurse acknowledges the patient's pain but reinforces the necessity of the exercises.
8. The nurse cared for a 14-year-old with renal failure who died near the end of the work shift. The health
care team tried for 45 minutes to resuscitate the child with no success. The family was devastated by
the loss. Which of the following examples of journal entries might best help the nurse reflect and think
about this clinical experience? (Select all that apply)
CORRECT ANSWER: B, C, D
RATIONALE: Reflective journaling includes clinical details, emotional responses, and future learning. Describing
clinical efforts, the personal meaning of the experience, and how to approach differently promotes professional
growth.
9. A nurse has been working on a surgical unit for 3 weeks. A patient requires a Foley catheter to be
inserted, so the nurse reads the procedure manual for the institution to review how to insert it. The
level of critical thinking the nurse is using is:
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Basic critical thinking
RATIONALE: Basic critical thinking involves following rules and procedures without independent analysis. The nurse
is following the procedure manual rather than making independent clinical judgments.
