Fundamentals of Nursing Test Bank
2026/2027 – Comprehensive NCLEX-Style
Questions & Answers Study Guide for Exam
Success
FUNDAMENTALS OF NURSING TEST BANK 2026/2027
Comprehensive NCLEX-Style Questions & Answers Study Guide
• This test bank contains 200 NCLEX-style questions covering all core fundamentals
of nursing topics, designed to build critical thinking and boost exam confidence.
• Each question features five options (A–E), a clearly highlighted correct answer with
EXPERT RATIONALE, and is formatted for progressive, topic-by-topic self-study.
1. A nurse is caring for a patient admitted with chest pain. Which step of the
nursing process involves gathering information about the patient's health
status?
A. Planning
B. Implementation
C. Evaluation
D. Assessment
E. Diagnosis
Correct Answer: D. Assessment
Assessment is the first step of the nursing process and involves the systematic
collection of subjective and objective data about the patient to establish a baseline
and identify health problems.
2. A nurse identifies that a patient has ineffective airway clearance. This is an
example of which step of the nursing process?
, A. Assessment
B. Planning
C. Nursing Diagnosis
D. Implementation
E. Evaluation
Correct Answer: C. Nursing Diagnosis
The nursing diagnosis is the second step of the nursing process, where the nurse
analyzes assessment data to identify actual or potential health problems that
nursing interventions can address.
3. A nurse sets a goal that a patient will ambulate 50 feet by end of shift. This
is part of which nursing process step?
A. Assessment
B. Diagnosis
C. Planning
D. Implementation
E. Evaluation
Correct Answer: C. Planning
Planning involves setting measurable, patient-centered goals and identifying
nursing interventions to achieve them. Goals must be specific, measurable,
attainable, realistic, and time-bound (SMART).
4. Which action best represents the implementation phase of the nursing
process?
A. Reviewing lab results
B. Writing a care plan
, C. Identifying nursing diagnoses
D. Administering prescribed medication
E. Setting patient goals
Correct Answer: D. Administering prescribed medication
Implementation is the action phase where the nurse carries out planned
interventions, including administering medications, performing procedures, and
providing patient education.
5. A nurse reassesses a patient after administering pain medication to
determine if the intervention was effective. This represents which step?
A. Assessment
B. Diagnosis
C. Planning
D. Implementation
E. Evaluation
Correct Answer: E. Evaluation
Evaluation is the final step of the nursing process in which the nurse measures
whether patient goals have been met, partially met, or not met, and revises the care
plan accordingly.
SECTION 2: VITAL SIGNS
6. A nurse is assessing a patient's blood pressure and obtains a reading of
148/94 mmHg on two separate occasions. How should the nurse interpret this
finding?
A. Normal blood pressure
, B. Hypotension
C. White coat hypertension
D. Hypertension
E. Prehypertension
Correct Answer: D. Hypertension
According to JNC guidelines, hypertension is defined as a sustained blood pressure
of 140/90 mmHg or higher on two or more readings. This patient's reading of
148/94 meets that criteria.
7. The nurse is assessing a patient's radial pulse and notes it is irregular. What
should the nurse do next?
A. Immediately notify the physician
B. Recheck after 30 minutes
C. Document and continue care
D. Assess the apical pulse for one full minute
E. Request an ECG immediately
Correct Answer: D. Assess the apical pulse for one full minute
When a radial pulse is irregular, the nurse should auscultate the apical pulse for a
full minute to obtain a more accurate heart rate and determine the presence and
pattern of irregularity before escalating care.
8. A patient's temperature is 39.4°C (103°F). Which term correctly describes
this finding?
A. Hypothermia
B. Normothermia
C. Afebrile
2026/2027 – Comprehensive NCLEX-Style
Questions & Answers Study Guide for Exam
Success
FUNDAMENTALS OF NURSING TEST BANK 2026/2027
Comprehensive NCLEX-Style Questions & Answers Study Guide
• This test bank contains 200 NCLEX-style questions covering all core fundamentals
of nursing topics, designed to build critical thinking and boost exam confidence.
• Each question features five options (A–E), a clearly highlighted correct answer with
EXPERT RATIONALE, and is formatted for progressive, topic-by-topic self-study.
1. A nurse is caring for a patient admitted with chest pain. Which step of the
nursing process involves gathering information about the patient's health
status?
A. Planning
B. Implementation
C. Evaluation
D. Assessment
E. Diagnosis
Correct Answer: D. Assessment
Assessment is the first step of the nursing process and involves the systematic
collection of subjective and objective data about the patient to establish a baseline
and identify health problems.
2. A nurse identifies that a patient has ineffective airway clearance. This is an
example of which step of the nursing process?
, A. Assessment
B. Planning
C. Nursing Diagnosis
D. Implementation
E. Evaluation
Correct Answer: C. Nursing Diagnosis
The nursing diagnosis is the second step of the nursing process, where the nurse
analyzes assessment data to identify actual or potential health problems that
nursing interventions can address.
3. A nurse sets a goal that a patient will ambulate 50 feet by end of shift. This
is part of which nursing process step?
A. Assessment
B. Diagnosis
C. Planning
D. Implementation
E. Evaluation
Correct Answer: C. Planning
Planning involves setting measurable, patient-centered goals and identifying
nursing interventions to achieve them. Goals must be specific, measurable,
attainable, realistic, and time-bound (SMART).
4. Which action best represents the implementation phase of the nursing
process?
A. Reviewing lab results
B. Writing a care plan
, C. Identifying nursing diagnoses
D. Administering prescribed medication
E. Setting patient goals
Correct Answer: D. Administering prescribed medication
Implementation is the action phase where the nurse carries out planned
interventions, including administering medications, performing procedures, and
providing patient education.
5. A nurse reassesses a patient after administering pain medication to
determine if the intervention was effective. This represents which step?
A. Assessment
B. Diagnosis
C. Planning
D. Implementation
E. Evaluation
Correct Answer: E. Evaluation
Evaluation is the final step of the nursing process in which the nurse measures
whether patient goals have been met, partially met, or not met, and revises the care
plan accordingly.
SECTION 2: VITAL SIGNS
6. A nurse is assessing a patient's blood pressure and obtains a reading of
148/94 mmHg on two separate occasions. How should the nurse interpret this
finding?
A. Normal blood pressure
, B. Hypotension
C. White coat hypertension
D. Hypertension
E. Prehypertension
Correct Answer: D. Hypertension
According to JNC guidelines, hypertension is defined as a sustained blood pressure
of 140/90 mmHg or higher on two or more readings. This patient's reading of
148/94 meets that criteria.
7. The nurse is assessing a patient's radial pulse and notes it is irregular. What
should the nurse do next?
A. Immediately notify the physician
B. Recheck after 30 minutes
C. Document and continue care
D. Assess the apical pulse for one full minute
E. Request an ECG immediately
Correct Answer: D. Assess the apical pulse for one full minute
When a radial pulse is irregular, the nurse should auscultate the apical pulse for a
full minute to obtain a more accurate heart rate and determine the presence and
pattern of irregularity before escalating care.
8. A patient's temperature is 39.4°C (103°F). Which term correctly describes
this finding?
A. Hypothermia
B. Normothermia
C. Afebrile
