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GCU NSG 300 EXAM 1 – FOUNDATIONS OF NURSING –
(2026) ACTUAL QUESTIONS & ANSWERS 250
VERIFIED PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
ANSWERS & DETAILED RATIONALES Complete Exam
Bank for Grand Canyon University | Latest
2026/2027Edition
SECTION 1: NURSING HISTORY & THEORIES
Questions 1–40
1. Who is considered the founder of modern nursing?
a) Clara Barton
b) Florence Nightingale
c) Dorothea Dix
d) Mary Mahoney
Answer: b) Florence Nightingale
Rationale: Florence Nightingale is considered the founder of modern nursing. She
established the first nursing school, improved sanitation during the Crimean War, and
wrote "Notes on Nursing."
2. Florence Nightingale’s contributions to nursing included:
a) Establishing the American Red Cross
b) Improving sanitation and reducing infection rates
c) Developing the first nursing theory of caring
d) Founding the first nursing school in the United States
Answer: b) Improving sanitation and reducing infection rates
Rationale: Nightingale’s work during the Crimean War demonstrated that improved
sanitation dramatically reduced infection and mortality rates. She emphasized clean water,
ventilation, and handwashing.
3. Which nursing theorist developed the Theory of Human Caring (caring moments)?
a) Jean Watson
b) Dorothea Orem
,2|Page
c) Hildegard Peplau
d) Madeleine Leininger
Answer: a) Jean Watson
Rationale: Jean Watson developed the Theory of Human Caring, which emphasizes the
caring relationship between nurse and patient. Caring is central to nursing practice.
4. Dorothea Orem’s Self-Care Deficit Theory focuses on:
a) Interpersonal relationships between nurse and patient
b) The patient’s ability to perform self-care activities
c) The environment as a stressor
d) Cultural competence in nursing
Answer: b) The patient’s ability to perform self-care activities
Rationale: Orem’s Self-Care Deficit Theory proposes that nursing care is needed when
patients cannot perform self-care activities necessary for health and well-being.
5. Hildegard Peplau is known for her theory of:
a) Interpersonal relations
b) Adaptation
c) Human caring
d) Self-care
Answer: a) Interpersonal relations
Rationale: Peplau’s Theory of Interpersonal Relations focuses on the nurse-patient
relationship and describes phases: orientation, identification, exploitation, and resolution.
6. Madeleine Leininger is known for:
a) The theory of cultural care diversity and universality (transcultural nursing)
b) The theory of human caring
c) The behavioral systems model
d) The science of unitary human beings
Answer: a) The theory of cultural care diversity and universality (transcultural nursing)
Rationale: Leininger is the founder of transcultural nursing, emphasizing that culture
influences health beliefs, practices, and care.
,3|Page
7. Betty Neuman’s Systems Model views the patient as:
a) A biopsychosocial being in constant interaction with the environment
b) A self-care agent
c) A cultural being
d) A member of an interpersonal relationship
Answer: a) A biopsychosocial being in constant interaction with the environment
Rationale: Neuman’s Systems Model views the patient as a system that interacts with
internal and external environmental stressors. Nursing interventions help maintain system
stability.
8. Sister Callista Roy’s Adaptation Model focuses on:
a) Self-care deficits
b) The patient’s ability to adapt to environmental changes
c) Interpersonal relationships
d) Cultural care
Answer: b) The patient’s ability to adapt to environmental changes
Rationale: Roy’s Adaptation Model describes how patients adapt to environmental stimuli
through four modes: physiologic, self-concept, role function, and interdependence.
9. Virginia Henderson’s definition of nursing includes:
a) Assisting patients with 14 basic needs
b) Caring for the patient as a whole
c) Creating a caring environment
d) Promoting self-care
Answer: a) Assisting patients with 14 basic needs
Rationale: Henderson’s definition of nursing included 14 basic needs (e.g., breathing,
eating, eliminating, moving). Nursing helps patients meet these needs.
10. The first nursing school in the United States was established at:
a) Bellevue Hospital in New York
b) Massachusetts General Hospital
, 4|Page
c) Johns Hopkins Hospital
d) St. Thomas Hospital in London
Answer: a) Bellevue Hospital in New York
Rationale: The first nursing school in the United States was founded at Bellevue Hospital in
New York in 1873, based on Nightingale’s model.
11. Who was the first African American professional nurse in the United States?
a) Mary Mahoney
b) Lillian Wald
c) Clara Barton
d) Linda Richards
Answer: a) Mary Mahoney
Rationale: Mary Mahoney was the first African American professional nurse in the United
States. She was a leader in promoting diversity in nursing.
12. Clara Barton is best known for:
a) Founding the American Red Cross
b) Establishing the first nursing school
c) Developing the first public health nursing program
d) Writing the first nursing textbook
Answer: a) Founding the American Red Cross
Rationale: Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross in 1881 and provided nursing
care during the Civil War.
13. Lillian Wald is known for:
a) Founding the Henry Street Settlement and public health nursing
b) Developing the theory of interpersonal relations
c) Establishing the first nursing school
d) Founding the American Red Cross
Answer: a) Founding the Henry Street Settlement and public health nursing
Rationale: Lillian Wald founded the Henry Street Settlement in New York and is considered
a pioneer of public health nursing, caring for underserved populations.
GCU NSG 300 EXAM 1 – FOUNDATIONS OF NURSING –
(2026) ACTUAL QUESTIONS & ANSWERS 250
VERIFIED PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
ANSWERS & DETAILED RATIONALES Complete Exam
Bank for Grand Canyon University | Latest
2026/2027Edition
SECTION 1: NURSING HISTORY & THEORIES
Questions 1–40
1. Who is considered the founder of modern nursing?
a) Clara Barton
b) Florence Nightingale
c) Dorothea Dix
d) Mary Mahoney
Answer: b) Florence Nightingale
Rationale: Florence Nightingale is considered the founder of modern nursing. She
established the first nursing school, improved sanitation during the Crimean War, and
wrote "Notes on Nursing."
2. Florence Nightingale’s contributions to nursing included:
a) Establishing the American Red Cross
b) Improving sanitation and reducing infection rates
c) Developing the first nursing theory of caring
d) Founding the first nursing school in the United States
Answer: b) Improving sanitation and reducing infection rates
Rationale: Nightingale’s work during the Crimean War demonstrated that improved
sanitation dramatically reduced infection and mortality rates. She emphasized clean water,
ventilation, and handwashing.
3. Which nursing theorist developed the Theory of Human Caring (caring moments)?
a) Jean Watson
b) Dorothea Orem
,2|Page
c) Hildegard Peplau
d) Madeleine Leininger
Answer: a) Jean Watson
Rationale: Jean Watson developed the Theory of Human Caring, which emphasizes the
caring relationship between nurse and patient. Caring is central to nursing practice.
4. Dorothea Orem’s Self-Care Deficit Theory focuses on:
a) Interpersonal relationships between nurse and patient
b) The patient’s ability to perform self-care activities
c) The environment as a stressor
d) Cultural competence in nursing
Answer: b) The patient’s ability to perform self-care activities
Rationale: Orem’s Self-Care Deficit Theory proposes that nursing care is needed when
patients cannot perform self-care activities necessary for health and well-being.
5. Hildegard Peplau is known for her theory of:
a) Interpersonal relations
b) Adaptation
c) Human caring
d) Self-care
Answer: a) Interpersonal relations
Rationale: Peplau’s Theory of Interpersonal Relations focuses on the nurse-patient
relationship and describes phases: orientation, identification, exploitation, and resolution.
6. Madeleine Leininger is known for:
a) The theory of cultural care diversity and universality (transcultural nursing)
b) The theory of human caring
c) The behavioral systems model
d) The science of unitary human beings
Answer: a) The theory of cultural care diversity and universality (transcultural nursing)
Rationale: Leininger is the founder of transcultural nursing, emphasizing that culture
influences health beliefs, practices, and care.
,3|Page
7. Betty Neuman’s Systems Model views the patient as:
a) A biopsychosocial being in constant interaction with the environment
b) A self-care agent
c) A cultural being
d) A member of an interpersonal relationship
Answer: a) A biopsychosocial being in constant interaction with the environment
Rationale: Neuman’s Systems Model views the patient as a system that interacts with
internal and external environmental stressors. Nursing interventions help maintain system
stability.
8. Sister Callista Roy’s Adaptation Model focuses on:
a) Self-care deficits
b) The patient’s ability to adapt to environmental changes
c) Interpersonal relationships
d) Cultural care
Answer: b) The patient’s ability to adapt to environmental changes
Rationale: Roy’s Adaptation Model describes how patients adapt to environmental stimuli
through four modes: physiologic, self-concept, role function, and interdependence.
9. Virginia Henderson’s definition of nursing includes:
a) Assisting patients with 14 basic needs
b) Caring for the patient as a whole
c) Creating a caring environment
d) Promoting self-care
Answer: a) Assisting patients with 14 basic needs
Rationale: Henderson’s definition of nursing included 14 basic needs (e.g., breathing,
eating, eliminating, moving). Nursing helps patients meet these needs.
10. The first nursing school in the United States was established at:
a) Bellevue Hospital in New York
b) Massachusetts General Hospital
, 4|Page
c) Johns Hopkins Hospital
d) St. Thomas Hospital in London
Answer: a) Bellevue Hospital in New York
Rationale: The first nursing school in the United States was founded at Bellevue Hospital in
New York in 1873, based on Nightingale’s model.
11. Who was the first African American professional nurse in the United States?
a) Mary Mahoney
b) Lillian Wald
c) Clara Barton
d) Linda Richards
Answer: a) Mary Mahoney
Rationale: Mary Mahoney was the first African American professional nurse in the United
States. She was a leader in promoting diversity in nursing.
12. Clara Barton is best known for:
a) Founding the American Red Cross
b) Establishing the first nursing school
c) Developing the first public health nursing program
d) Writing the first nursing textbook
Answer: a) Founding the American Red Cross
Rationale: Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross in 1881 and provided nursing
care during the Civil War.
13. Lillian Wald is known for:
a) Founding the Henry Street Settlement and public health nursing
b) Developing the theory of interpersonal relations
c) Establishing the first nursing school
d) Founding the American Red Cross
Answer: a) Founding the Henry Street Settlement and public health nursing
Rationale: Lillian Wald founded the Henry Street Settlement in New York and is considered
a pioneer of public health nursing, caring for underserved populations.
