NUR 215 EXAM 1 STUDY GUIDE: KEY NURSING CONCEPTS QUESTIONS ANSWERED CORRECTLY
LATEST UPDATE 2026
ABCs - Answers Airway, Breathing, Circulation
Prioritization - Answers Identifying what patient or problem is the priority based on critical factors.
Factors influencing prioritization - Answers Problem urgency, future consequences, patient
preference, computer-assisted diagnosing.
RN's scope of practice - Answers Activities that a nurse can perform without a doctor's order.
Activities a nurse can do without a doctor's order - Answers Turning a patient, providing comfort,
raising the head of the bed, grooming/bathing, ice packs/heat pads (some exceptions), patient
education, assistance in ADLs, preventing falls, promoting hydration and nourishment (some
exceptions).
Out of scope actions - Answers Refusing to practice beyond legal scope and using the formal chain of
command to verbalize concerns.
Primary prevention - Answers Designed to prevent or slow the onset of disease.
Examples of primary prevention - Answers Eating healthy foods, exercising, wearing sunscreen,
obeying seat belt laws, using car seats, using condoms, and keeping up with immunizations.
Secondary prevention - Answers Screening activities and education for detecting illnesses in the early
stages.
Examples of secondary prevention - Answers Breast self-exams, testicular exams, regular physical
exams, BP and diabetic screenings, bone density screenings, and TB skin tests.
Tertiary prevention - Answers Focuses on stopping the disease from progressing and returning the
individual to the pre-illness phase.
Main intervention in tertiary prevention - Answers Rehab.
Examples of tertiary prevention - Answers Preventing pressure ulcers, cardiac stent procedure,
support groups, physical rehab, and speech therapy.
Nursing process - Answers A systematic approach to patient care consisting of assessment, diagnosis,
planning, implementation, and evaluation (ADPIE).
ADPIE - Answers Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation.
Nursing process characteristics - Answers The nursing process is NOT linear.
Assessment - Answers Involves gathering data about the patient and their health status; Info is
related to the physiological, psychological, sociocultural, developmental, and spiritual status of the
individual.
Primary data - Answers Data obtained directly from the patient.
Subjective data - Answers What the patient SAYS/TELLS you.
Objective data - Answers What you can SEE for yourself.
Secondary Data - Answers Data obtained secondhand, from the medical record or another care
provider.
Diagnosis - Answers Using critical-thinking skills, the nurse analyzes the Assessment to identify
patterns in the data and draw conclusions about the client's health status (strengths, problems, and
factors contributing to the problem).
Nursing diagnosis - Answers A statement of patient health status that nurses can identify, prevent, or
treat independently.
Medical diagnosis - Answers Describes a disease, illness, or injury; Purpose is to identify a pathology
so appropriate treatment can be given to cure the condition.
Planning - Answers Encompasses identifying goals and outcomes, choosing interventions, and
creating nursing care plans.
Initial Planning - Answers Begins with the first patient contact; Refers to the development of the
initial comprehensive care plan.
Ongoing Planning - Answers Changes made in the plan; Allows you to prioritize the problem(s) the
patient has.
Discharge Planning - Answers Process of planning a self-care and continuity of care after the patient
leaves the healthcare setting.
Nursing Care Plan - Answers The comprehensive central source of info needed to guide holistic, goal-
oriented care to address each patient's unique needs; It specifies dependent, interdependent, and
independent nursing actions necessary.
, Implementation/Implement Interventions - Answers Involves performing/delegating planned
interventions; Carry out the care plan.
Evaluation - Answers Last step of the nursing process; Involves making judgements about the
patient's progress towards desired health outcomes, the effectiveness of the nursing care plan, and
the quality of nursing care in the healthcare setting.
Structure Evaluation - Answers Focuses on the setting in which care is provided.
Process Evaluation - Answers Focuses on the activities performed. It does NOT describe the results of
the activities performed (focuses on WHAT was done and HOW WELL it was done).
Outcomes Evaluation - Answers Focuses on the observable/measurable changes in the patient's
health status resulting from the care given.
HIPAA - Answers Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act; A federal law (passed in 1996)
which established regulations of individually identifiable health information in verbal, electronic, or
written form.
Privacy - Answers Relates to the client's rights over the use/disclosure of his/her/their own personal
health information.
Identifiers for the info - Answers Include a client's name, address, phone number, driver's license
number, date of birth, etc.
Ways to protect patient's privacy - Answers Logging Off: log off the computer before you leave the
area; Do Not Discuss: Do not discuss patient info with those who are not involved OR in public areas;
Do Not Search: Do not search patient's belongings without their permission (Unless they're a danger
to themselves/others).
Nursing Attributes - Answers Qualities that make a nurse good and professional.
Honesty - Answers The quality of being truthful and sincere.
Integrity - Answers The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles.
Assertive communication - Answers A communication style that is direct and respectful.
Caring - Answers Showing kindness and concern for others.
Beneficent - Answers Acting in the best interest of the patient.
Advocacy - Answers Supporting and promoting the interests of the patient.
Prioritization skills - Answers The ability to determine the order of importance of tasks.
Fair - Answers Treating people equally without favoritism or discrimination.
Responsible - Answers Being accountable for one's actions and decisions.
Trustworthy - Answers Being reliable and deserving of trust.
Takes accountability for their own actions - Answers Accepting responsibility for the outcomes of
one's actions.
Therapeutic communication - Answers Ways to make the patient feel more at ease during a sexual
health exam.
Non-judgemental attitude - Answers An unbiased approach that does not judge the patient.
Privacy - Answers The state of being free from public attention.
Modifiable Risk Factors - Answers Risk factors that can be reduced by changes such as diet, lifestyle,
and stress.
Nonmodifiable Risk Factors - Answers Risk factors that cannot be reduced by changes, such as family
history and genetics.
Focused Sexual Health Assessment - Answers An assessment needed for pregnancy/infertility work-
up, menstrual cycle problems, annual health visits, unusual discharge, urination problems, known
sexual problems, and illness/surgery/drugs.
Active Listening - Answers Being attentive to what the patient is saying (verbally and nonverbally)
Sharing Observations - Answers Commenting on how the patient looks, sounds, or acts
Sharing Empathy - Answers The ability to understand and accept another person's reality; To
accurately perceive feelings and communicate understanding
Sharing Hope - Answers Communicating a "Sense of possibility" to others; Encouragement when
appropriate and positive feedback
Sharing Humor - Answers Contributes to feelings of togetherness, closeness, and friendliness;
Promotes positive communication in prevention, perception, and perspective
Sharing Feelings - Answers Help patient's express emotions by making observations, acknowledging
feelings, encouraging communication, and giving permission to express "negative" feelings and
modeling healthy anger
LATEST UPDATE 2026
ABCs - Answers Airway, Breathing, Circulation
Prioritization - Answers Identifying what patient or problem is the priority based on critical factors.
Factors influencing prioritization - Answers Problem urgency, future consequences, patient
preference, computer-assisted diagnosing.
RN's scope of practice - Answers Activities that a nurse can perform without a doctor's order.
Activities a nurse can do without a doctor's order - Answers Turning a patient, providing comfort,
raising the head of the bed, grooming/bathing, ice packs/heat pads (some exceptions), patient
education, assistance in ADLs, preventing falls, promoting hydration and nourishment (some
exceptions).
Out of scope actions - Answers Refusing to practice beyond legal scope and using the formal chain of
command to verbalize concerns.
Primary prevention - Answers Designed to prevent or slow the onset of disease.
Examples of primary prevention - Answers Eating healthy foods, exercising, wearing sunscreen,
obeying seat belt laws, using car seats, using condoms, and keeping up with immunizations.
Secondary prevention - Answers Screening activities and education for detecting illnesses in the early
stages.
Examples of secondary prevention - Answers Breast self-exams, testicular exams, regular physical
exams, BP and diabetic screenings, bone density screenings, and TB skin tests.
Tertiary prevention - Answers Focuses on stopping the disease from progressing and returning the
individual to the pre-illness phase.
Main intervention in tertiary prevention - Answers Rehab.
Examples of tertiary prevention - Answers Preventing pressure ulcers, cardiac stent procedure,
support groups, physical rehab, and speech therapy.
Nursing process - Answers A systematic approach to patient care consisting of assessment, diagnosis,
planning, implementation, and evaluation (ADPIE).
ADPIE - Answers Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation.
Nursing process characteristics - Answers The nursing process is NOT linear.
Assessment - Answers Involves gathering data about the patient and their health status; Info is
related to the physiological, psychological, sociocultural, developmental, and spiritual status of the
individual.
Primary data - Answers Data obtained directly from the patient.
Subjective data - Answers What the patient SAYS/TELLS you.
Objective data - Answers What you can SEE for yourself.
Secondary Data - Answers Data obtained secondhand, from the medical record or another care
provider.
Diagnosis - Answers Using critical-thinking skills, the nurse analyzes the Assessment to identify
patterns in the data and draw conclusions about the client's health status (strengths, problems, and
factors contributing to the problem).
Nursing diagnosis - Answers A statement of patient health status that nurses can identify, prevent, or
treat independently.
Medical diagnosis - Answers Describes a disease, illness, or injury; Purpose is to identify a pathology
so appropriate treatment can be given to cure the condition.
Planning - Answers Encompasses identifying goals and outcomes, choosing interventions, and
creating nursing care plans.
Initial Planning - Answers Begins with the first patient contact; Refers to the development of the
initial comprehensive care plan.
Ongoing Planning - Answers Changes made in the plan; Allows you to prioritize the problem(s) the
patient has.
Discharge Planning - Answers Process of planning a self-care and continuity of care after the patient
leaves the healthcare setting.
Nursing Care Plan - Answers The comprehensive central source of info needed to guide holistic, goal-
oriented care to address each patient's unique needs; It specifies dependent, interdependent, and
independent nursing actions necessary.
, Implementation/Implement Interventions - Answers Involves performing/delegating planned
interventions; Carry out the care plan.
Evaluation - Answers Last step of the nursing process; Involves making judgements about the
patient's progress towards desired health outcomes, the effectiveness of the nursing care plan, and
the quality of nursing care in the healthcare setting.
Structure Evaluation - Answers Focuses on the setting in which care is provided.
Process Evaluation - Answers Focuses on the activities performed. It does NOT describe the results of
the activities performed (focuses on WHAT was done and HOW WELL it was done).
Outcomes Evaluation - Answers Focuses on the observable/measurable changes in the patient's
health status resulting from the care given.
HIPAA - Answers Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act; A federal law (passed in 1996)
which established regulations of individually identifiable health information in verbal, electronic, or
written form.
Privacy - Answers Relates to the client's rights over the use/disclosure of his/her/their own personal
health information.
Identifiers for the info - Answers Include a client's name, address, phone number, driver's license
number, date of birth, etc.
Ways to protect patient's privacy - Answers Logging Off: log off the computer before you leave the
area; Do Not Discuss: Do not discuss patient info with those who are not involved OR in public areas;
Do Not Search: Do not search patient's belongings without their permission (Unless they're a danger
to themselves/others).
Nursing Attributes - Answers Qualities that make a nurse good and professional.
Honesty - Answers The quality of being truthful and sincere.
Integrity - Answers The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles.
Assertive communication - Answers A communication style that is direct and respectful.
Caring - Answers Showing kindness and concern for others.
Beneficent - Answers Acting in the best interest of the patient.
Advocacy - Answers Supporting and promoting the interests of the patient.
Prioritization skills - Answers The ability to determine the order of importance of tasks.
Fair - Answers Treating people equally without favoritism or discrimination.
Responsible - Answers Being accountable for one's actions and decisions.
Trustworthy - Answers Being reliable and deserving of trust.
Takes accountability for their own actions - Answers Accepting responsibility for the outcomes of
one's actions.
Therapeutic communication - Answers Ways to make the patient feel more at ease during a sexual
health exam.
Non-judgemental attitude - Answers An unbiased approach that does not judge the patient.
Privacy - Answers The state of being free from public attention.
Modifiable Risk Factors - Answers Risk factors that can be reduced by changes such as diet, lifestyle,
and stress.
Nonmodifiable Risk Factors - Answers Risk factors that cannot be reduced by changes, such as family
history and genetics.
Focused Sexual Health Assessment - Answers An assessment needed for pregnancy/infertility work-
up, menstrual cycle problems, annual health visits, unusual discharge, urination problems, known
sexual problems, and illness/surgery/drugs.
Active Listening - Answers Being attentive to what the patient is saying (verbally and nonverbally)
Sharing Observations - Answers Commenting on how the patient looks, sounds, or acts
Sharing Empathy - Answers The ability to understand and accept another person's reality; To
accurately perceive feelings and communicate understanding
Sharing Hope - Answers Communicating a "Sense of possibility" to others; Encouragement when
appropriate and positive feedback
Sharing Humor - Answers Contributes to feelings of togetherness, closeness, and friendliness;
Promotes positive communication in prevention, perception, and perspective
Sharing Feelings - Answers Help patient's express emotions by making observations, acknowledging
feelings, encouraging communication, and giving permission to express "negative" feelings and
modeling healthy anger
