3 M A X E • S L AT N E M A D N U F
★ ★
Nursing Fundamentals Assessment
N Comprehensive Examination — Exam 3
EST. 2026
E XC E L L E N C E I N N U RS I N G E D U C AT I O N
Nursing Fundamentals — Exam 3
N U R S I N G P R O C E S S , D O C U M E N TAT I O N , C U LT U R E , M O B I L I T Y & PA L L I AT I V E C A R E
INSTITUTION Nursing Fundamentals Assessment COURSE CODE Nursing Fundamentals — Exam 3
PROGRAM Practical Nursing (PN) / Associate Degree ACADEMIC YEAR
in Nursing (ADN)
EXAM TITLE Nursing Fundamentals Exam 3 TOTAL QUESTIONS 75 Questions
COURSE TITLE Fundamentals of Nursing FORMAT Multiple Choice — Select the Single Best
Answer
EXAMINATION INSTRUCTIONS
▸ Select the single best answer for each question unless otherwise instructed.
▸ Select all that apply questions are indicated — choose every correct option.
▸ Questions cover the nursing process, documentation, cultural competence, mobility, and end-of-life care.
▸ Correct answers and clinical rationales appear below each question for review purposes.
▸ All content reflects current evidence-based nursing practice and professional standards.
SECTION I — FUNDAMENTALS OF NURSING COMPREHENSIVE Questions 1 –
EXAMINATION 75
1. Who is credited with beginning the development of the nursing process, which remains evident in nursing care
today?
A. Florence Nightingale.
B. Ida Jean Orlando.
C. Virginia Henderson.
D. Dorothea Orem.
CORRECT ANSWER B — Ida Jean Orlando.
RATIONALE Ida Jean Orlando developed the Deliberative Nursing Process in the 1950s, which established the foundation
for the modern nursing process. Her theory emphasized that the nursing process is set in motion by the
patient's behavior and requires the nurse to assess, diagnose, plan, implement, and evaluate based on the
patient's immediate needs. Florence Nightingale founded modern nursing and focused on environmental
theory. Virginia Henderson defined nursing's role in assisting patients to gain independence. Dorothea Orem
developed the Self-Care Deficit Theory. Orlando's work specifically created the framework for the systematic
nursing process (ADPIE) still used today.
,2. What is the nursing process defined as?
A. A checklist of tasks to complete during a shift.
B. A systematic, rational method of planning that guides all nursing actions in delivering holistic and patient-focused
care.
C. A medical diagnostic tool used by physicians.
D. A documentation system for medication administration.
CORRECT ANSWER B — A systematic, rational method of planning that guides all nursing actions in delivering holistic and
patient-focused care.
RATIONALE The nursing process is a scientific reasoning framework that requires critical thinking to provide optimal
patient care. It is: patient-centered (respectful of individual needs, preferences, and values), interpersonal
(therapeutic nurse-patient relationship), collaborative (functions within interprofessional teams), dynamic
and cyclical (phases interact and influence each other), and requires critical thinking (a vital skill for
identifying problems and implementing effective interventions). The five phases are Assessment, Diagnosis,
Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation (ADPIE). It is not a task checklist, a medical diagnostic tool, or a
documentation system — it is the organizing framework for ALL nursing care.
3. What are the purposes of the nursing process? (Select all that apply.)
A. To identify the client's health status and actual or potential health care problems.
B. To establish plans to meet the patient's identified needs.
C. To deliver specific nursing interventions to meet those needs.
D. To protect nurses against legal problems when standards are followed correctly.
E. To establish a database about the client's health status and response to illness.
CORRECT ANSWER A, B, C, D, E — All of the above.
RATIONALE The nursing process serves multiple essential purposes (APILSD): (A) Identify client health status and
actual/potential problems through Assessment, (B) establish Plans to meet identified needs, (C) deliver
specific nursing Interventions, (D) provide Legal protection when standards are followed correctly — the
nursing process is the recognized standard of care, and (E) establish a Database about the client's health
status, concerns, response to illness, and ability to manage care needs. It also helps nurses perform in a
systematically organized way and applies the best available evidence and promotes human functions and
responses to health and illness (ANA).
4. Which characteristic of the nursing process means each phase interacts with and is influenced by the other phases?
A. Patient-centered.
B. Interpersonal.
C. Collaborative.
D. Dynamic and cyclical.
CORRECT ANSWER D — Dynamic and cyclical.
RATIONALE The nursing process is dynamic and cyclical — each phase interacts with, overlaps, and influences the other
phases. It is not a rigid linear progression. For example, assessment continues throughout all phases;
evaluation may lead back to reassessment and revision of the diagnosis and plan. The other characteristics:
Patient-centered — care is respectful of and responsive to individual patient needs, preferences, and values.
Interpersonal — provides a basis for the therapeutic nurse-patient relationship. Collaborative — functions
effectively within nursing and interprofessional teams. Critical thinking — a vital skill required throughout the
entire process. These characteristics together make the nursing process a comprehensive framework for
holistic care.
, 5. What does ADPIE stand for?
A. Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation.
B. Analyze, Document, Plan, Intervene, Examine.
C. Ask, Determine, Prioritize, Initiate, End.
D. Assess, Delegate, Provide, Inform, Educate.
CORRECT ANSWER A — Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation.
RATIONALE ADPIE is the systematic guide to client-centered care: Assessment (collecting and validating patient data),
Diagnosis (analyzing data to identify patient problems using NANDA-I approved nursing diagnoses), Planning
(establishing goals/expected outcomes and selecting evidence-based interventions), Implementation
(carrying out the plan — performing interventions, delegating, documenting), and Evaluation (determining if
outcomes were met and revising the plan as needed). The entire process rests on initial and ongoing
assessment. The nursing process applies fundamental principles of critical thinking, client-centered
approaches, goal-oriented tasks, evidence-based practice (EBP) recommendations, and nursing intuition.
6. Which type of assessment is performed shortly after the patient is admitted?
A. Focused assessment.
B. Emergency assessment.
C. Comprehensive initial assessment.
D. Time-lapsed assessment.
CORRECT ANSWER C — Comprehensive initial assessment.
RATIONALE Types of assessments: Comprehensive initial assessment — performed shortly after admission; establishes a
complete database for problem identification and care planning. Focused assessment — gathers data about a
specific condition that has already been diagnosed (e.g., lung assessment for a pneumonia patient).
Emergency assessment — performed during a physiologic or psychological crisis to identify life-threatening
problems. Time-lapsed assessment — compares the patient's current status to baseline data obtained earlier
(e.g., reassessing functional status after rehabilitation). The entire nursing process rests on thorough initial
and ongoing assessment — without accurate assessment data, all subsequent phases are compromised.
7. What is the difference between medical assessments and nursing assessments?
A. Medical assessments focus on patient responses; nursing assessments target pathologic conditions.
B. Medical assessments target data pointing to pathologic conditions; nursing assessments focus on the patient's
response to actual or potential health problems.
C. They are identical assessments.
D. Medical assessments are performed by nurses; nursing assessments by physicians.
CORRECT ANSWER B — Medical assessments target data pointing to pathologic conditions; nursing assessments focus on
the patient's response to actual or potential health problems.
RATIONALE Medical assessments (performed by physicians and advanced practitioners) target data pointing to
pathologic conditions — identifying the disease or medical diagnosis. Nursing assessments (performed by
nurses) focus on the patient's HUMAN RESPONSE to actual or potential health problems — how the disease
affects the patient physically, emotionally, socially, and spiritually. For example: Medical assessment
identifies "pneumonia." Nursing assessment identifies "Impaired Gas Exchange related to alveolar
inflammation as evidenced by dyspnea and SpO₂ of 88%." Both are essential but address different aspects of
the patient's condition. The nursing diagnosis provides the basis for independent nursing interventions.
★ ★
Nursing Fundamentals Assessment
N Comprehensive Examination — Exam 3
EST. 2026
E XC E L L E N C E I N N U RS I N G E D U C AT I O N
Nursing Fundamentals — Exam 3
N U R S I N G P R O C E S S , D O C U M E N TAT I O N , C U LT U R E , M O B I L I T Y & PA L L I AT I V E C A R E
INSTITUTION Nursing Fundamentals Assessment COURSE CODE Nursing Fundamentals — Exam 3
PROGRAM Practical Nursing (PN) / Associate Degree ACADEMIC YEAR
in Nursing (ADN)
EXAM TITLE Nursing Fundamentals Exam 3 TOTAL QUESTIONS 75 Questions
COURSE TITLE Fundamentals of Nursing FORMAT Multiple Choice — Select the Single Best
Answer
EXAMINATION INSTRUCTIONS
▸ Select the single best answer for each question unless otherwise instructed.
▸ Select all that apply questions are indicated — choose every correct option.
▸ Questions cover the nursing process, documentation, cultural competence, mobility, and end-of-life care.
▸ Correct answers and clinical rationales appear below each question for review purposes.
▸ All content reflects current evidence-based nursing practice and professional standards.
SECTION I — FUNDAMENTALS OF NURSING COMPREHENSIVE Questions 1 –
EXAMINATION 75
1. Who is credited with beginning the development of the nursing process, which remains evident in nursing care
today?
A. Florence Nightingale.
B. Ida Jean Orlando.
C. Virginia Henderson.
D. Dorothea Orem.
CORRECT ANSWER B — Ida Jean Orlando.
RATIONALE Ida Jean Orlando developed the Deliberative Nursing Process in the 1950s, which established the foundation
for the modern nursing process. Her theory emphasized that the nursing process is set in motion by the
patient's behavior and requires the nurse to assess, diagnose, plan, implement, and evaluate based on the
patient's immediate needs. Florence Nightingale founded modern nursing and focused on environmental
theory. Virginia Henderson defined nursing's role in assisting patients to gain independence. Dorothea Orem
developed the Self-Care Deficit Theory. Orlando's work specifically created the framework for the systematic
nursing process (ADPIE) still used today.
,2. What is the nursing process defined as?
A. A checklist of tasks to complete during a shift.
B. A systematic, rational method of planning that guides all nursing actions in delivering holistic and patient-focused
care.
C. A medical diagnostic tool used by physicians.
D. A documentation system for medication administration.
CORRECT ANSWER B — A systematic, rational method of planning that guides all nursing actions in delivering holistic and
patient-focused care.
RATIONALE The nursing process is a scientific reasoning framework that requires critical thinking to provide optimal
patient care. It is: patient-centered (respectful of individual needs, preferences, and values), interpersonal
(therapeutic nurse-patient relationship), collaborative (functions within interprofessional teams), dynamic
and cyclical (phases interact and influence each other), and requires critical thinking (a vital skill for
identifying problems and implementing effective interventions). The five phases are Assessment, Diagnosis,
Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation (ADPIE). It is not a task checklist, a medical diagnostic tool, or a
documentation system — it is the organizing framework for ALL nursing care.
3. What are the purposes of the nursing process? (Select all that apply.)
A. To identify the client's health status and actual or potential health care problems.
B. To establish plans to meet the patient's identified needs.
C. To deliver specific nursing interventions to meet those needs.
D. To protect nurses against legal problems when standards are followed correctly.
E. To establish a database about the client's health status and response to illness.
CORRECT ANSWER A, B, C, D, E — All of the above.
RATIONALE The nursing process serves multiple essential purposes (APILSD): (A) Identify client health status and
actual/potential problems through Assessment, (B) establish Plans to meet identified needs, (C) deliver
specific nursing Interventions, (D) provide Legal protection when standards are followed correctly — the
nursing process is the recognized standard of care, and (E) establish a Database about the client's health
status, concerns, response to illness, and ability to manage care needs. It also helps nurses perform in a
systematically organized way and applies the best available evidence and promotes human functions and
responses to health and illness (ANA).
4. Which characteristic of the nursing process means each phase interacts with and is influenced by the other phases?
A. Patient-centered.
B. Interpersonal.
C. Collaborative.
D. Dynamic and cyclical.
CORRECT ANSWER D — Dynamic and cyclical.
RATIONALE The nursing process is dynamic and cyclical — each phase interacts with, overlaps, and influences the other
phases. It is not a rigid linear progression. For example, assessment continues throughout all phases;
evaluation may lead back to reassessment and revision of the diagnosis and plan. The other characteristics:
Patient-centered — care is respectful of and responsive to individual patient needs, preferences, and values.
Interpersonal — provides a basis for the therapeutic nurse-patient relationship. Collaborative — functions
effectively within nursing and interprofessional teams. Critical thinking — a vital skill required throughout the
entire process. These characteristics together make the nursing process a comprehensive framework for
holistic care.
, 5. What does ADPIE stand for?
A. Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation.
B. Analyze, Document, Plan, Intervene, Examine.
C. Ask, Determine, Prioritize, Initiate, End.
D. Assess, Delegate, Provide, Inform, Educate.
CORRECT ANSWER A — Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation.
RATIONALE ADPIE is the systematic guide to client-centered care: Assessment (collecting and validating patient data),
Diagnosis (analyzing data to identify patient problems using NANDA-I approved nursing diagnoses), Planning
(establishing goals/expected outcomes and selecting evidence-based interventions), Implementation
(carrying out the plan — performing interventions, delegating, documenting), and Evaluation (determining if
outcomes were met and revising the plan as needed). The entire process rests on initial and ongoing
assessment. The nursing process applies fundamental principles of critical thinking, client-centered
approaches, goal-oriented tasks, evidence-based practice (EBP) recommendations, and nursing intuition.
6. Which type of assessment is performed shortly after the patient is admitted?
A. Focused assessment.
B. Emergency assessment.
C. Comprehensive initial assessment.
D. Time-lapsed assessment.
CORRECT ANSWER C — Comprehensive initial assessment.
RATIONALE Types of assessments: Comprehensive initial assessment — performed shortly after admission; establishes a
complete database for problem identification and care planning. Focused assessment — gathers data about a
specific condition that has already been diagnosed (e.g., lung assessment for a pneumonia patient).
Emergency assessment — performed during a physiologic or psychological crisis to identify life-threatening
problems. Time-lapsed assessment — compares the patient's current status to baseline data obtained earlier
(e.g., reassessing functional status after rehabilitation). The entire nursing process rests on thorough initial
and ongoing assessment — without accurate assessment data, all subsequent phases are compromised.
7. What is the difference between medical assessments and nursing assessments?
A. Medical assessments focus on patient responses; nursing assessments target pathologic conditions.
B. Medical assessments target data pointing to pathologic conditions; nursing assessments focus on the patient's
response to actual or potential health problems.
C. They are identical assessments.
D. Medical assessments are performed by nurses; nursing assessments by physicians.
CORRECT ANSWER B — Medical assessments target data pointing to pathologic conditions; nursing assessments focus on
the patient's response to actual or potential health problems.
RATIONALE Medical assessments (performed by physicians and advanced practitioners) target data pointing to
pathologic conditions — identifying the disease or medical diagnosis. Nursing assessments (performed by
nurses) focus on the patient's HUMAN RESPONSE to actual or potential health problems — how the disease
affects the patient physically, emotionally, socially, and spiritually. For example: Medical assessment
identifies "pneumonia." Nursing assessment identifies "Impaired Gas Exchange related to alveolar
inflammation as evidenced by dyspnea and SpO₂ of 88%." Both are essential but address different aspects of
the patient's condition. The nursing diagnosis provides the basis for independent nursing interventions.
