WEIVER • 1 MAXE
Nursing Fundamentals
NURS School of Nursing — Exam 1 Comprehensive Review
CRITICAL THINKING · CLINICAL JUDGMENT · PROFESSIONAL IDENTITY
EXAM 1
Nursing Fundamentals — Exam 1
CO M P R E H E N S I V E R E V I E W : I N F E C T I O N , S A F E TY, V I TA L S I G N S , N U R S I N G P R O C E SS & P R O F E SS I O N A L
PRACTICE
INSTITUTION School of Nursing COURSE CODE NURS-FUND-EXAM1
PROGRAM Nursing — ADN / BSN Pathway ACADEMIC YEAR
EXAM TITLE Nursing Fundamentals Exam 1 TOTAL QUESTIONS 60+ Comprehensive Questions
COURSE TITLE Nursing Fundamentals FORMAT Multiple Choice / Definition / Select All
That Apply
EXAMINATION INSTRUCTIONS
▸ Select the single best answer for each question unless otherwise indicated.
▸ Questions cover infection control, asepsis, vital signs, nursing process (ADPIE), documentation, patient positioning, safety,
communication, and professional nursing concepts.
▸ Verified answers with detailed rationales are provided for comprehensive exam preparation.
▸ Pay close attention to the differences between medical/surgical asepsis, types of exudate, and the chain of infection.
NURSING FUNDAMENTALS EXAM 1 — COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW Questions 1 – 60+
1. What is the difference between aerobic and anaerobic bacteria?
A. There is no difference — both require oxygen.
B. Aerobic bacteria require oxygen for survival and cause more infections in humans; anaerobic bacteria thrive in little
to no oxygen and typically cause deep infections.
C. Aerobic bacteria only infect the lungs.
D. Anaerobic bacteria are harmless.
CORRECT ANSWER B — Aerobic require oxygen, cause more human infections; Anaerobic thrive without oxygen, cause
deep infections
RATIONALE Aerobic bacteria require oxygen for survival and multiplication; they cause the majority of human infections.
Anaerobic bacteria thrive in environments with little to no free oxygen and typically cause infections deep
within the pleural cavity, joints, or deep sinus tracts where oxygen tension is low. This distinction guides
antibiotic selection and wound management strategies.
, 2. What is the difference between medical asepsis and surgical asepsis?
A. They are identical practices.
B. Medical asepsis (clean technique) includes hand hygiene and environmental cleanliness to reduce organisms;
surgical asepsis (sterile technique) eliminates ALL microorganisms from an area.
C. Medical asepsis is more rigorous than surgical asepsis.
D. Surgical asepsis only applies in operating rooms.
CORRECT ANSWER B — Medical asepsis reduces organisms; surgical asepsis eliminates ALL microorganisms including
spores
RATIONALE Medical asepsis (clean technique) — hand hygiene, environmental cleaning, standard precautions — aims to
reduce microorganism transfer. Surgical asepsis (sterile technique) is a higher standard that eliminates ALL
organisms, including spores. Principles: only sterile touches sterile; sterile field edges (1-inch border) are
contaminated; if sterility is questionable, consider it contaminated; never turn your back on or leave a sterile
field unattended.
3. What is the difference between colonization and infection?
A. They are the same thing.
B. Colonization is the presence and multiplication of microorganisms WITHOUT tissue invasion or damage; infection
involves tissue invasion causing a host response.
C. Colonization only occurs in the hospital.
D. Infection is always symptomatic.
CORRECT ANSWER B — Colonization: microorganisms present and multiplying without tissue invasion; Infection: tissue
invasion with host response
RATIONALE Colonization occurs when microorganisms live and multiply on or in a host without causing cellular injury or
eliciting an immune response (e.g., normal flora). Infection occurs when microorganisms invade tissues,
multiply, and produce a host response (inflammation, immune activation). A colonized patient can be a
carrier transmitting organisms without showing signs of illness.
4. What are the six links in the chain of infection?
A. Patient, nurse, doctor, medication, equipment, environment.
B. Infectious agent, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of entry, susceptible host.
C. Virus, bacteria, fungus, parasite, prion, spore.
D. Contact, droplet, airborne, vector, vehicle, fomite.
CORRECT ANSWER B — Infectious agent, Reservoir, Portal of exit, Mode of transmission, Portal of entry, Susceptible host
RATIONALE Infection requires all six links: (1) Infectious agent — pathogen; (2) Reservoir — where it lives (human carriers
include those with acute disease and asymptomatic carriers); (3) Portal of exit — how it leaves the reservoir;
(4) Mode of transmission — contact, droplet, airborne; (5) Portal of entry — how it enters a new host; (6)
Susceptible host — person with inadequate defenses. Breaking ANY link prevents infection. The presence of a
pathogen alone does not mean infection will occur.
Nursing Fundamentals
NURS School of Nursing — Exam 1 Comprehensive Review
CRITICAL THINKING · CLINICAL JUDGMENT · PROFESSIONAL IDENTITY
EXAM 1
Nursing Fundamentals — Exam 1
CO M P R E H E N S I V E R E V I E W : I N F E C T I O N , S A F E TY, V I TA L S I G N S , N U R S I N G P R O C E SS & P R O F E SS I O N A L
PRACTICE
INSTITUTION School of Nursing COURSE CODE NURS-FUND-EXAM1
PROGRAM Nursing — ADN / BSN Pathway ACADEMIC YEAR
EXAM TITLE Nursing Fundamentals Exam 1 TOTAL QUESTIONS 60+ Comprehensive Questions
COURSE TITLE Nursing Fundamentals FORMAT Multiple Choice / Definition / Select All
That Apply
EXAMINATION INSTRUCTIONS
▸ Select the single best answer for each question unless otherwise indicated.
▸ Questions cover infection control, asepsis, vital signs, nursing process (ADPIE), documentation, patient positioning, safety,
communication, and professional nursing concepts.
▸ Verified answers with detailed rationales are provided for comprehensive exam preparation.
▸ Pay close attention to the differences between medical/surgical asepsis, types of exudate, and the chain of infection.
NURSING FUNDAMENTALS EXAM 1 — COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW Questions 1 – 60+
1. What is the difference between aerobic and anaerobic bacteria?
A. There is no difference — both require oxygen.
B. Aerobic bacteria require oxygen for survival and cause more infections in humans; anaerobic bacteria thrive in little
to no oxygen and typically cause deep infections.
C. Aerobic bacteria only infect the lungs.
D. Anaerobic bacteria are harmless.
CORRECT ANSWER B — Aerobic require oxygen, cause more human infections; Anaerobic thrive without oxygen, cause
deep infections
RATIONALE Aerobic bacteria require oxygen for survival and multiplication; they cause the majority of human infections.
Anaerobic bacteria thrive in environments with little to no free oxygen and typically cause infections deep
within the pleural cavity, joints, or deep sinus tracts where oxygen tension is low. This distinction guides
antibiotic selection and wound management strategies.
, 2. What is the difference between medical asepsis and surgical asepsis?
A. They are identical practices.
B. Medical asepsis (clean technique) includes hand hygiene and environmental cleanliness to reduce organisms;
surgical asepsis (sterile technique) eliminates ALL microorganisms from an area.
C. Medical asepsis is more rigorous than surgical asepsis.
D. Surgical asepsis only applies in operating rooms.
CORRECT ANSWER B — Medical asepsis reduces organisms; surgical asepsis eliminates ALL microorganisms including
spores
RATIONALE Medical asepsis (clean technique) — hand hygiene, environmental cleaning, standard precautions — aims to
reduce microorganism transfer. Surgical asepsis (sterile technique) is a higher standard that eliminates ALL
organisms, including spores. Principles: only sterile touches sterile; sterile field edges (1-inch border) are
contaminated; if sterility is questionable, consider it contaminated; never turn your back on or leave a sterile
field unattended.
3. What is the difference between colonization and infection?
A. They are the same thing.
B. Colonization is the presence and multiplication of microorganisms WITHOUT tissue invasion or damage; infection
involves tissue invasion causing a host response.
C. Colonization only occurs in the hospital.
D. Infection is always symptomatic.
CORRECT ANSWER B — Colonization: microorganisms present and multiplying without tissue invasion; Infection: tissue
invasion with host response
RATIONALE Colonization occurs when microorganisms live and multiply on or in a host without causing cellular injury or
eliciting an immune response (e.g., normal flora). Infection occurs when microorganisms invade tissues,
multiply, and produce a host response (inflammation, immune activation). A colonized patient can be a
carrier transmitting organisms without showing signs of illness.
4. What are the six links in the chain of infection?
A. Patient, nurse, doctor, medication, equipment, environment.
B. Infectious agent, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of entry, susceptible host.
C. Virus, bacteria, fungus, parasite, prion, spore.
D. Contact, droplet, airborne, vector, vehicle, fomite.
CORRECT ANSWER B — Infectious agent, Reservoir, Portal of exit, Mode of transmission, Portal of entry, Susceptible host
RATIONALE Infection requires all six links: (1) Infectious agent — pathogen; (2) Reservoir — where it lives (human carriers
include those with acute disease and asymptomatic carriers); (3) Portal of exit — how it leaves the reservoir;
(4) Mode of transmission — contact, droplet, airborne; (5) Portal of entry — how it enters a new host; (6)
Susceptible host — person with inadequate defenses. Breaking ANY link prevents infection. The presence of a
pathogen alone does not mean infection will occur.
