Nursing Fundamentals
1 MAXE • SRUN
NF College of Nursing & Health Sciences
B U I L D I N G T H E F O U N D AT I O N F O R N U R S I N G E X C E L L E N C E
FUNDAMENTALS
Exam 1 — Fundamentals of Nursing
CO M P L E T E CO M P R E H E N S I V E R E V I E W — D E L E G AT I O N , P R I O R I T I Z AT I O N , A SS E SS M E N T & S A F E TY
INSTITUTION Nursing Fundamentals Program EXAM TYPE Fundamentals of Nursing Exam 1
PROGRAM RN Nursing Program ACADEMIC YEAR
EXAM TITLE Exam 1 — Fundamentals of Nursing TOTAL QUESTIONS Complete Study Guide
COURSE TITLE Nursing Fundamentals FORMAT Multiple Choice / True-False / Fill-in —
Select the Single Best Answer
EXAMINATION INSTRUCTIONS
▸ Select the single best answer for each question.
▸ This comprehensive fundamentals exam covers delegation, prioritization (ABC, Maslow), HIPAA, restraints, nursing process
(ADPIE), pain assessment (OLDCARTS), abdominal assessment (IAPP), SBAR, infection control precautions, medication
calculations, and therapeutic communication.
▸ Correct answers and detailed rationales appear below each question.
▸ All content is derived from Nursing Fundamentals core concepts.
SECTION I — DELEGATION, PRIORITIZATION & PATIENT SAFETY Part A
1. Which task can the RN safely delegate to the UAP?
A. Assessing pain after medication.
B. Teaching incentive spirometer use.
C. Feeding a stable patient.
D. Evaluating care plan effectiveness.
CORRECT ANSWER C — Feeding a stable patient.
RATIONALE UAPs can perform routine, non-invasive tasks on stable patients that do not require nursing judgment.
Assessment (A), teaching (B), and evaluation (D) all require RN-level clinical judgment and cannot be
delegated. Feeding a stable patient is within UAP scope.
2. Which patient should the nurse assess FIRST?
A. Patient requesting pain medication rated 8/10.
B. Patient with oxygen saturation of 86%.
C. Patient asking for discharge paperwork.
D. Patient requesting a blanket.
CORRECT ANSWER B — Patient with oxygen saturation of 86%.
RATIONALE Using ABC prioritization, oxygen saturation of 86% indicates severe hypoxemia—a breathing (B) emergency
requiring immediate intervention. Pain (A) is important but airway and breathing always take priority.
Discharge and comfort requests are lower priority.
, 3. A patient says, "I'm scared about surgery." Which response is BEST?
A. "Everything will be okay."
B. "Why are you scared?"
C. "Tell me more about your concerns."
D. "You shouldn't worry."
CORRECT ANSWER C — "Tell me more about your concerns."
RATIONALE This is a therapeutic, open-ended response that invites the patient to share feelings. "Everything will be okay"
(A) is false reassurance. "Why" questions (B) can feel judgmental. "You shouldn't worry" (D) dismisses the
patient's feelings.
4. Which finding is an EARLY sign of hypoxia?
A. Cyanosis.
B. Bradycardia.
C. Restlessness.
D. Unresponsiveness.
CORRECT ANSWER C — Restlessness.
RATIONALE Restlessness is the earliest sign of hypoxia—the brain senses decreased oxygen and triggers agitation.
Cyanosis (A) is a LATE sign. Bradycardia (B) is a late, ominous sign. Unresponsiveness (D) indicates severe
hypoxia. "Restlessness is hypoxia until proven otherwise."
5. Which assessment technique should the nurse perform FIRST when assessing the abdomen?
A. Palpation.
B. Auscultation.
C. Percussion.
D. Inspection.
CORRECT ANSWER D — Inspection.
RATIONALE Inspection always comes first in physical assessment—observe the abdomen for distention, scars, symmetry,
and visible pulsations before touching. The correct abdominal assessment order is: Inspection, Auscultation,
Percussion, Palpation (IAPP).
6. Which patient is MOST appropriate for the UAP?
A. Newly admitted patient.
B. Patient with chest pain.
C. Stable patient needing assistance with bathing.
D. Patient requiring discharge teaching.
CORRECT ANSWER C — Stable patient needing assistance with bathing.
RATIONALE UAPs care for stable patients with predictable outcomes performing routine ADLs like bathing. New
admissions (A) require RN assessment. Chest pain (B) is unstable. Discharge teaching (D) requires RN-level
education.
1 MAXE • SRUN
NF College of Nursing & Health Sciences
B U I L D I N G T H E F O U N D AT I O N F O R N U R S I N G E X C E L L E N C E
FUNDAMENTALS
Exam 1 — Fundamentals of Nursing
CO M P L E T E CO M P R E H E N S I V E R E V I E W — D E L E G AT I O N , P R I O R I T I Z AT I O N , A SS E SS M E N T & S A F E TY
INSTITUTION Nursing Fundamentals Program EXAM TYPE Fundamentals of Nursing Exam 1
PROGRAM RN Nursing Program ACADEMIC YEAR
EXAM TITLE Exam 1 — Fundamentals of Nursing TOTAL QUESTIONS Complete Study Guide
COURSE TITLE Nursing Fundamentals FORMAT Multiple Choice / True-False / Fill-in —
Select the Single Best Answer
EXAMINATION INSTRUCTIONS
▸ Select the single best answer for each question.
▸ This comprehensive fundamentals exam covers delegation, prioritization (ABC, Maslow), HIPAA, restraints, nursing process
(ADPIE), pain assessment (OLDCARTS), abdominal assessment (IAPP), SBAR, infection control precautions, medication
calculations, and therapeutic communication.
▸ Correct answers and detailed rationales appear below each question.
▸ All content is derived from Nursing Fundamentals core concepts.
SECTION I — DELEGATION, PRIORITIZATION & PATIENT SAFETY Part A
1. Which task can the RN safely delegate to the UAP?
A. Assessing pain after medication.
B. Teaching incentive spirometer use.
C. Feeding a stable patient.
D. Evaluating care plan effectiveness.
CORRECT ANSWER C — Feeding a stable patient.
RATIONALE UAPs can perform routine, non-invasive tasks on stable patients that do not require nursing judgment.
Assessment (A), teaching (B), and evaluation (D) all require RN-level clinical judgment and cannot be
delegated. Feeding a stable patient is within UAP scope.
2. Which patient should the nurse assess FIRST?
A. Patient requesting pain medication rated 8/10.
B. Patient with oxygen saturation of 86%.
C. Patient asking for discharge paperwork.
D. Patient requesting a blanket.
CORRECT ANSWER B — Patient with oxygen saturation of 86%.
RATIONALE Using ABC prioritization, oxygen saturation of 86% indicates severe hypoxemia—a breathing (B) emergency
requiring immediate intervention. Pain (A) is important but airway and breathing always take priority.
Discharge and comfort requests are lower priority.
, 3. A patient says, "I'm scared about surgery." Which response is BEST?
A. "Everything will be okay."
B. "Why are you scared?"
C. "Tell me more about your concerns."
D. "You shouldn't worry."
CORRECT ANSWER C — "Tell me more about your concerns."
RATIONALE This is a therapeutic, open-ended response that invites the patient to share feelings. "Everything will be okay"
(A) is false reassurance. "Why" questions (B) can feel judgmental. "You shouldn't worry" (D) dismisses the
patient's feelings.
4. Which finding is an EARLY sign of hypoxia?
A. Cyanosis.
B. Bradycardia.
C. Restlessness.
D. Unresponsiveness.
CORRECT ANSWER C — Restlessness.
RATIONALE Restlessness is the earliest sign of hypoxia—the brain senses decreased oxygen and triggers agitation.
Cyanosis (A) is a LATE sign. Bradycardia (B) is a late, ominous sign. Unresponsiveness (D) indicates severe
hypoxia. "Restlessness is hypoxia until proven otherwise."
5. Which assessment technique should the nurse perform FIRST when assessing the abdomen?
A. Palpation.
B. Auscultation.
C. Percussion.
D. Inspection.
CORRECT ANSWER D — Inspection.
RATIONALE Inspection always comes first in physical assessment—observe the abdomen for distention, scars, symmetry,
and visible pulsations before touching. The correct abdominal assessment order is: Inspection, Auscultation,
Percussion, Palpation (IAPP).
6. Which patient is MOST appropriate for the UAP?
A. Newly admitted patient.
B. Patient with chest pain.
C. Stable patient needing assistance with bathing.
D. Patient requiring discharge teaching.
CORRECT ANSWER C — Stable patient needing assistance with bathing.
RATIONALE UAPs care for stable patients with predictable outcomes performing routine ADLs like bathing. New
admissions (A) require RN assessment. Chest pain (B) is unstable. Discharge teaching (D) requires RN-level
education.
