,NUR 361 Exam 1 | Professional Nursing |
Comprehensive Questions & Verified Answers |
2026 Edition | California University
1. Florence Nightingale’s primary contribution to modern nursing was
A) establishing the first nursing school at St. Thomas’ Hospital
B) developing the first electronic health record
C) introducing the concept of nursing diagnosis
D) founding the American Red Cross
Correct Answer: Establishing the first nursing school at St. Thomas’ Hospital
Rationale: Nightingale founded the Nightingale Training School for Nurses in 1860, emphasizing hygiene,
sanitation, and evidence-based practice. She did not create EHRs, nursing diagnosis, or the American
Red Cross.
2. What is the primary purpose of the nursing process?
A) To ensure all patients receive identical care
B) To provide a systematic problem-solving framework for individualized care
C) To delegate tasks to unlicensed personnel
D) To document patient outcomes
Correct Answer: To provide a systematic problem-solving framework for individualized care
Rationale: The nursing process (ADPIE) is a critical thinking method that tailors care to each patient’s
unique needs, not a one-size-fits-all approach. Documentation is one part, not the primary purpose.
3. The ethical principle that requires the nurse to avoid causing harm is
A) justice
,B) autonomy
C) nonmaleficence
D) fidelity
Correct Answer: Nonmaleficence
Rationale: Nonmaleficence means “do no harm,” a core ethical duty. Justice is fairness, autonomy is
self-determination, and fidelity is loyalty.
4. An example of battery in nursing practice is
A) threatening a patient with restraints
B) sharing patient information without consent
C) failing to document a fall
D) administering an injection against the patient’s will
Correct Answer: Administering an injection against the patient’s will
Rationale: Battery is intentional unauthorized physical contact. Threats are assault; sharing private
information is invasion of privacy; failure to document is negligence.
5. Which statement by the nurse is an example of an open-ended question?
A) “Can you tell me more about how you’ve been feeling?”
B) “Are you in pain right now?”
C) “Did you take your medication this morning?”
D) “Is your pain sharp or dull?”
Correct Answer: “Can you tell me more about how you’ve been feeling?”
Rationale: Open-ended questions invite narrative responses. The other options are closed-ended,
eliciting yes/no or limited answers that restrict communication.
, 6. A patient develops sudden dyspnea. What should the nurse do first?
A) Administer oxygen
B) Assess the patient’s respiratory status and vital signs
C) Call the healthcare provider
D) Document the event
Correct Answer: Assess the patient’s respiratory status and vital signs
Rationale: Assessment is the first step of the nursing process. The nurse must gather objective data
before implementing interventions or notifying the provider.
7. A patient with terminal cancer decides to discontinue chemotherapy. The nurse supports this
decision. This is an example of respecting which ethical principle?
A) Beneficence
B) Justice
C) Autonomy
D) Fidelity
Correct Answer: Autonomy
Rationale: Autonomy is respecting the patient’s right to make their own healthcare decisions.
Beneficence is doing good; justice is fairness; fidelity is keeping promises.
8. A family member asks the nurse about a patient’s condition. The patient is alert. What should the
nurse do?
A) Provide a full update
B) Tell the family member to ask the doctor
C) Ignore the question
D) Explain that the patient’s permission is required before sharing information
Comprehensive Questions & Verified Answers |
2026 Edition | California University
1. Florence Nightingale’s primary contribution to modern nursing was
A) establishing the first nursing school at St. Thomas’ Hospital
B) developing the first electronic health record
C) introducing the concept of nursing diagnosis
D) founding the American Red Cross
Correct Answer: Establishing the first nursing school at St. Thomas’ Hospital
Rationale: Nightingale founded the Nightingale Training School for Nurses in 1860, emphasizing hygiene,
sanitation, and evidence-based practice. She did not create EHRs, nursing diagnosis, or the American
Red Cross.
2. What is the primary purpose of the nursing process?
A) To ensure all patients receive identical care
B) To provide a systematic problem-solving framework for individualized care
C) To delegate tasks to unlicensed personnel
D) To document patient outcomes
Correct Answer: To provide a systematic problem-solving framework for individualized care
Rationale: The nursing process (ADPIE) is a critical thinking method that tailors care to each patient’s
unique needs, not a one-size-fits-all approach. Documentation is one part, not the primary purpose.
3. The ethical principle that requires the nurse to avoid causing harm is
A) justice
,B) autonomy
C) nonmaleficence
D) fidelity
Correct Answer: Nonmaleficence
Rationale: Nonmaleficence means “do no harm,” a core ethical duty. Justice is fairness, autonomy is
self-determination, and fidelity is loyalty.
4. An example of battery in nursing practice is
A) threatening a patient with restraints
B) sharing patient information without consent
C) failing to document a fall
D) administering an injection against the patient’s will
Correct Answer: Administering an injection against the patient’s will
Rationale: Battery is intentional unauthorized physical contact. Threats are assault; sharing private
information is invasion of privacy; failure to document is negligence.
5. Which statement by the nurse is an example of an open-ended question?
A) “Can you tell me more about how you’ve been feeling?”
B) “Are you in pain right now?”
C) “Did you take your medication this morning?”
D) “Is your pain sharp or dull?”
Correct Answer: “Can you tell me more about how you’ve been feeling?”
Rationale: Open-ended questions invite narrative responses. The other options are closed-ended,
eliciting yes/no or limited answers that restrict communication.
, 6. A patient develops sudden dyspnea. What should the nurse do first?
A) Administer oxygen
B) Assess the patient’s respiratory status and vital signs
C) Call the healthcare provider
D) Document the event
Correct Answer: Assess the patient’s respiratory status and vital signs
Rationale: Assessment is the first step of the nursing process. The nurse must gather objective data
before implementing interventions or notifying the provider.
7. A patient with terminal cancer decides to discontinue chemotherapy. The nurse supports this
decision. This is an example of respecting which ethical principle?
A) Beneficence
B) Justice
C) Autonomy
D) Fidelity
Correct Answer: Autonomy
Rationale: Autonomy is respecting the patient’s right to make their own healthcare decisions.
Beneficence is doing good; justice is fairness; fidelity is keeping promises.
8. A family member asks the nurse about a patient’s condition. The patient is alert. What should the
nurse do?
A) Provide a full update
B) Tell the family member to ask the doctor
C) Ignore the question
D) Explain that the patient’s permission is required before sharing information
