Basic Nursing Skills
Final Assessment Review
(Questions & Solutions)
2025
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, Question 1
Case Scenario: A 2‑day‑old preterm neonate in the NICU presents with
signs of hypothermia (lethargy, cool extremities). The nurse is
responsible for maintaining the neonate’s body temperature.
Question: Which advanced basic nursing skill is most critical in ensuring
optimal thermal regulation during neonatal care?
- A) Frequent skin-to-skin contact without a controlled environment
- B) Use of a radiant warmer with intermittent monitoring
- C) Placement in a servo‑controlled, closed incubator
- D) Swaddling without external heat sources
Correct ANS: C
Rationale: A servo‑controlled incubator maintains a controlled, stable
thermal environment ideal for vulnerable preterm infants. While radiant
warmers can be useful in certain scenarios, continuous control in an
incubator offers better temperature regulation, reducing the risk of
hypothermia.
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Question 2
Case Scenario: A 65‑year‑old patient with a history of difficult venous
access requires intravenous (IV) therapy. After several unsuccessful
attempts, the nurse considers advanced techniques.
Question: Which strategy represents an advanced basic nursing skill for
securing IV access in patients with poor peripheral veins?
- A) Repeated blind attempts using a standard tourniquet
- B) Utilizing an ultrasound-guided IV insertion technique
- C) Requesting central venous access immediately
- D) Applying heat packs to dilate the veins without further
intervention
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, Correct ANS: B
Rationale: Ultrasound-guided IV insertion is an advanced technique
that improves success rates in patients with difficult venous access by
allowing visualization of deeper, less palpable veins.
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Question 3
Case Scenario: A 55‑year‑old diabetic patient presents with a chronic
foot ulcer. During wound care, the nurse must perform an objective
wound assessment.
Question: Which practice best demonstrates an advanced nursing skill
in wound evaluation?
- A) Relying on subjective visual inspection of wound color
- B) Measuring the wound dimensions with a sterile ruler and
documenting with digital photography
- C) Changing the dressing without any standardized documentation
- D) Using nonsterile equipment to save time
Correct ANS: B
Rationale: Accurate and objective wound assessment requires precise
measurement and visual documentation. Using a sterile ruler and digital
photography helps track how the wound changes over time, ensuring
objective data capture.
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Question 4
Case Scenario: A nurse is preparing to perform a sterile urinary catheter
insertion on an adult patient.
Question: Which step is most critical for maintaining asepsis during this
procedure?
- A) Reusing gloves after sanitizing with alcohol
- B) Establishing an uninterrupted sterile field and using new sterile
gloves for the procedure
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, - C) Relying on handwashing alone without additional protective
measures
- D) Minimizing verbal communication to avoid contamination
Correct ANS: B
Rationale: Maintaining an uninterrupted sterile field and using new,
sterile gloves are fundamental to preventing catheter-associated
infections. These measures ensure that microorganisms are not
introduced during the procedure.
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Question 5
Case Scenario: A 45‑year‑old surgical patient is scheduled to receive
prophylactic antibiotics 30 minutes before the procedure.
Question: Which advanced basic nursing skill ensures the safe
administration of medications in this scenario?
- A) Administering the medication solely based on verbal orders
- B) Confirming the five rights (right patient, drug, dose, route, time)
and cross-referencing with electronic documentation
- C) Waiting for a physician to re-confirm the order at the time of
administration
- D) Documenting the administration only at the end of the shift
Correct ANS: B
Rationale: Verifying the five rights of medication administration using
electronic records is an established best practice that minimizes the risk
of error before prophylactic antibiotic administration.
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Question 6
Case Scenario: A 70‑year‑old patient with congestive heart failure is
being monitored for changes in vital signs.
Question: Which practice best exemplifies an advanced basic nursing
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