NURS 3517: Foundations of Professional Nursing Practice - Study
Guide
Disclaimer: This guide is a supplemental resource. Always prioritize your specific course
syllabus, lectures, and assigned readings.
Module 1: Professional Nursing & Theoretical Foundations
1. What is the primary focus of the nursing profession according to the American
Nurses Association (ANA)?
ANSWER ✓ The primary focus is on the protection, promotion, and optimization of
health and abilities; prevention of illness and injury; alleviation of suffering through the
diagnosis and treatment of human response; and advocacy in the care of individuals,
families, communities, and populations.
2. Differentiate between the concepts of "health" and "wellness."
ANSWER ✓ Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, not
merely the absence of disease. Wellness is an active process through which a person
becomes aware of and makes choices toward a more successful existence,
encompassing multiple dimensions like emotional, intellectual, and spiritual.
3. How does Florence Nightingale's Environmental Theory influence modern
nursing practice?
ANSWER ✓ It influences modern practice by emphasizing the importance of a clean,
safe, and supportive environment (e.g., proper ventilation, light, cleanliness, noise
control) in promoting patient recovery and health, which is a cornerstone of infection
control and holistic care today.
4. Describe the four main concepts of the nursing metaparadigm.
ANSWER ✓ The four concepts are: Person (the recipient of care, including individuals,
families, and communities), Environment (the internal and external surroundings that
, affect the client), Health (the degree of wellness or illness experienced by the person),
and Nursing (the attributes, characteristics, and actions of the nurse providing care).
5. What is the purpose of a Nurse Practice Act (NPA)?
ANSWER ✓ The NPA is a state-specific law that regulates nursing practice to protect the
public health, safety, and welfare. It defines the scope of nursing practice, establishes
licensing requirements, and sets grounds for disciplinary action.
6. Compare and contrast the roles of a Registered Nurse (RN) and a Licensed
Practical Nurse (LPN/LVN).
ANSWER ✓ An RN provides a wider scope of practice, including assessment, diagnosis,
planning, and evaluation of patient care, often involving complex clinical judgment. An
LPN/LVN provides more basic nursing care under the direction of an RN or physician,
such as administering medications, monitoring vitals, and performing routine
procedures.
7. What are the core ethical principles in nursing, as outlined in the ANA Code of
Ethics?
ANSWER ✓ The core principles include autonomy (respecting patient's right to self-
determination), beneficence (doing good), nonmaleficence (avoiding harm), justice
(being fair and equitable), fidelity (being faithful to promises), and veracity (telling the
truth).
8. Explain the process of clinical judgment as defined by the NCSBN.
ANSWER ✓ The NCSBN Clinical Judgment Measurement Model involves: Recognizing
Cues, Analyzing Cues, Prioritizing Hypotheses, Generating Solutions, Taking Action,
and Evaluating Outcomes.
9. What is the difference between accountability and responsibility in nursing?
ANSWER ✓ Responsibility refers to the duties and tasks a nurse is obligated to perform.
Accountability is being answerable for the outcomes of those tasks and the professional
judgment used in performing them.
10. How does the concept of "caring" form the foundation of nursing practice?
, ANSWER ✓ Caring is the essential, humanistic core of nursing. It involves empathy,
connection, and a commitment to the well-being of the patient, forming a therapeutic
relationship that promotes healing and trust.
Module 2: The Nursing Process & Critical Thinking
11. List the five steps of the nursing process in order.
ANSWER ✓ The five steps are: Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, and
Evaluation (ADPIE).
12. What are the primary sources of data during a patient assessment?
ANSWER ✓ The primary source is the patient. Secondary sources include family, friends,
the medical record, other healthcare team members, and diagnostic reports.
13. Differentiate between a medical diagnosis and a nursing diagnosis.
ANSWER ✓ A medical diagnosis identifies a specific disease or pathology (e.g.,
Pneumonia). A nursing diagnosis is a clinical judgment about an individual's response to
an actual or potential health problem (e.g., Impaired Gas Exchange).
14. What are the three main components of a PES nursing diagnosis statement?
ANSWER ✓ The three components are: Problem (NANDA-I label), Etiology (related to
factors), and Signs/Symptoms (as evidenced by the defining characteristics).
15. When writing patient outcomes, what acronym is used to ensure they are
measurable?
ANSWER ✓ The acronym SMART is used: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and
Time-bound.
16. What is the difference between independent, dependent, and collaborative
nursing interventions?
ANSWER ✓ Independent interventions are actions a nurse can initiate without a
provider's order (e.g., teaching). Dependent interventions require a provider's order (e.g.,
Guide
Disclaimer: This guide is a supplemental resource. Always prioritize your specific course
syllabus, lectures, and assigned readings.
Module 1: Professional Nursing & Theoretical Foundations
1. What is the primary focus of the nursing profession according to the American
Nurses Association (ANA)?
ANSWER ✓ The primary focus is on the protection, promotion, and optimization of
health and abilities; prevention of illness and injury; alleviation of suffering through the
diagnosis and treatment of human response; and advocacy in the care of individuals,
families, communities, and populations.
2. Differentiate between the concepts of "health" and "wellness."
ANSWER ✓ Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, not
merely the absence of disease. Wellness is an active process through which a person
becomes aware of and makes choices toward a more successful existence,
encompassing multiple dimensions like emotional, intellectual, and spiritual.
3. How does Florence Nightingale's Environmental Theory influence modern
nursing practice?
ANSWER ✓ It influences modern practice by emphasizing the importance of a clean,
safe, and supportive environment (e.g., proper ventilation, light, cleanliness, noise
control) in promoting patient recovery and health, which is a cornerstone of infection
control and holistic care today.
4. Describe the four main concepts of the nursing metaparadigm.
ANSWER ✓ The four concepts are: Person (the recipient of care, including individuals,
families, and communities), Environment (the internal and external surroundings that
, affect the client), Health (the degree of wellness or illness experienced by the person),
and Nursing (the attributes, characteristics, and actions of the nurse providing care).
5. What is the purpose of a Nurse Practice Act (NPA)?
ANSWER ✓ The NPA is a state-specific law that regulates nursing practice to protect the
public health, safety, and welfare. It defines the scope of nursing practice, establishes
licensing requirements, and sets grounds for disciplinary action.
6. Compare and contrast the roles of a Registered Nurse (RN) and a Licensed
Practical Nurse (LPN/LVN).
ANSWER ✓ An RN provides a wider scope of practice, including assessment, diagnosis,
planning, and evaluation of patient care, often involving complex clinical judgment. An
LPN/LVN provides more basic nursing care under the direction of an RN or physician,
such as administering medications, monitoring vitals, and performing routine
procedures.
7. What are the core ethical principles in nursing, as outlined in the ANA Code of
Ethics?
ANSWER ✓ The core principles include autonomy (respecting patient's right to self-
determination), beneficence (doing good), nonmaleficence (avoiding harm), justice
(being fair and equitable), fidelity (being faithful to promises), and veracity (telling the
truth).
8. Explain the process of clinical judgment as defined by the NCSBN.
ANSWER ✓ The NCSBN Clinical Judgment Measurement Model involves: Recognizing
Cues, Analyzing Cues, Prioritizing Hypotheses, Generating Solutions, Taking Action,
and Evaluating Outcomes.
9. What is the difference between accountability and responsibility in nursing?
ANSWER ✓ Responsibility refers to the duties and tasks a nurse is obligated to perform.
Accountability is being answerable for the outcomes of those tasks and the professional
judgment used in performing them.
10. How does the concept of "caring" form the foundation of nursing practice?
, ANSWER ✓ Caring is the essential, humanistic core of nursing. It involves empathy,
connection, and a commitment to the well-being of the patient, forming a therapeutic
relationship that promotes healing and trust.
Module 2: The Nursing Process & Critical Thinking
11. List the five steps of the nursing process in order.
ANSWER ✓ The five steps are: Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, and
Evaluation (ADPIE).
12. What are the primary sources of data during a patient assessment?
ANSWER ✓ The primary source is the patient. Secondary sources include family, friends,
the medical record, other healthcare team members, and diagnostic reports.
13. Differentiate between a medical diagnosis and a nursing diagnosis.
ANSWER ✓ A medical diagnosis identifies a specific disease or pathology (e.g.,
Pneumonia). A nursing diagnosis is a clinical judgment about an individual's response to
an actual or potential health problem (e.g., Impaired Gas Exchange).
14. What are the three main components of a PES nursing diagnosis statement?
ANSWER ✓ The three components are: Problem (NANDA-I label), Etiology (related to
factors), and Signs/Symptoms (as evidenced by the defining characteristics).
15. When writing patient outcomes, what acronym is used to ensure they are
measurable?
ANSWER ✓ The acronym SMART is used: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and
Time-bound.
16. What is the difference between independent, dependent, and collaborative
nursing interventions?
ANSWER ✓ Independent interventions are actions a nurse can initiate without a
provider's order (e.g., teaching). Dependent interventions require a provider's order (e.g.,
