NUR 125 EXAM | FUNDAMENTALS OF NURSING
JOYCE UNIVERSITY | 2026/2027 ACADEMIC YEAR
75 Questions with Detailed Rationales | A+ Graded
UNIT 1: FOUNDATIONS OF NURSING PRACTICE (Questions 1-20)
Q1: The nurse is caring for a patient who is short of breath. Which step of the nursing process
involves identifying the patient's problem as "Impaired Gas Exchange"?
A. Assessment
B. [CORRECT] Diagnosis
C. Planning
D. Implementation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Diagnosis phase involves analyzing the assessment data to identify patient
problems/nursing diagnoses. Assessment (A) involves data collection. Planning (C) involves
setting goals and interventions. Implementation (D) is carrying out the interventions.
Q2: A nurse is prioritizing care for four patients. Based on Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, which
patient should the nurse address first?
A. A patient who is anxious about an upcoming surgery.
B. A patient who has a new diagnosis of colon cancer and needs teaching.
C. [CORRECT] A patient who is reporting severe chest pain and shortness of breath.
D. A patient who is requesting pain medication for a chronic backache.
Correct Answer: C
,Rationale: Maslow's hierarchy prioritizes physiological needs (oxygen, circulation) first. Chest
pain and shortness of breath indicate a threat to physiological integrity and potential survival.
The other patients have needs related to safety/security (A, D) or love/belonging/esteem (B),
which are lower priorities than immediate physiological threats.
Q3: Which of the following best describes "Evidence-Based Practice" (EBP)?
A. Relying solely on the nurse's personal experience and intuition.
B. Performing care exactly as described in the facility's policy manual.
C. [CORRECT] Integrating the best available research evidence with clinical expertise and
patient values.
D. Implementing interventions based on traditions passed down from senior nurses.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: EBP is a problem-solving approach that combines the best evidence from research,
the nurse's clinical expertise, and the patient's preferences/values. Options A and D describe
practices that are not evidence-based. Option B describes policy compliance, which should be
evidence-based but doesn't capture the holistic definition.
Q4: A nurse makes a medication error. Which legal principle protects the nurse if they acted as a
reasonable, prudent nurse would have in the same situation?
A. Assault
B. [CORRECT] Standard of Care
C. Negligence
D. Malpractice
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The "Standard of Care" refers to what a reasonably prudent nurse with similar
education and experience would do in similar circumstances. If the nurse met this standard,
,they are generally protected from negligence or malpractice claims. Negligence (C) and
Malpractice (D) are failures to meet this standard.
Q5: A patient refuses a life-saving blood transfusion due to religious beliefs. Which action by the
nurse demonstrates ethical practice?
A. Administering the blood anyway to save the patient's life.
B. Telling the patient they will die without the blood.
C. [CORRECT] Respecting the patient's autonomy and documenting the refusal.
D. Calling security to restrain the patient for the procedure.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Autonomy is a fundamental ethical principle respecting the patient's right to self-
determination. The nurse must respect the patient's informed refusal, ensure they understand
the risks, and document the interaction. Forcing treatment (A, D) is battery. Coercion (B) is
unethical.
Q6: Which of the following is a "critical thinking" attitude essential for nursing judgment?
A. Routine adherence to tradition.
B. [CORRECT] Curiosity and a willingness to ask questions.
C. Accepting the first plausible explanation.
D. Relying on the opinions of charge nurses.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Critical thinking requires traits such as curiosity, perseverance, integrity, and humility.
A willingness to ask "why" and investigate further is central to clinical judgment. Options A, C,
and D represent passive or biased thinking that avoids analysis.
, Q7: A nurse obtains informed consent for a surgical procedure. Which statement indicates the
nurse understands the primary purpose of the consent?
A. To protect the hospital from lawsuits.
B. [CORRECT] To ensure the patient understands the risks, benefits, and alternatives to the
procedure.
C. To give the physician legal permission to perform the surgery.
D. To document that the patient agreed to pay for the procedure.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Informed consent is an ethical and legal process ensuring the patient has the
information necessary to make an autonomous decision. It is primarily about patient rights and
understanding, not liability protection (A) or billing (D).
Q8: The nurse is documenting care using the SOAPIE format. What does the "I" represent?
A. Intervention
B. [CORRECT] Implementation
C. Information
D. Interpretation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: In SOAPIE charting: S=Subjective, O=Objective, A=Assessment, P=Plan,
I=Implementation (the specific actions taken), and E=Evaluation.
Q9: Which of the following entries in a patient's chart demonstrates correct documentation
principles?
A. "Patient seems to be in a lot of pain."
B. "Dr. Smith was notified of patient's fever at 0900."
C. [CORRECT] "Patient states, 'I feel dizzy when I stand up.' Placed in supine position."
JOYCE UNIVERSITY | 2026/2027 ACADEMIC YEAR
75 Questions with Detailed Rationales | A+ Graded
UNIT 1: FOUNDATIONS OF NURSING PRACTICE (Questions 1-20)
Q1: The nurse is caring for a patient who is short of breath. Which step of the nursing process
involves identifying the patient's problem as "Impaired Gas Exchange"?
A. Assessment
B. [CORRECT] Diagnosis
C. Planning
D. Implementation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Diagnosis phase involves analyzing the assessment data to identify patient
problems/nursing diagnoses. Assessment (A) involves data collection. Planning (C) involves
setting goals and interventions. Implementation (D) is carrying out the interventions.
Q2: A nurse is prioritizing care for four patients. Based on Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, which
patient should the nurse address first?
A. A patient who is anxious about an upcoming surgery.
B. A patient who has a new diagnosis of colon cancer and needs teaching.
C. [CORRECT] A patient who is reporting severe chest pain and shortness of breath.
D. A patient who is requesting pain medication for a chronic backache.
Correct Answer: C
,Rationale: Maslow's hierarchy prioritizes physiological needs (oxygen, circulation) first. Chest
pain and shortness of breath indicate a threat to physiological integrity and potential survival.
The other patients have needs related to safety/security (A, D) or love/belonging/esteem (B),
which are lower priorities than immediate physiological threats.
Q3: Which of the following best describes "Evidence-Based Practice" (EBP)?
A. Relying solely on the nurse's personal experience and intuition.
B. Performing care exactly as described in the facility's policy manual.
C. [CORRECT] Integrating the best available research evidence with clinical expertise and
patient values.
D. Implementing interventions based on traditions passed down from senior nurses.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: EBP is a problem-solving approach that combines the best evidence from research,
the nurse's clinical expertise, and the patient's preferences/values. Options A and D describe
practices that are not evidence-based. Option B describes policy compliance, which should be
evidence-based but doesn't capture the holistic definition.
Q4: A nurse makes a medication error. Which legal principle protects the nurse if they acted as a
reasonable, prudent nurse would have in the same situation?
A. Assault
B. [CORRECT] Standard of Care
C. Negligence
D. Malpractice
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The "Standard of Care" refers to what a reasonably prudent nurse with similar
education and experience would do in similar circumstances. If the nurse met this standard,
,they are generally protected from negligence or malpractice claims. Negligence (C) and
Malpractice (D) are failures to meet this standard.
Q5: A patient refuses a life-saving blood transfusion due to religious beliefs. Which action by the
nurse demonstrates ethical practice?
A. Administering the blood anyway to save the patient's life.
B. Telling the patient they will die without the blood.
C. [CORRECT] Respecting the patient's autonomy and documenting the refusal.
D. Calling security to restrain the patient for the procedure.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Autonomy is a fundamental ethical principle respecting the patient's right to self-
determination. The nurse must respect the patient's informed refusal, ensure they understand
the risks, and document the interaction. Forcing treatment (A, D) is battery. Coercion (B) is
unethical.
Q6: Which of the following is a "critical thinking" attitude essential for nursing judgment?
A. Routine adherence to tradition.
B. [CORRECT] Curiosity and a willingness to ask questions.
C. Accepting the first plausible explanation.
D. Relying on the opinions of charge nurses.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Critical thinking requires traits such as curiosity, perseverance, integrity, and humility.
A willingness to ask "why" and investigate further is central to clinical judgment. Options A, C,
and D represent passive or biased thinking that avoids analysis.
, Q7: A nurse obtains informed consent for a surgical procedure. Which statement indicates the
nurse understands the primary purpose of the consent?
A. To protect the hospital from lawsuits.
B. [CORRECT] To ensure the patient understands the risks, benefits, and alternatives to the
procedure.
C. To give the physician legal permission to perform the surgery.
D. To document that the patient agreed to pay for the procedure.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Informed consent is an ethical and legal process ensuring the patient has the
information necessary to make an autonomous decision. It is primarily about patient rights and
understanding, not liability protection (A) or billing (D).
Q8: The nurse is documenting care using the SOAPIE format. What does the "I" represent?
A. Intervention
B. [CORRECT] Implementation
C. Information
D. Interpretation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: In SOAPIE charting: S=Subjective, O=Objective, A=Assessment, P=Plan,
I=Implementation (the specific actions taken), and E=Evaluation.
Q9: Which of the following entries in a patient's chart demonstrates correct documentation
principles?
A. "Patient seems to be in a lot of pain."
B. "Dr. Smith was notified of patient's fever at 0900."
C. [CORRECT] "Patient states, 'I feel dizzy when I stand up.' Placed in supine position."
