Fundamentals of Nursing Flashcards
7 cards from real BSN practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Fundamentals of Nursing flashcards as text
A patient tells the nurse, 'I feel like my heart is racing.' Which therapeutic communication technique does the nurse use by responding, 'Your heart is racing?'
Answer: Restating (reflecting)
Restating (or reflecting) repeats the patient's own words back to them to encourage elaboration.
A nurse is evaluating pain using the numeric rating scale (NRS). A patient reports a pain level of 8/10. This pain is classified as:
Answer: Severe
On the NRS, 1–3 = mild, 4–6 = moderate, 7–10 = severe pain.
When collecting a midstream clean-catch urine specimen, which instruction should the nurse give the patient?
Answer: Begin voiding, then collect the midstream portion in the cup
The initial urine stream flushes urethral contaminants; the midstream portion provides the cleanest sample for culture.
A nurse is performing a capillary blood glucose check. After the lancet puncture, what should the nurse do before collecting the blood sample?
Answer: Wipe away the first drop of blood with a clean gauze
The first drop of blood is wiped away because it may be contaminated with tissue fluid, which can alter glucose results.
A patient is prescribed a medication that should be given sublingually. How should the nurse instruct the patient to take it?
Answer: Place the tablet under the tongue and let it dissolve completely
Sublingual medications are placed under the tongue to dissolve and absorb directly into the bloodstream via the sublingual mucosa.
Which principle guides the nurse in prioritizing care using Maslow's hierarchy of needs?
Answer: Physiological needs must be met before higher-level needs can be addressed
Maslow's hierarchy places physiological needs (airway, breathing, circulation) at the base, meaning they must be addressed first.
A nurse is caring for a patient who is NPO (nothing by mouth) before surgery. The patient asks for a sip of water. What is the nurse's best response?
Answer: Deny the request and explain that NPO restrictions reduce aspiration risk during anesthesia
NPO status is maintained to minimize gastric contents and reduce the risk of aspiration pneumonia during anesthesia.