Nursing School Fundamentals of Nursing 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which vital sign finding should be reported to the charge nurse immediately in an adult patient?
- Blood pressure of 118/76 mmHg
- Heart rate of 112 beats per minute (Correct answer)
- Respiratory rate of 16 breaths per minute
- Temperature of 98.6°F (37°C)
Correct answer: Heart rate of 112 beats per minute
A heart rate of 112 bpm indicates tachycardia, which is above the normal adult range of 60–100 bpm and requires prompt assessment.
Question 2: A nurse is preparing to perform hand hygiene. According to the CDC, how long should hands be scrubbed with soap and water?
- 5 seconds
- 10 seconds
- At least 20 seconds (Correct answer)
- 60 seconds
Correct answer: At least 20 seconds
The CDC recommends scrubbing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds to effectively reduce microbial load.
Question 3: When documenting in a patient's medical record, which principle is most important?
- Use abbreviations to save time
- Document only at the end of each shift
- Record entries that are accurate, timely, and objective (Correct answer)
- Write in pencil so corrections can be made
Correct answer: Record entries that are accurate, timely, and objective
Accurate, timely, and objective documentation is the legal and professional standard for medical recordkeeping.
Question 4: A patient is placed in Fowler's position. At what angle is the head of the bed elevated?
- 15–30 degrees
- 30–45 degrees
- 45–60 degrees (Correct answer)
- 60–90 degrees
Correct answer: 45–60 degrees
Fowler's position elevates the head of the bed to 45–60 degrees, which is the standard angle for this semi-upright position.
Question 5: Which action best demonstrates respect for a patient's autonomy?
- Administering medication without explaining side effects
- Allowing the patient to refuse treatment after being informed of the risks (Correct answer)
- Deciding the best treatment plan on behalf of the patient
- Encouraging family members to make all care decisions
Correct answer: Allowing the patient to refuse treatment after being informed of the risks
Patient autonomy means the right to make informed decisions about their own care, including the right to refuse treatment.
Question 6: A nurse is preparing to give an injection. Which site is most appropriate for an intramuscular (IM) injection in an adult?
- Deltoid muscle
- Dorsogluteal muscle
- Vastus lateralis muscle
- Ventrogluteal muscle (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Ventrogluteal muscle
The ventrogluteal site is the preferred IM injection site in adults because it has the fewest major nerves and blood vessels and consistently thick muscle mass.
Question 7: What is the primary purpose of the nursing process?
- To follow physician orders accurately
- To provide a systematic framework for individualized patient care (Correct answer)
- To ensure hospital policies are followed
- To document care for billing purposes
Correct answer: To provide a systematic framework for individualized patient care
The nursing process (ADPIE) provides a systematic, evidence-based framework to deliver individualized, patient-centered care.
Nursing School Fundamentals of Nursing 1
Which vital sign finding should be reported to the charge nurse immediately in an adult patient?