All Free Fundamentals of Nursing MCQs with Answers

Every Fundamentals of Nursing question in the bank, across all chapters, each with the correct answer and a written explanation. Free and unlimited, with no account needed.

500 questions · page 14 of 25

  • A. Collecting the patient's health history
  • B. Administering a prescribed antibiotic
  • C. Writing a measurable patient outcome
  • D. Comparing results with the expected outcome

Explanation: Implementation is the phase in which the nurse carries out planned nursing interventions.

Correct answer: Administering a prescribed antibiotic
  • A. The patient reports feeling nauseated
  • B. The patient states that the pain is severe
  • C. The nurse observes swelling of both ankles
  • D. The patient says the wound is burning

Explanation: Objective data are findings that can be observed, measured, or verified by another person.

Correct answer: The nurse observes swelling of both ankles
  • A. Record the answer without further questioning
  • B. Ask a focused question to clarify the onset
  • C. Ask the family to provide the exact time
  • D. Document that the patient is an unreliable source

Explanation: The nurse should clarify incomplete or unclear information before documenting the assessment.

Correct answer: Ask a focused question to clarify the onset
  • A. You do not smoke, do you?
  • B. Why did you delay seeking treatment?
  • C. What health concern brought you here today?
  • D. You are taking your medicines as prescribed, correct?

Explanation: An open-ended, neutral question encourages the patient to describe the main concern in their own words.

Correct answer: What health concern brought you here today?
  • A. It identifies the disease causing the patient's symptoms
  • B. It describes a human response that nursing care can address
  • C. It remains unchanged until the medical diagnosis changes
  • D. It is selected only from the physician's diagnostic report

Explanation: A nursing diagnosis describes an actual or potential human response to health conditions that nurses can treat or prevent.

Correct answer: It describes a human response that nursing care can address
Easy
  • A. Check the patient's airway and breathing
  • B. Ask about the patient's usual sleep pattern
  • C. Inspect the skin for a pressure injury
  • D. Review the patient's usual dietary intake

Explanation: Restlessness, confusion and cyanosis suggest worsening oxygenation, so airway and breathing are assessed first.

Correct answer: Check the patient's airway and breathing
Fairly easy
  • A. Encourage every patient to walk independently
  • B. Provide assistance according to the patient's assessed ability
  • C. Keep the patient on bed rest throughout admission
  • D. Use the same mobility schedule for all patients

Explanation: Individualised care matches assistance and activity to the patient's strength, balance and safety needs.

Correct answer: Provide assistance according to the patient's assessed ability
Hard
  • A. Set a pain goal with the patient
  • B. Administer analgesia without further assessment
  • C. Record that the patient has recovered
  • D. Replace the nursing diagnosis with the surgical diagnosis

Explanation: Planning includes setting patient-centred, measurable goals with the patient before interventions are selected.

Correct answer: Set a pain goal with the patient
  • A. Ignore it because the patient has no complaint
  • B. Reassess the pulse and collect related findings
  • C. Document a cardiac disease as the nursing diagnosis
  • D. Tell the patient that a serious disorder is present

Explanation: An unexpected finding should be validated and assessed further, including rate, rhythm and related symptoms.

Correct answer: Reassess the pulse and collect related findings
Fairly easy
  • A. The patient says the ward feels comfortable
  • B. The patient remains free from falls and uses the call bell
  • C. The nurse explains the fall-prevention policy once
  • D. The patient receives the prescribed evening medication

Explanation: Evaluation compares the patient's actual response with the planned measurable outcome.

Correct answer: The patient remains free from falls and uses the call bell
Hard
  • A. Document the reading as the patient's baseline
  • B. Apply oxygen without checking the measurement
  • C. Warm the hand and repeat the reading
  • D. Ask the patient to take rapid deep breaths

Explanation: The nurse should validate an unexpected finding by correcting possible equipment or patient factors and repeating the measurement.

Correct answer: Warm the hand and repeat the reading
  • A. Previous appendectomy at age 20
  • B. Current allergy to penicillin
  • C. Mother diagnosed with hypertension
  • D. Patient's usual daily exercise pattern

Explanation: Family history records significant illnesses or conditions affecting blood relatives, such as hypertension in the patient's mother.

Correct answer: Mother diagnosed with hypertension
  • A. Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
  • B. Palpation, percussion, inspection, auscultation
  • C. Auscultation, palpation, inspection, percussion
  • D. Percussion, palpation, auscultation, inspection

Explanation: The abdomen is assessed in the order of inspection, auscultation, percussion and palpation.

Correct answer: Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
Very hard
  • A. Group related findings into meaningful patterns
  • B. Select the first diagnosis in the care plan
  • C. Begin all prescribed treatments immediately
  • D. Ask the medical officer to name the diagnosis

Explanation: Clustering related assessment cues helps the nurse identify meaningful patterns and supports an accurate nursing diagnosis.

Correct answer: Group related findings into meaningful patterns
  • A. Wound looks bad and patient is careless
  • B. Wound is probably infected and painful
  • C. Red, warm area measuring 3 cm surrounds incision
  • D. Patient seems unhealthy and does not cooperate

Explanation: The third entry uses observable, measurable and neutral language, making it suitable for the clinical record.

Correct answer: Red, warm area measuring 3 cm surrounds incision
Moderate
  • A. A patient requesting help to choose lunch
  • B. A patient reporting sudden difficulty speaking
  • C. A patient asking for a routine bath
  • D. A patient with mild pain before breakfast

Explanation: Sudden difficulty speaking may indicate an acute neurological emergency and requires immediate assessment for safety and possible loss of…

Correct answer: A patient reporting sudden difficulty speaking
  • A. It describes a problem that is already present
  • B. It identifies a possible problem supported by risk factors
  • C. It names the disease causing the patient's symptoms
  • D. It records the treatment prescribed by the physician

Explanation: A risk nursing diagnosis identifies a patient vulnerability and the factors that increase the chance of a problem developing.

Correct answer: It identifies a possible problem supported by risk factors
Easy
  • A. Use a trained medical interpreter
  • B. Ask a young child in the family to interpret
  • C. Give the patient a form without further discussion
  • D. Proceed using gestures and assumptions

Explanation: A trained medical interpreter promotes accurate communication, privacy and informed participation in assessment.

Correct answer: Use a trained medical interpreter
Fairly easy
  • A. Mark the outcome as achieved because care was provided
  • B. Reassess the patient and review the care plan
  • C. Discontinue all interventions immediately
  • D. Record that the patient failed to cooperate

Explanation: When an outcome is unmet, the nurse reassesses the patient and examines whether the diagnosis, interventions or time frame should be…

Correct answer: Reassess the patient and review the care plan
Moderate
  • A. Respiratory rate of 18 per minute with clear speech
  • B. Mild thirst after walking to the bathroom
  • C. New use of accessory muscles during breathing
  • D. Dry skin after spending time in a warm room

Explanation: New use of accessory muscles indicates increased work of breathing and possible respiratory compromise, so breathing assessment is the…

Correct answer: New use of accessory muscles during breathing