Free Nursing Theories MCQs with Answers

• A. Dorothea Orem
• B. Florence Nightingale
• C. Sister Callista Roy
• D. Jean Watson

Explanation: Florence Nightingale developed the environmental theory, which links health with factors such as ventilation, cleanliness, light and…

• A. Wholly compensatory system
• B. Partly compensatory system
• C. Supportive-educative system
• D. Mutual adaptation system

Explanation: A wholly compensatory system is used when the patient cannot perform self-care and the nurse provides the needed care.

• A. A distant financial concern
• B. The immediate postoperative pain
• C. A learned coping pattern
• D. The patient's oxygen saturation

Explanation: The focal stimulus is the stimulus most immediately confronting the person, such as postoperative pain.

• A. Intrapersonal stressor
• B. Interpersonal stressor
• C. Extrapersonal stressor
• D. Normal line of defense

Explanation: An interpersonal stressor arises from interaction between people, such as family conflict.

• A. Orientation, identification, exploitation, resolution
• B. Assessment, diagnosis, planning, evaluation
• C. Preparation, encounter, termination, follow-up
• D. Dependence, independence, teaching, discharge

Explanation: Peplau described orientation, identification, exploitation and resolution as phases of the therapeutic relationship.

• A. Watson's theory of human caring
• B. Orem's self-care deficit theory
• C. Roy's adaptation model
• D. Neuman's systems model

Explanation: Watson's theory emphasizes caring relationships, human dignity, presence and attention to the patient's subjective experience.

• A. A model gives a broad framework, while a theory gives related concepts and propositions
• B. A model is used only in research, while a theory is used only in clinical care
• C. A model contains no concepts, while a theory contains only measurable variables
• D. A model describes one disease, while a theory describes every nursing procedure

Explanation: A conceptual model provides a broad, organized framework for viewing nursing phenomena.

• A. Orientation phase
• B. Identification phase
• C. Exploitation phase
• D. Resolution phase

Explanation: During orientation, the nurse and patient meet, identify the problem and clarify the purpose of the relationship.

• A. Maintaining fresh air and reducing unnecessary noise
• B. Encouraging complete dependence on the nurse
• C. Interpreting the illness as a role transition
• D. Focusing mainly on the patient's unconscious conflict

Explanation: Nightingale emphasized ventilation, cleanliness, light, nutrition, warmth and a quiet environment to support healing.

• A. Wholly compensatory system
• B. Partly compensatory system
• C. Supportive-educative system
• D. Environmental compensation system

Explanation: The supportive-educative system is appropriate when the patient can carry out self-care but needs teaching, guidance or support.

• A. The patient's ability to perform needed self-care
• B. The nurse's skill in providing direct care
• C. The health service's ability to prevent illness
• D. The family's willingness to supervise treatment

Explanation: Self-care agency is the person's learned ability to meet self-care needs.

• A. Physiological-physical mode
• B. Self-concept mode
• C. Role-function mode
• D. Interdependence mode

Explanation: The physiological-physical mode concerns bodily processes and physical functioning, including movement and activity.

• A. A flexible boundary that prevents all stressors
• B. Internal defenses that support system stability
• C. A fixed role pattern learned during childhood
• D. A treatment plan selected by the nurse

Explanation: Lines of resistance are internal defenses that become active after a stressor passes the normal line of defense.

• A. Completing physical care quickly before documenting findings
• B. Using a caring presence while supporting the patient's meaning and dignity
• C. Following the medical prescription without discussing personal concerns
• D. Limiting communication to questions about symptoms and vital signs

Explanation: Watson emphasizes a transpersonal caring relationship, respect for human dignity and attention to the person's meaning of the experience.

• A. Mutual goal setting through nurse-patient interaction
• B. Environmental control through improved ventilation
• C. Replacement of all self-care by the nurse
• D. Reduction of anxiety through free association

Explanation: King's theory focuses on interaction, communication and transactions that help the nurse and patient set mutually agreed goals.

• A. Nursing helps a person perform activities contributing to health or recovery
• B. Nursing mainly prevents stressors from reaching an open system
• C. Nursing is primarily a therapeutic interpersonal relationship
• D. Nursing focuses mainly on adaptation to internal and external stimuli

Explanation: Henderson described nursing as assisting individuals with activities they would perform independently if they had the strength, will or…

• A. The person is viewed as an integrated, holistic system
• B. The person is viewed only as a collection of symptoms
• C. The environment is viewed as unrelated to health outcomes
• D. The nurse is viewed as the sole source of treatment decisions

Explanation: Major nursing theories commonly view the person as a whole whose physical, psychological, social and spiritual dimensions interact.

• A. Roy's adaptation model
• B. Nightingale's environmental theory
• C. Peplau's interpersonal relations theory
• D. Orem's self-care deficit theory

Explanation: Roy's model guides nursing toward promoting adaptation to health changes by assessing stimuli and adaptive responses.

• A. It contains related concepts and statements explaining their relationships
• B. It gives one instruction for completing a clinical procedure
• C. It lists only the normal range of a laboratory value
• D. It describes one patient's response without broader meaning

Explanation: A nursing theory is an organized set of concepts and propositions that explains or predicts nursing-related phenomena.

• A. To provide an organized framework for nursing practice
• B. To replace clinical judgment with fixed instructions
• C. To ensure every patient receives identical interventions
• D. To restrict assessment to physical findings only

Explanation: Nursing theories organize assessment, planning, intervention and evaluation around related concepts.