Nursing Board Review: Fundamentals of Nursing Practice Test Part 1

Posted: 06 Jun 2010 11:31 PM PDT

July 2010 Nursing Board Exam Review Questions on Fundamentals of Nursing.

Mark the letter of your choice then click on the next button. Your score will be posted as soon as the you
are done with the quiz. We will be posting more if this soon. If you want a simulated Nursing Board
Exam, get a copy of our Nursing Board Exam Reviewer v1.0 and v2 now.
1. Jake is complaining of shortness of breath. The nurse assesses his respiratory rate to be 30
breaths per minute and documents that Jake is tachypneic. The nurse understands that tachypnea
means:

a. Pulse rate greater than 100 beats per minute

b. Blood pressure of 140/90

c. Respiratory rate greater than 20 breaths per minute

d. Frequent bowel sounds

2. The nurse listens to Mrs. Sullen’s lungs and notes a hissing sound or musical sound. The nurse
documents this as:

a. Wheezes

b. Rhonchi

c. Gurgles

d. Vesicular

3. The nurse in charge measures a patient’s temperature at 101 degrees F. What is the equivalent
centigrade temperature?

a. 36.3 degrees C

b. 37.95 degrees C

c. 40.03 degrees C

d. 38.01 degrees C

4. Which approach to problem solving tests any number of solutions until one is found that works for
that particular problem?

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 a. Intuition

b. Routine

c. Scientific method

d. Trial and error

5. What is the order of the nursing process?

a. Assessing, diagnosing, implementing, evaluating, planning

b. Diagnosing, assessing, planning, implementing, evaluating

c. Assessing, diagnosing, planning, implementing, evaluating

d. Planning, evaluating, diagnosing, assessing, implementing

6. During the planning phase of the nursing process, which of the following is the outcome?

a. Nursing history

b. Nursing notes

c. Nursing care plan

d. Nursing diagnosis

7. What is an example of a subjective data?

a. Heart rate of 68 beats per minute

b. Yellowish sputum

c. Client verbalized, “I feel pain when urinating.”

d. Noisy breathing

8. Which expected outcome is correctly written?

a. “The patient will feel less nauseated in 24 hours.”

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 b. “The patient will eat the right amount of food daily.”

c. “The patient will identify all the high-salt food from a prepared list by discharge.”

d. “The patient will have enough sleep.”

9. Which of the following behaviors by Nurse Jane Robles demonstrates that she understands well th
elements of effecting charting?

a. She writes in the chart using a no. 2 pencil.

b. She noted: appetite is good this afternoon.

c. She signs on the medication sheet after administering the medication.

d. She signs her charting as follow: J.R

10. What is the disadvantage of computerized documentation of the nursing process?

a. Accuracy

b. Legibility

c. Concern for privacy

d. Rapid communication

11. The theorist who believes that adaptation and manipulation of stressors are related to foster
change is:

a. Dorothea Orem

b. Sister Callista Roy

c. Imogene King

d. Virginia Henderson

12. Formulating a nursing diagnosis is a joint function of:

a. Patient and relatives

b. Nurse and patient

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 c. Doctor and family

d. Nurse and doctor

13. Mrs. Caperlac has been diagnosed to have hypertension since 10 years ago. Since then, she had
maintained low sodium, low fat diet, to control her blood pressure. This practice is viewed as:

a. Cultural belief

b. Personal belief

c. Health belief

d. Superstitious belief

14. Becky is on NPO since midnight as preparation for blood test. Adreno-cortical response is
activated. Which of the following is an expected response?

a. Low blood pressure

b. Warm, dry skin

c. Decreased serum sodium levels

d. Decreased urine output

15. What nursing action is appropriate when obtaining a sterile urine specimen from an indwelling
catheter to prevent infection?

a. Use sterile gloves when obtaining urine.

b. Open the drainage bag and pour out the urine.

c. Disconnect the catheter from the tubing and get urine.

d. Aspirate urine from the tubing port using a sterile syringe.

16. A client is receiving 115 ml/hr of continuous IVF. The nurse notices that the venipuncture site is
red and swollen. Which of the following interventions would the nurse perform first?

a. Stop the infusion

b. Call the attending physician

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 c. Slow that infusion to 20 ml/hr

d. Place a clod towel on the site

17. The nurse enters the room to give a prescribed medication but the patient is inside the bathroom.
What should the nurse do?

a. Leave the medication at the bedside and leave the room.

b. After few minutes, return to that patient’s room and do not leave until the patient takes the
medication.

c. Instruct the patient to take the medication and leave it at the bedside.

d. Wait for the patient to return to bed and just leave the medication at the bedside.

18. Which of the following is inappropriate nursing action when administering NGT feeding?

a. Place the feeding 20 inches above the pint if insertion of NGT.

b. Introduce the feeding slowly.

c. Instill 60ml of water into the NGT after feeding.

d. Assist the patient in fowler’s position.

19. A female patient is being discharged after thyroidectomy. After providing the medication teaching.
The nurse asks the patient to repeat the instructions. The nurse is performing which professional role?

a. Manager

b. Caregiver

c. Patient advocate

d. Educator

20. Which data would be of greatest concern to the nurse when completing the nursing assessment of
a 68-year-old woman hospitalized due to Pneumonia?

a. Oriented to date, time and place

b. Clear breath sounds

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 c. Capillary refill greater than 3 seconds and buccal cyanosis

d. Hemoglobin of 13 g/dl

21. During a change-of-shift report, it would be important for the nurse relinquishing responsibility for
care of the patient to communicate. Which of the following facts to the nurse assuming responsibility for
care of the patient?

a. That the patient verbalized, “My headache is gone.”

b. That the patient’s barium enema performed 3 days ago was negative

c. Patient’s NGT was removed 2 hours ago

d. Patient’s family came for a visit this morning.

22. Which statement is the most appropriate goal for a nursing diagnosis of diarrhea?

a. “The patient will experience decreased frequency of bowel elimination.”

b. “The patient will take anti-diarrheal medication.”

c. “The patient will give a stool specimen for laboratory examinations.”

d. “The patient will save urine for inspection by the nurse.

23. Which of the following is the most important purpose of planning care with this patient?

a. Development of a standardized NCP.

b. Expansion of the current taxonomy of nursing diagnosis

c. Making of individualized patient care

d. Incorporation of both nursing and medical diagnoses in patient care

24. Using Maslow’s hierarchy of basic human needs, which of the following nursing diagnoses has the
highest priority?

a. Ineffective breathing pattern related to pain, as evidenced by shortness of breath.

b. Anxiety related to impending surgery, as evidenced by insomnia.

c. Risk of injury related to autoimmune dysfunction

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 d. Impaired verbal communication related to tracheostomy, as evidenced by inability to speak.

25. When performing an abdominal examination, the patient should be in a supine position with the
head of the bed at what position?

a. 30 degrees

b. 90 degrees

c. 45 degrees

d. 0 degree

NURSING BOARD REVIEW: FUNDAMENTALS OF NURSING PRACTICE TEST PART 2

July 2010 Nursing Board Exam Review Questions on Fundamentals of Nursing.

Mark the letter of your choice then click on the next button. Your score will be posted as soon as the you
are done with the quiz. We will be posting more of this soon. If you want a simulated Nursing Board
Exam, get a copy of our Nursing Board Exam Reviewer v1.0 and v2 now.
1. A patient is wearing a soft wrist-safety device. Which of the following nursing assessment is
considered abnormal?

a. Palpable radial pulse

b. Palpable ulnar pulse

c. Capillary refill within 3 seconds

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 d. Bluish fingernails, cool and pale fingers

2. Pia’s serum sodium level is 150 mEq/L. Which of the following food items does the nurse instruct
Pia to avoid?

a. broccoli

b. sardines

c. cabbage

d. tomatoes

3. Jason, 3 years old vomited. His mom stated, “He vomited 6 ounces of his formula this morning.”
This statement is an example of:

a. objective data from a secondary source

b. objective data from a primary source

c. subjective data from a primary source

d. subjective data from a secondary source

4. Which of the following is a nursing diagnosis?

a. Hypethermia

b. Diabetes Mellitus

c. Angina

d. Chronic Renal Failure

5. What is the characteristic of the nursing process?

a. stagnant

b. inflexible

c. asystematic

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 d. goal-oriented

6. A skin lesion which is fluid-filled, less than 1 cm in size is called:

a. papule

b. vesicle

c. bulla

d. macule

7. During application of medication into the ear, which of the following is inappropriate nursing action?

a. In an adult, pull the pinna upward.

b. Instill the medication directly into the tympanic membrane.

c. Warm the medication at room or body temperature.

d. Press the tragus of the ear a few times to assist flow of medication into the ear canal.

8. Which of the following is appropriate nursing intervention for a client who is grieving over the death
of her child?

a. Tell her not to cry and it will be better.

b. Provide opportunity to the client to tell their story.

c. Encourage her to accept or to replace the lost person.

d. Discourage the client in expressing her emotions.

9. It is the gradual decrease of the body’s temperature after death.

a. livor mortis

b. rigor mortis

c. algor mortis

d. none of the above

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10. When performing an admission assessment on a newly admitted patient, the nurse percusses
resonance. The nurse knows that resonance heard on percussion is most commonly heard over which
organ?

a. thigh

b. liver

c. intestine

d. lung

11. The nurse is aware that Bell’s palsy affects which cranial nerve?

a. 2nd CN (Optic)

b. 3rd CN (Occulomotor)

c. 4th CN (Trochlear)

d. 7th CN (Facial)

12. Prolonged deficiency of Vitamin B9 leads to:

a. scurvy

b. pellagra

c. megaloblastic anemia

d. pernicious anemia

13. Nurse Cherry is teaching a 72 year old patient about a newly prescribed medication. What could
cause a geriatric patient to have difficulty retaining knowledge about the newly prescribed medication?

a. Absence of family support

b. Decreased sensory functions

c. Patient has no interest on learning

d. Decreased plasma drug levels

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14. When assessing a patient’s level of consciousness, which type of nursing intervention is the nurse
performing?

a. Independent

b. Dependent

c. Collaborative

d. Professional

15. Claire is admitted with a diagnosis of chronic shoulder pain. By definition, the nurse understands
that the patient has had pain for more than:

a. 3 months

b. 6 months

c. 9 months

d. 1 year

16. Which of the following statements regarding the nursing process is true?

a. It is useful on outpatient settings.

b. It progresses in separate, unrelated steps.

c. It focuses on the patient, not the nurse.

d. It provides the solution to all patient health problems.

17. Which of the following is considered significant enough to require immediate communication to
another member of the health care team?

a. Weight loss of 3 lbs in a 120 lb female patient.

b. Diminished breath sounds in patient with previously normal breath sounds

c. Patient stated, “I feel less nauseated.”

d. Change of heart rate from 70 to 83 beats per minute.

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18. To assess the adequacy of food intake, which of the following assessment parameters is best
used?

a. food preferences

b. regularity of meal times

c. 3-day diet recall

d. eating style and habits

19. Van Fajardo is a 55 year old who was admitted to the hospital with newly diagnosed hepatitis. The
nurse is doing a patient teaching with Mr. Fajardo. What kind of role does the nurse assume?

a. talker

b. teacher

c. thinker

d. doer

20. When providing a continuous enteral feeding, which of the following action is essential for the
nurse to do?

a. Place the client on the left side of the bed.

b. Attach the feeding bag to the current tubing.

c. Elevate the head of the bed.

d. Cold the formula before administering it.

21. Kussmaul’s breathing is;

a. Shallow breaths interrupted by apnea.

b. Prolonged gasping inspiration followed by a very short, usually inefficient expiration.

c. Marked rhythmic waxing and waning of respirations from very deep to very shallow breathing
and temporary apnea.

d. Increased rate and depth of respiration.

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22. Presty has terminal cancer and she refuses to believe that loss is happening ans she assumes
artificial cheerfulness. What stage of grieving is she in?

a. depression

b. bargaining

c. denial

d. acceptance

23. Immunization for healthy babies and preschool children is an example of what level of preventive
health care?

a. Primary

b. Secondary

c. Tertiary

d. Curative

24. Which is an example of a subjective data?

a. Temperature of 38 0C

b. Vomiting for 3 days

c. Productive cough

d. Patient stated, “My arms still hurt.”

25. The nurse is assessing the endocrine system. Which organ is part of the endocrine system?

a. Heart

b. Sinus

c. Thyroid

d. Thymus

NURSING BOARD REVIEW: FUNDAMENTALS OF NURSING PRACTICE TEST PART 3

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1. Nurse Brenda is teaching a patient about a newly prescribed drug. What could cause a geriatric
patient to have difficulty retaining knowledge about prescribed medications?

a. Decreased plasma drug levels

b. Sensory deficits

c. Lack of family support

d. History of Tourette syndrome

2. When examining a patient with abdominal pain the nurse in charge should assess:

Any quadrant first

The symptomatic quadrant first

The symptomatic quadrant last

The symptomatic quadrant either second or third

3. The nurse is assessing a postoperative adult patient. Which of the following should the nurse
document as subjective data?

Vital signs

Laboratory test result

Patient’s description of pain

Electrocardiographic (ECG) waveforms

4. A male patient has a soft wrist-safety device. Which assessment finding should the nurse consider
abnormal?

A palpable radial pulse

A palpable ulnar pulse

Cool, pale fingers

Pink nail beds

5. Which of the following planes divides the body longitudinally into anterior and posterior regions?

Frontal plane

Sagittal plane

Midsagittal plane

Transverse plane

6. A female patient with a terminal illness is in denial. Indicators of denial include:

Shock dismay

Numbness

Stoicism

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 Preparatory grief

7. The nurse in charge is transferring a patient from the bed to a chair. Which action does the nurse
take during this patient transfer?

Position the head of the bed flat

Helps the patient dangle the legs

Stands behind the patient

Places the chair facing away from the bed

8. A female patient who speaks a little English has emergency gallbladder surgery, during discharge
preparation, which nursing action would best help this patient understand wound care instruction?

Asking frequently if the patient understands the instruction

Asking an interpreter to replay the instructions to the patient.

Writing out the instructions and having a family member read them to the patient

Demonstrating the procedure and having the patient return the demonstration

9. Before administering the evening dose of a prescribed medication, the nurse on the evening shift
finds an unlabeled, filled syringe in the patient’s medication drawer. What should the nurse in charge
do?

Discard the syringe to avoid a medication error

Obtain a label for the syringe from the pharmacy

Use the syringe because it looks like it contains the same medication the nurse was prepared to
give

Call the day nurse to verify the contents of the syringe

10. When administering drug therapy to a male geriatric patient, the nurse must stay especially alert
for adverse effects. Which factor makes geriatric patients to adverse drug effects?

Faster drug clearance

Aging-related physiological changes

Increased amount of neurons

Enhanced blood flow to the GI tract

11. A female patient is being discharged after cataract surgery. After providing medication teaching,
the nurse asks the patient to repeat the instructions. The nurse is performing which professional role?

Manager

Educator

Caregiver

Patient advocate

12. A female patient exhibits signs of heightened anxiety. Which response by the nurse is most likely
to reduce the patient’s anxiety?

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 “Everything will be fine. Don’t worry.”

“Read this manual and then ask me any questions you may have.”

“Why don’t you listen to the radio?”

“Let’s talk about what’s bothering you.”

13. A scrub nurse in the operating room has which responsibility?

Positioning the patient

Assisting with gowning and gloving

Handling surgical instruments to the surgeon

Applying surgical drapes

14. A patient is in the bathroom when the nurse enters to give a prescribed medication. What should
the nurse in charge do?

Leave the medication at the patient’s bedside

Tell the patient to be sure to take the medication. And then leave it at the bedside

Return shortly to the patient’s room and remain there until the patient takes the medication

Wait for the patient to return to bed, and then leave the medication at the bedside

15. The physician orders heparin, 7,500 units, to be administered subcutaneously every 6 hours. The
vial reads 10,000 units per millilitre. The nurse should anticipate giving how much heparin for each
dose?

¼ ml

½ ml

¾ ml

1 ¼ ml

16. The nurse in charge measures a patient’s temperature at 102 degrees F. what is the equivalent
Centigrade temperature?

39 degrees C

47 degrees C

38.9 degrees C

40.1 degrees C

17. To evaluate a patient for hypoxia, the physician is most likely to order which laboratory test?

Red blood cell count

Sputum culture

Total hemoglobin

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 Arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis

18. The nurse uses a stethoscope to auscultate a male patient’s chest. Which statement about a
stethoscope with a bell and diaphragm is true?

The bell detects high-pitched sounds best

The diaphragm detects high-pitched sounds best

The bell detects thrills best

The diaphragm detects low-pitched sounds best

19. A male patient is to be discharged with a prescription for an analgesic that is a controlled
substance. During discharge teaching, the nurse should explain that the patient must fill this prescription
how soon after the date on which it was written?

Within 1 month

Within 3 months

Within 6 months

Within 12 months

20. Which human element considered by the nurse in charge during assessment can affect drug
administration?

The patient’s ability to recover

The patient’s occupational hazards

The patient’s socioeconomic status

The patient’s cognitive abilities

21. When explaining the initiation of I.V. therapy to a 2-year-old child, the nurse should:

Ask the child, “Do you want me to start the I.V. now?”

Give simple directions shortly before the I.V. therapy is to start

Tell the child, “This treatment is for your own good”

Inform the child that the needle will be in place for 10 days

22. All of the following parts of the syringe are sterile except the:

Barrel

Inside of the plunger

Needle tip

Barrel tip

23. The best way to instill eye drops is to:

Instruct the patient to lock upward, and drop the medication into the center of the lower lid

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 Instruct the patient to look ahead, and drop the medication into the center of the lower lid

Drop the medication into the inner canthus regardless of eye position

Drop the medication into the center of the canthus regardless of eye position

24. The difference between an 18G needle and a 25G needle is the needle’s:

Length

Bevel angle

Thickness

Sharpness

25. A patient receiving an anticoagulant should be assessed for signs of:

Hypotension

Hypertension

An elevated hemoglobin count

An increased number of erythrocytes

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