A nurse is completing an admission assessment for a client who has dehydration. Which of the following findings should the nurse document as subjective data?

The client reports feeling lightheaded when standing up

The client's oral mucous membranes are dry and sticky

The client sways and grabs the bed rail when walking

The client's pulse rises from 76 to 104 when standing

A nurse walks into a client's room and sees flames coming from the wastebasket near the bed. The client is awake but cannot walk without help. Which of the following actions should the nurse take FIRST?

Move the client out of the room

Put out the fire with an extinguisher

Activate the nearest fire alarm

Close the door to contain the fire

A nurse is preparing to provide oral care for a client who is unresponsive following a stroke. The client has a weak gag reflex. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

Turn the client to a side-lying position and keep oral suction ready at the bedside

Hold the client's mouth open with a gloved finger while brushing the back teeth

Place the client supine with the head of the bed flat to open the airway as fully as possible

Swab the teeth and gums with lemon-glycerin swabs to stimulate saliva flow

Client: Day 3 of severe diarrhea A nurse is reviewing the arterial blood gas results for a client. The nurse should interpret the client's results as which of the following?

Partially compensated metabolic acidosis

Fully compensated metabolic acidosis

Partially compensated respiratory alkalosis

Uncompensated respiratory acidosis

A nurse is reviewing nursing diagnoses written by a nursing student. Which of the following diagnoses is written correctly?

Acute pain related to tissue trauma from incision as evidenced by pain rated 8 on a 0-10 scale

Ineffective airway clearance related to pneumonia as evidenced by thick secretions and crackles

Appendicitis related to an obstructed appendix as evidenced by right lower quadrant tenderness

Risk for infection related to surgery as evidenced by redness and drainage at the incision

A nurse is observing an assistive personnel (AP) perform a capillary blood glucose test for a client who has type 2 diabetes. Which of the following actions by the AP requires the nurse to intervene?

Punctures the finger while the alcohol is still wet

Lets the client's hand hang below the heart briefly

Has the client wash the hands with warm water first

Uses the side of the fingertip for the puncture site

Medication: heparin infusion at 1,100 units/h Lab results, Day 3 Platelets: 92,000/mm3 aPTT: 72 seconds A nurse is delegating morning care for a client to an assistive personnel (AP). The client asks to be shaved. Which of the following instructions should the nurse give the AP?

"Use the client's electric razor instead of a disposable blade razor."

"Skip the shave today and wait until the heparin infusion is finished."

"Use a new disposable blade razor and apply pressure to any small cuts."

"Apply warm shaving cream first so a blade razor glides more smoothly."

Client: Day 4 of continuous nasogastric tube suction A nurse reviews the client's arterial blood gas report. Which of the following acid-base interpretations is correct?

Fully compensated metabolic alkalosis

Partially compensated metabolic alkalosis

Fully compensated respiratory acidosis

Fundamentals of Nursing Exam

Free Fundamentals of Nursing Practice Questions

10 sample questions for the Fundamentals of Nursing Exam, with the correct answer and an explanation for each. No account needed. Try each one before you open the answer.

Sections covered on the exam: Foundations of Professional Nursing Practice, Safety and Infection Prevention and Control, Health Assessment and Health Promotion, Medication Administration and IV Therapy, Basic Care and Comfort, Oxygenation, Fluids, Skin Integrity and Surgical Care, Psychosocial Integrity and Client Education.

Question 1 · Foundations of Professional Nursing Practice
A nurse is completing an admission assessment for a client who has dehydration. Which of the following findings should the nurse document as subjective data?
- A.The client's oral mucous membranes are dry and sticky
- B.The client reports feeling lightheaded when standing up
- C.The client sways and grabs the bed rail when walking
- D.The client's pulse rises from 76 to 104 when standing
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. The client reports feeling lightheaded when standing up
Subjective data are what the client reports and only the client can verify, such as a feeling of lightheadedness. A pulse change, swaying gait and dry mucous membranes are all objective because the nurse can measure or observe them, even though they relate to the same problem.
Question 2 · Safety and Infection Prevention and Control
A nurse walks into a client's room and sees flames coming from the wastebasket near the bed. The client is awake but cannot walk without help. Which of the following actions should the nurse take FIRST?
- A.Put out the fire with an extinguisher
- B.Activate the nearest fire alarm
- C.Close the door to contain the fire
- D.Move the client out of the room
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. Move the client out of the room
Using RACE, the nurse first rescues any client in immediate danger. The alarm is activated next, then the fire is contained by closing doors, and the nurse extinguishes only a small fire after clients are safe.
Question 3 · Health Assessment and Health Promotion
Medications: furosemide 40 mg IV twice daily, digoxin 0.125 mg PO daily
Morning laboratory results
Sodium 137 mEq/L
Potassium 3.1 mEq/L
BUN 19 mg/dL
Creatinine 1.1 mg/dL
Fasting glucose 96 mg/dL
A nurse is reviewing the laboratory results for a client who has heart failure. Which of the following results should the nurse report to the provider?
- A.Potassium
- B.Sodium
- C.Fasting glucose
- D.BUN
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. Potassium
Potassium of 3.1 mEq/L is below the expected range of 3.5-5.0 mEq/L. Furosemide causes potassium loss, and hypokalemia increases the risk of digoxin toxicity and dysrhythmias, so it must be reported. The sodium, BUN, creatinine and fasting glucose are all within expected ranges.
Question 4 · Basic Care and Comfort
A nurse is preparing to provide oral care for a client who is unresponsive following a stroke. The client has a weak gag reflex. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
- A.Hold the client's mouth open with a gloved finger while brushing the back teeth
- B.Turn the client to a side-lying position and keep oral suction ready at the bedside
- C.Place the client supine with the head of the bed flat to open the airway as fully as possible
- D.Swab the teeth and gums with lemon-glycerin swabs to stimulate saliva flow
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. Turn the client to a side-lying position and keep oral suction ready at the bedside
An unconscious client with a weak gag reflex is at high risk for aspiration, so the nurse positions the client on the side so fluid drains out of the mouth and keeps suction ready. Lemon-glycerin swabs dry the mucosa and erode enamel, and the nurse never places fingers in an unconscious client's mouth; a padded tongue blade or bite block is used instead.
Question 5 · Oxygenation, Fluids, Skin Integrity and Surgical Care
Client: Day 3 of severe diarrhea
A nurse is reviewing the arterial blood gas results for a client. The nurse should interpret the client's results as which of the following?
- A.Partially compensated metabolic acidosis
- B.Fully compensated metabolic acidosis
- C.Partially compensated respiratory alkalosis
- D.Uncompensated respiratory acidosis
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. Partially compensated metabolic acidosis
The pH of 7.32 indicates acidosis, and the HCO3 of 17 is low, moving in the same direction as the pH, so the cause is metabolic (bicarbonate lost in diarrhea). The PaCO2 of 30 is low because the lungs are blowing off CO2 to compensate, and because the pH is still abnormal the compensation is partial, not full.
Question 6 · Foundations of Professional Nursing Practice
A nurse is reviewing nursing diagnoses written by a nursing student. Which of the following diagnoses is written correctly?
- A.Ineffective airway clearance related to pneumonia as evidenced by thick secretions and crackles
- B.Acute pain related to tissue trauma from incision as evidenced by pain rated 8 on a 0-10 scale
- C.Appendicitis related to an obstructed appendix as evidenced by right lower quadrant tenderness
- D.Risk for infection related to surgery as evidenced by redness and drainage at the incision
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. Acute pain related to tissue trauma from incision as evidenced by pain rated 8 on a 0-10 scale
A correct problem-focused diagnosis states a NANDA-I problem, a cause nursing can address, and defining characteristics. Using pneumonia as the etiology substitutes a medical diagnosis for a nursing cause, a risk diagnosis has no signs and symptoms because the problem has not occurred, and appendicitis is a medical diagnosis rather than a client response.

Sodium	137 mEq/L
Potassium	3.1 mEq/L
BUN	19 mg/dL
Creatinine	1.1 mg/dL
Fasting glucose	96 mg/dL

Question 7 · Safety and Infection Prevention and Control

No.	Statement
1	"I will post a no-smoking sign on my front door."
2	"I can use petroleum jelly on my lips when they get dry."
3	"I will keep my oxygen tanks upright in a stand."
4	"A wool blanket is the best choice to keep me warm."
5	"I will keep my oxygen away from the gas stove."

A nurse is teaching a client who will use home oxygen. Which of the following statements by the client indicate understanding of the teaching? (Select the combination that includes all correct statements.)

A.1, 3 and 5
B.2, 4 and 5
C.1, 3, 4 and 5
D.1, 2 and 3

Show answer and explanation

Answer: A. 1, 3 and 5

No-smoking signs, securing cylinders upright and keeping oxygen away from flames and heat sources all reduce fire risk. Petroleum-based products are flammable in an oxygen-rich environment, and wool can generate static sparks, so cotton and water-based lubricants are recommended.

Question 8 · Health Assessment and Health Promotion
A nurse is observing an assistive personnel (AP) perform a capillary blood glucose test for a client who has type 2 diabetes. Which of the following actions by the AP requires the nurse to intervene?
- A.Punctures the finger while the alcohol is still wet
- B.Lets the client's hand hang below the heart briefly
- C.Has the client wash the hands with warm water first
- D.Uses the side of the fingertip for the puncture site
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. Punctures the finger while the alcohol is still wet
Wet alcohol can dilute the blood sample and alter the result, and it increases stinging, so the site must dry completely before the puncture. Washing with warm water removes residue and improves blood flow, the side of the fingertip has fewer nerve endings, and holding the hand below heart level increases capillary filling.
Question 9 · Basic Care and Comfort
Medication: heparin infusion at 1,100 units/h
Lab results, Day 3
Platelets: 92,000/mm3
aPTT: 72 seconds
A nurse is delegating morning care for a client to an assistive personnel (AP). The client asks to be shaved. Which of the following instructions should the nurse give the AP?
- A."Skip the shave today and wait until the heparin infusion is finished."
- B."Use a new disposable blade razor and apply pressure to any small cuts."
- C."Use the client's electric razor instead of a disposable blade razor."
- D."Apply warm shaving cream first so a blade razor glides more smoothly."
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. "Use the client's electric razor instead of a disposable blade razor."
The client is receiving heparin, has a prolonged aPTT and a low platelet count, so a blade razor creates an unnecessary bleeding risk; an electric razor allows the client to be shaved safely. Refusing the request ignores the client's preference when a safe alternative exists, and warm cream or a new blade does not remove the risk of cuts.
Question 10 · Oxygenation, Fluids, Skin Integrity and Surgical Care
Client: Day 4 of continuous nasogastric tube suction
A nurse reviews the client's arterial blood gas report. Which of the following acid-base interpretations is correct?
- A.Partially compensated metabolic alkalosis
- B.Fully compensated metabolic alkalosis
- C.Fully compensated respiratory acidosis
- D.Normal acid-base balance
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. Fully compensated metabolic alkalosis
The pH of 7.44 is within 7.35-7.45 but on the alkalotic side of 7.40, and the elevated HCO3 of 31 matches that direction, so the primary problem is metabolic alkalosis from loss of gastric acid. The PaCO2 of 49 is elevated because the lungs retained CO2 to compensate, and since the pH is back in range, compensation is full; the results are not normal because both values are abnormal.

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