RN Fundamentals 2016 70 Questions – Complete Guide, Tips, and What You Should Know

When we talk about RN Fundamentals 2016 70 Questions, we are usually referring to a style of nursing exam preparation content that focuses on core nursing fundamentals tested in nursing school assessments and practice exams. These questions are designed to check how well we understand basic nursing concepts like patient care, safety, communication, infection control, medication administration, and clinical judgment.

In this article, we will break everything down in a simple and practical way so we can actually understand how to approach these questions instead of just memorizing answers. Whether we are preparing for an exam or just trying to strengthen our fundamentals, this guide will help us think like a nurse, not just a test-taker.

Why RN Fundamentals Questions Are So Important

When we first start studying nursing, everything feels overwhelming. There are medications, procedures, diseases, and protocols. But RN fundamentals questions bring us back to the basics.

They matter because:

• They build the foundation of clinical practice
• They teach prioritization in patient care
• They improve decision-making under pressure
• They are heavily tested in exams like NCLEX-style assessments
• They help us think safely and logically in real hospital settings

Without strong fundamentals, advanced nursing concepts become difficult to manage.

What the “2016 70 Questions” Style Means

When people mention RN Fundamentals 2016 70 Questions, they are usually talking about a full-length practice set of around 70 multiple-choice questions. These are often structured like:

• Scenario-based nursing situations
• Priority questions (what comes first?)
• Safety-focused decisions
• Delegation and responsibility questions
• Basic patient care interventions

The “2016” part often refers to a version or compilation year of practice exams used in study materials. While the exact source may vary, the style remains consistent: practical, real-world nursing judgment.

Core Topics Covered in RN Fundamentals Questions

To do well in these questions, we need to understand the main subject areas they pull from.

1. Patient Safety

Safety is always the first priority in nursing. Many questions will ask:

• What should the nurse do first?
• What is the safest action?
• Which patient is at highest risk?

We must always think: protect life first, everything else comes later.

2. Infection Control

This is one of the most tested areas.

We often see questions about:

• Hand hygiene
• PPE (gloves, masks, gowns)
• Isolation precautions (contact, droplet, airborne)
• Preventing hospital-acquired infections

Simple rule we follow: clean to dirty, always protect ourselves and the patient.

3. Vital Signs and Assessment

We are expected to know:

• Normal ranges for vital signs
• When to report abnormal findings
• How to assess pain correctly
• Basic head-to-toe assessment priorities

For example, if a patient has abnormal breathing, that is more urgent than mild pain.

4. Medication Administration

Even in fundamentals, medication safety is critical.

We focus on:

• 5 rights of medication (right patient, drug, dose, route, time)
• Side effects and adverse reactions
• Basic calculations (sometimes)
• When to hold medications and notify provider

A common theme is: never guess—verify first.

5. Communication and Therapeutic Relationships

Nursing is not only technical—it is also emotional and communicative.

We learn:

• How to talk to patients effectively
• Therapeutic vs non-therapeutic communication
• How to respond to emotional patients
• How to document properly

For example, instead of saying “Don’t worry,” we might say, “I can see you’re worried. Let’s talk about what’s going on.”

6. Prioritization and Clinical Judgment

This is where many students struggle.

We often get questions like:

• Which patient should the nurse see first?
• What action is most important?
• What is the immediate concern?

A simple rule we use:

• Airway first
• Breathing second
• Circulation third

This ABC approach helps us make fast decisions.

7. Basic Nursing Procedures

These include:

• Bed making
• Hygiene care
• Positioning patients
• Mobility assistance
• Wound care basics

These might look simple, but they are frequently tested because they show real bedside competence.

How RN Fundamentals 70 Questions Are Structured

Most 70-question exams follow a pattern:

Scenario-Based Questions

We are given a situation like:

“A nurse is caring for a patient who reports sudden shortness of breath…”

Then we choose the best action.

“What Should the Nurse Do First?” Questions

These test prioritization skills.

We must think:

• What is life-threatening?
• What can wait?
• What is the safest immediate step?

Delegation Questions

We are asked:

• What can be delegated to a CNA?
• What must the RN do personally?

Remember:

• RN handles assessment and critical thinking
• CNA handles basic care tasks

Knowledge-Based Questions

These are direct questions like:

• Normal blood pressure range
• Infection control rules
• Medication side effects

Strategy to Solve RN Fundamentals Questions

Now let’s talk about how we actually approach these questions.

Step 1: Read the Question Carefully

We don’t rush. Many mistakes happen because of missing keywords like:

• “first”
• “best”
• “priority”
• “most appropriate”

Step 2: Identify the Main Problem

We ask ourselves:

• Is this about breathing?
• Is it about infection?
• Is it about pain?
• Is it about safety?

Step 3: Eliminate Wrong Answers

Even if we are unsure, we remove clearly incorrect options first.

Step 4: Choose the Safest Answer

In nursing exams, the safest option is usually correct, even if others seem possible.

Common Mistakes Students Make

We should avoid these common errors:

• Choosing answers based on emotion instead of safety
• Ignoring keywords in the question
• Memorizing instead of understanding
• Overthinking simple scenarios
• Forgetting ABC prioritization

Example Style Questions (Explained Simply)

Let’s understand how these questions feel:

Example 1

A patient reports pain after a procedure. What should the nurse ask first?

We focus on:

• Location of pain
• Quality of pain
• Severity
• Duration

The best question is usually about quality or severity because it helps us understand the type of pain.

Example 2

A patient suddenly becomes short of breath. What should we do first?

We think:

• Check airway and breathing
• Sit patient upright
• Give oxygen if needed
• Call for help

First priority is always breathing support.

Study Tips for RN Fundamentals 70 Questions

If we really want to improve performance, here’s what works:

1. Practice Daily Questions

Even 10–20 questions daily builds consistency.

2. Focus on Rationales

We don’t just check answers—we understand why they are correct.

3. Learn Nursing Priorities

ABC and safety rules should become automatic.

4. Review Weak Topics

If infection control is weak, we study it repeatedly.

5. Simulate Exam Conditions

We practice timed tests to improve speed.

How to Think Like a Nurse in Exams

This is the most important mindset shift.

Instead of thinking:

• “What is the correct answer?”

We should think:

• “What keeps the patient safest right now?”

That change alone improves performance significantly.

Final Thoughts

The RN Fundamentals 2016 70 Questions style of practice is not just about passing an exam—it’s about building a strong foundation in nursing judgment. Once we understand the basics like safety, infection control, prioritization, and communication, the rest of nursing becomes much easier to handle.

We don’t need to memorize everything. We need to understand how to think in real clinical situations. That’s what these questions are designed to teach us.