NCLEX EXAM PREVIEW QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS 2026
The nurse that cared for a client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
who lost more than 10% of ideal body weight has been named in a lawsuit charging
negligence. Which of the following entries in the client's medical record would help
refute the charge of negligence?
1. The client has been instructed to eat 3 large meals daily.
2. The client has been encouraged to maintain a high-calorie, high-protein diet.
3. The client has been encouraged to drink fluids with meals to promote digestion.
4. The client has been instructed to exercise 30 minutes before eating to improve
appetite. via - CORRECT ANSWER- 2. The client has been encouraged to
maintain a high-calorie, high-protein diet.
A parent is discussing with the nurse about the behaviors of a 4-year-old child following
the death of a grandparent.
The nurse should understand that the child may be experiencing dysfunctional grieving
if the parent reports that the child
1. conducts mock funerals with stuffed animals
2. refuses to go to sleep at night
3. continues to talk about the grandparent coming to visit
4. asks to play with the grandparent while at the cemetery - CORRECT ANSWER-
2. refuses to go to sleep at night
Day 2 - 0830: Withdrawn. Remains in assigned client room. Exhibiting blunted affect
and jumbled, illogical speech. Experiencing auditory hallucinations and paranoid
delusions.
Psych Findings: Third admission this year for acute signs and symptoms of
schizophrenia; fam history of mental illness.
Orders: Attend group sessions when stabilized, Risperidone 4mg PO
Which of the following interventions should the nurse take next?
1. Encourage the client to attend 1 group session today.
2. Teach the client's family members about how to prevent a relapse.
3. Administer the prescribed dose of risperidone.
4. Prepare to discharge the client to a community treatment program. - CORRECT
ANSWER- 3. Administer the prescribed dose of risperidone.
I think this is the right answer because you would have to stabilize them first (with
meds) and then once they are stable they can be encouraged to attend a group session
The charge nurse has received a change-of-shift report on the following clients in labor.
The charge nurse should ask a staff member to first see the client in the
1. first stage of labor who has an oral temperature of 99.7° F (37.6° C)
2. first stage of labor whose contractions are occurring every 30 seconds
,3. second stage of labor who has respirations of 26
4. second stage of labor whose contractions are lasting for 60 seconds - CORRECT
ANSWER- 2. first stage of labor whose contractions are occurring every 30 seconds
Contractions should be no longer than 90 secs and no closer than 2 mins (120 secs)
90 secs is the duration, 2 mins is the frequency.
Rationale:
1. Elevated temp is normal during labor
3. Increased resps are normal during labor "pant-pant-blow" "hee-hee-hoo" breathing
pattern
4. Contractions shouldn't be longer than 90 secs, 60 secs is okay and normal
Second stage: 2-3 mins apart, 60-90 secs long, 10 cm dilated, strong pain
The charge nurse is observing the following client situations. It would require
intervention if a
1. client with hepatitis B (HBV) is eating food brought into the facility by a visitor
2. visitor is sitting on the side of the bed of a client with acute pancreatitis
3. staff member is entering the room of a client with Haemophilus influenzae meningitis
wearing a protective gown and gloves
4. family member of a client with mycoplasma pneumonia leaves the door to the client's
room open - CORRECT ANSWER- 1. client with hepatitis B (HBV) is eating food
brought into the facility by a visitor
HBV is spread through contact with body fluids including saliva, so it is important to
intervene if the patient is eating and possibly sharing food with another person.
The charge nurse must transfer a client from a locked psychiatric unit to an unlocked
unit in order to make a bed available. The charge nurse should recommend for transfer
the client with
1. depression who has suddenly become more animated and involved in unit activities
2. bipolar I disorder who is experiencing a manic episode, is disrobing, and is laughing
with other clients
3. schizophrenia who is withdrawn and requires assistance with activities of daily living
(ADL)
4. dementia who is delusional about being poisoned by staff members - CORRECT
ANSWER- 3. schizophrenia who is withdrawn and requires assistance with activities
of daily living (ADL)
The charge nurse must transfer a female client from the medical-surgical unit to the
maternity unit to make a bed available. It would be most appropriate for the nurse to
transfer the client who is
1. 28 years old, had a right mastectomy and has a closed-wound drainage system
2. 49 years old, has diabetes mellitus (type 2) and has begun receiving insulin
3. 56 years old, has hepatitis C (HCV) and has been afebrile for 24 hours
4. 70 years old, has a fractured left tibia and had an external fixation device applied 48
hours ago - CORRECT ANSWER- 3. 56 years old, has hepatitis C (HCV) and has
been afebrile for 24 hours
The home-health nurse is assigned to visit the following clients who live within 3 miles
(4.8 km) of one another. The nurse should first visit the client with
, 1. breast cancer who had a mastectomy 2 days ago and has had 25 mL of drainage
from the closed-wound drainage system in the past 12 hours
2. lung cancer who received a dose of chemotherapy 2 weeks ago and has a
temperature of 101.1° F (38.4° C)
3. chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who is reporting expectorating large
amounts of thick, yellow mucus
4. diabetes mellitus (type 1) who had a right below-the-knee amputation (BKA) and is
reporting having right toe pain - CORRECT ANSWER- 1. breast cancer who had a
mastectomy 2 days ago and has had 25 mL of drainage from the closed-wound
drainage system in the past 12 hours
This is really little blood in 12 hours for a surgery that was only 2 days ago. Nurse
should assess for obstruction of the drainage system which could be life-threatening if
not resolved.
The home-health nurse is teaching the parents of a 4-year-old client with impetigo.
Which of the following information should the nurse include?
1. "Put a surgical mask on your child when around siblings."
2. "Cleanse the lesions with a povidone-iodine solution daily."
3. "Apply petroleum jelly to the lesions daily."
4. "Instruct your child not to use the same towels as siblings." - CORRECT
ANSWER- 4. "Instruct your child not to use the same towels as siblings."
Impetigo is highly contagious through contact. Towels can easily spread the infection
Rationale:
1. It is contact precautions; surgical mask would be for airborne
The hospice nurse has taught an in-home caregiver about comfort care for a client at
the end of life. Which of the following statements by the caregiver would require follow-
up?
1. "I have been applying petroleum jelly to keep the client's lips moist."
2. "I have been offering healthy foods frequently to keep up the client's strength."
3. "A blowing fan seems to be less anxiety-producing for the client than an oxygen
mask."
4. "Sitting upright seems to reduce the client's noisy breathing more than lying down in
the bed." - CORRECT ANSWER- 4. "Sitting upright seems to reduce the client's
noisy breathing more than lying down in the bed."
It is common for hospice patients to have "death rattle," which are loud wet respirations.
The correct intervention is to reposition them laterally, not upright. And never suction!
Hospice is characterized as making the patient as comfortable as possible so if they
have less anxiety with a fan, let them continue using it. Offering food is okay but don't
force them to eat.
The nurse and unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) are caring for assigned clients. It
would be most appropriate for the nurse to assign UAP to
1. apply a continuous passive motion (CPM) device to the affected extremity of a client
who had a total knee replacement
2. change the bed linens for a client who was admitted 1 hour ago following a closed-
head injury and is comatose
3. reposition a client with hydrocephalus who has a headache and is vomiting
AND ANSWERS 2026
The nurse that cared for a client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
who lost more than 10% of ideal body weight has been named in a lawsuit charging
negligence. Which of the following entries in the client's medical record would help
refute the charge of negligence?
1. The client has been instructed to eat 3 large meals daily.
2. The client has been encouraged to maintain a high-calorie, high-protein diet.
3. The client has been encouraged to drink fluids with meals to promote digestion.
4. The client has been instructed to exercise 30 minutes before eating to improve
appetite. via - CORRECT ANSWER- 2. The client has been encouraged to
maintain a high-calorie, high-protein diet.
A parent is discussing with the nurse about the behaviors of a 4-year-old child following
the death of a grandparent.
The nurse should understand that the child may be experiencing dysfunctional grieving
if the parent reports that the child
1. conducts mock funerals with stuffed animals
2. refuses to go to sleep at night
3. continues to talk about the grandparent coming to visit
4. asks to play with the grandparent while at the cemetery - CORRECT ANSWER-
2. refuses to go to sleep at night
Day 2 - 0830: Withdrawn. Remains in assigned client room. Exhibiting blunted affect
and jumbled, illogical speech. Experiencing auditory hallucinations and paranoid
delusions.
Psych Findings: Third admission this year for acute signs and symptoms of
schizophrenia; fam history of mental illness.
Orders: Attend group sessions when stabilized, Risperidone 4mg PO
Which of the following interventions should the nurse take next?
1. Encourage the client to attend 1 group session today.
2. Teach the client's family members about how to prevent a relapse.
3. Administer the prescribed dose of risperidone.
4. Prepare to discharge the client to a community treatment program. - CORRECT
ANSWER- 3. Administer the prescribed dose of risperidone.
I think this is the right answer because you would have to stabilize them first (with
meds) and then once they are stable they can be encouraged to attend a group session
The charge nurse has received a change-of-shift report on the following clients in labor.
The charge nurse should ask a staff member to first see the client in the
1. first stage of labor who has an oral temperature of 99.7° F (37.6° C)
2. first stage of labor whose contractions are occurring every 30 seconds
,3. second stage of labor who has respirations of 26
4. second stage of labor whose contractions are lasting for 60 seconds - CORRECT
ANSWER- 2. first stage of labor whose contractions are occurring every 30 seconds
Contractions should be no longer than 90 secs and no closer than 2 mins (120 secs)
90 secs is the duration, 2 mins is the frequency.
Rationale:
1. Elevated temp is normal during labor
3. Increased resps are normal during labor "pant-pant-blow" "hee-hee-hoo" breathing
pattern
4. Contractions shouldn't be longer than 90 secs, 60 secs is okay and normal
Second stage: 2-3 mins apart, 60-90 secs long, 10 cm dilated, strong pain
The charge nurse is observing the following client situations. It would require
intervention if a
1. client with hepatitis B (HBV) is eating food brought into the facility by a visitor
2. visitor is sitting on the side of the bed of a client with acute pancreatitis
3. staff member is entering the room of a client with Haemophilus influenzae meningitis
wearing a protective gown and gloves
4. family member of a client with mycoplasma pneumonia leaves the door to the client's
room open - CORRECT ANSWER- 1. client with hepatitis B (HBV) is eating food
brought into the facility by a visitor
HBV is spread through contact with body fluids including saliva, so it is important to
intervene if the patient is eating and possibly sharing food with another person.
The charge nurse must transfer a client from a locked psychiatric unit to an unlocked
unit in order to make a bed available. The charge nurse should recommend for transfer
the client with
1. depression who has suddenly become more animated and involved in unit activities
2. bipolar I disorder who is experiencing a manic episode, is disrobing, and is laughing
with other clients
3. schizophrenia who is withdrawn and requires assistance with activities of daily living
(ADL)
4. dementia who is delusional about being poisoned by staff members - CORRECT
ANSWER- 3. schizophrenia who is withdrawn and requires assistance with activities
of daily living (ADL)
The charge nurse must transfer a female client from the medical-surgical unit to the
maternity unit to make a bed available. It would be most appropriate for the nurse to
transfer the client who is
1. 28 years old, had a right mastectomy and has a closed-wound drainage system
2. 49 years old, has diabetes mellitus (type 2) and has begun receiving insulin
3. 56 years old, has hepatitis C (HCV) and has been afebrile for 24 hours
4. 70 years old, has a fractured left tibia and had an external fixation device applied 48
hours ago - CORRECT ANSWER- 3. 56 years old, has hepatitis C (HCV) and has
been afebrile for 24 hours
The home-health nurse is assigned to visit the following clients who live within 3 miles
(4.8 km) of one another. The nurse should first visit the client with
, 1. breast cancer who had a mastectomy 2 days ago and has had 25 mL of drainage
from the closed-wound drainage system in the past 12 hours
2. lung cancer who received a dose of chemotherapy 2 weeks ago and has a
temperature of 101.1° F (38.4° C)
3. chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who is reporting expectorating large
amounts of thick, yellow mucus
4. diabetes mellitus (type 1) who had a right below-the-knee amputation (BKA) and is
reporting having right toe pain - CORRECT ANSWER- 1. breast cancer who had a
mastectomy 2 days ago and has had 25 mL of drainage from the closed-wound
drainage system in the past 12 hours
This is really little blood in 12 hours for a surgery that was only 2 days ago. Nurse
should assess for obstruction of the drainage system which could be life-threatening if
not resolved.
The home-health nurse is teaching the parents of a 4-year-old client with impetigo.
Which of the following information should the nurse include?
1. "Put a surgical mask on your child when around siblings."
2. "Cleanse the lesions with a povidone-iodine solution daily."
3. "Apply petroleum jelly to the lesions daily."
4. "Instruct your child not to use the same towels as siblings." - CORRECT
ANSWER- 4. "Instruct your child not to use the same towels as siblings."
Impetigo is highly contagious through contact. Towels can easily spread the infection
Rationale:
1. It is contact precautions; surgical mask would be for airborne
The hospice nurse has taught an in-home caregiver about comfort care for a client at
the end of life. Which of the following statements by the caregiver would require follow-
up?
1. "I have been applying petroleum jelly to keep the client's lips moist."
2. "I have been offering healthy foods frequently to keep up the client's strength."
3. "A blowing fan seems to be less anxiety-producing for the client than an oxygen
mask."
4. "Sitting upright seems to reduce the client's noisy breathing more than lying down in
the bed." - CORRECT ANSWER- 4. "Sitting upright seems to reduce the client's
noisy breathing more than lying down in the bed."
It is common for hospice patients to have "death rattle," which are loud wet respirations.
The correct intervention is to reposition them laterally, not upright. And never suction!
Hospice is characterized as making the patient as comfortable as possible so if they
have less anxiety with a fan, let them continue using it. Offering food is okay but don't
force them to eat.
The nurse and unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) are caring for assigned clients. It
would be most appropriate for the nurse to assign UAP to
1. apply a continuous passive motion (CPM) device to the affected extremity of a client
who had a total knee replacement
2. change the bed linens for a client who was admitted 1 hour ago following a closed-
head injury and is comatose
3. reposition a client with hydrocephalus who has a headache and is vomiting
