KAPLAN NURSING ADMISSIONS READING ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS)
PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
Core Domains
*- Reading Comprehension and Passage Analysis*
*- Determining Logic and Argument Structure*
*- Comprehending Details and Facts*
*- Drawing Basic and Complex Inferences*
*- Identifying Purpose and Main Idea*
*- Vocabulary in Context*
*- Theme Recognition (Science, Nature, History)*
- Critical Thinking and Decision-Making
*- Professional Healthcare Reading Applications*
*- Evaluating Author Bias and Perspective*
Introduction
This assessment evaluates the essential reading comprehension skills required for success in nursing education programs. The exam measures
candidates' ability to determine the logic of passages, comprehend detailed information, draw accurate inferences, and identify the purpose of
various texts. Questions are presented in multiple-choice and scenario-based formats using passages from science, nature, history, and healthcare
contexts. The assessment emphasizes real-world application and clinical decision-making skills necessary for nursing students. Candidates will
demonstrate proficiency in extracting main ideas, understanding vocabulary in context, recognizing themes, and evaluating author arguments.
This comprehensive evaluation prepares applicants for the rigorous reading demands of nursing coursework and clinical practice.
SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1–100
Question 1
A nurse is reading a patient's medical chart that states: "The patient exhibited tachycardia, hypertension, and diaphoresis following the procedure."
What does "diaphoresis" most likely mean based on context?
,A. Rapid breathing
B. Excessive sweating
C. Low blood pressure
D. Confusion
🟢 B. Excessive sweating
🔴 RATIONALE: The word "diaphoresis" appears alongside other physiological stress responses (tachycardia and hypertension). In medical context,
diaphoresis specifically refers to excessive sweating, which is a common stress response alongside elevated heart rate and blood pressure.
Question 2
Read the following passage:
"Recent studies suggest that hand hygiene remains the most effective method for preventing healthcare-associated infections. Despite widespread
awareness campaigns, compliance rates among healthcare workers average only 40-60%. Researchers attribute this gap to multiple factors including
high workload, inadequate sink availability, and skin irritation from frequent washing."
What is the main purpose of this passage?
A. To criticize healthcare workers for poor hygiene
B. To explain why hand hygiene compliance is仍然 low despite its importance
C. To promote a new hand sanitizer product
D. To compare different infection prevention methods
🟢 B. To explain why hand hygiene compliance is仍然 low despite its importance
🔴 RATIONALE: The passage establishes hand hygiene's importance, states the compliance problem (40-60%), and then explains the reasons for
this gap. The primary purpose is explanatory, not critical or promotional.
,Question 3
A patient states: "I've been taking my medication regularly, but I still feel dizzy when I stand up quickly." What inference can the nurse most
reasonably make?
A. The patient is lying about medication compliance
B. The patient may be experiencing orthostatic hypotension
C. The medication is not working at all
D. The patient needs to increase their dosage
🟢 B. The patient may be experiencing orthostatic hypotension
🔴 RATIONALE: Dizziness upon quickly standing is a classic symptom of orthostatic hypotension (position-related blood pressure drop). This is a
reasonable clinical inference without jumping to conclusions about compliance or dosage.
Question 4
Read the passage:
"The nursing process follows five sequential steps: assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation. This systematic approach
ensures comprehensive patient care. However, in emergency situations, nurses may need to compress or overlap these steps while maintaining the
logical sequence."
What can be inferred about the nursing process?
A. It is rigid and cannot be modified under any circumstances
B. It is flexible enough to accommodate emergency situations while maintaining its core logic
C. It is only useful for non-emergency patient care
D. It was developed specifically for emergency medicine
🟢 B. It is flexible enough to accommodate emergency situations while maintaining its core logic
, 🔴 RATIONALE: The passage explicitly states that nurses may "compress or overlap" steps in emergencies while "maintaining the logical sequence,"
indicating flexibility within a structured framework.
Question 5
In a research abstract, the author writes: "The correlation between sleep quality and patient outcomes was significant (p<0.05), suggesting that
intervention programs targeting sleep may improve recovery rates."
What does "significant (p<0.05)" indicate?
A. The results are important but not statistically verified
B. The results are statistically unlikely to have occurred by chance
C. The sample size was very large
D. The correlation was weak but meaningful
🟢 B. The results are statistically unlikely to have occurred by chance
🔴 RATIONALE: In statistical analysis, p<0.05 indicates statistical significance, meaning there's less than a 5% probability the results occurred by
random chance. This is a standard threshold for statistical reliability.
Question 6
Read the passage:
"Nurse practitioner scope of practice varies significantly by state. In some states, NPs can practice independently and prescribe medications without
physician oversight. In others, they require collaborative agreements with physicians. This variation creates challenges for interstate practice and
patient continuity of care."
What is the primary issue identified in this passage?
PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
Core Domains
*- Reading Comprehension and Passage Analysis*
*- Determining Logic and Argument Structure*
*- Comprehending Details and Facts*
*- Drawing Basic and Complex Inferences*
*- Identifying Purpose and Main Idea*
*- Vocabulary in Context*
*- Theme Recognition (Science, Nature, History)*
- Critical Thinking and Decision-Making
*- Professional Healthcare Reading Applications*
*- Evaluating Author Bias and Perspective*
Introduction
This assessment evaluates the essential reading comprehension skills required for success in nursing education programs. The exam measures
candidates' ability to determine the logic of passages, comprehend detailed information, draw accurate inferences, and identify the purpose of
various texts. Questions are presented in multiple-choice and scenario-based formats using passages from science, nature, history, and healthcare
contexts. The assessment emphasizes real-world application and clinical decision-making skills necessary for nursing students. Candidates will
demonstrate proficiency in extracting main ideas, understanding vocabulary in context, recognizing themes, and evaluating author arguments.
This comprehensive evaluation prepares applicants for the rigorous reading demands of nursing coursework and clinical practice.
SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1–100
Question 1
A nurse is reading a patient's medical chart that states: "The patient exhibited tachycardia, hypertension, and diaphoresis following the procedure."
What does "diaphoresis" most likely mean based on context?
,A. Rapid breathing
B. Excessive sweating
C. Low blood pressure
D. Confusion
🟢 B. Excessive sweating
🔴 RATIONALE: The word "diaphoresis" appears alongside other physiological stress responses (tachycardia and hypertension). In medical context,
diaphoresis specifically refers to excessive sweating, which is a common stress response alongside elevated heart rate and blood pressure.
Question 2
Read the following passage:
"Recent studies suggest that hand hygiene remains the most effective method for preventing healthcare-associated infections. Despite widespread
awareness campaigns, compliance rates among healthcare workers average only 40-60%. Researchers attribute this gap to multiple factors including
high workload, inadequate sink availability, and skin irritation from frequent washing."
What is the main purpose of this passage?
A. To criticize healthcare workers for poor hygiene
B. To explain why hand hygiene compliance is仍然 low despite its importance
C. To promote a new hand sanitizer product
D. To compare different infection prevention methods
🟢 B. To explain why hand hygiene compliance is仍然 low despite its importance
🔴 RATIONALE: The passage establishes hand hygiene's importance, states the compliance problem (40-60%), and then explains the reasons for
this gap. The primary purpose is explanatory, not critical or promotional.
,Question 3
A patient states: "I've been taking my medication regularly, but I still feel dizzy when I stand up quickly." What inference can the nurse most
reasonably make?
A. The patient is lying about medication compliance
B. The patient may be experiencing orthostatic hypotension
C. The medication is not working at all
D. The patient needs to increase their dosage
🟢 B. The patient may be experiencing orthostatic hypotension
🔴 RATIONALE: Dizziness upon quickly standing is a classic symptom of orthostatic hypotension (position-related blood pressure drop). This is a
reasonable clinical inference without jumping to conclusions about compliance or dosage.
Question 4
Read the passage:
"The nursing process follows five sequential steps: assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation. This systematic approach
ensures comprehensive patient care. However, in emergency situations, nurses may need to compress or overlap these steps while maintaining the
logical sequence."
What can be inferred about the nursing process?
A. It is rigid and cannot be modified under any circumstances
B. It is flexible enough to accommodate emergency situations while maintaining its core logic
C. It is only useful for non-emergency patient care
D. It was developed specifically for emergency medicine
🟢 B. It is flexible enough to accommodate emergency situations while maintaining its core logic
, 🔴 RATIONALE: The passage explicitly states that nurses may "compress or overlap" steps in emergencies while "maintaining the logical sequence,"
indicating flexibility within a structured framework.
Question 5
In a research abstract, the author writes: "The correlation between sleep quality and patient outcomes was significant (p<0.05), suggesting that
intervention programs targeting sleep may improve recovery rates."
What does "significant (p<0.05)" indicate?
A. The results are important but not statistically verified
B. The results are statistically unlikely to have occurred by chance
C. The sample size was very large
D. The correlation was weak but meaningful
🟢 B. The results are statistically unlikely to have occurred by chance
🔴 RATIONALE: In statistical analysis, p<0.05 indicates statistical significance, meaning there's less than a 5% probability the results occurred by
random chance. This is a standard threshold for statistical reliability.
Question 6
Read the passage:
"Nurse practitioner scope of practice varies significantly by state. In some states, NPs can practice independently and prescribe medications without
physician oversight. In others, they require collaborative agreements with physicians. This variation creates challenges for interstate practice and
patient continuity of care."
What is the primary issue identified in this passage?
