LPN to ADN Bridge Exam 1: Transition to RN Scope & Advanced
Assessment (2026/2027) UPDATE |Galen College
1. Which of the following activities is strictly within the RN’s scope of practice
and cannot be delegated to an LPN?
A. Developing the initial nursing care plan
B. Performing a focused physical assessment
C. Administering oral medications
D. Reinforcing patient teaching
Answer: A
Rationale: The RN is responsible for the initial assessment and the development of the
nursing care plan. LPNs can contribute data and reinforce teaching but do not initiate the
plan.
2. When assessing a patient’s abdomen, in which order should the nurse
perform the assessment techniques?
A. Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation
B. Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation, Inspection
C. Auscultation, Inspection, Palpation, Percussion
D. Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion, Palpation
Answer: D
Rationale: In abdominal assessment, auscultation is performed before percussion and
palpation to avoid altering bowel sounds.
,3. A nurse uses SBAR to communicate with a physician. What does the ‘B’ in
SBAR stand for?
A. Behavior
B. Background
C. Beliefs
D. Briefing
Answer: B
Rationale: SBAR stands for Situation, Background, Assessment, and Recommendation.
4. Which heart sound is caused by the closure of the mitral and tricuspid valves?
A. S3
B. S2
C. S1
D. S4
Answer: C
Rationale: The S1 sound (‘lub’) is produced by the closure of the atrioventricular valves
(mitral and tricuspid) at the start of systole.
5. The nurse is prioritizing care for four patients. Which patient should the nurse
see first?
A. A patient with a pain level of 8/10 following surgery
B. A patient with a blood pressure of 145/90 mmHg
C. A patient exhibiting new-onset confusion and restlessness
D. A patient requiring a dressing change for a stage II pressure ulcer
Answer: C
Rationale: New-onset confusion and restlessness can indicate hypoxia or neurological
distress, requiring immediate intervention according to ABCs.
, 6. Which ethical principle refers to the nurse’s obligation to do no harm?
A. Beneficence
B. Autonomy
C. Nonmaleficence
D. Justice
Answer: C
Rationale: Nonmaleficence is the duty to do no harm to the patient.
7. While assessing the lungs, the nurse hears high-pitched, musical whistling
sounds. How should the nurse document this?
A. Crackles
B. Rhonchi
C. Pleural friction rub
D. Wheezes
Answer: D
Rationale: Wheezes are continuous, high-pitched musical sounds caused by air flowing
through narrowed passages.
8. Which of the following is a primary difference between the LPN and RN roles
regarding the nursing process?
A. Only the RN uses the nursing process
B. The LPN is responsible for nursing diagnoses
C. The RN performs the comprehensive assessment, while the LPN performs focused data collection
D. The RN is the only one allowed to implement interventions
Answer: C
Rationale: The RN is responsible for the comprehensive assessment and analysis, whereas
the LPN collects data and performs focused assessments.
Assessment (2026/2027) UPDATE |Galen College
1. Which of the following activities is strictly within the RN’s scope of practice
and cannot be delegated to an LPN?
A. Developing the initial nursing care plan
B. Performing a focused physical assessment
C. Administering oral medications
D. Reinforcing patient teaching
Answer: A
Rationale: The RN is responsible for the initial assessment and the development of the
nursing care plan. LPNs can contribute data and reinforce teaching but do not initiate the
plan.
2. When assessing a patient’s abdomen, in which order should the nurse
perform the assessment techniques?
A. Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation
B. Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation, Inspection
C. Auscultation, Inspection, Palpation, Percussion
D. Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion, Palpation
Answer: D
Rationale: In abdominal assessment, auscultation is performed before percussion and
palpation to avoid altering bowel sounds.
,3. A nurse uses SBAR to communicate with a physician. What does the ‘B’ in
SBAR stand for?
A. Behavior
B. Background
C. Beliefs
D. Briefing
Answer: B
Rationale: SBAR stands for Situation, Background, Assessment, and Recommendation.
4. Which heart sound is caused by the closure of the mitral and tricuspid valves?
A. S3
B. S2
C. S1
D. S4
Answer: C
Rationale: The S1 sound (‘lub’) is produced by the closure of the atrioventricular valves
(mitral and tricuspid) at the start of systole.
5. The nurse is prioritizing care for four patients. Which patient should the nurse
see first?
A. A patient with a pain level of 8/10 following surgery
B. A patient with a blood pressure of 145/90 mmHg
C. A patient exhibiting new-onset confusion and restlessness
D. A patient requiring a dressing change for a stage II pressure ulcer
Answer: C
Rationale: New-onset confusion and restlessness can indicate hypoxia or neurological
distress, requiring immediate intervention according to ABCs.
, 6. Which ethical principle refers to the nurse’s obligation to do no harm?
A. Beneficence
B. Autonomy
C. Nonmaleficence
D. Justice
Answer: C
Rationale: Nonmaleficence is the duty to do no harm to the patient.
7. While assessing the lungs, the nurse hears high-pitched, musical whistling
sounds. How should the nurse document this?
A. Crackles
B. Rhonchi
C. Pleural friction rub
D. Wheezes
Answer: D
Rationale: Wheezes are continuous, high-pitched musical sounds caused by air flowing
through narrowed passages.
8. Which of the following is a primary difference between the LPN and RN roles
regarding the nursing process?
A. Only the RN uses the nursing process
B. The LPN is responsible for nursing diagnoses
C. The RN performs the comprehensive assessment, while the LPN performs focused data collection
D. The RN is the only one allowed to implement interventions
Answer: C
Rationale: The RN is responsible for the comprehensive assessment and analysis, whereas
the LPN collects data and performs focused assessments.
