KAPLAN PREDICTOR EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A |
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Core Domains
Nursing process and clinical judgment
Patient safety and infection control
Pharmacology and medication administration
Adult medical-surgical nursing
Maternal-newborn nursing
Pediatric nursing
Mental health nursing
Community and public health nursing
Professional ethics and standards
Leadership, prioritization, and delegation
Introduction
This assessment is designed to measure readiness for a Kaplan-style predictor exam by testing core nursing knowledge, clinical reasoning, and
safe decision-making across common practice areas. It includes multiple-choice and scenario-based questions that reflect real-world patient care
situations, prioritization demands, and professional responsibilities. The questions emphasize application of theory, interpretation of clinical data,
and selection of the safest and most appropriate nursing action. Each item is written to support exam preparation through concise rationales and
defensible correct answers. The focus is on practical judgment, prioritization, and consistent use of evidence-based nursing principles.
Section One
1. A nurse is caring for a client with shortness of breath, cyanosis, and an oxygen saturation of 84%. What is the priority action?
A. Obtain a detailed respiratory history.
B. Apply oxygen as prescribed.
C. Teach pursed-lip breathing.
D. Document the findings in the chart.
, 🟢 Correct answer: B. Apply oxygen as prescribed.
🔴 RATIONALE: The client shows signs of hypoxemia, so immediate oxygen therapy is the priority to improve oxygenation and prevent
deterioration.
2. Which nursing action best demonstrates use of the nursing process?
A. Administering medication before assessment.
B. Identifying patient goals after evaluation.
C. Collecting data before planning care.
D. Changing the care plan without reassessment.
🟢 Correct answer: C. Collecting data before planning care.
🔴 RATIONALE: Assessment comes first in the nursing process, because planning and intervention must be based on collected client data.
3. A client asks why hand hygiene is important before meals. What is the best response?
A. “It reduces the risk of transferring microorganisms into your body.”
B. “It prevents all infections completely.”
C. “It is only necessary after using the bathroom.”
D. “It is done mainly for hospital policy compliance.”
🟢 Correct answer: A. “It reduces the risk of transferring microorganisms into your body.”
🔴 RATIONALE: Hand hygiene reduces transmission of pathogens and lowers infection risk, especially before eating.
4. A postoperative client is reluctant to cough and deep breathe because of incision pain. What should the nurse do first?
A. Encourage ambulation immediately.
B. Administer prescribed analgesic.
C. Notify the surgeon at once.
D. Teach splinting after discharge.
🟢 Correct answer: B. Administer prescribed analgesic.
🔴 RATIONALE: Pain control helps the client participate in deep breathing and coughing, which prevents respiratory complications.
,5. Which laboratory result should the nurse report first?
A. Sodium 138 mEq/L
B. Potassium 6.2 mEq/L
C. Hemoglobin 13.4 g/dL
D. Platelets 210,000/mm3
🟢 Correct answer: B. Potassium 6.2 mEq/L
🔴 RATIONALE: Hyperkalemia can cause life-threatening cardiac dysrhythmias and requires prompt action.
6. A nurse is administering oral medication to a confused older adult. Which action is most appropriate?
A. Leave the medication at the bedside.
B. Crush all tablets automatically.
C. Verify swallowing ability before administration.
D. Tell the client to take it later.
🟢 Correct answer: C. Verify swallowing ability before administration.
🔴 RATIONALE: Confused clients may have impaired swallowing or aspiration risk, so safety must be assessed before giving oral medication.
7. Which situation requires the nurse to use airborne precautions?
A. Influenza
B. Tuberculosis
C. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
D. Clostridioides difficile
🟢 Correct answer: B. Tuberculosis
🔴 RATIONALE: Tuberculosis is transmitted through airborne particles and requires an airborne isolation protocol.
8. A client with diabetes has a blood glucose level of 54 mg/dL and is awake and able to swallow. What should the nurse do?
, A. Administer 15 g of fast-acting carbohydrate.
B. Give long-acting insulin.
C. Hold all oral intake for 8 hours.
D. Recheck the glucose in 24 hours.
🟢 Correct answer: A. Administer 15 g of fast-acting carbohydrate.
🔴 RATIONALE: Symptomatic hypoglycemia in a conscious client is treated quickly with fast-acting carbohydrate.
9. Which finding indicates effective pain management after intervention?
A. The client asks for additional opioid medication.
B. The client sleeps without any arousal.
C. The client rates pain as 3 out of 10 after treatment.
D. The client refuses to ambulate.
🟢 Correct answer: C. The client rates pain as 3 out of 10 after treatment.
🔴 RATIONALE: A reduced pain rating after treatment is a measurable indicator that the intervention was effective.
0. A nurse is prioritizing care for four clients. Which client should be seen first?
A. Client with a pressure injury needing dressing change
B. Client reporting nausea after breakfast
C. Client with new onset chest pain
D. Client requesting discharge teaching
🟢 Correct answer: C. Client with new onset chest pain
🔴 RATIONALE: New chest pain may indicate cardiac ischemia and is an immediate priority.
1. Which action best prevents medication errors?
A. Preparing medications for all clients at once
B. Using two client identifiers before administration
C. Relying on room number only
D. Giving medications on time without checking orders
INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
Core Domains
Nursing process and clinical judgment
Patient safety and infection control
Pharmacology and medication administration
Adult medical-surgical nursing
Maternal-newborn nursing
Pediatric nursing
Mental health nursing
Community and public health nursing
Professional ethics and standards
Leadership, prioritization, and delegation
Introduction
This assessment is designed to measure readiness for a Kaplan-style predictor exam by testing core nursing knowledge, clinical reasoning, and
safe decision-making across common practice areas. It includes multiple-choice and scenario-based questions that reflect real-world patient care
situations, prioritization demands, and professional responsibilities. The questions emphasize application of theory, interpretation of clinical data,
and selection of the safest and most appropriate nursing action. Each item is written to support exam preparation through concise rationales and
defensible correct answers. The focus is on practical judgment, prioritization, and consistent use of evidence-based nursing principles.
Section One
1. A nurse is caring for a client with shortness of breath, cyanosis, and an oxygen saturation of 84%. What is the priority action?
A. Obtain a detailed respiratory history.
B. Apply oxygen as prescribed.
C. Teach pursed-lip breathing.
D. Document the findings in the chart.
, 🟢 Correct answer: B. Apply oxygen as prescribed.
🔴 RATIONALE: The client shows signs of hypoxemia, so immediate oxygen therapy is the priority to improve oxygenation and prevent
deterioration.
2. Which nursing action best demonstrates use of the nursing process?
A. Administering medication before assessment.
B. Identifying patient goals after evaluation.
C. Collecting data before planning care.
D. Changing the care plan without reassessment.
🟢 Correct answer: C. Collecting data before planning care.
🔴 RATIONALE: Assessment comes first in the nursing process, because planning and intervention must be based on collected client data.
3. A client asks why hand hygiene is important before meals. What is the best response?
A. “It reduces the risk of transferring microorganisms into your body.”
B. “It prevents all infections completely.”
C. “It is only necessary after using the bathroom.”
D. “It is done mainly for hospital policy compliance.”
🟢 Correct answer: A. “It reduces the risk of transferring microorganisms into your body.”
🔴 RATIONALE: Hand hygiene reduces transmission of pathogens and lowers infection risk, especially before eating.
4. A postoperative client is reluctant to cough and deep breathe because of incision pain. What should the nurse do first?
A. Encourage ambulation immediately.
B. Administer prescribed analgesic.
C. Notify the surgeon at once.
D. Teach splinting after discharge.
🟢 Correct answer: B. Administer prescribed analgesic.
🔴 RATIONALE: Pain control helps the client participate in deep breathing and coughing, which prevents respiratory complications.
,5. Which laboratory result should the nurse report first?
A. Sodium 138 mEq/L
B. Potassium 6.2 mEq/L
C. Hemoglobin 13.4 g/dL
D. Platelets 210,000/mm3
🟢 Correct answer: B. Potassium 6.2 mEq/L
🔴 RATIONALE: Hyperkalemia can cause life-threatening cardiac dysrhythmias and requires prompt action.
6. A nurse is administering oral medication to a confused older adult. Which action is most appropriate?
A. Leave the medication at the bedside.
B. Crush all tablets automatically.
C. Verify swallowing ability before administration.
D. Tell the client to take it later.
🟢 Correct answer: C. Verify swallowing ability before administration.
🔴 RATIONALE: Confused clients may have impaired swallowing or aspiration risk, so safety must be assessed before giving oral medication.
7. Which situation requires the nurse to use airborne precautions?
A. Influenza
B. Tuberculosis
C. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
D. Clostridioides difficile
🟢 Correct answer: B. Tuberculosis
🔴 RATIONALE: Tuberculosis is transmitted through airborne particles and requires an airborne isolation protocol.
8. A client with diabetes has a blood glucose level of 54 mg/dL and is awake and able to swallow. What should the nurse do?
, A. Administer 15 g of fast-acting carbohydrate.
B. Give long-acting insulin.
C. Hold all oral intake for 8 hours.
D. Recheck the glucose in 24 hours.
🟢 Correct answer: A. Administer 15 g of fast-acting carbohydrate.
🔴 RATIONALE: Symptomatic hypoglycemia in a conscious client is treated quickly with fast-acting carbohydrate.
9. Which finding indicates effective pain management after intervention?
A. The client asks for additional opioid medication.
B. The client sleeps without any arousal.
C. The client rates pain as 3 out of 10 after treatment.
D. The client refuses to ambulate.
🟢 Correct answer: C. The client rates pain as 3 out of 10 after treatment.
🔴 RATIONALE: A reduced pain rating after treatment is a measurable indicator that the intervention was effective.
0. A nurse is prioritizing care for four clients. Which client should be seen first?
A. Client with a pressure injury needing dressing change
B. Client reporting nausea after breakfast
C. Client with new onset chest pain
D. Client requesting discharge teaching
🟢 Correct answer: C. Client with new onset chest pain
🔴 RATIONALE: New chest pain may indicate cardiac ischemia and is an immediate priority.
1. Which action best prevents medication errors?
A. Preparing medications for all clients at once
B. Using two client identifiers before administration
C. Relying on room number only
D. Giving medications on time without checking orders
