KAPLAN RN PREDICTOR EXAM PRACTICE TEST QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS
RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
CORE DOMAINS
- Medical-Surgical Nursing
*- Pharmacology & Medication Safety*
*- Maternal-Newborn Nursing*
*- Pediatric Nursing*
*- Mental Health Nursing*
*- Fundamentals of Nursing Practice*
*- Leadership, Management & Delegation*
*- Legal/Ethical Nursing Principles*
*- Infection Control & Safety*
*- Physiological Integrity & Care*
INTRODUCTION
This comprehensive practice assessment is designed to evaluate nursing student readiness for the NCLEX-RN licensure examination. The exam
assesses critical clinical judgment skills, applied professional knowledge, and decision-making abilities essential for safe, effective nursing
practice. Students will encounter multiple-choice questions and scenario-based items that mirror the actual licensure exam format, emphasizing
real-world clinical application over rote memorization. The questions span all major domains of nursing practice, requiring critical thinking,
prioritization, and evidence-based reasoning. Success on this assessment indicates strong competency across the nursing curriculum and predicts
likelihood of passing the NCLEX-RN on first attempt.
,SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1–100
Question 1
A nurse is assessing a patient with suspected heart failure. Which finding should the nurse report immediately to the healthcare provider?
A. Mild ankle edema
B. Oxygen saturation of 92%
C. Crackles in bilateral lung bases
D. Weight gain of 2 pounds over 2 days
🟢 Correct answer: C
🔴 RATIONALE: Crackles in bilateral lung bases indicate pulmonary edema, a serious complication of heart failure that requires immediate
intervention. This finding suggests fluid accumulation in the lungs and potential respiratory compromise. Mild ankle edema, oxygen saturation of
92%, and 2-pound weight gain are concerning but not immediately life-threatening.
Question 2
A patient receiving morphine sulfate for pain management has a respiratory rate of 8 breaths per minute. What is the nurse's priority action?
A. Administer naloxone (Narcan)
B. Increase the oxygen flow rate
C. Stimulate the patient to breathe
D. Document the finding and continue monitoring
🟢 Correct answer: A
🔴 RATIONALE: Opioid-induced respiratory depression with a respiratory rate of 8 breaths/min is a life-threatening emergency. Naloxone is an
opioid antagonist that reverses respiratory depression immediately. While stimulating the patient and increasing oxygen are supportive measures,
they do not address the underlying opioid toxicity. Documentation without intervention would be negligent.
,Question 3
Which infection control measure is MOST important for preventing transmission of Clostridium difficile?
A. Wear a mask during all patient interactions
B. Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer
C. Wear gloves and practice handwashing with soap and water
D. Place the patient in a negative airflow room
🟢 Correct answer: C
🔴 RATIONALE: C. diff is transmitted via the fecal-oral route through spores that are NOT killed by alcohol-based hand sanitizers. Soap and water
handwashing mechanically removes spores. Gloves prevent contamination during care. Masks and negative airflow rooms are used for respiratory
pathogens, not C. diff.
Question 4
A pregnant patient at 32 weeks gestation reports sudden, bright red vaginal bleeding without pain. Which condition should the nurse suspect?
A. Placenta previa
B. Abruptio placentae
C. Preterm labor
D. Uterine rupture
🟢 Correct answer: A
🔴 RATIONALE: Placenta previa presents with sudden, bright red vaginal bleeding without pain because the placenta covers the cervical opening.
Abruptio placentae involves bleeding WITH severe pain. Preterm labor presents with regular contractions. Uterine rupture is associated with severe
pain and is rare.
, Question 5
The nurse is delegating tasks to a licensed practical nurse (LPN). Which task is MOST appropriate for the LPN?
A. Assess a newly admitted patient
B. Administer IV push morphine
C. Provide wound care for a stable patient
D. Develop a discharge plan
🟢 Correct answer: C
🔴 RATIONALE: LPNs can provide routine wound care for stable patients. Assessment of new admissions, IV push medications, and discharge
planning require the advanced knowledge and scope of an RN. LPNs have limited scope regarding complex assessments and high-risk interventions.
Question 6
A patient with diabetes mellitus has a blood glucose level of 45 mg/dL. The patient is alert but confused. What should the nurse administer FIRST?
A. 10 units of regular insulin
B. 15-20 grams of fast-acting carbohydrate
C. 50 mL of 50% dextrose IV
D. Glucagon 1 mg subcutaneously
🟢 Correct answer: B
🔴 RATIONALE: For a conscious patient with hypoglycemia (blood glucose <70 mg/dL), fast-acting carbohydrates (juice, regular soda, glucose
tablets) are the first-line treatment. IV dextrose is used for unconscious patients. Insulin would worsen hypoglycemia. Glucagon is used when IV
access is unavailable.
Question 7
RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
CORE DOMAINS
- Medical-Surgical Nursing
*- Pharmacology & Medication Safety*
*- Maternal-Newborn Nursing*
*- Pediatric Nursing*
*- Mental Health Nursing*
*- Fundamentals of Nursing Practice*
*- Leadership, Management & Delegation*
*- Legal/Ethical Nursing Principles*
*- Infection Control & Safety*
*- Physiological Integrity & Care*
INTRODUCTION
This comprehensive practice assessment is designed to evaluate nursing student readiness for the NCLEX-RN licensure examination. The exam
assesses critical clinical judgment skills, applied professional knowledge, and decision-making abilities essential for safe, effective nursing
practice. Students will encounter multiple-choice questions and scenario-based items that mirror the actual licensure exam format, emphasizing
real-world clinical application over rote memorization. The questions span all major domains of nursing practice, requiring critical thinking,
prioritization, and evidence-based reasoning. Success on this assessment indicates strong competency across the nursing curriculum and predicts
likelihood of passing the NCLEX-RN on first attempt.
,SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1–100
Question 1
A nurse is assessing a patient with suspected heart failure. Which finding should the nurse report immediately to the healthcare provider?
A. Mild ankle edema
B. Oxygen saturation of 92%
C. Crackles in bilateral lung bases
D. Weight gain of 2 pounds over 2 days
🟢 Correct answer: C
🔴 RATIONALE: Crackles in bilateral lung bases indicate pulmonary edema, a serious complication of heart failure that requires immediate
intervention. This finding suggests fluid accumulation in the lungs and potential respiratory compromise. Mild ankle edema, oxygen saturation of
92%, and 2-pound weight gain are concerning but not immediately life-threatening.
Question 2
A patient receiving morphine sulfate for pain management has a respiratory rate of 8 breaths per minute. What is the nurse's priority action?
A. Administer naloxone (Narcan)
B. Increase the oxygen flow rate
C. Stimulate the patient to breathe
D. Document the finding and continue monitoring
🟢 Correct answer: A
🔴 RATIONALE: Opioid-induced respiratory depression with a respiratory rate of 8 breaths/min is a life-threatening emergency. Naloxone is an
opioid antagonist that reverses respiratory depression immediately. While stimulating the patient and increasing oxygen are supportive measures,
they do not address the underlying opioid toxicity. Documentation without intervention would be negligent.
,Question 3
Which infection control measure is MOST important for preventing transmission of Clostridium difficile?
A. Wear a mask during all patient interactions
B. Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer
C. Wear gloves and practice handwashing with soap and water
D. Place the patient in a negative airflow room
🟢 Correct answer: C
🔴 RATIONALE: C. diff is transmitted via the fecal-oral route through spores that are NOT killed by alcohol-based hand sanitizers. Soap and water
handwashing mechanically removes spores. Gloves prevent contamination during care. Masks and negative airflow rooms are used for respiratory
pathogens, not C. diff.
Question 4
A pregnant patient at 32 weeks gestation reports sudden, bright red vaginal bleeding without pain. Which condition should the nurse suspect?
A. Placenta previa
B. Abruptio placentae
C. Preterm labor
D. Uterine rupture
🟢 Correct answer: A
🔴 RATIONALE: Placenta previa presents with sudden, bright red vaginal bleeding without pain because the placenta covers the cervical opening.
Abruptio placentae involves bleeding WITH severe pain. Preterm labor presents with regular contractions. Uterine rupture is associated with severe
pain and is rare.
, Question 5
The nurse is delegating tasks to a licensed practical nurse (LPN). Which task is MOST appropriate for the LPN?
A. Assess a newly admitted patient
B. Administer IV push morphine
C. Provide wound care for a stable patient
D. Develop a discharge plan
🟢 Correct answer: C
🔴 RATIONALE: LPNs can provide routine wound care for stable patients. Assessment of new admissions, IV push medications, and discharge
planning require the advanced knowledge and scope of an RN. LPNs have limited scope regarding complex assessments and high-risk interventions.
Question 6
A patient with diabetes mellitus has a blood glucose level of 45 mg/dL. The patient is alert but confused. What should the nurse administer FIRST?
A. 10 units of regular insulin
B. 15-20 grams of fast-acting carbohydrate
C. 50 mL of 50% dextrose IV
D. Glucagon 1 mg subcutaneously
🟢 Correct answer: B
🔴 RATIONALE: For a conscious patient with hypoglycemia (blood glucose <70 mg/dL), fast-acting carbohydrates (juice, regular soda, glucose
tablets) are the first-line treatment. IV dextrose is used for unconscious patients. Insulin would worsen hypoglycemia. Glucagon is used when IV
access is unavailable.
Question 7
