# NR 224 Fundamentals of Nursing Final Examination Success
Blueprint | 100 Comprehensive NCLEX-Style Questions with
Rationales | Updated 2026 Edition | Pass First Attempt
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**Question 1**
A nurse is preparing to insert an indwelling urinary catheter for a female patient. Which action should
the nurse take to maintain sterile technique?
A. Use clean gloves during the entire procedure
B. Open the sterile kit and place supplies on the bedside table
C. Use sterile gloves and maintain sterility of the catheter tip
D. Clean the perineum with antiseptic solution using a back-and-forth motion
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: Maintaining sterile technique requires sterile gloves and ensuring that the catheter
tip does not touch any non-sterile surfaces. Clean gloves are insufficient for this sterile procedure.
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: C. Use sterile gloves and maintain sterility of the catheter tip
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**Question 2**
A patient is receiving continuous enteral feedings through a nasogastric tube. Which position should the
nurse maintain for this patient to reduce the risk of aspiration?
A. Supine position with head flat
B. Left lateral position
C. Semi-Fowler's position (30-45 degrees)
D. Trendelenburg position
,💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: Semi-Fowler's position (30-45 degrees) promotes gastric emptying and reduces the
risk of reflux and aspiration during enteral feedings. The head of bed should be elevated at least 30
degrees.
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: C. Semi-Fowler's position (30-45 degrees)
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**Question 3**
A nurse is performing a focused respiratory assessment on a patient with shortness of breath. Which
finding would indicate the need for immediate intervention?
A. Respiratory rate of 18 breaths per minute
B. Oxygen saturation of 89% on room air
C. Clear breath sounds bilaterally
D. Patient reports mild fatigue
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: An oxygen saturation of 89% is below the normal range (95-100%) and indicates
hypoxemia requiring immediate intervention such as supplemental oxygen administration.
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: B. Oxygen saturation of 89% on room air
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**Question 4**
A nurse is preparing to administer an intramuscular injection using the ventrogluteal site. Which
anatomical landmark should the nurse use to identify this site?
A. Greater trochanter of the femur and anterior superior iliac spine
B. Acromion process and deltoid muscle
C. Xiphoid process and costal margin
D. Patella and tibial tuberosity
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: The ventrogluteal site is located using the greater trochanter and the anterior
superior iliac spine. The injection is given in the gluteus medius muscle.
,💫ANSWER✔️✔️: A. Greater trochanter of the femur and anterior superior iliac spine
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**Question 5**
A patient is prescribed 500 mg of a medication that is available in 250 mg tablets. How many tablets
should the nurse administer?
A. 1 tablet
B. 2 tablets
C. 0.5 tablet
D. 3 tablets
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: The calculation is 500 mg ÷ 250 mg per tablet = 2 tablets. Dosage calculations require
accurate mathematical computation to ensure patient safety.
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: B. 2 tablets
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**Question 6**
A nurse is caring for a patient on fall precautions. Which intervention should the nurse implement to
prevent falls?
A. Keep all four bed rails raised at all times
B. Place the call light within the patient's reach
C. Apply wrist restraints during nighttime hours
D. Leave the bedside table at the foot of the bed
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: Placing the call light within reach allows the patient to call for assistance when
needed, which is a key fall prevention strategy. Bed rails should not be fully raised without specific
orders.
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: B. Place the call light within the patient's reach
, ---
**Question 7**
During the assessment of a patient's peripheral pulses, the nurse notes a weak, thready pulse. How
should the nurse document this finding?
A. 0/4
B. 1+/4
C. 2+/4
D. 3+/4
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: Pulse strength is graded on a 0-4 scale. A weak, thready pulse is documented as 1+/4,
indicating diminished but palpable pulse. 0/4 indicates absent pulse.
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: B. 1+/4
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**Question 8**
A patient is experiencing nausea and vomiting after surgery. Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Administer prescribed antiemetic medication
B. Assess the patient's vital signs
C. Notify the healthcare provider
D. Offer the patient small sips of water
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: Assessment should precede intervention. The nurse should first assess vital signs to
identify any complications such as hypotension or tachycardia before implementing interventions.
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: B. Assess the patient's vital signs
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Blueprint | 100 Comprehensive NCLEX-Style Questions with
Rationales | Updated 2026 Edition | Pass First Attempt
---
**Question 1**
A nurse is preparing to insert an indwelling urinary catheter for a female patient. Which action should
the nurse take to maintain sterile technique?
A. Use clean gloves during the entire procedure
B. Open the sterile kit and place supplies on the bedside table
C. Use sterile gloves and maintain sterility of the catheter tip
D. Clean the perineum with antiseptic solution using a back-and-forth motion
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: Maintaining sterile technique requires sterile gloves and ensuring that the catheter
tip does not touch any non-sterile surfaces. Clean gloves are insufficient for this sterile procedure.
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: C. Use sterile gloves and maintain sterility of the catheter tip
---
**Question 2**
A patient is receiving continuous enteral feedings through a nasogastric tube. Which position should the
nurse maintain for this patient to reduce the risk of aspiration?
A. Supine position with head flat
B. Left lateral position
C. Semi-Fowler's position (30-45 degrees)
D. Trendelenburg position
,💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: Semi-Fowler's position (30-45 degrees) promotes gastric emptying and reduces the
risk of reflux and aspiration during enteral feedings. The head of bed should be elevated at least 30
degrees.
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: C. Semi-Fowler's position (30-45 degrees)
---
**Question 3**
A nurse is performing a focused respiratory assessment on a patient with shortness of breath. Which
finding would indicate the need for immediate intervention?
A. Respiratory rate of 18 breaths per minute
B. Oxygen saturation of 89% on room air
C. Clear breath sounds bilaterally
D. Patient reports mild fatigue
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: An oxygen saturation of 89% is below the normal range (95-100%) and indicates
hypoxemia requiring immediate intervention such as supplemental oxygen administration.
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: B. Oxygen saturation of 89% on room air
---
**Question 4**
A nurse is preparing to administer an intramuscular injection using the ventrogluteal site. Which
anatomical landmark should the nurse use to identify this site?
A. Greater trochanter of the femur and anterior superior iliac spine
B. Acromion process and deltoid muscle
C. Xiphoid process and costal margin
D. Patella and tibial tuberosity
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: The ventrogluteal site is located using the greater trochanter and the anterior
superior iliac spine. The injection is given in the gluteus medius muscle.
,💫ANSWER✔️✔️: A. Greater trochanter of the femur and anterior superior iliac spine
---
**Question 5**
A patient is prescribed 500 mg of a medication that is available in 250 mg tablets. How many tablets
should the nurse administer?
A. 1 tablet
B. 2 tablets
C. 0.5 tablet
D. 3 tablets
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: The calculation is 500 mg ÷ 250 mg per tablet = 2 tablets. Dosage calculations require
accurate mathematical computation to ensure patient safety.
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: B. 2 tablets
---
**Question 6**
A nurse is caring for a patient on fall precautions. Which intervention should the nurse implement to
prevent falls?
A. Keep all four bed rails raised at all times
B. Place the call light within the patient's reach
C. Apply wrist restraints during nighttime hours
D. Leave the bedside table at the foot of the bed
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: Placing the call light within reach allows the patient to call for assistance when
needed, which is a key fall prevention strategy. Bed rails should not be fully raised without specific
orders.
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: B. Place the call light within the patient's reach
, ---
**Question 7**
During the assessment of a patient's peripheral pulses, the nurse notes a weak, thready pulse. How
should the nurse document this finding?
A. 0/4
B. 1+/4
C. 2+/4
D. 3+/4
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: Pulse strength is graded on a 0-4 scale. A weak, thready pulse is documented as 1+/4,
indicating diminished but palpable pulse. 0/4 indicates absent pulse.
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: B. 1+/4
---
**Question 8**
A patient is experiencing nausea and vomiting after surgery. Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Administer prescribed antiemetic medication
B. Assess the patient's vital signs
C. Notify the healthcare provider
D. Offer the patient small sips of water
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: Assessment should precede intervention. The nurse should first assess vital signs to
identify any complications such as hypotension or tachycardia before implementing interventions.
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: B. Assess the patient's vital signs
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