NCLEX PN ARCHER REVIEW COMPLETE
STUDY GUIDE 2026 | PRACTICE QUESTIONS
& ANSWERS
| GRADED A+ | GUARANTEED SUCCESS
Updated 2026 Questions and Answers
100% Verified Exam Prep and Comprehensive
Rationales Included
,The nurse knows that which of the following scenarios Failure to administer medications as prescribed.
are common reasons for disciplinary action against
practical nurses by the State Board of Nursing? Select Violation of client confidentiality.
all that apply.
Engaging in personal relationships with clients.
Failure to administer medications as prescribed.
Violation of client confidentiality. Failing to maintain continuing education requirements.
Poor attendance record.
Engaging in personal relationships with clients. Rationale:
Failing to maintain continuing education requirements. Failure to administer medications as prescribed. This is a valid reason for
disciplinary action against practical nurses. Failing to administer medications as
prescribed can harm clients and violate nursing standards and client safety
protocols.
Violation of client confidentiality. This is a valid reason for disciplinary action
against practical nurses. Violating client confidentiality by sharing client
information without proper authorization or justification breaches client privacy
and can lead to legal and ethical consequences.
Engaging in personal relationships with clients. This is a valid reason for
disciplinary action against practical nurses. Engaging in personal relationships
with clients is considered unprofessional and can compromise client care,
boundaries, and ethical standards.
Failing to maintain continuing education requirements. This is a valid reason for
disciplinary action against practical nurses. Nursing boards often require practical
nurses to participate in continuing education programs to ensure ongoing
competency and keep up-to-date with advancements in the field. Failing to meet
these requirements can result in disciplinary action, which indicates a lack of
commitment to professional growth and acquiring the necessary knowledge and
skills.
Which of the following are components of the definition Reasoned thinking
of critical thinking?
Openness to alternatives
Select all that apply.
Ability to reflect
Reasoned thinking
Openness to alternatives Desire to seek the truth
Adherence to established guidelines
Ability to reflect Rationale:
Loyalty to traditional approaches Critical thinking is a combination of reasoned thought, openness to alternatives,
Desire to seek the truth the ability to reflect, and a desire to seek the truth. There are many definitions of
critical thinking. It is a complex concept, and people think about it in different
ways. Any situation that requires critical thinking is likely to have more than one
“right” answer. You do not need critical thinking to add 2 + 2 and come up with the
solution. However, you do need critical thinking for problem-solving essential
decisions. A crucial aspect of critical thinking is the process of identifying and
checking your assumption. This is also a necessary part of the research process.
Critical thinking is a combination of reasoned thought, openness to alternatives,
the ability to reflect, and a desire to seek the truth.
,The licensed practical/vocational (LPN/VN) nurse is Authoritative
caring for a client with cardiac arrest and assisting the
registered nurse (RN) in identifying priorities and Rationale:
delegation. As the LPN/VN assists with assigning roles Authoritative leadership is demonstrated in this situation as the nurse assists with
to other staff, this is demonstrating which leadership the delegation and provides directives to accomplish tasks. This is an appropriate
style? leadership style in an emergency where one individual assigns tasks/roles to
decrease confusion and chaos in an emergent situation.
A. Authoritative
B. Situational
C. Democratic
D. Laissez-faire
What is the normal level of creatinine in a healthy adult 0.6-1.2 mg/dL
male?
Rationale:
A. 0.4 to 0.8 mg/dL Creatinine values reflect both the amount of muscle a person has and their
B. 0.1-0.4 mg/dL amount of kidney function. Hence, the levels are slightly lower in women due to
C. 0.6-1.2 mg/dL lesser muscle mass. Most men with normal kidney function have 0.6 to 1.2
D. 1.5-2.0 mg/dL milligrams/deciliters (mg/dL) of creatinine. Most women with normal kidney
function have between 0.5 to 1.1 mg/dL of creatinine.
The nurse is caring for a client who has a serum calcium Phosphorus
level of 13.2 mg/dL(9-10.5 mg/dL). Which of the following
medications would be expected orders for this Calcitonin
condition?
Glucocorticoids
Select all that apply.
Rationale:
Phosphorus The normal serum calcium level is 8.4-10.2 mg/dL. This client has a high serum
Calcitonin calcium level (hypercalcemia). Phosphorus is a medication that the nurse would
Vitamin D expect to administer to treat hypercalcemia. Phosphorus and calcium have an
IV calcium gluconate inverse relationship, so by increasing the serum level of phosphorus the nurse can
Glucocorticoids decrease the serum level of calcium. Oral phosphate is the preferred method of
administering phosphorus. If given IV, calcium phosphate forms and precipitates
in the tissues. This “precipitation phenomenon” reduces serum calcium levels very
quickly.
Calcitonin is a medication that the nurse would expect to administer to treat
hypercalcemia. Calcitonin is a thyroid hormone that decreases the plasma calcium
level by inhibiting bone resorption and lowering the serum calcium concentration.
Glucocorticoids are steroids that can be used to treat a variety of conditions,
including hypercalcemia associated with certain cancers. Glucocorticoids work by
inhibiting the activity of cells that break down bone and release calcium into the
blood.
, The nurse is reviewing labs for a patient with a serum Implement telemetry monitoring
potassium level of 3.3 mg/dL(3.5-5 mEq/L). Which action
would the nurse recognize as the highest priority? Rationale:
The normal range for serum potassium is between 3.5-5 mg/dL, so this patient’s
A. Educate the patient on potassium-rich foods level is low. Hypokalemia can lead to life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias. Of the
B. Implement telemetry monitoring options provided, initiating telemetry monitoring would be the highest priority in
C. Obtain an order for STAT IM KCl order to assess the patient’s heart function and monitor for any changes.
D. Assess the patient’s neurological status
The nurse is caring for a client with acute renal failure. Serum potassium 6 mEq/L
Which of the following laboratory results should be
reported to the primary healthcare provider (PHCP)? Rationale:
Acute renal failure can cause a significant imbalance in lab values. Although all of
A. Blood urea nitrogen 20 mg/dL the lab results listed are abnormal, the elevated potassium level is a life-
B. Serum potassium 6 mEq/L threatening finding.
C. Venous blood pH 7.30
D. Hemoglobin of 10.3 mg/dL Although all of these findings are abnormal, elevated potassium is a life-
threatening finding and must be reported immediately. The normal potassium is
3.5 - 5.0 mEq/l
The BUN level should be 10 to 20 mg/dL.
Venous blood pH should be 7.31 to 7.41.
Normal hemoglobin levels differ based on age, sex, and general health. The
normal range for hemoglobin is 14 to 17.5 grams per deciliter for men. For women,
12.0 to 16 grams per deciliter.
The nurse cares for a client with a sodium 130 Spironolactone
mEq/dl(135-145 mEq/L). Which of the following
medications may cause this abnormality? Select all that Hydrochlorothiazide
apply.
Rationale:
Spironolactone Spironolactone is a diuretic that retains potassium but causes the loss of water
Hydrochlorothiazide and sodium. Hydrochlorothiazide is a thiazide diuretic that may contribute
Prednisone towards hyponatremia because while it does raise serum calcium levels, it
Sodium polystyrene depletes every other electrolyte.
Tolvaptan
After administering an insulin injection to a client on a Discuss events preceding the error with the nurse.
sliding scale, the nurse realizes that the dose given was
too high by mistake. Which of the following would be Rationale:
the best response by the charge nurse to prevent Events preceding the error should be discussed with the nurse. This is the only
future errors? response that focuses on preventing future errors. It would be most important to
determine factors that contributed to the error, such as rushing, lack of
A. Discuss events preceding the error with the nurse. knowledge/education, improper staffing caseload/client acuity, or communication
B. Complete an incident report and place it in the client's issues.
chart.
C. Inform the client, family, and physician of the error.
D. Monitor the client for adverse effects.
STUDY GUIDE 2026 | PRACTICE QUESTIONS
& ANSWERS
| GRADED A+ | GUARANTEED SUCCESS
Updated 2026 Questions and Answers
100% Verified Exam Prep and Comprehensive
Rationales Included
,The nurse knows that which of the following scenarios Failure to administer medications as prescribed.
are common reasons for disciplinary action against
practical nurses by the State Board of Nursing? Select Violation of client confidentiality.
all that apply.
Engaging in personal relationships with clients.
Failure to administer medications as prescribed.
Violation of client confidentiality. Failing to maintain continuing education requirements.
Poor attendance record.
Engaging in personal relationships with clients. Rationale:
Failing to maintain continuing education requirements. Failure to administer medications as prescribed. This is a valid reason for
disciplinary action against practical nurses. Failing to administer medications as
prescribed can harm clients and violate nursing standards and client safety
protocols.
Violation of client confidentiality. This is a valid reason for disciplinary action
against practical nurses. Violating client confidentiality by sharing client
information without proper authorization or justification breaches client privacy
and can lead to legal and ethical consequences.
Engaging in personal relationships with clients. This is a valid reason for
disciplinary action against practical nurses. Engaging in personal relationships
with clients is considered unprofessional and can compromise client care,
boundaries, and ethical standards.
Failing to maintain continuing education requirements. This is a valid reason for
disciplinary action against practical nurses. Nursing boards often require practical
nurses to participate in continuing education programs to ensure ongoing
competency and keep up-to-date with advancements in the field. Failing to meet
these requirements can result in disciplinary action, which indicates a lack of
commitment to professional growth and acquiring the necessary knowledge and
skills.
Which of the following are components of the definition Reasoned thinking
of critical thinking?
Openness to alternatives
Select all that apply.
Ability to reflect
Reasoned thinking
Openness to alternatives Desire to seek the truth
Adherence to established guidelines
Ability to reflect Rationale:
Loyalty to traditional approaches Critical thinking is a combination of reasoned thought, openness to alternatives,
Desire to seek the truth the ability to reflect, and a desire to seek the truth. There are many definitions of
critical thinking. It is a complex concept, and people think about it in different
ways. Any situation that requires critical thinking is likely to have more than one
“right” answer. You do not need critical thinking to add 2 + 2 and come up with the
solution. However, you do need critical thinking for problem-solving essential
decisions. A crucial aspect of critical thinking is the process of identifying and
checking your assumption. This is also a necessary part of the research process.
Critical thinking is a combination of reasoned thought, openness to alternatives,
the ability to reflect, and a desire to seek the truth.
,The licensed practical/vocational (LPN/VN) nurse is Authoritative
caring for a client with cardiac arrest and assisting the
registered nurse (RN) in identifying priorities and Rationale:
delegation. As the LPN/VN assists with assigning roles Authoritative leadership is demonstrated in this situation as the nurse assists with
to other staff, this is demonstrating which leadership the delegation and provides directives to accomplish tasks. This is an appropriate
style? leadership style in an emergency where one individual assigns tasks/roles to
decrease confusion and chaos in an emergent situation.
A. Authoritative
B. Situational
C. Democratic
D. Laissez-faire
What is the normal level of creatinine in a healthy adult 0.6-1.2 mg/dL
male?
Rationale:
A. 0.4 to 0.8 mg/dL Creatinine values reflect both the amount of muscle a person has and their
B. 0.1-0.4 mg/dL amount of kidney function. Hence, the levels are slightly lower in women due to
C. 0.6-1.2 mg/dL lesser muscle mass. Most men with normal kidney function have 0.6 to 1.2
D. 1.5-2.0 mg/dL milligrams/deciliters (mg/dL) of creatinine. Most women with normal kidney
function have between 0.5 to 1.1 mg/dL of creatinine.
The nurse is caring for a client who has a serum calcium Phosphorus
level of 13.2 mg/dL(9-10.5 mg/dL). Which of the following
medications would be expected orders for this Calcitonin
condition?
Glucocorticoids
Select all that apply.
Rationale:
Phosphorus The normal serum calcium level is 8.4-10.2 mg/dL. This client has a high serum
Calcitonin calcium level (hypercalcemia). Phosphorus is a medication that the nurse would
Vitamin D expect to administer to treat hypercalcemia. Phosphorus and calcium have an
IV calcium gluconate inverse relationship, so by increasing the serum level of phosphorus the nurse can
Glucocorticoids decrease the serum level of calcium. Oral phosphate is the preferred method of
administering phosphorus. If given IV, calcium phosphate forms and precipitates
in the tissues. This “precipitation phenomenon” reduces serum calcium levels very
quickly.
Calcitonin is a medication that the nurse would expect to administer to treat
hypercalcemia. Calcitonin is a thyroid hormone that decreases the plasma calcium
level by inhibiting bone resorption and lowering the serum calcium concentration.
Glucocorticoids are steroids that can be used to treat a variety of conditions,
including hypercalcemia associated with certain cancers. Glucocorticoids work by
inhibiting the activity of cells that break down bone and release calcium into the
blood.
, The nurse is reviewing labs for a patient with a serum Implement telemetry monitoring
potassium level of 3.3 mg/dL(3.5-5 mEq/L). Which action
would the nurse recognize as the highest priority? Rationale:
The normal range for serum potassium is between 3.5-5 mg/dL, so this patient’s
A. Educate the patient on potassium-rich foods level is low. Hypokalemia can lead to life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias. Of the
B. Implement telemetry monitoring options provided, initiating telemetry monitoring would be the highest priority in
C. Obtain an order for STAT IM KCl order to assess the patient’s heart function and monitor for any changes.
D. Assess the patient’s neurological status
The nurse is caring for a client with acute renal failure. Serum potassium 6 mEq/L
Which of the following laboratory results should be
reported to the primary healthcare provider (PHCP)? Rationale:
Acute renal failure can cause a significant imbalance in lab values. Although all of
A. Blood urea nitrogen 20 mg/dL the lab results listed are abnormal, the elevated potassium level is a life-
B. Serum potassium 6 mEq/L threatening finding.
C. Venous blood pH 7.30
D. Hemoglobin of 10.3 mg/dL Although all of these findings are abnormal, elevated potassium is a life-
threatening finding and must be reported immediately. The normal potassium is
3.5 - 5.0 mEq/l
The BUN level should be 10 to 20 mg/dL.
Venous blood pH should be 7.31 to 7.41.
Normal hemoglobin levels differ based on age, sex, and general health. The
normal range for hemoglobin is 14 to 17.5 grams per deciliter for men. For women,
12.0 to 16 grams per deciliter.
The nurse cares for a client with a sodium 130 Spironolactone
mEq/dl(135-145 mEq/L). Which of the following
medications may cause this abnormality? Select all that Hydrochlorothiazide
apply.
Rationale:
Spironolactone Spironolactone is a diuretic that retains potassium but causes the loss of water
Hydrochlorothiazide and sodium. Hydrochlorothiazide is a thiazide diuretic that may contribute
Prednisone towards hyponatremia because while it does raise serum calcium levels, it
Sodium polystyrene depletes every other electrolyte.
Tolvaptan
After administering an insulin injection to a client on a Discuss events preceding the error with the nurse.
sliding scale, the nurse realizes that the dose given was
too high by mistake. Which of the following would be Rationale:
the best response by the charge nurse to prevent Events preceding the error should be discussed with the nurse. This is the only
future errors? response that focuses on preventing future errors. It would be most important to
determine factors that contributed to the error, such as rushing, lack of
A. Discuss events preceding the error with the nurse. knowledge/education, improper staffing caseload/client acuity, or communication
B. Complete an incident report and place it in the client's issues.
chart.
C. Inform the client, family, and physician of the error.
D. Monitor the client for adverse effects.
