& Answers Verified Actual Exam 2026/2027 –
Complete Exam-Style Q&As | 100% Certified Verified
Pass Guaranteed – A+ Graded
Safe & Effective Care Environment – Management of Care
(Advocacy, Delegation, Ethical/Legal, Continuity of Care, Quality Improvement, Resource
Management)
Q1: A nurse is caring for four patients on a medical-surgical unit. Which patient should the nurse assess
first?
A. A 72-year-old with pneumonia who is receiving IV antibiotics and has a temperature of 38.2°C
(100.8°F)
B. A 45-year-old postoperative patient who had a cholecystectomy 2 days ago and is requesting pain
medication
C. A 58-year-old with heart failure who has new onset shortness of breath and a respiratory rate of 28
breaths/min [CORRECT]
D. A 34-year-old with a fractured femur who is scheduled for physical therapy this afternoon
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The best answer is C. This patient is showing signs of acute respiratory distress with
tachypnea and new onset dyspnea, which could indicate worsening heart failure or pulmonary edema.
When prioritizing patient care, the nurse must first address airway and breathing issues following the
ABCs. This reflects the standard of care that directs us to assess unstable patients before stable ones.
The other patients have needs that can wait, though they shouldn't be ignored.
Q2: Which task is most appropriate for the nurse to delegate to an unlicensed assistive personnel
(UAP)?
A. Assessing a postoperative patient's incision for signs of infection
,B. Administering oral medications to a stable patient
C. Measuring and recording intake and output for a patient with renal failure [CORRECT]
D. Teaching a newly diagnosed diabetic patient about insulin administration
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The best answer is C. Measuring and recording I&O is a task that falls within the scope of UAP
practice, as it involves routine data collection without requiring clinical judgment or assessment skills. In
clinical practice, we always delegate tasks that don't require nursing assessment, planning, or
evaluation. Teaching, medication administration, and wound assessment require licensed nurse
judgment and cannot be delegated to UAP.
Q3: A nurse manager is reviewing incident reports from the past month. Which finding indicates the
need for immediate quality improvement intervention?
A. Three patients reported dissatisfaction with meal service timing
B. Two medication errors occurred due to similar drug names, with no patient harm [CORRECT]
C. One patient requested a room change due to noise from the hallway
D. Four patients had delayed discharge paperwork by 30 minutes
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is B. Medication errors, even without patient harm, represent a serious
safety issue that requires immediate quality improvement action. This aligns with the NCLEX test plan
which prioritizes error prevention and patient safety. Look-alike/sound-alike medications are a known
high-risk area, and two errors in one month suggest a system failure that needs addressing through
process changes, staff education, or technology solutions.
Q4: A patient with terminal cancer tells the nurse, "I don't want any more chemotherapy. I want to go
home and be with my family." The patient's spouse insists the treatments continue. What is the nurse's
best action?
A. Explain to the patient that the spouse's wishes must be respected
B. Support the patient's right to autonomous decision-making and facilitate a family meeting [CORRECT]
C. Tell the patient to reconsider because the chemotherapy might still help
D. Contact the physician privately and ask them to convince the patient
,Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is B. Patients have the right to make informed decisions about their care,
including the right to refuse treatment. The nurse's role is to advocate for the patient's autonomy while
also helping the family understand and process this decision. This reflects the standard of care that
directs us to respect patient self-determination. Facilitating communication between the patient, family,
and healthcare team is the most therapeutic approach.
Q5: Which patient assignment is most appropriate for a newly licensed RN who has completed
orientation 2 weeks ago?
A. A patient on a ventilator with multiple IV drips and hourly neuro checks
B. A stable patient admitted for observation following a transient ischemic attack [CORRECT]
C. A patient in the intensive care unit post-cardiac arrest with hypothermia protocol
D. A patient with a new tracheostomy requiring frequent suctioning and wound care
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is B. A newly licensed nurse should be assigned patients whose conditions
are stable and predictable, allowing the nurse to build confidence while still providing quality care. This
choice is correct because it matches the nurse's current competency level without overwhelming them.
The other assignments involve complex, high-acuity patients requiring advanced assessment skills and
rapid clinical judgment that come with more experience.
Q6: A nurse receives a telephone order from a physician for a new medication. What is the nurse's first
priority?
A. Write the order in the patient's chart immediately
B. Repeat the order back to the physician for verification [CORRECT]
C. Administer the medication as soon as it is available from pharmacy
D. Ask another nurse to listen to the order on speakerphone
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is B. When receiving telephone orders, the nurse must always read back the
complete order to the physician for confirmation. This aligns with the NCLEX test plan which emphasizes
error prevention and communication safety. In clinical practice, we always use read-back protocols to
, prevent transcription errors that could lead to medication mistakes. Only after verification should the
order be documented and implemented.
Q7: A patient is being transferred from the ICU to a step-down unit. Which action by the nurse
demonstrates effective continuity of care?
A. Providing a brief verbal report to the receiving nurse at the bedside
B. Completing a comprehensive written transfer summary including current medications, recent lab
values, and ongoing care needs [CORRECT]
C. Asking the patient to explain their condition to the new nurse
D. Faxing the patient's chart to the new unit without speaking to the receiving nurse
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is B. Effective continuity of care requires thorough, accurate communication
of all relevant patient information during transfers. This choice is correct because a comprehensive
transfer summary ensures nothing is missed and provides a reference for the receiving team. This
reflects the standard of care that directs us to use standardized handoff communication tools like SBAR
to maintain patient safety during transitions.
Q8: Which situation requires the nurse to file an incident report?
A. A patient refuses to take their prescribed morning medications
B. A visitor slips on a wet floor in the hallway but is not injured
C. A patient receives the wrong dose of medication, even if no harm occurred [CORRECT]
D. A patient complains about the food temperature being too cold
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The best answer is C. Incident reports are required for any error, near-miss, or unusual
occurrence that could have affected patient safety, regardless of whether harm actually occurred. This
aligns with the NCLEX test plan which prioritizes error reporting and quality improvement. In clinical
practice, we always document errors through the incident reporting system so patterns can be identified
and system improvements made to prevent future occurrences.