COMPREHENSIVE NURSING EXAM
PREPARATION GUIDE
100+ PRACTICE QUESTIONS, ANSWERS,
RATIONALES & NCLEX-STYLE REVIEW LATEST!!
1. Which action should the nurse perform first when entering a patient's room?
A. Assess the patient's pain
B. Wash hands
C. Review medications
D. Check vital signs
Answer: B. Wash hands
Rationale: Hand hygiene is the most effective method of preventing healthcare-
associated infections.
2. Which vital sign requires immediate reporting?
A. Temperature 37°C
B. Pulse 78 bpm
C. Respiratory rate 8 breaths/min
D. Blood pressure 120/80 mmHg
ANSWER: C. Respiratory rate 8 breaths/min
Rationale: Normal adult respiratory rate is 12–20 breaths/min. A rate of 8
indicates respiratory depression.
3. A patient with heart failure is prescribed furosemide. What should the nurse
monitor closely?
,A. Vision changes
B. Potassium levels
C. Hearing ability
D. Blood glucose
Answer: B. Potassium levels
Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that may cause hypokalemia.
4. Which symptom is most indicative of left-sided heart failure?
A. Peripheral edema
B. Ascites
C. Pulmonary crackles
D. Jugular vein distention
Answer: C. Pulmonary crackles
Rationale: Left-sided heart failure causes pulmonary congestion leading to
crackles.
Pharmacology
5. Before administering digoxin, the nurse should assess:
A. Temperature
B. Respiratory rate
C. Apical pulse
D. Blood pressure
Answer: C. Apical pulse
,Rationale: Digoxin can cause bradycardia. Hold medication if pulse is below
prescribed parameters.
6. Which medication is classified as an anticoagulant?
A. Aspirin
B. Warfarin
C. Metformin
D. Lisinopril
Answer: B. Warfarin
Rationale: Warfarin prevents blood clot formation by inhibiting vitamin K-
dependent clotting factors.
7. The normal fetal heart rate range is:
A. 60–100 bpm
B. 80–120 bpm
C. 110–160 bpm
D. 170–200 bpm
Answer: C. 110–160 bpm
Rationale: Normal fetal heart rate ranges from 110–160 bpm.
8. What is the first stage of labor?
A. Delivery of placenta
B. Birth of baby
C. Onset of contractions to full dilation
D. Recovery period
, Answer: C. Onset of contractions to full dilation
Rationale: The first stage begins with labor contractions and ends with complete
cervical dilation.
Pediatric Nursing
9. Which vaccine is typically administered at birth?
A. MMR
B. Hepatitis B
C. Varicella
D. DTaP
Answer: B. Hepatitis B
Rationale: Hepatitis B vaccination is routinely given shortly after birth.
10. The nurse suspects dehydration in a child who presents with:
A. Moist mucous membranes
B. Increased urination
C. Sunken fontanelle
D. Weight gain
Answer: C. Sunken fontanelle
Rationale: A sunken fontanelle is a classic sign of dehydration in infants.
11. A patient states, "I hear voices telling me to hurt myself." What is the nurse's
priority action?
A. Ignore the statement
B. Assess suicide risk
PREPARATION GUIDE
100+ PRACTICE QUESTIONS, ANSWERS,
RATIONALES & NCLEX-STYLE REVIEW LATEST!!
1. Which action should the nurse perform first when entering a patient's room?
A. Assess the patient's pain
B. Wash hands
C. Review medications
D. Check vital signs
Answer: B. Wash hands
Rationale: Hand hygiene is the most effective method of preventing healthcare-
associated infections.
2. Which vital sign requires immediate reporting?
A. Temperature 37°C
B. Pulse 78 bpm
C. Respiratory rate 8 breaths/min
D. Blood pressure 120/80 mmHg
ANSWER: C. Respiratory rate 8 breaths/min
Rationale: Normal adult respiratory rate is 12–20 breaths/min. A rate of 8
indicates respiratory depression.
3. A patient with heart failure is prescribed furosemide. What should the nurse
monitor closely?
,A. Vision changes
B. Potassium levels
C. Hearing ability
D. Blood glucose
Answer: B. Potassium levels
Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that may cause hypokalemia.
4. Which symptom is most indicative of left-sided heart failure?
A. Peripheral edema
B. Ascites
C. Pulmonary crackles
D. Jugular vein distention
Answer: C. Pulmonary crackles
Rationale: Left-sided heart failure causes pulmonary congestion leading to
crackles.
Pharmacology
5. Before administering digoxin, the nurse should assess:
A. Temperature
B. Respiratory rate
C. Apical pulse
D. Blood pressure
Answer: C. Apical pulse
,Rationale: Digoxin can cause bradycardia. Hold medication if pulse is below
prescribed parameters.
6. Which medication is classified as an anticoagulant?
A. Aspirin
B. Warfarin
C. Metformin
D. Lisinopril
Answer: B. Warfarin
Rationale: Warfarin prevents blood clot formation by inhibiting vitamin K-
dependent clotting factors.
7. The normal fetal heart rate range is:
A. 60–100 bpm
B. 80–120 bpm
C. 110–160 bpm
D. 170–200 bpm
Answer: C. 110–160 bpm
Rationale: Normal fetal heart rate ranges from 110–160 bpm.
8. What is the first stage of labor?
A. Delivery of placenta
B. Birth of baby
C. Onset of contractions to full dilation
D. Recovery period
, Answer: C. Onset of contractions to full dilation
Rationale: The first stage begins with labor contractions and ends with complete
cervical dilation.
Pediatric Nursing
9. Which vaccine is typically administered at birth?
A. MMR
B. Hepatitis B
C. Varicella
D. DTaP
Answer: B. Hepatitis B
Rationale: Hepatitis B vaccination is routinely given shortly after birth.
10. The nurse suspects dehydration in a child who presents with:
A. Moist mucous membranes
B. Increased urination
C. Sunken fontanelle
D. Weight gain
Answer: C. Sunken fontanelle
Rationale: A sunken fontanelle is a classic sign of dehydration in infants.
11. A patient states, "I hear voices telling me to hurt myself." What is the nurse's
priority action?
A. Ignore the statement
B. Assess suicide risk
