Nursing Practice Questions — Answer Key
NCLEX-style review questions with correct answers
1. A nurse is admitting a client who has antisocial personality disorder. Which of the following
client behaviors should the nurse identify as consistent with this disorder?
A. Compulsive attention to details
B. Avoids interacting with others
C. Uses others for personal gain
D. Socially awkward in group situations
Answer: C. Uses others for personal gain
2. A nurse is interpreting the cardiac rhythm strip of a client who was admitted with syncope.
Which of the following images indicates that the client has atrial fibrillation?
Answer: (Image-based question - refer to rhythm strip)
3. A charge nurse on a pediatric unit is making assignments for a float nurse from the medical
unit. Which of the following clients is appropriate to assign to the float nurse?
A. A 10-year-old client who has pneumonia and is receiving respiratory treatments
B. A 4-year-old client who has a Wilms tumor and is receiving chemotherapy
C. An 8-month-old client who is scheduled for a surgical repair of a ventricular septal defect tomorrow
D. A 14-year-old client who is scheduled for discharge today following placement of a Harrington rod
Answer: A. A 10-year-old client who has pneumonia and is receiving respiratory treatments
4. A nurse is assessing an infant who has water intoxication. Which of the following findings
should the nurse expect?
A. Generalized edema
B. Elevated urine specific gravity
C. Thready pulse
D. Increased hematocrit
Answer: A. Generalized edema
5. A nurse is discussing the z-track administration of hydroxyzine with a newly licensed
nurse. Which of the following statements indicates the newly licensed nurse understands the
purpose of the technique?
A. This technique prevents injury to the sciatic nerve
B. This technique decreases the risk of subcutaneous infiltration
C. This technique allows a larger amount of medication to be injected
D. This technique increases the absorption rate of the drug
Answer: B. This technique decreases the risk of subcutaneous infiltration
,6. A nurse is creating a plan of care for a client who has anorexia nervosa. Which of the
following interventions should the nurse include in the plan?
A. Encourage the client to gain 2.3 kg per week
B. Weigh the client once per week throughout hospitalization
C. Monitor the client for 1 hr after meals
D. Allow the client to choose mealtimes
Answer: C. Monitor the client for 1 hr after meals
7. A nurse is planning care for a child who has increased intracranial pressure with a decrease
in level of consciousness. Which of the following interventions should the nurse include in
the plan of care?
A. Perform active range-of-motion exercises
B. Maintain the head at a midline position
C. Suction the airway frequently
D. Perform neurological checks every 4 hrs
Answer: B. Maintain the head at a midline position
8. A nurse is assessing a client who has delirium due to a febrile illness. Which of the
following findings should the nurse expect?
A. Hallucinations
B. Agnosia
C. Bradycardia
D. Aphasia
Answer: A. Hallucinations
9. A nurse is assessing a client who is receiving enteral feedings via a gastrostomy tube. The
nurse should identify that which of the following findings indicates fluid overload?
A. Diminished bowel sounds
B. Bradycardia
C. Hypotension
D. Bounding pulses
Answer: D. Bounding pulses
10. A nurse is caring for a client following an open colectomy. Which of the following findings
places the client at risk for delayed wound healing?
A. INR 1.1
B. Hyperemesis
C. HbA1c 5.6%
D. Uncontrolled pain
Answer: B. Hyperemesis
, 11. A home health nurse is reviewing treatment goals with a client who has diabetes mellitus.
The nurse should evaluate which of the following laboratory tests to determine effective
long-term management of blood glucose levels?
A. 3-hr oral glucose tolerance test
B. HbA1c
C. Fasting blood glucose test
D. Urinalysis for ketones
Answer: B. HbA1c
12. A nurse is caring for a client who has neutropenia due to HIV. Which of the following
precautions should the nurse take while caring for this client?
A. Wear an N95 respirator
B. Insert an indwelling urinary catheter to monitor urinary output
C. Monitor the client's vital signs every 8 hr
D. Use a dedicated stethoscope
Answer: D. Use a dedicated stethoscope
13. A nurse is caring for a client who reports difficulty falling asleep at night. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take?
A. Encourage the client to ambulate in the hallway 1 hr before bedtime
B. Tell the client to avoid drinking fluids 1 hr before bedtime
C. Schedule routine care tasks during hours when the client is awake
D. Advise the client to leave the television in the room on when trying to fall asleep
Answer: C. Schedule routine care tasks during hours when the client is awake
14. A nurse is planning care for a newborn who has hyperbilirubinemia and is to receive
phototherapy. Which of the following interventions should the nurse include?
A. Clothe the newborn in light cotton
B. Check the newborn's temperature every 8 hrs
C. Administer 120 mL of water between feedings
D. Place the newborn 45 cm (18 in) from the light source
Answer: D. Place the newborn 45 cm (18 in) from the light source (Note: temperature should be
checked every 4 hrs, not 8)
15. A nurse is planning care for a client who has schizophrenia and is having difficulty
expressing their feelings. Which of the following referrals should the nurse make?
A. Art therapist
B. Speech-language pathologist
C. Social worker
D. Recreational therapist
Answer: A. Art therapist
NCLEX-style review questions with correct answers
1. A nurse is admitting a client who has antisocial personality disorder. Which of the following
client behaviors should the nurse identify as consistent with this disorder?
A. Compulsive attention to details
B. Avoids interacting with others
C. Uses others for personal gain
D. Socially awkward in group situations
Answer: C. Uses others for personal gain
2. A nurse is interpreting the cardiac rhythm strip of a client who was admitted with syncope.
Which of the following images indicates that the client has atrial fibrillation?
Answer: (Image-based question - refer to rhythm strip)
3. A charge nurse on a pediatric unit is making assignments for a float nurse from the medical
unit. Which of the following clients is appropriate to assign to the float nurse?
A. A 10-year-old client who has pneumonia and is receiving respiratory treatments
B. A 4-year-old client who has a Wilms tumor and is receiving chemotherapy
C. An 8-month-old client who is scheduled for a surgical repair of a ventricular septal defect tomorrow
D. A 14-year-old client who is scheduled for discharge today following placement of a Harrington rod
Answer: A. A 10-year-old client who has pneumonia and is receiving respiratory treatments
4. A nurse is assessing an infant who has water intoxication. Which of the following findings
should the nurse expect?
A. Generalized edema
B. Elevated urine specific gravity
C. Thready pulse
D. Increased hematocrit
Answer: A. Generalized edema
5. A nurse is discussing the z-track administration of hydroxyzine with a newly licensed
nurse. Which of the following statements indicates the newly licensed nurse understands the
purpose of the technique?
A. This technique prevents injury to the sciatic nerve
B. This technique decreases the risk of subcutaneous infiltration
C. This technique allows a larger amount of medication to be injected
D. This technique increases the absorption rate of the drug
Answer: B. This technique decreases the risk of subcutaneous infiltration
,6. A nurse is creating a plan of care for a client who has anorexia nervosa. Which of the
following interventions should the nurse include in the plan?
A. Encourage the client to gain 2.3 kg per week
B. Weigh the client once per week throughout hospitalization
C. Monitor the client for 1 hr after meals
D. Allow the client to choose mealtimes
Answer: C. Monitor the client for 1 hr after meals
7. A nurse is planning care for a child who has increased intracranial pressure with a decrease
in level of consciousness. Which of the following interventions should the nurse include in
the plan of care?
A. Perform active range-of-motion exercises
B. Maintain the head at a midline position
C. Suction the airway frequently
D. Perform neurological checks every 4 hrs
Answer: B. Maintain the head at a midline position
8. A nurse is assessing a client who has delirium due to a febrile illness. Which of the
following findings should the nurse expect?
A. Hallucinations
B. Agnosia
C. Bradycardia
D. Aphasia
Answer: A. Hallucinations
9. A nurse is assessing a client who is receiving enteral feedings via a gastrostomy tube. The
nurse should identify that which of the following findings indicates fluid overload?
A. Diminished bowel sounds
B. Bradycardia
C. Hypotension
D. Bounding pulses
Answer: D. Bounding pulses
10. A nurse is caring for a client following an open colectomy. Which of the following findings
places the client at risk for delayed wound healing?
A. INR 1.1
B. Hyperemesis
C. HbA1c 5.6%
D. Uncontrolled pain
Answer: B. Hyperemesis
, 11. A home health nurse is reviewing treatment goals with a client who has diabetes mellitus.
The nurse should evaluate which of the following laboratory tests to determine effective
long-term management of blood glucose levels?
A. 3-hr oral glucose tolerance test
B. HbA1c
C. Fasting blood glucose test
D. Urinalysis for ketones
Answer: B. HbA1c
12. A nurse is caring for a client who has neutropenia due to HIV. Which of the following
precautions should the nurse take while caring for this client?
A. Wear an N95 respirator
B. Insert an indwelling urinary catheter to monitor urinary output
C. Monitor the client's vital signs every 8 hr
D. Use a dedicated stethoscope
Answer: D. Use a dedicated stethoscope
13. A nurse is caring for a client who reports difficulty falling asleep at night. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take?
A. Encourage the client to ambulate in the hallway 1 hr before bedtime
B. Tell the client to avoid drinking fluids 1 hr before bedtime
C. Schedule routine care tasks during hours when the client is awake
D. Advise the client to leave the television in the room on when trying to fall asleep
Answer: C. Schedule routine care tasks during hours when the client is awake
14. A nurse is planning care for a newborn who has hyperbilirubinemia and is to receive
phototherapy. Which of the following interventions should the nurse include?
A. Clothe the newborn in light cotton
B. Check the newborn's temperature every 8 hrs
C. Administer 120 mL of water between feedings
D. Place the newborn 45 cm (18 in) from the light source
Answer: D. Place the newborn 45 cm (18 in) from the light source (Note: temperature should be
checked every 4 hrs, not 8)
15. A nurse is planning care for a client who has schizophrenia and is having difficulty
expressing their feelings. Which of the following referrals should the nurse make?
A. Art therapist
B. Speech-language pathologist
C. Social worker
D. Recreational therapist
Answer: A. Art therapist
