NCLEX-Style Scenario-Based & Critical Thinking Questions
NCLEX-Style Scenario-Based & Critical Thinking Questions
Q1: A post-operative patients incision site is warm, red, and draining purulent fluid. The patient also
has a fever. What should the nurse do first?
1. Reinforce the dressing and reassess in an hour
2. Apply a warm compress to the site
3. Notify the provider and obtain a wound culture
4. Administer pain medication and monitor
Answer: Notify the provider and obtain a wound culture
Q2: An elderly patient with a history of falls is found attempting to climb out of bed unassisted. What
is the nurses priority intervention?
1. Assess for the need for a bedside commode or assistance
2. Teach the patient about fall risks
3. Apply physical restraints
4. Ensure the call light is within reach
Answer: Assess for the need for a bedside commode or assistance
Q3: A patient with pneumonia is experiencing increased work of breathing and low oxygen
saturation despite receiving oxygen therapy. What is the priority action?
1. Notify respiratory therapy
2. Place the patient in high-Fowlers position and encourage deep breathing
3. Obtain an arterial blood gas test
4. Increase the oxygen flow rate
Answer: Place the patient in high-Fowlers position and encourage deep breathing
,Q4: A post-operative patients incision site is warm, red, and draining purulent fluid. The patient also
has a fever. What should the nurse do first?
1. Reinforce the dressing and reassess in an hour
2. Apply a warm compress to the site
3. Notify the provider and obtain a wound culture
4. Administer pain medication and monitor
Answer: Notify the provider and obtain a wound culture
Q5: You are assessing a patients blood pressure and notice it is significantly lower than their
baseline. The patient appears pale and reports feeling dizzy. What is your priority action?
1. Encourage the patient to sit up and drink water
2. Document the findings and continue monitoring
3. Elevate the patients legs and notify the provider
4. Recheck the blood pressure in 15 minutes
Answer: Elevate the patients legs and notify the provider
Q6: A nurse is caring for a patient with C. difficile. Which action requires intervention?
1. The nurse washes hands with soap and water after care
2. The nurse places the patient on contact precautions
3. The nurse uses alcohol-based hand sanitizer after removing gloves
4. The nurse wears gloves and a gown while in the room
Answer: The nurse uses alcohol-based hand sanitizer after removing gloves
Q7: A patient with pneumonia is experiencing increased work of breathing and low oxygen
saturation despite receiving oxygen therapy. What is the priority action?
1. Notify respiratory therapy
2. Place the patient in high-Fowlers position and encourage deep breathing
, 3. Obtain an arterial blood gas test
4. Increase the oxygen flow rate
Answer: Place the patient in high-Fowlers position and encourage deep breathing
Q8: A post-surgical patient has not voided for 8 hours. The nurse palpates a distended bladder.
What is the best action?
1. Encourage oral fluids
2. Insert an indwelling catheter immediately
3. Reassess the patient in 2 hours
4. Perform a bladder scan and notify the provider
Answer: Perform a bladder scan and notify the provider
Q9: You are assessing a patients blood pressure and notice it is significantly lower than their
baseline. The patient appears pale and reports feeling dizzy. What is your priority action?
1. Encourage the patient to sit up and drink water
2. Document the findings and continue monitoring
3. Elevate the patients legs and notify the provider
4. Recheck the blood pressure in 15 minutes
Answer: Elevate the patients legs and notify the provider
Q10: A nurse is caring for a patient with C. difficile. Which action requires intervention?
1. The nurse washes hands with soap and water after care
2. The nurse places the patient on contact precautions
3. The nurse uses alcohol-based hand sanitizer after removing gloves
4. The nurse wears gloves and a gown while in the room
Answer: The nurse uses alcohol-based hand sanitizer after removing gloves
NCLEX-Style Scenario-Based & Critical Thinking Questions
Q1: A post-operative patients incision site is warm, red, and draining purulent fluid. The patient also
has a fever. What should the nurse do first?
1. Reinforce the dressing and reassess in an hour
2. Apply a warm compress to the site
3. Notify the provider and obtain a wound culture
4. Administer pain medication and monitor
Answer: Notify the provider and obtain a wound culture
Q2: An elderly patient with a history of falls is found attempting to climb out of bed unassisted. What
is the nurses priority intervention?
1. Assess for the need for a bedside commode or assistance
2. Teach the patient about fall risks
3. Apply physical restraints
4. Ensure the call light is within reach
Answer: Assess for the need for a bedside commode or assistance
Q3: A patient with pneumonia is experiencing increased work of breathing and low oxygen
saturation despite receiving oxygen therapy. What is the priority action?
1. Notify respiratory therapy
2. Place the patient in high-Fowlers position and encourage deep breathing
3. Obtain an arterial blood gas test
4. Increase the oxygen flow rate
Answer: Place the patient in high-Fowlers position and encourage deep breathing
,Q4: A post-operative patients incision site is warm, red, and draining purulent fluid. The patient also
has a fever. What should the nurse do first?
1. Reinforce the dressing and reassess in an hour
2. Apply a warm compress to the site
3. Notify the provider and obtain a wound culture
4. Administer pain medication and monitor
Answer: Notify the provider and obtain a wound culture
Q5: You are assessing a patients blood pressure and notice it is significantly lower than their
baseline. The patient appears pale and reports feeling dizzy. What is your priority action?
1. Encourage the patient to sit up and drink water
2. Document the findings and continue monitoring
3. Elevate the patients legs and notify the provider
4. Recheck the blood pressure in 15 minutes
Answer: Elevate the patients legs and notify the provider
Q6: A nurse is caring for a patient with C. difficile. Which action requires intervention?
1. The nurse washes hands with soap and water after care
2. The nurse places the patient on contact precautions
3. The nurse uses alcohol-based hand sanitizer after removing gloves
4. The nurse wears gloves and a gown while in the room
Answer: The nurse uses alcohol-based hand sanitizer after removing gloves
Q7: A patient with pneumonia is experiencing increased work of breathing and low oxygen
saturation despite receiving oxygen therapy. What is the priority action?
1. Notify respiratory therapy
2. Place the patient in high-Fowlers position and encourage deep breathing
, 3. Obtain an arterial blood gas test
4. Increase the oxygen flow rate
Answer: Place the patient in high-Fowlers position and encourage deep breathing
Q8: A post-surgical patient has not voided for 8 hours. The nurse palpates a distended bladder.
What is the best action?
1. Encourage oral fluids
2. Insert an indwelling catheter immediately
3. Reassess the patient in 2 hours
4. Perform a bladder scan and notify the provider
Answer: Perform a bladder scan and notify the provider
Q9: You are assessing a patients blood pressure and notice it is significantly lower than their
baseline. The patient appears pale and reports feeling dizzy. What is your priority action?
1. Encourage the patient to sit up and drink water
2. Document the findings and continue monitoring
3. Elevate the patients legs and notify the provider
4. Recheck the blood pressure in 15 minutes
Answer: Elevate the patients legs and notify the provider
Q10: A nurse is caring for a patient with C. difficile. Which action requires intervention?
1. The nurse washes hands with soap and water after care
2. The nurse places the patient on contact precautions
3. The nurse uses alcohol-based hand sanitizer after removing gloves
4. The nurse wears gloves and a gown while in the room
Answer: The nurse uses alcohol-based hand sanitizer after removing gloves
