300 Nursing Practice Questions & Answers 2026–2027 | Patient Care Fundamentals & Medical-Surgical Nursing | Detailed Rationales|

300 Nursing Practice Questions & Answers 2026–2027 | Patient Care Fundamentals & Medical-Surgical Nursing | Detailed Rationales| 1. When preparing to perform hand hygiene before a sterile procedure, which action demonstrates correct technique? A. Wiping hands with a dry paper towel before applying antiseptic B. Rinsing hands with hot water for 5 seconds C. Applying alcohol-based hand rub and rubbing until dry D. Washing hands with soap for 10 seconds and immediately putting on gloves E. Using gloves instead of hand hygiene before the procedure Correct Answer: C. Applying alcohol-based hand rub and rubbing until dry EXPERT RATIONALE: Alcohol-based hand rub is appropriate when hands are not visibly soiled. The nurse should cover all hand surfaces and continue rubbing until the product has dried. Gloves do not replace required hand hygiene. 2. A patient is placed in contact precautions. Which personal protective equipment (PPE) must the nurse don before entering the room? A. N95 respirator and face shield only B. Gown and gloves C. Surgical mask and gloves only D. Gown, gloves, and N95 respirator E. Face shield and surgical mask only Correct Answer: B. Gown and gloves EXPERT RATIONALE: Contact precautions require gown and gloves for direct patient or environmental contact. Additional respiratory or eye protection is added when indicated by the patient's condition or anticipated splash or spray. 3. A nurse is measuring a patient's blood pressure. The cuff is too small for the patient's arm. What effect will this have on the reading? A. The reading will be falsely low B. The reading will be accurate C. The reading will be falsely high D. The reading will alternate between high and low E. The diastolic pressure will be unaffected Correct Answer: C. The reading will be falsely high EXPERT RATIONALE: A cuff that is too small can produce a falsely elevated blood-pressure reading because it requires greater pressure to compress the artery. Correct cuff sizing improves measurement accuracy. 4. A nurse notes that a patient's apical pulse is 52 beats per minute. How should the nurse document this finding? A. Tachycardia B. Dysrhythmia C. Normal sinus rhythm D. Bradycardia E. Arrhythmia Correct Answer: D. Bradycardia EXPERT RATIONALE: Bradycardia generally refers to an adult heart rate below 60 beats per minute. The nurse should also assess the patient and determine whether the rate is symptomatic or expected for that individual. 5. A nurse is caring for a patient on droplet precautions. Which condition most likely requires this type of precaution? A. Tuberculosis B. Influenza C. Hepatitis B D. MRSA wound infection E. Clostridioides difficile infection Correct Answer: B. Influenza EXPERT RATIONALE: Influenza is commonly managed with droplet precautions because transmission occurs through respiratory droplets. Tuberculosis requires airborne precautions, while other listed conditions use different precautions. 6. A patient's temperature is 38.9°C (102°F). The nurse recognizes this as which finding? A. Hypothermia B. Normal temperature C. Low-grade fever D. High fever E. Normal variation requiring no assessment Correct Answer: D. High fever EXPERT RATIONALE: A temperature of 38.9°C is clearly febrile and warrants assessment for the cause, associated symptoms, and clinical deterioration. Temperature classifications can vary by reference, so the clinical response should focus on the patient's condition rather than the label alone. 7. When performing a bed bath for a dependent patient, which principle should guide the nurse's actions? A. Bath from the dirtiest areas to the cleanest areas B. Use one washcloth for the entire body to conserve resources C. Wash from clean areas to dirty areas D. Begin with the perineal area to reduce infection risk E. Use very hot water to stimulate circulation Correct Answer: C. Wash from clean areas to dirty areas EXPERT RATIONALE: Bathing should generally proceed from cleaner areas toward dirtier areas to reduce microorganism transfer. A clean portion of the cloth should be used for each body area, and water temperature should be safe and comfortable. 8. A nurse is repositioning a bedridden patient to prevent pressure injuries. Which approach is most appropriate? A. Reposition every 6 hours for all patients B. Reposition every 4 hours for all patients C. Use an individualized repositioning schedule based on risk and skin assessment D. Reposition once per shift E. Keep the patient in the same position if the skin is intact Correct Answer: C. Use an individualized repositioning schedule based on risk and skin assessment EXPERT RATIONALE: Pressure-injury prevention requires individualized repositioning based on mobility, skin condition, risk factors, support surface, and tolerance. A universal two-hour rule does not fit every patient. 9. A nurse is caring for a patient with suspected tuberculosis. Which precaution is most appropriate? A. Standard precautions only B. Contact precautions C. Airborne precautions D. Droplet precautions E. Protective isolation Correct Answer: C. Airborne precautions EXPERT RATIONALE: Tuberculosis is transmitted through airborne particles, so airborne precautions and appropriate respiratory protection are required. 10. Which action is most important when removing contaminated gloves? A. Touch the outside of both gloves with bare fingers B. Remove the first glove by grasping its contaminated palm C. Avoid touching the contaminated outer surface D. Wash the gloves before removal E. Place used gloves on the bedside table Correct Answer: C. Avoid touching the contaminated outer surface EXPERT RATIONALE: The nurse should avoid contact with contaminated glove surfaces and perform hand hygiene after removal. 11. A nurse accidentally touches a clean dressing with a contaminated glove. What should the nurse do? A. Continue because the dressing is still packaged B. Use the dressing anyway C. Discard the contaminated dressing and obtain a new one D. Wipe the dressing with alcohol E. Ask the patient to clean it Correct Answer: C. Discard the contaminated dressing and obtain a new one EXPERT RATIONALE: Once a sterile or clean item is contaminated, it should be replaced to prevent transmission of microorganisms. 12. Which patient should have the blood pressure cuff placed on the arm with the most appropriate cuff size? A. A cuff that covers less than one-third of the arm B. A cuff with a bladder width appropriate for the arm circumference C. Any cuff that fits around the wrist D. The smallest cuff available E. A cuff that is loose enough to slide freely Correct Answer: B. A cuff with a bladder width appropriate for the arm circumference EXPERT RATIONALE: Correct cuff size is essential because an inappropriate cuff can distort blood-pressure readings. 13. A patient reports dizziness when standing. Which vital-sign assessment is most useful? A. Orthostatic blood pressure and pulse B. Apical pulse once C. Temperature only D. Respirations after exercise E. Pulse oximetry while sleeping Correct Answer: A. Orthostatic blood pressure and pulse EXPERT RATIONALE: Orthostatic measurements compare vital signs across position changes and help identify a postural blood-pressure response associated with dizziness. 14. A nurse counts 18 respirations in 30 seconds in a stable adult. What rate should be documented? A. 18/min B. 24/min C. 36/min D. 40/min E. 60/min Correct Answer: C. 36/min EXPERT RATIONALE: When respirations are counted for 30 seconds and the rhythm is regular, multiply by two: 18 × 2 = 36 respirations/minute. 15. Before administering a medication, which action best verifies the correct patient? A. Ask the roommate to identify the patient B. Use two approved patient identifiers C. Use the room number only D. Ask the patient which room they are in E. Check the meal tray Correct Answer: B. Use two approved patient identifiers EXPERT RATIONALE: Using two approved identifiers helps prevent wrong-patient medication errors. 16. A medication order is difficult to read. What should the nurse do first? A. Guess the medication B. Ask another patient C. Clarify the order with the appropriate prescriber or pharmacy D. Give half the dose E. Skip documentation Correct Answer: C. Clarify the order with the appropriate prescriber or pharmacy EXPERT RATIONALE: An unclear medication order should be clarified before administration rather than interpreted by guesswork. 17. Which finding requires the nurse to question an opioid prescription most urgently? A. Respiratory rate of 8/min B. Pain score of 6/10 C. Heart rate of 82/min D. Temperature of 37°C E. Blood pressure of 128/76 mmHg Correct Answer: A. Respiratory rate of 8/min EXPERT RATIONALE: A markedly depressed respiratory rate can indicate opioid-induced respiratory depression and requires immediate assessment and intervention. 18. A patient receiving oxygen by nasal cannula reports dryness of the nasal passages. Which intervention is appropriate? A. Increase oxygen flow without an order B. Assess the prescribed flow and consider humidification when indicated C. Apply petroleum jelly inside the nares D. Stop oxygen immediately E. Place the cannula in the mouth Correct Answer: B. Assess the prescribed flow and consider humidification when indicated EXPERT RATIONALE: The nurse should maintain the prescribed oxygen flow and use appropriate humidification when indicated. Petroleum-based products should not be routinely applied around oxygen equipment. 19. Which position often promotes lung expansion in a patient with dyspnea? A. Flat supine B. High-Fowler position C. Prone with the head flat D. Trendelenburg E. Side-lying with no support Correct Answer: B. High-Fowler position EXPERT RATIONALE: High-Fowler positioning can improve diaphragmatic expansion and reduce the work of breathing in many patients. 20. A pulse oximeter reads 88% in a patient who is visibly short of breath. What is the nurse's priority? A. Ignore the reading B. Assess the patient and airway/breathing status immediately C. Remove all oxygen D. Offer a large meal E. Document only Correct Answer: B. Assess the patient and airway/breathing status immediately EXPERT RATIONALE: A low oxygen saturation with dyspnea requires prompt assessment of airway and breathing and appropriate intervention according to the patient's condition and orders.