Illinois RN Jurisprudence Exam — Code:
IL-RN-JP | 100-Question Advanced
Practice Exam 2026 | Questions &
Answers with Detailed Rationales |
Complete Exam Prep & Study Guide
1.
An Illinois RN is asked by a nursing supervisor to delegate a complex nursing
intervention to an unlicensed assistive worker because the unit is short-staffed.
The patient is unstable and the outcome of the intervention is difficult to predict.
What is the RN's best response?
A. Delegate the intervention because the supervisor authorized it
B. Delegate it if the unlicensed worker has performed it previously
C. Refuse the delegation because the patient's condition and outcome are not
sufficiently stable or predictable
D. Delegate it and personally observe the worker afterward
Answer: C. Refuse the delegation because the patient's condition and outcome
are not sufficiently stable or predictable.
,Rationale: Illinois delegation decisions must be based on factors including
patient stability, potential for harm, complexity of the intervention,
predictability of outcomes, and the delegatee's competency. Staffing shortages
do not eliminate the RN's professional responsibility for safe delegation.
2.
Under Illinois nursing delegation law, which activity may an RN not delegate?
A. A routine nursing intervention for a stable patient
B. A task to a competent licensed nurse
C. Comprehensive nursing assessment and nursing judgment
D. A permissible intervention to trained personnel
Answer: C. Comprehensive nursing assessment and nursing judgment.
Rationale: An RN cannot delegate nursing judgment, comprehensive patient
assessment, development of the plan of care, or evaluation of care. These
professional nursing functions remain the RN's responsibility.
3.
An RN determines that a proposed delegation presents an unacceptable risk to
the patient. The employer orders the RN to proceed. What should the RN do?
A. Delegate because employer policy overrides nursing judgment
B. Refuse the delegation based on patient safety
C. Ask another RN to accept responsibility
D. Delegate but document that management ordered it
Answer: B. Refuse the delegation based on patient safety.
Rationale: Illinois law specifically protects an RN's ability to refuse delegation
when the RN determines delegation is inappropriate based on patient safety.
4.
,Which factor is most important when determining whether a nursing intervention
should be delegated?
A. Whether the unit is understaffed
B. Whether the task saves the RN time
C. The patient's stability and the predictability of outcomes
D. Whether the delegatee wants additional responsibility
Answer: C. The patient's stability and the predictability of outcomes.
Rationale: Patient stability and predictability are central statutory
considerations in Illinois delegation decisions. Other operational factors cannot
substitute for a safety assessment.
5.
An RN delegates an appropriate intervention to a competent individual caring for
a stable patient. Who retains responsibility for appropriate supervision and
evaluation of the delegated intervention?
A. Only the delegatee
B. The RN who delegated it
C. The facility administrator
D. The patient's family
Answer: B. The RN who delegated it.
Rationale: Delegation transfers authority to perform a specific intervention, but
the RN retains professional responsibility for appropriate assessment,
delegation, guidance, supervision, and evaluation.
6.
An RN working in an Illinois hospital considers delegating medication
administration to an unlicensed assistive worker. Which statement is most
accurate?
, A. Medication administration may always be delegated if the worker is
experienced
B. Medication administration may be delegated whenever the patient is stable
C. Illinois generally prohibits RN delegation of medication administration to
unlicensed personnel in institutional and long-term-care settings unless
specifically authorized by law
D. Medication administration is never regulated by the Nurse Practice Act
Answer: C. Illinois generally prohibits RN delegation of medication
administration to unlicensed personnel in institutional and long-term-care
settings unless specifically authorized by law.
Rationale: Illinois delegation provisions specifically restrict medication
administration delegation to unlicensed personnel in institutional and long-
term-care settings, subject to statutory exceptions.
7.
Which situation best demonstrates appropriate delegation?
A. Delegating assessment of a newly unstable patient
B. Delegating nursing judgment to an aide
C. Delegating a routine intervention for a stable patient to a competent individual
D. Delegating development of the nursing care plan
Answer: C. Delegating a routine intervention for a stable patient to a competent
individual.
Rationale: Appropriate delegation requires consideration of patient stability,
predictable outcomes, intervention complexity, potential harm, and delegatee
competency.
8.
An RN realizes after delegation that the patient's condition has deteriorated.
What is the RN's priority?
IL-RN-JP | 100-Question Advanced
Practice Exam 2026 | Questions &
Answers with Detailed Rationales |
Complete Exam Prep & Study Guide
1.
An Illinois RN is asked by a nursing supervisor to delegate a complex nursing
intervention to an unlicensed assistive worker because the unit is short-staffed.
The patient is unstable and the outcome of the intervention is difficult to predict.
What is the RN's best response?
A. Delegate the intervention because the supervisor authorized it
B. Delegate it if the unlicensed worker has performed it previously
C. Refuse the delegation because the patient's condition and outcome are not
sufficiently stable or predictable
D. Delegate it and personally observe the worker afterward
Answer: C. Refuse the delegation because the patient's condition and outcome
are not sufficiently stable or predictable.
,Rationale: Illinois delegation decisions must be based on factors including
patient stability, potential for harm, complexity of the intervention,
predictability of outcomes, and the delegatee's competency. Staffing shortages
do not eliminate the RN's professional responsibility for safe delegation.
2.
Under Illinois nursing delegation law, which activity may an RN not delegate?
A. A routine nursing intervention for a stable patient
B. A task to a competent licensed nurse
C. Comprehensive nursing assessment and nursing judgment
D. A permissible intervention to trained personnel
Answer: C. Comprehensive nursing assessment and nursing judgment.
Rationale: An RN cannot delegate nursing judgment, comprehensive patient
assessment, development of the plan of care, or evaluation of care. These
professional nursing functions remain the RN's responsibility.
3.
An RN determines that a proposed delegation presents an unacceptable risk to
the patient. The employer orders the RN to proceed. What should the RN do?
A. Delegate because employer policy overrides nursing judgment
B. Refuse the delegation based on patient safety
C. Ask another RN to accept responsibility
D. Delegate but document that management ordered it
Answer: B. Refuse the delegation based on patient safety.
Rationale: Illinois law specifically protects an RN's ability to refuse delegation
when the RN determines delegation is inappropriate based on patient safety.
4.
,Which factor is most important when determining whether a nursing intervention
should be delegated?
A. Whether the unit is understaffed
B. Whether the task saves the RN time
C. The patient's stability and the predictability of outcomes
D. Whether the delegatee wants additional responsibility
Answer: C. The patient's stability and the predictability of outcomes.
Rationale: Patient stability and predictability are central statutory
considerations in Illinois delegation decisions. Other operational factors cannot
substitute for a safety assessment.
5.
An RN delegates an appropriate intervention to a competent individual caring for
a stable patient. Who retains responsibility for appropriate supervision and
evaluation of the delegated intervention?
A. Only the delegatee
B. The RN who delegated it
C. The facility administrator
D. The patient's family
Answer: B. The RN who delegated it.
Rationale: Delegation transfers authority to perform a specific intervention, but
the RN retains professional responsibility for appropriate assessment,
delegation, guidance, supervision, and evaluation.
6.
An RN working in an Illinois hospital considers delegating medication
administration to an unlicensed assistive worker. Which statement is most
accurate?
, A. Medication administration may always be delegated if the worker is
experienced
B. Medication administration may be delegated whenever the patient is stable
C. Illinois generally prohibits RN delegation of medication administration to
unlicensed personnel in institutional and long-term-care settings unless
specifically authorized by law
D. Medication administration is never regulated by the Nurse Practice Act
Answer: C. Illinois generally prohibits RN delegation of medication
administration to unlicensed personnel in institutional and long-term-care
settings unless specifically authorized by law.
Rationale: Illinois delegation provisions specifically restrict medication
administration delegation to unlicensed personnel in institutional and long-
term-care settings, subject to statutory exceptions.
7.
Which situation best demonstrates appropriate delegation?
A. Delegating assessment of a newly unstable patient
B. Delegating nursing judgment to an aide
C. Delegating a routine intervention for a stable patient to a competent individual
D. Delegating development of the nursing care plan
Answer: C. Delegating a routine intervention for a stable patient to a competent
individual.
Rationale: Appropriate delegation requires consideration of patient stability,
predictable outcomes, intervention complexity, potential harm, and delegatee
competency.
8.
An RN realizes after delegation that the patient's condition has deteriorated.
What is the RN's priority?
