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Washington RN Jurisprudence Exam —
Code: WA-RN-JP | 100-Question
Advanced Practice Exam 2026 |
Questions & Answers with Detailed
Rationales | Complete Exam Prep &
Study Guide
1. An RN is asked by a supervisor to perform a nursing intervention that the
RN has never been trained or deemed competent to perform. The
intervention is technically within the general RN scope of practice. What is
the nurse's best action?
A. Perform the intervention because it is within the RN scope of practice
B. Ask another RN to perform it without further discussion
C. Decline until the nurse has obtained appropriate education and demonstrated
competency
D. Perform it under direct observation of an unlicensed staff member
Answer: Decline until the nurse has obtained appropriate education and
demonstrated competency
,Rationale: Washington nursing standards require nurses to practice within their
education, training, experience, and demonstrated competency. Being
theoretically within the RN scope does not automatically establish individual
competency.
2. Which statement best describes Washington's approach to nursing scope of
practice?
A. Scope is determined solely by the employer's job description
B. Scope is determined solely by the RN's education program
C. Scope is based on applicable law, rules, education, competence, and the
circumstances of practice
D. Scope is determined by whichever task a physician delegates
Answer: Scope is based on applicable law, rules, education, competence, and
the circumstances of practice
Rationale: Washington RNs must comply with the Nursing Care Quality
Assurance Commission's statutes and rules and practice consistently with their
education, competence, and professional standards.
3. A Washington RN discovers that a colleague documented administration of
a controlled substance that the colleague did not actually administer. What
is the most appropriate response?
A. Ignore it because medication documentation is the colleague's responsibility
B. Correct the colleague's documentation personally
C. Address the safety concern and report the conduct through appropriate
channels
D. Wait until the patient complains
Answer: Address the safety concern and report the conduct through appropriate
channels
Rationale: Falsification, medication irregularities, and unsafe conduct may
constitute violations of nursing standards and can place patients at risk.
,Washington rules identify improper controlled-substance documentation and
unsafe practice as conduct of concern.
4. An RN signs a controlled-substance wastage record even though the RN did
not personally witness the wastage. Which statement is correct?
A. This is acceptable if another nurse verbally confirms the wastage
B. This is acceptable if the medication was only partially wasted
C. The RN should not sign the record because the wastage must be personally
witnessed
D. The RN may sign if the charge nurse approves it
Answer: The RN should not sign the record because the wastage must be
personally witnessed
Rationale: Washington's nursing conduct rules specifically prohibit a nurse from
signing a controlled-substance wastage record when the nurse did not
personally witness the wastage.
5. A nurse discovers that a patient's condition has become unstable after a
task was delegated to a nursing assistant in a community-based setting.
What should the RN delegator do?
A. Continue the delegation because it was previously authorized
B. Rescind the delegation and establish an appropriate alternative plan
C. Ask the nursing assistant to obtain a physician order
D. Transfer accountability entirely to the nursing assistant
Answer: Rescind the delegation and establish an appropriate alternative plan
Rationale: Washington delegation rules require the patient to be in a stable and
predictable condition. When that condition changes, delegation may need to be
rescinded and continuity of care established.
6. Which task is generally inappropriate for RN delegation when it requires
nursing judgment?
, A. A routine task performed according to established instructions
B. A task for a stable and predictable patient
C. An assessment requiring professional nursing judgment
D. A task for which the delegatee has demonstrated competency
Answer: An assessment requiring professional nursing judgment
Rationale: Acts requiring nursing judgment are not delegated merely because
another individual has been trained to perform a related technical task.
Washington law restricts delegation of functions requiring nursing judgment.
7. An employer tells an RN, "You must delegate this task even though you
believe the patient is unsafe for delegation." What is the nurse's best
response?
A. Delegate because the employer controls staffing
B. Delegate and document that the employer ordered it
C. Refuse the delegation when it would compromise patient safety
D. Ask the patient to accept the risk
Answer: Refuse the delegation when it would compromise patient safety
Rationale: Washington law protects the RN's independent delegation decision.
A person may not coerce an RN into compromising patient safety by requiring
inappropriate delegation.
8. Which person is ultimately accountable for the specific action performed by
a delegatee?
A. Only the RN delegator
B. Only the delegatee
C. Each individual is accountable for their own actions, while the RN retains
overall accountability for the nursing care
D. Only the employer
Answer: Each individual is accountable for their own actions, while the RN
retains overall accountability for the nursing care
Washington RN Jurisprudence Exam —
Code: WA-RN-JP | 100-Question
Advanced Practice Exam 2026 |
Questions & Answers with Detailed
Rationales | Complete Exam Prep &
Study Guide
1. An RN is asked by a supervisor to perform a nursing intervention that the
RN has never been trained or deemed competent to perform. The
intervention is technically within the general RN scope of practice. What is
the nurse's best action?
A. Perform the intervention because it is within the RN scope of practice
B. Ask another RN to perform it without further discussion
C. Decline until the nurse has obtained appropriate education and demonstrated
competency
D. Perform it under direct observation of an unlicensed staff member
Answer: Decline until the nurse has obtained appropriate education and
demonstrated competency
,Rationale: Washington nursing standards require nurses to practice within their
education, training, experience, and demonstrated competency. Being
theoretically within the RN scope does not automatically establish individual
competency.
2. Which statement best describes Washington's approach to nursing scope of
practice?
A. Scope is determined solely by the employer's job description
B. Scope is determined solely by the RN's education program
C. Scope is based on applicable law, rules, education, competence, and the
circumstances of practice
D. Scope is determined by whichever task a physician delegates
Answer: Scope is based on applicable law, rules, education, competence, and
the circumstances of practice
Rationale: Washington RNs must comply with the Nursing Care Quality
Assurance Commission's statutes and rules and practice consistently with their
education, competence, and professional standards.
3. A Washington RN discovers that a colleague documented administration of
a controlled substance that the colleague did not actually administer. What
is the most appropriate response?
A. Ignore it because medication documentation is the colleague's responsibility
B. Correct the colleague's documentation personally
C. Address the safety concern and report the conduct through appropriate
channels
D. Wait until the patient complains
Answer: Address the safety concern and report the conduct through appropriate
channels
Rationale: Falsification, medication irregularities, and unsafe conduct may
constitute violations of nursing standards and can place patients at risk.
,Washington rules identify improper controlled-substance documentation and
unsafe practice as conduct of concern.
4. An RN signs a controlled-substance wastage record even though the RN did
not personally witness the wastage. Which statement is correct?
A. This is acceptable if another nurse verbally confirms the wastage
B. This is acceptable if the medication was only partially wasted
C. The RN should not sign the record because the wastage must be personally
witnessed
D. The RN may sign if the charge nurse approves it
Answer: The RN should not sign the record because the wastage must be
personally witnessed
Rationale: Washington's nursing conduct rules specifically prohibit a nurse from
signing a controlled-substance wastage record when the nurse did not
personally witness the wastage.
5. A nurse discovers that a patient's condition has become unstable after a
task was delegated to a nursing assistant in a community-based setting.
What should the RN delegator do?
A. Continue the delegation because it was previously authorized
B. Rescind the delegation and establish an appropriate alternative plan
C. Ask the nursing assistant to obtain a physician order
D. Transfer accountability entirely to the nursing assistant
Answer: Rescind the delegation and establish an appropriate alternative plan
Rationale: Washington delegation rules require the patient to be in a stable and
predictable condition. When that condition changes, delegation may need to be
rescinded and continuity of care established.
6. Which task is generally inappropriate for RN delegation when it requires
nursing judgment?
, A. A routine task performed according to established instructions
B. A task for a stable and predictable patient
C. An assessment requiring professional nursing judgment
D. A task for which the delegatee has demonstrated competency
Answer: An assessment requiring professional nursing judgment
Rationale: Acts requiring nursing judgment are not delegated merely because
another individual has been trained to perform a related technical task.
Washington law restricts delegation of functions requiring nursing judgment.
7. An employer tells an RN, "You must delegate this task even though you
believe the patient is unsafe for delegation." What is the nurse's best
response?
A. Delegate because the employer controls staffing
B. Delegate and document that the employer ordered it
C. Refuse the delegation when it would compromise patient safety
D. Ask the patient to accept the risk
Answer: Refuse the delegation when it would compromise patient safety
Rationale: Washington law protects the RN's independent delegation decision.
A person may not coerce an RN into compromising patient safety by requiring
inappropriate delegation.
8. Which person is ultimately accountable for the specific action performed by
a delegatee?
A. Only the RN delegator
B. Only the delegatee
C. Each individual is accountable for their own actions, while the RN retains
overall accountability for the nursing care
D. Only the employer
Answer: Each individual is accountable for their own actions, while the RN
retains overall accountability for the nursing care
