RN Comprehensive Reentry Competency
Exam — Code: RN-REENTRY-COMP |
100-Question Advanced Practice Exam
2026 | Questions & Answers with
Detailed Rationales | Complete Exam
Prep & Study Guide
1. A returning RN is caring for a patient who suddenly develops dyspnea,
hypotension, and altered mental status. Which action should the RN take first?
A. Obtain a complete health history
B. Administer the scheduled medications
C. Assess airway and breathing while initiating emergency support
D. Document the change in the electronic health record
Answer: C. Assess airway and breathing while initiating emergency support
Rationale: In an unstable patient, immediate assessment and stabilization of
airway, breathing, and circulation take priority. Documentation and
comprehensive history follow stabilization.
,2. A nurse returning to practice realizes that a medication calculation involves a
concentration formula that has not been used in several years. What is the
safest action?
A. Estimate the dose using prior experience
B. Ask another nurse to administer the medication without verification
C. Verify the calculation using an approved medication reference or calculator
D. Skip the medication permanently
Answer: C. Verify the calculation using an approved medication reference or
calculator
Rationale: Reentry nurses should recognize knowledge gaps and use reliable
resources rather than relying on memory or estimation, particularly for high-risk
medications.
3. A patient receiving IV potassium chloride has a new cardiac rhythm change.
What should the RN do first?
A. Increase the infusion rate
B. Stop or pause the infusion and assess the patient
C. Administer another potassium dose
D. Encourage oral fluids
Answer: B. Stop or pause the infusion and assess the patient
Rationale: IV potassium can cause dangerous dysrhythmias if administered too
rapidly or if serum potassium becomes excessive. The infusion should be stopped
or paused while the patient is assessed and the provider notified according to
protocol.
,4. Which finding most strongly indicates that a patient with pneumonia is
deteriorating?
A. Temperature of 38.1°C (100.6°F)
B. Productive cough
C. Respiratory rate of 32/min with increasing confusion
D. Decreased appetite
Answer: C. Respiratory rate of 32/min with increasing confusion
Rationale: Tachypnea and acute mental-status changes are concerning
indicators of hypoxemia, respiratory failure, or systemic deterioration and
require immediate intervention.
5. A returning RN is assigned four patients. Which patient should be assessed
first?
A. Patient with chronic arthritis reporting pain of 7/10
B. Patient awaiting discharge instructions
C. Patient with COPD who has new-onset agitation and oxygen saturation of 84%
D. Patient requesting assistance with bathing
Answer: C. Patient with COPD who has new-onset agitation and oxygen
saturation of 84%
Rationale: Acute hypoxemia with a change in mental status represents an
immediate threat to life and takes priority over chronic pain, discharge teaching,
or hygiene needs.
6. A patient receiving an opioid becomes difficult to arouse and has respirations
of 7/min. What is the priority intervention?
A. Place the patient in a supine position
B. Administer the next opioid dose later
, C. Support ventilation and administer naloxone as indicated
D. Encourage the patient to drink water
Answer: C. Support ventilation and administer naloxone as indicated
Rationale: Severe opioid-induced respiratory depression requires immediate
airway and ventilatory support. Naloxone reverses opioid effects and should be
administered according to protocol.
7. Which action best demonstrates appropriate clinical judgment by a reentry
RN?
A. Following every previous routine exactly
B. Recognizing when a patient's current presentation differs from expected
findings
C. Avoiding questions to demonstrate independence
D. Delegating unfamiliar procedures to unlicensed personnel
Answer: B. Recognizing when a patient's current presentation differs from
expected findings
Rationale: Clinical judgment requires recognizing deviations from expected
patterns, analyzing their significance, and taking appropriate action.
8. A patient reports crushing substernal chest pressure radiating to the jaw.
Which action has the highest priority?
A. Obtain a dietary history
B. Initiate appropriate emergency cardiac assessment and obtain an ECG promptly
C. Encourage ambulation
D. Schedule a routine outpatient appointment
Answer: B. Initiate appropriate emergency cardiac assessment and obtain an
ECG promptly
Exam — Code: RN-REENTRY-COMP |
100-Question Advanced Practice Exam
2026 | Questions & Answers with
Detailed Rationales | Complete Exam
Prep & Study Guide
1. A returning RN is caring for a patient who suddenly develops dyspnea,
hypotension, and altered mental status. Which action should the RN take first?
A. Obtain a complete health history
B. Administer the scheduled medications
C. Assess airway and breathing while initiating emergency support
D. Document the change in the electronic health record
Answer: C. Assess airway and breathing while initiating emergency support
Rationale: In an unstable patient, immediate assessment and stabilization of
airway, breathing, and circulation take priority. Documentation and
comprehensive history follow stabilization.
,2. A nurse returning to practice realizes that a medication calculation involves a
concentration formula that has not been used in several years. What is the
safest action?
A. Estimate the dose using prior experience
B. Ask another nurse to administer the medication without verification
C. Verify the calculation using an approved medication reference or calculator
D. Skip the medication permanently
Answer: C. Verify the calculation using an approved medication reference or
calculator
Rationale: Reentry nurses should recognize knowledge gaps and use reliable
resources rather than relying on memory or estimation, particularly for high-risk
medications.
3. A patient receiving IV potassium chloride has a new cardiac rhythm change.
What should the RN do first?
A. Increase the infusion rate
B. Stop or pause the infusion and assess the patient
C. Administer another potassium dose
D. Encourage oral fluids
Answer: B. Stop or pause the infusion and assess the patient
Rationale: IV potassium can cause dangerous dysrhythmias if administered too
rapidly or if serum potassium becomes excessive. The infusion should be stopped
or paused while the patient is assessed and the provider notified according to
protocol.
,4. Which finding most strongly indicates that a patient with pneumonia is
deteriorating?
A. Temperature of 38.1°C (100.6°F)
B. Productive cough
C. Respiratory rate of 32/min with increasing confusion
D. Decreased appetite
Answer: C. Respiratory rate of 32/min with increasing confusion
Rationale: Tachypnea and acute mental-status changes are concerning
indicators of hypoxemia, respiratory failure, or systemic deterioration and
require immediate intervention.
5. A returning RN is assigned four patients. Which patient should be assessed
first?
A. Patient with chronic arthritis reporting pain of 7/10
B. Patient awaiting discharge instructions
C. Patient with COPD who has new-onset agitation and oxygen saturation of 84%
D. Patient requesting assistance with bathing
Answer: C. Patient with COPD who has new-onset agitation and oxygen
saturation of 84%
Rationale: Acute hypoxemia with a change in mental status represents an
immediate threat to life and takes priority over chronic pain, discharge teaching,
or hygiene needs.
6. A patient receiving an opioid becomes difficult to arouse and has respirations
of 7/min. What is the priority intervention?
A. Place the patient in a supine position
B. Administer the next opioid dose later
, C. Support ventilation and administer naloxone as indicated
D. Encourage the patient to drink water
Answer: C. Support ventilation and administer naloxone as indicated
Rationale: Severe opioid-induced respiratory depression requires immediate
airway and ventilatory support. Naloxone reverses opioid effects and should be
administered according to protocol.
7. Which action best demonstrates appropriate clinical judgment by a reentry
RN?
A. Following every previous routine exactly
B. Recognizing when a patient's current presentation differs from expected
findings
C. Avoiding questions to demonstrate independence
D. Delegating unfamiliar procedures to unlicensed personnel
Answer: B. Recognizing when a patient's current presentation differs from
expected findings
Rationale: Clinical judgment requires recognizing deviations from expected
patterns, analyzing their significance, and taking appropriate action.
8. A patient reports crushing substernal chest pressure radiating to the jaw.
Which action has the highest priority?
A. Obtain a dietary history
B. Initiate appropriate emergency cardiac assessment and obtain an ECG promptly
C. Encourage ambulation
D. Schedule a routine outpatient appointment
Answer: B. Initiate appropriate emergency cardiac assessment and obtain an
ECG promptly
