Professional nursing delegation and
prioritization
150 practice questions with answer rationales
COURSE Delegation and clinical prioritization
QUESTIONS 150
PREPARED August 2026
,Delegation and clinical prioritization
Exam Overview
This academic exam resource gives Nursing School a focused 150-question practice set for
Delegation and clinical prioritization. The material is written to support careful review, practical
reasoning, and steady preparation without promotional claims or repeated title wording. Questions use
clear professional language, credible answer choices, and concise rationales that help students
understand why one option is best. The document provides high-quality academic material for
independent revision, classroom reinforcement, and identifying knowledge gaps before assessments.
Students should pair it with course notes, textbooks, instructor guidance, and current academic
standards for the strongest preparation. Each item supports careful review, confident practice, and.
Question 1: Which task may the RN delegate only after confirming the task is routine, the
client is stable, and the delegatee has the right training and supervision?
A. The assignment of nursing judgment about whether a client needs hospitalization
B. The transfer of accountability for the outcome of an invasive procedure
C. The delegation of assessment findings interpretation to unlicensed assistive personnel
D. The assignment of a routine task with predictable outcomes to an appropriate delegatee
Answer: D
Rationale: Safe delegation applies to routine, predictable tasks that do not require nursing judgment.
The RN keeps accountability for assessment and evaluation, so options involving interpretation or
transfer of accountability are incorrect.
Question 2: A nurse is deciding whether to delegate a task. Which factor is most important
first?
A. Whether the task is tedious
B. Whether the client is pleasant
C. Whether the nurse is busy
D. Whether the task is within the delegatee's scope and training
Answer: D
Rationale: Delegation starts with matching the task to the worker's scope, competence, and training.
Question 3: Which task can the RN most appropriately assign to an LPN/LVN?
A. Initial assessment of a newly admitted client
B. Client teaching about discharge medications
C. Developing the plan of care
D. Monitoring a stable client receiving a blood transfusion
Answer: D
Rationale: LPN/LVN staff can monitor stable clients and report changes; initial assessment and
teaching remain RN responsibilities.
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,Delegation and clinical prioritization
Question 4: The nurse has four clients. Which client should be seen first?
A. Client with a temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) after surgery
B. Client requesting pain medication in 30 minutes
C. Client asking for the television remote
D. Client reporting new shortness of breath
Answer: D
Rationale: New shortness of breath may indicate airway or breathing compromise and is the priority.
Question 5: Which action should the nurse avoid delegating?
A. Measuring oral intake on a stable client
B. Repositioning a client every 2 hours
C. Assisting with ambulation
D. Assessing a new onset of chest pain
Answer: D
Rationale: Assessment of a new symptom requires nursing judgment and cannot be delegated.
Question 6: A postoperative client is stable and needs hygiene care. Which task is best
delegated to the UAP?
A. Providing a bed bath
B. Changing the surgical dressing
C. Evaluating incision drainage
D. Teaching coughing and deep breathing
Answer: A
Rationale: Basic hygiene care for a stable client is appropriate for UAP delegation.
Question 7: The RN asks the UAP to insert a urinary catheter. What is the best response?
A. Accept the task and complete it later
B. Delegate it because it is routine
C. Ask another UAP to do it
D. Refuse and explain that it is not within the UAP role
Answer: D
Rationale: Catheter insertion requires licensed nursing skill and is not appropriate for UAP
delegation.
Question 8: A stable client with chronic heart failure is on the unit. Which task is most
appropriate for the RN to delegate to the UAP?
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, Delegation and clinical prioritization
A. Teach the client how to limit sodium at home
B. Evaluate the client's response to a new diuretic
C. Assess the client's apical pulse before digoxin administration
D. Obtain the client's morning weight on the same scale
Answer: D
Rationale: Obtaining a daily weight is a routine, observable task with a predictable outcome and is
appropriate for a UAP. Teaching, assessment, and evaluation require nursing judgment and cannot be
delegated to unlicensed personnel.
Question 9: Which assignment is best for the UAP?
A. Feeding a client who has no swallowing precautions
B. Updating the plan of care
C. Assessing a client with a new complaint of dizziness
D. Interpreting ECG changes
Answer: A
Rationale: Feeding a stable client without swallowing risk is a routine task suitable for UAP.
Question 10: The nurse must respond to one call light first. Which client is the priority?
A. Client asking for help to the bathroom
B. Client asking for ice chips
C. Client requesting extra pillows
D. Client reporting sudden severe headache and blurred vision
Answer: D
Rationale: Sudden neurologic changes may signal a serious acute problem such as stroke or
hypertensive crisis.
Question 11: During the shift, the charge nurse receives these requests. Which should the
RN handle personally rather than delegate?
A. Assess new crackles and shortness of breath in a client receiving IV fluids
B. Collect a clean-catch urine specimen from a client with dysuria
C. Reinforce use of the incentive spirometer with a postoperative client
D. Measure intake and output for a client on a fluid restriction
Answer: A
Rationale: New crackles and dyspnea suggest an acute change that requires RN assessment and
clinical judgment. The other tasks are routine data collection or reinforcement and can be delegated
when the client's condition is stable.
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prioritization
150 practice questions with answer rationales
COURSE Delegation and clinical prioritization
QUESTIONS 150
PREPARED August 2026
,Delegation and clinical prioritization
Exam Overview
This academic exam resource gives Nursing School a focused 150-question practice set for
Delegation and clinical prioritization. The material is written to support careful review, practical
reasoning, and steady preparation without promotional claims or repeated title wording. Questions use
clear professional language, credible answer choices, and concise rationales that help students
understand why one option is best. The document provides high-quality academic material for
independent revision, classroom reinforcement, and identifying knowledge gaps before assessments.
Students should pair it with course notes, textbooks, instructor guidance, and current academic
standards for the strongest preparation. Each item supports careful review, confident practice, and.
Question 1: Which task may the RN delegate only after confirming the task is routine, the
client is stable, and the delegatee has the right training and supervision?
A. The assignment of nursing judgment about whether a client needs hospitalization
B. The transfer of accountability for the outcome of an invasive procedure
C. The delegation of assessment findings interpretation to unlicensed assistive personnel
D. The assignment of a routine task with predictable outcomes to an appropriate delegatee
Answer: D
Rationale: Safe delegation applies to routine, predictable tasks that do not require nursing judgment.
The RN keeps accountability for assessment and evaluation, so options involving interpretation or
transfer of accountability are incorrect.
Question 2: A nurse is deciding whether to delegate a task. Which factor is most important
first?
A. Whether the task is tedious
B. Whether the client is pleasant
C. Whether the nurse is busy
D. Whether the task is within the delegatee's scope and training
Answer: D
Rationale: Delegation starts with matching the task to the worker's scope, competence, and training.
Question 3: Which task can the RN most appropriately assign to an LPN/LVN?
A. Initial assessment of a newly admitted client
B. Client teaching about discharge medications
C. Developing the plan of care
D. Monitoring a stable client receiving a blood transfusion
Answer: D
Rationale: LPN/LVN staff can monitor stable clients and report changes; initial assessment and
teaching remain RN responsibilities.
Page 1 of 41
,Delegation and clinical prioritization
Question 4: The nurse has four clients. Which client should be seen first?
A. Client with a temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) after surgery
B. Client requesting pain medication in 30 minutes
C. Client asking for the television remote
D. Client reporting new shortness of breath
Answer: D
Rationale: New shortness of breath may indicate airway or breathing compromise and is the priority.
Question 5: Which action should the nurse avoid delegating?
A. Measuring oral intake on a stable client
B. Repositioning a client every 2 hours
C. Assisting with ambulation
D. Assessing a new onset of chest pain
Answer: D
Rationale: Assessment of a new symptom requires nursing judgment and cannot be delegated.
Question 6: A postoperative client is stable and needs hygiene care. Which task is best
delegated to the UAP?
A. Providing a bed bath
B. Changing the surgical dressing
C. Evaluating incision drainage
D. Teaching coughing and deep breathing
Answer: A
Rationale: Basic hygiene care for a stable client is appropriate for UAP delegation.
Question 7: The RN asks the UAP to insert a urinary catheter. What is the best response?
A. Accept the task and complete it later
B. Delegate it because it is routine
C. Ask another UAP to do it
D. Refuse and explain that it is not within the UAP role
Answer: D
Rationale: Catheter insertion requires licensed nursing skill and is not appropriate for UAP
delegation.
Question 8: A stable client with chronic heart failure is on the unit. Which task is most
appropriate for the RN to delegate to the UAP?
Page 2 of 41
, Delegation and clinical prioritization
A. Teach the client how to limit sodium at home
B. Evaluate the client's response to a new diuretic
C. Assess the client's apical pulse before digoxin administration
D. Obtain the client's morning weight on the same scale
Answer: D
Rationale: Obtaining a daily weight is a routine, observable task with a predictable outcome and is
appropriate for a UAP. Teaching, assessment, and evaluation require nursing judgment and cannot be
delegated to unlicensed personnel.
Question 9: Which assignment is best for the UAP?
A. Feeding a client who has no swallowing precautions
B. Updating the plan of care
C. Assessing a client with a new complaint of dizziness
D. Interpreting ECG changes
Answer: A
Rationale: Feeding a stable client without swallowing risk is a routine task suitable for UAP.
Question 10: The nurse must respond to one call light first. Which client is the priority?
A. Client asking for help to the bathroom
B. Client asking for ice chips
C. Client requesting extra pillows
D. Client reporting sudden severe headache and blurred vision
Answer: D
Rationale: Sudden neurologic changes may signal a serious acute problem such as stroke or
hypertensive crisis.
Question 11: During the shift, the charge nurse receives these requests. Which should the
RN handle personally rather than delegate?
A. Assess new crackles and shortness of breath in a client receiving IV fluids
B. Collect a clean-catch urine specimen from a client with dysuria
C. Reinforce use of the incentive spirometer with a postoperative client
D. Measure intake and output for a client on a fluid restriction
Answer: A
Rationale: New crackles and dyspnea suggest an acute change that requires RN assessment and
clinical judgment. The other tasks are routine data collection or reinforcement and can be delegated
when the client's condition is stable.
Page 3 of 41
