CPNRE Exam
Canadian Practical Nurse Registration Examination
Questions with Answers | Latest Update| Pass Guaranteed
Q1. Which of the following best describes the first step of the nursing process?
A. Planning
B. Assessment
C. Implementation
D. Evaluation
Answer: B — Assessment
Rationale: Assessment is the first step of the nursing process, involving the
systematic collection of subjective and objective data about the client before
any plan of care can be developed.
Q2. A practical nurse is collecting data on a newly admitted client. Which finding
is an example of subjective data?
A. Blood pressure of 130/85 mmHg
B. Client states, 'I have a throbbing headache'
C. Heart rate of 88 beats per minute
D. Skin appears flushed
Answer: B — Client states, 'I have a throbbing headache'
Rationale: Subjective data is information reported by the client based on their
own perception, such as a description of pain; objective data are measurable or
observable findings collected by the nurse.
,Q3. What is the purpose of a nursing diagnosis within the nursing process?
A. To identify the medical condition causing the client's symptoms
B. To describe the client's actual or potential health problems that nurses can
treat
C. To prescribe medications for the client
D. To determine the client's prognosis
Answer: B — To describe the client's actual or potential health problems that
nurses can treat
Rationale: A nursing diagnosis identifies actual or potential responses to health
conditions that fall within the scope of nursing practice, distinct from a medical
diagnosis, which identifies disease.
Q4. Which action best reflects the 'evaluation' step of the nursing process?
A. Collecting baseline vital signs on admission
B. Determining whether expected outcomes of care have been achieved
C. Writing individualized goals for the client
D. Administering a scheduled medication
Answer: B — Determining whether expected outcomes of care have been
achieved
Rationale: Evaluation involves comparing the client's actual outcomes to the
expected outcomes identified during planning, to determine whether the plan
of care was effective or needs revision.
,Q5. According to most Canadian provincial regulatory bodies, what is the
primary purpose of a scope of practice for a practical nurse?
A. To limit the number of clients a nurse may care for
B. To define the activities a practical nurse is legally authorized and competent
to perform
C. To determine a nurse's salary
D. To outline vacation and sick leave entitlements
Answer: B — To define the activities a practical nurse is legally authorized
and competent to perform
Rationale: Scope of practice defines the boundaries of legally permitted
nursing activities based on education, competency, and legislation, ensuring
safe and accountable client care.
Q6. What ethical principle is upheld when a nurse respects a competent client's
right to refuse treatment?
A. Beneficence
B. Autonomy
C. Non-maleficence
D. Justice
Answer: B — Autonomy
Rationale: Autonomy refers to a client's right to make informed decisions
about their own care, including the right to refuse treatment, provided they
have the capacity to do so.
Q7. Which ethical principle refers to the obligation to do no harm to a client?
A. Fidelity
B. Veracity
C. Non-maleficence
D. Justice
Answer: C — Non-maleficence
Rationale: Non-maleficence is the ethical duty to avoid causing harm to clients
through actions or omissions, forming a foundational principle of nursing
practice.
, Q8. What does the ethical principle of 'fidelity' require of a nurse?
A. Telling the truth at all times
B. Being faithful to commitments and keeping promises made to clients
C. Distributing resources fairly
D. Acting to benefit the client
Answer: B — Being faithful to commitments and keeping promises made to
clients
Rationale: Fidelity involves being loyal and faithful to professional
commitments and obligations, such as following through on promises made to
clients and colleagues.
Q9. A nurse discovers that a colleague has made a significant medication error
but did not report it. What is the nurse's most appropriate first action?
A. Ignore the situation since it does not involve their own client
B. Encourage the colleague to report the error and follow the facility's incident
reporting policy
C. Report the colleague to the media
D. Discuss the error with other unrelated staff members
Answer: B — Encourage the colleague to report the error and follow the
facility's incident reporting policy
Rationale: Nurses have a professional and ethical obligation to promote client
safety and honest error reporting; encouraging the colleague to follow proper
incident-reporting procedures upholds accountability and transparency.
Canadian Practical Nurse Registration Examination
Questions with Answers | Latest Update| Pass Guaranteed
Q1. Which of the following best describes the first step of the nursing process?
A. Planning
B. Assessment
C. Implementation
D. Evaluation
Answer: B — Assessment
Rationale: Assessment is the first step of the nursing process, involving the
systematic collection of subjective and objective data about the client before
any plan of care can be developed.
Q2. A practical nurse is collecting data on a newly admitted client. Which finding
is an example of subjective data?
A. Blood pressure of 130/85 mmHg
B. Client states, 'I have a throbbing headache'
C. Heart rate of 88 beats per minute
D. Skin appears flushed
Answer: B — Client states, 'I have a throbbing headache'
Rationale: Subjective data is information reported by the client based on their
own perception, such as a description of pain; objective data are measurable or
observable findings collected by the nurse.
,Q3. What is the purpose of a nursing diagnosis within the nursing process?
A. To identify the medical condition causing the client's symptoms
B. To describe the client's actual or potential health problems that nurses can
treat
C. To prescribe medications for the client
D. To determine the client's prognosis
Answer: B — To describe the client's actual or potential health problems that
nurses can treat
Rationale: A nursing diagnosis identifies actual or potential responses to health
conditions that fall within the scope of nursing practice, distinct from a medical
diagnosis, which identifies disease.
Q4. Which action best reflects the 'evaluation' step of the nursing process?
A. Collecting baseline vital signs on admission
B. Determining whether expected outcomes of care have been achieved
C. Writing individualized goals for the client
D. Administering a scheduled medication
Answer: B — Determining whether expected outcomes of care have been
achieved
Rationale: Evaluation involves comparing the client's actual outcomes to the
expected outcomes identified during planning, to determine whether the plan
of care was effective or needs revision.
,Q5. According to most Canadian provincial regulatory bodies, what is the
primary purpose of a scope of practice for a practical nurse?
A. To limit the number of clients a nurse may care for
B. To define the activities a practical nurse is legally authorized and competent
to perform
C. To determine a nurse's salary
D. To outline vacation and sick leave entitlements
Answer: B — To define the activities a practical nurse is legally authorized
and competent to perform
Rationale: Scope of practice defines the boundaries of legally permitted
nursing activities based on education, competency, and legislation, ensuring
safe and accountable client care.
Q6. What ethical principle is upheld when a nurse respects a competent client's
right to refuse treatment?
A. Beneficence
B. Autonomy
C. Non-maleficence
D. Justice
Answer: B — Autonomy
Rationale: Autonomy refers to a client's right to make informed decisions
about their own care, including the right to refuse treatment, provided they
have the capacity to do so.
Q7. Which ethical principle refers to the obligation to do no harm to a client?
A. Fidelity
B. Veracity
C. Non-maleficence
D. Justice
Answer: C — Non-maleficence
Rationale: Non-maleficence is the ethical duty to avoid causing harm to clients
through actions or omissions, forming a foundational principle of nursing
practice.
, Q8. What does the ethical principle of 'fidelity' require of a nurse?
A. Telling the truth at all times
B. Being faithful to commitments and keeping promises made to clients
C. Distributing resources fairly
D. Acting to benefit the client
Answer: B — Being faithful to commitments and keeping promises made to
clients
Rationale: Fidelity involves being loyal and faithful to professional
commitments and obligations, such as following through on promises made to
clients and colleagues.
Q9. A nurse discovers that a colleague has made a significant medication error
but did not report it. What is the nurse's most appropriate first action?
A. Ignore the situation since it does not involve their own client
B. Encourage the colleague to report the error and follow the facility's incident
reporting policy
C. Report the colleague to the media
D. Discuss the error with other unrelated staff members
Answer: B — Encourage the colleague to report the error and follow the
facility's incident reporting policy
Rationale: Nurses have a professional and ethical obligation to promote client
safety and honest error reporting; encouraging the colleague to follow proper
incident-reporting procedures upholds accountability and transparency.
