West Coast University NURS 100 Comprehensive
Nursing Practice Test 2026–2027 | Vital Signs,
Medication Safety, Documentation & Prioritization
1. A nurse is preparing to assess a patient's vital signs. Which action
should the nurse take first?
A) Measure the blood pressure in both arms
B) Perform hand hygiene and gather the correct equipment
C) Ask the patient to walk to the exam room
D) Administer prescribed medications
Answer: B
Rationale: Hand hygiene and proper equipment collection precede vital
sign measurement to ensure infection control and accuracy.
2. Which route of temperature measurement is considered most
reliable for core body temperature in an adult?
A) Oral
B) Axillary
C) Rectal
D) Tympanic
Answer: C
,Rationale: Rectal temperature most closely reflects core body
temperature, though it is not used in all patients due to contraindications
such as diarrhea or neutropenia.
3. A nurse obtains an oral temperature of 38.4°C (101.1°F) on an
adult. How should this be interpreted?
A) Hypothermia
B) Normal
C) Fever
D) Hyperpyrexia
Answer: C
Rationale: An oral temperature above 37.5°C (99.5°F) indicates fever.
Hyperpyrexia refers to a temperature above 41°C (105.8°F).
4. A nurse is assessing a radial pulse. Which finding should be
documented as a normal adult rate?
A) 42 beats/min
B) 58 beats/min
C) 96 beats/min
D) 120 beats/min
Answer: C
2
,Rationale: The normal adult resting heart rate is 60–100 beats/min. Rates
below 60 indicate bradycardia; above 100 indicate tachycardia.
5. A nurse notes an irregular radial pulse. Which action is most
appropriate?
A) Document the rate only
B) Auscultate the apical pulse for a full minute
C) Recheck the radial pulse in 1 hour
D) Ask the patient to exercise
Answer: B
Rationale: When a radial pulse is irregular, the apical pulse should be
auscultated for a full minute to accurately assess rate and rhythm.
6. Which finding indicates an abnormal respiratory rate in an adult?
A) 14 breaths/min
B) 18 breaths/min
C) 26 breaths/min
D) 20 breaths/min
Answer: C
Rationale: The normal adult respiratory rate is 12–20 breaths/min. A rate
above 20 indicates tachypnea and may signal respiratory distress or other
conditions.
3
, 7. A nurse is measuring blood pressure and obtains 148/94 mm Hg.
How should this be classified?
A) Normal
B) Elevated
C) Stage 1 hypertension
D) Hypotension
Answer: C
Rationale: A systolic pressure of 130–139 or diastolic of 80–89 is stage 1
hypertension; 140/90 or higher is stage 2. This reading meets stage 2
criteria but is best classified as hypertension requiring follow-up.
8. Which factor can falsely elevate a blood pressure reading?
A) Cuff that is too large
B) Arm supported at heart level
C) Cuff that is too small
D) Patient resting for 5 minutes
Answer: C
Rationale: A cuff that is too small can falsely elevate blood pressure
readings. A cuff that is too large may falsely lower readings.
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Nursing Practice Test 2026–2027 | Vital Signs,
Medication Safety, Documentation & Prioritization
1. A nurse is preparing to assess a patient's vital signs. Which action
should the nurse take first?
A) Measure the blood pressure in both arms
B) Perform hand hygiene and gather the correct equipment
C) Ask the patient to walk to the exam room
D) Administer prescribed medications
Answer: B
Rationale: Hand hygiene and proper equipment collection precede vital
sign measurement to ensure infection control and accuracy.
2. Which route of temperature measurement is considered most
reliable for core body temperature in an adult?
A) Oral
B) Axillary
C) Rectal
D) Tympanic
Answer: C
,Rationale: Rectal temperature most closely reflects core body
temperature, though it is not used in all patients due to contraindications
such as diarrhea or neutropenia.
3. A nurse obtains an oral temperature of 38.4°C (101.1°F) on an
adult. How should this be interpreted?
A) Hypothermia
B) Normal
C) Fever
D) Hyperpyrexia
Answer: C
Rationale: An oral temperature above 37.5°C (99.5°F) indicates fever.
Hyperpyrexia refers to a temperature above 41°C (105.8°F).
4. A nurse is assessing a radial pulse. Which finding should be
documented as a normal adult rate?
A) 42 beats/min
B) 58 beats/min
C) 96 beats/min
D) 120 beats/min
Answer: C
2
,Rationale: The normal adult resting heart rate is 60–100 beats/min. Rates
below 60 indicate bradycardia; above 100 indicate tachycardia.
5. A nurse notes an irregular radial pulse. Which action is most
appropriate?
A) Document the rate only
B) Auscultate the apical pulse for a full minute
C) Recheck the radial pulse in 1 hour
D) Ask the patient to exercise
Answer: B
Rationale: When a radial pulse is irregular, the apical pulse should be
auscultated for a full minute to accurately assess rate and rhythm.
6. Which finding indicates an abnormal respiratory rate in an adult?
A) 14 breaths/min
B) 18 breaths/min
C) 26 breaths/min
D) 20 breaths/min
Answer: C
Rationale: The normal adult respiratory rate is 12–20 breaths/min. A rate
above 20 indicates tachypnea and may signal respiratory distress or other
conditions.
3
, 7. A nurse is measuring blood pressure and obtains 148/94 mm Hg.
How should this be classified?
A) Normal
B) Elevated
C) Stage 1 hypertension
D) Hypotension
Answer: C
Rationale: A systolic pressure of 130–139 or diastolic of 80–89 is stage 1
hypertension; 140/90 or higher is stage 2. This reading meets stage 2
criteria but is best classified as hypertension requiring follow-up.
8. Which factor can falsely elevate a blood pressure reading?
A) Cuff that is too large
B) Arm supported at heart level
C) Cuff that is too small
D) Patient resting for 5 minutes
Answer: C
Rationale: A cuff that is too small can falsely elevate blood pressure
readings. A cuff that is too large may falsely lower readings.
4
