NACE Practice Examination
2026/2027
Section 1: Foundations of Nursing (Questions 1–60)
1. Which document outlines the scope and standards of nursing practice?
A. Nurse Practice Act
B. ANA Scope and Standards of Practice
C. HIPAA
D. OSHA regulations
Answer: B. ANA Scope and Standards of Practice
Rationale: The ANA Scope and Standards describe professional nursing practice
expectations.
2. Which is the nurse’s first responsibility when an error occurs?
A. Hide the error
B. Assess the patient and report per policy
C. Blame another staff member
D. Document in the incident report only
Answer: B. Assess the patient and report per policy
Rationale: Patient safety and assessment come first; errors are reported through
proper channels.
3. Which finding is subjective data?
A. Heart rate 88
B. “I have a headache.”
C. Rash on arm
D. Temperature 38.0°C
Answer: B. “I have a headache.”
Rationale: Subjective data are reported by the patient and not directly measurable.
4. Which nursing action requires a provider order?
A. Repositioning a patient
B. Administering a prescribed antibiotic
C. Teaching deep breathing
,D. Applying a gait belt
Answer: B. Administering a prescribed antibiotic
Rationale: Medication administration requires a legal prescription/order.
5. Which patient should the nurse assess first?
A. Patient requesting water
B. Patient with new-onset chest pain
C. Patient asking for a blanket
D. Patient waiting for discharge papers
Answer: B. Patient with new-onset chest pain
Rationale: Chest pain may indicate myocardial infarction; ABCs and urgent
assessment take priority.
6. What is the normal adult resting heart rate range?
A. 40–60 bpm
B. 60–100 bpm
C. 100–140 bpm
D. 140–180 bpm
Answer: B. 60–100 bpm
Rationale: Normal adult resting heart rate is 60–100 beats per minute.
7. Which blood pressure reading indicates stage 2 hypertension in an adult?
A. 118/76 mmHg
B. 128/82 mmHg
C. 138/88 mmHg
D. 160/100 mmHg
Answer: D. 160/100 mmHg
Rationale: Stage 2 hypertension is ≥140/90 mmHg; 160/100 is clearly stage 2.
8. Which action is correct when measuring an adult’s blood pressure?
A. Place cuff over clothing
B. Support arm at heart level
C. Use a cuff that is too small
D. Take reading immediately after exercise
Answer: B. Support arm at heart level
Rationale: Arm position at heart level ensures accurate measurement.
9. Which isolation precaution is used for tuberculosis?
A. Contact
B. Droplet
,C. Airborne
D. Standard only
Answer: C. Airborne
Rationale: TB requires airborne precautions with N95 respirator and negative-
pressure room.
10. Whatxisxthexcorrectxhandxhygienexactionxbeforexgloving?
A.xApplyxglovesxoverxsoiledxhands
B.xPerformxhandxhygiene
C.xUsexalcoholxonlyxafterxgloving
D.xRinsexwithxwaterxonly
Answer:xB.xPerformxhandxhygiene
Rationale:xHandxhygienexbeforexglovingxreducesxcontamination.
11.xWhichxactionxpreventsxneedlestickxinjury?
A.xRecappingxneedles
B.xUsingxsafety-engineeredxdevicesxandximmediatexdisposal
C.xBendingxneedles
D.xCarryingxneedlesxacrossxthexroom
Answer:xB.xUsingxsafety-engineeredxdevicesxandximmediatexdisposal
Rationale:xSafetyxdevicesxandximmediatexsharpsxdisposalxreducexinjuryxrisk.
12.xWhichxisxaxcorrectxpatientxidentifier?
A.xRoomxnumber
B.xBedxnumber
C.xMedicalxrecordxnumber
D.xDiagnosis
Answer:xC.xMedicalxrecordxnumber
Rationale:xPatient-
specificxidentifiersxincludexname,xDOB,xorxmedicalxrecordxnumber.
13.xWhichxroutexisxusedxforxaxtuberculinxskinxtest?
A.xIntramuscular
B.xIntradermal
C.xSubcutaneous
D.xIntravenous
Answer:xB.xIntradermal
Rationale:xTBxskinxtestingxisxintradermalxonxthexforearm.
, 14.xWhichxanglexisxusedxforxanxintramuscularxinjectionxinxanxadult?
A.x15xdegrees
B.x45xdegrees
C.x90xdegrees
D.x180xdegrees
Answer:xC.x90xdegrees
Rationale:xIMxinjectionsxusexax90-degreexanglexintoxmuscle.
15.xWhichxfindingxsuggestsxaxwoundxisxhealingxnormally?
A.xIncreasingxrednessxandxwarmth
B.xPurulentxdrainage
C.xGranulationxtissue
D.xFoulxodor
Answer:xC.xGranulationxtissue
Rationale:xGranulationxtissuexindicatesxhealthyxhealing.
16.xWhichxstagexpressurexinjuryxinvolvesxintactxskinxwithxnon-
blanchablexredness?
A.xStagex1
B.xStagex2
C.xStagex3
D.xStagex4
Answer:xA.xStagex1
Rationale:xStagex1xisxintactxskinxwithxnon-blanchablexerythema.
17.xWhichxinterventionxreducesxaspirationxriskxduringxoralxcarexforxanxuncon
sciousxpatient?
A.xUsexlargexamountsxofxwater
B.xTurnxheadxtoxsidexandxsuctionxasxneeded
C.xPlacexflatxsupine
D.xUsexaxfirmxtoothbrushxonly
Answer:xB.xTurnxheadxtoxsidexandxsuctionxasxneeded
Rationale:xSide-lyingxandxsuctioningxpreventxaspiration.
18.xWhichxactionxisxcorrectxwhenxemptyingxaxurinaryxdrainagexbag?
A.xTouchxthexdrainagexspoutxtoxthexfloor
B.xCleanxthexspoutxbeforexandxafterxemptying
C.xRaisexbagxabovexbladder
D.xEmptyxonlyxoncexweekly
2026/2027
Section 1: Foundations of Nursing (Questions 1–60)
1. Which document outlines the scope and standards of nursing practice?
A. Nurse Practice Act
B. ANA Scope and Standards of Practice
C. HIPAA
D. OSHA regulations
Answer: B. ANA Scope and Standards of Practice
Rationale: The ANA Scope and Standards describe professional nursing practice
expectations.
2. Which is the nurse’s first responsibility when an error occurs?
A. Hide the error
B. Assess the patient and report per policy
C. Blame another staff member
D. Document in the incident report only
Answer: B. Assess the patient and report per policy
Rationale: Patient safety and assessment come first; errors are reported through
proper channels.
3. Which finding is subjective data?
A. Heart rate 88
B. “I have a headache.”
C. Rash on arm
D. Temperature 38.0°C
Answer: B. “I have a headache.”
Rationale: Subjective data are reported by the patient and not directly measurable.
4. Which nursing action requires a provider order?
A. Repositioning a patient
B. Administering a prescribed antibiotic
C. Teaching deep breathing
,D. Applying a gait belt
Answer: B. Administering a prescribed antibiotic
Rationale: Medication administration requires a legal prescription/order.
5. Which patient should the nurse assess first?
A. Patient requesting water
B. Patient with new-onset chest pain
C. Patient asking for a blanket
D. Patient waiting for discharge papers
Answer: B. Patient with new-onset chest pain
Rationale: Chest pain may indicate myocardial infarction; ABCs and urgent
assessment take priority.
6. What is the normal adult resting heart rate range?
A. 40–60 bpm
B. 60–100 bpm
C. 100–140 bpm
D. 140–180 bpm
Answer: B. 60–100 bpm
Rationale: Normal adult resting heart rate is 60–100 beats per minute.
7. Which blood pressure reading indicates stage 2 hypertension in an adult?
A. 118/76 mmHg
B. 128/82 mmHg
C. 138/88 mmHg
D. 160/100 mmHg
Answer: D. 160/100 mmHg
Rationale: Stage 2 hypertension is ≥140/90 mmHg; 160/100 is clearly stage 2.
8. Which action is correct when measuring an adult’s blood pressure?
A. Place cuff over clothing
B. Support arm at heart level
C. Use a cuff that is too small
D. Take reading immediately after exercise
Answer: B. Support arm at heart level
Rationale: Arm position at heart level ensures accurate measurement.
9. Which isolation precaution is used for tuberculosis?
A. Contact
B. Droplet
,C. Airborne
D. Standard only
Answer: C. Airborne
Rationale: TB requires airborne precautions with N95 respirator and negative-
pressure room.
10. Whatxisxthexcorrectxhandxhygienexactionxbeforexgloving?
A.xApplyxglovesxoverxsoiledxhands
B.xPerformxhandxhygiene
C.xUsexalcoholxonlyxafterxgloving
D.xRinsexwithxwaterxonly
Answer:xB.xPerformxhandxhygiene
Rationale:xHandxhygienexbeforexglovingxreducesxcontamination.
11.xWhichxactionxpreventsxneedlestickxinjury?
A.xRecappingxneedles
B.xUsingxsafety-engineeredxdevicesxandximmediatexdisposal
C.xBendingxneedles
D.xCarryingxneedlesxacrossxthexroom
Answer:xB.xUsingxsafety-engineeredxdevicesxandximmediatexdisposal
Rationale:xSafetyxdevicesxandximmediatexsharpsxdisposalxreducexinjuryxrisk.
12.xWhichxisxaxcorrectxpatientxidentifier?
A.xRoomxnumber
B.xBedxnumber
C.xMedicalxrecordxnumber
D.xDiagnosis
Answer:xC.xMedicalxrecordxnumber
Rationale:xPatient-
specificxidentifiersxincludexname,xDOB,xorxmedicalxrecordxnumber.
13.xWhichxroutexisxusedxforxaxtuberculinxskinxtest?
A.xIntramuscular
B.xIntradermal
C.xSubcutaneous
D.xIntravenous
Answer:xB.xIntradermal
Rationale:xTBxskinxtestingxisxintradermalxonxthexforearm.
, 14.xWhichxanglexisxusedxforxanxintramuscularxinjectionxinxanxadult?
A.x15xdegrees
B.x45xdegrees
C.x90xdegrees
D.x180xdegrees
Answer:xC.x90xdegrees
Rationale:xIMxinjectionsxusexax90-degreexanglexintoxmuscle.
15.xWhichxfindingxsuggestsxaxwoundxisxhealingxnormally?
A.xIncreasingxrednessxandxwarmth
B.xPurulentxdrainage
C.xGranulationxtissue
D.xFoulxodor
Answer:xC.xGranulationxtissue
Rationale:xGranulationxtissuexindicatesxhealthyxhealing.
16.xWhichxstagexpressurexinjuryxinvolvesxintactxskinxwithxnon-
blanchablexredness?
A.xStagex1
B.xStagex2
C.xStagex3
D.xStagex4
Answer:xA.xStagex1
Rationale:xStagex1xisxintactxskinxwithxnon-blanchablexerythema.
17.xWhichxinterventionxreducesxaspirationxriskxduringxoralxcarexforxanxuncon
sciousxpatient?
A.xUsexlargexamountsxofxwater
B.xTurnxheadxtoxsidexandxsuctionxasxneeded
C.xPlacexflatxsupine
D.xUsexaxfirmxtoothbrushxonly
Answer:xB.xTurnxheadxtoxsidexandxsuctionxasxneeded
Rationale:xSide-lyingxandxsuctioningxpreventxaspiration.
18.xWhichxactionxisxcorrectxwhenxemptyingxaxurinaryxdrainagexbag?
A.xTouchxthexdrainagexspoutxtoxthexfloor
B.xCleanxthexspoutxbeforexandxafterxemptying
C.xRaisexbagxabovexbladder
D.xEmptyxonlyxoncexweekly
