NCLEX NCSBN sample questions
The charge nurse has received a change-of-shift report on the following clients in labor. The charge
nurse should ask a staff member to first see the client in the 1. first stage of labor who has an oral
temperature of 99.7° F (37.6° C) 2. first stage of labor whose contractions are occurring every 30
seconds 3. second stage of labor who has respirations of 26 4. second stage of labor whose contractions
are lasting for 60 seconds
The nurse is observing a staff member caring for a client who has chickenpox. Which of the following
actions by the staff member would require the nurse to intervene? 1. placing the client in a private room
with monitored negative air pressure 2. placing a box of disposable face shields outside the client's room
3. placing an alcohol-based hand rub in the client's room for hand hygiene 4. placing a surgical mask on
the client during transport out of the client's room
The nurse is caring for a client who reports feeling faint and is experiencing the cardiac rhythm shown in
the electrocardiogram (ECG) strip below. 1. Administer the client's prescribed beta blocker. 2. Prepare
for transcutaneous pacing. 3. Instruct the client to perform the Valsalva maneuver. 4. Begin chest
compressions. 5. Assess the client for angina.
The nurse is planning care for a client with moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD). Which of the following
interventions should the nurse include in the client's plan of care? 1. Encourage the client to reminisce
about happy memories. 2. Confront the client when inappropriate or agitated behaviors occur. 3.
Administer to the client the cholinesterase inhibitor to reverse the course of AD. 4. Provide the client
with information about activity choices in the morning so the client can make plans for the day.
The nurse is teaching a client how to ambulate using crutches. Which of the following information
should the nurse include? 1. "Use your hands and arms to support your body weight." 2. "Wear slippers
when ambulating with the crutches in your home." 3. "Maintain the crutches 12 in (30 cm) in front of
your feet while standing." 4. "Adjust the hand grips of the crutches so that your elbows are fully
extended."
The nurse has taught a client with multiple sclerosis (MS). Which of the following statements by the
client would indicate a correct understanding of the teaching? 1. "I will complete all of my household
chores in the morning when I am well rested." 2. "I have learned how to massage my bladder to help
,empty my bladder completely." 3. "I will take a hot bath in the evening to help me relax if I have had a
stressful day at work." 4. "I should expect the blurred vision to resolve after I have received medications
for several weeks."
The nurse in the emergency department (ED) is caring for a 41-year-old male client. Click to highlight the
findings below that would require follow-up. Nurses' Notes Emergency Department 1100: Client reports
nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting, fever, and constipation for the past 2 weeks and abdominal pain
rated 7/10 on the Numerical Rating Scale for 1 week. Client states, "The abdominal pain started after my
7-year-old child accidentally kicked me in the stomach." Client plays soccer with the child once a week.
Vital signs: T 103.4° F (39.7° C), P 92, RR 22, BP 130/86, pulse oximetry reading 98% on room air. No
significant past medical or surgical history. Body mass index (BMI) of 32. Drinks alcohol only during social
occasions, usually 3 beverages. Smokes cigarettes during social occasions.
The nurse in the emergency department (ED) is caring for a 41-year-old male client. Nurses' Notes
Emergency Department 1100: Client reports nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting, fever, and constipation
for the past 2 weeks and abdominal pain rated 7/10 on the Numerical Rating Scale for 1 week. Client
states, "The abdominal pain started after my 7-year-old child accidentally kicked me in the stomach."
Client plays soccer with the child once a week. Vital signs: T 103.4° F (39.7° C), P 92, RR 22, BP 130/86,
pulse oximetry reading 98% on room air. No significant past medical or surgical history. Body mass index
(BMI) of 32. Drinks alcohol only during social occasions, usually 3 beverages. Smokes cigarettes during
social occasions. For each assessment finding below, click to specify if the finding is consistent with the
disease process of bowel obstruction, appendicitis, or ruptured spleen. Each finding may support more
th
The nurse has attended a staff education program about caring for clients who are receiving positive
pressure mechanical ventilation. Which of the following statements by the nurse would indicate a
correct understanding of the teaching? 1. "Clients should avoid range-of-motion (ROM) exercises until
weaned from ventilation." 2. "Clients may develop stress ulcers and gastrointestinal bleeding." 3.
"Clients will be chemically paralyzed to improve oxygenation." 4. "Clients will experience diuresis and
polyuria."
The charge nurse must transfer a female client from the medical-surgical unit to the maternity unit to
make a bed available. It would be most appropriate for the nurse to transfer the client who is 1. 28 years
old, had a right mastectomy and has a closed-wound drainage system 2. 49 years old, has diabetes
mellitus (type 2) and has begun receiving insulin 3. 56 years old, has hepatitis C (HCV) and has been
, afebrile for 24 hours 4. 70 years old, has a fractured left tibia and had an external fixation device applied
48 hours ago
The nurse has been made aware of the following client situations. The nurse should first assess the
client with 1. heart failure who has a productive cough and is anxious 2. regional enteritis (Crohn's
disease) who is reporting cramping abdominal pain and diarrhea 3. idiopathic thrombocytopenic
purpura (ITP) who has petechiae on the trunk and is reporting heavy menses 4. chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease (COPD) who has dyspnea with exertion and is using accessory muscles to breathe
The nurse and unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) are caring for assigned clients. Which of the
following tasks would be appropriate for the nurse to assign to UAP? 1. assisting a client with atrial
fibrillation to shower 2. checking the ability of a client to swallow water after a transesophageal
echocardiogram (TEE) 3. observing while a client with dysphagia begins a thickened liquid diet 4.
transporting a client with respiratory distress to the radiology department for a chest radiograph
The nurse has taken a nutritional history from parents of clients. It would be a priority for the nurse to
follow up with the 1. 5-month-old client whose only source of nutrition is 5 formula feedings daily 2. 7-
month-old client who eats several crackers as finger food 3. 9-month-old client whose typical daily diet
includes 10 bottles of 2% milk, 1 cup of apple juice, and 3 servings of infant cereal 4. 1-year-old client
whose typical food intake includes 4 breast-feedings and 3 servings of cooked vegetables, pears, or
sliced cheese
The nurse is planning a staff education program about client privacy. Which of the following scenarios
should the nurse include as an example of a violation of client privacy? 1. discussing with an unlicensed
assistive personnel (UAP) that the UAP's assigned client will require a smaller condom catheter 2.
sharing the client's blood alcohol level (BAL) test result with the police officer who brought the client to
the emergency department (ED) 3. responding to the call light of the client who is assigned to another
nurse and needs assistance in the bathroom 4. allowing a nursing student who has been assigned to the
client to review the client's medical record
The nurse has become aware of the following client situations. The nurse should first assess the client 1.
who had a right pneumonectomy 24 hours ago and is in the high-Fowler's position while lying on the
right side 2. with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who is using pursed-lip breathing and
reporting hemoptysis 3. who had a wedge resection of the left lung 24 hours ago and is sitting in the
high-Fowler's position 4. with heart failure who has a productive cough and is restless
The charge nurse has received a change-of-shift report on the following clients in labor. The charge
nurse should ask a staff member to first see the client in the 1. first stage of labor who has an oral
temperature of 99.7° F (37.6° C) 2. first stage of labor whose contractions are occurring every 30
seconds 3. second stage of labor who has respirations of 26 4. second stage of labor whose contractions
are lasting for 60 seconds
The nurse is observing a staff member caring for a client who has chickenpox. Which of the following
actions by the staff member would require the nurse to intervene? 1. placing the client in a private room
with monitored negative air pressure 2. placing a box of disposable face shields outside the client's room
3. placing an alcohol-based hand rub in the client's room for hand hygiene 4. placing a surgical mask on
the client during transport out of the client's room
The nurse is caring for a client who reports feeling faint and is experiencing the cardiac rhythm shown in
the electrocardiogram (ECG) strip below. 1. Administer the client's prescribed beta blocker. 2. Prepare
for transcutaneous pacing. 3. Instruct the client to perform the Valsalva maneuver. 4. Begin chest
compressions. 5. Assess the client for angina.
The nurse is planning care for a client with moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD). Which of the following
interventions should the nurse include in the client's plan of care? 1. Encourage the client to reminisce
about happy memories. 2. Confront the client when inappropriate or agitated behaviors occur. 3.
Administer to the client the cholinesterase inhibitor to reverse the course of AD. 4. Provide the client
with information about activity choices in the morning so the client can make plans for the day.
The nurse is teaching a client how to ambulate using crutches. Which of the following information
should the nurse include? 1. "Use your hands and arms to support your body weight." 2. "Wear slippers
when ambulating with the crutches in your home." 3. "Maintain the crutches 12 in (30 cm) in front of
your feet while standing." 4. "Adjust the hand grips of the crutches so that your elbows are fully
extended."
The nurse has taught a client with multiple sclerosis (MS). Which of the following statements by the
client would indicate a correct understanding of the teaching? 1. "I will complete all of my household
chores in the morning when I am well rested." 2. "I have learned how to massage my bladder to help
,empty my bladder completely." 3. "I will take a hot bath in the evening to help me relax if I have had a
stressful day at work." 4. "I should expect the blurred vision to resolve after I have received medications
for several weeks."
The nurse in the emergency department (ED) is caring for a 41-year-old male client. Click to highlight the
findings below that would require follow-up. Nurses' Notes Emergency Department 1100: Client reports
nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting, fever, and constipation for the past 2 weeks and abdominal pain
rated 7/10 on the Numerical Rating Scale for 1 week. Client states, "The abdominal pain started after my
7-year-old child accidentally kicked me in the stomach." Client plays soccer with the child once a week.
Vital signs: T 103.4° F (39.7° C), P 92, RR 22, BP 130/86, pulse oximetry reading 98% on room air. No
significant past medical or surgical history. Body mass index (BMI) of 32. Drinks alcohol only during social
occasions, usually 3 beverages. Smokes cigarettes during social occasions.
The nurse in the emergency department (ED) is caring for a 41-year-old male client. Nurses' Notes
Emergency Department 1100: Client reports nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting, fever, and constipation
for the past 2 weeks and abdominal pain rated 7/10 on the Numerical Rating Scale for 1 week. Client
states, "The abdominal pain started after my 7-year-old child accidentally kicked me in the stomach."
Client plays soccer with the child once a week. Vital signs: T 103.4° F (39.7° C), P 92, RR 22, BP 130/86,
pulse oximetry reading 98% on room air. No significant past medical or surgical history. Body mass index
(BMI) of 32. Drinks alcohol only during social occasions, usually 3 beverages. Smokes cigarettes during
social occasions. For each assessment finding below, click to specify if the finding is consistent with the
disease process of bowel obstruction, appendicitis, or ruptured spleen. Each finding may support more
th
The nurse has attended a staff education program about caring for clients who are receiving positive
pressure mechanical ventilation. Which of the following statements by the nurse would indicate a
correct understanding of the teaching? 1. "Clients should avoid range-of-motion (ROM) exercises until
weaned from ventilation." 2. "Clients may develop stress ulcers and gastrointestinal bleeding." 3.
"Clients will be chemically paralyzed to improve oxygenation." 4. "Clients will experience diuresis and
polyuria."
The charge nurse must transfer a female client from the medical-surgical unit to the maternity unit to
make a bed available. It would be most appropriate for the nurse to transfer the client who is 1. 28 years
old, had a right mastectomy and has a closed-wound drainage system 2. 49 years old, has diabetes
mellitus (type 2) and has begun receiving insulin 3. 56 years old, has hepatitis C (HCV) and has been
, afebrile for 24 hours 4. 70 years old, has a fractured left tibia and had an external fixation device applied
48 hours ago
The nurse has been made aware of the following client situations. The nurse should first assess the
client with 1. heart failure who has a productive cough and is anxious 2. regional enteritis (Crohn's
disease) who is reporting cramping abdominal pain and diarrhea 3. idiopathic thrombocytopenic
purpura (ITP) who has petechiae on the trunk and is reporting heavy menses 4. chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease (COPD) who has dyspnea with exertion and is using accessory muscles to breathe
The nurse and unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) are caring for assigned clients. Which of the
following tasks would be appropriate for the nurse to assign to UAP? 1. assisting a client with atrial
fibrillation to shower 2. checking the ability of a client to swallow water after a transesophageal
echocardiogram (TEE) 3. observing while a client with dysphagia begins a thickened liquid diet 4.
transporting a client with respiratory distress to the radiology department for a chest radiograph
The nurse has taken a nutritional history from parents of clients. It would be a priority for the nurse to
follow up with the 1. 5-month-old client whose only source of nutrition is 5 formula feedings daily 2. 7-
month-old client who eats several crackers as finger food 3. 9-month-old client whose typical daily diet
includes 10 bottles of 2% milk, 1 cup of apple juice, and 3 servings of infant cereal 4. 1-year-old client
whose typical food intake includes 4 breast-feedings and 3 servings of cooked vegetables, pears, or
sliced cheese
The nurse is planning a staff education program about client privacy. Which of the following scenarios
should the nurse include as an example of a violation of client privacy? 1. discussing with an unlicensed
assistive personnel (UAP) that the UAP's assigned client will require a smaller condom catheter 2.
sharing the client's blood alcohol level (BAL) test result with the police officer who brought the client to
the emergency department (ED) 3. responding to the call light of the client who is assigned to another
nurse and needs assistance in the bathroom 4. allowing a nursing student who has been assigned to the
client to review the client's medical record
The nurse has become aware of the following client situations. The nurse should first assess the client 1.
who had a right pneumonectomy 24 hours ago and is in the high-Fowler's position while lying on the
right side 2. with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who is using pursed-lip breathing and
reporting hemoptysis 3. who had a wedge resection of the left lung 24 hours ago and is sitting in the
high-Fowler's position 4. with heart failure who has a productive cough and is restless
