1
NAB CORE PRACTICE EXAM WITH ACTUAL
EXAM QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED CORRECT
ANSWERS
The NAB Core Exam tests your knowledge and skills required for safe and effective nursing
practice. You can expect questions that cover a wide range of topics, including:
• Patient Care: Safe, ethical, and evidence-based practices.
• Health Promotion & Maintenance: Growth, development, disease prevention, and
wellness strategies.
• Physiological Integrity: Medications, safety, infection control, and clinical procedures.
• Psychosocial Integrity: Mental health, coping strategies, and patient communication.
• Clinical Decision Making: Prioritization, delegation, and critical thinking.
What to expect:
• Multiple-choice questions
• Scenarios requiring judgment and prioritization
• Focus on patient safety, standards of care, and nursing principles
Tip for students: Focus on understanding concepts rather than memorizing facts. Pay close
attention to the details in scenario-based questions.
,2
1. A patient is prescribed a new medication. The nurse reviews the
patient’s history and notes an allergy to a similar drug. What is the
priority action?
A. Administer the medication
B. Document the allergy
C. Hold the medication and notify the provider
D. Monitor the patient after administration
Answer: C
Rationale: Patient safety is the priority. Holding the medication and
notifying the provider prevents a potential allergic reaction.
2. A patient with CHF reports sudden weight gain of 3 lbs in 24 hours.
Which nursing intervention is most appropriate?
A. Educate on diet
B. Assess lung sounds and edema
C. Encourage ambulation
D. Administer diuretic as scheduled
Answer: B
Rationale: Sudden weight gain may indicate fluid retention. Assessing
lung sounds and edema helps detect worsening CHF before taking
further action.
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3. The nurse is planning care for a patient with diabetes. Which
intervention focuses on health promotion?
A. Administering insulin
B. Teaching blood sugar monitoring
C. Managing hypoglycemia
D. Treating foot ulcer
Answer: B
Rationale: Teaching self-monitoring empowers patients to maintain
health and prevent complications, which is health promotion.
4. A patient exhibits signs of respiratory distress: tachypnea, accessory
muscle use, and oxygen saturation of 88%. What is the priority nursing
action?
A. Notify provider
B. Administer oxygen
C. Encourage coughing
D. Document assessment
Answer: B
Rationale: Immediate oxygen administration addresses hypoxia.
Interventions are prioritized by Maslow’s hierarchy and ABCs (Airway,
Breathing, Circulation).
5. A patient refuses a prescribed procedure. What is the nurse’s ethical
responsibility?
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A. Persuade the patient
B. Document refusal and notify provider
C. Administer procedure anyway
D. Ignore refusal
Answer: B
Rationale: Respect for patient autonomy requires honoring the
patient’s informed refusal and documenting it while notifying the
provider.
6. A nurse is delegating tasks to a CNA. Which task is appropriate to
delegate?
A. Administer oral medications
B. Assess new admission
C. Measure vital signs of stable patient
D. Develop nursing care plan
Answer: C
Rationale: Delegation is appropriate for routine tasks with predictable
outcomes in stable patients.
7. A patient is experiencing acute pain after surgery. Which
intervention is the highest priority?
A. Encourage deep breathing
B. Administer prescribed analgesic
C. Reposition patient
D. Provide emotional support
NAB CORE PRACTICE EXAM WITH ACTUAL
EXAM QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED CORRECT
ANSWERS
The NAB Core Exam tests your knowledge and skills required for safe and effective nursing
practice. You can expect questions that cover a wide range of topics, including:
• Patient Care: Safe, ethical, and evidence-based practices.
• Health Promotion & Maintenance: Growth, development, disease prevention, and
wellness strategies.
• Physiological Integrity: Medications, safety, infection control, and clinical procedures.
• Psychosocial Integrity: Mental health, coping strategies, and patient communication.
• Clinical Decision Making: Prioritization, delegation, and critical thinking.
What to expect:
• Multiple-choice questions
• Scenarios requiring judgment and prioritization
• Focus on patient safety, standards of care, and nursing principles
Tip for students: Focus on understanding concepts rather than memorizing facts. Pay close
attention to the details in scenario-based questions.
,2
1. A patient is prescribed a new medication. The nurse reviews the
patient’s history and notes an allergy to a similar drug. What is the
priority action?
A. Administer the medication
B. Document the allergy
C. Hold the medication and notify the provider
D. Monitor the patient after administration
Answer: C
Rationale: Patient safety is the priority. Holding the medication and
notifying the provider prevents a potential allergic reaction.
2. A patient with CHF reports sudden weight gain of 3 lbs in 24 hours.
Which nursing intervention is most appropriate?
A. Educate on diet
B. Assess lung sounds and edema
C. Encourage ambulation
D. Administer diuretic as scheduled
Answer: B
Rationale: Sudden weight gain may indicate fluid retention. Assessing
lung sounds and edema helps detect worsening CHF before taking
further action.
,3
3. The nurse is planning care for a patient with diabetes. Which
intervention focuses on health promotion?
A. Administering insulin
B. Teaching blood sugar monitoring
C. Managing hypoglycemia
D. Treating foot ulcer
Answer: B
Rationale: Teaching self-monitoring empowers patients to maintain
health and prevent complications, which is health promotion.
4. A patient exhibits signs of respiratory distress: tachypnea, accessory
muscle use, and oxygen saturation of 88%. What is the priority nursing
action?
A. Notify provider
B. Administer oxygen
C. Encourage coughing
D. Document assessment
Answer: B
Rationale: Immediate oxygen administration addresses hypoxia.
Interventions are prioritized by Maslow’s hierarchy and ABCs (Airway,
Breathing, Circulation).
5. A patient refuses a prescribed procedure. What is the nurse’s ethical
responsibility?
, 4
A. Persuade the patient
B. Document refusal and notify provider
C. Administer procedure anyway
D. Ignore refusal
Answer: B
Rationale: Respect for patient autonomy requires honoring the
patient’s informed refusal and documenting it while notifying the
provider.
6. A nurse is delegating tasks to a CNA. Which task is appropriate to
delegate?
A. Administer oral medications
B. Assess new admission
C. Measure vital signs of stable patient
D. Develop nursing care plan
Answer: C
Rationale: Delegation is appropriate for routine tasks with predictable
outcomes in stable patients.
7. A patient is experiencing acute pain after surgery. Which
intervention is the highest priority?
A. Encourage deep breathing
B. Administer prescribed analgesic
C. Reposition patient
D. Provide emotional support
