This is Part 1 of the Practical Nursing
Comprehensive nclex pn Review
Question Bank.
PART 1 of 5
TABLE OF CONTENTS - PART 1 of 5
Chapter 1: Safe and Effective Care Environment - Coordinated Care (Questions 1-10)
Chapter 2: Safe and Effective Care Environment - Safety and Infection Control (Questions 11-20)
Chapter 3: Health Promotion and Maintenance (Questions 21-30)
Chapter 4: Psychosocial Integrity (Questions 31-40)
Chapter 5: Physiological Integrity - Basic Care and Comfort (Questions 41-50)
CHAPTER 1: SAFE AND EFFECTIVE CARE ENVIRONMENT - COORDINATED CARE
Q1. A practical nurse is preparing to delegate a task to a nursing assistant. Which task is most
appropriate to delegate?
A. Administering oral medications
B. Performing a sterile dressing change
C. Assisting a stable client with ambulation
D. Assessing a client's postoperative pain level
Correct Answer: Assisting a stable client with ambulation ✅
Rationale: Assisting a stable client with ambulation is a routine, predictable task that falls
within the nursing assistant's scope of practice and can be safely delegated. Administering oral
medications requires the knowledge and judgment of a licensed nurse because it involves the five
rights and assessment of the client's response. Performing a sterile dressing change requires sterile
,technique and assessment of the wound, which are beyond the nursing assistant's scope. Assessing
pain requires the clinical judgment of a licensed nurse and cannot be delegated. The principle
governing delegation is that the nurse retains accountability for the task and must match the task to
the delegate's training, the client's stability, and the predictability of the outcome.
Q2. A practical nurse is caring for a client who speaks a different language and needs to sign a
consent form. Which action is most appropriate?
A. Ask the client's family member to interpret
B. Use a trained medical interpreter
C. Proceed with the consent in English
D. Ask another nurse who speaks the language
Correct Answer: Use a trained medical interpreter ✅
Rationale: A trained medical interpreter should be used to ensure the client understands the
consent form, as this protects the client's rights and the validity of the consent. Asking a family
member to interpret risks errors and confidentiality breaches and may place the family member in a
difficult position. Proceeding in English when the client does not understand is a violation of
informed consent. Asking another nurse who happens to speak the language may be acceptable only
if that nurse is trained as an interpreter and no conflict exists, but the standard is a trained medical
interpreter. The governing principle is that communication barriers must be addressed with qualified
interpreters to preserve informed consent and patient safety.
Q3. A practical nurse receives a telephone order from a provider for a new medication. Which action
is most appropriate?
A. Accept the order and administer the medication
B. Repeat the order back to the provider and document it
C. Ask the provider to call back later
D. Refuse to accept the order
Correct Answer: Repeat the order back to the provider and document it ✅
,Rationale: Telephone orders must be repeated back to the provider to verify accuracy and
then documented according to facility policy, including the provider's name, the date and time, and
the nurse's signature. Accepting and administering without verification risks a medication error.
Asking the provider to call back delays care and is not appropriate when the order is within the
nurse's scope. Refusing to accept a legitimate telephone order is inappropriate, though the practical
nurse should follow facility policy regarding which orders may be accepted. The governing principle is
that verbal orders require read-back verification to prevent errors, and the nurse is responsible for
ensuring the order is complete and clear before implementation.
Q4. A practical nurse is preparing a client for discharge. Which action is most important to include in
discharge planning?
A. Providing written discharge instructions
B. Scheduling a follow-up appointment
C. Verifying the client understands the instructions
D. Arranging transportation home
Correct Answer: Verifying the client understands the instructions ✅
Rationale: Verifying that the client understands the discharge instructions is the most
important step because discharge teaching is only effective if the client can demonstrate
comprehension and the ability to follow the plan. Providing written instructions is helpful but
insufficient if the client cannot read or understand them. Scheduling a follow-up appointment is
important but secondary to comprehension. Arranging transportation is a logistical concern that
does not address the clinical outcome. The governing principle is that discharge teaching requires
teach-back or return demonstration to confirm understanding and prevent readmission.
Q5. A practical nurse is assigned to care for a client who requires a blood transfusion. Which action is
most appropriate before initiating the transfusion?
A. Verify the client's identity and blood product with another nurse
B. Check the client's vital signs only
C. Start the transfusion after obtaining consent
D. Administer the transfusion alone
, Correct Answer: Verify the client's identity and blood product with another nurse ✅
Rationale: Before initiating a blood transfusion, two licensed personnel must verify the
client's identity and the blood product against the order and the blood bank label to prevent a
hemolytic transfusion reaction. Checking vital signs alone is insufficient because it does not verify
compatibility. Starting the transfusion after consent is necessary but does not replace the two-person
verification. Administering the transfusion alone violates the two-person verification requirement.
The governing principle is that blood administration carries a high risk of fatal reactions, and the
double-check process is a critical safety measure.
Q6. A practical nurse is caring for a client who is being transferred to another unit. Which action is
most important during handoff communication?
A. Providing a written summary only
B. Using a standardized handoff tool such as SBAR
C. Reporting only the most recent vital signs
D. Delegating the handoff to a nursing assistant
Correct Answer: Using a standardized handoff tool such as SBAR ✅
Rationale: Using a standardized handoff tool such as SBAR ensures that critical information is
communicated consistently and reduces the risk of omission. Providing a written summary only may
omit important details and does not allow for questions. Reporting only recent vital signs omits the
client's history, current treatments, and pending tasks. Delegating the handoff to a nursing assistant
is inappropriate because handoff requires clinical judgment. The governing principle is that
structured communication during transitions of care reduces errors and improves patient safety.
Q7. A practical nurse is caring for a client who refuses a prescribed medication. Which action is most
appropriate?
A. Administer the medication anyway
B. Document the refusal and notify the provider
C. Crush the medication and hide it in food
D. Skip the dose without documentation
Comprehensive nclex pn Review
Question Bank.
PART 1 of 5
TABLE OF CONTENTS - PART 1 of 5
Chapter 1: Safe and Effective Care Environment - Coordinated Care (Questions 1-10)
Chapter 2: Safe and Effective Care Environment - Safety and Infection Control (Questions 11-20)
Chapter 3: Health Promotion and Maintenance (Questions 21-30)
Chapter 4: Psychosocial Integrity (Questions 31-40)
Chapter 5: Physiological Integrity - Basic Care and Comfort (Questions 41-50)
CHAPTER 1: SAFE AND EFFECTIVE CARE ENVIRONMENT - COORDINATED CARE
Q1. A practical nurse is preparing to delegate a task to a nursing assistant. Which task is most
appropriate to delegate?
A. Administering oral medications
B. Performing a sterile dressing change
C. Assisting a stable client with ambulation
D. Assessing a client's postoperative pain level
Correct Answer: Assisting a stable client with ambulation ✅
Rationale: Assisting a stable client with ambulation is a routine, predictable task that falls
within the nursing assistant's scope of practice and can be safely delegated. Administering oral
medications requires the knowledge and judgment of a licensed nurse because it involves the five
rights and assessment of the client's response. Performing a sterile dressing change requires sterile
,technique and assessment of the wound, which are beyond the nursing assistant's scope. Assessing
pain requires the clinical judgment of a licensed nurse and cannot be delegated. The principle
governing delegation is that the nurse retains accountability for the task and must match the task to
the delegate's training, the client's stability, and the predictability of the outcome.
Q2. A practical nurse is caring for a client who speaks a different language and needs to sign a
consent form. Which action is most appropriate?
A. Ask the client's family member to interpret
B. Use a trained medical interpreter
C. Proceed with the consent in English
D. Ask another nurse who speaks the language
Correct Answer: Use a trained medical interpreter ✅
Rationale: A trained medical interpreter should be used to ensure the client understands the
consent form, as this protects the client's rights and the validity of the consent. Asking a family
member to interpret risks errors and confidentiality breaches and may place the family member in a
difficult position. Proceeding in English when the client does not understand is a violation of
informed consent. Asking another nurse who happens to speak the language may be acceptable only
if that nurse is trained as an interpreter and no conflict exists, but the standard is a trained medical
interpreter. The governing principle is that communication barriers must be addressed with qualified
interpreters to preserve informed consent and patient safety.
Q3. A practical nurse receives a telephone order from a provider for a new medication. Which action
is most appropriate?
A. Accept the order and administer the medication
B. Repeat the order back to the provider and document it
C. Ask the provider to call back later
D. Refuse to accept the order
Correct Answer: Repeat the order back to the provider and document it ✅
,Rationale: Telephone orders must be repeated back to the provider to verify accuracy and
then documented according to facility policy, including the provider's name, the date and time, and
the nurse's signature. Accepting and administering without verification risks a medication error.
Asking the provider to call back delays care and is not appropriate when the order is within the
nurse's scope. Refusing to accept a legitimate telephone order is inappropriate, though the practical
nurse should follow facility policy regarding which orders may be accepted. The governing principle is
that verbal orders require read-back verification to prevent errors, and the nurse is responsible for
ensuring the order is complete and clear before implementation.
Q4. A practical nurse is preparing a client for discharge. Which action is most important to include in
discharge planning?
A. Providing written discharge instructions
B. Scheduling a follow-up appointment
C. Verifying the client understands the instructions
D. Arranging transportation home
Correct Answer: Verifying the client understands the instructions ✅
Rationale: Verifying that the client understands the discharge instructions is the most
important step because discharge teaching is only effective if the client can demonstrate
comprehension and the ability to follow the plan. Providing written instructions is helpful but
insufficient if the client cannot read or understand them. Scheduling a follow-up appointment is
important but secondary to comprehension. Arranging transportation is a logistical concern that
does not address the clinical outcome. The governing principle is that discharge teaching requires
teach-back or return demonstration to confirm understanding and prevent readmission.
Q5. A practical nurse is assigned to care for a client who requires a blood transfusion. Which action is
most appropriate before initiating the transfusion?
A. Verify the client's identity and blood product with another nurse
B. Check the client's vital signs only
C. Start the transfusion after obtaining consent
D. Administer the transfusion alone
, Correct Answer: Verify the client's identity and blood product with another nurse ✅
Rationale: Before initiating a blood transfusion, two licensed personnel must verify the
client's identity and the blood product against the order and the blood bank label to prevent a
hemolytic transfusion reaction. Checking vital signs alone is insufficient because it does not verify
compatibility. Starting the transfusion after consent is necessary but does not replace the two-person
verification. Administering the transfusion alone violates the two-person verification requirement.
The governing principle is that blood administration carries a high risk of fatal reactions, and the
double-check process is a critical safety measure.
Q6. A practical nurse is caring for a client who is being transferred to another unit. Which action is
most important during handoff communication?
A. Providing a written summary only
B. Using a standardized handoff tool such as SBAR
C. Reporting only the most recent vital signs
D. Delegating the handoff to a nursing assistant
Correct Answer: Using a standardized handoff tool such as SBAR ✅
Rationale: Using a standardized handoff tool such as SBAR ensures that critical information is
communicated consistently and reduces the risk of omission. Providing a written summary only may
omit important details and does not allow for questions. Reporting only recent vital signs omits the
client's history, current treatments, and pending tasks. Delegating the handoff to a nursing assistant
is inappropriate because handoff requires clinical judgment. The governing principle is that
structured communication during transitions of care reduces errors and improves patient safety.
Q7. A practical nurse is caring for a client who refuses a prescribed medication. Which action is most
appropriate?
A. Administer the medication anyway
B. Document the refusal and notify the provider
C. Crush the medication and hide it in food
D. Skip the dose without documentation
