NCLEX questions for critical thinking and correct answers
A client complaining of extreme low back pain is pale and diaphoretic and walks bent at the waist. Before
taking vital signs, the nurse suspects that the blood pressure and heart rate will be elevated. What thought
process did the nurse use to come to this conclusion?
1. Fact
2. Inference
3. Judgment
4. Opinion - ans2. Inference
A client complaining of shortness of breath has no pallor, cyanosis, or use of accessory muscles with
respirations. The clients respiratory rate is 16 breaths per minute. The nurse is concerned that the clients
report and the physical findings conflict. Which standard of critical thinking is the nurse using?
1. Clarity
2. Accuracy
3. Logical reasoning
4. Significance - ans3. Logical reasoning
A client is experiencing a productive cough, audible coarse crackles, elevated temperature of 102.3F, chills, and
body aches. What did the nurse use to determine that this patient is experiencing respiratory compromise?
, 1. Deductive reasoning
2. Inductive reasoning
3. Socratic questioning
4. Critical analysis - ans1. Deductive reasoning
A client recovering from a stroke does not want to perform prescribed shoulder exercises. What should the
nurse say to the client that demonstrates critical thinking with creativity?
1. Youll only get worse if you dont do these exercises.
2. As soon as you get these into your routine, youll feel better.
3. Your physician wouldnt have ordered these if they werent important.
4. Heres a marker. See how many circles you can make on this board in 10 minutes. - ans4. Heres a marker. See
how many circles you can make on this board in 10 minutes.
A client with a PhD in epidemiology has been to numerous physicians and has had numerous laboratory tests,
all of which were abnormal, and exploratory surgery, but no one is able to explain the etiology of his problem.
The client also states that he has a rare form of a neurological disorder. Which statement should the nurse
make that demonstrates critical thinking?
1. Why dont you just tell your physician what you think you have?
2. Did you bring your prior tests and results with you, so we dont repeat anything?
A client complaining of extreme low back pain is pale and diaphoretic and walks bent at the waist. Before
taking vital signs, the nurse suspects that the blood pressure and heart rate will be elevated. What thought
process did the nurse use to come to this conclusion?
1. Fact
2. Inference
3. Judgment
4. Opinion - ans2. Inference
A client complaining of shortness of breath has no pallor, cyanosis, or use of accessory muscles with
respirations. The clients respiratory rate is 16 breaths per minute. The nurse is concerned that the clients
report and the physical findings conflict. Which standard of critical thinking is the nurse using?
1. Clarity
2. Accuracy
3. Logical reasoning
4. Significance - ans3. Logical reasoning
A client is experiencing a productive cough, audible coarse crackles, elevated temperature of 102.3F, chills, and
body aches. What did the nurse use to determine that this patient is experiencing respiratory compromise?
, 1. Deductive reasoning
2. Inductive reasoning
3. Socratic questioning
4. Critical analysis - ans1. Deductive reasoning
A client recovering from a stroke does not want to perform prescribed shoulder exercises. What should the
nurse say to the client that demonstrates critical thinking with creativity?
1. Youll only get worse if you dont do these exercises.
2. As soon as you get these into your routine, youll feel better.
3. Your physician wouldnt have ordered these if they werent important.
4. Heres a marker. See how many circles you can make on this board in 10 minutes. - ans4. Heres a marker. See
how many circles you can make on this board in 10 minutes.
A client with a PhD in epidemiology has been to numerous physicians and has had numerous laboratory tests,
all of which were abnormal, and exploratory surgery, but no one is able to explain the etiology of his problem.
The client also states that he has a rare form of a neurological disorder. Which statement should the nurse
make that demonstrates critical thinking?
1. Why dont you just tell your physician what you think you have?
2. Did you bring your prior tests and results with you, so we dont repeat anything?
