Critical Thinking in Nursing Practice
Questions and Answers | Latest Version
| 2025/2026 | Correct & Verified
During a dressing change, the wound appears infected. What is the best nursing action?
a. Continue the dressing as ordered
b. Ask another nurse for a second opinion
✔✔c. Notify the provider about the wound appearance
d. Administer oral antibiotics
A client receiving IV fluids develops crackles in the lungs. What is the first nursing action?
✔✔a. Slow the IV infusion rate
b. Document the finding
c. Offer the client water
d. Call the pharmacy
A patient is crying and states, “I’m so scared about my diagnosis.” What is the most therapeutic
response?
✔✔a. “Tell me more about what’s making you feel scared.”
1
,b. “Don’t worry, everything will be okay.”
c. “Try not to think about it.”
d. “It’s normal to be sad.”
A nurse receives a new medication order but is unfamiliar with the drug. What is the best course
of action?
a. Ask a coworker about it
✔✔b. Look it up in a reliable drug guide
c. Administer it and monitor the client
d. Call the pharmacist to give it
A client with diabetes is found confused and sweaty. What is the immediate action?
a. Recheck the blood pressure
✔✔b. Check the blood glucose level
c. Administer long-acting insulin
d. Encourage the client to rest
The nurse hears a client fall in the bathroom. What is the first action?
2
,a. Call the provider
✔✔b. Assess the client’s condition and check for injuries
c. Ask the client what happened
d. File an incident report
A student nurse prepares to give a medication without checking the patient's ID band. What
should the instructor do?
✔✔a. Stop the student and explain patient ID protocol
b. Allow the student to proceed with caution
c. Report the student to the board
d. Administer the medication instead
A patient asks about a test result the nurse doesn’t know. What is the most appropriate response?
a. Guess the result to reduce anxiety
✔✔b. Inform the patient you will find out and follow up
c. Tell the patient to ask the doctor
d. Suggest not worrying about it
3
, A patient with dementia becomes agitated during morning care. What is the best intervention?
a. Use a firm tone to gain cooperation
✔✔b. Pause the care and return when calmer
c. Request a sedative from the provider
d. Ask another nurse to do it
A family is arguing loudly at a patient’s bedside. What should the nurse do first?
✔✔a. Calmly ask the family to step into the hallway
b. Ignore the situation and focus on care
c. Call security immediately
d. Tell the patient to ask the family to leave
A client reports shortness of breath while lying flat. What should the nurse do first?
a. Ask about recent meals
✔✔b. Raise the head of the bed
c. Notify the respiratory therapist
d. Administer cough suppressant
4
Questions and Answers | Latest Version
| 2025/2026 | Correct & Verified
During a dressing change, the wound appears infected. What is the best nursing action?
a. Continue the dressing as ordered
b. Ask another nurse for a second opinion
✔✔c. Notify the provider about the wound appearance
d. Administer oral antibiotics
A client receiving IV fluids develops crackles in the lungs. What is the first nursing action?
✔✔a. Slow the IV infusion rate
b. Document the finding
c. Offer the client water
d. Call the pharmacy
A patient is crying and states, “I’m so scared about my diagnosis.” What is the most therapeutic
response?
✔✔a. “Tell me more about what’s making you feel scared.”
1
,b. “Don’t worry, everything will be okay.”
c. “Try not to think about it.”
d. “It’s normal to be sad.”
A nurse receives a new medication order but is unfamiliar with the drug. What is the best course
of action?
a. Ask a coworker about it
✔✔b. Look it up in a reliable drug guide
c. Administer it and monitor the client
d. Call the pharmacist to give it
A client with diabetes is found confused and sweaty. What is the immediate action?
a. Recheck the blood pressure
✔✔b. Check the blood glucose level
c. Administer long-acting insulin
d. Encourage the client to rest
The nurse hears a client fall in the bathroom. What is the first action?
2
,a. Call the provider
✔✔b. Assess the client’s condition and check for injuries
c. Ask the client what happened
d. File an incident report
A student nurse prepares to give a medication without checking the patient's ID band. What
should the instructor do?
✔✔a. Stop the student and explain patient ID protocol
b. Allow the student to proceed with caution
c. Report the student to the board
d. Administer the medication instead
A patient asks about a test result the nurse doesn’t know. What is the most appropriate response?
a. Guess the result to reduce anxiety
✔✔b. Inform the patient you will find out and follow up
c. Tell the patient to ask the doctor
d. Suggest not worrying about it
3
, A patient with dementia becomes agitated during morning care. What is the best intervention?
a. Use a firm tone to gain cooperation
✔✔b. Pause the care and return when calmer
c. Request a sedative from the provider
d. Ask another nurse to do it
A family is arguing loudly at a patient’s bedside. What should the nurse do first?
✔✔a. Calmly ask the family to step into the hallway
b. Ignore the situation and focus on care
c. Call security immediately
d. Tell the patient to ask the family to leave
A client reports shortness of breath while lying flat. What should the nurse do first?
a. Ask about recent meals
✔✔b. Raise the head of the bed
c. Notify the respiratory therapist
d. Administer cough suppressant
4
