Prioritization Exam 2026 – Ethics, Legal
Issues, Triage & NCLEX Practice Test
Questions Verified and Complete with A+
Graded Rationales Latest Updated 2026
A nurse asks the assistive personnel (AP) to take a specimen to the laboratory and the AP
refuses. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
Take the specimen to the laboratory.
Report the AP to the charge nurse.
Complete an incident report.
Ask the AP about her concerns with the assignment.
Ask the AP about her concerns with the assignment.
Reviewing the incident with the AP allows the nurse to understand the delegated task from the
AP’s perspective. The nurse should attempt to determine the underlying problem the AP has
with the assignment.
A coworker puts an arm around a nurse and says, "I bet you are a great lover." Which of the
following is an appropriate response by the nurse?
"Let's talk about something else."
"Whether or not I am a good lover is irrelevant."
"Speaking to me like that makes me uncomfortable."
"You need to lower your voice. Others can hear you."
"Speaking to me like that makes me uncomfortable."
This assertive response makes it clear that this type of sexually-oriented conversation and
physical contact is undesired by the nurse
A nurse is triaging clients in an urgent care clinic. Which of the following clients should the
nurse have the provider care for immediately?
,An adolescent female client who is belligerent and has slurred speech
A toddler who has a laceration on his forehead and is screaming
A middle adult male who is diaphoretic and reports epigastric pain
A young adult with a painful sunburn of his face and arms
A middle adult male who is diaphoretic and reports epigastric pain
When using the urgent vs. nonurgent approach to client care, the nurse should determine that
caring for this client is the highest priority because diaphoresis and epigastric pain are
manifestations of an acute myocardial infarction.
A nurse on a medical-surgical unit has accepted a transfer to the intensive care unit (ICU).
Prior to transfer to the ICU, the nurse completes an online critical care and emergency nursing
course. The nurse is demonstrating which of the following ethical principles?
Veracity
Autonomy
Fidelity
Nonmaleficence
Nonmaleficence
Nonmaleficence consists of actions taken to prevent client harm. When the nurse completes an
advanced education program that will prepare her to provide safer care in the ICU, the nurse is
demonstrating the ethical principle nonmaleficence.
A client who is terminally ill tells a nurse on the medical-surgical unit that she feels hopeless.
Which of the following statements by the nurse is appropriate?
"Tell me why you feel hopeless."
"I am sure these feelings will pass once you go home."
"If I were you, I would ask for a referral to hospice care."
"Tell me what you understand about your illness."
"Tell me what you understand about your illness."
The nurse should use this statement to encourage the client to express her feelings and
concerns.
,A charge nurse plans to use effective change strategies when implementing a change in a
nursing procedure on the medical-surgical unit. Which of the following actions should the
charge nurse take during the moving stage of change?
Assess the problem.
Use tactics to alert staff nurses that a change is needed.
Evaluate the effectiveness of the change.
Set a target date.
Set a target date.
During the moving stage, the charge nurse should develop the plan for change and set the
target date.
A charge nurse has assigned a group of clients to a licensed practical nurse (LPN). The charge
nurse receives reports from her assigned clients about the LPN's lack of care. Which of the
following actions should the charge nurse take?
Review the LPN's personnel file.
Discuss the LPN's behavior with other nurses on the unit.
Talk with the clients who have reported the LPN's lack of care.
Reassign some of the LPN's client care to assistive personnel.
Talk with the clients who have reported the LPN's lack of care.
The charge nurse should investigate the allegations of misconduct to determine if disciplinary
action is warranted.
A nurse has assigned client care activities to an assistive personnel (AP). Which of the
following statements by the AP indicates a need for assistance in establishing priorities?
"I have my assignment and will start with room 1, then work my way to room 10."
"I will give this client his meal tray first, as he is going early to physical therapy."
"After breakfast, I will pack the belongings of clients who will be discharged this morning."
"I will start by providing partial baths before breakfast."
"I have my assignment and will start with room 1, then work my way to room 10."
The AP’s statement does not include consideration of the tasks that need to be performed for
each client, any time restrictions, or equipment to be organized.
, A nurse is planning client care for herself and an assistive personnel (AP) working with her.
Which of the following tasks should the nurse plan to perform?
Administration of an enema
Application of antiembolic stockings
Assessing a client's sacrum for edema
Assisting a client to cough and deep breathe
Assessing a client's sacrum for edema
Assessment requires the nurse's specialized knowledge and cannot be delegated to an AP.
A charge nurse is providing an inservice for staff nurses on the use of new IV pumps. Which of
the following actions should the charge nurse take to best evaluate staff competency with the
new equipment?
Ask each nurse to read the procedure and sign a form acknowledging competency.
Allow time during the workday when each nurse can demonstrate proficiency.
Require each nurse to take a written examination about the new equipment.
Verbally question the staff about the new equipment.
Allow time during the workday when each nurse can demonstrate proficiency.
According to evidenced-based practice, the best action to evaluate competency with a
psychomotor skill is by return demonstration. Ensuring that each nurse knows how to use the
equipment through return demonstration is the best way to measure correct use of the new
equipment. Prior to full implementation of any new equipment, the supervisory team should
allow time for training and proficiency checks to ensure that client care is not compromised.
A nurse is caring for a client who falls in his room. After the nurse assesses the client, notifies
the client's provider, and completes an incident report, which of the following actions should
the nurse take?
Make a copy of the incident report for the provider.
Submit the incident report to the risk manager.
Place the incident report in the client's chart.
Document in the chart that an incidence report has been filed.
Submit the incident report to the risk manager.