RSQL Exam Version 2| New
2026 Exam Questions and
Correct Answers
1) A client admitted with congestive heart failure attempted to reach for the call light and fell
from the bed, with no injury. The nurse manager put together a group of staff to evaluate the
event. What type of evaluation is this?
Root cause analysis
Infection control meeting
Sentinel event
Failure identification meeting
Correct answer: Root cause analysis
This is a systematic process to identify underlying causes of an incident (even without injury) to
prevent recurrence. It is not automatically a sentinel event (which involves serious harm or
death), nor limited to infection control.
2) The charge nurse wants to briefly round on four clients before nursing assignments are made.
Which client should the charge nurse see first?
The adolescent client with a fracture reports the cast is tight
The client with carpal tunnel syndrome reports pain
The 64-year-old client with osteoporosis awaiting discharge
The 56-year-old client with a left below-the-knee amputation reported phantom pain
Correct answer: The adolescent client with a fracture reports the cast is tight
A tight cast on a recent fracture suggests possible compartment syndrome (a neurovascular
emergency that can cause tissue damage). This takes priority over stable pain reports, discharge
readiness, or chronic phantom pain. ABCs and acute circulation threats come first.
,3) According to the Institute of Medicine (IOM), all healthcare professionals should be educated
in evidence-based practice (EBP) and be able to do the following?
Search for relevant answers to clinical questions
Develop evidence
Formulate clear clinical questions
Know where and how to find the best possible sources of evidence
Search from blogs and WebMD
Correct answer: Formulate clear clinical questions (core IOM competency; full set includes
formulating questions, searching/appraising evidence, and integrating it with expertise/patient
values).
IOM (now NAM) core competencies emphasize EBP skills starting with asking focused
questions (e.g., via PICOT). Blogs/WebMD are not "best" sources; developing evidence is for
researchers.
4) Order: Cefactor 0.3g PO every 8 hours. Supply: Cofactor reconstituted oral suspension, 375
mg per 5 ml. How many ml will the nurse administer for one dose? (Record the answer as a
whole number)
Correct answer: 4
Convert 0.3 g = 300 mg.
300 mg / 375 mg × 5 ml = 4 ml (exact calculation: (300 ÷ 375) × 5 = 4).
Dose calculation uses desired over have × volume.
5) 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?
Document in the chart that an incidence report has been filed
Submit the incident report to the risk manager
Make a copy of the incident report for the client
Make a copy of the incident report for the provider
Correct answer: Document in the chart that an incident report has been filed
The medical record notes the event and that an incident report was completed (factually, without
details of the report itself, to maintain confidentiality). The report goes to risk management
internally; copies are not given to client/provider.
, 6) In health care, which of the following attempts to guarantee that when an action is performed
by a health care professional, it is performed correctly the first time and each time thereafter?
Quality assurance
Care management
Risk management
Six Sigma
Correct answer: Six Sigma
Six Sigma is a data-driven methodology focused on reducing variation and defects to achieve
near-perfect performance (e.g., 3.4 defects per million opportunities). Quality assurance is
broader; risk management prevents harm.
7) Which of the following is not a factor to be considered in the use of research?
Quality improvement initiatives
Pressure to reduce medical errors
The rising cost of healthcare
Lack of publicity
Correct answer: Lack of publicity
Research use in nursing considers QI, error reduction, costs, and evidence needs. Publicity is not
a core driver for applying research.
8) The nurse manager of a rehab unit wants to purchase a new anti-embolic stocking. What is the
most effective way for the nurse manager to practice democratic leadership?
Involve the rehab staff in the decision
Make the decision alone
Involve administration in the decision
Involve the sales representative.
Correct answer: Involve the rehab staff in the decision
Democratic (participative) leadership shares decision-making with the team for buy-in and better
outcomes. Autocratic is solo; involving outsiders bypasses staff input.
9) A nurse wants to research the infection rate in a hospital unit and develops the following
PICOT question. Will clients on our unit, during the month of May, have reduced infection, with
hand hygiene? What is missing from the PICOT?
2026 Exam Questions and
Correct Answers
1) A client admitted with congestive heart failure attempted to reach for the call light and fell
from the bed, with no injury. The nurse manager put together a group of staff to evaluate the
event. What type of evaluation is this?
Root cause analysis
Infection control meeting
Sentinel event
Failure identification meeting
Correct answer: Root cause analysis
This is a systematic process to identify underlying causes of an incident (even without injury) to
prevent recurrence. It is not automatically a sentinel event (which involves serious harm or
death), nor limited to infection control.
2) The charge nurse wants to briefly round on four clients before nursing assignments are made.
Which client should the charge nurse see first?
The adolescent client with a fracture reports the cast is tight
The client with carpal tunnel syndrome reports pain
The 64-year-old client with osteoporosis awaiting discharge
The 56-year-old client with a left below-the-knee amputation reported phantom pain
Correct answer: The adolescent client with a fracture reports the cast is tight
A tight cast on a recent fracture suggests possible compartment syndrome (a neurovascular
emergency that can cause tissue damage). This takes priority over stable pain reports, discharge
readiness, or chronic phantom pain. ABCs and acute circulation threats come first.
,3) According to the Institute of Medicine (IOM), all healthcare professionals should be educated
in evidence-based practice (EBP) and be able to do the following?
Search for relevant answers to clinical questions
Develop evidence
Formulate clear clinical questions
Know where and how to find the best possible sources of evidence
Search from blogs and WebMD
Correct answer: Formulate clear clinical questions (core IOM competency; full set includes
formulating questions, searching/appraising evidence, and integrating it with expertise/patient
values).
IOM (now NAM) core competencies emphasize EBP skills starting with asking focused
questions (e.g., via PICOT). Blogs/WebMD are not "best" sources; developing evidence is for
researchers.
4) Order: Cefactor 0.3g PO every 8 hours. Supply: Cofactor reconstituted oral suspension, 375
mg per 5 ml. How many ml will the nurse administer for one dose? (Record the answer as a
whole number)
Correct answer: 4
Convert 0.3 g = 300 mg.
300 mg / 375 mg × 5 ml = 4 ml (exact calculation: (300 ÷ 375) × 5 = 4).
Dose calculation uses desired over have × volume.
5) 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?
Document in the chart that an incidence report has been filed
Submit the incident report to the risk manager
Make a copy of the incident report for the client
Make a copy of the incident report for the provider
Correct answer: Document in the chart that an incident report has been filed
The medical record notes the event and that an incident report was completed (factually, without
details of the report itself, to maintain confidentiality). The report goes to risk management
internally; copies are not given to client/provider.
, 6) In health care, which of the following attempts to guarantee that when an action is performed
by a health care professional, it is performed correctly the first time and each time thereafter?
Quality assurance
Care management
Risk management
Six Sigma
Correct answer: Six Sigma
Six Sigma is a data-driven methodology focused on reducing variation and defects to achieve
near-perfect performance (e.g., 3.4 defects per million opportunities). Quality assurance is
broader; risk management prevents harm.
7) Which of the following is not a factor to be considered in the use of research?
Quality improvement initiatives
Pressure to reduce medical errors
The rising cost of healthcare
Lack of publicity
Correct answer: Lack of publicity
Research use in nursing considers QI, error reduction, costs, and evidence needs. Publicity is not
a core driver for applying research.
8) The nurse manager of a rehab unit wants to purchase a new anti-embolic stocking. What is the
most effective way for the nurse manager to practice democratic leadership?
Involve the rehab staff in the decision
Make the decision alone
Involve administration in the decision
Involve the sales representative.
Correct answer: Involve the rehab staff in the decision
Democratic (participative) leadership shares decision-making with the team for buy-in and better
outcomes. Autocratic is solo; involving outsiders bypasses staff input.
9) A nurse wants to research the infection rate in a hospital unit and develops the following
PICOT question. Will clients on our unit, during the month of May, have reduced infection, with
hand hygiene? What is missing from the PICOT?
