NZ NURSING STATE EXAM AND PRACTICE EXAM NEWEST 2026
TEST BANK| NEW ZEALAND NURSING STATE FINAL EXAM
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Sources: The Nursing Council of New Zealand administers the state final examination under the Health
Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003. The RN exam consists of 120 multiple-choice questions with four
answer choices each, to be completed within 130 minutes, as confirmed by the official Nursing Council website.
The 2026 exam dates are published as 17 March, 21–22 July, and 17–18 November.
Questions 1–12 (10% of Exam)
1. A patient has been prescribed morphine 8 mg 2–3 hourly PRN for pain. Unit
stock of morphine is 10 mg/1 mL. How much morphine should be drawn up for
the patient?
A. 0.08 mL
B. 0.25 mL
C. 0.75 mL
D. 0.80 mL
Answer: D. 0.80 mL
Rationale: Use the formula: Desired dose / Stock dose × Volume. 8 mg / 10 mg × 1
mL = 0.80 mL. The RN sample examination published by the Nursing Council
includes this exact calculation.
2. A child weighs 22.4 kg, and the prescription is for 24 mg/kg of body weight.
The medication comes at the strength of 50 mg/mL. How many mL (to one
decimal place) of the medication should the child receive?
A. 7.5 mL
B. 8.5 mL
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C. 9.8 mL
D. 10.8 mL
Answer: D. 10.8 mL
Rationale: First calculate total dose: 22.4 kg × 24 mg/kg = 537.6 mg. Then: 537.6
mg / 50 mg/mL = 10.752 mL, rounded to 10.8 mL. The NCNZ sample examination
confirms this question format.
3. Ondansetron 2 mg has been prescribed for a child who weighs 13.6 kg. The
safe dosage of this medication is 0.15 mg/kg. Is 2 mg a safe dose?
A. No, a safe dose would be 0.3 mg
B. No, a safe dose would be 0.6 mg
C. No, a safe dose would be 1.02 mg
D. Yes, 2 mg is a safe dose
Answer: D. Yes, 2 mg is a safe dose
Rationale: Safe dose = 13.6 kg × 0.15 mg/kg = 2.04 mg. The prescribed dose of 2
mg is within the safe range (equal to or below 2.04 mg). As confirmed by the
NCNZ sample exam.
4. A patient is prescribed 250 mg of antibiotics in 200 mL of intravenous fluid
over 30 minutes. The correct rate in mL per hour to set the infusion device is:
A. 100 mL per hour
B. 200 mL per hour
C. 400 mL per hour
D. 500 mL per hour
Answer: C. 400 mL per hour
Rationale: Rate (mL/hr) = Total volume (mL) / Time (hours). 200 mL / 0.5 hours =
400 mL per hour. This question is taken from the NCNZ sample examination.
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5. A patient needs IV fluids at 83 mL/hour. The giving set delivers 20 drops per
mL. How many drops per minute should be delivered? (Round to the nearest
whole drop.)
A. 20 drops/min
B. 24 drops/min
C. 28 drops/min
D. 32 drops/min
Answer: C. 28 drops/min
Rationale: Drops/min = (Volume in mL/hr × Drop factor) / 60 minutes = (83 × 20) /
60 = = 27.66, rounded to 28 drops per minute.
6. A patient is prescribed 150 mg of a medication. The stock available is 250
mg/5 mL. How many mL should be administered?
A. 2.0 mL
B. 3.0 mL
C. 3.5 mL
D. 4.0 mL
Answer: B. 3.0 mL
Rationale: Using the formula Desired / Stock × Volume: 150 mg / 250 mg × 5 mL =
0.6 × 5 = 3.0 mL.
7. A patient is to receive 1,000 mL of normal saline over 8 hours. What is the
infusion rate in mL/hour?
A. 100 mL/hr
B. 125 mL/hr
C. 150 mL/hr
D. 200 mL/hr
Answer: B. 125 mL/hr
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Rationale: 1,000 mL / 8 hours = 125 mL/hour. This is a standard fluid calculation
for maintenance IV therapy.
8. A patient weighing 70 kg is prescribed dopamine at 5 mcg/kg/min. The
dopamine concentration is 400 mg in 250 mL. What is the infusion rate in
mL/hour?
A. 10.5 mL/hr
B. 13.1 mL/hr
C. 15.6 mL/hr
D. 18.0 mL/hr
Answer: B. 13.1 mL/hr
Rationale: First, calculate the concentration: 400 mg / 250 mL = 1.6 mg/mL =
1,600 mcg/mL. Then, dose: 70 kg × 5 mcg/kg/min = 350 mcg/min. Rate = 350
mcg/min × 60 min / 1,600 mcg/mL = 21,000/1,600 = 13.125 mL/hr, rounded to
13.1 mL/hr.
9. A patient has a prescribed dose of 0.4 mg of a medication. The stock ampoule
contains 1 mg/2 mL. What volume should be administered?
A. 0.4 mL
B. 0.6 mL
C. 0.8 mL
D. 1.0 mL
Answer: C. 0.8 mL
Rationale: 0.4 mg / 1 mg × 2 mL = 0.8 mL.
10. A patient is prescribed 12 units of insulin. The insulin syringe measures in
units. If the patient is using a 100-unit/mL insulin, how many mL is this
equivalent to?
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