KANSAS NURSING EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS)
PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
Core Domains
Fundamentals of nursing practice
Medical-surgical nursing
Pharmacology and medication safety
Maternal and newborn nursing
Pediatric nursing
Mental health nursing
Community and public health nursing
Ethics, law, and professional standards
Introduction
This assessment is designed to evaluate knowledge, clinical judgment, and safe decision-making expected of
nursing candidates. It covers essential concepts across patient care, pharmacology, legal responsibilities,
ethics, communication, and priority setting. Questions include multiple-choice and scenario-based items that
reflect real nursing situations and require application of theory to practice. The exam emphasizes patient
safety, delegation, therapeutic interventions, and critical thinking in both routine and complex cases. A strong
understanding of nursing principles and professional standards is necessary to choose the best answer in
each item.
, Section One
. A nurse is preparing to administer a medication to a patient. Which action is the priority before giving the
dose?
A. Document the medication after administration
B. Verify the patient using two identifiers
C. Ask the patient if they feel okay
D. Check the medication room inventory
🟢 Correct answer: B. Verify the patient using two identifiers
🔴 RATIONALE: Correct patient identification is a fundamental safety step that helps prevent medication
errors.
. Which finding most strongly suggests hypoglycemia?
A. Warm, flushed skin
B. Slow shallow respirations
C. Sweating and tremors
D. Bounding pulse and hypertension
🟢 Correct answer: C. Sweating and tremors
🔴 RATIONALE: Hypoglycemia commonly causes adrenergic symptoms such as sweating, tremors, and
anxiety.
. A patient with heart failure should be taught to report which symptom immediately?
, A. Increased urine output
B. Sudden weight gain
C. Improved appetite
D. Decreased blood pressure after rest
🟢 Correct answer: B. Sudden weight gain
🔴 RATIONALE: Rapid weight gain can indicate fluid retention and worsening heart failure.
. Which action best demonstrates therapeutic communication?
A. “You should not feel that way.”
B. “Why did you do that?”
C. “Tell me more about your concerns.”
D. “Everything will be fine.”
🟢 Correct answer: C. “Tell me more about your concerns.”
🔴 RATIONALE: Open-ended prompts encourage the patient to express feelings and concerns.
. A patient with chest pain is diaphoretic and short of breath. What is the nurse’s first action?
A. Obtain a detailed pain history
B. Notify the family
C. Place the patient in a supine position
D. Assess vital signs and oxygen saturation
, 🟢 Correct answer: D. Assess vital signs and oxygen saturation
🔴 RATIONALE: Rapid assessment of airway, breathing, and circulation guides immediate intervention.
. Which diet is most appropriate for a patient with hypertension?
A. High-sodium diet
B. Low-sodium diet
C. High-protein diet only
D. Low-carbohydrate diet
🟢 Correct answer: B. Low-sodium diet
🔴 RATIONALE: Reducing sodium helps control blood pressure and fluid retention.
. A nurse is caring for a postoperative patient. Which assessment finding requires immediate attention?
A. Mild pain at the incision site
B. Temperature of 100.1 F
C. Sudden shortness of breath
D. Decreased appetite
🟢 Correct answer: C. Sudden shortness of breath
🔴 RATIONALE: Sudden shortness of breath may indicate a pulmonary embolus or other respiratory
emergency.
PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
Core Domains
Fundamentals of nursing practice
Medical-surgical nursing
Pharmacology and medication safety
Maternal and newborn nursing
Pediatric nursing
Mental health nursing
Community and public health nursing
Ethics, law, and professional standards
Introduction
This assessment is designed to evaluate knowledge, clinical judgment, and safe decision-making expected of
nursing candidates. It covers essential concepts across patient care, pharmacology, legal responsibilities,
ethics, communication, and priority setting. Questions include multiple-choice and scenario-based items that
reflect real nursing situations and require application of theory to practice. The exam emphasizes patient
safety, delegation, therapeutic interventions, and critical thinking in both routine and complex cases. A strong
understanding of nursing principles and professional standards is necessary to choose the best answer in
each item.
, Section One
. A nurse is preparing to administer a medication to a patient. Which action is the priority before giving the
dose?
A. Document the medication after administration
B. Verify the patient using two identifiers
C. Ask the patient if they feel okay
D. Check the medication room inventory
🟢 Correct answer: B. Verify the patient using two identifiers
🔴 RATIONALE: Correct patient identification is a fundamental safety step that helps prevent medication
errors.
. Which finding most strongly suggests hypoglycemia?
A. Warm, flushed skin
B. Slow shallow respirations
C. Sweating and tremors
D. Bounding pulse and hypertension
🟢 Correct answer: C. Sweating and tremors
🔴 RATIONALE: Hypoglycemia commonly causes adrenergic symptoms such as sweating, tremors, and
anxiety.
. A patient with heart failure should be taught to report which symptom immediately?
, A. Increased urine output
B. Sudden weight gain
C. Improved appetite
D. Decreased blood pressure after rest
🟢 Correct answer: B. Sudden weight gain
🔴 RATIONALE: Rapid weight gain can indicate fluid retention and worsening heart failure.
. Which action best demonstrates therapeutic communication?
A. “You should not feel that way.”
B. “Why did you do that?”
C. “Tell me more about your concerns.”
D. “Everything will be fine.”
🟢 Correct answer: C. “Tell me more about your concerns.”
🔴 RATIONALE: Open-ended prompts encourage the patient to express feelings and concerns.
. A patient with chest pain is diaphoretic and short of breath. What is the nurse’s first action?
A. Obtain a detailed pain history
B. Notify the family
C. Place the patient in a supine position
D. Assess vital signs and oxygen saturation
, 🟢 Correct answer: D. Assess vital signs and oxygen saturation
🔴 RATIONALE: Rapid assessment of airway, breathing, and circulation guides immediate intervention.
. Which diet is most appropriate for a patient with hypertension?
A. High-sodium diet
B. Low-sodium diet
C. High-protein diet only
D. Low-carbohydrate diet
🟢 Correct answer: B. Low-sodium diet
🔴 RATIONALE: Reducing sodium helps control blood pressure and fluid retention.
. A nurse is caring for a postoperative patient. Which assessment finding requires immediate attention?
A. Mild pain at the incision site
B. Temperature of 100.1 F
C. Sudden shortness of breath
D. Decreased appetite
🟢 Correct answer: C. Sudden shortness of breath
🔴 RATIONALE: Sudden shortness of breath may indicate a pulmonary embolus or other respiratory
emergency.
