KAPLAN FUNDAMENTALS EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES 2026
Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
Core Domains
*- Patient Assessment and Vital Signs*
*- Infection Control and Prevention*
*- Safety and Emergency Procedures*
*- Medication Administration and Pharmacology*
*- Nursing Process and Clinical Decision-Making*
*- Ethics and Legal Compliance in Nursing*
*- Health Promotion and Maintenance*
*- Psychosocial Integrity*
*- Physiological Integrity and Basic Care*
*- Communication and Therapeutic Relationships*
Introduction
This comprehensive assessment evaluates foundational nursing knowledge essential for safe and effective clinical practice. The exam tests critical
skills including patient assessment, infection control, medication administration, safety protocols, and ethical decision-making. Questions are
presented in multiple-choice and scenario-based formats that mirror real-world clinical situations. Emphasis is placed on applying theoretical
knowledge to practical decision-making, prioritizing patient care, and demonstrating professional standards. This test bank prepares nursing
students for licensing examinations and clinical competency evaluations by covering all core domains of fundamental nursing practice with
verified answers and detailed rationales.
Section One: Questions 1–100
Question 1
A nurse is assessing a newly admitted patient whose blood pressure reads 148/92 mmHg, heart rate 88 bpm, respiratory rate 18/min, temperature
37.2°C, and oxygen saturation 97% on room air. Which finding requires further assessment?
A. Heart rate 88 bpm
B. Blood pressure 148/92 mmHg
C. Respiratory rate 18/min
D. Oxygen saturation 97%
,🟢 B. Blood pressure 148/92 mmHg
🔴 RATIONALE: Blood pressure of 148/92 mmHg indicates stage 1 hypertension (systolic ≥140 or diastolic ≥90). This requires further assessment
to determine if it's chronic or acute, and to evaluate for potential cardiovascular risk factors. The other vital signs are within normal adult ranges.
Question 2
Which action by a nurse demonstrates proper hand hygiene technique before entering a patient's room?
A. Using alcohol-based sanitizer when hands are visibly soiled
B. Washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
C. Rinsing hands quickly under running water without soap
D. Applying gloves without performing hand hygiene
🟢 B. Washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
🔴 RATIONALE: CDC guidelines recommend washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds as the gold standard for hand hygiene.
Alcohol-based sanitizer should not be used when hands are visibly soiled. Hand hygiene must always be performed before donning gloves.
Question 3
A patient with a urinary catheter develops cloudy urine with a strong odor. What is the nurse's priority action?
A. Irrigate the catheter with sterile saline
B. Document the findings and continue monitoring
C. Notify the healthcare provider and obtain a urine culture
D. Increase the patient's fluid intake immediately
🟢 C. Notify the healthcare provider and obtain a urine culture
🔴 RATIONALE: Cloudy urine with strong odor suggests a catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI). The priority is to notify the provider
and obtain a urine culture before starting antibiotics. Irrigation is not routinely recommended and may increase infection risk.
Question 4
Which medication administration route provides the fastest onset of action?
,A. Intramuscular injection
B. Subcutaneous injection
C. Intravenous injection
D. Oral administration
🟢 C. Intravenous injection
🔴 RATIONALE: Intravenous (IV) administration provides the fastest onset because the medication enters directly into the bloodstream, bypassing
absorption barriers. Intramuscular and subcutaneous routes require absorption through tissue, while oral administration requires gastrointestinal
absorption and first-pass metabolism.
Question 5
A nurse is preparing to administer 320 mg of acetaminophen to a child. The available concentration is 160 mg/5 mL. How many mL should the nurse
administer?
A. 5 mL
B. 7.5 mL
C. 10 mL
D. 12 mL
🟢 C. 10 mL
🔴 RATIONALE: Using the formula: (Desired dose / Available dose) × Volume = (320 mg / 160 mg) × 5 mL = 2 × 5 mL = 10 mL. Accurate
medication calculation is critical for pediatric safety.
Question 6
Which action by a nurse constitutes a breach of patient confidentiality under HIPAA?
A. Discussing patient care during a multidisciplinary team meeting
B. Sharing patient information with the patient's family member without consent
C. Documenting assessment findings in the electronic health record
D. Consulting with a pharmacist about medication interactions
🟢 B. Sharing patient information with the patient's family member without consent
, 🔴 RATIONALE: HIPAA requires patient consent before sharing health information with family members unless the patient is incapacitated or
emergency circumstances exist. Discussing care with the healthcare team, documentation, and pharmacist consultations are permitted for treatment
purposes.
Question 7
A patient is experiencing difficulty breathing and has oxygen saturation of 88% on room air. What is the nurse's priority intervention?
A. Administer oxygen via nasal cannula at 2-4 L/min
B. Elevate the head of the bed to 45 degrees
C. Obtain a arterial blood gas specimen
D. Auscultate lung sounds bilaterally
🟢 A. Administer oxygen via nasal cannula at 2-4 L/min
🔴 RATIONALE: Hypoxemia (SpO2 <90%) is a medical emergency requiring immediate oxygen administration to prevent tissue damage. While
elevating the head of bed and assessment are important, restoring adequate oxygenation is the priority according to the ABC (Airway, Breathing,
Circulation) framework.
Question 8
Which finding indicates effective pain management in a postoperative patient?
A. Patient reports pain level of 2/10 and ambulates successfully
B. Patient sleeps for 4 hours without interruption
C. Patient requests additional pain medication every 2 hours
D. Patient maintains blood pressure at 150/90 mmHg
🟢 A. Patient reports pain level of 2/10 and ambulates successfully
🔴 RATIONALE: Effective pain management is indicated by patient self-report of acceptable pain level (typically ≤3/10) and ability to perform
necessary activities like ambulation. Sleeping may indicate sedation rather than pain control, and frequent medication requests suggest inadequate
management.
Question 9
A nurse is teaching a patient about deep vein thrombosis (DVT) prevention. Which instruction is most important?
Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
Core Domains
*- Patient Assessment and Vital Signs*
*- Infection Control and Prevention*
*- Safety and Emergency Procedures*
*- Medication Administration and Pharmacology*
*- Nursing Process and Clinical Decision-Making*
*- Ethics and Legal Compliance in Nursing*
*- Health Promotion and Maintenance*
*- Psychosocial Integrity*
*- Physiological Integrity and Basic Care*
*- Communication and Therapeutic Relationships*
Introduction
This comprehensive assessment evaluates foundational nursing knowledge essential for safe and effective clinical practice. The exam tests critical
skills including patient assessment, infection control, medication administration, safety protocols, and ethical decision-making. Questions are
presented in multiple-choice and scenario-based formats that mirror real-world clinical situations. Emphasis is placed on applying theoretical
knowledge to practical decision-making, prioritizing patient care, and demonstrating professional standards. This test bank prepares nursing
students for licensing examinations and clinical competency evaluations by covering all core domains of fundamental nursing practice with
verified answers and detailed rationales.
Section One: Questions 1–100
Question 1
A nurse is assessing a newly admitted patient whose blood pressure reads 148/92 mmHg, heart rate 88 bpm, respiratory rate 18/min, temperature
37.2°C, and oxygen saturation 97% on room air. Which finding requires further assessment?
A. Heart rate 88 bpm
B. Blood pressure 148/92 mmHg
C. Respiratory rate 18/min
D. Oxygen saturation 97%
,🟢 B. Blood pressure 148/92 mmHg
🔴 RATIONALE: Blood pressure of 148/92 mmHg indicates stage 1 hypertension (systolic ≥140 or diastolic ≥90). This requires further assessment
to determine if it's chronic or acute, and to evaluate for potential cardiovascular risk factors. The other vital signs are within normal adult ranges.
Question 2
Which action by a nurse demonstrates proper hand hygiene technique before entering a patient's room?
A. Using alcohol-based sanitizer when hands are visibly soiled
B. Washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
C. Rinsing hands quickly under running water without soap
D. Applying gloves without performing hand hygiene
🟢 B. Washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
🔴 RATIONALE: CDC guidelines recommend washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds as the gold standard for hand hygiene.
Alcohol-based sanitizer should not be used when hands are visibly soiled. Hand hygiene must always be performed before donning gloves.
Question 3
A patient with a urinary catheter develops cloudy urine with a strong odor. What is the nurse's priority action?
A. Irrigate the catheter with sterile saline
B. Document the findings and continue monitoring
C. Notify the healthcare provider and obtain a urine culture
D. Increase the patient's fluid intake immediately
🟢 C. Notify the healthcare provider and obtain a urine culture
🔴 RATIONALE: Cloudy urine with strong odor suggests a catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI). The priority is to notify the provider
and obtain a urine culture before starting antibiotics. Irrigation is not routinely recommended and may increase infection risk.
Question 4
Which medication administration route provides the fastest onset of action?
,A. Intramuscular injection
B. Subcutaneous injection
C. Intravenous injection
D. Oral administration
🟢 C. Intravenous injection
🔴 RATIONALE: Intravenous (IV) administration provides the fastest onset because the medication enters directly into the bloodstream, bypassing
absorption barriers. Intramuscular and subcutaneous routes require absorption through tissue, while oral administration requires gastrointestinal
absorption and first-pass metabolism.
Question 5
A nurse is preparing to administer 320 mg of acetaminophen to a child. The available concentration is 160 mg/5 mL. How many mL should the nurse
administer?
A. 5 mL
B. 7.5 mL
C. 10 mL
D. 12 mL
🟢 C. 10 mL
🔴 RATIONALE: Using the formula: (Desired dose / Available dose) × Volume = (320 mg / 160 mg) × 5 mL = 2 × 5 mL = 10 mL. Accurate
medication calculation is critical for pediatric safety.
Question 6
Which action by a nurse constitutes a breach of patient confidentiality under HIPAA?
A. Discussing patient care during a multidisciplinary team meeting
B. Sharing patient information with the patient's family member without consent
C. Documenting assessment findings in the electronic health record
D. Consulting with a pharmacist about medication interactions
🟢 B. Sharing patient information with the patient's family member without consent
, 🔴 RATIONALE: HIPAA requires patient consent before sharing health information with family members unless the patient is incapacitated or
emergency circumstances exist. Discussing care with the healthcare team, documentation, and pharmacist consultations are permitted for treatment
purposes.
Question 7
A patient is experiencing difficulty breathing and has oxygen saturation of 88% on room air. What is the nurse's priority intervention?
A. Administer oxygen via nasal cannula at 2-4 L/min
B. Elevate the head of the bed to 45 degrees
C. Obtain a arterial blood gas specimen
D. Auscultate lung sounds bilaterally
🟢 A. Administer oxygen via nasal cannula at 2-4 L/min
🔴 RATIONALE: Hypoxemia (SpO2 <90%) is a medical emergency requiring immediate oxygen administration to prevent tissue damage. While
elevating the head of bed and assessment are important, restoring adequate oxygenation is the priority according to the ABC (Airway, Breathing,
Circulation) framework.
Question 8
Which finding indicates effective pain management in a postoperative patient?
A. Patient reports pain level of 2/10 and ambulates successfully
B. Patient sleeps for 4 hours without interruption
C. Patient requests additional pain medication every 2 hours
D. Patient maintains blood pressure at 150/90 mmHg
🟢 A. Patient reports pain level of 2/10 and ambulates successfully
🔴 RATIONALE: Effective pain management is indicated by patient self-report of acceptable pain level (typically ≤3/10) and ability to perform
necessary activities like ambulation. Sleeping may indicate sedation rather than pain control, and frequent medication requests suggest inadequate
management.
Question 9
A nurse is teaching a patient about deep vein thrombosis (DVT) prevention. Which instruction is most important?
