KAPLAN PRIORITIZATION AND DELEGATION EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS
RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
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CORE DOMAINS
*- Prioritization Frameworks and Principles*
*- Delegation Rights and Scope of Practice*
*- Nursing Leadership and Management*
*- Patient Safety and Risk Reduction*
*- Ethics and Professional Standards*
*- Regulatory and Legal Compliance*
*- Clinical Judgment and Decision-Making*
*- Communication and Therapeutic Interaction*
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INTRODUCTION
This exam assesses critical competencies in nursing prioritization and delegation essential for safe clinical practice. Candidates will demonstrate
mastery of decision-making frameworks including ABCs, Maslow's Hierarchy, and the nursing process when determining which patients require
immediate attention. The assessment evaluates knowledge of delegation rights, scope of practice distinctions between RNs, LPNs, and UAPs, and
appropriate task assignment based on patient stability. All questions are multiple-choice and scenario-based, requiring application of theoretical
knowledge to real-world clinical situations. Emphasis is placed on critical thinking, patient safety, ethical considerations, and regulatory
compliance. Success requires integrating clinical judgment with professional standards to make sound decisions under pressure.
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SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1–100
Question 1
A nurse is caring for four patients and must determine who to assess first. Which patient requires immediate attention?
A. A patient with Type 2 diabetes reporting mild hunger
B. A patient post-op day 1 with pain rated 4/10
C. A patient with sudden shortness of breath and oxygen saturation 88%
D. A patient requesting discharge paperwork
,🟢C
🔴 RATIONALE: The patient with sudden shortness of breath and low oxygen saturation indicates respiratory distress, which is an airway/breathing
priority per ABCs. Respiratory compromise is life-threatening and requires immediate assessment.
Question 2
Which task is appropriate for the nurse to delegate to an experienced licensed practical nurse (LPN)?
A. Perform initial assessment of a new admission
B. Develop the care plan for a patient with heart failure
C. Administer oral medications to a stable patient
D. Interpret arterial blood gas results
🟢C
🔴 RATIONALE: LPNs can administer medications to stable patients. Initial assessments, care planning, and interpretation of complex lab results
are RN responsibilities requiring advanced judgment.
Question 3
A nurse finds a patient on the floor after a fall. What is the FIRST action the nurse should take?
A. Call for help using the call button
B. Assess the patient for injuries
C. Immediately return the patient to bed
D. Document the fall in the medical record
🟢B
🔴 RATIONALE: Assessment is the priority—the nurse must determine if there are injuries before moving the patient or notifying others. This
follows the nursing process (assessment first).
Question 4
Which principle should guide a nurse when prioritizing care for multiple patients?
A. Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
B. Hospital policy compliance
C. Patient preference only
D. Staff availability
,🟢A
🔴 RATIONALE: Maslow's Hierarchy provides a systematic framework prioritizing physiological needs first (airway, breathing, circulation), then
safety, before psychosocial needs. This ensures life-threatening conditions are addressed first.
Question 5
A nurse is preparing to delegate tasks. Which task cannot be delegated to an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP)?
A. Feed a stable patient
B. Reinforce teaching about wound care
C. Assist with ambulation
D. Collect urine specimen
🟢B
🔴 RATIONALE: Teaching and reinforcement of teaching require nursing judgment and evaluation of learning, which cannot be delegated to UAPs.
UAPs perform routine tasks like feeding, ambulation, and specimen collection.
Question 6
Which patient should the nurse assess FIRST during morning rounds?
A. A patient with blood glucose 60 mg/dL reporting lightheadness
B. A patient with a fever of 100.4°F
C. A patient requesting pain medication
D. A patient scheduled for discharge at 2 PM
🟢A
🔴 RATIONALE: Blood glucose of 60 mg/dL with lightheadness indicates hypoglycemia, which can rapidly progress to seizures or coma. This is an
acute, unstable condition requiring immediate intervention.
Question 7
The "Right Person" in delegation refers to:
A. Ensuring the delegatee has appropriate skills and knowledge
B. Delegating to the most senior staff member
C. Choosing the person who is easiest to work with
D. Assigning tasks based on personal preference
, 🟢A
🔴 RATIONALE: The Right Person requires verifying that the delegatee possesses the necessary skills, knowledge, and competency for the specific
task. This ensures patient safety and quality care.
Question 8
A nurse must assign patients to an LPN. Which patient is MOST appropriate for LPN care?
A. A patient admitted with new-onset sepsis
B. A stable patient with chronic hypertension on routine meds
C. A patient requiring complex wound vac management
D. A patient post-stroke with changing neurological status
🟢B
🔴 RATIONALE: LPNs care for stable patients with predictable outcomes. Sepsis, complex wound care, and changing neuro status require RN
assessment and judgment.
Question 9
Which situation requires the nurse to use the ABCs prioritization framework?
A. A patient with anxiety requesting reassurance
B. A patient with difficulty breathing and wheezing
C. A patient complaining of constipation
D. A patient requesting information about diet
🟢B
🔴 RATIONALE: ABCs (Airway, Breathing, Circulation) prioritize respiratory issues. Difficulty breathing and wheezing indicate potential
airway/breathing compromise requiring immediate attention.
Question 10
What is the nurse's responsibility after delegating a task?
A. Nothing—the delegatee is fully responsible
B. Supervise and evaluate the outcome
C. Only document the delegation
D. Assume the task was completed correctly
RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
*
*
CORE DOMAINS
*- Prioritization Frameworks and Principles*
*- Delegation Rights and Scope of Practice*
*- Nursing Leadership and Management*
*- Patient Safety and Risk Reduction*
*- Ethics and Professional Standards*
*- Regulatory and Legal Compliance*
*- Clinical Judgment and Decision-Making*
*- Communication and Therapeutic Interaction*
*
INTRODUCTION
This exam assesses critical competencies in nursing prioritization and delegation essential for safe clinical practice. Candidates will demonstrate
mastery of decision-making frameworks including ABCs, Maslow's Hierarchy, and the nursing process when determining which patients require
immediate attention. The assessment evaluates knowledge of delegation rights, scope of practice distinctions between RNs, LPNs, and UAPs, and
appropriate task assignment based on patient stability. All questions are multiple-choice and scenario-based, requiring application of theoretical
knowledge to real-world clinical situations. Emphasis is placed on critical thinking, patient safety, ethical considerations, and regulatory
compliance. Success requires integrating clinical judgment with professional standards to make sound decisions under pressure.
*
*
SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1–100
Question 1
A nurse is caring for four patients and must determine who to assess first. Which patient requires immediate attention?
A. A patient with Type 2 diabetes reporting mild hunger
B. A patient post-op day 1 with pain rated 4/10
C. A patient with sudden shortness of breath and oxygen saturation 88%
D. A patient requesting discharge paperwork
,🟢C
🔴 RATIONALE: The patient with sudden shortness of breath and low oxygen saturation indicates respiratory distress, which is an airway/breathing
priority per ABCs. Respiratory compromise is life-threatening and requires immediate assessment.
Question 2
Which task is appropriate for the nurse to delegate to an experienced licensed practical nurse (LPN)?
A. Perform initial assessment of a new admission
B. Develop the care plan for a patient with heart failure
C. Administer oral medications to a stable patient
D. Interpret arterial blood gas results
🟢C
🔴 RATIONALE: LPNs can administer medications to stable patients. Initial assessments, care planning, and interpretation of complex lab results
are RN responsibilities requiring advanced judgment.
Question 3
A nurse finds a patient on the floor after a fall. What is the FIRST action the nurse should take?
A. Call for help using the call button
B. Assess the patient for injuries
C. Immediately return the patient to bed
D. Document the fall in the medical record
🟢B
🔴 RATIONALE: Assessment is the priority—the nurse must determine if there are injuries before moving the patient or notifying others. This
follows the nursing process (assessment first).
Question 4
Which principle should guide a nurse when prioritizing care for multiple patients?
A. Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
B. Hospital policy compliance
C. Patient preference only
D. Staff availability
,🟢A
🔴 RATIONALE: Maslow's Hierarchy provides a systematic framework prioritizing physiological needs first (airway, breathing, circulation), then
safety, before psychosocial needs. This ensures life-threatening conditions are addressed first.
Question 5
A nurse is preparing to delegate tasks. Which task cannot be delegated to an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP)?
A. Feed a stable patient
B. Reinforce teaching about wound care
C. Assist with ambulation
D. Collect urine specimen
🟢B
🔴 RATIONALE: Teaching and reinforcement of teaching require nursing judgment and evaluation of learning, which cannot be delegated to UAPs.
UAPs perform routine tasks like feeding, ambulation, and specimen collection.
Question 6
Which patient should the nurse assess FIRST during morning rounds?
A. A patient with blood glucose 60 mg/dL reporting lightheadness
B. A patient with a fever of 100.4°F
C. A patient requesting pain medication
D. A patient scheduled for discharge at 2 PM
🟢A
🔴 RATIONALE: Blood glucose of 60 mg/dL with lightheadness indicates hypoglycemia, which can rapidly progress to seizures or coma. This is an
acute, unstable condition requiring immediate intervention.
Question 7
The "Right Person" in delegation refers to:
A. Ensuring the delegatee has appropriate skills and knowledge
B. Delegating to the most senior staff member
C. Choosing the person who is easiest to work with
D. Assigning tasks based on personal preference
, 🟢A
🔴 RATIONALE: The Right Person requires verifying that the delegatee possesses the necessary skills, knowledge, and competency for the specific
task. This ensures patient safety and quality care.
Question 8
A nurse must assign patients to an LPN. Which patient is MOST appropriate for LPN care?
A. A patient admitted with new-onset sepsis
B. A stable patient with chronic hypertension on routine meds
C. A patient requiring complex wound vac management
D. A patient post-stroke with changing neurological status
🟢B
🔴 RATIONALE: LPNs care for stable patients with predictable outcomes. Sepsis, complex wound care, and changing neuro status require RN
assessment and judgment.
Question 9
Which situation requires the nurse to use the ABCs prioritization framework?
A. A patient with anxiety requesting reassurance
B. A patient with difficulty breathing and wheezing
C. A patient complaining of constipation
D. A patient requesting information about diet
🟢B
🔴 RATIONALE: ABCs (Airway, Breathing, Circulation) prioritize respiratory issues. Difficulty breathing and wheezing indicate potential
airway/breathing compromise requiring immediate attention.
Question 10
What is the nurse's responsibility after delegating a task?
A. Nothing—the delegatee is fully responsible
B. Supervise and evaluate the outcome
C. Only document the delegation
D. Assume the task was completed correctly
