# NR 224 Fundamentals of Nursing Skills Final Examination
## Comprehensive Practice Assessment | 100 NCLEX-Style
Questions with Rationales
### Updated 2026 | Pass First Attempt Guarantee
---
**Question 1**
A nurse is preparing to insert an indwelling urinary catheter for a female patient. Which action should
the nurse take to reduce the risk of infection?
A. Use sterile technique and insert the catheter using clean gloves
B. Cleanse the meatus with antiseptic solution from front to back
C. Use sterile technique and insert the catheter using sterile gloves
D. Cleanse the meatus with sterile water and allow to air dry
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: C. Use sterile technique and insert the catheter using sterile gloves
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: Sterile technique including sterile gloves is essential during catheter insertion to
prevent introduction of microorganisms into the urinary tract.
---
**Question 2**
A patient has been prescribed furosemide 40 mg IV push. The nurse knows that this medication should
be administered over which time frame?
A. 1-2 minutes
B. 2-3 minutes
C. 1-2 seconds
D. 5-10 minutes
,💫ANSWER✔️✔️: A. 1-2 minutes
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: Furosemide should be administered slowly over 1-2 minutes to prevent ototoxicity
and hypotension.
---
**Question 3**
The nurse is assessing a patient's pain using the PQRST method. The "P" in PQRST stands for:
A. Position
B. Provocation/Palliation
C. Pain scale
D. Pattern
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: B. Provocation/Palliation
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: PQRST stands for Provocation/Palliation, Quality, Region/Radiation, Severity, and
Timing.
---
**Question 4**
A nurse is performing a sterile dressing change. After opening the sterile field, the nurse notices the
outer edge of a sterile drape has become moist. What is the appropriate action?
A. Continue with the procedure as the moisture is on the outer edge
B. Use sterile gloves to pat the moisture dry
C. Replace the entire sterile field and drape
D. Cut off the moist portion of the drape
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: C. Replace the entire sterile field and drape
,💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: Moisture can wick microorganisms through the sterile drape, compromising the
sterile field.
---
**Question 5**
Which patient position is most appropriate for a nurse to place a patient in to facilitate a rectal
examination?
A. Fowler's position
B. Supine position
C. Sims' position
D. Dorsal recumbent position
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: C. Sims' position
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: Sims' position (left side-lying with right knee flexed) provides optimal access for
rectal examination.
---
**Question 6**
The nurse is caring for a patient with a nasogastric tube. Which finding indicates proper placement of
the tube?
A. pH of gastric aspirate is 7.0
B. pH of gastric aspirate is 3.0
C. pH of gastric aspirate is 8.0
D. pH of gastric aspirate is 9.0
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: B. pH of gastric aspirate is 3.0
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: Gastric aspirate typically has a pH between 1.0 and 4.0, confirming placement in the
stomach.
, ---
**Question 7**
A nurse is preparing to administer an intramuscular injection using the Z-track method. This technique is
primarily used to:
A. Reduce pain at the injection site
B. Prevent medication leakage into subcutaneous tissue
C. Increase absorption of the medication
D. Reduce the risk of nerve damage
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: B. Prevent medication leakage into subcutaneous tissue
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: The Z-track method seals the medication in the muscle tissue, preventing leakage
and irritation of subcutaneous tissue.
---
**Question 8**
The nurse is assessing a patient's peripheral pulses. Which pulse site is most commonly used to assess
circulation in the foot?
A. Popliteal pulse
B. Femoral pulse
C. Dorsalis pedis pulse
D. Posterior tibial pulse
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: C. Dorsalis pedis pulse
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: The dorsalis pedis pulse is located on the dorsum of the foot and is readily accessible
for assessing foot circulation.
---
## Comprehensive Practice Assessment | 100 NCLEX-Style
Questions with Rationales
### Updated 2026 | Pass First Attempt Guarantee
---
**Question 1**
A nurse is preparing to insert an indwelling urinary catheter for a female patient. Which action should
the nurse take to reduce the risk of infection?
A. Use sterile technique and insert the catheter using clean gloves
B. Cleanse the meatus with antiseptic solution from front to back
C. Use sterile technique and insert the catheter using sterile gloves
D. Cleanse the meatus with sterile water and allow to air dry
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: C. Use sterile technique and insert the catheter using sterile gloves
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: Sterile technique including sterile gloves is essential during catheter insertion to
prevent introduction of microorganisms into the urinary tract.
---
**Question 2**
A patient has been prescribed furosemide 40 mg IV push. The nurse knows that this medication should
be administered over which time frame?
A. 1-2 minutes
B. 2-3 minutes
C. 1-2 seconds
D. 5-10 minutes
,💫ANSWER✔️✔️: A. 1-2 minutes
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: Furosemide should be administered slowly over 1-2 minutes to prevent ototoxicity
and hypotension.
---
**Question 3**
The nurse is assessing a patient's pain using the PQRST method. The "P" in PQRST stands for:
A. Position
B. Provocation/Palliation
C. Pain scale
D. Pattern
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: B. Provocation/Palliation
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: PQRST stands for Provocation/Palliation, Quality, Region/Radiation, Severity, and
Timing.
---
**Question 4**
A nurse is performing a sterile dressing change. After opening the sterile field, the nurse notices the
outer edge of a sterile drape has become moist. What is the appropriate action?
A. Continue with the procedure as the moisture is on the outer edge
B. Use sterile gloves to pat the moisture dry
C. Replace the entire sterile field and drape
D. Cut off the moist portion of the drape
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: C. Replace the entire sterile field and drape
,💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: Moisture can wick microorganisms through the sterile drape, compromising the
sterile field.
---
**Question 5**
Which patient position is most appropriate for a nurse to place a patient in to facilitate a rectal
examination?
A. Fowler's position
B. Supine position
C. Sims' position
D. Dorsal recumbent position
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: C. Sims' position
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: Sims' position (left side-lying with right knee flexed) provides optimal access for
rectal examination.
---
**Question 6**
The nurse is caring for a patient with a nasogastric tube. Which finding indicates proper placement of
the tube?
A. pH of gastric aspirate is 7.0
B. pH of gastric aspirate is 3.0
C. pH of gastric aspirate is 8.0
D. pH of gastric aspirate is 9.0
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: B. pH of gastric aspirate is 3.0
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: Gastric aspirate typically has a pH between 1.0 and 4.0, confirming placement in the
stomach.
, ---
**Question 7**
A nurse is preparing to administer an intramuscular injection using the Z-track method. This technique is
primarily used to:
A. Reduce pain at the injection site
B. Prevent medication leakage into subcutaneous tissue
C. Increase absorption of the medication
D. Reduce the risk of nerve damage
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: B. Prevent medication leakage into subcutaneous tissue
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: The Z-track method seals the medication in the muscle tissue, preventing leakage
and irritation of subcutaneous tissue.
---
**Question 8**
The nurse is assessing a patient's peripheral pulses. Which pulse site is most commonly used to assess
circulation in the foot?
A. Popliteal pulse
B. Femoral pulse
C. Dorsalis pedis pulse
D. Posterior tibial pulse
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: C. Dorsalis pedis pulse
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: The dorsalis pedis pulse is located on the dorsum of the foot and is readily accessible
for assessing foot circulation.
---
