NC JURISPRUDENCE EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES
2026 Q&A |LATEST EXAM UPDATE 2026/2027
SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1-100
Question 1
What is the primary purpose of the North Carolina Board of Nursing?
A. To advocate for increased salaries for nurses
B. To protect the public's health, safety, and welfare through the regulation of nursing practice
C. To provide continuing education courses for nurses
D. To manage the hiring and firing of nurses in healthcare facilities
🟢 B. To protect the public's health, safety, and welfare through the regulation of nursing practice
🔴 RATIONALE: The primary mission of the NC Board of Nursing is to protect the public. Regulation of nursing
practice is the mechanism by which they achieve this goal, ensuring that nurses are competent and practice
safely.
Question 2
Which of the following is the best definition of the standard of care in nursing?
,A. A set of guidelines provided by the employer
B. The degree of skill and knowledge normally possessed and exercised by a reasonably prudent nurse in similar
circumstances
C. The minimum requirements for passing the NCLEX-RN
D. The latest research published in nursing journals
🟢 B. The degree of skill and knowledge normally possessed and exercised by a reasonably prudent nurse in
similar circumstances
🔴 RATIONALE: The standard of care is a legal and professional benchmark. It defines what a competent nurse
would reasonably do in a specific situation, based on the actions of a prudent peer.
Question 3
A patient with a DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) order goes into cardiac arrest. What is the correct nursing action?
A. Begin CPR immediately while calling a code
B. Call the physician for an updated order
C. Provide comfort measures and do not initiate CPR
D. Ask the family what they would like to do
🟢 C. Provide comfort measures and do not initiate CPR
🔴 RATIONALE: A valid DNR order legally means that CPR should not be initiated. The nurse's role is to provide
supportive and comfort care per the order.
,Question 4
A nurse makes a medication error and fails to report it. This action could result in disciplinary action for:
A. Incompetence only
B. Fraud
C. Unprofessional conduct and negligence
D. A civil tort only
🟢 C. Unprofessional conduct and negligence
🔴 RATIONALE: Failing to report a medication error violates the duty to report and can be considered both
unprofessional conduct and negligence. The error itself may be negligence, but the cover-up is a separate
serious breach of professional duty.
Question 5
When is a nurse legally required to report suspected child abuse in North Carolina?
A. Only when there is physical evidence
B. When the child makes a verbal disclosure
C. Immediately, or as soon as reasonably possible, upon suspicion
D. Within 24 hours after the child's parent is notified
🟢 C. Immediately, or as soon as reasonably possible, upon suspicion
🔴 RATIONALE: North Carolina law mandates that any person who suspects child abuse must report it
immediately to the Department of Social Services or law enforcement. The key is the "suspicion," not
confirmation.
, Question 6
Which of the following statements regarding a nurse's duty to a patient is accurate?
A. The nurse's duty ends when the patient is discharged
B. The nurse's duty is established once a nurse-patient relationship is formed
C. The nurse has no duty to patients who are not assigned to them
D. The duty is solely defined by the hospital's policy manual
🟢 B. The nurse's duty is established once a nurse-patient relationship is formed
🔴 RATIONALE: The nurse-patient relationship, and with it the duty of care, is established when the nurse
accepts the responsibility of caring for a patient, regardless of the setting.
Question 7
The North Carolina Board of Nursing has the authority to do all of the following EXCEPT:
A. Issue, deny, and revoke nursing licenses
B. Impose fines on nurses for violations
C. Determine the salary of a nurse employed by a hospital
D. Approve nursing education programs
🟢 C. Determine the salary of a nurse employed by a hospital
🔴 RATIONALE: The Board's authority is regulatory and related to public protection. It does not govern
employment matters like salaries, hiring, or firing, which are the purview of the employer.
2026 Q&A |LATEST EXAM UPDATE 2026/2027
SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1-100
Question 1
What is the primary purpose of the North Carolina Board of Nursing?
A. To advocate for increased salaries for nurses
B. To protect the public's health, safety, and welfare through the regulation of nursing practice
C. To provide continuing education courses for nurses
D. To manage the hiring and firing of nurses in healthcare facilities
🟢 B. To protect the public's health, safety, and welfare through the regulation of nursing practice
🔴 RATIONALE: The primary mission of the NC Board of Nursing is to protect the public. Regulation of nursing
practice is the mechanism by which they achieve this goal, ensuring that nurses are competent and practice
safely.
Question 2
Which of the following is the best definition of the standard of care in nursing?
,A. A set of guidelines provided by the employer
B. The degree of skill and knowledge normally possessed and exercised by a reasonably prudent nurse in similar
circumstances
C. The minimum requirements for passing the NCLEX-RN
D. The latest research published in nursing journals
🟢 B. The degree of skill and knowledge normally possessed and exercised by a reasonably prudent nurse in
similar circumstances
🔴 RATIONALE: The standard of care is a legal and professional benchmark. It defines what a competent nurse
would reasonably do in a specific situation, based on the actions of a prudent peer.
Question 3
A patient with a DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) order goes into cardiac arrest. What is the correct nursing action?
A. Begin CPR immediately while calling a code
B. Call the physician for an updated order
C. Provide comfort measures and do not initiate CPR
D. Ask the family what they would like to do
🟢 C. Provide comfort measures and do not initiate CPR
🔴 RATIONALE: A valid DNR order legally means that CPR should not be initiated. The nurse's role is to provide
supportive and comfort care per the order.
,Question 4
A nurse makes a medication error and fails to report it. This action could result in disciplinary action for:
A. Incompetence only
B. Fraud
C. Unprofessional conduct and negligence
D. A civil tort only
🟢 C. Unprofessional conduct and negligence
🔴 RATIONALE: Failing to report a medication error violates the duty to report and can be considered both
unprofessional conduct and negligence. The error itself may be negligence, but the cover-up is a separate
serious breach of professional duty.
Question 5
When is a nurse legally required to report suspected child abuse in North Carolina?
A. Only when there is physical evidence
B. When the child makes a verbal disclosure
C. Immediately, or as soon as reasonably possible, upon suspicion
D. Within 24 hours after the child's parent is notified
🟢 C. Immediately, or as soon as reasonably possible, upon suspicion
🔴 RATIONALE: North Carolina law mandates that any person who suspects child abuse must report it
immediately to the Department of Social Services or law enforcement. The key is the "suspicion," not
confirmation.
, Question 6
Which of the following statements regarding a nurse's duty to a patient is accurate?
A. The nurse's duty ends when the patient is discharged
B. The nurse's duty is established once a nurse-patient relationship is formed
C. The nurse has no duty to patients who are not assigned to them
D. The duty is solely defined by the hospital's policy manual
🟢 B. The nurse's duty is established once a nurse-patient relationship is formed
🔴 RATIONALE: The nurse-patient relationship, and with it the duty of care, is established when the nurse
accepts the responsibility of caring for a patient, regardless of the setting.
Question 7
The North Carolina Board of Nursing has the authority to do all of the following EXCEPT:
A. Issue, deny, and revoke nursing licenses
B. Impose fines on nurses for violations
C. Determine the salary of a nurse employed by a hospital
D. Approve nursing education programs
🟢 C. Determine the salary of a nurse employed by a hospital
🔴 RATIONALE: The Board's authority is regulatory and related to public protection. It does not govern
employment matters like salaries, hiring, or firing, which are the purview of the employer.
