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NCLEX- PRIORITIZING EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS 2026
The nurse has developed a teaching plan for a client with hypertension regarding the
administration of prescribed medications. What is the initial nursing action?
1. Set priorities for the client.
2. Assess the client's readiness to learn.
3. Find out whether anyone lives with the client.
4. Use only 1 teaching method to prevent confusion. - correct-answer - 2. Assess the client's
readiness to learn.
Rationale:
Until the client is ready to learn, teaching sessions will be ineffective. Teaching should be in
short sessions, early in the day, when the client is well rested. It is important to include the
client in the development of the teaching plan and to set priorities with him or her. Although it
may be important to determine whether anyone lives with the client, this is not the initial
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nursing action. Varied teaching methods are best, such as verbal instruction with visual aids and
the provision of written material for later reference.
A client with cancer is receiving intravenous morphine sulfate for pain. When writing the plan
of care for this client, the nurse should include which action as the priority action?
1. Monitor temperature.
2. Monitor urine output.
3. Monitor respiratory status.
4. Encourage increased fluids. - correct-answer - 3. Monitor respiratory status.
Rationale:
Morphine sulfate depresses respirations. The nurse monitors the client's respiratory status
closely. Although the incorrect options may be components of the plan of care, the correct
choice identifies the priority nursing action.
The nurse notes blanching, coolness, and edema at a client's peripheral intravenous (IV) site.
Which nursing action is the priority?
1. Remove the IV catheter.
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2. Apply a warm compress.
3. Check for a blood return.
4. Measure the area of infiltration. - correct-answer - 1. Remove the IV catheter.
Rationale:
Blanching, coolness, and edema of the IV site all are classic signs of infiltration. Because
infiltration can be damaging to the surrounding tissue, the nurse should remove the IV catheter
to prevent any further damage. Warm compresses may be applied to the infiltrated area only
after the IV catheter is removed and only if the infiltrated solution is not damaging to the
surrounding tissues. The nurse should not depend solely on the blood return for assurance that
the cannula is in the vein because a blood return may be present even if the cannula is only
partially in the vein. Measuring the area of infiltration would be done after the IV catheter has
been removed to assess for any further tissue damage.
The nurse is caring for 4 pediatric clients. After receiving reports from the night shift, which
child should the nurse assess first?
1. A 6-year-old child being treated for bacterial meningitis and on the tenth day of antibiotic
treatment
2. A 6-week-old infant admitted to the hospital for decreased level of consciousness; shaken
baby syndrome is suspected
NCLEX- PRIORITIZING EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS 2026
The nurse has developed a teaching plan for a client with hypertension regarding the
administration of prescribed medications. What is the initial nursing action?
1. Set priorities for the client.
2. Assess the client's readiness to learn.
3. Find out whether anyone lives with the client.
4. Use only 1 teaching method to prevent confusion. - correct-answer - 2. Assess the client's
readiness to learn.
Rationale:
Until the client is ready to learn, teaching sessions will be ineffective. Teaching should be in
short sessions, early in the day, when the client is well rested. It is important to include the
client in the development of the teaching plan and to set priorities with him or her. Although it
may be important to determine whether anyone lives with the client, this is not the initial
,2|Page
nursing action. Varied teaching methods are best, such as verbal instruction with visual aids and
the provision of written material for later reference.
A client with cancer is receiving intravenous morphine sulfate for pain. When writing the plan
of care for this client, the nurse should include which action as the priority action?
1. Monitor temperature.
2. Monitor urine output.
3. Monitor respiratory status.
4. Encourage increased fluids. - correct-answer - 3. Monitor respiratory status.
Rationale:
Morphine sulfate depresses respirations. The nurse monitors the client's respiratory status
closely. Although the incorrect options may be components of the plan of care, the correct
choice identifies the priority nursing action.
The nurse notes blanching, coolness, and edema at a client's peripheral intravenous (IV) site.
Which nursing action is the priority?
1. Remove the IV catheter.
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2. Apply a warm compress.
3. Check for a blood return.
4. Measure the area of infiltration. - correct-answer - 1. Remove the IV catheter.
Rationale:
Blanching, coolness, and edema of the IV site all are classic signs of infiltration. Because
infiltration can be damaging to the surrounding tissue, the nurse should remove the IV catheter
to prevent any further damage. Warm compresses may be applied to the infiltrated area only
after the IV catheter is removed and only if the infiltrated solution is not damaging to the
surrounding tissues. The nurse should not depend solely on the blood return for assurance that
the cannula is in the vein because a blood return may be present even if the cannula is only
partially in the vein. Measuring the area of infiltration would be done after the IV catheter has
been removed to assess for any further tissue damage.
The nurse is caring for 4 pediatric clients. After receiving reports from the night shift, which
child should the nurse assess first?
1. A 6-year-old child being treated for bacterial meningitis and on the tenth day of antibiotic
treatment
2. A 6-week-old infant admitted to the hospital for decreased level of consciousness; shaken
baby syndrome is suspected
