BARKLEY NURSING CONTINUING EDUCATION POST-TEST 1 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED
ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A |LATEST EXAM UPDATE 2026/2027..
CORE DOMAINS
Patient Safety and Quality Improvement
Pharmacology and Medication Administration
Medical-Surgical Nursing
Legal and Ethical Nursing Practice
Emergency and Critical Care Nursing
Gerontology and Chronic Disease Management
Maternal-Child and Pediatric Nursing
Mental Health and Psychiatric Nursing
Nursing Leadership and Management
Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning
INTRODUCTION
This comprehensive examination is designed to assess the advanced knowledge and clinical reasoning skills
essential for professional nursing practice. The assessment covers a broad spectrum of core domains, including
patient safety, pharmacology, legal and ethical standards, and specialized areas of care. Through a series of
multiple-choice questions and scenario-based items, the test evaluates the nurse's ability to apply theoretical
knowledge, interpret clinical data, and make sound, evidence-based decisions in complex healthcare environments.
Emphasis is placed on the practical application of concepts to real-world situations, ensuring readiness for the
,dynamic and challenging demands of modern clinical settings. This examination serves as a tool for both self-
evaluation and validation of continued professional competence.
SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1-100
Question 1
A patient with a history of chronic kidney disease is admitted with hyperkalemia. The nurse notes a potassium
level of 6.8 mEq/L. Which intervention should the nurse anticipate being prescribed first?
A. Oral sodium polystyrene sulfonate
B. Intravenous calcium gluconate
C. Intravenous insulin with dextrose
D. Oral furosemide
🟢 B. Intravenous calcium gluconate
🔴 RATIONALE: In the setting of severe hyperkalemia, the immediate priority is to stabilize the cardiac
membrane to prevent lethal arrhythmias. Calcium gluconate is administered intravenously to achieve this effect,
protecting the heart while other treatments work to lower serum potassium levels.
Question 2
A nurse is preparing to administer a blood transfusion to a patient. What is the most critical action for the nurse
to take immediately before initiating the infusion?
A. Ensure the patient has signed a general consent for treatment.
B. Verify the patient's blood type and Rh factor against the unit label with another licensed professional.
,C. Document the patient's baseline vital signs.
D. Prime the IV tubing with normal saline.
🟢 B. Verify the patient's blood type and Rh factor against the unit label with another licensed professional.
🔴 RATIONALE: The most critical safety step in blood transfusion is the bedside verification of the patient's
identity and blood compatibility with the unit. This dual-check process, performed by two licensed
professionals, is the primary safeguard against fatal hemolytic transfusion reactions.
Question 3
A client is prescribed sertraline for major depressive disorder. Which statement by the client indicates that the
teaching about this medication is effective?
A. "I can expect to feel better immediately after starting this drug."
B. "I should avoid eating aged cheese and other foods high in tyramine."
C. "I will take this medication at the same time every day."
D. "I can stop taking this medication when I feel my mood has improved."
🟢 C. "I will take this medication at the same time every day."
🔴 RATIONALE: Sertraline, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), should be taken consistently to
maintain a therapeutic blood level. It does not have the tyramine restriction of MAOIs, nor does it work
instantly; it requires several weeks for full effect. Discontinuation must be gradual.
Question 4
A nurse is caring for a patient in the immediate postoperative period following a total hip arthroplasty. Which
assessment finding is the highest priority to report to the surgeon?
A. Complaint of pain at the surgical site rated as a 5 on a 0-10 scale.
B. The patient's inability to move their toes.
, C. A small amount of sanguineous drainage on the dressing.
D. Urine output of 60 mL over the last hour.
🟢 B. The patient's inability to move their toes.
🔴 RATIONALE: Inability to move the toes post-hip arthroplasty is a significant neurological finding that could
indicate nerve damage or a complication such as an epidural hematoma. This is a higher priority than expected
pain, normal drainage, or adequate urine output.
Question 5
Which electrolyte imbalance is most commonly associated with the use of loop diuretics such as furosemide?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hypernatremia
D. Hypermagnesemia
🟢 B. Hypokalemia
🔴 RATIONALE: Loop diuretics inhibit the reabsorption of sodium and chloride in the loop of Henle, which leads
to an increased excretion of potassium and hydrogen ions. This results in a significant risk of hypokalemia, not
hyperkalemia.
Question 6
A patient is receiving a continuous heparin infusion for a pulmonary embolism. Which laboratory value would
the nurse monitor most closely to evaluate the drug's effectiveness?
A. Prothrombin Time (PT)
B. International Normalized Ratio (INR)
C. Partial Thromboplastin Time (aPTT)
D. Platelet count
ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A |LATEST EXAM UPDATE 2026/2027..
CORE DOMAINS
Patient Safety and Quality Improvement
Pharmacology and Medication Administration
Medical-Surgical Nursing
Legal and Ethical Nursing Practice
Emergency and Critical Care Nursing
Gerontology and Chronic Disease Management
Maternal-Child and Pediatric Nursing
Mental Health and Psychiatric Nursing
Nursing Leadership and Management
Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning
INTRODUCTION
This comprehensive examination is designed to assess the advanced knowledge and clinical reasoning skills
essential for professional nursing practice. The assessment covers a broad spectrum of core domains, including
patient safety, pharmacology, legal and ethical standards, and specialized areas of care. Through a series of
multiple-choice questions and scenario-based items, the test evaluates the nurse's ability to apply theoretical
knowledge, interpret clinical data, and make sound, evidence-based decisions in complex healthcare environments.
Emphasis is placed on the practical application of concepts to real-world situations, ensuring readiness for the
,dynamic and challenging demands of modern clinical settings. This examination serves as a tool for both self-
evaluation and validation of continued professional competence.
SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1-100
Question 1
A patient with a history of chronic kidney disease is admitted with hyperkalemia. The nurse notes a potassium
level of 6.8 mEq/L. Which intervention should the nurse anticipate being prescribed first?
A. Oral sodium polystyrene sulfonate
B. Intravenous calcium gluconate
C. Intravenous insulin with dextrose
D. Oral furosemide
🟢 B. Intravenous calcium gluconate
🔴 RATIONALE: In the setting of severe hyperkalemia, the immediate priority is to stabilize the cardiac
membrane to prevent lethal arrhythmias. Calcium gluconate is administered intravenously to achieve this effect,
protecting the heart while other treatments work to lower serum potassium levels.
Question 2
A nurse is preparing to administer a blood transfusion to a patient. What is the most critical action for the nurse
to take immediately before initiating the infusion?
A. Ensure the patient has signed a general consent for treatment.
B. Verify the patient's blood type and Rh factor against the unit label with another licensed professional.
,C. Document the patient's baseline vital signs.
D. Prime the IV tubing with normal saline.
🟢 B. Verify the patient's blood type and Rh factor against the unit label with another licensed professional.
🔴 RATIONALE: The most critical safety step in blood transfusion is the bedside verification of the patient's
identity and blood compatibility with the unit. This dual-check process, performed by two licensed
professionals, is the primary safeguard against fatal hemolytic transfusion reactions.
Question 3
A client is prescribed sertraline for major depressive disorder. Which statement by the client indicates that the
teaching about this medication is effective?
A. "I can expect to feel better immediately after starting this drug."
B. "I should avoid eating aged cheese and other foods high in tyramine."
C. "I will take this medication at the same time every day."
D. "I can stop taking this medication when I feel my mood has improved."
🟢 C. "I will take this medication at the same time every day."
🔴 RATIONALE: Sertraline, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), should be taken consistently to
maintain a therapeutic blood level. It does not have the tyramine restriction of MAOIs, nor does it work
instantly; it requires several weeks for full effect. Discontinuation must be gradual.
Question 4
A nurse is caring for a patient in the immediate postoperative period following a total hip arthroplasty. Which
assessment finding is the highest priority to report to the surgeon?
A. Complaint of pain at the surgical site rated as a 5 on a 0-10 scale.
B. The patient's inability to move their toes.
, C. A small amount of sanguineous drainage on the dressing.
D. Urine output of 60 mL over the last hour.
🟢 B. The patient's inability to move their toes.
🔴 RATIONALE: Inability to move the toes post-hip arthroplasty is a significant neurological finding that could
indicate nerve damage or a complication such as an epidural hematoma. This is a higher priority than expected
pain, normal drainage, or adequate urine output.
Question 5
Which electrolyte imbalance is most commonly associated with the use of loop diuretics such as furosemide?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hypernatremia
D. Hypermagnesemia
🟢 B. Hypokalemia
🔴 RATIONALE: Loop diuretics inhibit the reabsorption of sodium and chloride in the loop of Henle, which leads
to an increased excretion of potassium and hydrogen ions. This results in a significant risk of hypokalemia, not
hyperkalemia.
Question 6
A patient is receiving a continuous heparin infusion for a pulmonary embolism. Which laboratory value would
the nurse monitor most closely to evaluate the drug's effectiveness?
A. Prothrombin Time (PT)
B. International Normalized Ratio (INR)
C. Partial Thromboplastin Time (aPTT)
D. Platelet count
