REx-PN Exam Evaluation 2026/2027 |
Verified Questions
Canadian Practical Nurse Registration Examination | Verified Q&A | Practical
Nurses
This Evaluation contains 175 original, verified questions designed to reinforce the official College
of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) and British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM)
course objectives and competencies for exam readiness and academic success. The set comprises
exactly 175 questions, of which 165 are scored and 10 are unscored pretest items, aligned with the
official CNO and BCCNM REx-PN blueprint. The questions cover the four competency domains of
Safe and Effective Care, Health Promotion and Maintenance, Psychosocial Integrity, and
Physiological Adaptation. Each item is original content built to strengthen clinical judgment
through evidence-based Canadian nursing practice standards, current clinical guidelines, and the
principles of safe, person-centred care expected of the practical nurse.
Content Area Questions Key Topics Weight
Safe and Effective Care 53 Delegation and 30%
supervision, infection
control and PPE,
medication and patient
safety, ethics and legal
accountability, care
planning
Health Promotion and 26 Immunization, 15%
Maintenance screening, nutrition,
growth and
development, antenatal
care, health teaching
and prevention
Psychosocial Integrity 35 Therapeutic 20%
communication, mental
health, crisis
intervention, grief,
abuse and neglect,
cognitive impairment
Physiological 61 Cardiovascular, 35%
Adaptation respiratory,
gastrointestinal, renal,
endocrine, neurological,
musculoskeletal,
integumentary
TOTAL (165 scored, 10 175 All four competency 100%
unscored) domains as per the
official CNO and
BCCNM REx-PN
blueprint
REx-PN Exam Evaluation 2026/2027 | Verified Questions
,Domain: Safe and Effective Care
1. A practical nurse is caring for four patients. Which task can be delegated to an
unregulated care provider?
A. Administering oral acetaminophen to a patient
B. Assisting a stable patient with feeding
C. Assessing a new complaint of chest pain
D. Developing the nursing care plan
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Unregulated care providers may assist with activities of daily living such as feeding
a stable patient under the direction and supervision of the practical nurse. Assessment,
medication administration, and care planning remain within the regulated nurse scope of
practice as defined by the CNO.
2. A practical nurse enters the room of a patient on contact precautions. What is the
minimum required personal protective equipment?
A. Gloves and gown
B. N95 respirator
C. Surgical mask only
D. Face shield only
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Contact precautions require gloves and a gown on entry to prevent transmission
through direct or indirect contact, consistent with provincial infection prevention and control
guidelines.
3. When is hand hygiene with an alcohol-based hand rub insufficient and soap and
water required?
A. After every patient contact
B. When hands are visibly soiled
C. Before putting on gloves
D. After removing gloves
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Alcohol-based hand rub is ineffective when hands are visibly soiled or contaminated
with proteinaceous material, so soap and water must be used to achieve decontamination.
4. A practical nurse is preparing to administer a medication and notices the
prescribed dose seems unusually high. The next action is to:
A. Administer the dose as ordered
B. Ask the patient if they took it before
C. Verify the order with the prescriber or pharmacist
D. Skip the dose and document it was not given
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The practical nurse must clarify any unclear or unsafe order with the prescriber or
pharmacist before administration and must never administer a dose believed to be incorrect.
5. Before initiating a blood transfusion, the practical nurse must verify patient
identity using:
A. Bed number and patient name
B. Two unique patient identifiers at the bedside
C. The name on the chart only
D. Confirmation from a family member
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Two unique patient identifiers, such as name and date of birth, must be checked at
the bedside before any transfusion or medication to prevent identification errors.
REx-PN Exam Evaluation 2026/2027 | Verified Questions
,6. The most appropriate fall-prevention intervention for a patient with a high fall-
risk score is:
A. Applying restraints
B. Hourly rounding with toileting assistance
C. Placing the call bell out of reach
D. Administering sedation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hourly rounding that includes assistance with toileting addresses the most common
fall triggers and is a best-practice, least-restrictive fall-prevention strategy.
7. Which statement reflects correct documentation practice?
A. Charting in advance of providing care
B. Using correction fluid to fix errors
C. Documenting only after the shift ends
D. Recording care factually as soon as it is provided
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Documentation must be timely, factual, and completed as care is delivered. Errors
are corrected by a single line through the entry, initialed and dated, never with correction fluid
or pre-charting.
8. A capable adult patient refuses a prescribed treatment. The practical nurse
should:
A. Proceed because the physician ordered it
B. Respect the refusal and document it
C. Have the family sign consent
D. Apply restraints
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A capable adult has the right to refuse treatment. The practical nurse respects client
autonomy, provides information, and documents the refusal accurately.
9. A patient's neighbour calls the unit asking about the patient's condition. The
practical nurse should:
A. Confirm only that the patient is admitted
B. Decline to disclose any information without consent
C. Give a general description of the condition
D. Transfer the call to the physician
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Professional standards and privacy legislation protect personal health information,
so no information is released without the patient's consent.
10. A practical nurse is asked to perform a procedure outside their competence. The
correct action is to:
A. Attempt it to be helpful
B. Decline and notify the supervisor
C. Ask a peer to perform it
D. Document a willingness to try
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Practical nurses practise within their scope and competence and should not perform
procedures beyond their education; they must notify the employer or supervisor.
11. The first step in developing a nursing care plan is:
A. Implementation
B. Assessment
REx-PN Exam Evaluation 2026/2027 | Verified Questions
, C. Evaluation
D. Discharge planning
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The nursing process begins with assessment; systematic data collection informs
diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation.
12. A postoperative patient has a sudden drop in blood pressure and a rising heart
rate. The priority action is to:
A. Document and continue to monitor
B. Notify the registered nurse or prescriber immediately
C. Offer the patient water
D. Reposition the patient
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Signs suggesting potential hemorrhage or shock require urgent escalation to the
registered nurse or prescriber within the practical nurse accountability framework.
13. The normal adult respiratory rate range is:
A. 4 to 8 breaths per minute
B. 12 to 20 breaths per minute
C. 24 to 30 breaths per minute
D. 30 to 40 breaths per minute
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The normal adult respiratory rate is 12 to 20 breaths per minute, and values outside
this range warrant prompt assessment.
14. Before applying a restraint, the practical nurse must:
A. Obtain a valid order and assess the patient regularly
B. Apply it immediately for any agitation
C. Use it as first-line management
D. Apply without an order if the emergency lasts 24 hours
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Restraints require a valid order, consideration of the least-restrictive alternative,
and ongoing assessment per legal and CNO standards.
15. During a sterile procedure, the practical nurse notes the sterile field was
breached. The action is to:
A. Continue the procedure quickly
B. Re-establish a new sterile field
C. Cover the area with a towel
D. Ask the patient to leave
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A breached sterile field is contaminated, so the procedure must stop and a new sterile
field prepared to prevent infection.
16. The first 15 minutes of a blood transfusion should be administered:
A. At a wide-open rate
B. At a slow rate with close monitoring
C. As fast as possible
D. Are skipped to save time
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Transfusions begin slowly, such as about 2 mL per minute for the first 15 minutes,
with close monitoring for acute transfusion reactions.
17. After a patient fall with no apparent injury, the practical nurse must:
REx-PN Exam Evaluation 2026/2027 | Verified Questions
Verified Questions
Canadian Practical Nurse Registration Examination | Verified Q&A | Practical
Nurses
This Evaluation contains 175 original, verified questions designed to reinforce the official College
of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) and British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM)
course objectives and competencies for exam readiness and academic success. The set comprises
exactly 175 questions, of which 165 are scored and 10 are unscored pretest items, aligned with the
official CNO and BCCNM REx-PN blueprint. The questions cover the four competency domains of
Safe and Effective Care, Health Promotion and Maintenance, Psychosocial Integrity, and
Physiological Adaptation. Each item is original content built to strengthen clinical judgment
through evidence-based Canadian nursing practice standards, current clinical guidelines, and the
principles of safe, person-centred care expected of the practical nurse.
Content Area Questions Key Topics Weight
Safe and Effective Care 53 Delegation and 30%
supervision, infection
control and PPE,
medication and patient
safety, ethics and legal
accountability, care
planning
Health Promotion and 26 Immunization, 15%
Maintenance screening, nutrition,
growth and
development, antenatal
care, health teaching
and prevention
Psychosocial Integrity 35 Therapeutic 20%
communication, mental
health, crisis
intervention, grief,
abuse and neglect,
cognitive impairment
Physiological 61 Cardiovascular, 35%
Adaptation respiratory,
gastrointestinal, renal,
endocrine, neurological,
musculoskeletal,
integumentary
TOTAL (165 scored, 10 175 All four competency 100%
unscored) domains as per the
official CNO and
BCCNM REx-PN
blueprint
REx-PN Exam Evaluation 2026/2027 | Verified Questions
,Domain: Safe and Effective Care
1. A practical nurse is caring for four patients. Which task can be delegated to an
unregulated care provider?
A. Administering oral acetaminophen to a patient
B. Assisting a stable patient with feeding
C. Assessing a new complaint of chest pain
D. Developing the nursing care plan
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Unregulated care providers may assist with activities of daily living such as feeding
a stable patient under the direction and supervision of the practical nurse. Assessment,
medication administration, and care planning remain within the regulated nurse scope of
practice as defined by the CNO.
2. A practical nurse enters the room of a patient on contact precautions. What is the
minimum required personal protective equipment?
A. Gloves and gown
B. N95 respirator
C. Surgical mask only
D. Face shield only
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Contact precautions require gloves and a gown on entry to prevent transmission
through direct or indirect contact, consistent with provincial infection prevention and control
guidelines.
3. When is hand hygiene with an alcohol-based hand rub insufficient and soap and
water required?
A. After every patient contact
B. When hands are visibly soiled
C. Before putting on gloves
D. After removing gloves
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Alcohol-based hand rub is ineffective when hands are visibly soiled or contaminated
with proteinaceous material, so soap and water must be used to achieve decontamination.
4. A practical nurse is preparing to administer a medication and notices the
prescribed dose seems unusually high. The next action is to:
A. Administer the dose as ordered
B. Ask the patient if they took it before
C. Verify the order with the prescriber or pharmacist
D. Skip the dose and document it was not given
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The practical nurse must clarify any unclear or unsafe order with the prescriber or
pharmacist before administration and must never administer a dose believed to be incorrect.
5. Before initiating a blood transfusion, the practical nurse must verify patient
identity using:
A. Bed number and patient name
B. Two unique patient identifiers at the bedside
C. The name on the chart only
D. Confirmation from a family member
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Two unique patient identifiers, such as name and date of birth, must be checked at
the bedside before any transfusion or medication to prevent identification errors.
REx-PN Exam Evaluation 2026/2027 | Verified Questions
,6. The most appropriate fall-prevention intervention for a patient with a high fall-
risk score is:
A. Applying restraints
B. Hourly rounding with toileting assistance
C. Placing the call bell out of reach
D. Administering sedation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hourly rounding that includes assistance with toileting addresses the most common
fall triggers and is a best-practice, least-restrictive fall-prevention strategy.
7. Which statement reflects correct documentation practice?
A. Charting in advance of providing care
B. Using correction fluid to fix errors
C. Documenting only after the shift ends
D. Recording care factually as soon as it is provided
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Documentation must be timely, factual, and completed as care is delivered. Errors
are corrected by a single line through the entry, initialed and dated, never with correction fluid
or pre-charting.
8. A capable adult patient refuses a prescribed treatment. The practical nurse
should:
A. Proceed because the physician ordered it
B. Respect the refusal and document it
C. Have the family sign consent
D. Apply restraints
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A capable adult has the right to refuse treatment. The practical nurse respects client
autonomy, provides information, and documents the refusal accurately.
9. A patient's neighbour calls the unit asking about the patient's condition. The
practical nurse should:
A. Confirm only that the patient is admitted
B. Decline to disclose any information without consent
C. Give a general description of the condition
D. Transfer the call to the physician
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Professional standards and privacy legislation protect personal health information,
so no information is released without the patient's consent.
10. A practical nurse is asked to perform a procedure outside their competence. The
correct action is to:
A. Attempt it to be helpful
B. Decline and notify the supervisor
C. Ask a peer to perform it
D. Document a willingness to try
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Practical nurses practise within their scope and competence and should not perform
procedures beyond their education; they must notify the employer or supervisor.
11. The first step in developing a nursing care plan is:
A. Implementation
B. Assessment
REx-PN Exam Evaluation 2026/2027 | Verified Questions
, C. Evaluation
D. Discharge planning
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The nursing process begins with assessment; systematic data collection informs
diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation.
12. A postoperative patient has a sudden drop in blood pressure and a rising heart
rate. The priority action is to:
A. Document and continue to monitor
B. Notify the registered nurse or prescriber immediately
C. Offer the patient water
D. Reposition the patient
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Signs suggesting potential hemorrhage or shock require urgent escalation to the
registered nurse or prescriber within the practical nurse accountability framework.
13. The normal adult respiratory rate range is:
A. 4 to 8 breaths per minute
B. 12 to 20 breaths per minute
C. 24 to 30 breaths per minute
D. 30 to 40 breaths per minute
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The normal adult respiratory rate is 12 to 20 breaths per minute, and values outside
this range warrant prompt assessment.
14. Before applying a restraint, the practical nurse must:
A. Obtain a valid order and assess the patient regularly
B. Apply it immediately for any agitation
C. Use it as first-line management
D. Apply without an order if the emergency lasts 24 hours
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Restraints require a valid order, consideration of the least-restrictive alternative,
and ongoing assessment per legal and CNO standards.
15. During a sterile procedure, the practical nurse notes the sterile field was
breached. The action is to:
A. Continue the procedure quickly
B. Re-establish a new sterile field
C. Cover the area with a towel
D. Ask the patient to leave
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A breached sterile field is contaminated, so the procedure must stop and a new sterile
field prepared to prevent infection.
16. The first 15 minutes of a blood transfusion should be administered:
A. At a wide-open rate
B. At a slow rate with close monitoring
C. As fast as possible
D. Are skipped to save time
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Transfusions begin slowly, such as about 2 mL per minute for the first 15 minutes,
with close monitoring for acute transfusion reactions.
17. After a patient fall with no apparent injury, the practical nurse must:
REx-PN Exam Evaluation 2026/2027 | Verified Questions
