REx-PN Exam Preparation Evaluation
Canadian Practical Nurse Registration
Examination 2026/2027 Academic Year –
Official Test Bank
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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
Canadian Practical Nurse Registration
Examination 2026/2027 Academic Year –
Official Test Bank
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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
