RELIAS CORE MANDATORY PART III EXAM 2026/2027
Complete 150-Question Practice Exam Bank With
Verified Answers & Detailed Explanations
EXAM INFORMATION
University/Institution: Various U.S. nursing programs and healthcare systems (commonly used
by Rasmussen College, Chamberlain University, and hospital-based nursing education
programs nationwide)
Subject/Course: Nursing - Core Mandatory Part III (Relias Prophecy Assessments)
Topics Covered: Advanced Healthcare Directives, Signs of Abuse, Workplace Violence, Patient
Restraints, Pain Management, Sexual Harassment, Opioid Use, Patient Rights, Ethical
Principles, End-of-Life Care, Cultural Competence, Patient Advocacy, Sentinel Events,
Universal Protocol, Medication Safety, and Healthcare Documentation
Number of Questions: 150 Multiple Choice Questions
Answer Format: Correct answer indicated with explanation where necessary
Exam Year: 2026/2027 Updated Standards
SECTION 1: ADVANCED HEALTHCARE DIRECTIVES (Questions 1-25)
QUESTION 1
A patient with end-stage heart failure tells the nurse, "I don't want to be kept alive on machines.
I've signed a paper that says so." The patient is referring to which type of advance directive?
A) Durable power of attorney for health care
B) Living will
C) Do not resuscitate (DNR) order
D) Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST)
Answer: B) Living will
,Explanation: A living will is a written document that specifies the types of medical treatments a
person does or does not want in the event of a terminal illness or persistent vegetative state,
particularly regarding life-sustaining treatments like mechanical ventilation. A durable power of
attorney for health care designates a surrogate decision-maker. A DNR order specifically
addresses cardiopulmonary resuscitation. POLST forms are medical orders that translate
patient preferences into actionable medical orders.
QUESTION 2
Which statement is accurate concerning the portability of advanced healthcare directives?
A) AHDs are the same in every state
B) In some cases, if laws are similar, a state will accept an AHD written in another state
C) It is not a responsibility of healthcare professionals to know state-specific statutes regarding
AHDs
D) Every state is required to recognize an AHD regardless of where it was written
Answer: B) In some cases, if laws are similar, a state will accept an AHD written in another state
Explanation: An advance healthcare directive (AHD) is a legal document that allows individuals
to express their healthcare preferences in the event they become incapacitated. In terms of
portability, if the laws in two states are similar, a state may accept an AHD written in another
state. However, state-specific statutes regarding AHDs can vary, and it is the responsibility of
healthcare professionals to be aware of the specific laws and requirements in their state.
QUESTION 3
Advance healthcare directives commonly cover which of the following?
A) When a person would or would not want life prolonged
B) Decisions about organ donation
C) Who can make healthcare decisions when a person is unable to do so
D) All of the above
Answer: D) All of the above
Explanation: Advance healthcare directives commonly cover all of these areas: when a person
would or would not want life prolonged, decisions about organ donation, and who can make
healthcare decisions when the person is unable to do so.
,QUESTION 4
A durable power of attorney for health care designates:
A) A person to manage financial affairs
B) A surrogate decision-maker for healthcare decisions
C) A physician to provide treatment
D) A family member to inherit property
Answer: B) A surrogate decision-maker for healthcare decisions
Explanation: A durable power of attorney for health care designates a healthcare proxy who can
make medical decisions on behalf of the individual if they become incapacitated and unable to
communicate their wishes.
QUESTION 5
The Patient Self-Determination Act (PSDA) requires healthcare organizations to:
A) Provide all patients with POLST forms upon admission
B) Inform patients of their rights to make advance directives upon admission
C) Require all patients to complete an advance directive
D) Only honor advance directives written in the same state
Answer: B) Inform patients of their rights to make advance directives upon admission
Explanation: The Patient Self-Determination Act requires healthcare organizations to inform
patients upon admission of their rights to make advance directives and to ask whether they
have one. It does not require patients to complete one.
QUESTION 6
Which of the following best describes a POLST (Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment)
form?
A) A legal document that appoints a healthcare proxy
B) A living will that specifies treatment preferences
C) A medical order that translates patient preferences into actionable medical orders
D) A DNR order only
Answer: C) A medical order that translates patient preferences into actionable medical orders
, Explanation: POLST forms are medical orders that translate patient preferences into actionable
medical orders. Unlike living wills, POLST forms are signed by a physician and become active
medical orders.
QUESTION 7
Which ethical principle is primarily reflected in the use of advance directives?
A) Beneficence
B) Nonmaleficence
C) Autonomy
D) Justice
Answer: C) Autonomy
Explanation: Advance directives primarily reflect the ethical principle of autonomy—respecting
the patient's right to make their own healthcare decisions, even when they can no longer
communicate those decisions themselves.
QUESTION 8
When a patient has a valid living will that declines mechanical ventilation, and the patient
develops respiratory failure, the healthcare team should:
A) Intubate the patient immediately to save their life
B) Honor the patient's documented wishes regarding mechanical ventilation
C) Contact the hospital ethics committee for a decision
D) Ask the family to override the living will
Answer: B) Honor the patient's documented wishes regarding mechanical ventilation
Explanation: Healthcare professionals are ethically and legally obligated to honor a patient's
valid advance directives. The living will is a legally binding document that specifies the patient's
wishes regarding life-sustaining treatments.
QUESTION 9
Which of the following is NOT typically included in an advance healthcare directive?
A) Preferences for life-sustaining treatment
B) Organ donation decisions
Complete 150-Question Practice Exam Bank With
Verified Answers & Detailed Explanations
EXAM INFORMATION
University/Institution: Various U.S. nursing programs and healthcare systems (commonly used
by Rasmussen College, Chamberlain University, and hospital-based nursing education
programs nationwide)
Subject/Course: Nursing - Core Mandatory Part III (Relias Prophecy Assessments)
Topics Covered: Advanced Healthcare Directives, Signs of Abuse, Workplace Violence, Patient
Restraints, Pain Management, Sexual Harassment, Opioid Use, Patient Rights, Ethical
Principles, End-of-Life Care, Cultural Competence, Patient Advocacy, Sentinel Events,
Universal Protocol, Medication Safety, and Healthcare Documentation
Number of Questions: 150 Multiple Choice Questions
Answer Format: Correct answer indicated with explanation where necessary
Exam Year: 2026/2027 Updated Standards
SECTION 1: ADVANCED HEALTHCARE DIRECTIVES (Questions 1-25)
QUESTION 1
A patient with end-stage heart failure tells the nurse, "I don't want to be kept alive on machines.
I've signed a paper that says so." The patient is referring to which type of advance directive?
A) Durable power of attorney for health care
B) Living will
C) Do not resuscitate (DNR) order
D) Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST)
Answer: B) Living will
,Explanation: A living will is a written document that specifies the types of medical treatments a
person does or does not want in the event of a terminal illness or persistent vegetative state,
particularly regarding life-sustaining treatments like mechanical ventilation. A durable power of
attorney for health care designates a surrogate decision-maker. A DNR order specifically
addresses cardiopulmonary resuscitation. POLST forms are medical orders that translate
patient preferences into actionable medical orders.
QUESTION 2
Which statement is accurate concerning the portability of advanced healthcare directives?
A) AHDs are the same in every state
B) In some cases, if laws are similar, a state will accept an AHD written in another state
C) It is not a responsibility of healthcare professionals to know state-specific statutes regarding
AHDs
D) Every state is required to recognize an AHD regardless of where it was written
Answer: B) In some cases, if laws are similar, a state will accept an AHD written in another state
Explanation: An advance healthcare directive (AHD) is a legal document that allows individuals
to express their healthcare preferences in the event they become incapacitated. In terms of
portability, if the laws in two states are similar, a state may accept an AHD written in another
state. However, state-specific statutes regarding AHDs can vary, and it is the responsibility of
healthcare professionals to be aware of the specific laws and requirements in their state.
QUESTION 3
Advance healthcare directives commonly cover which of the following?
A) When a person would or would not want life prolonged
B) Decisions about organ donation
C) Who can make healthcare decisions when a person is unable to do so
D) All of the above
Answer: D) All of the above
Explanation: Advance healthcare directives commonly cover all of these areas: when a person
would or would not want life prolonged, decisions about organ donation, and who can make
healthcare decisions when the person is unable to do so.
,QUESTION 4
A durable power of attorney for health care designates:
A) A person to manage financial affairs
B) A surrogate decision-maker for healthcare decisions
C) A physician to provide treatment
D) A family member to inherit property
Answer: B) A surrogate decision-maker for healthcare decisions
Explanation: A durable power of attorney for health care designates a healthcare proxy who can
make medical decisions on behalf of the individual if they become incapacitated and unable to
communicate their wishes.
QUESTION 5
The Patient Self-Determination Act (PSDA) requires healthcare organizations to:
A) Provide all patients with POLST forms upon admission
B) Inform patients of their rights to make advance directives upon admission
C) Require all patients to complete an advance directive
D) Only honor advance directives written in the same state
Answer: B) Inform patients of their rights to make advance directives upon admission
Explanation: The Patient Self-Determination Act requires healthcare organizations to inform
patients upon admission of their rights to make advance directives and to ask whether they
have one. It does not require patients to complete one.
QUESTION 6
Which of the following best describes a POLST (Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment)
form?
A) A legal document that appoints a healthcare proxy
B) A living will that specifies treatment preferences
C) A medical order that translates patient preferences into actionable medical orders
D) A DNR order only
Answer: C) A medical order that translates patient preferences into actionable medical orders
, Explanation: POLST forms are medical orders that translate patient preferences into actionable
medical orders. Unlike living wills, POLST forms are signed by a physician and become active
medical orders.
QUESTION 7
Which ethical principle is primarily reflected in the use of advance directives?
A) Beneficence
B) Nonmaleficence
C) Autonomy
D) Justice
Answer: C) Autonomy
Explanation: Advance directives primarily reflect the ethical principle of autonomy—respecting
the patient's right to make their own healthcare decisions, even when they can no longer
communicate those decisions themselves.
QUESTION 8
When a patient has a valid living will that declines mechanical ventilation, and the patient
develops respiratory failure, the healthcare team should:
A) Intubate the patient immediately to save their life
B) Honor the patient's documented wishes regarding mechanical ventilation
C) Contact the hospital ethics committee for a decision
D) Ask the family to override the living will
Answer: B) Honor the patient's documented wishes regarding mechanical ventilation
Explanation: Healthcare professionals are ethically and legally obligated to honor a patient's
valid advance directives. The living will is a legally binding document that specifies the patient's
wishes regarding life-sustaining treatments.
QUESTION 9
Which of the following is NOT typically included in an advance healthcare directive?
A) Preferences for life-sustaining treatment
B) Organ donation decisions
