NCLEX-RN Practice Questions For 2026
Study online at: https://quizlet.com/_fhpxse
Question 1
A nurse forgets to administer a client's diuretic and the client experiences an episode of
pulmonary edema. The charge nurse would consider the medication error to constitute
negligence because the situation contains which element?
1. Purposeful failure to perform a health care procedure
2. Unintentional failure to perform a health care procedure
3. Act of substituting a different medication for the one ordered
4. Failure to follow a direct order by a physician
Answer: 2
Rationale: Negligence is the unintentional failure of an individual to perform or not perform an act
that a reasonable person would or would not do in the same or similar circumstances. A purposeful
failure to perform a procedure would be the opposite of negligence, which is unintentional.
Substituting a different medication does not fit the description of the situation in the question. Failure
to follow a direct order does not fit the description in the situation in the question.
Cognitive Level: Applying Client Need: Management of Care
Integrated Process: Nursing Process: Assessment Content Area: Fundamentals
Strategy: Two options are opposites, which is a clue that one of them may be correct. Choose unintentional failure
to carry out a procedure over purposeful failure because it matches the definition of negligence.
NCLEX-RN Practice Questions For 2026 Page 1 of 21
, Question 2
A client asks why a diagnostic test has been ordered and the nurse replies, "I'm unsure
but will find out for you." When the nurse later returns and provides an explanation, the
nurse is acting under which principle?
1. Nonmaleficence
2. Veracity
3. Beneficence
4. Fidelity
Answer: 4
Rationale: Fidelity means being faithful to agreements and promises. This nurse is acting on the
client's behalf to obtain needed information and report it back to the client. Nonmaleficence is the
duty to do no harm. Veracity refers to telling the truth for example, not lying to a client about a
serious prognosis. Beneficence means doing good, such as by implementing actions (e.g. keeping a
salt shaker out of sight) that benefit a client (heart condition requiring sodium-restricted diet).
Cognitive Level: Understanding Client Need: Management of Care
Integrated Process: Nursing Process: Implementation Content Area: Fundamentals
Strategy: Use the process of elimination. The correct answer is the one that matches the description in the stem;
that is, the nurse made a promise to a client and kept it, which constitutes fidelity.
NCLEX-RN Practice Questions For 2026 Page 2 of 21
, Question 3
An individual has a seizure while walking down the street. During the seizure, a nurse
from a physician's office is noticed driving past without stopping to assist. The
individual sues the nurse for negligence but fails to win a judgement for which reason?
1. The nurse had no duty to the individual.
2. The nurse did what most nurses would do in the same circumstance.
3. The nurse did not cause the client's injuries.
4. The nurse was off-duty at the time.
Answer: 1
Rationale: To be guilty of negligence, the nurse must have a relationship with the client that involves
a duty to provide care. The relationship is usually a component of employment. The nurse did not
necessarily do what others would do in this situation. Although the nurse did not cause the client's
injuries, it does not prevent the nurse from assisting in this situation. Although the nurse was off-duty,
the nurse could have assisted if motivated to do so.
Cognitive Level: Understanding Client Need: Management of Care
Integrated Process: Nursing Process: Implementation Content Area: Fundamentals
Strategy: Use the process of elimination and nursing knowledge. The correct answer is the one that recognizes
that the nurse was not in the role of employee at the time of the incident, removing the requirement of acting on the
client's behalf.
NCLEX-RN Practice Questions For 2026 Page 3 of 21
Study online at: https://quizlet.com/_fhpxse
Question 1
A nurse forgets to administer a client's diuretic and the client experiences an episode of
pulmonary edema. The charge nurse would consider the medication error to constitute
negligence because the situation contains which element?
1. Purposeful failure to perform a health care procedure
2. Unintentional failure to perform a health care procedure
3. Act of substituting a different medication for the one ordered
4. Failure to follow a direct order by a physician
Answer: 2
Rationale: Negligence is the unintentional failure of an individual to perform or not perform an act
that a reasonable person would or would not do in the same or similar circumstances. A purposeful
failure to perform a procedure would be the opposite of negligence, which is unintentional.
Substituting a different medication does not fit the description of the situation in the question. Failure
to follow a direct order does not fit the description in the situation in the question.
Cognitive Level: Applying Client Need: Management of Care
Integrated Process: Nursing Process: Assessment Content Area: Fundamentals
Strategy: Two options are opposites, which is a clue that one of them may be correct. Choose unintentional failure
to carry out a procedure over purposeful failure because it matches the definition of negligence.
NCLEX-RN Practice Questions For 2026 Page 1 of 21
, Question 2
A client asks why a diagnostic test has been ordered and the nurse replies, "I'm unsure
but will find out for you." When the nurse later returns and provides an explanation, the
nurse is acting under which principle?
1. Nonmaleficence
2. Veracity
3. Beneficence
4. Fidelity
Answer: 4
Rationale: Fidelity means being faithful to agreements and promises. This nurse is acting on the
client's behalf to obtain needed information and report it back to the client. Nonmaleficence is the
duty to do no harm. Veracity refers to telling the truth for example, not lying to a client about a
serious prognosis. Beneficence means doing good, such as by implementing actions (e.g. keeping a
salt shaker out of sight) that benefit a client (heart condition requiring sodium-restricted diet).
Cognitive Level: Understanding Client Need: Management of Care
Integrated Process: Nursing Process: Implementation Content Area: Fundamentals
Strategy: Use the process of elimination. The correct answer is the one that matches the description in the stem;
that is, the nurse made a promise to a client and kept it, which constitutes fidelity.
NCLEX-RN Practice Questions For 2026 Page 2 of 21
, Question 3
An individual has a seizure while walking down the street. During the seizure, a nurse
from a physician's office is noticed driving past without stopping to assist. The
individual sues the nurse for negligence but fails to win a judgement for which reason?
1. The nurse had no duty to the individual.
2. The nurse did what most nurses would do in the same circumstance.
3. The nurse did not cause the client's injuries.
4. The nurse was off-duty at the time.
Answer: 1
Rationale: To be guilty of negligence, the nurse must have a relationship with the client that involves
a duty to provide care. The relationship is usually a component of employment. The nurse did not
necessarily do what others would do in this situation. Although the nurse did not cause the client's
injuries, it does not prevent the nurse from assisting in this situation. Although the nurse was off-duty,
the nurse could have assisted if motivated to do so.
Cognitive Level: Understanding Client Need: Management of Care
Integrated Process: Nursing Process: Implementation Content Area: Fundamentals
Strategy: Use the process of elimination and nursing knowledge. The correct answer is the one that recognizes
that the nurse was not in the role of employee at the time of the incident, removing the requirement of acting on the
client's behalf.
NCLEX-RN Practice Questions For 2026 Page 3 of 21
