PNLE EXAM (2026/2027) QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS GRADED A+
A client returns from the recovery room at 9AM alert and oriented, with an IV
infusing. His pulse is 82, blood pressure is 120/80, respirations are 20, and all are
within normal range. At 10 am and at 11 am, his vital signs are stable. At noon,
however, his pulse rate is 94, blood pressure is 116/74, and respirations are 24.
What nursing action is most appropriate?
A. Notify his physician.
B. Take his vital signs again in 15 minutes.
C. Take his vital signs again in an hour.
D. Place the patient in shock position.
Answer: (B) Take his vital signs again in 15 minutes.
Monitoring the client's vital signs following surgery gives the nurse a sound
information about the client's condition. Complications can occur during this
period as a result of the surgery or the anesthesia or both. Keeping close track of
changes in the VS and validating them will help the nurse initiate interventions to
prevent complications from occurring
A 56 year old construction worker is brought to the hospital unconscious after
falling from a 2-story building. When assessing the client, the nurse would be most
concerned if the assessment revealed:
A. Reactive pupils
B. A depressed fontanel
C. Bleeding from ears
D. An elevated temperature
Answer: (C) Bleeding from ears
,The nurse needs to perform a thorough assessment that could indicate alterations in
cerebral function, increased intracranial pressures, fractures and bleeding. Bleeding
from the ears occurs only with basal skull fractures that can easily contribute to
increased intracranial pressure and brain herniation
10. Which of the ff. statements by the client to the nurse indicates a risk factor for
CAD?
A. "I exercise every other day."
B. "My father died of Myasthenia Gravis."
C. "My cholesterol is 180."
D. "I smoke 1 1/2 packs of cigarettes per day."
Answer: (D) "I smoke 1 1/2 packs of cigarettes per day."
Smoking has been considered as one of the major modifiable risk factors for
coronary artery disease. Exercise and maintaining normal serum cholesterol levels
help in its prevention.
Mr. Braga was ordered Digoxin 0.25 mg. OD. Which is poor knowledge regarding
this drug?
A. It has positive inotropic and negative chronotropic effects
B. The positive inotropic effect will decrease urine output
C. Toxixity can occur more easily in the presence of hypokalemia, liver and renal
problems
D. Do not give the drug if the apical rate is less than 60 beats per minute
Answer: (B) The positive inotropic effect will decrease urine output
Inotropic effect of drugs on the heart causes increase force of its contraction. This
increases cardiac output that improves renal perfusion resulting in an improved
urine output.
,Mental health is defined as:
A. The ability to distinguish what is real from what is not.
B. A state of well-being where a person can realize his own abilities can cope with
normal stresses of life and work productively.
C. Is the promotion of mental health, prevention of mental disorders, nursing care
of patients during illness and rehabilitation
D. Absence of mental illness
Answer: (B) A state of well-being where a person can realize his own abilities can
cope with normal stresses of life and work productively. Mental health is a state of
emotional and psychosocial well being. A mentally healthy individual is self aware
and self directive, has the ability to solve problems, can cope with crisis without
assistance beyond the support of family and friends fulfill the capacity to love and
work and sets goals and realistic limits.
A. This describes the ego function reality testing.
C. This is the definition of Mental Health and Psychiatric Nursing.
D. Mental health is not just the absence of mental illness.
Following surgery, Mario complains of mild incisional pain while performing
deep- breathing and coughing exercises. The nurse's best response would be:
A. "Pain will become less each day."
B. "This is a normal reaction after surgery."
C. "With a pillow, apply pressure against the incision."
D. "I will give you the pain medication the physician ordered."
Answer: (C) "With a pillow, apply pressure against the incision."
, Applying pressure against the incision with a pillow will help lessen the intra-
abdominal pressure created by coughing which causes tension on the incision that
leads to pain.
The nurse needs to carefully assess the complaint of pain of the elderly because
older people
A. are expected to experience chronic pain
B. have a decreased pain threshold
C. experience reduced sensory perception
D. have altered mental function
Answer: (C) experience reduced sensory perception
Degenerative changes occur in the elderly. The response to pain in the elderly
maybe lessened because of reduced acuity of touch, alterations in neural pathways
and diminished processing of sensory data
Mary received AtropineSO4 as a pre-medication 30 minutes ago and is now
complaining of dry mouth and her PR is higher, than before the medication was
administered. The nurse's best
A. The patient is having an allergic reaction to the drug.
B. The patient needs a higher dose of this drug
C. This is normal side-effect of AtSO4
CORRECT ANSWERS GRADED A+
A client returns from the recovery room at 9AM alert and oriented, with an IV
infusing. His pulse is 82, blood pressure is 120/80, respirations are 20, and all are
within normal range. At 10 am and at 11 am, his vital signs are stable. At noon,
however, his pulse rate is 94, blood pressure is 116/74, and respirations are 24.
What nursing action is most appropriate?
A. Notify his physician.
B. Take his vital signs again in 15 minutes.
C. Take his vital signs again in an hour.
D. Place the patient in shock position.
Answer: (B) Take his vital signs again in 15 minutes.
Monitoring the client's vital signs following surgery gives the nurse a sound
information about the client's condition. Complications can occur during this
period as a result of the surgery or the anesthesia or both. Keeping close track of
changes in the VS and validating them will help the nurse initiate interventions to
prevent complications from occurring
A 56 year old construction worker is brought to the hospital unconscious after
falling from a 2-story building. When assessing the client, the nurse would be most
concerned if the assessment revealed:
A. Reactive pupils
B. A depressed fontanel
C. Bleeding from ears
D. An elevated temperature
Answer: (C) Bleeding from ears
,The nurse needs to perform a thorough assessment that could indicate alterations in
cerebral function, increased intracranial pressures, fractures and bleeding. Bleeding
from the ears occurs only with basal skull fractures that can easily contribute to
increased intracranial pressure and brain herniation
10. Which of the ff. statements by the client to the nurse indicates a risk factor for
CAD?
A. "I exercise every other day."
B. "My father died of Myasthenia Gravis."
C. "My cholesterol is 180."
D. "I smoke 1 1/2 packs of cigarettes per day."
Answer: (D) "I smoke 1 1/2 packs of cigarettes per day."
Smoking has been considered as one of the major modifiable risk factors for
coronary artery disease. Exercise and maintaining normal serum cholesterol levels
help in its prevention.
Mr. Braga was ordered Digoxin 0.25 mg. OD. Which is poor knowledge regarding
this drug?
A. It has positive inotropic and negative chronotropic effects
B. The positive inotropic effect will decrease urine output
C. Toxixity can occur more easily in the presence of hypokalemia, liver and renal
problems
D. Do not give the drug if the apical rate is less than 60 beats per minute
Answer: (B) The positive inotropic effect will decrease urine output
Inotropic effect of drugs on the heart causes increase force of its contraction. This
increases cardiac output that improves renal perfusion resulting in an improved
urine output.
,Mental health is defined as:
A. The ability to distinguish what is real from what is not.
B. A state of well-being where a person can realize his own abilities can cope with
normal stresses of life and work productively.
C. Is the promotion of mental health, prevention of mental disorders, nursing care
of patients during illness and rehabilitation
D. Absence of mental illness
Answer: (B) A state of well-being where a person can realize his own abilities can
cope with normal stresses of life and work productively. Mental health is a state of
emotional and psychosocial well being. A mentally healthy individual is self aware
and self directive, has the ability to solve problems, can cope with crisis without
assistance beyond the support of family and friends fulfill the capacity to love and
work and sets goals and realistic limits.
A. This describes the ego function reality testing.
C. This is the definition of Mental Health and Psychiatric Nursing.
D. Mental health is not just the absence of mental illness.
Following surgery, Mario complains of mild incisional pain while performing
deep- breathing and coughing exercises. The nurse's best response would be:
A. "Pain will become less each day."
B. "This is a normal reaction after surgery."
C. "With a pillow, apply pressure against the incision."
D. "I will give you the pain medication the physician ordered."
Answer: (C) "With a pillow, apply pressure against the incision."
, Applying pressure against the incision with a pillow will help lessen the intra-
abdominal pressure created by coughing which causes tension on the incision that
leads to pain.
The nurse needs to carefully assess the complaint of pain of the elderly because
older people
A. are expected to experience chronic pain
B. have a decreased pain threshold
C. experience reduced sensory perception
D. have altered mental function
Answer: (C) experience reduced sensory perception
Degenerative changes occur in the elderly. The response to pain in the elderly
maybe lessened because of reduced acuity of touch, alterations in neural pathways
and diminished processing of sensory data
Mary received AtropineSO4 as a pre-medication 30 minutes ago and is now
complaining of dry mouth and her PR is higher, than before the medication was
administered. The nurse's best
A. The patient is having an allergic reaction to the drug.
B. The patient needs a higher dose of this drug
C. This is normal side-effect of AtSO4
