NZ NURSING STATE EXAM 2026: COMPLETE
PRACTICE QUESTION BANK WITH 300 VERIFIED
ANSWERS AND RATIONALES 100% PASS
ALREADY GRADED A+ (MOST RECENT!!)
Professional, Ethical, and Legal Practice
Q1. According to the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance (HPCA) Act
2003, the primary purpose of the Nursing Council of New Zealand is to:
A) Advocate for higher wages for nurses
B) Regulate nurses to protect the safety of the public
C) Manage the employment of nurses in DHBs
D) Provide continuing education for nurses
Answer: B - The HPCA Act mandates that the Council's principal purpose is to
protect the health and safety of members of the public by ensuring nurses are
competent and fit to practice .
Q2. A patient refuses a life-saving blood transfusion due to religious beliefs.
The nurse should:
A) Give the transfusion as saving a life is priority
B) Call security to hold the patient down
C) Respect the patient's refusal and inform the medical team to explore alternatives
D) Tell the family to convince the patient
Answer: C - A competent adult has the absolute legal right to refuse any treatment,
even if that decision leads to death. The nurse must respect this and advocate for
palliative or alternative care .
Q3. A nurse administers medication without a valid prescription. This is a
breach of which legal principle?
,A) Assault
B) Battery
C) Negligence
D) Slander
Answer: B - Battery is the unlawful touching of another person. Giving medication
without consent or legal order (prescription) constitutes battery .
Q4. A 16-year-old presents for STI treatment and asks the nurse not to tell their
parents. The nurse should:
A) Immediately inform the parents as the patient is a minor
B) Respect the patient's confidentiality as they are competent to consent
C) Only tell the parents if the test is positive
D) Refuse to treat the patient without parental consent
Answer: B - Under the Code of Rights, a young person aged 16 or over is generally
presumed competent. If they understand the risks and benefits, their confidentiality
must be respected .
Q5. The Treaty of Waitangi principle of Rangatiratanga aligns best with which
nursing action?
A) Ensuring the patient gets a standardised treatment plan
B) Respecting the patient's right to make decisions about their own care
C) Speaking on behalf of the patient to the doctor
D) Ensuring the patient follows hospital policy
Answer: B - Rangatiratanga refers to autonomy and self-determination. In health,
this means supporting the patient (whānau) to lead their own care decisions .
Clinical Knowledge and Patient Care
Q6. Prior to surgery a patient is to have nothing to eat or drink. This is
necessary to:
,A) Assist in the proper absorption of the anaesthetic
B) Prevent nausea and vomiting immediately after surgery
C) Avoid the danger of inhaling the stomach contents (aspiration)
D) Avoid incontinence during surgery
Answer: C - NPO status is primarily to prevent aspiration of stomach contents during
anaesthesia .
Q7. A person with asthma arrives at the emergency department and is visibly
distressed, coughing and with audible wheeze. Why are they prescribed
salbutamol (beta-adrenergic agonist)?
A) To dilate the airways
B) To reduce secondary infections
C) To decrease postnasal drip
D) To reduce airway inflammation
Answer: A - Salbutamol is a bronchodilator that relaxes airway smooth muscle .
Q8. A patient has had a myocardial infarction involving a large section of the
heart muscle. You assess them at risk for:
A) Hypovolaemic shock
B) Cardiogenic shock
C) Metabolic shock
D) Neurogenic shock
Answer: B - Extensive MI impairs the heart's pumping ability, leading to cardiogenic
shock .
Q9. Furosemide (a diuretic) has been prescribed for a patient with congestive
heart failure. The prescriber has not signed the medication chart. You should:
A) Double check the medication with a senior registered nurse
B) Contact the prescriber to sign the prescription
, C) Give the furosemide, sign for it and inform the nurse manager
D) Ask your nurse manager to sign the prescription, then give it
Answer: B - Medications cannot be administered without a valid signed
prescription .
Q10. A patient tells you they do not want to have the prescribed enoxaparin
sodium injection. Your first response would be to:
A) Inform them they must have the injection as it has been prescribed
B) Reassure them that it is prescribed for everyone who has a surgical procedure
C) Accept that they do not want the injection
D) Ask what concerns them about having the injection
Answer: D - Exploring the patient's concerns respects their autonomy and may
address misconceptions, potentially improving adherence .
Q11. A patient has been admitted with symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. What
is your main responsibility to them during their medical detoxification?
A) Administer fluids via a naso-gastric tube to maintain hydration
B) Don't disturb the patient so they can sleep
C) Prepare to physically restrain them if necessary
D) Keep the person safe and monitor for any deterioration
Answer: D - Safety and monitoring for deterioration (including seizure risk and
delirium tremens) is the priority .
Q12. Post-thyroidectomy patient reports tingling around mouth and fingers.
Chvostek sign positive. Priority action?
A) Oral calcium tablets
B) IV calcium gluconate – suspect hypoparathyroidism
C) Thyroid hormone replacement
D) Reassure – normal post-op
PRACTICE QUESTION BANK WITH 300 VERIFIED
ANSWERS AND RATIONALES 100% PASS
ALREADY GRADED A+ (MOST RECENT!!)
Professional, Ethical, and Legal Practice
Q1. According to the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance (HPCA) Act
2003, the primary purpose of the Nursing Council of New Zealand is to:
A) Advocate for higher wages for nurses
B) Regulate nurses to protect the safety of the public
C) Manage the employment of nurses in DHBs
D) Provide continuing education for nurses
Answer: B - The HPCA Act mandates that the Council's principal purpose is to
protect the health and safety of members of the public by ensuring nurses are
competent and fit to practice .
Q2. A patient refuses a life-saving blood transfusion due to religious beliefs.
The nurse should:
A) Give the transfusion as saving a life is priority
B) Call security to hold the patient down
C) Respect the patient's refusal and inform the medical team to explore alternatives
D) Tell the family to convince the patient
Answer: C - A competent adult has the absolute legal right to refuse any treatment,
even if that decision leads to death. The nurse must respect this and advocate for
palliative or alternative care .
Q3. A nurse administers medication without a valid prescription. This is a
breach of which legal principle?
,A) Assault
B) Battery
C) Negligence
D) Slander
Answer: B - Battery is the unlawful touching of another person. Giving medication
without consent or legal order (prescription) constitutes battery .
Q4. A 16-year-old presents for STI treatment and asks the nurse not to tell their
parents. The nurse should:
A) Immediately inform the parents as the patient is a minor
B) Respect the patient's confidentiality as they are competent to consent
C) Only tell the parents if the test is positive
D) Refuse to treat the patient without parental consent
Answer: B - Under the Code of Rights, a young person aged 16 or over is generally
presumed competent. If they understand the risks and benefits, their confidentiality
must be respected .
Q5. The Treaty of Waitangi principle of Rangatiratanga aligns best with which
nursing action?
A) Ensuring the patient gets a standardised treatment plan
B) Respecting the patient's right to make decisions about their own care
C) Speaking on behalf of the patient to the doctor
D) Ensuring the patient follows hospital policy
Answer: B - Rangatiratanga refers to autonomy and self-determination. In health,
this means supporting the patient (whānau) to lead their own care decisions .
Clinical Knowledge and Patient Care
Q6. Prior to surgery a patient is to have nothing to eat or drink. This is
necessary to:
,A) Assist in the proper absorption of the anaesthetic
B) Prevent nausea and vomiting immediately after surgery
C) Avoid the danger of inhaling the stomach contents (aspiration)
D) Avoid incontinence during surgery
Answer: C - NPO status is primarily to prevent aspiration of stomach contents during
anaesthesia .
Q7. A person with asthma arrives at the emergency department and is visibly
distressed, coughing and with audible wheeze. Why are they prescribed
salbutamol (beta-adrenergic agonist)?
A) To dilate the airways
B) To reduce secondary infections
C) To decrease postnasal drip
D) To reduce airway inflammation
Answer: A - Salbutamol is a bronchodilator that relaxes airway smooth muscle .
Q8. A patient has had a myocardial infarction involving a large section of the
heart muscle. You assess them at risk for:
A) Hypovolaemic shock
B) Cardiogenic shock
C) Metabolic shock
D) Neurogenic shock
Answer: B - Extensive MI impairs the heart's pumping ability, leading to cardiogenic
shock .
Q9. Furosemide (a diuretic) has been prescribed for a patient with congestive
heart failure. The prescriber has not signed the medication chart. You should:
A) Double check the medication with a senior registered nurse
B) Contact the prescriber to sign the prescription
, C) Give the furosemide, sign for it and inform the nurse manager
D) Ask your nurse manager to sign the prescription, then give it
Answer: B - Medications cannot be administered without a valid signed
prescription .
Q10. A patient tells you they do not want to have the prescribed enoxaparin
sodium injection. Your first response would be to:
A) Inform them they must have the injection as it has been prescribed
B) Reassure them that it is prescribed for everyone who has a surgical procedure
C) Accept that they do not want the injection
D) Ask what concerns them about having the injection
Answer: D - Exploring the patient's concerns respects their autonomy and may
address misconceptions, potentially improving adherence .
Q11. A patient has been admitted with symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. What
is your main responsibility to them during their medical detoxification?
A) Administer fluids via a naso-gastric tube to maintain hydration
B) Don't disturb the patient so they can sleep
C) Prepare to physically restrain them if necessary
D) Keep the person safe and monitor for any deterioration
Answer: D - Safety and monitoring for deterioration (including seizure risk and
delirium tremens) is the priority .
Q12. Post-thyroidectomy patient reports tingling around mouth and fingers.
Chvostek sign positive. Priority action?
A) Oral calcium tablets
B) IV calcium gluconate – suspect hypoparathyroidism
C) Thyroid hormone replacement
D) Reassure – normal post-op
