NURSING FUNDAMENTALS PRACTICE QUESTIONS 2026
Chapter 1: Scope of Practice & Delegation
Question 1
A registered nurse (RN) is caring for four patients. Which task is most appropriate to delegate to an
unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP)?
A. Assessing a patient's pain level after surgery
B. Teaching a patient about wound care at home
C. Assisting a stable patient with morning hygiene
D. Evaluating the effectiveness of a medication
ANSWER: C. Assisting a stable patient with morning hygiene
Rationale: Activities of daily living (ADLs) such as hygiene, feeding, and ambulation for stable patients
can be delegated to UAPs. Assessment, teaching, and evaluation are nursing processes that require
clinical judgment and cannot be delegated.
Question 2
A nurse is working with a licensed practical nurse (LPN) and a UAP. Which patient should the nurse
assign to the LPN?
A. A patient requiring discharge teaching about insulin administration
B. A patient who needs a sterile dressing change to a pressure injury
C. A patient who requires assistance with eating breakfast
D. A patient who needs vital signs monitored every 4 hours
ANSWER: B. A patient who needs a sterile dressing change to a pressure injury
Rationale: LPNs can perform sterile procedures and dressing changes under RN supervision. Discharge
teaching requires assessment and evaluation that is within the RN scope. UAPs can assist with eating
and taking vital signs on stable patients.
Question 3
Which action by a UAP requires immediate intervention by the supervising nurse?
A. Reporting a patient's complaint of nausea
B. Documenting intake and output on the flow sheet
C. Administering a prescribed oral medication
,D. Helping a patient walk in the hallway
ANSWER: C. Administering a prescribed oral medication
Rationale: Medication administration is outside the UAP's scope of practice and requires a licensed
nurse. UAPs can report symptoms, document objective data like I&O, and assist with ambulation of
stable patients.
Question 4
A new graduate nurse is asked to perform a procedure never demonstrated in clinical rotation. The
charge nurse says, "Just figure it out." What is the best response?
A. "I'll watch a video online and then do it."
B. "I need supervision or demonstration before performing this procedure."
C. "I'll ask a coworker to talk me through it."
D. "I'll document that I wasn't trained properly."
ANSWER: B. "I need supervision or demonstration before performing this procedure."
Rationale: Nurses are responsible for practicing within their competence. Requesting proper training
and supervision protects patient safety and follows professional standards. Online videos or coworker
guidance without proper orientation is insufficient.
Question 5
Which principle of delegation follows the "Five Rights" framework?
A. Right task, right circumstance, right person, right direction, right supervision
B. Right time, right dose, right route, right patient, right documentation
C. Right assessment, right diagnosis, right planning, right implementation, right evaluation
D. Right communication, right teamwork, right leadership, right follow-up, right evaluation
ANSWER: A. Right task, right circumstance, right person, right direction, right supervision
Rationale: The Five Rights of Delegation are: Right Task, Right Circumstance, Right Person, Right
Direction/Communication, and Right Supervision/Evaluation. Option B describes medication
administration rights. Option C describes the nursing process.
Chapter 2: Patient Safety & Infection Control
Question 6
A nurse is preparing to insert an indwelling urinary catheter. Which action is most important for
preventing catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI)?
A. Using clean technique during insertion
B. Securing the catheter to the patient's leg
,C. Maintaining a closed drainage system
D. Emptying the drainage bag every 8 hours
ANSWER: C. Maintaining a closed drainage system
Rationale: Maintaining a closed drainage system is critical for preventing CAUTI. Sterile (not clean)
technique is required for insertion. While securing the catheter and emptying the bag are important, the
closed system prevents bacterial entry.
Question 7
Which patient requires contact precautions in addition to standard precautions?
A. A patient with influenza
B. A patient with Clostridium difficile
C. A patient with tuberculosis
D. A patient with meningococcal meningitis
ANSWER: B. A patient with Clostridium difficile
Rationale: C. diff requires contact precautions due to spore transmission. Influenza requires droplet
precautions. Tuberculosis requires airborne precautions. Meningococcal meningitis requires droplet
precautions.
Question 8
A nurse discovers a patient has fallen in the bathroom. What is the priority action?
A. Call for help immediately
B. Assess the patient for injuries
C. Help the patient back to bed
D. Complete an incident report
ANSWER: B. Assess the patient for injuries
Rationale: The priority is patient assessment to determine if injuries occurred before moving the patient.
After assessment, the nurse would call for help if needed, safely assist the patient, and then complete
documentation including an incident report.
Question 9
Which action demonstrates proper hand hygiene according to CDC guidelines?
A. Washing hands for 10 seconds with soap and water
B. Using alcohol-based hand sanitizer when hands are visibly soiled
C. Washing hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water
, D. Rinsing hands with water only between patient contacts
ANSWER: C. Washing hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water
Rationale: CDC recommends washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Alcohol-based
sanitizer is used when hands are not visibly soiled. When hands are visibly dirty, soap and water must be
used.
Question 10
A patient is on fall precautions. Which intervention is most effective?
A. Keeping all four side rails up at all times
B. Placing the bed in the lowest position
C. Using a physical restraint to prevent getting up
D. Telling the patient not to get up without help
ANSWER: B. Placing the bed in the lowest position
Rationale: Keeping the bed in the lowest position reduces injury risk if a fall occurs. Four side rails up
constitutes a restraint and requires a physician order. Physical restraints should be avoided and require
specific orders. Simply telling a patient not to get up is ineffective.
Chapter 3: Vital Signs & Assessment
Question 11
A patient's blood pressure is 150/94 mmHg. Which factor could cause a falsely elevated reading?
A. Using a cuff that is too large
B. Positioning the arm above heart level
C. Using a cuff that is too small
D. Deflating the cuff too slowly
ANSWER: C. Using a cuff that is too small
Rationale: A cuff that is too small will give a falsely elevated reading. A cuff that is too large gives a
falsely low reading. Positioning the arm above heart level gives a falsely low reading. Deflating too
slowly can cause venous congestion but doesn't consistently elevate readings.
Question 12
Which finding requires immediate notification of the healthcare provider?
A. Temperature of 99.2°F (37.3°C)
B. Pulse of 118 bpm in a resting adult
C. Respirations of 18 breaths per minute
Chapter 1: Scope of Practice & Delegation
Question 1
A registered nurse (RN) is caring for four patients. Which task is most appropriate to delegate to an
unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP)?
A. Assessing a patient's pain level after surgery
B. Teaching a patient about wound care at home
C. Assisting a stable patient with morning hygiene
D. Evaluating the effectiveness of a medication
ANSWER: C. Assisting a stable patient with morning hygiene
Rationale: Activities of daily living (ADLs) such as hygiene, feeding, and ambulation for stable patients
can be delegated to UAPs. Assessment, teaching, and evaluation are nursing processes that require
clinical judgment and cannot be delegated.
Question 2
A nurse is working with a licensed practical nurse (LPN) and a UAP. Which patient should the nurse
assign to the LPN?
A. A patient requiring discharge teaching about insulin administration
B. A patient who needs a sterile dressing change to a pressure injury
C. A patient who requires assistance with eating breakfast
D. A patient who needs vital signs monitored every 4 hours
ANSWER: B. A patient who needs a sterile dressing change to a pressure injury
Rationale: LPNs can perform sterile procedures and dressing changes under RN supervision. Discharge
teaching requires assessment and evaluation that is within the RN scope. UAPs can assist with eating
and taking vital signs on stable patients.
Question 3
Which action by a UAP requires immediate intervention by the supervising nurse?
A. Reporting a patient's complaint of nausea
B. Documenting intake and output on the flow sheet
C. Administering a prescribed oral medication
,D. Helping a patient walk in the hallway
ANSWER: C. Administering a prescribed oral medication
Rationale: Medication administration is outside the UAP's scope of practice and requires a licensed
nurse. UAPs can report symptoms, document objective data like I&O, and assist with ambulation of
stable patients.
Question 4
A new graduate nurse is asked to perform a procedure never demonstrated in clinical rotation. The
charge nurse says, "Just figure it out." What is the best response?
A. "I'll watch a video online and then do it."
B. "I need supervision or demonstration before performing this procedure."
C. "I'll ask a coworker to talk me through it."
D. "I'll document that I wasn't trained properly."
ANSWER: B. "I need supervision or demonstration before performing this procedure."
Rationale: Nurses are responsible for practicing within their competence. Requesting proper training
and supervision protects patient safety and follows professional standards. Online videos or coworker
guidance without proper orientation is insufficient.
Question 5
Which principle of delegation follows the "Five Rights" framework?
A. Right task, right circumstance, right person, right direction, right supervision
B. Right time, right dose, right route, right patient, right documentation
C. Right assessment, right diagnosis, right planning, right implementation, right evaluation
D. Right communication, right teamwork, right leadership, right follow-up, right evaluation
ANSWER: A. Right task, right circumstance, right person, right direction, right supervision
Rationale: The Five Rights of Delegation are: Right Task, Right Circumstance, Right Person, Right
Direction/Communication, and Right Supervision/Evaluation. Option B describes medication
administration rights. Option C describes the nursing process.
Chapter 2: Patient Safety & Infection Control
Question 6
A nurse is preparing to insert an indwelling urinary catheter. Which action is most important for
preventing catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI)?
A. Using clean technique during insertion
B. Securing the catheter to the patient's leg
,C. Maintaining a closed drainage system
D. Emptying the drainage bag every 8 hours
ANSWER: C. Maintaining a closed drainage system
Rationale: Maintaining a closed drainage system is critical for preventing CAUTI. Sterile (not clean)
technique is required for insertion. While securing the catheter and emptying the bag are important, the
closed system prevents bacterial entry.
Question 7
Which patient requires contact precautions in addition to standard precautions?
A. A patient with influenza
B. A patient with Clostridium difficile
C. A patient with tuberculosis
D. A patient with meningococcal meningitis
ANSWER: B. A patient with Clostridium difficile
Rationale: C. diff requires contact precautions due to spore transmission. Influenza requires droplet
precautions. Tuberculosis requires airborne precautions. Meningococcal meningitis requires droplet
precautions.
Question 8
A nurse discovers a patient has fallen in the bathroom. What is the priority action?
A. Call for help immediately
B. Assess the patient for injuries
C. Help the patient back to bed
D. Complete an incident report
ANSWER: B. Assess the patient for injuries
Rationale: The priority is patient assessment to determine if injuries occurred before moving the patient.
After assessment, the nurse would call for help if needed, safely assist the patient, and then complete
documentation including an incident report.
Question 9
Which action demonstrates proper hand hygiene according to CDC guidelines?
A. Washing hands for 10 seconds with soap and water
B. Using alcohol-based hand sanitizer when hands are visibly soiled
C. Washing hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water
, D. Rinsing hands with water only between patient contacts
ANSWER: C. Washing hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water
Rationale: CDC recommends washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Alcohol-based
sanitizer is used when hands are not visibly soiled. When hands are visibly dirty, soap and water must be
used.
Question 10
A patient is on fall precautions. Which intervention is most effective?
A. Keeping all four side rails up at all times
B. Placing the bed in the lowest position
C. Using a physical restraint to prevent getting up
D. Telling the patient not to get up without help
ANSWER: B. Placing the bed in the lowest position
Rationale: Keeping the bed in the lowest position reduces injury risk if a fall occurs. Four side rails up
constitutes a restraint and requires a physician order. Physical restraints should be avoided and require
specific orders. Simply telling a patient not to get up is ineffective.
Chapter 3: Vital Signs & Assessment
Question 11
A patient's blood pressure is 150/94 mmHg. Which factor could cause a falsely elevated reading?
A. Using a cuff that is too large
B. Positioning the arm above heart level
C. Using a cuff that is too small
D. Deflating the cuff too slowly
ANSWER: C. Using a cuff that is too small
Rationale: A cuff that is too small will give a falsely elevated reading. A cuff that is too large gives a
falsely low reading. Positioning the arm above heart level gives a falsely low reading. Deflating too
slowly can cause venous congestion but doesn't consistently elevate readings.
Question 12
Which finding requires immediate notification of the healthcare provider?
A. Temperature of 99.2°F (37.3°C)
B. Pulse of 118 bpm in a resting adult
C. Respirations of 18 breaths per minute
