Pennsylvania RN Jurisprudence Exam —
Code: PA-RN-JP | 100-Question
Advanced Practice Exam 2026 |
Questions & Answers with Detailed
Rationales | Complete Exam Prep &
Study Guide
1. A Pennsylvania RN is assessing a patient and determines that the patient
has developed a new response to treatment. Which action is most
consistent with the RN's statutory scope of professional nursing practice?
A. Making a medical diagnosis and prescribing a new medication
B. Assessing the response, identifying nursing needs, and implementing
appropriate nursing care
C. Independently changing the patient's medical treatment regimen
D. Ordering controlled substances for the patient
Answer: Assessing the response, identifying nursing needs, and implementing
appropriate nursing care
,Rationale: Pennsylvania defines professional nursing to include assessing human
responses and planning, implementing, and evaluating nursing care. Medical
diagnosis and prescribing therapeutic measures are outside the ordinary RN
scope unless specifically authorized by law or regulation.
2. Under Pennsylvania regulations, which responsibility remains with the RN
even when other personnel assist with patient care?
A. Responsibility only for medication administration
B. Responsibility only for documentation
C. Accountability for the quality of nursing care delivered
D. Responsibility only for delegated technical procedures
Answer: Accountability for the quality of nursing care delivered
Rationale: Under 49 Pa. Code § 21.11, the RN is fully responsible for actions
taken as a licensed nurse and is accountable to clients for the quality of care
delivered.
3. An RN is asked by a hospital administrator to delegate a nursing function to
an unlicensed employee. What is the best response under Pennsylvania
nursing guidance?
A. Delegate if the employee has completed hospital orientation
B. Delegate if the physician approves
C. Delegate if the patient signs consent
D. Do not delegate the nursing function to the unlicensed person
Answer: Do not delegate the nursing function to the unlicensed person
Rationale: Pennsylvania's Nurse Practice Act does not provide RNs with general
authority to delegate nursing functions to unlicensed persons. Pennsylvania
Department of Health guidance specifically states that RNs may not delegate
nursing functions to unlicensed persons.
4. Which activity is specifically identified in Pennsylvania's interpretation of
RN practice as within the RN scope?
,A. Prescribing antibiotics
B. Medical diagnosis of pneumonia
C. Insertion of a nasogastric tube
D. Independently prescribing controlled substances
Answer: Insertion of a nasogastric tube
Rationale: Pennsylvania's regulatory interpretation identifies insertion of
nasogastric tubes as a nursing practice falling within RN scope.
5. An RN collects arterial blood from an indwelling arterial catheter. Which
statement is most accurate?
A. The procedure is outside RN scope
B. The procedure is within the recognized scope of RN practice
C. The RN must first obtain a CRNP certificate
D. Only a physician may perform the procedure
Answer: The procedure is within the recognized scope of RN practice
Rationale: Pennsylvania's § 21.411 interpretation specifically includes collection
of arterial and venous blood samples, including from indwelling arterial or
venous catheters.
6. Which activity would most clearly exceed the ordinary statutory scope of a
Pennsylvania RN?
A. Health teaching
B. Case finding
C. Nursing assessment
D. Independent medical prescribing
Answer: Independent medical prescribing
Rationale: Professional nursing includes health teaching, counseling, case
finding, nursing care, and execution of prescribed medical regimens.
Independent medical prescribing is not an ordinary RN function.
, 7. A nurse notices that a patient's condition is deteriorating but the
physician's existing order does not address the change. What is the most
appropriate nursing action?
A. Ignore the change because no new order exists
B. Assess the patient, intervene within nursing scope, document findings, and
notify the appropriate provider
C. Independently prescribe a new medication
D. Alter the physician's order without authorization
Answer: Assess the patient, intervene within nursing scope, document findings,
and notify the appropriate provider
Rationale: The RN has an independent responsibility to assess human responses
and provide appropriate nursing care. The RN should communicate significant
changes requiring medical evaluation while remaining within scope.
8. A Pennsylvania RN is asked to perform a procedure that the nurse has
never been trained to perform. What is the safest legal and professional
response?
A. Perform it because an experienced nurse is nearby
B. Perform it if the patient consents
C. Decline the procedure until the nurse has appropriate knowledge, skill, and
competence
D. Perform it if the physician verbally authorizes it
Answer: Decline the procedure until the nurse has appropriate knowledge, skill,
and competence
Rationale: Licensure does not automatically establish competence for every
possible procedure. Nurses must practice within their education, training,
experience, and demonstrated competence.
9. Which statement best describes Pennsylvania's definition of professional
nursing?
Code: PA-RN-JP | 100-Question
Advanced Practice Exam 2026 |
Questions & Answers with Detailed
Rationales | Complete Exam Prep &
Study Guide
1. A Pennsylvania RN is assessing a patient and determines that the patient
has developed a new response to treatment. Which action is most
consistent with the RN's statutory scope of professional nursing practice?
A. Making a medical diagnosis and prescribing a new medication
B. Assessing the response, identifying nursing needs, and implementing
appropriate nursing care
C. Independently changing the patient's medical treatment regimen
D. Ordering controlled substances for the patient
Answer: Assessing the response, identifying nursing needs, and implementing
appropriate nursing care
,Rationale: Pennsylvania defines professional nursing to include assessing human
responses and planning, implementing, and evaluating nursing care. Medical
diagnosis and prescribing therapeutic measures are outside the ordinary RN
scope unless specifically authorized by law or regulation.
2. Under Pennsylvania regulations, which responsibility remains with the RN
even when other personnel assist with patient care?
A. Responsibility only for medication administration
B. Responsibility only for documentation
C. Accountability for the quality of nursing care delivered
D. Responsibility only for delegated technical procedures
Answer: Accountability for the quality of nursing care delivered
Rationale: Under 49 Pa. Code § 21.11, the RN is fully responsible for actions
taken as a licensed nurse and is accountable to clients for the quality of care
delivered.
3. An RN is asked by a hospital administrator to delegate a nursing function to
an unlicensed employee. What is the best response under Pennsylvania
nursing guidance?
A. Delegate if the employee has completed hospital orientation
B. Delegate if the physician approves
C. Delegate if the patient signs consent
D. Do not delegate the nursing function to the unlicensed person
Answer: Do not delegate the nursing function to the unlicensed person
Rationale: Pennsylvania's Nurse Practice Act does not provide RNs with general
authority to delegate nursing functions to unlicensed persons. Pennsylvania
Department of Health guidance specifically states that RNs may not delegate
nursing functions to unlicensed persons.
4. Which activity is specifically identified in Pennsylvania's interpretation of
RN practice as within the RN scope?
,A. Prescribing antibiotics
B. Medical diagnosis of pneumonia
C. Insertion of a nasogastric tube
D. Independently prescribing controlled substances
Answer: Insertion of a nasogastric tube
Rationale: Pennsylvania's regulatory interpretation identifies insertion of
nasogastric tubes as a nursing practice falling within RN scope.
5. An RN collects arterial blood from an indwelling arterial catheter. Which
statement is most accurate?
A. The procedure is outside RN scope
B. The procedure is within the recognized scope of RN practice
C. The RN must first obtain a CRNP certificate
D. Only a physician may perform the procedure
Answer: The procedure is within the recognized scope of RN practice
Rationale: Pennsylvania's § 21.411 interpretation specifically includes collection
of arterial and venous blood samples, including from indwelling arterial or
venous catheters.
6. Which activity would most clearly exceed the ordinary statutory scope of a
Pennsylvania RN?
A. Health teaching
B. Case finding
C. Nursing assessment
D. Independent medical prescribing
Answer: Independent medical prescribing
Rationale: Professional nursing includes health teaching, counseling, case
finding, nursing care, and execution of prescribed medical regimens.
Independent medical prescribing is not an ordinary RN function.
, 7. A nurse notices that a patient's condition is deteriorating but the
physician's existing order does not address the change. What is the most
appropriate nursing action?
A. Ignore the change because no new order exists
B. Assess the patient, intervene within nursing scope, document findings, and
notify the appropriate provider
C. Independently prescribe a new medication
D. Alter the physician's order without authorization
Answer: Assess the patient, intervene within nursing scope, document findings,
and notify the appropriate provider
Rationale: The RN has an independent responsibility to assess human responses
and provide appropriate nursing care. The RN should communicate significant
changes requiring medical evaluation while remaining within scope.
8. A Pennsylvania RN is asked to perform a procedure that the nurse has
never been trained to perform. What is the safest legal and professional
response?
A. Perform it because an experienced nurse is nearby
B. Perform it if the patient consents
C. Decline the procedure until the nurse has appropriate knowledge, skill, and
competence
D. Perform it if the physician verbally authorizes it
Answer: Decline the procedure until the nurse has appropriate knowledge, skill,
and competence
Rationale: Licensure does not automatically establish competence for every
possible procedure. Nurses must practice within their education, training,
experience, and demonstrated competence.
9. Which statement best describes Pennsylvania's definition of professional
nursing?
