NURSING CAPSTONE COMPREHENSIVE PRE-TEST EXAM
2026/2027 ACCURATE REAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
WITH DETAILED RATIONALES EACH | CURRENTLY TESTING
AND FREQUENTLY TESTED QUESTIONS |
GRADED A+
SECTION 1: FUNDAMENTALS OF NURSING AND SAFETY (Questions 1-25)
1. A nurse is preparing to insert an indwelling urinary catheter for a female
patient. Which of the following actions demonstrates proper sterile technique?
A) Opening the catheter kit and touching only the outer surface of the sterile field
B) Placing the sterile drape on the bed and then opening the kit
C) Donning sterile gloves before opening the catheter kit
D) Using clean gloves to handle the sterile catheter
Answer: A
Rationale: When preparing a sterile field, the nurse should open the catheter kit
and touch only the outer surface of the sterile field to maintain sterility. The
sterile drape should be placed after the kit is opened. Sterile gloves are donned
after the kit is opened and the sterile field is established. Sterile gloves, not clean
gloves, are required to handle the sterile catheter.
2. A nurse is caring for a patient who is at risk for falls. Which of the following
interventions should the nurse implement first?
A) Place the bed in the lowest position with brakes locked
B) Apply a fall risk wristband
C) Provide a bed alarm
D) Keep the call light within reach
Answer: A
Rationale: The priority intervention for fall prevention is to place the bed in the
lowest position with brakes locked, as this minimizes injury risk if the patient
attempts to get out of bed independently. While all interventions are important,
the bed position is the most immediate physical safety measure. The other
interventions should be implemented in conjunction with the bed position.
1
,3. A nurse is preparing to administer a medication to a patient. Which of the
following is the most critical step in the medication administration process?
A) Checking the patient's allergies
B) Performing the three checks of medication administration
C) Verifying the patient's identity using two identifiers
D) Documenting the medication after administration
Answer: C
Rationale: Verifying the patient's identity using two identifiers (e.g., name and
date of birth) is the most critical step to prevent medication errors and ensure the
right patient receives the right medication. While all steps are important, patient
identification is the first and most essential safety check.
4. A nurse is caring for a patient with a new diagnosis of hypertension. Which of
the following lifestyle modifications should the nurse recommend?
A) Increase sodium intake to maintain blood pressure
B) Limit alcohol consumption to one drink per day for women and two for men
C) Engage in vigorous exercise daily
D) Increase caffeine intake to improve alertness
Answer: B
Rationale: Lifestyle modifications for hypertension include limiting alcohol
consumption to one drink per day for women and two for men. Sodium intake
should be reduced, not increased. Vigorous exercise should be discussed with the
healthcare provider. Caffeine intake should be limited as it may increase blood
pressure.
5. A nurse is caring for a patient with a tracheostomy. Which of the following
actions is most appropriate when suctioning the patient?
A) Suction for 10-15 seconds each pass
B) Apply suction during insertion of the catheter
C) Use sterile technique for suctioning
D) Preoxygenate the patient before suctioning
2
,Answer: D
Rationale: Preoxygenating the patient before suctioning helps prevent hypoxia.
Suction should be applied only during withdrawal, not insertion. Suctioning
should be limited to 10-15 seconds per pass (shorter if possible). While sterile
technique is important for tracheostomy care, preoxygenation is the priority
action to maintain oxygenation.
6. A nurse is assessing a patient who is 2 days post-operative. Which of the
following findings should the nurse report to the healthcare provider?
A) Pain rating of 4 on a scale of 0-10
B) Temperature of 101.2°F (38.4°C)
C) Heart rate of 88 beats per minute
D) Blood pressure of 120/78 mmHg
Answer: B
Rationale: A temperature of 101.2°F (38.4°C) is a sign of possible infection and
should be reported to the healthcare provider. Pain is expected post-operatively.
A heart rate of 88 bpm and blood pressure of 120/78 mmHg are within normal
limits.
7. A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a patient with a new colostomy.
Which of the following statements indicates the patient understands the
teaching?
A) "I will change the ostomy appliance daily."
B) "I can expect my stool to be liquid and continuous."
C) "I will notify my healthcare provider if the skin around the stoma becomes red
or irritated."
D) "I can irrigate my colostomy once a week."
Answer: C
Rationale: The patient should notify the healthcare provider if the skin around the
stoma becomes red or irritated, as this indicates skin breakdown or infection.
Ostomy appliances are typically changed every 3-7 days, not daily. Stool
consistency depends on the type of colostomy. Irrigation is not typically
3
, performed for all colostomies and should be done as directed by the healthcare
provider.
8. A nurse is caring for a patient receiving oxygen via nasal cannula at 2 L/min.
Which of the following actions should the nurse take to prevent skin breakdown?
A) Apply petroleum jelly to the nares
B) Secure the tubing tightly to the patient's face
C) Pad the tubing where it rests on the ears
D) Increase the oxygen flow rate
Answer: C
Rationale: Padding the tubing where it rests on the ears prevents skin breakdown
and pressure injury. Petroleum jelly should not be used because it is flammable.
The tubing should be secured loosely to prevent pressure. Increasing the oxygen
flow rate does not prevent skin breakdown.
9. A nurse is preparing to administer a blood transfusion. Which of the following
actions should the nurse take first?
A) Verify the patient's identity using two identifiers
B) Obtain a baseline set of vital signs
C) Prime the blood tubing with normal saline
D) Verify the blood product with another nurse
Answer: A
Rationale: The first step in the blood transfusion process is to verify the patient's
identity using two identifiers. This ensures the right patient receives the right
blood product. Obtaining vital signs, priming tubing, and verification with another
nurse are also important but occur after patient identification.
10. A nurse is caring for a patient with an NG tube. Which of the following actions
is most appropriate when irrigating the tube?
A) Use sterile water for irrigation
B) Use a 60 mL syringe to gently push fluid into the tube
C) Pull back on the syringe to check for gastric contents before irrigating
D) Irrigate the tube with carbonated beverages
4
2026/2027 ACCURATE REAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
WITH DETAILED RATIONALES EACH | CURRENTLY TESTING
AND FREQUENTLY TESTED QUESTIONS |
GRADED A+
SECTION 1: FUNDAMENTALS OF NURSING AND SAFETY (Questions 1-25)
1. A nurse is preparing to insert an indwelling urinary catheter for a female
patient. Which of the following actions demonstrates proper sterile technique?
A) Opening the catheter kit and touching only the outer surface of the sterile field
B) Placing the sterile drape on the bed and then opening the kit
C) Donning sterile gloves before opening the catheter kit
D) Using clean gloves to handle the sterile catheter
Answer: A
Rationale: When preparing a sterile field, the nurse should open the catheter kit
and touch only the outer surface of the sterile field to maintain sterility. The
sterile drape should be placed after the kit is opened. Sterile gloves are donned
after the kit is opened and the sterile field is established. Sterile gloves, not clean
gloves, are required to handle the sterile catheter.
2. A nurse is caring for a patient who is at risk for falls. Which of the following
interventions should the nurse implement first?
A) Place the bed in the lowest position with brakes locked
B) Apply a fall risk wristband
C) Provide a bed alarm
D) Keep the call light within reach
Answer: A
Rationale: The priority intervention for fall prevention is to place the bed in the
lowest position with brakes locked, as this minimizes injury risk if the patient
attempts to get out of bed independently. While all interventions are important,
the bed position is the most immediate physical safety measure. The other
interventions should be implemented in conjunction with the bed position.
1
,3. A nurse is preparing to administer a medication to a patient. Which of the
following is the most critical step in the medication administration process?
A) Checking the patient's allergies
B) Performing the three checks of medication administration
C) Verifying the patient's identity using two identifiers
D) Documenting the medication after administration
Answer: C
Rationale: Verifying the patient's identity using two identifiers (e.g., name and
date of birth) is the most critical step to prevent medication errors and ensure the
right patient receives the right medication. While all steps are important, patient
identification is the first and most essential safety check.
4. A nurse is caring for a patient with a new diagnosis of hypertension. Which of
the following lifestyle modifications should the nurse recommend?
A) Increase sodium intake to maintain blood pressure
B) Limit alcohol consumption to one drink per day for women and two for men
C) Engage in vigorous exercise daily
D) Increase caffeine intake to improve alertness
Answer: B
Rationale: Lifestyle modifications for hypertension include limiting alcohol
consumption to one drink per day for women and two for men. Sodium intake
should be reduced, not increased. Vigorous exercise should be discussed with the
healthcare provider. Caffeine intake should be limited as it may increase blood
pressure.
5. A nurse is caring for a patient with a tracheostomy. Which of the following
actions is most appropriate when suctioning the patient?
A) Suction for 10-15 seconds each pass
B) Apply suction during insertion of the catheter
C) Use sterile technique for suctioning
D) Preoxygenate the patient before suctioning
2
,Answer: D
Rationale: Preoxygenating the patient before suctioning helps prevent hypoxia.
Suction should be applied only during withdrawal, not insertion. Suctioning
should be limited to 10-15 seconds per pass (shorter if possible). While sterile
technique is important for tracheostomy care, preoxygenation is the priority
action to maintain oxygenation.
6. A nurse is assessing a patient who is 2 days post-operative. Which of the
following findings should the nurse report to the healthcare provider?
A) Pain rating of 4 on a scale of 0-10
B) Temperature of 101.2°F (38.4°C)
C) Heart rate of 88 beats per minute
D) Blood pressure of 120/78 mmHg
Answer: B
Rationale: A temperature of 101.2°F (38.4°C) is a sign of possible infection and
should be reported to the healthcare provider. Pain is expected post-operatively.
A heart rate of 88 bpm and blood pressure of 120/78 mmHg are within normal
limits.
7. A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a patient with a new colostomy.
Which of the following statements indicates the patient understands the
teaching?
A) "I will change the ostomy appliance daily."
B) "I can expect my stool to be liquid and continuous."
C) "I will notify my healthcare provider if the skin around the stoma becomes red
or irritated."
D) "I can irrigate my colostomy once a week."
Answer: C
Rationale: The patient should notify the healthcare provider if the skin around the
stoma becomes red or irritated, as this indicates skin breakdown or infection.
Ostomy appliances are typically changed every 3-7 days, not daily. Stool
consistency depends on the type of colostomy. Irrigation is not typically
3
, performed for all colostomies and should be done as directed by the healthcare
provider.
8. A nurse is caring for a patient receiving oxygen via nasal cannula at 2 L/min.
Which of the following actions should the nurse take to prevent skin breakdown?
A) Apply petroleum jelly to the nares
B) Secure the tubing tightly to the patient's face
C) Pad the tubing where it rests on the ears
D) Increase the oxygen flow rate
Answer: C
Rationale: Padding the tubing where it rests on the ears prevents skin breakdown
and pressure injury. Petroleum jelly should not be used because it is flammable.
The tubing should be secured loosely to prevent pressure. Increasing the oxygen
flow rate does not prevent skin breakdown.
9. A nurse is preparing to administer a blood transfusion. Which of the following
actions should the nurse take first?
A) Verify the patient's identity using two identifiers
B) Obtain a baseline set of vital signs
C) Prime the blood tubing with normal saline
D) Verify the blood product with another nurse
Answer: A
Rationale: The first step in the blood transfusion process is to verify the patient's
identity using two identifiers. This ensures the right patient receives the right
blood product. Obtaining vital signs, priming tubing, and verification with another
nurse are also important but occur after patient identification.
10. A nurse is caring for a patient with an NG tube. Which of the following actions
is most appropriate when irrigating the tube?
A) Use sterile water for irrigation
B) Use a 60 mL syringe to gently push fluid into the tube
C) Pull back on the syringe to check for gastric contents before irrigating
D) Irrigate the tube with carbonated beverages
4
