Nursing 354 Patient Safety Practice
Exam Questions And Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationales 2026
Q&A Instant Download Pdf
1. Which action by the nurse is most effective in preventing medication
errors?
A. Administer medications quickly to reduce interruptions
B. Rely on memory when preparing commonly used medications
C. Verify the medication against the prescription and use the required medication
checks
D. Ask another nurse to administer unfamiliar medications
Answer: C. Verify the medication against the prescription and use the required
medication checks
Rationale: Medication verification and adherence to medication-administration
safety checks reduce the risk of wrong-patient, wrong-medication, wrong-dose,
wrong-route, and wrong-time errors.
2. A nurse receives a verbal prescription for a high-alert medication. What is
the safest action?
A. Administer the medication immediately
B. Repeat the prescription back to the prescriber for verification
,C. Ask another nurse to interpret the prescription
D. Document the prescription after administration
Answer: B. Repeat the prescription back to the prescriber for verification
Rationale: Read-back verification helps prevent errors caused by
miscommunication, especially with high-alert medications.
3. Which patient identification method is safest before medication
administration?
A. Confirming the patient's room number
B. Asking the patient to state their name and date of birth and comparing them
with the identification record
C. Asking another patient to identify the patient
D. Checking only the patient's wristband
Answer: B. Asking the patient to state their name and date of birth and
comparing them with the identification record
Rationale: Using two approved patient identifiers helps ensure that care is
provided to the correct patient. Room numbers should not be used as identifiers.
4. Which intervention is most appropriate for reducing fall risk in a
hospitalized patient?
A. Keep all four side rails raised
B. Place the call light within the patient's reach
C. Encourage the patient to walk independently
D. Keep the room completely dark at night
Answer: B. Place the call light within the patient's reach
Rationale: Easy access to the call light allows patients to request assistance
before attempting unsafe movement.
, 5. A patient is identified as being at high risk for falls. Which intervention
should the nurse implement?
A. Encourage independent toileting
B. Keep frequently used items within reach
C. Raise the bed to its highest position
D. Limit communication with the patient
Answer: B. Keep frequently used items within reach
Rationale: Keeping needed items accessible reduces unnecessary reaching and
ambulation, thereby decreasing fall risk.
6. Which nursing action best prevents healthcare-associated infections?
A. Wearing gloves for every patient interaction
B. Performing hand hygiene at appropriate times
C. Changing gloves once per shift
D. Using antibiotics prophylactically for all patients
Answer: B. Performing hand hygiene at appropriate times
Rationale: Hand hygiene is one of the most effective measures for preventing
transmission of microorganisms in healthcare settings.
7. When should the nurse perform hand hygiene after removing gloves?
A. Only when the gloves appear contaminated
B. Only if the patient has an infection
C. Immediately after glove removal
D. At the end of the shift
Answer: C. Immediately after glove removal
, Rationale: Gloves do not replace hand hygiene. Hands may become
contaminated during glove removal or through microscopic glove defects.
8. Which patient requires the nurse's immediate attention?
A. A patient requesting a meal
B. A patient reporting sudden difficulty breathing
C. A patient asking when discharge will occur
D. A patient requesting assistance with television controls
Answer: B. A patient reporting sudden difficulty breathing
Rationale: Acute respiratory difficulty may indicate a life-threatening condition
and takes priority over routine needs.
9. Which situation represents a near miss?
A. A patient receives the wrong medication and develops harm
B. A medication error reaches the patient but causes no harm
C. A wrong medication is prepared but identified before administration
D. A patient develops an expected medication side effect
Answer: C. A wrong medication is prepared but identified before administration
Rationale: A near miss is an error that could have caused harm but was detected
or corrected before reaching the patient.
10.What is the primary purpose of incident reporting?
A. To punish the nurse responsible
B. To create a permanent disciplinary record
C. To identify system problems and improve patient safety
D. To replace documentation in the medical record
Answer: C. To identify system problems and improve patient safety
Exam Questions And Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationales 2026
Q&A Instant Download Pdf
1. Which action by the nurse is most effective in preventing medication
errors?
A. Administer medications quickly to reduce interruptions
B. Rely on memory when preparing commonly used medications
C. Verify the medication against the prescription and use the required medication
checks
D. Ask another nurse to administer unfamiliar medications
Answer: C. Verify the medication against the prescription and use the required
medication checks
Rationale: Medication verification and adherence to medication-administration
safety checks reduce the risk of wrong-patient, wrong-medication, wrong-dose,
wrong-route, and wrong-time errors.
2. A nurse receives a verbal prescription for a high-alert medication. What is
the safest action?
A. Administer the medication immediately
B. Repeat the prescription back to the prescriber for verification
,C. Ask another nurse to interpret the prescription
D. Document the prescription after administration
Answer: B. Repeat the prescription back to the prescriber for verification
Rationale: Read-back verification helps prevent errors caused by
miscommunication, especially with high-alert medications.
3. Which patient identification method is safest before medication
administration?
A. Confirming the patient's room number
B. Asking the patient to state their name and date of birth and comparing them
with the identification record
C. Asking another patient to identify the patient
D. Checking only the patient's wristband
Answer: B. Asking the patient to state their name and date of birth and
comparing them with the identification record
Rationale: Using two approved patient identifiers helps ensure that care is
provided to the correct patient. Room numbers should not be used as identifiers.
4. Which intervention is most appropriate for reducing fall risk in a
hospitalized patient?
A. Keep all four side rails raised
B. Place the call light within the patient's reach
C. Encourage the patient to walk independently
D. Keep the room completely dark at night
Answer: B. Place the call light within the patient's reach
Rationale: Easy access to the call light allows patients to request assistance
before attempting unsafe movement.
, 5. A patient is identified as being at high risk for falls. Which intervention
should the nurse implement?
A. Encourage independent toileting
B. Keep frequently used items within reach
C. Raise the bed to its highest position
D. Limit communication with the patient
Answer: B. Keep frequently used items within reach
Rationale: Keeping needed items accessible reduces unnecessary reaching and
ambulation, thereby decreasing fall risk.
6. Which nursing action best prevents healthcare-associated infections?
A. Wearing gloves for every patient interaction
B. Performing hand hygiene at appropriate times
C. Changing gloves once per shift
D. Using antibiotics prophylactically for all patients
Answer: B. Performing hand hygiene at appropriate times
Rationale: Hand hygiene is one of the most effective measures for preventing
transmission of microorganisms in healthcare settings.
7. When should the nurse perform hand hygiene after removing gloves?
A. Only when the gloves appear contaminated
B. Only if the patient has an infection
C. Immediately after glove removal
D. At the end of the shift
Answer: C. Immediately after glove removal
, Rationale: Gloves do not replace hand hygiene. Hands may become
contaminated during glove removal or through microscopic glove defects.
8. Which patient requires the nurse's immediate attention?
A. A patient requesting a meal
B. A patient reporting sudden difficulty breathing
C. A patient asking when discharge will occur
D. A patient requesting assistance with television controls
Answer: B. A patient reporting sudden difficulty breathing
Rationale: Acute respiratory difficulty may indicate a life-threatening condition
and takes priority over routine needs.
9. Which situation represents a near miss?
A. A patient receives the wrong medication and develops harm
B. A medication error reaches the patient but causes no harm
C. A wrong medication is prepared but identified before administration
D. A patient develops an expected medication side effect
Answer: C. A wrong medication is prepared but identified before administration
Rationale: A near miss is an error that could have caused harm but was detected
or corrected before reaching the patient.
10.What is the primary purpose of incident reporting?
A. To punish the nurse responsible
B. To create a permanent disciplinary record
C. To identify system problems and improve patient safety
D. To replace documentation in the medical record
Answer: C. To identify system problems and improve patient safety
