NEW YORK PATIENT CARE SKILLS FOR LPNS PRACTICE EXAM – STUDY GUIDE
QUESTIONS, ACTUAL TESTBANK | 150 PRACTICE QUESTIONS & 100% CORRECT
ANSWERS | LATEST UPDATE 2026/2027
Table of Contents: Patient Safety & Infection Prevention; Assessment & Clinical
Judgment; Medication Administration; Pharmacology & High-Alert Medications;
Fundamentals of Nursing Care; Wound & Skin Care; Respiratory Care; Cardiovascular
Care; Neurologic Care; Gastrointestinal & Genitourinary Care; Endocrine & Metabolic
Care; Musculoskeletal Care; Maternal-Newborn & Pediatric Care; Mental Health &
Therapeutic Communication; Geriatric Care; Emergency & Acute Care; Delegation,
Documentation & Professional Practice; Patient Education & Discharge Planning.
INTRODUCTION
This comprehensive New York Patient Care Skills for LPNs practice examination is
designed to develop advanced clinical judgment, safe patient-care practices,
prioritization, and application of practical-nursing principles. The questions emphasize
realistic clinical scenarios involving assessment, medication administration, infection
prevention, documentation, patient education, emergency response, delegation, and
evidence-informed nursing interventions. The difficulty ranges from advanced to
extremely challenging, requiring interpretation of clinical findings rather than simple
memorization. Questions also incorporate professional accountability, scope-of-
practice considerations, safety principles, ethical decision-making, and common
exceptions encountered in clinical practice. Students should expect plausible
distractors and situations requiring the selection of the safest and most appropriate
nursing action.
QUESTIONS 1–150
Question 1
A patient receiving an opioid analgesic after abdominal surgery is difficult to arouse.
Respirations are 8/min, oxygen saturation is 88%, and the patient responds only to
vigorous stimulation. Which action should the LPN take first?
A. Administer the prescribed opioid reversal medication
B. Apply oxygen and stimulate the patient while activating emergency assistance
C. Reassess the patient's pain using a numeric scale
D. Place the patient in a supine position and document the findings
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Airway and breathing are immediate priorities. The LPN should
, stimulate the patient, support oxygenation, and obtain emergency assistance while
preparing for reversal therapy.
Question 2
An LPN enters a room and finds a patient receiving oxygen by nasal cannula smoking
a cigarette. Which action is the priority?
A. Remove the oxygen source from the patient
B. Ask the patient to extinguish the cigarette
C. Remove the cigarette and immediately eliminate the ignition hazard
D. Document the violation after notifying the charge nurse
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Oxygen supports combustion. The immediate priority is to eliminate
the ignition source and protect the patient and environment from fire.
Question 3
A patient with suspected Clostridioides difficile infection requires assistance with
hygiene. Which intervention is most appropriate?
A. Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer after glove removal
B. Use soap and water for hand hygiene after removing gloves
C. Wear an N95 respirator during all patient contact
D. Place the patient on airborne precautions
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Soap and water is preferred after caring for a patient with C. difficile
because alcohol-based products do not reliably eliminate spores.
Question 4
An LPN is preparing to administer medication to a patient who states, “That pill looks
different from what I usually receive.” What is the best action?
A. Explain that medication appearance may vary between manufacturers
B. Administer the medication because the electronic record confirms it
C. Hold the medication until its identity and order are verified
D. Ask another patient whether the medication looks familiar
, Correct Answer: C
Explanation: A discrepancy identified by the patient must be investigated before
administration. The medication should not be given until its identity and order are
confirmed.
Question 5
A patient develops facial swelling, wheezing, and hypotension shortly after receiving
an antibiotic. Which finding requires the most immediate intervention?
A. Temperature of 38.1°C (100.6°F)
B. Blood pressure of 82/48 mm Hg
C. Heart rate of 108/min
D. Mild generalized itching
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Severe hypotension indicates cardiovascular compromise associated
with anaphylaxis and requires immediate emergency intervention.
Question 6
A patient with dysphagia begins coughing repeatedly while drinking thin liquids.
Which action should the LPN take?
A. Encourage the patient to drink more slowly
B. Offer a straw to improve control
C. Stop oral intake and assess the patient's swallowing and respiratory status
D. Have the patient tilt the head backward while swallowing
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Coughing during swallowing suggests aspiration risk. Oral intake
should stop while swallowing and respiratory status are assessed.
Question 7
A patient receiving enteral feeding suddenly develops coughing, cyanosis, and
respiratory distress. Which action has priority?
A. Increase the feeding rate
B. Stop the feeding and immediately assess airway and breathing
, C. Flush the feeding tube with sterile water
D. Place the patient flat to prevent tube displacement
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Acute respiratory distress during enteral feeding may indicate
aspiration. Feeding must be stopped and airway and breathing assessed
immediately.
Question 8
An immobile patient has nonblanchable redness over the sacrum. The skin is intact.
How should the LPN interpret this finding?
A. Stage 1 pressure injury
B. Stage 2 pressure injury
C. Deep tissue pressure injury
D. Moisture-associated skin damage
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Stage 1 pressure injury is characterized by intact skin with persistent
nonblanchable erythema.
Question 9
A patient with diabetes is awake, diaphoretic, shaky, and confused. The blood glucose
level is 52 mg/dL. Which intervention is appropriate if the patient can swallow safely?
A. Administer a rapid source of oral carbohydrate
B. Administer the patient's scheduled insulin
C. Encourage exercise to increase glucose utilization
D. Restrict oral intake until the glucose exceeds 100 mg/dL
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: A conscious patient with symptomatic hypoglycemia who can swallow
safely should receive a rapid-acting carbohydrate source.
Question 10
A patient receiving insulin becomes confused and diaphoretic. The LPN cannot obtain
a blood glucose reading because the glucometer is malfunctioning. What should the
LPN do?
QUESTIONS, ACTUAL TESTBANK | 150 PRACTICE QUESTIONS & 100% CORRECT
ANSWERS | LATEST UPDATE 2026/2027
Table of Contents: Patient Safety & Infection Prevention; Assessment & Clinical
Judgment; Medication Administration; Pharmacology & High-Alert Medications;
Fundamentals of Nursing Care; Wound & Skin Care; Respiratory Care; Cardiovascular
Care; Neurologic Care; Gastrointestinal & Genitourinary Care; Endocrine & Metabolic
Care; Musculoskeletal Care; Maternal-Newborn & Pediatric Care; Mental Health &
Therapeutic Communication; Geriatric Care; Emergency & Acute Care; Delegation,
Documentation & Professional Practice; Patient Education & Discharge Planning.
INTRODUCTION
This comprehensive New York Patient Care Skills for LPNs practice examination is
designed to develop advanced clinical judgment, safe patient-care practices,
prioritization, and application of practical-nursing principles. The questions emphasize
realistic clinical scenarios involving assessment, medication administration, infection
prevention, documentation, patient education, emergency response, delegation, and
evidence-informed nursing interventions. The difficulty ranges from advanced to
extremely challenging, requiring interpretation of clinical findings rather than simple
memorization. Questions also incorporate professional accountability, scope-of-
practice considerations, safety principles, ethical decision-making, and common
exceptions encountered in clinical practice. Students should expect plausible
distractors and situations requiring the selection of the safest and most appropriate
nursing action.
QUESTIONS 1–150
Question 1
A patient receiving an opioid analgesic after abdominal surgery is difficult to arouse.
Respirations are 8/min, oxygen saturation is 88%, and the patient responds only to
vigorous stimulation. Which action should the LPN take first?
A. Administer the prescribed opioid reversal medication
B. Apply oxygen and stimulate the patient while activating emergency assistance
C. Reassess the patient's pain using a numeric scale
D. Place the patient in a supine position and document the findings
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Airway and breathing are immediate priorities. The LPN should
, stimulate the patient, support oxygenation, and obtain emergency assistance while
preparing for reversal therapy.
Question 2
An LPN enters a room and finds a patient receiving oxygen by nasal cannula smoking
a cigarette. Which action is the priority?
A. Remove the oxygen source from the patient
B. Ask the patient to extinguish the cigarette
C. Remove the cigarette and immediately eliminate the ignition hazard
D. Document the violation after notifying the charge nurse
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Oxygen supports combustion. The immediate priority is to eliminate
the ignition source and protect the patient and environment from fire.
Question 3
A patient with suspected Clostridioides difficile infection requires assistance with
hygiene. Which intervention is most appropriate?
A. Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer after glove removal
B. Use soap and water for hand hygiene after removing gloves
C. Wear an N95 respirator during all patient contact
D. Place the patient on airborne precautions
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Soap and water is preferred after caring for a patient with C. difficile
because alcohol-based products do not reliably eliminate spores.
Question 4
An LPN is preparing to administer medication to a patient who states, “That pill looks
different from what I usually receive.” What is the best action?
A. Explain that medication appearance may vary between manufacturers
B. Administer the medication because the electronic record confirms it
C. Hold the medication until its identity and order are verified
D. Ask another patient whether the medication looks familiar
, Correct Answer: C
Explanation: A discrepancy identified by the patient must be investigated before
administration. The medication should not be given until its identity and order are
confirmed.
Question 5
A patient develops facial swelling, wheezing, and hypotension shortly after receiving
an antibiotic. Which finding requires the most immediate intervention?
A. Temperature of 38.1°C (100.6°F)
B. Blood pressure of 82/48 mm Hg
C. Heart rate of 108/min
D. Mild generalized itching
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Severe hypotension indicates cardiovascular compromise associated
with anaphylaxis and requires immediate emergency intervention.
Question 6
A patient with dysphagia begins coughing repeatedly while drinking thin liquids.
Which action should the LPN take?
A. Encourage the patient to drink more slowly
B. Offer a straw to improve control
C. Stop oral intake and assess the patient's swallowing and respiratory status
D. Have the patient tilt the head backward while swallowing
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Coughing during swallowing suggests aspiration risk. Oral intake
should stop while swallowing and respiratory status are assessed.
Question 7
A patient receiving enteral feeding suddenly develops coughing, cyanosis, and
respiratory distress. Which action has priority?
A. Increase the feeding rate
B. Stop the feeding and immediately assess airway and breathing
, C. Flush the feeding tube with sterile water
D. Place the patient flat to prevent tube displacement
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Acute respiratory distress during enteral feeding may indicate
aspiration. Feeding must be stopped and airway and breathing assessed
immediately.
Question 8
An immobile patient has nonblanchable redness over the sacrum. The skin is intact.
How should the LPN interpret this finding?
A. Stage 1 pressure injury
B. Stage 2 pressure injury
C. Deep tissue pressure injury
D. Moisture-associated skin damage
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Stage 1 pressure injury is characterized by intact skin with persistent
nonblanchable erythema.
Question 9
A patient with diabetes is awake, diaphoretic, shaky, and confused. The blood glucose
level is 52 mg/dL. Which intervention is appropriate if the patient can swallow safely?
A. Administer a rapid source of oral carbohydrate
B. Administer the patient's scheduled insulin
C. Encourage exercise to increase glucose utilization
D. Restrict oral intake until the glucose exceeds 100 mg/dL
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: A conscious patient with symptomatic hypoglycemia who can swallow
safely should receive a rapid-acting carbohydrate source.
Question 10
A patient receiving insulin becomes confused and diaphoretic. The LPN cannot obtain
a blood glucose reading because the glucometer is malfunctioning. What should the
LPN do?
