Chamberlain NR-
224 Fundamentals
Skills Exam
Practice Questions
Format: NCLEX-style multiple choice with rationales | Focus: Core fundamentals skills
Section 1: Infection Control & Asepsis
Question 1
A nurse is caring for a patient with Clostridium difficile infection. Which action is most
effective in preventing the spread of this organism?
A. Using alcohol-based hand sanitizer before and after patient contact
B. Performing hand hygiene with soap and water
C. Wearing gloves only during direct patient care
D. Placing the patient in a negative-pressure room
Rationale: C. difficile spores are resistant to alcohol. Soap and water physically removes
the spores from the hands and is the required method of hand hygiene for this
organism .
,Question 2
A nurse is preparing to don personal protective equipment (PPE) to enter a patient's
room on droplet precautions. Which sequence is correct?
A. Gloves, gown, mask, eye protection
B. Gown, mask, eye protection, gloves
C. Mask, gloves, gown, eye protection
D. Eye protection, mask, gown, gloves
Rationale: The correct sequence for donning PPE is gown first, then mask/respirator,
eye protection, and gloves last. Gloves are the outermost layer and should be donned
last .
Question 3
A nurse is removing PPE after caring for a patient on contact precautions. Which piece
of PPE should be removed first?
A. Mask
B. Gown
C. Gloves
D. Eye protection
Rationale: Gloves are the most contaminated piece of PPE and should be removed first.
The mask/respirator should be removed last, after leaving the patient's room .
Question 4
A nurse is preparing a sterile field. Which action indicates correct technique?
A. Placing sterile items on the outer edge of the sterile field
B. Opening sterile packages toward the body
C. Keeping the sterile field within the line of sight at all times
D. Placing the sterile field on a wet surface
,Rationale: The sterile field must always be kept within the nurse's line of sight to
monitor for contamination. Items placed on the outer 1-inch margin are considered
contaminated .
Question 5
A nurse is caring for a patient on airborne precautions. Which PPE is required when
entering the room?
A. Surgical mask, gown, and gloves
B. N95 respirator, gown, and gloves
C. Surgical mask only
D. Gloves only
Rationale: Airborne precautions require an N95 respirator (or higher-level respirator),
gown, and gloves. A negative-pressure room with 6–12 air exchanges per hour is also
required .
Section 2: Vital Signs
Question 6
A nurse is preparing to measure an oral temperature. The patient reports drinking hot
coffee 5 minutes ago. Which action should the nurse take?
A. Proceed with the oral temperature measurement
B. Wait at least 15–20 minutes before measuring
C. Measure the temperature rectally instead
D. Subtract 1 degree from the oral reading
Rationale: Recent consumption of hot or cold liquids can cause false temperature
readings. The nurse should wait at least 15–20 minutes before measuring an oral
temperature .
, Question 7
A nurse is assessing capillary refill. Which finding is considered normal?
A. 5 seconds
B. Less than 3 seconds
C. 10 seconds
D. 4 seconds
Rationale: Normal capillary refill is typically less than 3 seconds, indicating adequate
peripheral perfusion .
Question 8
A nurse is assessing an adult patient's respiratory rate. Which finding is within normal
limits?
A. 8 breaths/min
B. 10 breaths/min
C. 16 breaths/min
D. 26 breaths/min
Rationale: The normal resting respiratory rate for a healthy adult is 12–20 breaths per
minute .
Question 9
A patient's blood pressure is 142/92 mm Hg. How should the nurse classify this finding?
A. Normal
B. Elevated
C. Stage 1 hypertension
D. Stage 2 hypertension
224 Fundamentals
Skills Exam
Practice Questions
Format: NCLEX-style multiple choice with rationales | Focus: Core fundamentals skills
Section 1: Infection Control & Asepsis
Question 1
A nurse is caring for a patient with Clostridium difficile infection. Which action is most
effective in preventing the spread of this organism?
A. Using alcohol-based hand sanitizer before and after patient contact
B. Performing hand hygiene with soap and water
C. Wearing gloves only during direct patient care
D. Placing the patient in a negative-pressure room
Rationale: C. difficile spores are resistant to alcohol. Soap and water physically removes
the spores from the hands and is the required method of hand hygiene for this
organism .
,Question 2
A nurse is preparing to don personal protective equipment (PPE) to enter a patient's
room on droplet precautions. Which sequence is correct?
A. Gloves, gown, mask, eye protection
B. Gown, mask, eye protection, gloves
C. Mask, gloves, gown, eye protection
D. Eye protection, mask, gown, gloves
Rationale: The correct sequence for donning PPE is gown first, then mask/respirator,
eye protection, and gloves last. Gloves are the outermost layer and should be donned
last .
Question 3
A nurse is removing PPE after caring for a patient on contact precautions. Which piece
of PPE should be removed first?
A. Mask
B. Gown
C. Gloves
D. Eye protection
Rationale: Gloves are the most contaminated piece of PPE and should be removed first.
The mask/respirator should be removed last, after leaving the patient's room .
Question 4
A nurse is preparing a sterile field. Which action indicates correct technique?
A. Placing sterile items on the outer edge of the sterile field
B. Opening sterile packages toward the body
C. Keeping the sterile field within the line of sight at all times
D. Placing the sterile field on a wet surface
,Rationale: The sterile field must always be kept within the nurse's line of sight to
monitor for contamination. Items placed on the outer 1-inch margin are considered
contaminated .
Question 5
A nurse is caring for a patient on airborne precautions. Which PPE is required when
entering the room?
A. Surgical mask, gown, and gloves
B. N95 respirator, gown, and gloves
C. Surgical mask only
D. Gloves only
Rationale: Airborne precautions require an N95 respirator (or higher-level respirator),
gown, and gloves. A negative-pressure room with 6–12 air exchanges per hour is also
required .
Section 2: Vital Signs
Question 6
A nurse is preparing to measure an oral temperature. The patient reports drinking hot
coffee 5 minutes ago. Which action should the nurse take?
A. Proceed with the oral temperature measurement
B. Wait at least 15–20 minutes before measuring
C. Measure the temperature rectally instead
D. Subtract 1 degree from the oral reading
Rationale: Recent consumption of hot or cold liquids can cause false temperature
readings. The nurse should wait at least 15–20 minutes before measuring an oral
temperature .
, Question 7
A nurse is assessing capillary refill. Which finding is considered normal?
A. 5 seconds
B. Less than 3 seconds
C. 10 seconds
D. 4 seconds
Rationale: Normal capillary refill is typically less than 3 seconds, indicating adequate
peripheral perfusion .
Question 8
A nurse is assessing an adult patient's respiratory rate. Which finding is within normal
limits?
A. 8 breaths/min
B. 10 breaths/min
C. 16 breaths/min
D. 26 breaths/min
Rationale: The normal resting respiratory rate for a healthy adult is 12–20 breaths per
minute .
Question 9
A patient's blood pressure is 142/92 mm Hg. How should the nurse classify this finding?
A. Normal
B. Elevated
C. Stage 1 hypertension
D. Stage 2 hypertension
