COMPREHENSIVE NURSING
FUNDAMENTALS PRACTICE EXAM NSG
300 100 QUESTIONS WITH RATIONALES
This practice exam covers common nursing concepts, including
assessment, prioritization, safety, pharmacology, medical-surgical
care, communication, and patient education.
1. A nurse is assessing a patient’s respiratory status. Which
finding requires immediate intervention?
A. Respiratory rate of 20/min
B. Oxygen saturation of 96%
C. Use of accessory muscles
D. Clear bilateral breath sounds
*CorreCt answer: C. Use of accessory muscles*
rationale: Use of accessory muscles indicates increased
work of breathing and possible respiratory distress. The nurse
should assess the patient immediately and intervene as needed.
2. Which action is most effective for preventing the spread of
infection?
A. Wearing a surgical mask at all times
B. Performing hand hygiene
,C. Administering antibiotics
D. Placing patients in private rooms
*CorreCt answer: B. Performing hand hygiene*
rationale: Hand hygiene is the most important method of
preventing transmission of microorganisms.
3. A patient reports chest pain that began 10 minutes ago. What
should the nurse do first?
A. Obtain a complete health history
B. Apply oxygen if indicated and assess vital signs
C. Ask the patient to ambulate
D. Provide a meal
*CorreCt answer: B. Apply oxygen if indicated and
assess vital signs*
rationale: Chest pain may indicate myocardial ischemia.
Immediate assessment of airway, breathing, circulation,
oxygenation, and vital signs is the priority.
4. Which patient should the nurse assess first?
A. Patient requesting assistance with bathing
,B. Patient with a temperature of 37.8°C (100°F)
C. Patient with new-onset confusion
D. Patient awaiting discharge instructions
*CorreCt answer: C. Patient with new-onset confusion*
rationale: Acute confusion may indicate hypoxia, infection,
hypoglycemia, stroke, or another urgent condition.
5. Which assessment finding is most consistent with
hypokalemia?
A. Muscle weakness
B. Bounding pulses
C. Hyperactive reflexes
D. Facial flushing
*CorreCt answer: A. Muscle weakness*
rationale: Hypokalemia can cause muscle weakness,
fatigue, constipation, cardiac dysrhythmias, and flattened T
waves.
6. Which electrolyte imbalance places a patient at greatest risk for
seizures?
, A. Mild hypernatremia
B. Severe hyponatremia
C. Mild hypercalcemia
D. Mild hypokalemia
*CorreCt answer: B. Severe hyponatremia*
rationale: Severe hyponatremia causes cerebral edema,
confusion, seizures, and potentially coma.
7. A nurse is preparing to administer oral medication. Which
action is appropriate?
A. Leave the medication at the bedside
B. Verify the patient using two identifiers
C. Ask another patient to confirm the name
D. Document administration before giving the medication
*CorreCt answer: B. Verify the patient using two
identifiers*
rationale: Using two identifiers helps prevent medication
errors and is required before medication administration.
8. Which medication route provides the fastest systemic effect?
FUNDAMENTALS PRACTICE EXAM NSG
300 100 QUESTIONS WITH RATIONALES
This practice exam covers common nursing concepts, including
assessment, prioritization, safety, pharmacology, medical-surgical
care, communication, and patient education.
1. A nurse is assessing a patient’s respiratory status. Which
finding requires immediate intervention?
A. Respiratory rate of 20/min
B. Oxygen saturation of 96%
C. Use of accessory muscles
D. Clear bilateral breath sounds
*CorreCt answer: C. Use of accessory muscles*
rationale: Use of accessory muscles indicates increased
work of breathing and possible respiratory distress. The nurse
should assess the patient immediately and intervene as needed.
2. Which action is most effective for preventing the spread of
infection?
A. Wearing a surgical mask at all times
B. Performing hand hygiene
,C. Administering antibiotics
D. Placing patients in private rooms
*CorreCt answer: B. Performing hand hygiene*
rationale: Hand hygiene is the most important method of
preventing transmission of microorganisms.
3. A patient reports chest pain that began 10 minutes ago. What
should the nurse do first?
A. Obtain a complete health history
B. Apply oxygen if indicated and assess vital signs
C. Ask the patient to ambulate
D. Provide a meal
*CorreCt answer: B. Apply oxygen if indicated and
assess vital signs*
rationale: Chest pain may indicate myocardial ischemia.
Immediate assessment of airway, breathing, circulation,
oxygenation, and vital signs is the priority.
4. Which patient should the nurse assess first?
A. Patient requesting assistance with bathing
,B. Patient with a temperature of 37.8°C (100°F)
C. Patient with new-onset confusion
D. Patient awaiting discharge instructions
*CorreCt answer: C. Patient with new-onset confusion*
rationale: Acute confusion may indicate hypoxia, infection,
hypoglycemia, stroke, or another urgent condition.
5. Which assessment finding is most consistent with
hypokalemia?
A. Muscle weakness
B. Bounding pulses
C. Hyperactive reflexes
D. Facial flushing
*CorreCt answer: A. Muscle weakness*
rationale: Hypokalemia can cause muscle weakness,
fatigue, constipation, cardiac dysrhythmias, and flattened T
waves.
6. Which electrolyte imbalance places a patient at greatest risk for
seizures?
, A. Mild hypernatremia
B. Severe hyponatremia
C. Mild hypercalcemia
D. Mild hypokalemia
*CorreCt answer: B. Severe hyponatremia*
rationale: Severe hyponatremia causes cerebral edema,
confusion, seizures, and potentially coma.
7. A nurse is preparing to administer oral medication. Which
action is appropriate?
A. Leave the medication at the bedside
B. Verify the patient using two identifiers
C. Ask another patient to confirm the name
D. Document administration before giving the medication
*CorreCt answer: B. Verify the patient using two
identifiers*
rationale: Using two identifiers helps prevent medication
errors and is required before medication administration.
8. Which medication route provides the fastest systemic effect?
