2026 NCLEX Fundamentals Nursing
Practice Questions Answer Rationales
Patient Safety Nursing Process Infection
Control Assessment Prioritization
Clinical Judgment Review
SECTION 1: PATIENT SAFETY (Questions 1–25)
Question 1. A nurse is caring for a client who is at risk for falls. Which
intervention is most important to implement?
A. Apply a bed alarm
B. Keep the call light within reach and respond promptly
C. Restrain the client
D. Keep the bed in the highest position
Rationale: Keeping the call light within reach and responding promptly is the
most effective fall prevention strategy. Restraints are a last resort and can increase
fall risk. The bed should be kept in the lowest position.
Question 2. A nurse is preparing to administer medication to a client. Which
action should the nurse take first?
A. Check the medication against the MAR
B. Perform hand hygiene
C. Verify the client's identity using two identifiers
D. Assess the client's vital signs
Rationale: Hand hygiene is the first action before any client contact or medication
preparation to prevent the spread of infection.
Question 3. A nurse is caring for a client with a new diagnosis of tuberculosis.
Which type of room is required?
,A. Private room with a bathroom
B. Negative-pressure room with at least 6 air exchanges per hour
C. Positive-pressure room
D. Semi-private room
Rationale: Clients with tuberculosis require a negative-pressure room with at least
6 air exchanges per hour to prevent the spread of airborne particles.
Question 4. A nurse is caring for a client with Clostridioides difficile infection.
Which action is most important?
A. Using alcohol-based hand rub after client contact
B. Washing hands with soap and water after client contact
C. Wearing a surgical mask when entering the room
D. Placing the client in a negative-pressure room
Rationale: C. difficile spores are resistant to alcohol-based hand rub. Hand
hygiene with soap and water is required to physically remove the spores from the
hands.
Question 5. A nurse is preparing to use a restraint on a client. Which action is
correct?
A. Apply the restraint without a prescriber's order
B. Obtain a prescriber's order and assess the client every 15–30 minutes
C. Leave the restraint in place indefinitely
D. Tie the restraint to the side rails
Rationale: Restraints require a prescriber's order and frequent assessment.
Restraints should never be tied to side rails.
Question 6. A nurse is preparing to administer an injection. Which action is
correct for preventing needlestick injuries?
A. Recap the needle after use
B. Dispose of the needle in a sharps container immediately after use
C. Bend the needle before disposal
D. Place the needle in the regular trash
Rationale: Needles should never be recapped, bent, or broken. They should be
disposed of immediately in a puncture-resistant sharps container.
,Question 7. A nurse is caring for a client on airborne precautions. Which personal
protective equipment (PPE) is required?
A. Gloves and gown only
B. N95 respirator, gloves, and gown
C. Surgical mask and gloves
D. Goggles and gloves
Rationale: Airborne precautions require an N95 respirator or powered air-
purifying respirator (PAPR), gloves, and a gown.
Question 8. A nurse is preparing to insert a urinary catheter. Which action
demonstrates sterile technique?
A. Reusing gloves after touching the bedside table
B. Maintaining sterility of the catheter and supplies throughout the procedure
C. Allowing the catheter to touch the bed linens
D. Using clean gloves instead of sterile gloves
Rationale: Urinary catheter insertion requires sterile technique to prevent catheter-
associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs).
Question 9. A nurse is caring for a client on droplet precautions. Which PPE is
required?
A. N95 respirator only
B. Surgical mask and gloves
C. Gown and goggles
D. No PPE is required
Rationale: Droplet precautions require a surgical mask and gloves. Droplet
precautions are used for diseases such as influenza, pertussis, and mumps.
Question 10. A nurse is preparing to administer a blood transfusion. Which action
is most important to prevent a transfusion reaction?
A. Administer the blood rapidly
B. Verify the client's identity and blood product with a second nurse
C. Warm the blood in a microwave
D. Add medications to the blood bag
Rationale: Verifying the client's identity and blood product with a second nurse is
critical to prevent ABO incompatibility reactions.
, Question 11. A nurse is caring for a client who is at risk for aspiration. Which
intervention is most important?
A. Encourage the client to eat quickly
B. Position the client upright at 90 degrees during meals
C. Provide thin liquids with meals
D. Allow the client to eat alone
Rationale: Positioning the client upright at 90 degrees during meals helps prevent
aspiration by allowing gravity to assist with swallowing.
Question 12. A nurse is teaching a client about preventing surgical site infections.
Which instruction is most important?
A. "Shower the morning of surgery."
B. "Avoid shaving the surgical site."
C. "Apply lotion to the surgical site."
D. "Wear tight clothing over the surgical site."
Rationale: Shaving the surgical site can cause microabrasions that increase the
risk of infection.
Question 13. A nurse is caring for a client with a new colostomy. Which action is
most important to prevent skin breakdown?
A. Change the ostomy pouch every 7 days
B. Ensure the skin barrier fits snugly around the stoma
C. Use alcohol-based cleansers on the skin
D. Apply lotion to the peristomal skin
Rationale: Ensuring the skin barrier fits snugly around the stoma prevents stool
from coming into contact with the skin.
Question 14. A nurse is preparing to administer a medication via a nasogastric
(NG) tube. Which action is correct?
A. Mix all medications together
B. Flush the tube with water before and after each medication
C. Administer medications rapidly
D. Clamp the tube during administration
Rationale: The NG tube should be flushed with water before and after each
medication to prevent clogging and ensure full delivery.
Practice Questions Answer Rationales
Patient Safety Nursing Process Infection
Control Assessment Prioritization
Clinical Judgment Review
SECTION 1: PATIENT SAFETY (Questions 1–25)
Question 1. A nurse is caring for a client who is at risk for falls. Which
intervention is most important to implement?
A. Apply a bed alarm
B. Keep the call light within reach and respond promptly
C. Restrain the client
D. Keep the bed in the highest position
Rationale: Keeping the call light within reach and responding promptly is the
most effective fall prevention strategy. Restraints are a last resort and can increase
fall risk. The bed should be kept in the lowest position.
Question 2. A nurse is preparing to administer medication to a client. Which
action should the nurse take first?
A. Check the medication against the MAR
B. Perform hand hygiene
C. Verify the client's identity using two identifiers
D. Assess the client's vital signs
Rationale: Hand hygiene is the first action before any client contact or medication
preparation to prevent the spread of infection.
Question 3. A nurse is caring for a client with a new diagnosis of tuberculosis.
Which type of room is required?
,A. Private room with a bathroom
B. Negative-pressure room with at least 6 air exchanges per hour
C. Positive-pressure room
D. Semi-private room
Rationale: Clients with tuberculosis require a negative-pressure room with at least
6 air exchanges per hour to prevent the spread of airborne particles.
Question 4. A nurse is caring for a client with Clostridioides difficile infection.
Which action is most important?
A. Using alcohol-based hand rub after client contact
B. Washing hands with soap and water after client contact
C. Wearing a surgical mask when entering the room
D. Placing the client in a negative-pressure room
Rationale: C. difficile spores are resistant to alcohol-based hand rub. Hand
hygiene with soap and water is required to physically remove the spores from the
hands.
Question 5. A nurse is preparing to use a restraint on a client. Which action is
correct?
A. Apply the restraint without a prescriber's order
B. Obtain a prescriber's order and assess the client every 15–30 minutes
C. Leave the restraint in place indefinitely
D. Tie the restraint to the side rails
Rationale: Restraints require a prescriber's order and frequent assessment.
Restraints should never be tied to side rails.
Question 6. A nurse is preparing to administer an injection. Which action is
correct for preventing needlestick injuries?
A. Recap the needle after use
B. Dispose of the needle in a sharps container immediately after use
C. Bend the needle before disposal
D. Place the needle in the regular trash
Rationale: Needles should never be recapped, bent, or broken. They should be
disposed of immediately in a puncture-resistant sharps container.
,Question 7. A nurse is caring for a client on airborne precautions. Which personal
protective equipment (PPE) is required?
A. Gloves and gown only
B. N95 respirator, gloves, and gown
C. Surgical mask and gloves
D. Goggles and gloves
Rationale: Airborne precautions require an N95 respirator or powered air-
purifying respirator (PAPR), gloves, and a gown.
Question 8. A nurse is preparing to insert a urinary catheter. Which action
demonstrates sterile technique?
A. Reusing gloves after touching the bedside table
B. Maintaining sterility of the catheter and supplies throughout the procedure
C. Allowing the catheter to touch the bed linens
D. Using clean gloves instead of sterile gloves
Rationale: Urinary catheter insertion requires sterile technique to prevent catheter-
associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs).
Question 9. A nurse is caring for a client on droplet precautions. Which PPE is
required?
A. N95 respirator only
B. Surgical mask and gloves
C. Gown and goggles
D. No PPE is required
Rationale: Droplet precautions require a surgical mask and gloves. Droplet
precautions are used for diseases such as influenza, pertussis, and mumps.
Question 10. A nurse is preparing to administer a blood transfusion. Which action
is most important to prevent a transfusion reaction?
A. Administer the blood rapidly
B. Verify the client's identity and blood product with a second nurse
C. Warm the blood in a microwave
D. Add medications to the blood bag
Rationale: Verifying the client's identity and blood product with a second nurse is
critical to prevent ABO incompatibility reactions.
, Question 11. A nurse is caring for a client who is at risk for aspiration. Which
intervention is most important?
A. Encourage the client to eat quickly
B. Position the client upright at 90 degrees during meals
C. Provide thin liquids with meals
D. Allow the client to eat alone
Rationale: Positioning the client upright at 90 degrees during meals helps prevent
aspiration by allowing gravity to assist with swallowing.
Question 12. A nurse is teaching a client about preventing surgical site infections.
Which instruction is most important?
A. "Shower the morning of surgery."
B. "Avoid shaving the surgical site."
C. "Apply lotion to the surgical site."
D. "Wear tight clothing over the surgical site."
Rationale: Shaving the surgical site can cause microabrasions that increase the
risk of infection.
Question 13. A nurse is caring for a client with a new colostomy. Which action is
most important to prevent skin breakdown?
A. Change the ostomy pouch every 7 days
B. Ensure the skin barrier fits snugly around the stoma
C. Use alcohol-based cleansers on the skin
D. Apply lotion to the peristomal skin
Rationale: Ensuring the skin barrier fits snugly around the stoma prevents stool
from coming into contact with the skin.
Question 14. A nurse is preparing to administer a medication via a nasogastric
(NG) tube. Which action is correct?
A. Mix all medications together
B. Flush the tube with water before and after each medication
C. Administer medications rapidly
D. Clamp the tube during administration
Rationale: The NG tube should be flushed with water before and after each
medication to prevent clogging and ensure full delivery.
