NCLEX-RN Exam Prep 2026 | NGN Practice Questions & Detailed
Rationales 3 versions
This comprehensive study resource is a premier test bank designed for nursing
graduates preparing for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered
Nurses (NCLEX-RN). It features high-yield practice questions, 100% verified correct
answers, and thorough clinical rationales meticulously aligned with the 2026/2027
Next Generation NCLEX (NGN) blueprint. Utilizing these premium assessment
materials ensures deep competence across complex unfolding case studies,
prioritization questions, and standalone alternate-format items to maximize your
clinical judgment and guarantee a passing score on your first attempt.
1. A nurse is caring for a client who has a new prescription for enoxaparin. Which
of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Administer the medication intramuscularly
B. Massage the injection site after administration
C. Administer the medication subcutaneously into the abdomen
D. Aspirate before injecting
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Enoxaparin is administered subcutaneously into the fatty tissue of the abdomen.
It should not be given IM (A). Massaging (B) can cause bruising. Aspirating (D) is not
recommended.
2. A nurse is assessing a client who has a chest tube. Which of the following
findings indicates a need for immediate intervention?
A. Continuous bubbling in the water seal chamber
B. Intermittent bubbling in the suction control chamber
C. Tidaling in the water seal chamber
D. Drainage of 50 mL in 24 hours
Correct Answer: A
,Rationale: Continuous bubbling in the water seal chamber indicates an air leak and
should be reported immediately. Intermittent bubbling in the suction control chamber (B)
is expected. Tidaling (C) is normal with respiration. Drainage of 50 mL in 24 hours (D) is
within normal limits.
3. A nurse is caring for a client who has a new colostomy. Which of the following
findings should the nurse report?
A. Pink, moist stoma
B. Dark, dusky stoma
C. Small amount of bleeding at the stoma
D. Mucus in the stool
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A dark, dusky stoma indicates ischemia and should be reported immediately. A
pink, moist stoma (A) is normal. Small bleeding (C) is expected initially. Mucus (D) is
normal.
4. A nurse is teaching a client about a new prescription for phenytoin. Which of
the following instructions should the nurse include?
A. "Take this medication with food to reduce GI upset."
B. "Perform good oral hygiene to prevent gingival hyperplasia."
C. "Stop taking this medication if you feel better."
D. "Double the dose if you miss one."
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Phenytoin can cause gingival hyperplasia. Clients should maintain good oral
hygiene and see a dentist regularly. It can be taken with food (A) but that is not the
priority teaching. Stopping (C) or doubling (D) is unsafe.
,5. A nurse is caring for a client who is 2 days postoperative following a cesarean
birth. The client reports pain and redness at the incision site. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take first?
A. Apply a warm compress
B. Administer prescribed antibiotics
C. Assess the incision for drainage
D. Notify the provider
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The first action is to assess the incision for signs of infection, such as drainage,
dehiscence, or separation. Assessment precedes intervention. Warm compress (A) may be
used later. Antibiotics (B) require an order. Notifying the provider (D) comes after
assessment.
6. A nurse is teaching a client about a new prescription for alendronate. Which of
the following instructions should the nurse include?
A. "Take this medication with a full glass of water and remain upright for 30 minutes."
B. "Take this medication with food."
C. "Take this medication at bedtime."
D. "Double the dose if you miss one."
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Alendronate can cause esophageal ulceration. It must be taken with a full glass
of water, on an empty stomach, and the client must remain upright for 30 minutes.
7. A nurse is assessing a client who has a new prescription for haloperidol. Which
of the following findings indicates an adverse effect?
A. Extrapyramidal symptoms
B. Hypertension
C. Bradycardia
D. Hyperglycemia
, Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Haloperidol is a typical antipsychotic that commonly causes extrapyramidal
symptoms.
8. A nurse is caring for a client who has a new prescription for metoprolol. The
client's apical pulse is 52 bpm. Which of the following actions should the nurse
take?
A. Administer the medication as ordered
B. Hold the medication and notify the provider
C. Administer the medication with food
D. Recheck the pulse in 30 minutes
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Metoprolol is a beta-blocker that slows heart rate. An apical pulse below 60
bpm is a reason to hold the medication and notify the provider.
9. A nurse is teaching a client about a new prescription for sertraline. Which of the
following statements by the client indicates understanding?
A. "I will report any suicidal thoughts."
B. "I will take this medication with food."
C. "I will stop taking this if I feel better."
D. "I will double the dose if I miss one."
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: SSRIs like sertraline carry a black box warning for suicidal ideation. Clients
should report suicidal thoughts.
Rationales 3 versions
This comprehensive study resource is a premier test bank designed for nursing
graduates preparing for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered
Nurses (NCLEX-RN). It features high-yield practice questions, 100% verified correct
answers, and thorough clinical rationales meticulously aligned with the 2026/2027
Next Generation NCLEX (NGN) blueprint. Utilizing these premium assessment
materials ensures deep competence across complex unfolding case studies,
prioritization questions, and standalone alternate-format items to maximize your
clinical judgment and guarantee a passing score on your first attempt.
1. A nurse is caring for a client who has a new prescription for enoxaparin. Which
of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Administer the medication intramuscularly
B. Massage the injection site after administration
C. Administer the medication subcutaneously into the abdomen
D. Aspirate before injecting
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Enoxaparin is administered subcutaneously into the fatty tissue of the abdomen.
It should not be given IM (A). Massaging (B) can cause bruising. Aspirating (D) is not
recommended.
2. A nurse is assessing a client who has a chest tube. Which of the following
findings indicates a need for immediate intervention?
A. Continuous bubbling in the water seal chamber
B. Intermittent bubbling in the suction control chamber
C. Tidaling in the water seal chamber
D. Drainage of 50 mL in 24 hours
Correct Answer: A
,Rationale: Continuous bubbling in the water seal chamber indicates an air leak and
should be reported immediately. Intermittent bubbling in the suction control chamber (B)
is expected. Tidaling (C) is normal with respiration. Drainage of 50 mL in 24 hours (D) is
within normal limits.
3. A nurse is caring for a client who has a new colostomy. Which of the following
findings should the nurse report?
A. Pink, moist stoma
B. Dark, dusky stoma
C. Small amount of bleeding at the stoma
D. Mucus in the stool
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A dark, dusky stoma indicates ischemia and should be reported immediately. A
pink, moist stoma (A) is normal. Small bleeding (C) is expected initially. Mucus (D) is
normal.
4. A nurse is teaching a client about a new prescription for phenytoin. Which of
the following instructions should the nurse include?
A. "Take this medication with food to reduce GI upset."
B. "Perform good oral hygiene to prevent gingival hyperplasia."
C. "Stop taking this medication if you feel better."
D. "Double the dose if you miss one."
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Phenytoin can cause gingival hyperplasia. Clients should maintain good oral
hygiene and see a dentist regularly. It can be taken with food (A) but that is not the
priority teaching. Stopping (C) or doubling (D) is unsafe.
,5. A nurse is caring for a client who is 2 days postoperative following a cesarean
birth. The client reports pain and redness at the incision site. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take first?
A. Apply a warm compress
B. Administer prescribed antibiotics
C. Assess the incision for drainage
D. Notify the provider
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The first action is to assess the incision for signs of infection, such as drainage,
dehiscence, or separation. Assessment precedes intervention. Warm compress (A) may be
used later. Antibiotics (B) require an order. Notifying the provider (D) comes after
assessment.
6. A nurse is teaching a client about a new prescription for alendronate. Which of
the following instructions should the nurse include?
A. "Take this medication with a full glass of water and remain upright for 30 minutes."
B. "Take this medication with food."
C. "Take this medication at bedtime."
D. "Double the dose if you miss one."
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Alendronate can cause esophageal ulceration. It must be taken with a full glass
of water, on an empty stomach, and the client must remain upright for 30 minutes.
7. A nurse is assessing a client who has a new prescription for haloperidol. Which
of the following findings indicates an adverse effect?
A. Extrapyramidal symptoms
B. Hypertension
C. Bradycardia
D. Hyperglycemia
, Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Haloperidol is a typical antipsychotic that commonly causes extrapyramidal
symptoms.
8. A nurse is caring for a client who has a new prescription for metoprolol. The
client's apical pulse is 52 bpm. Which of the following actions should the nurse
take?
A. Administer the medication as ordered
B. Hold the medication and notify the provider
C. Administer the medication with food
D. Recheck the pulse in 30 minutes
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Metoprolol is a beta-blocker that slows heart rate. An apical pulse below 60
bpm is a reason to hold the medication and notify the provider.
9. A nurse is teaching a client about a new prescription for sertraline. Which of the
following statements by the client indicates understanding?
A. "I will report any suicidal thoughts."
B. "I will take this medication with food."
C. "I will stop taking this if I feel better."
D. "I will double the dose if I miss one."
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: SSRIs like sertraline carry a black box warning for suicidal ideation. Clients
should report suicidal thoughts.
