Canadian Fundamentals of Nursing Potter and Perry | Practice Set 3
| 120 Questions with Answers and Rationales 2026/2027
Questions 1 to 4
1 An adult client is after becoming more fatigued than usual. During oral feeding,
the client coughs repeatedly and develops a wet voice. Which action is most
appropriate?
A. Stop feeding, assess breathing and swallowing concerns, and obtain appropriate
assistance.
B. Continue the same feeding plan without assessment.
C. Increase the bite size.
D. Ask the client to eat faster.
Your answer __________
2 An adult client is with a painful fracture. An alert client reports severe pain but
appears calm and is smiling. Which action is most appropriate?
A. Wait for crying before assessing.
B. Tell the client the rating is incorrect.
C. Conclude severe pain is impossible.
D. Assess the client reported pain and provide appropriate individualized care.
Your answer __________
3 An adult client is discussing an upcoming procedure. A client has limited
proficiency in the language used for a complex teaching discussion. Which action is
most appropriate?
A. Obtain only a signature.
B. Speak louder without changing communication support.
C. Skip the teaching entirely.
D. Use a qualified interpreter and check understanding in an accessible way.
Your answer __________
4 An adult client is after returning from imaging. During an infusion, the client
reports burning and the peripheral IV site becomes swollen. Which action is most
appropriate?
A. Stop the infusion and assess the site; follow the solution specific infiltration or
extravasation protocol.
,B. Flush the line vigorously before assessing it.
C. Massage the site forcefully.
D. Ignore discomfort until the bag is empty.
Your answer __________
Questions 5 to 8
5 An adult client is during family involvement discussions. A client says a proposed
approach conflicts with an important personal or cultural preference. Which action
is most appropriate?
A. Ask what matters to the client and collaboratively plan clinically appropriate care.
B. Dismiss the preference without discussion.
C. Ask a roommate to decide.
D. Insist staff convenience is the only priority.
Your answer __________
6 An adult client is during recovery from a gastrointestinal upset. A client has
reduced intake, dry mucous membranes, and dizziness; no cause has yet been
established. Which action is most appropriate?
A. Assess vital signs, intake and output, relevant history, and fluid status, then
communicate concerns and follow the care plan.
B. Use one isolated measurement as the entire assessment.
C. Ignore dizziness.
D. Diagnose the cause from dry mouth alone.
Your answer __________
7 An adult client is with weakness following surgery. A dependent client cannot
brush independently and has dry oral mucosa; swallowing precautions are
prescribed. Which action is most appropriate?
A. Use rough scrubbing despite fragile mucosa.
B. Assess the mouth and provide assisted oral care using techniques consistent with
the swallowing plan.
C. Pour a large amount of water into the mouth.
D. Assume dentures need no cleaning.
Your answer __________
,8 An adult client is before scheduled medication. A blood pressure reading is
unexpectedly different from the client’s baseline, without obvious distress. Which
action is most appropriate?
A. Give an unprescribed medication.
B. Document a guessed baseline value.
C. Use the room number to judge the expected blood pressure.
D. Recheck with appropriate cuff size and positioning, assess the client, and respond
to confirmed findings.
Your answer __________
Questions 9 to 12
9 An adult client is after several days of reduced mobility. A client who reports
constipation now develops new severe abdominal pain and vomiting. Which action
is most appropriate?
A. Ignore vomiting.
B. Assess promptly and seek urgent clinical review before treating this as routine
constipation.
C. Wait several days without assessment.
D. Encourage a large meal immediately.
Your answer __________
10 An adult client is on a rehabilitation unit. A clinically stable client reports poor
sleep because of avoidable nighttime noise and frequent nonurgent interruptions.
Which action is most appropriate?
A. Keep the lights bright all night.
B. Schedule every nonurgent task separately.
C. Reduce avoidable noise and cluster appropriate nonurgent care while preserving
necessary monitoring.
D. Encourage unlimited caffeine at bedtime.
Your answer __________
11 An adult client is declining a prescribed oral medication. A capable client
declines a proposed nursing intervention after receiving an explanation. Which
action is most appropriate?
A. Ask a visitor to overrule the capable client.
B. Perform the intervention secretly.
, C. Explore the concern, respect the decision, discuss alternatives, and document and
communicate appropriately.
D. Document agreement that was not given.
Your answer __________
12 An adult client is before handling soiled equipment. Before a care task, the nurse
anticipates possible contact with blood or body fluids but the client has no known
infection. Which action is most appropriate?
A. Perform a point of care risk assessment and use Routine Practices with exposure
appropriate PPE.
B. Use gloves as a substitute for hand hygiene.
C. Choose PPE solely from the room number.
D. Wait for laboratory confirmation before considering exposure.
Your answer __________
Questions 13 to 16
13 An adult client is at the end of a medication round. The nurse discovers that a
client has received a medication dose different from the verified order. Which action
is most appropriate?
A. Blame the client instead of assessing.
B. Assess the client, initiate necessary safety care, notify appropriate clinicians, and
follow the reporting process.
C. Assume no symptoms means no follow up is needed.
D. Wait until the next shift.
Your answer __________
14 An adult client is during a pain management plan. The care plan contains only
the statement that the client will improve, without an observable target or deadline.
Which action is most appropriate?
A. Promise an outcome unrelated to the assessment.
B. List only the nurse’s tasks.
C. Collaborate on a specific observable patient outcome with an appropriate
timeframe.
D. Choose a target without involving the client when involvement is possible.
Your answer __________
| 120 Questions with Answers and Rationales 2026/2027
Questions 1 to 4
1 An adult client is after becoming more fatigued than usual. During oral feeding,
the client coughs repeatedly and develops a wet voice. Which action is most
appropriate?
A. Stop feeding, assess breathing and swallowing concerns, and obtain appropriate
assistance.
B. Continue the same feeding plan without assessment.
C. Increase the bite size.
D. Ask the client to eat faster.
Your answer __________
2 An adult client is with a painful fracture. An alert client reports severe pain but
appears calm and is smiling. Which action is most appropriate?
A. Wait for crying before assessing.
B. Tell the client the rating is incorrect.
C. Conclude severe pain is impossible.
D. Assess the client reported pain and provide appropriate individualized care.
Your answer __________
3 An adult client is discussing an upcoming procedure. A client has limited
proficiency in the language used for a complex teaching discussion. Which action is
most appropriate?
A. Obtain only a signature.
B. Speak louder without changing communication support.
C. Skip the teaching entirely.
D. Use a qualified interpreter and check understanding in an accessible way.
Your answer __________
4 An adult client is after returning from imaging. During an infusion, the client
reports burning and the peripheral IV site becomes swollen. Which action is most
appropriate?
A. Stop the infusion and assess the site; follow the solution specific infiltration or
extravasation protocol.
,B. Flush the line vigorously before assessing it.
C. Massage the site forcefully.
D. Ignore discomfort until the bag is empty.
Your answer __________
Questions 5 to 8
5 An adult client is during family involvement discussions. A client says a proposed
approach conflicts with an important personal or cultural preference. Which action
is most appropriate?
A. Ask what matters to the client and collaboratively plan clinically appropriate care.
B. Dismiss the preference without discussion.
C. Ask a roommate to decide.
D. Insist staff convenience is the only priority.
Your answer __________
6 An adult client is during recovery from a gastrointestinal upset. A client has
reduced intake, dry mucous membranes, and dizziness; no cause has yet been
established. Which action is most appropriate?
A. Assess vital signs, intake and output, relevant history, and fluid status, then
communicate concerns and follow the care plan.
B. Use one isolated measurement as the entire assessment.
C. Ignore dizziness.
D. Diagnose the cause from dry mouth alone.
Your answer __________
7 An adult client is with weakness following surgery. A dependent client cannot
brush independently and has dry oral mucosa; swallowing precautions are
prescribed. Which action is most appropriate?
A. Use rough scrubbing despite fragile mucosa.
B. Assess the mouth and provide assisted oral care using techniques consistent with
the swallowing plan.
C. Pour a large amount of water into the mouth.
D. Assume dentures need no cleaning.
Your answer __________
,8 An adult client is before scheduled medication. A blood pressure reading is
unexpectedly different from the client’s baseline, without obvious distress. Which
action is most appropriate?
A. Give an unprescribed medication.
B. Document a guessed baseline value.
C. Use the room number to judge the expected blood pressure.
D. Recheck with appropriate cuff size and positioning, assess the client, and respond
to confirmed findings.
Your answer __________
Questions 9 to 12
9 An adult client is after several days of reduced mobility. A client who reports
constipation now develops new severe abdominal pain and vomiting. Which action
is most appropriate?
A. Ignore vomiting.
B. Assess promptly and seek urgent clinical review before treating this as routine
constipation.
C. Wait several days without assessment.
D. Encourage a large meal immediately.
Your answer __________
10 An adult client is on a rehabilitation unit. A clinically stable client reports poor
sleep because of avoidable nighttime noise and frequent nonurgent interruptions.
Which action is most appropriate?
A. Keep the lights bright all night.
B. Schedule every nonurgent task separately.
C. Reduce avoidable noise and cluster appropriate nonurgent care while preserving
necessary monitoring.
D. Encourage unlimited caffeine at bedtime.
Your answer __________
11 An adult client is declining a prescribed oral medication. A capable client
declines a proposed nursing intervention after receiving an explanation. Which
action is most appropriate?
A. Ask a visitor to overrule the capable client.
B. Perform the intervention secretly.
, C. Explore the concern, respect the decision, discuss alternatives, and document and
communicate appropriately.
D. Document agreement that was not given.
Your answer __________
12 An adult client is before handling soiled equipment. Before a care task, the nurse
anticipates possible contact with blood or body fluids but the client has no known
infection. Which action is most appropriate?
A. Perform a point of care risk assessment and use Routine Practices with exposure
appropriate PPE.
B. Use gloves as a substitute for hand hygiene.
C. Choose PPE solely from the room number.
D. Wait for laboratory confirmation before considering exposure.
Your answer __________
Questions 13 to 16
13 An adult client is at the end of a medication round. The nurse discovers that a
client has received a medication dose different from the verified order. Which action
is most appropriate?
A. Blame the client instead of assessing.
B. Assess the client, initiate necessary safety care, notify appropriate clinicians, and
follow the reporting process.
C. Assume no symptoms means no follow up is needed.
D. Wait until the next shift.
Your answer __________
14 An adult client is during a pain management plan. The care plan contains only
the statement that the client will improve, without an observable target or deadline.
Which action is most appropriate?
A. Promise an outcome unrelated to the assessment.
B. List only the nurse’s tasks.
C. Collaborate on a specific observable patient outcome with an appropriate
timeframe.
D. Choose a target without involving the client when involvement is possible.
Your answer __________
