Canadian Fundamentals of Nursing Potter and Perry | Practice Set 4
| 120 Questions with Answers and Rationales 2026/2027
Questions 1 to 4
1 An adult client is during a medical admission. 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 __________
2 An adult client is during a staffing adjustment. A care task is proposed for an
unregulated care provider, but competence and organizational permission have not
been verified. Which action is most appropriate?
A. Ignore an unstable client condition.
B. Treat assignment and controlled act delegation as identical.
C. Assign without instructions.
D. Check the task, client stability, worker competence, policy, and applicable
provincial requirements before assigning it.
Your answer __________
3 An adult client is learning warning signs after discharge. A client has limited
proficiency in the language used for a complex teaching discussion. Which action is
most appropriate?
A. Use a qualified interpreter and check understanding in an accessible way.
B. Skip the teaching entirely.
C. Obtain only a signature.
D. Speak louder without changing communication support.
Your answer __________
4 An adult client is during infection prevention planning. A nurse finds a social
media claim recommending a new care technique, but its evidence and safety are
uncertain. Which action is most appropriate?
A. Ignore all established guidance.
Canadian Fundamentals of Nursing • Practice Set 4 • 1
,B. Review credible evidence and relevant policy and consult appropriate clinical
resources before changing care.
C. Experiment without discussing risks.
D. Treat one promotional testimonial as conclusive proof.
Your answer __________
Questions 5 to 8
5 An adult client is before oral suction related care. 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. Choose PPE solely from the room number.
B. Wait for laboratory confirmation before considering exposure.
C. Perform a point of care risk assessment and use Routine Practices with exposure
appropriate PPE.
D. Use gloves as a substitute for hand hygiene.
Your answer __________
6 An adult client is after a poor night of sleep. A confused client repeatedly attempts
to remove tubing; the cause of the behaviour has not been assessed. Which action is
most appropriate?
A. Tie the tubing to the wrist.
B. Ignore distress.
C. Assess possible causes and use appropriate supervision and less restrictive
strategies before considering restraints under local requirements.
D. Give an unprescribed sedative.
Your answer __________
7 An adult client is during a clinic visit. A blood pressure reading is unexpectedly
different from the client’s baseline, without obvious distress. Which action is most
appropriate?
A. Recheck with appropriate cuff size and positioning, assess the client, and respond
to confirmed findings.
B. Use the room number to judge the expected blood pressure.
C. Give an unprescribed medication.
D. Document a guessed baseline value.
Your answer __________
Canadian Fundamentals of Nursing • Practice Set 4 • 2
,8 An adult client is during a bedside sterile setup. Before a sterile procedure, the
nurse notices that a supply package is wet and torn. Which action is most
appropriate?
A. Replace the package with an intact dry sterile supply.
B. Use the item because it looks clean.
C. Cover the torn area with ordinary tape.
D. Open it farther from the client to restore sterility.
Your answer __________
Questions 9 to 12
9 An adult client is during a long inpatient stay. A clinically stable client reports
poor sleep because of avoidable nighttime noise and frequent nonurgent
interruptions. Which action is most appropriate?
A. Schedule every nonurgent task separately.
B. Keep the lights bright all night.
C. Reduce avoidable noise and cluster appropriate nonurgent care while preserving
necessary monitoring.
D. Encourage unlimited caffeine at bedtime.
Your answer __________
10 An adult client is after reduced fluid intake. The nurse has completed an
assessment and intervention after the client reports dizziness. Which action is most
appropriate?
A. Document the report, actual findings, actions, notifications, and response
objectively.
B. Omit the event because the client improved.
C. Record a guessed normal value.
D. Use labels such as lazy or difficult.
Your answer __________
11 An adult client is after returning from a diagnostic procedure. The client
develops new laboured breathing and difficulty speaking in full sentences. Which
action is most appropriate?
A. Offer a meal before assessing breathing.
B. Wait for the client to request oxygen.
C. Complete routine discharge paperwork first.
Canadian Fundamentals of Nursing • Practice Set 4 • 3
, D. Assess breathing immediately, obtain urgent help, and support oxygenation
under the emergency plan.
Your answer __________
12 An adult client is during early postoperative mobilization. The client becomes
dizzy and unsteady while standing for a transfer. Which action is most appropriate?
A. Encourage faster walking.
B. Ask the client to hold onto a rolling bedside table.
C. Assist the client to a safe seated or lying position and assess symptoms and vital
signs.
D. Complete the transfer despite dizziness.
Your answer __________
Questions 13 to 16
13 An adult client is declining a planned dressing change. 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. Explore the concern, respect the decision, discuss alternatives, and document and
communicate appropriately.
C. Perform the intervention secretly.
D. Document agreement that was not given.
Your answer __________
14 An adult client is after teaching walker use. After teaching, a client nods but has
not explained how the care task will be performed. Which action is most
appropriate?
A. Ask the client to explain or demonstrate the task in their own words.
B. Finish without checking comprehension.
C. Use only an attendance signature.
D. Ask whether the nurse seemed friendly.
Your answer __________
15 An adult client is before a scheduled oral medication. The medication record and
the client identification band do not agree. Which action is most appropriate?
A. Use the room number as the only identifier.
B. Administer first and investigate later.
Canadian Fundamentals of Nursing • Practice Set 4 • 4
| 120 Questions with Answers and Rationales 2026/2027
Questions 1 to 4
1 An adult client is during a medical admission. 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 __________
2 An adult client is during a staffing adjustment. A care task is proposed for an
unregulated care provider, but competence and organizational permission have not
been verified. Which action is most appropriate?
A. Ignore an unstable client condition.
B. Treat assignment and controlled act delegation as identical.
C. Assign without instructions.
D. Check the task, client stability, worker competence, policy, and applicable
provincial requirements before assigning it.
Your answer __________
3 An adult client is learning warning signs after discharge. A client has limited
proficiency in the language used for a complex teaching discussion. Which action is
most appropriate?
A. Use a qualified interpreter and check understanding in an accessible way.
B. Skip the teaching entirely.
C. Obtain only a signature.
D. Speak louder without changing communication support.
Your answer __________
4 An adult client is during infection prevention planning. A nurse finds a social
media claim recommending a new care technique, but its evidence and safety are
uncertain. Which action is most appropriate?
A. Ignore all established guidance.
Canadian Fundamentals of Nursing • Practice Set 4 • 1
,B. Review credible evidence and relevant policy and consult appropriate clinical
resources before changing care.
C. Experiment without discussing risks.
D. Treat one promotional testimonial as conclusive proof.
Your answer __________
Questions 5 to 8
5 An adult client is before oral suction related care. 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. Choose PPE solely from the room number.
B. Wait for laboratory confirmation before considering exposure.
C. Perform a point of care risk assessment and use Routine Practices with exposure
appropriate PPE.
D. Use gloves as a substitute for hand hygiene.
Your answer __________
6 An adult client is after a poor night of sleep. A confused client repeatedly attempts
to remove tubing; the cause of the behaviour has not been assessed. Which action is
most appropriate?
A. Tie the tubing to the wrist.
B. Ignore distress.
C. Assess possible causes and use appropriate supervision and less restrictive
strategies before considering restraints under local requirements.
D. Give an unprescribed sedative.
Your answer __________
7 An adult client is during a clinic visit. A blood pressure reading is unexpectedly
different from the client’s baseline, without obvious distress. Which action is most
appropriate?
A. Recheck with appropriate cuff size and positioning, assess the client, and respond
to confirmed findings.
B. Use the room number to judge the expected blood pressure.
C. Give an unprescribed medication.
D. Document a guessed baseline value.
Your answer __________
Canadian Fundamentals of Nursing • Practice Set 4 • 2
,8 An adult client is during a bedside sterile setup. Before a sterile procedure, the
nurse notices that a supply package is wet and torn. Which action is most
appropriate?
A. Replace the package with an intact dry sterile supply.
B. Use the item because it looks clean.
C. Cover the torn area with ordinary tape.
D. Open it farther from the client to restore sterility.
Your answer __________
Questions 9 to 12
9 An adult client is during a long inpatient stay. A clinically stable client reports
poor sleep because of avoidable nighttime noise and frequent nonurgent
interruptions. Which action is most appropriate?
A. Schedule every nonurgent task separately.
B. Keep the lights bright all night.
C. Reduce avoidable noise and cluster appropriate nonurgent care while preserving
necessary monitoring.
D. Encourage unlimited caffeine at bedtime.
Your answer __________
10 An adult client is after reduced fluid intake. The nurse has completed an
assessment and intervention after the client reports dizziness. Which action is most
appropriate?
A. Document the report, actual findings, actions, notifications, and response
objectively.
B. Omit the event because the client improved.
C. Record a guessed normal value.
D. Use labels such as lazy or difficult.
Your answer __________
11 An adult client is after returning from a diagnostic procedure. The client
develops new laboured breathing and difficulty speaking in full sentences. Which
action is most appropriate?
A. Offer a meal before assessing breathing.
B. Wait for the client to request oxygen.
C. Complete routine discharge paperwork first.
Canadian Fundamentals of Nursing • Practice Set 4 • 3
, D. Assess breathing immediately, obtain urgent help, and support oxygenation
under the emergency plan.
Your answer __________
12 An adult client is during early postoperative mobilization. The client becomes
dizzy and unsteady while standing for a transfer. Which action is most appropriate?
A. Encourage faster walking.
B. Ask the client to hold onto a rolling bedside table.
C. Assist the client to a safe seated or lying position and assess symptoms and vital
signs.
D. Complete the transfer despite dizziness.
Your answer __________
Questions 13 to 16
13 An adult client is declining a planned dressing change. 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. Explore the concern, respect the decision, discuss alternatives, and document and
communicate appropriately.
C. Perform the intervention secretly.
D. Document agreement that was not given.
Your answer __________
14 An adult client is after teaching walker use. After teaching, a client nods but has
not explained how the care task will be performed. Which action is most
appropriate?
A. Ask the client to explain or demonstrate the task in their own words.
B. Finish without checking comprehension.
C. Use only an attendance signature.
D. Ask whether the nurse seemed friendly.
Your answer __________
15 An adult client is before a scheduled oral medication. The medication record and
the client identification band do not agree. Which action is most appropriate?
A. Use the room number as the only identifier.
B. Administer first and investigate later.
Canadian Fundamentals of Nursing • Practice Set 4 • 4
