KAPLAN NCLEX-RN READINESS EXAM QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES
2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF.
Core Domains *
1. Safe and Effective Care Environment
2. Health Promotion and Maintenance
3. Psychosocial Integrity
4. Physiological Integrity
5. Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
6. Reduction of Risk Potential
7. Physiological Adaptation
8. Management of Care
9. Safety and Infection Control
10. Professionalism, Ethics, and Legal Standards
Introduction *
This readiness examination assesses the knowledge, clinical
judgment, and decision-making required for entry-level registered
nursing practice. It evaluates safe care environments, health
promotion, psychosocial integrity, physiological integrity,
pharmacology, risk reduction, and physiological adaptation.
Questions use multiple-choice and scenario-based formats to
emphasize prioritization, delegation, ethical reasoning, and real-
world application. Candidates must interpret clinical data, identify
complications, and implement evidence-based interventions.
Success reflects readiness to provide competent, compassionate, and
patient-centered care across diverse healthcare settings.
SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1–100
1. A nurse is caring for four patients. Which patient should the
nurse assess first?
,A. A patient requesting pain medication after abdominal surgery
B. A patient with new-onset shortness of breath and oxygen
saturation of 86%
C. A patient with a blood glucose of 210 mg/dL before breakfast
D. A patient asking when physical therapy will arrive
🟢 B. A patient with new-onset shortness of breath and oxygen
saturation of 86%
🔴 RATIONALE: New-onset hypoxemia and shortness of breath
indicate a life-threatening oxygenation problem and require
immediate assessment and intervention.
2. A nurse is delegating tasks to unlicensed assistive personnel
(UAP). Which task is appropriate to delegate?
A. Administering oral medications
B. Assessing a newly admitted patient
C. Teaching a patient about insulin
D. Measuring and recording vital signs
🟢 D. Measuring and recording vital signs
🔴 RATIONALE: Measuring vital signs is within the scope of UAP
when the patient is stable. Medication administration, assessment,
and teaching require a licensed nurse.
3. A nurse is preparing to administer packed red blood cells.
Which action is priority?
A. Verify the blood product with a second nurse
B. Prime the tubing with dextrose 5% in water
C. Administer the blood over 30 minutes
D. Add medications to the blood bag
🟢 A. Verify the blood product with a second nurse
,🔴 RATIONALE: Blood products require independent double
verification with another qualified staff member to prevent
transfusion reactions.
4. A patient with tuberculosis is admitted. Which isolation
precaution should the nurse implement?
A. Contact precautions
B. Droplet precautions
C. Airborne precautions
D. Standard precautions only
🟢 C. Airborne precautions
🔴 RATIONALE: Tuberculosis is transmitted via airborne particles
and requires a negative-pressure room and N95 respirator.
5. A nurse is reviewing informed consent. Which statement is
correct?
A. The nurse is responsible for obtaining informed consent
B. The provider is responsible for explaining the procedure
C. Consent can be obtained from a minor without parental
approval
D. Consent is not needed for emergency surgery
🟢 B. The provider is responsible for explaining the procedure
🔴 RATIONALE: The provider explains the procedure, risks, and
benefits; the nurse may witness the consent.
6. A patient tells the nurse, "I do not want any visitors." Which
action should the nurse take?
A. Allow visitors because family support is important
B. Tell the family the patient is sleeping
, C. Respect the patient's request and inform the team
D. Ask the provider to override the request
🟢 C. Respect the patient's request and inform the team
🔴 RATIONALE: The patient has the right to privacy and to refuse
visitors. The nurse should advocate for the patient's wishes.
7. A nurse is calculating intake and output. The patient drank
240 mL of coffee, 120 mL of juice, and 60 mL of water. What is
the total intake?
A. 420 mL
B. 360 mL
C. 480 mL
D. 300 mL
🟢 A. 420 mL
🔴 RATIONALE: 240 + 120 + 60 = 420 mL.
8. A patient is prescribed enoxaparin subcutaneously. Which
action is correct?
A. Massage the injection site after administration
B. Expel the air bubble before injecting
C. Inject into the deltoid muscle
D. Rotate injection sites and avoid massage
🟢 D. Rotate injection sites and avoid massage
🔴 RATIONALE: Enoxaparin is given subcutaneously in the
abdomen; the air bubble is not expelled, and massage is avoided
to reduce bruising.
CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES
2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF.
Core Domains *
1. Safe and Effective Care Environment
2. Health Promotion and Maintenance
3. Psychosocial Integrity
4. Physiological Integrity
5. Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
6. Reduction of Risk Potential
7. Physiological Adaptation
8. Management of Care
9. Safety and Infection Control
10. Professionalism, Ethics, and Legal Standards
Introduction *
This readiness examination assesses the knowledge, clinical
judgment, and decision-making required for entry-level registered
nursing practice. It evaluates safe care environments, health
promotion, psychosocial integrity, physiological integrity,
pharmacology, risk reduction, and physiological adaptation.
Questions use multiple-choice and scenario-based formats to
emphasize prioritization, delegation, ethical reasoning, and real-
world application. Candidates must interpret clinical data, identify
complications, and implement evidence-based interventions.
Success reflects readiness to provide competent, compassionate, and
patient-centered care across diverse healthcare settings.
SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1–100
1. A nurse is caring for four patients. Which patient should the
nurse assess first?
,A. A patient requesting pain medication after abdominal surgery
B. A patient with new-onset shortness of breath and oxygen
saturation of 86%
C. A patient with a blood glucose of 210 mg/dL before breakfast
D. A patient asking when physical therapy will arrive
🟢 B. A patient with new-onset shortness of breath and oxygen
saturation of 86%
🔴 RATIONALE: New-onset hypoxemia and shortness of breath
indicate a life-threatening oxygenation problem and require
immediate assessment and intervention.
2. A nurse is delegating tasks to unlicensed assistive personnel
(UAP). Which task is appropriate to delegate?
A. Administering oral medications
B. Assessing a newly admitted patient
C. Teaching a patient about insulin
D. Measuring and recording vital signs
🟢 D. Measuring and recording vital signs
🔴 RATIONALE: Measuring vital signs is within the scope of UAP
when the patient is stable. Medication administration, assessment,
and teaching require a licensed nurse.
3. A nurse is preparing to administer packed red blood cells.
Which action is priority?
A. Verify the blood product with a second nurse
B. Prime the tubing with dextrose 5% in water
C. Administer the blood over 30 minutes
D. Add medications to the blood bag
🟢 A. Verify the blood product with a second nurse
,🔴 RATIONALE: Blood products require independent double
verification with another qualified staff member to prevent
transfusion reactions.
4. A patient with tuberculosis is admitted. Which isolation
precaution should the nurse implement?
A. Contact precautions
B. Droplet precautions
C. Airborne precautions
D. Standard precautions only
🟢 C. Airborne precautions
🔴 RATIONALE: Tuberculosis is transmitted via airborne particles
and requires a negative-pressure room and N95 respirator.
5. A nurse is reviewing informed consent. Which statement is
correct?
A. The nurse is responsible for obtaining informed consent
B. The provider is responsible for explaining the procedure
C. Consent can be obtained from a minor without parental
approval
D. Consent is not needed for emergency surgery
🟢 B. The provider is responsible for explaining the procedure
🔴 RATIONALE: The provider explains the procedure, risks, and
benefits; the nurse may witness the consent.
6. A patient tells the nurse, "I do not want any visitors." Which
action should the nurse take?
A. Allow visitors because family support is important
B. Tell the family the patient is sleeping
, C. Respect the patient's request and inform the team
D. Ask the provider to override the request
🟢 C. Respect the patient's request and inform the team
🔴 RATIONALE: The patient has the right to privacy and to refuse
visitors. The nurse should advocate for the patient's wishes.
7. A nurse is calculating intake and output. The patient drank
240 mL of coffee, 120 mL of juice, and 60 mL of water. What is
the total intake?
A. 420 mL
B. 360 mL
C. 480 mL
D. 300 mL
🟢 A. 420 mL
🔴 RATIONALE: 240 + 120 + 60 = 420 mL.
8. A patient is prescribed enoxaparin subcutaneously. Which
action is correct?
A. Massage the injection site after administration
B. Expel the air bubble before injecting
C. Inject into the deltoid muscle
D. Rotate injection sites and avoid massage
🟢 D. Rotate injection sites and avoid massage
🔴 RATIONALE: Enoxaparin is given subcutaneously in the
abdomen; the air bubble is not expelled, and massage is avoided
to reduce bruising.
