NACE Practice Examination 2026/2027
Note: This is a second, distinct set of 300 NACE-style items. Rationales are
concise and intended for quick review. Section counts: Foundations 60, Adult 80,
Children 60, Childbearing 50, Mental Health 50 = 300.
Section 1: Foundations of Nursing (Questions 1–60)
1. Which organization publishes the NANDA-I nursing diagnoses?
A. The Joint Commission
B. NANDA International
C. American Nurses Association
D. National League for Nursing
Answer: B. NANDA International
Rationale: NANDA-I develops and publishes standardized nursing diagnoses used
in the nursing process.
2. What is the primary purpose of HIPAA?
A. Regulate nursing licensure
B. Protect patients’ protected health information
C. Set medication administration rights
D. Establish infection control standards
Answer: B. Protect patients’ protected health information
Rationale: HIPAA safeguards privacy and security of health information.
3. Which finding is objective data?
A. “I feel dizzy.”
B. Blood pressure 130/80 mmHg
C. “My stomach hurts.”
D. “I am worried.”
Answer: B. Blood pressure 130/80 mmHg
Rationale: Objective data are measurable and observable; subjective data are what
the patient reports.
,4. Which is an independent nursing intervention?
A. Prescribing antibiotics
B. Repositioning an immobile patient every 2 hours
C. Ordering a chest x-ray
D. Adjusting a ventilator setting without an order
Answer: B. Repositioning an immobile patient every 2 hours
Rationale: Independent interventions are within nursing scope and do not require a
provider order.
5. A patient becomes short of breath after ambulating. What should the nurse
do first?
A. Document the finding
B. Assess respiratory status
C. Notify the family
D. Administer a PRN sedative
Answer: B. Assess respiratory status
Rationale: Assessment precedes intervention; the nurse must determine severity
and cause.
6. Which pulse site is used during adult CPR?
A. Radial
B. Carotid
C. Popliteal
D. Dorsalis pedis
Answer: B. Carotid
Rationale: The carotid pulse is central and most reliable for assessing circulation
during CPR.
7. What is a normal adult oral temperature range?
A. 34.0–35.5°C
B. 36.5–37.5°C
C. 38.0–39.0°C
D. 39.5–40.5°C
Answer: B. 36.5–37.5°C
Rationale: Normal adult oral temperature is approximately 36.5–37.5°C (97.7–
99.5°F).
8. Which finding indicates orthostatic hypotension?
A. Systolic drop ≥20 mmHg or diastolic drop ≥10 mmHg on standing
,B. Systoliczrisez≥20zmmHgzonzstanding
C.zHeartzratezdecreasezofz20zbpmzonzstanding
D.zRespiratoryzratezincreasezofz5zbreaths/min
Answer:zA.zSystoliczdropz≥20zmmHgzorzdiastoliczdropz≥10zmmHgzonzstanding
Rationale:zOrthostaticzhypotensionziszazsignificantzBPzdropzuponzstanding,zincreas
ingzfallzrisk.
9.zWhichzprecautionszarezrequiredzforzazpatientzwithzClostridioideszdifficile?
A.zAirborne
B.zDroplet
C.zContact
D.zNozprecautions
Answer:zC.zContact
Rationale:zC.zdifficilezrequireszcontactzprecautionszandzsoap-and-
waterzhandzhygiene.
10.zWhatziszthezcorrectzorderzforzremovingzPPE?
A.zGloves,zgoggles/facezshield,zgown,zmask
B.zMask,zgloves,zgown,zgoggles
C.zGown,zgloves,zmask,zgoggles
D.zGoggles,zgown,zmask,zgloves
Answer:zA.zGloves,zgoggles/facezshield,zgown,zmask
Rationale:zRemovingzgloveszfirstzreduceszcontamination;zmaskziszremovedzlast.
11.zWhatzshouldztheznursezdozimmediatelyzafterzusingzazneedle?
A.zRecapzitzwithztwozhands
B.zPlacezitzinzazsharpszcontainer
C.zBendzitzbeforezdisposal
D.zSetzitzonzthezbedsideztable
Answer:zB.zPlacezitzinzazsharpszcontainer
Rationale:zImmediatezsharpszdisposalzpreventszneedlestickzinjury.
12.zWhichzidentifierszarezacceptablezforzpatientzidentification?
A.zRoomznumberzandzbed
B.zNamezandzdatezofzbirth
C.zDiagnosiszandzage
D.zPhysicianznamezandzroom
Answer:zB.zNamezandzdatezofzbirth
, Rationale:zTwozpatient-
specificzidentifierszarezrequired;zroom/bedzareznotzacceptablezalone.
13.zWhichzmedicationzroutezgenerallyzproduceszthezfastestzsystemiczeffect?
A.zOral
B.zSubcutaneous
C.zIntravenous
D.zTopical
Answer:zC.zIntravenous
Rationale:zIVzadministrationzbypasseszabsorptionzandzdeliverszmedicationzdirectly
zintozcirculation.
14.zWhichziszazkeyzsafetyzcheckzbeforezadministeringzenteralzmedication?
A.zVerifyztubezplacementzperzpolicy
B.zMixzallzmedicationsztogether
C.zGivezmedicationszrapidly
D.zUsezcoldzwaterzonly
Answer:zA.zVerifyztubezplacementzperzpolicy
Rationale:zConfirmingztubezplacementzpreventszinadvertentzpulmonaryzadministra
tion.
15.zWhichzdrainagezcharacteristiczsuggestszwoundzinfection?
A.zSerouszdrainage
B.zPurulentzdrainagezwithzodor
C.zSmallzamountzofzsanguineouszdrainage
D.zClearzdrainage
Answer:zB.zPurulentzdrainagezwithzodor
Rationale:zPurulent,zfoul-
smellingzdrainagezsuggestszinfectionzandzrequireszproviderznotification.
16.zWhichzstagezpressurezinjuryzinvolveszfull-
thicknesszlosszwithzvisiblezsubcutaneouszfat?
A.zStagez1
B.zStagez2
C.zStagez3
D.zStagez4
Answer:zC.zStagez3
Rationale:zStagez3zinvolveszfull-
thicknesszlosszwithzvisiblezfat;zbone/tendon/musclezexposurezindicateszStagez4.
Note: This is a second, distinct set of 300 NACE-style items. Rationales are
concise and intended for quick review. Section counts: Foundations 60, Adult 80,
Children 60, Childbearing 50, Mental Health 50 = 300.
Section 1: Foundations of Nursing (Questions 1–60)
1. Which organization publishes the NANDA-I nursing diagnoses?
A. The Joint Commission
B. NANDA International
C. American Nurses Association
D. National League for Nursing
Answer: B. NANDA International
Rationale: NANDA-I develops and publishes standardized nursing diagnoses used
in the nursing process.
2. What is the primary purpose of HIPAA?
A. Regulate nursing licensure
B. Protect patients’ protected health information
C. Set medication administration rights
D. Establish infection control standards
Answer: B. Protect patients’ protected health information
Rationale: HIPAA safeguards privacy and security of health information.
3. Which finding is objective data?
A. “I feel dizzy.”
B. Blood pressure 130/80 mmHg
C. “My stomach hurts.”
D. “I am worried.”
Answer: B. Blood pressure 130/80 mmHg
Rationale: Objective data are measurable and observable; subjective data are what
the patient reports.
,4. Which is an independent nursing intervention?
A. Prescribing antibiotics
B. Repositioning an immobile patient every 2 hours
C. Ordering a chest x-ray
D. Adjusting a ventilator setting without an order
Answer: B. Repositioning an immobile patient every 2 hours
Rationale: Independent interventions are within nursing scope and do not require a
provider order.
5. A patient becomes short of breath after ambulating. What should the nurse
do first?
A. Document the finding
B. Assess respiratory status
C. Notify the family
D. Administer a PRN sedative
Answer: B. Assess respiratory status
Rationale: Assessment precedes intervention; the nurse must determine severity
and cause.
6. Which pulse site is used during adult CPR?
A. Radial
B. Carotid
C. Popliteal
D. Dorsalis pedis
Answer: B. Carotid
Rationale: The carotid pulse is central and most reliable for assessing circulation
during CPR.
7. What is a normal adult oral temperature range?
A. 34.0–35.5°C
B. 36.5–37.5°C
C. 38.0–39.0°C
D. 39.5–40.5°C
Answer: B. 36.5–37.5°C
Rationale: Normal adult oral temperature is approximately 36.5–37.5°C (97.7–
99.5°F).
8. Which finding indicates orthostatic hypotension?
A. Systolic drop ≥20 mmHg or diastolic drop ≥10 mmHg on standing
,B. Systoliczrisez≥20zmmHgzonzstanding
C.zHeartzratezdecreasezofz20zbpmzonzstanding
D.zRespiratoryzratezincreasezofz5zbreaths/min
Answer:zA.zSystoliczdropz≥20zmmHgzorzdiastoliczdropz≥10zmmHgzonzstanding
Rationale:zOrthostaticzhypotensionziszazsignificantzBPzdropzuponzstanding,zincreas
ingzfallzrisk.
9.zWhichzprecautionszarezrequiredzforzazpatientzwithzClostridioideszdifficile?
A.zAirborne
B.zDroplet
C.zContact
D.zNozprecautions
Answer:zC.zContact
Rationale:zC.zdifficilezrequireszcontactzprecautionszandzsoap-and-
waterzhandzhygiene.
10.zWhatziszthezcorrectzorderzforzremovingzPPE?
A.zGloves,zgoggles/facezshield,zgown,zmask
B.zMask,zgloves,zgown,zgoggles
C.zGown,zgloves,zmask,zgoggles
D.zGoggles,zgown,zmask,zgloves
Answer:zA.zGloves,zgoggles/facezshield,zgown,zmask
Rationale:zRemovingzgloveszfirstzreduceszcontamination;zmaskziszremovedzlast.
11.zWhatzshouldztheznursezdozimmediatelyzafterzusingzazneedle?
A.zRecapzitzwithztwozhands
B.zPlacezitzinzazsharpszcontainer
C.zBendzitzbeforezdisposal
D.zSetzitzonzthezbedsideztable
Answer:zB.zPlacezitzinzazsharpszcontainer
Rationale:zImmediatezsharpszdisposalzpreventszneedlestickzinjury.
12.zWhichzidentifierszarezacceptablezforzpatientzidentification?
A.zRoomznumberzandzbed
B.zNamezandzdatezofzbirth
C.zDiagnosiszandzage
D.zPhysicianznamezandzroom
Answer:zB.zNamezandzdatezofzbirth
, Rationale:zTwozpatient-
specificzidentifierszarezrequired;zroom/bedzareznotzacceptablezalone.
13.zWhichzmedicationzroutezgenerallyzproduceszthezfastestzsystemiczeffect?
A.zOral
B.zSubcutaneous
C.zIntravenous
D.zTopical
Answer:zC.zIntravenous
Rationale:zIVzadministrationzbypasseszabsorptionzandzdeliverszmedicationzdirectly
zintozcirculation.
14.zWhichziszazkeyzsafetyzcheckzbeforezadministeringzenteralzmedication?
A.zVerifyztubezplacementzperzpolicy
B.zMixzallzmedicationsztogether
C.zGivezmedicationszrapidly
D.zUsezcoldzwaterzonly
Answer:zA.zVerifyztubezplacementzperzpolicy
Rationale:zConfirmingztubezplacementzpreventszinadvertentzpulmonaryzadministra
tion.
15.zWhichzdrainagezcharacteristiczsuggestszwoundzinfection?
A.zSerouszdrainage
B.zPurulentzdrainagezwithzodor
C.zSmallzamountzofzsanguineouszdrainage
D.zClearzdrainage
Answer:zB.zPurulentzdrainagezwithzodor
Rationale:zPurulent,zfoul-
smellingzdrainagezsuggestszinfectionzandzrequireszproviderznotification.
16.zWhichzstagezpressurezinjuryzinvolveszfull-
thicknesszlosszwithzvisiblezsubcutaneouszfat?
A.zStagez1
B.zStagez2
C.zStagez3
D.zStagez4
Answer:zC.zStagez3
Rationale:zStagez3zinvolveszfull-
thicknesszlosszwithzvisiblezfat;zbone/tendon/musclezexposurezindicateszStagez4.
