NCLEX QUESTIONS FOR CRITICAL THINKING AND
ANSWERS LATEST VERSION VERIFIED RATIONALE
GRADED A+
A client complaining of extreme low back pain is pale and diaphore�c and walks bent at the waist. Before
taking vital signs, the nurse suspects that the blood pressure and heart rate will be elevated. What
thought process did the nurse use to come to this conclusion?
1. Fact
2. Inference
3. Judgment
4. Opinion - ans2. Inference
A client complaining of shortness of breath has no pallor, cyanosis, or use of accessory muscles with
respira�ons. The clients respiratory rate is 16 breaths per minute. The nurse is concerned that the clients
report and the physical findings conflict. Which standard of cri�cal thinking is the nurse using?
1. Clarity
2. Accuracy
3. Logical reasoning
4. Significance - ans3. Logical reasoning
A client is experiencing a produc�ve cough, audible coarse crackles, elevated temperature of 102.3F,
chills, and body aches. What did the nurse use to determine that this pa�ent is experiencing respiratory
compromise?
, NCLEX QUESTIONS FOR CRITICAL THINKING AND
ANSWERS LATEST VERSION VERIFIED RATIONALE
GRADED A+
1. Deduc�ve reasoning
2. Induc�ve reasoning
3. Socra�c ques�oning
4. Cri�cal analysis - ans1. Deduc�ve reasoning
A client recovering from a stroke does not want to perform prescribed shoulder exercises. What should
the nurse say to the client that demonstrates cri�cal thinking with crea�vity?
1. Youll only get worse if you dont do these exercises.
2. As soon as you get these into your rou�ne, youll feel beter.
3. Your physician wouldnt have ordered these if they werent important.
4. Heres a marker. See how many circles you can make on this board in 10 minutes. - ans4. Heres a
marker. See how many circles you can make on this board in 10 minutes.
A client with a PhD in epidemiology has been to numerous physicians and has had numerous laboratory
tests, all of which were abnormal, and exploratory surgery, but no one is able to explain the e�ology of
his problem. The client also states that he has a rare form of a neurological disorder. Which statement
should the nurse make that demonstrates cri�cal thinking?
1. Why dont you just tell your physician what you think you have?
2. Did you bring your prior tests and results with you, so we dont repeat anything?
ANSWERS LATEST VERSION VERIFIED RATIONALE
GRADED A+
A client complaining of extreme low back pain is pale and diaphore�c and walks bent at the waist. Before
taking vital signs, the nurse suspects that the blood pressure and heart rate will be elevated. What
thought process did the nurse use to come to this conclusion?
1. Fact
2. Inference
3. Judgment
4. Opinion - ans2. Inference
A client complaining of shortness of breath has no pallor, cyanosis, or use of accessory muscles with
respira�ons. The clients respiratory rate is 16 breaths per minute. The nurse is concerned that the clients
report and the physical findings conflict. Which standard of cri�cal thinking is the nurse using?
1. Clarity
2. Accuracy
3. Logical reasoning
4. Significance - ans3. Logical reasoning
A client is experiencing a produc�ve cough, audible coarse crackles, elevated temperature of 102.3F,
chills, and body aches. What did the nurse use to determine that this pa�ent is experiencing respiratory
compromise?
, NCLEX QUESTIONS FOR CRITICAL THINKING AND
ANSWERS LATEST VERSION VERIFIED RATIONALE
GRADED A+
1. Deduc�ve reasoning
2. Induc�ve reasoning
3. Socra�c ques�oning
4. Cri�cal analysis - ans1. Deduc�ve reasoning
A client recovering from a stroke does not want to perform prescribed shoulder exercises. What should
the nurse say to the client that demonstrates cri�cal thinking with crea�vity?
1. Youll only get worse if you dont do these exercises.
2. As soon as you get these into your rou�ne, youll feel beter.
3. Your physician wouldnt have ordered these if they werent important.
4. Heres a marker. See how many circles you can make on this board in 10 minutes. - ans4. Heres a
marker. See how many circles you can make on this board in 10 minutes.
A client with a PhD in epidemiology has been to numerous physicians and has had numerous laboratory
tests, all of which were abnormal, and exploratory surgery, but no one is able to explain the e�ology of
his problem. The client also states that he has a rare form of a neurological disorder. Which statement
should the nurse make that demonstrates cri�cal thinking?
1. Why dont you just tell your physician what you think you have?
2. Did you bring your prior tests and results with you, so we dont repeat anything?
