1. Which of the following is the primary purpose of hand hygiene in a healthcare
setting?
A) To remove visible dirt and debris
B) To prevent the spread of infection
C) To reduce the risk of skin irritation
D) To maintain personal hygiene standards
Answer: B) To prevent the spread of infection
Rationale: Hand hygiene is essential to prevent the transmission of microorganisms, thus
reducing the spread of infection.
2. What is the first action a nurse should take before administering medications
to a patient?
A) Ask the patient about allergies
B) Check the patient’s identification
C) Review the patient’s history
D) Wash hands
Answer: D) Wash hands
Rationale: Proper hand hygiene is the first step in reducing the risk of infection when preparing
to administer medications.
3. Which of the following is a priority when caring for a patient with a chest
tube?
A) Encouraging deep breathing exercises
B) Ensuring the drainage system is below chest level
C) Monitoring the patient’s blood pressure
D) Repositioning the chest tube frequently
Answer: B) Ensuring the drainage system is below chest level
Rationale: To prevent backflow of fluids into the pleural cavity, the drainage system should
always be kept lower than the chest.
,4. What is the best position to place a patient in after a lumbar puncture?
A) Supine with the head elevated
B) Side-lying with the head flat
C) Prone with the head flat
D) Side-lying with the head elevated
Answer: B) Side-lying with the head flat
Rationale: The patient should be positioned in a side-lying position with the head flat to reduce
the risk of post-procedure headaches.
5. A patient is experiencing a sudden drop in blood pressure after receiving an
IV medication. What is the nurse's priority action?
A) Notify the healthcare provider
B) Increase the IV flow rate
C) Assess the patient’s vital signs
D) Discontinue the medication immediately
Answer: C) Assess the patient’s vital signs
Rationale: Assessing vital signs allows the nurse to determine the severity of the drop in blood
pressure and guide further interventions.
6. A nurse is preparing to administer an intramuscular injection. Which of the
following is the correct needle size for this procedure?
A) 25-27 gauge, 5/8 inch
B) 18-22 gauge, 1-1.5 inches
C) 30 gauge, 1/2 inch
D) 23-25 gauge, 1 inch
Answer: B) 18-22 gauge, 1-1.5 inches
Rationale: Intramuscular injections require a larger gauge needle (18-22) and longer length (1-
1.5 inches) to reach the muscle.
, 7. When caring for a patient who has undergone a total knee replacement, the
nurse should implement which of the following interventions?
A) Keep the leg in a flexed position
B) Encourage early ambulation
C) Restrict all movement to prevent injury
D) Apply a heating pad to the surgical site
Answer: B) Encourage early ambulation
Rationale: Early ambulation helps prevent complications such as deep vein thrombosis and
promotes circulation after surgery.
8. A nurse is preparing to perform a dressing change for a patient with a surgical
wound. Which of the following is the first action the nurse should take?
A) Cleanse the wound with sterile saline
B) Don sterile gloves
C) Assess the wound for signs of infection
D) Remove the old dressing
Answer: B) Don sterile gloves
Rationale: Sterile gloves should be donned first to prevent contamination during the dressing
change procedure.
9. A patient is diagnosed with hypertension. Which of the following lifestyle
modifications should the nurse recommend first?
A) Increasing sodium intake
B) Reducing alcohol consumption
C) Increasing physical activity
D) Stopping all medications
Answer: C) Increasing physical activity
Rationale: Increasing physical activity is one of the most effective lifestyle changes for
managing hypertension.
setting?
A) To remove visible dirt and debris
B) To prevent the spread of infection
C) To reduce the risk of skin irritation
D) To maintain personal hygiene standards
Answer: B) To prevent the spread of infection
Rationale: Hand hygiene is essential to prevent the transmission of microorganisms, thus
reducing the spread of infection.
2. What is the first action a nurse should take before administering medications
to a patient?
A) Ask the patient about allergies
B) Check the patient’s identification
C) Review the patient’s history
D) Wash hands
Answer: D) Wash hands
Rationale: Proper hand hygiene is the first step in reducing the risk of infection when preparing
to administer medications.
3. Which of the following is a priority when caring for a patient with a chest
tube?
A) Encouraging deep breathing exercises
B) Ensuring the drainage system is below chest level
C) Monitoring the patient’s blood pressure
D) Repositioning the chest tube frequently
Answer: B) Ensuring the drainage system is below chest level
Rationale: To prevent backflow of fluids into the pleural cavity, the drainage system should
always be kept lower than the chest.
,4. What is the best position to place a patient in after a lumbar puncture?
A) Supine with the head elevated
B) Side-lying with the head flat
C) Prone with the head flat
D) Side-lying with the head elevated
Answer: B) Side-lying with the head flat
Rationale: The patient should be positioned in a side-lying position with the head flat to reduce
the risk of post-procedure headaches.
5. A patient is experiencing a sudden drop in blood pressure after receiving an
IV medication. What is the nurse's priority action?
A) Notify the healthcare provider
B) Increase the IV flow rate
C) Assess the patient’s vital signs
D) Discontinue the medication immediately
Answer: C) Assess the patient’s vital signs
Rationale: Assessing vital signs allows the nurse to determine the severity of the drop in blood
pressure and guide further interventions.
6. A nurse is preparing to administer an intramuscular injection. Which of the
following is the correct needle size for this procedure?
A) 25-27 gauge, 5/8 inch
B) 18-22 gauge, 1-1.5 inches
C) 30 gauge, 1/2 inch
D) 23-25 gauge, 1 inch
Answer: B) 18-22 gauge, 1-1.5 inches
Rationale: Intramuscular injections require a larger gauge needle (18-22) and longer length (1-
1.5 inches) to reach the muscle.
, 7. When caring for a patient who has undergone a total knee replacement, the
nurse should implement which of the following interventions?
A) Keep the leg in a flexed position
B) Encourage early ambulation
C) Restrict all movement to prevent injury
D) Apply a heating pad to the surgical site
Answer: B) Encourage early ambulation
Rationale: Early ambulation helps prevent complications such as deep vein thrombosis and
promotes circulation after surgery.
8. A nurse is preparing to perform a dressing change for a patient with a surgical
wound. Which of the following is the first action the nurse should take?
A) Cleanse the wound with sterile saline
B) Don sterile gloves
C) Assess the wound for signs of infection
D) Remove the old dressing
Answer: B) Don sterile gloves
Rationale: Sterile gloves should be donned first to prevent contamination during the dressing
change procedure.
9. A patient is diagnosed with hypertension. Which of the following lifestyle
modifications should the nurse recommend first?
A) Increasing sodium intake
B) Reducing alcohol consumption
C) Increasing physical activity
D) Stopping all medications
Answer: C) Increasing physical activity
Rationale: Increasing physical activity is one of the most effective lifestyle changes for
managing hypertension.