NCLEX-RN Exam 2025: Latest 140 Practice
Questions, Answers, and Study Tips for
Success from Recent Exam
1. A nurse is preparing to administer insulin to a patient with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus.
Which action should the nurse take first?
A) Check the patient’s blood glucose level
B) Administer insulin before checking blood sugar
C) Offer a carbohydrate-rich snack before the injection
D) Give the insulin in the deltoid muscle
Correct Answer: A) Check the patient’s blood glucose level
Rationale: Always assess blood glucose before administering insulin to prevent
hypoglycemia.
2. A nurse is teaching a pregnant client about the signs of preterm labor. Which symptom
should the client report immediately?
A) Mild backache after walking
B) Occasional Braxton Hicks contractions
C) Persistent lower abdominal cramping
D) Increased fetal movement
Correct Answer: C) Persistent lower abdominal cramping
Rationale: Persistent lower abdominal cramping may indicate preterm labor and requires
immediate evaluation.
3. A nurse is caring for a child with dehydration due to gastroenteritis. Which assessment
finding indicates improvement?
A) Sunken fontanels
B) Decreased urine output
C) Moist mucous membranes
D) Increased heart rate
Correct Answer: C) Moist mucous membranes
Rationale: Moist mucous membranes suggest adequate hydration, while sunken
fontanels, oliguria, and tachycardia indicate continued dehydration.
4. A client with cirrhosis is at risk for hepatic encephalopathy. Which lab value should the
nurse monitor?
A) Potassium
B) Blood glucose
C) Ammonia levels
D) Calcium
Correct Answer: C) Ammonia levels
, Rationale: Hepatic encephalopathy is caused by elevated ammonia levels, leading to
confusion and altered mental status.
5. A nurse is teaching a patient about taking iron supplements for anemia. Which
instruction is correct?
A) Take iron with milk to improve absorption
B) Take iron on an empty stomach for best absorption
C) Crush iron tablets for better digestion
D) Avoid vitamin C while taking iron supplements
Correct Answer: B) Take iron on an empty stomach for best absorption
Rationale: Iron is best absorbed on an empty stomach but can be taken with vitamin C
(e.g., orange juice) to enhance absorption. Milk inhibits iron absorption.
6. A nurse is caring for a client with heart failure on furosemide (Lasix). What dietary
recommendation is appropriate?
A) Increase fluid intake
B) Eat more bananas and oranges
C) Reduce protein intake
D) Avoid leafy green vegetables
Correct Answer: B) Eat more bananas and oranges
Rationale: Furosemide (Lasix) is a potassium-wasting diuretic. Bananas and oranges are
rich in potassium and help prevent hypokalemia.
7. A client receiving a blood transfusion reports chills, fever, and lower back pain. What is
the nurse’s priority action?
A) Stop the transfusion immediately
B) Slow the infusion rate
C) Administer acetaminophen and continue the transfusion
D) Notify the physician after transfusion is complete
Correct Answer: A) Stop the transfusion immediately
Rationale: Chills, fever, and back pain are signs of a hemolytic transfusion reaction,
which is a medical emergency. The transfusion should be stopped immediately to prevent
further complications.
When selecting an NCLEX answer or determining the order of priority what should you
remember or use and what is the exception? ---------- Correct Answer ----------- Use the ABC
rule: Airway breathing, and circulation. The exception to the rule is with actual CPR, use C-A-B
for CPR. Also remember safety first and acute before chronic. If the pt. is not in distress then you
assess. If the pt is in distress then you should do something. If the pt has diaphorisis you should
always do something.
How should you address questions related to Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs ---------- Correct
Answer ----------- Address physiological needs first, followed by safety and security needs, love
and belonging needs, self esteem needs and finally self actualization needs. *When a
physiological need is not addressed in the question, look for the option that addresses safety.
, If a question is related to the nursing process, read the question to determine the step of the
nursing process. What are the steps in the nursing process and what kind of question might be
related to that step. ---------- Correct Answer ----------- Assessment question address the
gathering and verification of data.
Analysis questions require the nurse to: interpret data, collect additional information, identify
and communicate nursing diagnoses and determine the health team's ability to meet the pts
needs.
Planning questions ask about determining, prioritizing, and modifying outcomes of care.
Implementation questions reflect the management and organization of care and the assignment
and delegation of tasks. Be prepared for questions on client teaching.
Evaluation questions focus on comparing the actual outcomes of care with the expected
outcomes and on communicating and documenting findings.
What are the normal ranges for H&H? What are the nursing implications ---------- Correct
Answer ----------- Hemoglobin - Male 14-18 Female 12-16 Newborn 14-24
High altitude living increases value, slight decrease during pregnancy. Drug therapy can alter
values.
Hematocrit - Male 42-52 Female 37-47 Newborn 44-64
Prolonged stasis from vasoconstriction secondary to the tourniquet can alter values.
Abnormalities in RBC size may alter Hct values
What are the normal ranges for WBC?
What can increase values?
What can decrease values?
How long does the postpartum period of pregnancy affect normal ranges? What range is normal
during the postpartum period? ---------- Correct Answer ----------- Both genders 5000-10000
Newborn 9000-30000
Anesthetics, stress, exercise, and convulsions can increased values.
Drug therapy can decrease values.
24-28 hr postpartum: a count as high as 25000 is normal
What are the normal ranges for RBC?
What can increase levels
What happens to levels during pregnancy? ---------- Correct Answer ----------- Males: 4.7-6.1
million
Questions, Answers, and Study Tips for
Success from Recent Exam
1. A nurse is preparing to administer insulin to a patient with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus.
Which action should the nurse take first?
A) Check the patient’s blood glucose level
B) Administer insulin before checking blood sugar
C) Offer a carbohydrate-rich snack before the injection
D) Give the insulin in the deltoid muscle
Correct Answer: A) Check the patient’s blood glucose level
Rationale: Always assess blood glucose before administering insulin to prevent
hypoglycemia.
2. A nurse is teaching a pregnant client about the signs of preterm labor. Which symptom
should the client report immediately?
A) Mild backache after walking
B) Occasional Braxton Hicks contractions
C) Persistent lower abdominal cramping
D) Increased fetal movement
Correct Answer: C) Persistent lower abdominal cramping
Rationale: Persistent lower abdominal cramping may indicate preterm labor and requires
immediate evaluation.
3. A nurse is caring for a child with dehydration due to gastroenteritis. Which assessment
finding indicates improvement?
A) Sunken fontanels
B) Decreased urine output
C) Moist mucous membranes
D) Increased heart rate
Correct Answer: C) Moist mucous membranes
Rationale: Moist mucous membranes suggest adequate hydration, while sunken
fontanels, oliguria, and tachycardia indicate continued dehydration.
4. A client with cirrhosis is at risk for hepatic encephalopathy. Which lab value should the
nurse monitor?
A) Potassium
B) Blood glucose
C) Ammonia levels
D) Calcium
Correct Answer: C) Ammonia levels
, Rationale: Hepatic encephalopathy is caused by elevated ammonia levels, leading to
confusion and altered mental status.
5. A nurse is teaching a patient about taking iron supplements for anemia. Which
instruction is correct?
A) Take iron with milk to improve absorption
B) Take iron on an empty stomach for best absorption
C) Crush iron tablets for better digestion
D) Avoid vitamin C while taking iron supplements
Correct Answer: B) Take iron on an empty stomach for best absorption
Rationale: Iron is best absorbed on an empty stomach but can be taken with vitamin C
(e.g., orange juice) to enhance absorption. Milk inhibits iron absorption.
6. A nurse is caring for a client with heart failure on furosemide (Lasix). What dietary
recommendation is appropriate?
A) Increase fluid intake
B) Eat more bananas and oranges
C) Reduce protein intake
D) Avoid leafy green vegetables
Correct Answer: B) Eat more bananas and oranges
Rationale: Furosemide (Lasix) is a potassium-wasting diuretic. Bananas and oranges are
rich in potassium and help prevent hypokalemia.
7. A client receiving a blood transfusion reports chills, fever, and lower back pain. What is
the nurse’s priority action?
A) Stop the transfusion immediately
B) Slow the infusion rate
C) Administer acetaminophen and continue the transfusion
D) Notify the physician after transfusion is complete
Correct Answer: A) Stop the transfusion immediately
Rationale: Chills, fever, and back pain are signs of a hemolytic transfusion reaction,
which is a medical emergency. The transfusion should be stopped immediately to prevent
further complications.
When selecting an NCLEX answer or determining the order of priority what should you
remember or use and what is the exception? ---------- Correct Answer ----------- Use the ABC
rule: Airway breathing, and circulation. The exception to the rule is with actual CPR, use C-A-B
for CPR. Also remember safety first and acute before chronic. If the pt. is not in distress then you
assess. If the pt is in distress then you should do something. If the pt has diaphorisis you should
always do something.
How should you address questions related to Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs ---------- Correct
Answer ----------- Address physiological needs first, followed by safety and security needs, love
and belonging needs, self esteem needs and finally self actualization needs. *When a
physiological need is not addressed in the question, look for the option that addresses safety.
, If a question is related to the nursing process, read the question to determine the step of the
nursing process. What are the steps in the nursing process and what kind of question might be
related to that step. ---------- Correct Answer ----------- Assessment question address the
gathering and verification of data.
Analysis questions require the nurse to: interpret data, collect additional information, identify
and communicate nursing diagnoses and determine the health team's ability to meet the pts
needs.
Planning questions ask about determining, prioritizing, and modifying outcomes of care.
Implementation questions reflect the management and organization of care and the assignment
and delegation of tasks. Be prepared for questions on client teaching.
Evaluation questions focus on comparing the actual outcomes of care with the expected
outcomes and on communicating and documenting findings.
What are the normal ranges for H&H? What are the nursing implications ---------- Correct
Answer ----------- Hemoglobin - Male 14-18 Female 12-16 Newborn 14-24
High altitude living increases value, slight decrease during pregnancy. Drug therapy can alter
values.
Hematocrit - Male 42-52 Female 37-47 Newborn 44-64
Prolonged stasis from vasoconstriction secondary to the tourniquet can alter values.
Abnormalities in RBC size may alter Hct values
What are the normal ranges for WBC?
What can increase values?
What can decrease values?
How long does the postpartum period of pregnancy affect normal ranges? What range is normal
during the postpartum period? ---------- Correct Answer ----------- Both genders 5000-10000
Newborn 9000-30000
Anesthetics, stress, exercise, and convulsions can increased values.
Drug therapy can decrease values.
24-28 hr postpartum: a count as high as 25000 is normal
What are the normal ranges for RBC?
What can increase levels
What happens to levels during pregnancy? ---------- Correct Answer ----------- Males: 4.7-6.1
million
