2025 NCLEX-RN CAT Mastery: 50-Item Entry-
Level Question Bank
NCLEX-RN CAT Practice Questions (Entry-Level RN, 2025
Plan)
1. (Management of Care) Delegation
An RN on a medical-surgical unit needs to delegate tasks.
Which of the following is the best example of appropriate
delegation?
A. Assigning the LPN to administer routine morning
medications and the CNA to assist a patient with bathing.
B. Assigning the LPN to perform the initial admission
assessment on a new patient and the CNA to turn a stable patient
every 2 hours.
C. Instructing the CNA to administer oral medications and the
LPN to bathe an ambulatory patient.
D. Asking the CNA to document all patient care activities in the
medical record.
Answer: A
Rationale: Option A is correct because administering routine
medications is within the LPN’s scope of practice, and assisting
with bathing is an activity CNAs are trained to do. The RN
retains overall accountability and provides supervision. Option
,B is incorrect because initial patient assessment requires nursing
judgment and must be done by the RN, even though turning a
patient can be delegated. Option C is wrong because CNAs are
not licensed to administer medications. Option D is incorrect
because only licensed nurses document nursing care in the
medical record; a CNA cannot independently chart patient care
in the official record.
Adaptive learning note: If answered correctly, present a more
challenging delegation/assignment question. If answered
incorrectly, provide remediation on delegation principles (e.g.,
scope of practice) and delegation guidelines.
2. (Management of Care) Patient Rights / Informed Consent
A competent adult patient with pneumonia refuses the
prescribed IV antibiotic. The nurse’s best action is to:
A. Explain that the medication is necessary and insist the patient
take it.
B. Document the refusal and notify the healthcare provider,
ensuring the patient’s decision is respected.
C. Administer the antibiotic anyway because it is in the patient’s
best interest.
D. Ask the family to persuade the patient to comply.
Answer: B
Rationale: Patients have the right to informed consent and
refusal of treatment. The nurse should respect the patient’s
autonomy, document the refusal, and inform the provider so that
alternatives or education can be provided. Forcing treatment (A
or C) or involving family to override the patient (D) violates
ethical standards.
,Adaptive learning note: Correct answer leads to more
advanced ethics/consent questions. Incorrect answer triggers a
review of patient autonomy and informed consent principles.
3. (Management of Care) Telephone/Verbal Orders
A patient is about to receive a dose of an unfamiliar new
medication, and the RN receives a telephone order from the
physician. What should the nurse do first?
A. Write down the complete order, then read it back to the
physician for confirmation.
B. Administer the drug and get the physician’s signature later.
C. Ask a coworker to verify the order.
D. Wait for the physician to chart the order before
administering.
Answer: A
Rationale: Safe practice requires the nurse to read back and
verify telephone orders immediately. The nurse should write
down the order, then perform a verbal read-back to confirm
accuracy with the prescriber, and have the prescriber
countersign within the required time frame. Delaying
confirmation (B, D) risks errors, and simply asking a coworker
(C) is unsafe. Read-back reduces transcription errors.
Adaptive learning note: If correct, move to a more difficult
communication/order scenario. If incorrect, reinforce safe
telephone-order procedures and “read-back” verification.
4. (Management of Care) Advance Directives / DNR
An unconscious trauma patient has a signed living will stating
“no heroic measures” (DNR). During emergency care, the
, nurse’s first action should be to:
A. Withhold CPR and any advanced interventions, following the
directive.
B. Perform CPR since the patient is unconscious.
C. Delay action and wait for family to confirm the directive.
D. Give a trial of CPR for 5 minutes to ensure death is
imminent.
Answer: A
Rationale: A valid living will with DNR orders must be
honored when the patient cannot consent. The nurse should
respect the patient’s documented wishes and not initiate
resuscitation. Performing CPR (B or D) or waiting for family
confirmation (C) violates the patient’s express directive and
autonomy. A living will provides clear instructions on
treatments to avoid.
Adaptive learning note: Correct answer leads to more
advanced scenarios on end-of-life ethics. Incorrect triggers
review of advance directives and DNR policies.
5. (Safety/Infection Control) Hand Hygiene
A nurse cares for a patient with a confirmed Clostridioides
difficile infection. Which hand hygiene method is most
appropriate immediately after caring for this patient?
A. Use alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) and let hands air dry.
B. Wash hands with soap and water for at least 15 seconds.
C. Apply hand lotion to moisturize hands.
D. Don sterile gloves instead of washing hands.
Level Question Bank
NCLEX-RN CAT Practice Questions (Entry-Level RN, 2025
Plan)
1. (Management of Care) Delegation
An RN on a medical-surgical unit needs to delegate tasks.
Which of the following is the best example of appropriate
delegation?
A. Assigning the LPN to administer routine morning
medications and the CNA to assist a patient with bathing.
B. Assigning the LPN to perform the initial admission
assessment on a new patient and the CNA to turn a stable patient
every 2 hours.
C. Instructing the CNA to administer oral medications and the
LPN to bathe an ambulatory patient.
D. Asking the CNA to document all patient care activities in the
medical record.
Answer: A
Rationale: Option A is correct because administering routine
medications is within the LPN’s scope of practice, and assisting
with bathing is an activity CNAs are trained to do. The RN
retains overall accountability and provides supervision. Option
,B is incorrect because initial patient assessment requires nursing
judgment and must be done by the RN, even though turning a
patient can be delegated. Option C is wrong because CNAs are
not licensed to administer medications. Option D is incorrect
because only licensed nurses document nursing care in the
medical record; a CNA cannot independently chart patient care
in the official record.
Adaptive learning note: If answered correctly, present a more
challenging delegation/assignment question. If answered
incorrectly, provide remediation on delegation principles (e.g.,
scope of practice) and delegation guidelines.
2. (Management of Care) Patient Rights / Informed Consent
A competent adult patient with pneumonia refuses the
prescribed IV antibiotic. The nurse’s best action is to:
A. Explain that the medication is necessary and insist the patient
take it.
B. Document the refusal and notify the healthcare provider,
ensuring the patient’s decision is respected.
C. Administer the antibiotic anyway because it is in the patient’s
best interest.
D. Ask the family to persuade the patient to comply.
Answer: B
Rationale: Patients have the right to informed consent and
refusal of treatment. The nurse should respect the patient’s
autonomy, document the refusal, and inform the provider so that
alternatives or education can be provided. Forcing treatment (A
or C) or involving family to override the patient (D) violates
ethical standards.
,Adaptive learning note: Correct answer leads to more
advanced ethics/consent questions. Incorrect answer triggers a
review of patient autonomy and informed consent principles.
3. (Management of Care) Telephone/Verbal Orders
A patient is about to receive a dose of an unfamiliar new
medication, and the RN receives a telephone order from the
physician. What should the nurse do first?
A. Write down the complete order, then read it back to the
physician for confirmation.
B. Administer the drug and get the physician’s signature later.
C. Ask a coworker to verify the order.
D. Wait for the physician to chart the order before
administering.
Answer: A
Rationale: Safe practice requires the nurse to read back and
verify telephone orders immediately. The nurse should write
down the order, then perform a verbal read-back to confirm
accuracy with the prescriber, and have the prescriber
countersign within the required time frame. Delaying
confirmation (B, D) risks errors, and simply asking a coworker
(C) is unsafe. Read-back reduces transcription errors.
Adaptive learning note: If correct, move to a more difficult
communication/order scenario. If incorrect, reinforce safe
telephone-order procedures and “read-back” verification.
4. (Management of Care) Advance Directives / DNR
An unconscious trauma patient has a signed living will stating
“no heroic measures” (DNR). During emergency care, the
, nurse’s first action should be to:
A. Withhold CPR and any advanced interventions, following the
directive.
B. Perform CPR since the patient is unconscious.
C. Delay action and wait for family to confirm the directive.
D. Give a trial of CPR for 5 minutes to ensure death is
imminent.
Answer: A
Rationale: A valid living will with DNR orders must be
honored when the patient cannot consent. The nurse should
respect the patient’s documented wishes and not initiate
resuscitation. Performing CPR (B or D) or waiting for family
confirmation (C) violates the patient’s express directive and
autonomy. A living will provides clear instructions on
treatments to avoid.
Adaptive learning note: Correct answer leads to more
advanced scenarios on end-of-life ethics. Incorrect triggers
review of advance directives and DNR policies.
5. (Safety/Infection Control) Hand Hygiene
A nurse cares for a patient with a confirmed Clostridioides
difficile infection. Which hand hygiene method is most
appropriate immediately after caring for this patient?
A. Use alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) and let hands air dry.
B. Wash hands with soap and water for at least 15 seconds.
C. Apply hand lotion to moisturize hands.
D. Don sterile gloves instead of washing hands.
