Fundamental nursing exam questions
2025-2026 , formatted with bold
questions and rationales in italics,
focusing on key concepts and principles..
1. Which actions by a nurse demonstrate correct principles of medical
asepsis? (a) Holding sterile equipment above the waist.
b) Keeping sterile field within line of sight.
c) Placing a used syringe on the bedside table.
d) Cleaning from the least contaminated to the most contaminated area.
e) Performing hand hygiene before donning sterile gloves.
Rationale: Options a and b are principles of surgical asepsis (sterile
technique), not medical asepsis (clean technique). Medical asepsis aims to
reduce microorganisms and prevent their spread. Cleaning from clean to
dirty (d) and performing hand hygiene (e) are core components. Placing used
equipment on a patient surface (c) contaminates the environment.
2. A nurse is preparing to administer an intramuscular injection. Which
actions are essential for ensuring patient safety?
a) Verify the patient's identity using two identifiers.
b) Explain the procedure to the patient.
c) Don clean gloves.
d) Select a site free of tenderness, lesions, or nodules.
e) Aspirate for blood for all intramuscular injections.
Rationale: The CDC and best practice guidelines no longer universally
recommend aspiration for IM injections, as there are few large vessels at
recommended sites. However, patient identification (a), patient education
, (b), standard precautions (c), and site assessment (d) are universal safety
measures.
3. Which patients are at the highest risk for developing a healthcare-
associated infection (HAI)?
a) A 22-year-old with a simple fractured wrist.
b) A 68-year-old with an indwelling urinary catheter.
c) A 55-year-old on broad-spectrum intravenous antibiotics.
d) A 40-year-old with a nasogastric tube.
e) A 75-year-old postoperative patient with diabetes.
Rationale: Advanced age, invasive devices (urinary catheters, NG tubes),
compromised immunity from antibiotics, and chronic illnesses like diabetes
that impair healing are all significant risk factors for HAIs. A young, healthy
patient with a simple fracture is at low risk.
4. When donning personal protective equipment (PPE) for contact
precautions, which item should be put on first?
a) Gown
b) Gloves
c) N95 Respirator
d) Goggles
*Rationale: The correct sequence for donning PPE is: 1) Gown, 2)
Mask/Respirator, 3) Goggles/Face Shield, 4) Gloves. The gown is put on first
to protect the torso and arms.*
5. A patient is on airborne precautions for tuberculosis. Which nurse
actions are appropriate?
a) Placing the patient in a negative-pressure airflow room.
b) Wearing a standard surgical mask during care.
c) Donning an N95 or higher-level respirator before entry.
d) Transporting the patient to radiology without any precautions.
e) Keeping the door to the patient's room closed.
*Rationale: Airborne precautions require a negative-pressure room (a), use of
, a fitted N95 respirator (c), and keeping the door closed to maintain negative
pressure (e). A standard mask (b) is insufficient. The patient should wear a
surgical mask during transport if necessary (d is incorrect).*
6. The "RACE" acronym in fire safety stands for:
a) Rescue, Activate, Confine, Extinguish/Evacuate
b) Run, Alarm, Contain, Exit
c) Respond, Alert, Control, Escape
d) Remove, Announce, Close, Evacuate
Rationale: RACE is the standard acronym for fire response: Rescue patients,
Activate the alarm, Confine the fire, and Extinguish or Evacuate.
7. What are the five moments for hand hygiene as defined by the
WHO? a) Before touching a patient.
b) After touching the patient's surroundings.
c) Before a clean/aseptic procedure.
d) After personal hygiene.
e) After body fluid exposure risk.
Rationale: The five moments are: 1) Before patient contact, 2) Before an
aseptic task, 3) After a body fluid exposure risk, 4) After patient contact, and
5) After contact with patient surroundings. Personal hygiene (d) is not one of
the five defined moments.
8. To ensure safe patient handling and prevent nurse injury, the nurse
should:
a) Use a gait belt when assisting a patient to ambulate.
b) Manually lift a patient who cannot assist.
c) Utilize a mechanical lift for a bariatric patient.
d) Keep feet close together and twist at the waist during a transfer.
e) Assess the patient's ability to assist and the need for additional help.
Rationale: Using assistive devices (a, c) and assessing the situation (e) are
key principles of safe patient handling. Manually lifting (b) and twisting at
the waist (d) are dangerous techniques that lead to musculoskeletal injuries.
, 9. A patient is having a tonic-clonic seizure. The nurse's priority action
is to:
a) Place a tongue blade in the patient's mouth.
b) Restrain the patient's limbs.
c) Lower the patient to the floor and protect the head.
d) Administer PRN intravenous diazepam.
Rationale: The priority is patient safety from injury. Lowering the patient and
protecting the head prevents trauma. Never insert anything into the mouth
(a) or restrain the patient (b), as this can cause injury. Medication (d) is
important but comes after immediate safety measures.
10. Which findings in a post-operative patient should the nurse
immediately report as potential signs of hemorrhage?
a) Blood pressure 100/60 mm Hg, unchanged from pre-op.
b) Heart rate 120 beats/minute.
c) Cool, pale, clammy skin.
d) Urine output of 40 mL/hr.
e) Restlessness and anxiety.
Rationale: Tachycardia (b), cool clammy skin (c - signs of shock), and
restlessness (e - an early sign of hypoxia and hypovolemia) are classic signs
of hemorrhage. Stable BP (a) and good urine output (d) are normal findings.
11. The correct sequence for prioritizing care is best guided by:
a) The patient's chronological order of admission.
b) The Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs framework.
c) The number of family members present.
d) The complexity of the required tasks.
Rationale: Maslow's Hierarchy prioritizes the most basic human needs first
(e.g., airway, breathing, circulation, safety), which is the foundation for
nursing clinical decision-making.
12. When documenting a patient fall, the nurse should include:
a) A subjective opinion on why the fall occurred.
2025-2026 , formatted with bold
questions and rationales in italics,
focusing on key concepts and principles..
1. Which actions by a nurse demonstrate correct principles of medical
asepsis? (a) Holding sterile equipment above the waist.
b) Keeping sterile field within line of sight.
c) Placing a used syringe on the bedside table.
d) Cleaning from the least contaminated to the most contaminated area.
e) Performing hand hygiene before donning sterile gloves.
Rationale: Options a and b are principles of surgical asepsis (sterile
technique), not medical asepsis (clean technique). Medical asepsis aims to
reduce microorganisms and prevent their spread. Cleaning from clean to
dirty (d) and performing hand hygiene (e) are core components. Placing used
equipment on a patient surface (c) contaminates the environment.
2. A nurse is preparing to administer an intramuscular injection. Which
actions are essential for ensuring patient safety?
a) Verify the patient's identity using two identifiers.
b) Explain the procedure to the patient.
c) Don clean gloves.
d) Select a site free of tenderness, lesions, or nodules.
e) Aspirate for blood for all intramuscular injections.
Rationale: The CDC and best practice guidelines no longer universally
recommend aspiration for IM injections, as there are few large vessels at
recommended sites. However, patient identification (a), patient education
, (b), standard precautions (c), and site assessment (d) are universal safety
measures.
3. Which patients are at the highest risk for developing a healthcare-
associated infection (HAI)?
a) A 22-year-old with a simple fractured wrist.
b) A 68-year-old with an indwelling urinary catheter.
c) A 55-year-old on broad-spectrum intravenous antibiotics.
d) A 40-year-old with a nasogastric tube.
e) A 75-year-old postoperative patient with diabetes.
Rationale: Advanced age, invasive devices (urinary catheters, NG tubes),
compromised immunity from antibiotics, and chronic illnesses like diabetes
that impair healing are all significant risk factors for HAIs. A young, healthy
patient with a simple fracture is at low risk.
4. When donning personal protective equipment (PPE) for contact
precautions, which item should be put on first?
a) Gown
b) Gloves
c) N95 Respirator
d) Goggles
*Rationale: The correct sequence for donning PPE is: 1) Gown, 2)
Mask/Respirator, 3) Goggles/Face Shield, 4) Gloves. The gown is put on first
to protect the torso and arms.*
5. A patient is on airborne precautions for tuberculosis. Which nurse
actions are appropriate?
a) Placing the patient in a negative-pressure airflow room.
b) Wearing a standard surgical mask during care.
c) Donning an N95 or higher-level respirator before entry.
d) Transporting the patient to radiology without any precautions.
e) Keeping the door to the patient's room closed.
*Rationale: Airborne precautions require a negative-pressure room (a), use of
, a fitted N95 respirator (c), and keeping the door closed to maintain negative
pressure (e). A standard mask (b) is insufficient. The patient should wear a
surgical mask during transport if necessary (d is incorrect).*
6. The "RACE" acronym in fire safety stands for:
a) Rescue, Activate, Confine, Extinguish/Evacuate
b) Run, Alarm, Contain, Exit
c) Respond, Alert, Control, Escape
d) Remove, Announce, Close, Evacuate
Rationale: RACE is the standard acronym for fire response: Rescue patients,
Activate the alarm, Confine the fire, and Extinguish or Evacuate.
7. What are the five moments for hand hygiene as defined by the
WHO? a) Before touching a patient.
b) After touching the patient's surroundings.
c) Before a clean/aseptic procedure.
d) After personal hygiene.
e) After body fluid exposure risk.
Rationale: The five moments are: 1) Before patient contact, 2) Before an
aseptic task, 3) After a body fluid exposure risk, 4) After patient contact, and
5) After contact with patient surroundings. Personal hygiene (d) is not one of
the five defined moments.
8. To ensure safe patient handling and prevent nurse injury, the nurse
should:
a) Use a gait belt when assisting a patient to ambulate.
b) Manually lift a patient who cannot assist.
c) Utilize a mechanical lift for a bariatric patient.
d) Keep feet close together and twist at the waist during a transfer.
e) Assess the patient's ability to assist and the need for additional help.
Rationale: Using assistive devices (a, c) and assessing the situation (e) are
key principles of safe patient handling. Manually lifting (b) and twisting at
the waist (d) are dangerous techniques that lead to musculoskeletal injuries.
, 9. A patient is having a tonic-clonic seizure. The nurse's priority action
is to:
a) Place a tongue blade in the patient's mouth.
b) Restrain the patient's limbs.
c) Lower the patient to the floor and protect the head.
d) Administer PRN intravenous diazepam.
Rationale: The priority is patient safety from injury. Lowering the patient and
protecting the head prevents trauma. Never insert anything into the mouth
(a) or restrain the patient (b), as this can cause injury. Medication (d) is
important but comes after immediate safety measures.
10. Which findings in a post-operative patient should the nurse
immediately report as potential signs of hemorrhage?
a) Blood pressure 100/60 mm Hg, unchanged from pre-op.
b) Heart rate 120 beats/minute.
c) Cool, pale, clammy skin.
d) Urine output of 40 mL/hr.
e) Restlessness and anxiety.
Rationale: Tachycardia (b), cool clammy skin (c - signs of shock), and
restlessness (e - an early sign of hypoxia and hypovolemia) are classic signs
of hemorrhage. Stable BP (a) and good urine output (d) are normal findings.
11. The correct sequence for prioritizing care is best guided by:
a) The patient's chronological order of admission.
b) The Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs framework.
c) The number of family members present.
d) The complexity of the required tasks.
Rationale: Maslow's Hierarchy prioritizes the most basic human needs first
(e.g., airway, breathing, circulation, safety), which is the foundation for
nursing clinical decision-making.
12. When documenting a patient fall, the nurse should include:
a) A subjective opinion on why the fall occurred.
