NUR 104 NURSING SKILLS LAB OPERATIONS EXAM GUIDE
2026 EDITION Q&A
1. A nurse is preparing to perform hand hygiene before entering a
patient's room. Which situation requires the use of alcohol-based
hand rub instead of soap and water?
A. When hands are visibly soiled with blood
B. After using the restroom
C. When hands are not visibly soiled and before touching a patient
D. After caring for a patient with C. difficile infection
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Alcohol-based hand rub is preferred when hands are
not visibly soiled and before patient contact per CDC guidelines.
Soap and water are required when hands are visibly soiled (A),
after restroom use (B), and specifically for C. difficile (D) because
alcohol does not kill spores.
2. During vital signs assessment, a nurse measures a patient's blood
pressure using a cuff that is too small for the patient's arm. What
effect will this have on the reading?
A. Falsely low reading
B. Falsely high reading
C. No effect on the reading
D. Falsely low diastolic only
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: A cuff that is too small will produce a falsely high
, blood pressure reading because excessive pressure is needed to
occlude the artery. A cuff that is too large produces falsely low
readings.
3. A nurse is preparing to administer eye drops to a patient. Which
action demonstrates correct technique?
A. Touching the dropper tip to the eye to ensure accurate
placement
B. Having the patient look upward while instilling drops into the
conjunctival sac
C. Instilling drops directly onto the cornea
D. Applying pressure to the inner canthus after instilling drops in
both eyes
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The patient should look upward while drops are
instilled into the lower conjunctival sac to prevent corneal injury.
The dropper should never touch the eye (A), drops should not go
on the cornea (C), and pressure should be applied after EACH eye,
not both.
4. When performing a head-to-toe assessment, which order of
assessment techniques is most appropriate for the abdominal
region?
A. Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
B. Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
C. Auscultation, inspection, palpation, percussion
D. Palpation, percussion, inspection, auscultation
, Correct Answer: B
Explanation: For abdominal assessment, the correct sequence is
inspection, auscultation, percussion, then palpation to avoid
altering bowel sounds through manipulation before listening.
5. A nurse is preparing to insert a nasogastric tube. Which
measurement method is most accurate for determining insertion
depth?
A. From the tip of the nose to the earlobe to the xiphoid process
(NEX method)
B. From the forehead to the earlobe to the sternum
C. From the tip of the nose to the chin to the stomach
D. From the earlobe to the shoulder to the xiphoid process
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: The NEX method (nose-earlobe-xiphoid) is the
standardized, evidence-based measurement for NG tube insertion
depth.
6. Which action is most important for a nurse to take when
performing sterile gloving to maintain sterility?
A. Touching the outside of the first glove with the bare hand
B. Keeping hands above waist level and in view at all times
C. Reaching below waist to adjust glove position
D. Touching the sterile field with the gloved hand to check stability
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Hands must remain above waist level and in sight
, during sterile gloving to maintain sterility. Below-waist contact is
considered unsterile.
7. A patient has a indwelling urinary catheter. Which intervention is
most effective for preventing catheter-associated urinary tract
infection (CAUTI)?
A. Emptying the drainage bag weekly
B. Maintaining a closed drainage system and keeping the bag
below the bladder
C. Irrigating the catheter daily with antiseptic solution
D. Using sterile technique for routine emptying of the drainage
bag
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Maintaining a closed system and keeping the bag
below bladder level prevents backflow and infection. Daily
irrigation is not recommended, and the bag should be emptied
regularly, not weekly.
8. When administering oral medication to a patient who is at risk for
aspiration, which position is most appropriate?
A. Supine position
B. Prone position
C. High Fowler's position (60-90 degrees)
D. Left lateral recumbent position
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: High Fowler's position uses gravity to reduce
2026 EDITION Q&A
1. A nurse is preparing to perform hand hygiene before entering a
patient's room. Which situation requires the use of alcohol-based
hand rub instead of soap and water?
A. When hands are visibly soiled with blood
B. After using the restroom
C. When hands are not visibly soiled and before touching a patient
D. After caring for a patient with C. difficile infection
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Alcohol-based hand rub is preferred when hands are
not visibly soiled and before patient contact per CDC guidelines.
Soap and water are required when hands are visibly soiled (A),
after restroom use (B), and specifically for C. difficile (D) because
alcohol does not kill spores.
2. During vital signs assessment, a nurse measures a patient's blood
pressure using a cuff that is too small for the patient's arm. What
effect will this have on the reading?
A. Falsely low reading
B. Falsely high reading
C. No effect on the reading
D. Falsely low diastolic only
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: A cuff that is too small will produce a falsely high
, blood pressure reading because excessive pressure is needed to
occlude the artery. A cuff that is too large produces falsely low
readings.
3. A nurse is preparing to administer eye drops to a patient. Which
action demonstrates correct technique?
A. Touching the dropper tip to the eye to ensure accurate
placement
B. Having the patient look upward while instilling drops into the
conjunctival sac
C. Instilling drops directly onto the cornea
D. Applying pressure to the inner canthus after instilling drops in
both eyes
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The patient should look upward while drops are
instilled into the lower conjunctival sac to prevent corneal injury.
The dropper should never touch the eye (A), drops should not go
on the cornea (C), and pressure should be applied after EACH eye,
not both.
4. When performing a head-to-toe assessment, which order of
assessment techniques is most appropriate for the abdominal
region?
A. Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
B. Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
C. Auscultation, inspection, palpation, percussion
D. Palpation, percussion, inspection, auscultation
, Correct Answer: B
Explanation: For abdominal assessment, the correct sequence is
inspection, auscultation, percussion, then palpation to avoid
altering bowel sounds through manipulation before listening.
5. A nurse is preparing to insert a nasogastric tube. Which
measurement method is most accurate for determining insertion
depth?
A. From the tip of the nose to the earlobe to the xiphoid process
(NEX method)
B. From the forehead to the earlobe to the sternum
C. From the tip of the nose to the chin to the stomach
D. From the earlobe to the shoulder to the xiphoid process
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: The NEX method (nose-earlobe-xiphoid) is the
standardized, evidence-based measurement for NG tube insertion
depth.
6. Which action is most important for a nurse to take when
performing sterile gloving to maintain sterility?
A. Touching the outside of the first glove with the bare hand
B. Keeping hands above waist level and in view at all times
C. Reaching below waist to adjust glove position
D. Touching the sterile field with the gloved hand to check stability
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Hands must remain above waist level and in sight
, during sterile gloving to maintain sterility. Below-waist contact is
considered unsterile.
7. A patient has a indwelling urinary catheter. Which intervention is
most effective for preventing catheter-associated urinary tract
infection (CAUTI)?
A. Emptying the drainage bag weekly
B. Maintaining a closed drainage system and keeping the bag
below the bladder
C. Irrigating the catheter daily with antiseptic solution
D. Using sterile technique for routine emptying of the drainage
bag
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Maintaining a closed system and keeping the bag
below bladder level prevents backflow and infection. Daily
irrigation is not recommended, and the bag should be emptied
regularly, not weekly.
8. When administering oral medication to a patient who is at risk for
aspiration, which position is most appropriate?
A. Supine position
B. Prone position
C. High Fowler's position (60-90 degrees)
D. Left lateral recumbent position
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: High Fowler's position uses gravity to reduce
