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Clinical Judgment Exam (CJE) Benchmark Exams
1 & 2 | Latest Verified Questions and Detailed
Answers
OVERVIEW DESCRIPTION:
This Comprehensive set of multiple choice questions is designed for the Clinical
Judgment Exam (CJE) Benchmark Exams 1 & 2, Next Generation NCLEX (NGN)-aligned
assessments developed by NurseThink® and administered through ExamSoft. The
questions assess a nursing student’s ability to apply clinical reasoning, analyze cues,
prioritize hypotheses, and evaluate outcomes across key practice areas, including high-
risk medical-surgical care, pharmacology, infection control, fundamentals, community
health, and the specialized needs of maternal, pediatric, and mental health populations.
QUESTION 1
A nurse is caring for a client with pneumonia who has an oxygen saturation of 88% on
room air. Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Administer a bronchodilator
B. Initiate oxygen therapy
C. Obtain a chest x-ray
D. Encourage incentive spirometry
CORRECT ANSWER: B
EXPERT RATIONALE: Oxygen therapy is the priority to correct hypoxia; improving
saturation prevents further deterioration.
QUESTION 2
A client with active tuberculosis is started on rifampin. Which statement by the client
indicates understanding of the medication teaching?
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A. “I will need to avoid drinking alcohol while taking this.”
B. “I can expect my urine to turn an orange-red color.”
C. “This drug will only need to be taken for two weeks.”
D. “I should take an antacid with this medication to prevent stomach upset.”
CORRECT ANSWER: B
EXPERT RATIONALE: Rifampin commonly causes harmless red-orange discoloration of
body fluids; this is expected and should be shared during teaching.
QUESTION 3
The nurse is assessing a client with suspected hypoxia. Which early sign should the
nurse anticipate?
A. Cyanosis
B. Restlessness
C. Bradycardia
D. Hypoventilation
CORRECT ANSWER: B
EXPERT RATIONALE: Restlessness and anxiety are early manifestations of hypoxia due to
cerebral compensation; cyanosis is a late sign.
QUESTION 4
A nurse implements a ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) prevention bundle. Which
intervention is included?
A. Position the client supine
B. Perform oral care with chlorhexidine
C. Change the ventilator circuit daily
D. Keep the head of the bed at 10 degrees
CORRECT ANSWER: B
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EXPERT RATIONALE: Oral decontamination with chlorhexidine reduces bacterial
colonization, lowering VAP risk; head-of-bed elevation of 30–45 degrees is also
recommended.
QUESTION 5
The community health nurse is teaching about pandemic preparedness for H5N1 bird
flu. Which statement by a participant indicates a need for further teaching?
A. “I should get the annual flu shot to prevent H5N1 infection.”
B. “I will avoid contact with sick poultry when traveling.”
C. “Hand hygiene is important to prevent transmission.”
D. “I should report flu-like symptoms after travel to affected areas.”
CORRECT ANSWER: A
EXPERT RATIONALE: The seasonal influenza vaccine does not protect against H5N1
avian influenza; separate vaccines are produced when needed.
QUESTION 6
A nurse is reviewing tuberculosis testing protocols. Which client should receive a
tuberculin skin test as a priority?
A. A client with a history of BCG vaccination
B. A healthcare worker with a new positive IGRA result
C. A homeless individual in a shelter
D. An inmate with a documented prior positive TST
CORRECT ANSWER: C
EXPERT RATIONALE: Congregate settings like shelters have a high risk of TB
transmission; screening high-risk populations is a secondary prevention strategy.
, 4|Page
QUESTION 7
The nurse is performing contact tracing for a client with active pulmonary TB. Which
individuals require immediate screening?
A. Coworkers in an open-concept office
B. Household family members
C. Gym members who used the same equipment
D. Customers at a grocery store visited once
CORRECT ANSWER: B
EXPERT RATIONALE: Close, prolonged household contacts have the highest exposure
risk; contact tracing prioritizes those with extended face-to-face exposure.
QUESTION 8
An older adult client is post-operative day one after abdominal surgery. The nurse notes
confusion and restlessness. Which assessment should the nurse perform first?
A. Check surgical incision for infection
B. Measure oxygen saturation
C. Assess for pain
D. Obtain a bladder scan for retention
CORRECT ANSWER: B
EXPERT RATIONALE: Acute confusion in older adults postoperatively often signals
hypoxia; pulse oximetry is a rapid, non-invasive priority assessment.
QUESTION 9
A nurse is providing care for a client with Parkinson’s disease. Which intervention best
promotes safety during ambulation?
A. Encourage rapid, continuous movement
B. Instruct the client to walk with a narrow base
Clinical Judgment Exam (CJE) Benchmark Exams
1 & 2 | Latest Verified Questions and Detailed
Answers
OVERVIEW DESCRIPTION:
This Comprehensive set of multiple choice questions is designed for the Clinical
Judgment Exam (CJE) Benchmark Exams 1 & 2, Next Generation NCLEX (NGN)-aligned
assessments developed by NurseThink® and administered through ExamSoft. The
questions assess a nursing student’s ability to apply clinical reasoning, analyze cues,
prioritize hypotheses, and evaluate outcomes across key practice areas, including high-
risk medical-surgical care, pharmacology, infection control, fundamentals, community
health, and the specialized needs of maternal, pediatric, and mental health populations.
QUESTION 1
A nurse is caring for a client with pneumonia who has an oxygen saturation of 88% on
room air. Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Administer a bronchodilator
B. Initiate oxygen therapy
C. Obtain a chest x-ray
D. Encourage incentive spirometry
CORRECT ANSWER: B
EXPERT RATIONALE: Oxygen therapy is the priority to correct hypoxia; improving
saturation prevents further deterioration.
QUESTION 2
A client with active tuberculosis is started on rifampin. Which statement by the client
indicates understanding of the medication teaching?
,2|Page
A. “I will need to avoid drinking alcohol while taking this.”
B. “I can expect my urine to turn an orange-red color.”
C. “This drug will only need to be taken for two weeks.”
D. “I should take an antacid with this medication to prevent stomach upset.”
CORRECT ANSWER: B
EXPERT RATIONALE: Rifampin commonly causes harmless red-orange discoloration of
body fluids; this is expected and should be shared during teaching.
QUESTION 3
The nurse is assessing a client with suspected hypoxia. Which early sign should the
nurse anticipate?
A. Cyanosis
B. Restlessness
C. Bradycardia
D. Hypoventilation
CORRECT ANSWER: B
EXPERT RATIONALE: Restlessness and anxiety are early manifestations of hypoxia due to
cerebral compensation; cyanosis is a late sign.
QUESTION 4
A nurse implements a ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) prevention bundle. Which
intervention is included?
A. Position the client supine
B. Perform oral care with chlorhexidine
C. Change the ventilator circuit daily
D. Keep the head of the bed at 10 degrees
CORRECT ANSWER: B
,3|Page
EXPERT RATIONALE: Oral decontamination with chlorhexidine reduces bacterial
colonization, lowering VAP risk; head-of-bed elevation of 30–45 degrees is also
recommended.
QUESTION 5
The community health nurse is teaching about pandemic preparedness for H5N1 bird
flu. Which statement by a participant indicates a need for further teaching?
A. “I should get the annual flu shot to prevent H5N1 infection.”
B. “I will avoid contact with sick poultry when traveling.”
C. “Hand hygiene is important to prevent transmission.”
D. “I should report flu-like symptoms after travel to affected areas.”
CORRECT ANSWER: A
EXPERT RATIONALE: The seasonal influenza vaccine does not protect against H5N1
avian influenza; separate vaccines are produced when needed.
QUESTION 6
A nurse is reviewing tuberculosis testing protocols. Which client should receive a
tuberculin skin test as a priority?
A. A client with a history of BCG vaccination
B. A healthcare worker with a new positive IGRA result
C. A homeless individual in a shelter
D. An inmate with a documented prior positive TST
CORRECT ANSWER: C
EXPERT RATIONALE: Congregate settings like shelters have a high risk of TB
transmission; screening high-risk populations is a secondary prevention strategy.
, 4|Page
QUESTION 7
The nurse is performing contact tracing for a client with active pulmonary TB. Which
individuals require immediate screening?
A. Coworkers in an open-concept office
B. Household family members
C. Gym members who used the same equipment
D. Customers at a grocery store visited once
CORRECT ANSWER: B
EXPERT RATIONALE: Close, prolonged household contacts have the highest exposure
risk; contact tracing prioritizes those with extended face-to-face exposure.
QUESTION 8
An older adult client is post-operative day one after abdominal surgery. The nurse notes
confusion and restlessness. Which assessment should the nurse perform first?
A. Check surgical incision for infection
B. Measure oxygen saturation
C. Assess for pain
D. Obtain a bladder scan for retention
CORRECT ANSWER: B
EXPERT RATIONALE: Acute confusion in older adults postoperatively often signals
hypoxia; pulse oximetry is a rapid, non-invasive priority assessment.
QUESTION 9
A nurse is providing care for a client with Parkinson’s disease. Which intervention best
promotes safety during ambulation?
A. Encourage rapid, continuous movement
B. Instruct the client to walk with a narrow base
