NR 224 – Fundamentals of Nursing: Hygiene,
Personal Care & Comfort Measures
100 NCLEX®-Style Practice Questions with
Detailed Rationales
1. A nurse is preparing to provide hygiene care for a patient. Which action should
the nurse take first?
A. Perform hand hygiene and provide privacy
B. Remove all patient clothing immediately
C. Begin bathing without explanation
D. Place supplies on the patient’s bed
Answer: A. Perform hand hygiene and provide privacy
Rationale: Hand hygiene prevents infection transmission, and maintaining privacy
promotes dignity and respect during personal care.
2. A nurse is assisting a patient with a bed bath. Which action is appropriate?
A. Wash from the cleanest area to the dirtiest area
B. Use the same washcloth for the entire body
C. Avoid explaining procedures
D. Leave the patient exposed
Answer: A. Wash from the cleanest area to the dirtiest area
Rationale: Cleaning from clean to dirty areas reduces the spread of
microorganisms.
,3. A nurse is providing oral care to an unconscious patient. Which action is most
important?
A. Position the patient on the side to prevent aspiration
B. Place water directly into the mouth
C. Use a large amount of toothpaste
D. Keep the patient flat on the back
Answer: A. Position the patient on the side to prevent aspiration
Rationale: Side positioning allows secretions to drain and reduces the risk of
aspiration.
4. A nurse is providing oral care for a patient who wears dentures. Which action is
correct?
A. Remove dentures before cleaning the mouth
B. Clean dentures with hot water
C. Leave dentures in continuously
D. Store dentures wrapped in tissue
Answer: A. Remove dentures before cleaning the mouth
Rationale: Dentures should be removed and cleaned regularly to maintain oral
hygiene and prevent injury.
5. A nurse is assessing a patient’s skin during hygiene care. Which finding requires
further assessment?
A. Redness over a bony prominence
B. Warm, intact skin
C. Clean skin
D. Moisturized skin
Answer: A. Redness over a bony prominence
,Rationale: Redness over pressure areas may indicate early tissue damage and risk
for pressure injury.
6. A nurse is caring for a patient who requires assistance with bathing. Which
action promotes independence?
A. Encourage the patient to do what they can safely do
B. Complete all care without patient involvement
C. Prevent patient participation
D. Avoid communication
Answer: A. Encourage the patient to do what they can safely do
Rationale: Promoting independence supports self-esteem and maintains
functional ability.
7. A nurse is providing perineal care for a female patient. Which technique is
correct?
A. Clean from front to back
B. Clean from back to front
C. Use the same area of cloth repeatedly
D. Avoid cleaning folds
Answer: A. Clean from front to back
Rationale: Cleaning from front to back prevents transferring microorganisms from
the anal area to the urinary tract.
8. A nurse is providing perineal care for a male patient. Which action is
appropriate?
A. Clean from the urethral opening outward
B. Pull the foreskin back and leave it there
, C. Avoid cleaning the penis
D. Use harsh chemicals
Answer: A. Clean from the urethral opening outward
Rationale: Cleaning outward reduces contamination and promotes hygiene.
9. A nurse is caring for a patient with dry skin. Which intervention is appropriate?
A. Apply moisturizer after bathing
B. Use very hot water
C. Scrub the skin aggressively
D. Avoid skin assessment
Answer: A. Apply moisturizer after bathing
Rationale: Moisturizers help maintain skin integrity and prevent dryness.
10. A nurse is preparing to make an occupied bed. Which action promotes safety?
A. Maintain patient privacy and body alignment
B. Leave the patient unattended
C. Remove all safety measures
D. Pull the patient forcefully
Answer: A. Maintain patient privacy and body alignment
Rationale: Safe bed-making protects patient comfort, dignity, and physical safety.
11. A nurse is assisting a patient with hair care. Which action is appropriate?
A. Handle the patient’s hair gently
B. Pull through tangles forcefully
C. Ignore patient preferences
D. Avoid assessing the scalp
Answer: A. Handle the patient’s hair gently
Personal Care & Comfort Measures
100 NCLEX®-Style Practice Questions with
Detailed Rationales
1. A nurse is preparing to provide hygiene care for a patient. Which action should
the nurse take first?
A. Perform hand hygiene and provide privacy
B. Remove all patient clothing immediately
C. Begin bathing without explanation
D. Place supplies on the patient’s bed
Answer: A. Perform hand hygiene and provide privacy
Rationale: Hand hygiene prevents infection transmission, and maintaining privacy
promotes dignity and respect during personal care.
2. A nurse is assisting a patient with a bed bath. Which action is appropriate?
A. Wash from the cleanest area to the dirtiest area
B. Use the same washcloth for the entire body
C. Avoid explaining procedures
D. Leave the patient exposed
Answer: A. Wash from the cleanest area to the dirtiest area
Rationale: Cleaning from clean to dirty areas reduces the spread of
microorganisms.
,3. A nurse is providing oral care to an unconscious patient. Which action is most
important?
A. Position the patient on the side to prevent aspiration
B. Place water directly into the mouth
C. Use a large amount of toothpaste
D. Keep the patient flat on the back
Answer: A. Position the patient on the side to prevent aspiration
Rationale: Side positioning allows secretions to drain and reduces the risk of
aspiration.
4. A nurse is providing oral care for a patient who wears dentures. Which action is
correct?
A. Remove dentures before cleaning the mouth
B. Clean dentures with hot water
C. Leave dentures in continuously
D. Store dentures wrapped in tissue
Answer: A. Remove dentures before cleaning the mouth
Rationale: Dentures should be removed and cleaned regularly to maintain oral
hygiene and prevent injury.
5. A nurse is assessing a patient’s skin during hygiene care. Which finding requires
further assessment?
A. Redness over a bony prominence
B. Warm, intact skin
C. Clean skin
D. Moisturized skin
Answer: A. Redness over a bony prominence
,Rationale: Redness over pressure areas may indicate early tissue damage and risk
for pressure injury.
6. A nurse is caring for a patient who requires assistance with bathing. Which
action promotes independence?
A. Encourage the patient to do what they can safely do
B. Complete all care without patient involvement
C. Prevent patient participation
D. Avoid communication
Answer: A. Encourage the patient to do what they can safely do
Rationale: Promoting independence supports self-esteem and maintains
functional ability.
7. A nurse is providing perineal care for a female patient. Which technique is
correct?
A. Clean from front to back
B. Clean from back to front
C. Use the same area of cloth repeatedly
D. Avoid cleaning folds
Answer: A. Clean from front to back
Rationale: Cleaning from front to back prevents transferring microorganisms from
the anal area to the urinary tract.
8. A nurse is providing perineal care for a male patient. Which action is
appropriate?
A. Clean from the urethral opening outward
B. Pull the foreskin back and leave it there
, C. Avoid cleaning the penis
D. Use harsh chemicals
Answer: A. Clean from the urethral opening outward
Rationale: Cleaning outward reduces contamination and promotes hygiene.
9. A nurse is caring for a patient with dry skin. Which intervention is appropriate?
A. Apply moisturizer after bathing
B. Use very hot water
C. Scrub the skin aggressively
D. Avoid skin assessment
Answer: A. Apply moisturizer after bathing
Rationale: Moisturizers help maintain skin integrity and prevent dryness.
10. A nurse is preparing to make an occupied bed. Which action promotes safety?
A. Maintain patient privacy and body alignment
B. Leave the patient unattended
C. Remove all safety measures
D. Pull the patient forcefully
Answer: A. Maintain patient privacy and body alignment
Rationale: Safe bed-making protects patient comfort, dignity, and physical safety.
11. A nurse is assisting a patient with hair care. Which action is appropriate?
A. Handle the patient’s hair gently
B. Pull through tangles forcefully
C. Ignore patient preferences
D. Avoid assessing the scalp
Answer: A. Handle the patient’s hair gently
