NCLEX Questions - c/o Brilliant Nurse Exam
2025–2026 Accurate Real Exam Questions and
Verified Correct Answers JUST RELEASED
A nurse frequently treats patients in the 72-hour period after a stroke has occurred. The nurse
would be most concerned about which of these assessment findings?
1. INR is 3 seconds long
2. Heart rate is 110 beats per minute
3. Intracranial Pressure is 22 mm/Hg
4. Blood pressure is 140/80 - answer>>>1. INR is 3 seconds long
Incorrect - This is actually within a therapeutic range for clotting times for patients with
coagulation risks. A normal INR is .9-1.2 seconds, while a therapeutic INR can be as high as 3.5
seconds.
2. Heart rate is 110 beats per minute
Incorrect - While tachycardia is a concern, general tachycardia without other associated symptoms
would not pose an immediate danger, and is not of greater priority than the next answer.
3. Intracranial Pressure is 22 mm/Hg
Correct - The patient is at greatest risk for an increased ICP resulting from edema 72 hours after a
stroke. A target ICP should be less than or equal to 15-20 mm/Hg
4. Blood pressure is 140/80
Incorrect - Blood pressure is often kept higher than usual following a stroke to maintain perfusion.
Systolic BP higher than 180, or diastolic BP higher than 105, would be the upper limit and required
intervention. 140/80 would not pose an immediate danger to the patient's health.
A nurse is caring for a patient scheduled to have cataract surgery. The patient asks why they
developed cataracts and how they can prevent it from happening again. What is the nurse's best
response?
1. "Age is the biggest factor contributing to cataracts."
2. "Unprotected exposure to UV lights can cause cataracts"
,3. "Age, eye injury, corticosteroids, and unprotected sunlight exposure are contributing factors to
cataracts."
4. "Unfortunately, there is really nothing you can do to prevent cataracts, but they are amongst
the most easily treated eye conditions." - answer>>>1. "Age is the biggest factor contributing to
cataracts."
Incorrect - While true, this answer leaves out many other contributing factors to cataracts and
does not address prevention.
2. "Unprotected exposure to UV lights can cause cataracts"
Incorrect - While true, this answer is not complete
3. "Age, eye injury, corticosteroids, and unprotected sunlight exposure are contributing factors to
cataracts."
Correct - This answer covers the most common contributing factors for cataracts and includes
preventable risk factors.
4. "Unfortunately, there is really nothing you can do to prevent cataracts, but they are amongst
the most easily treated eye conditions."
Incorrect - While most cataracts are age-related cataracts, there are still ways to prevent eye
damage and cataract development.
A nurse is educating a patient about bimatoprost (Lumigan) eyedrops for the treatment of
Glaucoma. Which of the following indicates that the patient has a correct understanding of the
expected outcomes following treatment?
1. "I should be experiencing less blurriness in my central field of vision"
2. "This medication won't help my vision at all, but will keep it from getting worse."
3. "My peripheral vision should be increasing back to its normal state, but will take a few weeks to
do so."
4. "This medication will help my eye restore intraocular fluid and increase intraocular pressure" -
answer>>>1. "I should be experiencing less blurriness in my central field of vision"
Incorrect - Cataracts cause blurriness in the central field of vision, while Glaucoma presents as loss
of the field of vision peripherally.
2. "This medication won't help my vision at all, but will keep it from getting worse."
Correct - Glaucoma cannot be cured, just treated. Treatment revolves around preventing further
deterioration.
,3. "My peripheral vision should be increasing back to its normal state, but will take a few weeks to
do so."
Incorrect - Glaucoma treatment does not result in restoration of vision already lost.
4. "This medication will help my eye restore intraocular fluid and increase intraocular pressure"
Glaucoma is caused by an increase in intraocular fluid. Eyedrops work in various ways to decrease
Intraocular Pressure, not increase it.
A patient with Glaucoma is verbalizing his daily medication routine to the nurse. He states he has
two different eyedrop medications, both every twelve hours. He washes his hands, instills the
drops, closes his eyes gently, and presses his finger to the corner of his eye nearest his nose. After
waiting 1 minute with his eyes closed, he instills the other medication in the same way. What is
the nurse's best response?
1. "You should wait more than 1 minute between different medications."
2. "Your routine is very good! Can you demonstrate it for me?"
3. "It is actually not the best practice to close your eyes after instilling eyedrops."
4. "You should actually be pressing your finger in the other corner of the eye." - answer>>>1. "You
should wait more than 1 minute between different medications."
Correct - It is recommended to wait 10-15 minutes between different eyedrop medications to give
them time to absorb an avoid one medication washing another one out.
2. "Your routine is very good! Can you demonstrate it for me?"
Incorrect - There is something wrong with what the patient described as his routine. After the
nurse corrects this, a return demonstration would be appropriate.
3. "It is actually not the best practice to close your eyes after instilling eyedrops."
4. "You should actually be pressing your finger in the other corner of the eye."
Incorrect - THis is not true.
, A nurse would evaluate which of these patients as appropriate candidates for a closed MRI
without contrast, based on the information given?
1. A 20-year old woman who has unexplained joint pain and a low BMI.
2. A 35-year old woman with Multiple Sclerosis and has been trying to conceive.
3. A 67-year old man who has had an open-heart surgery 4 years ago.
4. A 40-year old woman who has been in a hypomanic state for the last 2 days. - answer>>>1. A
20-year old woman who has unexplained joint pain and a low BMI.
Correct - MRI can be used to diagnose musculoskeletal disorders, and this patient has no
contraindications to an MRI.
2. A 35-year old woman with Multiple Sclerosis and has been trying to conceive.
Incorrect - Pregnant women, or women who have a possibility of being pregnant, are not
recommended to receive MRIs.
3. A 67-year old man who has had an open-heart surgery 4 years ago.
Incorrect - Patients with pacemakers, stents, or implants should not have MRIs. More information
would have to be gathered about this patient before an MRI can be done.
4. A 40-year old woman who has been in a hypomanic state for the last 2 days.
Incorrect - Hypomania is a mild form of mania, and a patient with hypomania would have a very
difficult time laying still in a supine position for up to an hour. Sedation may be required, which
requires more information and assessment of this patient.
A nurse is caring for a patient in the cardiac care unit who is taking bumetanide (Bumex) and is
diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. An unlicensed assistive personnel is assisting with feeding the
patient. Which of these foods would the nurse stress for the patient to eat most?
1. Foods containing the least amount of salt
2. Foods containing the most amount of potassium
3. Foods containing the most amount of calories
4. Foods containing the most amount of fiber - answer>>>1. Foods containing the least amount of
salt
Incorrect - While this is a good practice, in light of the information given, this is not the greatest
priority.
2025–2026 Accurate Real Exam Questions and
Verified Correct Answers JUST RELEASED
A nurse frequently treats patients in the 72-hour period after a stroke has occurred. The nurse
would be most concerned about which of these assessment findings?
1. INR is 3 seconds long
2. Heart rate is 110 beats per minute
3. Intracranial Pressure is 22 mm/Hg
4. Blood pressure is 140/80 - answer>>>1. INR is 3 seconds long
Incorrect - This is actually within a therapeutic range for clotting times for patients with
coagulation risks. A normal INR is .9-1.2 seconds, while a therapeutic INR can be as high as 3.5
seconds.
2. Heart rate is 110 beats per minute
Incorrect - While tachycardia is a concern, general tachycardia without other associated symptoms
would not pose an immediate danger, and is not of greater priority than the next answer.
3. Intracranial Pressure is 22 mm/Hg
Correct - The patient is at greatest risk for an increased ICP resulting from edema 72 hours after a
stroke. A target ICP should be less than or equal to 15-20 mm/Hg
4. Blood pressure is 140/80
Incorrect - Blood pressure is often kept higher than usual following a stroke to maintain perfusion.
Systolic BP higher than 180, or diastolic BP higher than 105, would be the upper limit and required
intervention. 140/80 would not pose an immediate danger to the patient's health.
A nurse is caring for a patient scheduled to have cataract surgery. The patient asks why they
developed cataracts and how they can prevent it from happening again. What is the nurse's best
response?
1. "Age is the biggest factor contributing to cataracts."
2. "Unprotected exposure to UV lights can cause cataracts"
,3. "Age, eye injury, corticosteroids, and unprotected sunlight exposure are contributing factors to
cataracts."
4. "Unfortunately, there is really nothing you can do to prevent cataracts, but they are amongst
the most easily treated eye conditions." - answer>>>1. "Age is the biggest factor contributing to
cataracts."
Incorrect - While true, this answer leaves out many other contributing factors to cataracts and
does not address prevention.
2. "Unprotected exposure to UV lights can cause cataracts"
Incorrect - While true, this answer is not complete
3. "Age, eye injury, corticosteroids, and unprotected sunlight exposure are contributing factors to
cataracts."
Correct - This answer covers the most common contributing factors for cataracts and includes
preventable risk factors.
4. "Unfortunately, there is really nothing you can do to prevent cataracts, but they are amongst
the most easily treated eye conditions."
Incorrect - While most cataracts are age-related cataracts, there are still ways to prevent eye
damage and cataract development.
A nurse is educating a patient about bimatoprost (Lumigan) eyedrops for the treatment of
Glaucoma. Which of the following indicates that the patient has a correct understanding of the
expected outcomes following treatment?
1. "I should be experiencing less blurriness in my central field of vision"
2. "This medication won't help my vision at all, but will keep it from getting worse."
3. "My peripheral vision should be increasing back to its normal state, but will take a few weeks to
do so."
4. "This medication will help my eye restore intraocular fluid and increase intraocular pressure" -
answer>>>1. "I should be experiencing less blurriness in my central field of vision"
Incorrect - Cataracts cause blurriness in the central field of vision, while Glaucoma presents as loss
of the field of vision peripherally.
2. "This medication won't help my vision at all, but will keep it from getting worse."
Correct - Glaucoma cannot be cured, just treated. Treatment revolves around preventing further
deterioration.
,3. "My peripheral vision should be increasing back to its normal state, but will take a few weeks to
do so."
Incorrect - Glaucoma treatment does not result in restoration of vision already lost.
4. "This medication will help my eye restore intraocular fluid and increase intraocular pressure"
Glaucoma is caused by an increase in intraocular fluid. Eyedrops work in various ways to decrease
Intraocular Pressure, not increase it.
A patient with Glaucoma is verbalizing his daily medication routine to the nurse. He states he has
two different eyedrop medications, both every twelve hours. He washes his hands, instills the
drops, closes his eyes gently, and presses his finger to the corner of his eye nearest his nose. After
waiting 1 minute with his eyes closed, he instills the other medication in the same way. What is
the nurse's best response?
1. "You should wait more than 1 minute between different medications."
2. "Your routine is very good! Can you demonstrate it for me?"
3. "It is actually not the best practice to close your eyes after instilling eyedrops."
4. "You should actually be pressing your finger in the other corner of the eye." - answer>>>1. "You
should wait more than 1 minute between different medications."
Correct - It is recommended to wait 10-15 minutes between different eyedrop medications to give
them time to absorb an avoid one medication washing another one out.
2. "Your routine is very good! Can you demonstrate it for me?"
Incorrect - There is something wrong with what the patient described as his routine. After the
nurse corrects this, a return demonstration would be appropriate.
3. "It is actually not the best practice to close your eyes after instilling eyedrops."
4. "You should actually be pressing your finger in the other corner of the eye."
Incorrect - THis is not true.
, A nurse would evaluate which of these patients as appropriate candidates for a closed MRI
without contrast, based on the information given?
1. A 20-year old woman who has unexplained joint pain and a low BMI.
2. A 35-year old woman with Multiple Sclerosis and has been trying to conceive.
3. A 67-year old man who has had an open-heart surgery 4 years ago.
4. A 40-year old woman who has been in a hypomanic state for the last 2 days. - answer>>>1. A
20-year old woman who has unexplained joint pain and a low BMI.
Correct - MRI can be used to diagnose musculoskeletal disorders, and this patient has no
contraindications to an MRI.
2. A 35-year old woman with Multiple Sclerosis and has been trying to conceive.
Incorrect - Pregnant women, or women who have a possibility of being pregnant, are not
recommended to receive MRIs.
3. A 67-year old man who has had an open-heart surgery 4 years ago.
Incorrect - Patients with pacemakers, stents, or implants should not have MRIs. More information
would have to be gathered about this patient before an MRI can be done.
4. A 40-year old woman who has been in a hypomanic state for the last 2 days.
Incorrect - Hypomania is a mild form of mania, and a patient with hypomania would have a very
difficult time laying still in a supine position for up to an hour. Sedation may be required, which
requires more information and assessment of this patient.
A nurse is caring for a patient in the cardiac care unit who is taking bumetanide (Bumex) and is
diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. An unlicensed assistive personnel is assisting with feeding the
patient. Which of these foods would the nurse stress for the patient to eat most?
1. Foods containing the least amount of salt
2. Foods containing the most amount of potassium
3. Foods containing the most amount of calories
4. Foods containing the most amount of fiber - answer>>>1. Foods containing the least amount of
salt
Incorrect - While this is a good practice, in light of the information given, this is not the greatest
priority.
