PAX NLN Exam – Verified Questions with 100% Accurate
Answers – A+ Graded – 2025/2026 Edition
This document provides verified and fully accurate questions and answers for the NLN Pre-
Admission Exam (PAX), updated for the 2025/2026 edition. It includes comprehensive coverage
of all three sections: Verbal (reading comprehension and vocabulary), Math (arithmetic, algebra,
word problems), and Science (biology, chemistry, physics, anatomy & physiology). An essential
study tool for nursing and allied health students preparing for entrance into competitive
healthcare programs.
A nurse administers pain medication to a client. After thirty minutes the nurse asks if the
client is relieved of the pain. The nurse's action demonstrates which of these steps in
the nursing process?
a) Collecting data.
b) Planning.
c) Implementing.
d) Evaluating.
D- Assessing pain relief after the administration of a pain medication is in the evaluation
step of the nursing process. Assessing their pain prior to the administration of pain
medication is data collection. Planning the ways to administer pain relief measures and
carrying those interventions out involves the planning and implementing steps in the
nursing process.
A nursing home client who has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and is
receiving two liters of oxygen by nasal cannula, reports dyspnea. Which of these actions
would be correct for a nurse to take?
a) Assist the client with ambulation.
b) Obtain an order to increase the client's oxygen flow rate.
c) Encourage the client to breathe deeply and cough.
d) Place the client in a high-Fowler's position.
D- A client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) should be placed in
high-Fowler's with oxygen therapy, when complaining of dyspnea. A client with COPD
should be on bed rest. Increasing the oxygen rate and encouraging a client with COPD
to cough and deep breathe is not helpful for dyspnea.
A client who is jaundiced reports itching. To relieve the itching, which of these measures
would be most helpful?
a) Having the client wear clothing made from synthetic fibers.
b) Giving the client sponge baths with tepid water several times a day.
c) Rubbing the client's skin with diluted alcohol.
d) Exposing the client to the direct rays of the sun.
B- To relieve itching in a client who is jaundiced, the client should receive a tepid
sponge bath several times a day. Having the client wear synthetic fibers, rubbing the
,client's skin with diluted alcohol, and exposing the client to direct sunlight will increase
dryness and itching.
A nurse is caring for a client with a self-care deficit related to toileting. Which of these
nursing orders would serve as the best guide when providing care to this client?
a) Reposition the client frequently to improve renal perfusion.
b) Ambulate client to toilet every four hours while the client is awake.
c) Teach coping strategies for dealing with incontinence based on client readiness.
d) Provide emotional support and reassurance for voiding accidents.
B- Offering a bedpan every four hours while the client is awake is the best intervention
for self-care deficit related to toileting, as it provides a regular schedule for bladder
retraining. Repositioning the client frequently, teaching coping strategies based on client
readiness, and providing emotional support are not the best guides when providing care
for self-care deficit related to toileting
A newly admitted client becomes restless and confused at night. Which of these nursing
measures would be most important to promote the client's safety?
a) Moving the client to a room with ambulatory patients.
b) Putting the client on a bedpan at regular intervals.
c) Attaching the call bell to the bed near the client's dominant hand.
d) Keeping a small light on in the client's room.
D- Keeping a small light on in the patient's room is the most important nursing measure
to promote the patient's safety. This will help the patient see the room (safety measure)
and orient themselves as to where they are during the night. Moving the patient to a
room with ambulatory patients, attaching the call bell to the bed near the patient's
dominant hand, or putting the patient on a bedpan at regular intervals would not be the
most important nursing measures to promote safety
A nurse should recognize that the best means of preventing transmission of infection
from one patient to another is proper use of
a) hand hygiene.
b) face masks.
c) sterile gloves.
d) clean gloves.
A- Hand hygiene is done before and after putting on and taking off personal protective
equipment. A nurse should perform hand washing before and after care in order to
prevent the transmission of infection, even when the nurse does not need personal
protective equipment.
A client is to follow a low-calorie diet upon discharge. The client's wife does the cooking
and shopping. Which of these actions would be appropriate for a nurse to take in this
situation?
a) Enroll the client's wife in classes on the preparation of low-calorie diets.
b) Plan a time to discuss the diet with the client and his wife.
c) Provide the client with a teaching packet when his wife is present.
d) Supply several sample menus to be sent home to the client and his wife.
B- The most appropriate action would be to plan a time to discuss the diet with the
patient and his wife. This action involves both the patient and the wife in a discussion of
the diet - the other options do not.
,A client is to have an axillary temperature taken with a mercury thermometer. The
thermometer should remain in the axilla for which of these times?
a) 11 to 15 minutes.
b) 1 to 4 minutes.
c) 16 to 20 minutes.
d) 5 to 10 minutes.
D- Five to ten minutes is the duration needed to accurately measure an axillary
temperature. This will allow ample time for the mercury to rise to the temperature of the
body. One to four minutes is not long enough; 11 to 15 minutes and 16 to 20 minutes
are too long.
A physician tells a nurse and the family of a client that the client has a terminal illness,
but that the client is to be spared this knowledge and made to believe that they are
getting well. The basic ethical problem with this approach is that it has the effect of
a) interfering with the client's right of self-determination.
b) burdening the physician with full responsibility for the consequences of the decision.
c) burdening the family with maintaining a confidence.
d) undermining the client's faith in the treatment.
A- The basic ethical problem with this approach is that it is interfering with the patient's
right of self-determination. The patient is not able to self-govern his/her plan of care.
Burdening the physician with full responsibility for the consequences of the decision, or
undermining the patient's faith in the treatment, or burdening the family with maintaining
confidence are not the basic ethical problems in this situation.
To increase the absorption of calcium in a client's diet, which of these nutrients should a
nurse include in their recommended meal plan?
a) Vitamin K.
b) Sodium.
c) Vitamin D.
d) Potassium.
C- Vitamin D promotes the absorption of calcium. Vitamin K promotes clotting.
Potassium is needed for growth, building muscles, transmission of nerve impulses, and
heart activity. Sodium is an electrolyte in the body and required in the manufacture of
hydrochloric acid in the stomach, protecting the body from any infections that may be
present in food.
If a nurse discovers a fire in a client's room which of these actions should the nurse take
first?
a) Pull the fire alarm and call the fire department.
b) Place moist towels or blankets at the threshold of the door of the room with the fire.
c) Remove the client from the room.
d) Close fire doors and room doors.
C- Removing the patient from the room to safety is the priority. The patient in the room
is at the highest risk for burn injury and smoke inhalation. The other options are not the
priority at this time.
When cleaning a client's dentures, which of these measures should a nurse implement
while wearing gloves?
a) Rinsing the dentures in the sink using hot tap water.
b) Soaking the dentures for 20 minutes in a peroxide solution.
, c) Brushing the dentures in an emesis basin with tepid water.
d) Applying an abrasive dentifrice to the dentures with a stiff brush.
C- Brushing the dentures in an emesis basin with tepid water is the measure the nurse
should use when cleaning dentures. This will remove any food particles and plaque that
can cause bad breath on both the inside and outside of the dentures. Brushing can also
prevent the development of permanent stains on the dentures. Soaking the dentures for
20 minutes in a peroxide solution, applying an abrasive dentifrice to the dentures with a
stiff brush, and rinsing the dentures in the sink using hot tap water are measures that
could damage the dentures, and therefore should be avoided.
Which of these measures should a nurse take when a client has an external condom
catheter in place?
a) Leaving the device on for as long as possible.
b) Providing skin care every 24 hours.
c) Changing the device every 8 hours.
d) Obtaining a specimen of urine every other day.
B- Providing proper skin care every 24 hours will keep the skin clean and dry, aiding to
secure the condom properly. Leaving the device on as long as possible or changing it
every 8 hours will place the patient at risk for skin integrity impairment. Obtaining a urine
specimen does not aid in keeping the condom in place.
A nurse is caring for a 19-year-old client who had abdominal surgery several hours ago.
The nurse suspects that the client is having incisional pain, but the client denies it. The
nurse should assess the client for physiological responses to pain, including
a) constricted pupils and a dry mouth.
b) diaphoresis and increased pulse rate.
c) slow, deep respirations and facial flushing.
d) low blood pressure and positive Homan's sign.
B- As a physiological response, a patient experiencing pain is most likely to have some
diaphoresis and an increased pulse rate. Fast, shallow respirations (as opposed to
slow, deep respirations) may be experienced. A positive Homan's sign indicates
thrombosis - performing Homan's sign is no longer recommended because of the risk of
dislodging a clot. Constricted pupils and dry mouth may result from certain pain
medications given but are not signs that the patient is having pain.
A nurse is changing a dry sterile dressing that is sticking to a client's wound. Which of
these approaches is indicated?
a) Use sterile scissors to remove the dry parts and leave the parts that adhere.
b) Use sterile saline to free the dressing.
c) Soak the dressing with half-strength hydrogen peroxide.
d) Gently pull the dressing free.
B- Use of sterile saline will help soften any material that is causing the dressing to
adhere to the wound. Hydrogen peroxide should not be used because it can irritate the
wound. The entire dressing should be removed before placing a new one in order to
prevent infection. Pulling on a dressing that is stuck will cause unnecessary discomfort
and place stress on the surgical site.
A client has an abdominal wound drainage tube attached to wall suction. Which of these
nursing diagnoses should be included in the client's care plan?
a) Imbalanced body temperature.
Answers – A+ Graded – 2025/2026 Edition
This document provides verified and fully accurate questions and answers for the NLN Pre-
Admission Exam (PAX), updated for the 2025/2026 edition. It includes comprehensive coverage
of all three sections: Verbal (reading comprehension and vocabulary), Math (arithmetic, algebra,
word problems), and Science (biology, chemistry, physics, anatomy & physiology). An essential
study tool for nursing and allied health students preparing for entrance into competitive
healthcare programs.
A nurse administers pain medication to a client. After thirty minutes the nurse asks if the
client is relieved of the pain. The nurse's action demonstrates which of these steps in
the nursing process?
a) Collecting data.
b) Planning.
c) Implementing.
d) Evaluating.
D- Assessing pain relief after the administration of a pain medication is in the evaluation
step of the nursing process. Assessing their pain prior to the administration of pain
medication is data collection. Planning the ways to administer pain relief measures and
carrying those interventions out involves the planning and implementing steps in the
nursing process.
A nursing home client who has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and is
receiving two liters of oxygen by nasal cannula, reports dyspnea. Which of these actions
would be correct for a nurse to take?
a) Assist the client with ambulation.
b) Obtain an order to increase the client's oxygen flow rate.
c) Encourage the client to breathe deeply and cough.
d) Place the client in a high-Fowler's position.
D- A client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) should be placed in
high-Fowler's with oxygen therapy, when complaining of dyspnea. A client with COPD
should be on bed rest. Increasing the oxygen rate and encouraging a client with COPD
to cough and deep breathe is not helpful for dyspnea.
A client who is jaundiced reports itching. To relieve the itching, which of these measures
would be most helpful?
a) Having the client wear clothing made from synthetic fibers.
b) Giving the client sponge baths with tepid water several times a day.
c) Rubbing the client's skin with diluted alcohol.
d) Exposing the client to the direct rays of the sun.
B- To relieve itching in a client who is jaundiced, the client should receive a tepid
sponge bath several times a day. Having the client wear synthetic fibers, rubbing the
,client's skin with diluted alcohol, and exposing the client to direct sunlight will increase
dryness and itching.
A nurse is caring for a client with a self-care deficit related to toileting. Which of these
nursing orders would serve as the best guide when providing care to this client?
a) Reposition the client frequently to improve renal perfusion.
b) Ambulate client to toilet every four hours while the client is awake.
c) Teach coping strategies for dealing with incontinence based on client readiness.
d) Provide emotional support and reassurance for voiding accidents.
B- Offering a bedpan every four hours while the client is awake is the best intervention
for self-care deficit related to toileting, as it provides a regular schedule for bladder
retraining. Repositioning the client frequently, teaching coping strategies based on client
readiness, and providing emotional support are not the best guides when providing care
for self-care deficit related to toileting
A newly admitted client becomes restless and confused at night. Which of these nursing
measures would be most important to promote the client's safety?
a) Moving the client to a room with ambulatory patients.
b) Putting the client on a bedpan at regular intervals.
c) Attaching the call bell to the bed near the client's dominant hand.
d) Keeping a small light on in the client's room.
D- Keeping a small light on in the patient's room is the most important nursing measure
to promote the patient's safety. This will help the patient see the room (safety measure)
and orient themselves as to where they are during the night. Moving the patient to a
room with ambulatory patients, attaching the call bell to the bed near the patient's
dominant hand, or putting the patient on a bedpan at regular intervals would not be the
most important nursing measures to promote safety
A nurse should recognize that the best means of preventing transmission of infection
from one patient to another is proper use of
a) hand hygiene.
b) face masks.
c) sterile gloves.
d) clean gloves.
A- Hand hygiene is done before and after putting on and taking off personal protective
equipment. A nurse should perform hand washing before and after care in order to
prevent the transmission of infection, even when the nurse does not need personal
protective equipment.
A client is to follow a low-calorie diet upon discharge. The client's wife does the cooking
and shopping. Which of these actions would be appropriate for a nurse to take in this
situation?
a) Enroll the client's wife in classes on the preparation of low-calorie diets.
b) Plan a time to discuss the diet with the client and his wife.
c) Provide the client with a teaching packet when his wife is present.
d) Supply several sample menus to be sent home to the client and his wife.
B- The most appropriate action would be to plan a time to discuss the diet with the
patient and his wife. This action involves both the patient and the wife in a discussion of
the diet - the other options do not.
,A client is to have an axillary temperature taken with a mercury thermometer. The
thermometer should remain in the axilla for which of these times?
a) 11 to 15 minutes.
b) 1 to 4 minutes.
c) 16 to 20 minutes.
d) 5 to 10 minutes.
D- Five to ten minutes is the duration needed to accurately measure an axillary
temperature. This will allow ample time for the mercury to rise to the temperature of the
body. One to four minutes is not long enough; 11 to 15 minutes and 16 to 20 minutes
are too long.
A physician tells a nurse and the family of a client that the client has a terminal illness,
but that the client is to be spared this knowledge and made to believe that they are
getting well. The basic ethical problem with this approach is that it has the effect of
a) interfering with the client's right of self-determination.
b) burdening the physician with full responsibility for the consequences of the decision.
c) burdening the family with maintaining a confidence.
d) undermining the client's faith in the treatment.
A- The basic ethical problem with this approach is that it is interfering with the patient's
right of self-determination. The patient is not able to self-govern his/her plan of care.
Burdening the physician with full responsibility for the consequences of the decision, or
undermining the patient's faith in the treatment, or burdening the family with maintaining
confidence are not the basic ethical problems in this situation.
To increase the absorption of calcium in a client's diet, which of these nutrients should a
nurse include in their recommended meal plan?
a) Vitamin K.
b) Sodium.
c) Vitamin D.
d) Potassium.
C- Vitamin D promotes the absorption of calcium. Vitamin K promotes clotting.
Potassium is needed for growth, building muscles, transmission of nerve impulses, and
heart activity. Sodium is an electrolyte in the body and required in the manufacture of
hydrochloric acid in the stomach, protecting the body from any infections that may be
present in food.
If a nurse discovers a fire in a client's room which of these actions should the nurse take
first?
a) Pull the fire alarm and call the fire department.
b) Place moist towels or blankets at the threshold of the door of the room with the fire.
c) Remove the client from the room.
d) Close fire doors and room doors.
C- Removing the patient from the room to safety is the priority. The patient in the room
is at the highest risk for burn injury and smoke inhalation. The other options are not the
priority at this time.
When cleaning a client's dentures, which of these measures should a nurse implement
while wearing gloves?
a) Rinsing the dentures in the sink using hot tap water.
b) Soaking the dentures for 20 minutes in a peroxide solution.
, c) Brushing the dentures in an emesis basin with tepid water.
d) Applying an abrasive dentifrice to the dentures with a stiff brush.
C- Brushing the dentures in an emesis basin with tepid water is the measure the nurse
should use when cleaning dentures. This will remove any food particles and plaque that
can cause bad breath on both the inside and outside of the dentures. Brushing can also
prevent the development of permanent stains on the dentures. Soaking the dentures for
20 minutes in a peroxide solution, applying an abrasive dentifrice to the dentures with a
stiff brush, and rinsing the dentures in the sink using hot tap water are measures that
could damage the dentures, and therefore should be avoided.
Which of these measures should a nurse take when a client has an external condom
catheter in place?
a) Leaving the device on for as long as possible.
b) Providing skin care every 24 hours.
c) Changing the device every 8 hours.
d) Obtaining a specimen of urine every other day.
B- Providing proper skin care every 24 hours will keep the skin clean and dry, aiding to
secure the condom properly. Leaving the device on as long as possible or changing it
every 8 hours will place the patient at risk for skin integrity impairment. Obtaining a urine
specimen does not aid in keeping the condom in place.
A nurse is caring for a 19-year-old client who had abdominal surgery several hours ago.
The nurse suspects that the client is having incisional pain, but the client denies it. The
nurse should assess the client for physiological responses to pain, including
a) constricted pupils and a dry mouth.
b) diaphoresis and increased pulse rate.
c) slow, deep respirations and facial flushing.
d) low blood pressure and positive Homan's sign.
B- As a physiological response, a patient experiencing pain is most likely to have some
diaphoresis and an increased pulse rate. Fast, shallow respirations (as opposed to
slow, deep respirations) may be experienced. A positive Homan's sign indicates
thrombosis - performing Homan's sign is no longer recommended because of the risk of
dislodging a clot. Constricted pupils and dry mouth may result from certain pain
medications given but are not signs that the patient is having pain.
A nurse is changing a dry sterile dressing that is sticking to a client's wound. Which of
these approaches is indicated?
a) Use sterile scissors to remove the dry parts and leave the parts that adhere.
b) Use sterile saline to free the dressing.
c) Soak the dressing with half-strength hydrogen peroxide.
d) Gently pull the dressing free.
B- Use of sterile saline will help soften any material that is causing the dressing to
adhere to the wound. Hydrogen peroxide should not be used because it can irritate the
wound. The entire dressing should be removed before placing a new one in order to
prevent infection. Pulling on a dressing that is stuck will cause unnecessary discomfort
and place stress on the surgical site.
A client has an abdominal wound drainage tube attached to wall suction. Which of these
nursing diagnoses should be included in the client's care plan?
a) Imbalanced body temperature.
