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Free National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN®) Practice Questions

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Sample Practice Questions

Try these 10 sample questions from the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN®) practice bank. Each includes the answer and explanation. Continue with the interactive practice above to review the full question set.

  1. 1An LPN/VN asks an assistive personnel member to provide a stable client with routine morning hygiene, a function included in the aide's basic training. How is this transfer of work classified?

    1. A. Delegation
    2. B. Assignment
    3. C. Handoff
    4. D. Supervision

    Answer: B

    Explanation: The NCSBN and ANA define assignment as "The routine care, activities and procedures that are within the authorized scope of practice of the RN or LPN/VN or part of the routine functions of the AP." Routine hygiene within the aide's ordinary functions is an assignment; delegation involves a specific activity beyond the usual role.

    Reference: National Guidelines for Nursing Delegation — Definitions, p. 2

  2. 2At a Joint Commission-accredited hospital, an LPN/VN prepares to give a medication to a client whose bed was changed during the shift. Which pair provides two acceptable patient-specific identifiers?

    1. A. Full name and date of birth.
    2. B. Full name and current room number.
    3. C. Date of birth and current bed number.
    4. D. Current room number and bed number.

    Answer: A

    Explanation: The Joint Commission lists acceptable identifiers including a person's "name" and "date of birth" and states, "Use of a room number would NOT be considered an example of a unique patient identifier." The nurse should use the name and birth date rather than the changed location.

    Reference: Two Patient Identifiers: Understanding the Requirements — Intent, patient identifier definition

  3. 3At 25 weeks' gestation, a prenatal client has newly elevated blood pressure and protein in the urine. Which pregnancy complication should the LPN/VN recognize and report?

    1. A. Preeclampsia
    2. B. Chronic hypertension
    3. C. Gestational hypertension alone
    4. D. Gestational diabetes

    Answer: A

    Explanation: CDC states, "Preeclampsia happens if you suddenly develop high blood pressure and protein in your urine after 20 weeks of pregnancy." The new findings at 25 weeks fit this pattern; the other named conditions do not include this combination.

    Reference: Pregnancy Complications — High blood pressure

  4. 4During a mental-health assessment, a client says, 'I intend to kill myself tonight.' Which immediate action should the LPN/VN take while arranging urgent help?

    1. A. Remain with the client and summon immediate assistance.
    2. B. Leave the client alone to make a private telephone call.
    3. C. Promise to keep the stated plan confidential from staff.
    4. D. Delay action until the next routine care conference.

    Answer: A

    Explanation: NIMH says, "If someone tells you that they are going to kill themselves, do not leave them alone." It also directs immediate help for life-threatening situations. The stated plan requires continuous presence and urgent escalation.

    Reference: Frequently Asked Questions About Suicide — What should I do if I am struggling or someone I know is having thoughts of suicide?

  5. 5An LPN/VN prepares an enteral feeding for a client at high risk for aspiration. There is no medical reason to limit head elevation. Which head-of-bed angle matches CDC guidance for this risk?

    1. A. 0 to 15 degrees
    2. B. 15 to 25 degrees
    3. C. 30 to 45 degrees
    4. D. 50 to 65 degrees

    Answer: C

    Explanation: CDC recommends, "In the absence of medical contraindication(s), elevate at an angle of 30--45 degrees of the head of the bed of a patient at high risk for aspiration." This client has an enteral tube and no contraindication, so the 30-to-45-degree range applies.

    Reference: Guidelines for Preventing Health-Care-Associated Pneumonia, 2003 — 2. Prevention of aspiration associated with enteral feeding, item a, flow lines 586-594

  6. 6During medication reconciliation, a client mentions taking a daily vitamin and an over-the-counter pain product that are absent from the chart. Which information belongs on the current medication list?

    1. A. Both the vitamin and the over-the-counter product.
    2. B. Only the over-the-counter product if taken daily.
    3. C. Only medicines written on a prescription form.
    4. D. Only products started during this admission.

    Answer: A

    Explanation: FDA explains that a medication list tracks "all the prescription medications, over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, vitamins and supplements that you take." Both reported products belong on the current list.

    Reference: Create and Keep a Medication List for Your Health — Medication list overview

  7. 7The laboratory flags a result as critical for a client at a Joint Commission-accredited hospital. What should the assigned LPN/VN do to meet the hospital's communication safety goal?

    1. A. Report the critical result promptly through the established process.
    2. B. Hold the result for the next routine shift report.
    3. C. Wait to report until a second routine sample is drawn.
    4. D. Place the result only in the client's discharge notes.

    Answer: A

    Explanation: The Joint Commission requires hospitals to "Report critical results of tests and diagnostic procedures in a timely manner." A critical result should be escalated through the established process rather than held for routine communication.

    Reference: National Performance Goal #1: Right Patient, Right Care — Correct care, correct time, hospitals must

  8. 8An adult client is in cardiac arrest and an LPN/VN is performing manual chest compressions. Which compression rate follows the 2025 American Heart Association adult basic life support guideline?

    1. A. 60 to 80 compressions per minute
    2. B. 80 to 100 compressions per minute
    3. C. 100 to 120 compressions per minute
    4. D. 130 to 150 compressions per minute

    Answer: C

    Explanation: The 2025 AHA guideline states, "For adults in cardiac arrest, it is reasonable for rescuers to perform chest compressions at a rate of 100 to 120/min." The listed range is the recommendation for this adult.

    Reference: Part 7: Adult Basic Life Support — 7.3 Chest Compression Depth and Rate, recommendation 3

  9. 9A capable client tells the LPN/VN that a close friend will collect the client's prescriptions and may hear the instructions needed to help with them. Under HIPAA, which response is appropriate for a covered provider?

    1. A. Share the instructions relevant to the friend's role after the client's verbal permission.
    2. B. Share the client's entire record because the friend is helping with the prescriptions.
    3. C. Withhold the instructions until the friend produces proof of a family relationship.
    4. D. Withhold the instructions until the client signs a written HIPAA authorization.

    Answer: A

    Explanation: HHS states that covered entities may share information "directly relevant to the involvement of that person in the patient’s care or payment for health care." It also says to "get verbal permission from the patient when possible" before these disclosures. The client's permission supports sharing the relevant instructions with the identified friend, without expanding the disclosure to the entire chart.

    Reference: Does the HIPAA Privacy Rule permit a doctor to discuss a patient’s health status with a person who is not a relative? — Answer, paragraphs 1–3

  10. 10A client cannot bear weight during a transfer from bed to wheelchair. The care area has the listed devices available. Which device is designed to support the client's full weight for this transfer?

    1. A. A gait belt with handles.
    2. B. A sit-to-stand device.
    3. C. A sling-type full lift.
    4. D. A low-friction slide sheet.

    Answer: C

    Explanation: OSHA states, "A full-body lift is used for non-weight bearing patients who have physical limitations" and explains that it supports the entire patient's weight with a sling. Gait belts stabilize ambulatory clients, sit-to-stand devices require some weight-bearing, and slide sheets reduce friction for lateral moves.

    Reference: Hospitals eTool: Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders — Mechanical lift equipment, Sling-Type Full Lift

Topics in this practice bank

These topics describe the available practice for National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN®). Review the examination outline and its sources for scope and allocation details.

  • Coordinated Care
    • Use data from various credible sources in making clinical decisions
    • Contribute to the development of and/or update of the client plan of care
    • Assign client care and/or related tasks (e.g., assistive personnel or LPN/VN)
    • Organize and prioritize care based on client needs
    • Recognize and report staff conflict
    • Advocate for client rights and needs
    • Promote client self-advocacy
    • Participate in quality improvement activities (e.g., collecting data, serving on quality improvement committee)
    • Involve client in care decision-making
    • Follow up with client after discharge
    • Participate in staff education (e.g., in-services, continued competency)
    • Recognize self-limitations and seek assistance when needed (e.g., tasks, assignments)
    • Respond to the unsafe practice of health care personnel (e.g., intervene, report)
    • Participate in client discharge or transfer
    • Participate in client referral process
    • Follow regulation/policy for reporting specific issues (e.g., abuse, neglect, gunshot wound, communicable disease)
    • Participate in client consent process
    • Maintain client confidentiality
    • Provide for privacy needs
    • Provide information about advance directives
    • Participate in client data collection
    • Use information technology in client care
    • Apply evidence-based practice when providing care
    • Participate as a member of an interdisciplinary team
    • Monitor activities of assistive personnel
    • Participate in providing quality cost-effective care
    • Provide and receive report
    • Practice in a manner consistent with code of ethics for nurses
    • Provide care within the legal scope of practice
    • Verify and process health care provider orders
    • Perform care for clients to support unbiased treatment and equal access to care, regardless of culture/ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or gender expression
    • Advance Directives
    • Review client understanding of advance directives (e.g., living will, health care proxy, durable power of attorney for health care [DPAHC])
    • Verify client advance directives status
    • Advocacy
    • Discuss identified treatment options with client and respect the decisions made
    • Use interpreters to assist in achieving client understanding
    • Assignments/Delegation
    • Compare needs of client to knowledge, skills and abilities of assistive personnel prior to making client care assignments
    • Organize information for client assignments
    • Provide information to supervisor when client care assignments need to be changed (e.g., change in client status)
    • Utilize the rights of delegation (e.g., right task, right circumstances, right person, right direction/communication, right supervision/evaluation)
    • Client Rights
    • Inform client of individual rights (e.g., confidentiality, informed consent)
    • Intervene if client rights are violated
    • Recognize client right to refuse treatment/procedure
    • Collaboration with Interdisciplinary Team
    • Identify roles/responsibilities of health care team members
    • Identify need for nursing or interdisciplinary client care conference
    • Contribute to planning interdisciplinary client care conferences
    • Serve as resource person to other staff
    • Concepts of Management and Supervision
    • Verify abilities of staff members to perform assigned tasks (e.g., job description, scope of practice, training, experience)
    • Provide input for performance evaluation of other staff
    • Confidentiality/Information Security
    • Identify staff actions that impact client confidentiality and intervene as needed (e.g., access to medical records, discussions at nurses’ station, change-of-shift reports)
    • Recognize staff member and client understanding of confidentiality requirements
    • Apply knowledge of facility regulations when accessing client records
    • Continuity of Care
    • Follow up on unresolved issues regarding client care (e.g., laboratory results, client requests)
    • Record client information (e.g., medical record, referral/transfer form)
    • Use agency guidelines to guide client care (e.g., clinical pathways, care maps, care plans)
    • Establishing Priorities
    • Participate in planning client care based on client needs (e.g., diagnosis, abilities, prescribed treatment)
    • Use effective time management skills
    • Ethical Practice
    • Identify ethical issues affecting staff or client
    • Inform client and staff members of ethical issues affecting client care
    • Intervene to promote ethical practice
    • Informed Consent
    • Identify appropriate person to provide informed consent for client (e.g., client, parent, legal guardian)
    • Describe components of informed consent (e.g., purpose for procedure, risks of procedure)
    • Recognize that informed consent was obtained (e.g., completed consent form, client understanding of procedure)
    • Information Technology
    • Access data for client or staff through online databases and journals
    • Enter computer documentation accurately, completely and in a timely manner
    • Legal Rights and Responsibilities
    • Identify legal issues affecting staff and client (e.g., refusing treatment)
    • Document client care
    • Performance Improvement (Quality Improvement)
    • Identify impact of performance improvement/quality improvement activities on client care outcomes
    • Document performance improvement/quality improvement activities
    • Report identified performance improvement/quality improvement concerns to appropriate personnel (e.g., nurse manager, risk manager)
    • Referral Process
    • Recognize need for client referral for actual or potential problem (e.g., physical therapy, speech therapy)
    • Use appropriate documents to contribute information needed for client referral (e.g., medical record, referral form)
    • Resource Management
    • Recognize client need for materials and equipment (e.g., oxygen, suction machine, wound care supplies)
    • Review effective use of client care materials by assistive personnel (e.g., supplies)
  • Safety and Infection Prevention and Control
    • Ensure availability and safe functioning of client care equipment
    • Evaluate the appropriateness of health care provider's order for client
    • Verify the identity of client
    • Use safe client handling techniques (e.g., body mechanics)
    • Identify client allergies and intervene as appropriate
    • Prepare for and participate in internal and external disaster responses (e.g., fire, natural disaster)
    • Identify and address unsafe conditions in health care and home environments
    • Implement least restrictive restraints or seclusion
    • Follow protocol for timed client monitoring (e.g., safety checks)
    • Assist in and/or reinforce education to client about safety precautions
    • Initiate and participate in security alerts (e.g., infant abduction, flight risk)
    • Acknowledge and document practice errors and near misses (e.g., incident report)
    • Use transfer assistive devices (e.g., gait/transfer belt, slide board, mechanical lift)
    • Apply principles of infection control (e.g., personal protective equipment (PPE), aseptic technique, isolation, standard precautions)
    • Accident/Error/Injury Prevention
    • Identify and facilitate correct use of infant and child car seats by client
    • Identify client factors that influence accident/error/injury prevention (e.g., age, developmental stage, lifestyle)
    • Recognize what factors related to mental status may contribute to the client potential for accident or injury (e.g., confusion, altered thought processes, diagnosis)
    • Determine client and staff member knowledge of safety procedures
    • Use facility client identification procedures (e.g., client name band, allergy bands)
    • Monitor client care environment for safety hazard and report problems to appropriate personnel
    • Remove fire hazards from client care areas
    • Protect client from accident/error/injury (e.g., protect from another individual, falls, environmental hazards, burns)
    • Provide client with appropriate method to signal staff members
    • Emergency Response Plan
    • Identify nursing and assistive personnel roles during internal and external disasters
    • Contribute to selection of client to recommend for discharge in disaster situation
    • Ergonomic Principles
    • Provide instruction and information to client about body positions that prevent stress injuries
    • Handling Hazardous and Infectious Materials
    • Identify and employ methods to control the spread of infectious agents (e.g., cleaning with appropriate solutions)
    • Demonstrate knowledge of facility protocols for handling hazardous and infectious materials
    • Home Safety
    • Identify fire and environmental hazards (e.g., frayed electrical cords, small area rugs, inadequate footwear)
    • Determine client understanding of home safety needs
    • Provide client with information on home safety
    • Reinforce client education on home safety precautions (e.g., home disposal of syringes, lighting, handrails, kitchen safety)
    • Least Restrictive Restraints and Safety Devices
    • Demonstrate knowledge of appropriate application of restraints/safety devices
    • Document use of restraints/safety devices and client response
    • Check for proper functioning of restraints/safety devices
    • Reporting of Incident/Event/Irregular Occurrence/Variance
    • Identify situations requiring completion of incident/event/irregular occurrence/variance report (e.g., medication administration error, client fall)
    • Monitor client response to error/event/occurrence
    • Safe Use of Equipment
    • Follow facility protocols/procedures for safe use of equipment
    • Provide safe equipment use for client care (e.g., continuous passive motion [CPM] device, oxygen, mobility aids)
    • Security Plan
    • Use principles of triage and evacuation protocols and procedures
    • Monitor effectiveness of security plan
    • Standard Precautions/Transmission-Based Precautions/Surgical Asepsis
    • Identify communicable diseases and modes of transmission (e.g., airborne, droplet, contact)
    • Identify client knowledge of infection control procedures
    • Use appropriate supplies to maintain asepsis (e.g., gloves, mask, sterile supplies)
    • Use correct techniques to apply and remove gloves, mask, gown and protective eyewear
    • Use correct hand hygiene techniques
    • Prevent environmental spread of infectious disease through correct use of equipment
    • Protect immunocompromised client from exposure to infectious diseases/organisms
    • Monitor client care area for sources of infection
    • Set up a sterile field
    • Reinforce appropriate infection control procedures with client and staff members
  • Health Promotion and Maintenance
    • Assist with care for the antepartum client
    • Identify community resources for clients
    • Assist with monitoring a client in labor
    • Monitor recovery of stable postpartum client
    • Compare client to developmental milestones
    • Assist client with expected life transition (e.g., attachment to newborn, parenting, retirement)
    • Participate in health screening or health promotion programs
    • Provide information for prevention of high-risk behaviors (e.g., substance misuse, sexual practices, smoking cessation)
    • Collect data for health history (e.g., client medical history, family medical history)
    • Collect baseline physical data (e.g., skin/tissue integrity, height and weight)
    • Identify clients in need of immunizations (required and voluntary)
    • Provide care that meets the needs of the newborn less than 1 month old through the infant or toddler client through 2 years
    • Provide care that meets the needs of the preschool, school age and adolescent client ages 3 through 17 years
    • Provide care that meets the needs of the adult client ages 18 through 64 years
    • Provide care that meets the needs of the adult client ages 65 and over
    • Identify barriers to communication
    • Identify barriers to learning
    • Aging Process
    • Identify client knowledge on aging process and assist in reinforcing teaching on expected changes related to aging
    • Ante-/Intra-/Postpartum and Newborn Care
    • Identify client emotional preparedness for pregnancy (e.g., support systems, perception of pregnancy)
    • Assist in performing client nonstress test
    • Perform care of postpartum client (e.g., perineal care, assistance with infant feeding)
    • Contribute to newborn plan of care
    • Reinforce client teaching on infant care skills (e.g., feeding, bathing, positioning)
    • Monitor client ability to care for infant
    • Community Resources
    • Assist and/or participate in community health education
    • Reinforce teaching with client about health risks based on family, population and/or community characteristics
    • Data Collection Techniques
    • Prepare client for physical examination (e.g., reinforce explanation of procedure, provide privacy and comfort)
    • Document findings according to agency/facility policies/procedures
    • Report client physical examination results to health care provider
    • Developmental Stages and Transitions
    • Identify and report client deviations from expected growth and development
    • Identify occurrence of expected body image changes
    • Assist client to select age-appropriate activities
    • Modify approaches to care in accordance with client development stage
    • Determine client acceptance of expected body image change (e.g., aging, pregnancy, menopause)
    • Determine impact of expected body image changes on client (e.g., temperament)
    • Health Promotion/Disease Prevention
    • Identify risk factors for disease/illness (e.g., age, gender, lifestyle)
    • Identify precautions and contraindications to immunizations
    • Identify client health-seeking behaviors (e.g., breast and testicular self-examinations)
    • Gather data on client health history and risk for disease (e.g., lifestyle, family and genetic history)
    • Check results of client health screening tests (e.g., Papanicolaou [Pap] test or smear, stool occult blood test)
    • Provide assistance for screening examinations (e.g., scoliosis, breast and testicular self- examinations, blood pressure check)
    • Assist client in disease prevention activities
    • Monitor client actions to maintain health and prevent disease (e.g., smoking cessation, exercise, diet, stress management)
    • Monitor incorporation of healthy behaviors into lifestyle by client (e.g., screening examinations, immunizations, limiting risk-taking behaviors)
    • Recognize client unexpected response to immunizations
    • High-Risk Behaviors
    • Assist client to identify high-risk behaviors
    • Monitor client lifestyle practice risks that may impact health (e.g., excessive sun exposure, lack of regular exercise)
    • Reinforce client teaching related to client high-risk behavior (e.g., unprotected sexual relations, needle sharing)
    • Lifestyle Choices
    • Identify client lifestyle practices that may have an impact on health
    • Identify contraindications to chosen contraceptive method (e.g., cigarette smoking, adherence, medical conditions)
    • Identify client attitudes/perceptions on sexuality
    • Recognize client need/desire for contraception
    • Recognize expected outcomes for client family planning methods
    • Recognize client need to discuss sensitive issues related to sexuality
    • Support client in family planning
    • Respect client lifestyle choices (e.g., child-free, homeschooling, rural or urban living)
    • Reinforce teaching with client on healthy lifestyle choices (e.g., exercise regimen, smoking cessation)
    • Self-Care
    • Determine client ability and support for performing self-care (e.g., feeding, dressing, hygiene)
    • Consider client self-care needs before contributing to changes in plan of care
    • Monitor client ability to perform instrumental activities of daily living (e.g., using telephone, shopping, preparing meals)
  • Psychosocial Integrity
    • Provide emotional support to client
    • Collect data regarding client psychosocial functioning
    • Identify client use of effective and ineffective coping mechanisms
    • Promote positive self-esteem of client
    • Collect data on client's potential for violence to self and others
    • Identify signs and symptoms of substance misuse, substance use disorder, withdrawal and overdose
    • Reinforce education to caregivers/family on ways to manage client with behavioral disorders
    • Explore reasons for client nonadherence with treatment plan
    • Participate in client group session
    • Plan care with consideration of client spiritual, cultural beliefs and/or gender identity
    • Assist in managing the care of an angry and/or agitated client (e.g., de-escalation techniques)
    • Participate in reminiscence therapy, validation therapy or reality orientation
    • Assist in the care of the cognitively impaired client
    • Assist client to cope/adapt to stressful events and changes in health status
    • Use therapeutic communication techniques with client
    • Assist in the care of a client experiencing sensory/perceptual alterations
    • Promote a therapeutic environment
    • Incorporate behavioral management techniques when caring for a client
    • Recognize and reduce stressors that affect client care
    • Provide end-of-life care and education to clients
    • Abuse or Neglect
    • Identify client risk factors for abusing or neglecting others
    • Identify signs and symptoms of physical, psychological or financial abuse in client (e.g., family involvement, inadequate weight gain, poor hygiene)
    • Recognize risk factors for domestic, child and/or elder abuse or neglect and sexual abuse
    • Provide safe environment for abused or neglected client
    • Provide emotional support to client who experienced abuse or neglect
    • Reinforce client teaching on coping strategies to prevent abuse or neglect
    • Evaluate client response to interventions
    • Behavioral Management
    • Monitor client appearance, mood and psychomotor behavior and observe for changes
    • Explore cause of client behavior
    • Assist client with achieving self-control of behavior (e.g., contract, behavior modification)
    • Assist client in using behavioral strategies to decrease anxiety
    • Reinforce client participation in therapy
    • Use behavioral management techniques when caring for a client (e.g., positive reinforcement, setting limits)
    • Evaluate client response to behavioral management interventions
    • Coping Mechanisms
    • Identify client support systems and available resources
    • Recognize abilities of client to adapt to temporary/permanent role changes
    • Recognize client response to illness (e.g., rationalization, hopelessness, anger)
    • Provide support to the client with unexpected altered body image (e.g., alopecia)
    • Use therapeutic techniques to assist client with coping ability
    • Assist client in maintaining level of independence after unexpected body image changes (e.g., amputation, paralysis)
    • Monitor client progress toward achieving improved body image (e.g., mastectomy, colostomy)
    • Crisis Intervention
    • Identify client in crisis
    • Identify client risk for self-injury and/or violence (e.g., suicide or violence precaution)
    • Use crisis intervention techniques to assist client in coping
    • Provide opportunities for client to understand why the crisis occurred
    • Guide client to resources for recovery from crisis (e.g., social supports)
    • Reinforce client teaching on suicide/violence prevention
    • Report changes in client behavior (indicating a developing crisis) to supervisor
    • Cultural Awareness
    • Identify importance of client self-reported culture/ethnicity when planning/providing/monitoring care
    • Recognize client self-reported cultural practices that may affect interventions for procedures/surgery (e.g., direct eye contact)
    • Respect self-reported cultural background/practices of client (does not include dietary preferences)
    • Document how client language needs are met
    • End-of-Life Care Concepts
    • Identify client end-of-life needs (e.g., financial concerns, fear, loss of control, role changes)
    • Identify client ability to cope with end-of-life interventions
    • Provide care or support for client/family at end of life
    • Assist client in resolution of end-of-life issues
    • Grief and Loss
    • Identify client reaction to loss (e.g., denial, fear)
    • Support the client in anticipatory grieving
    • Reinforce client teaching on expected client reactions to grief and loss (e.g., denial, fear)
    • Provide client with resources to adjust to loss/bereavement (e.g., individual counseling, support groups)
    • Mental Health Concepts
    • Identify expected behaviors of client with independent or dependent personality
    • Identify client symptoms of acute or chronic mental illness (e.g., schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorder)
    • Recognize client use of defense mechanisms
    • Recognize change in client mental status
    • Recognize client symptoms of relapse
    • Assist in promoting client independence
    • Religious and Spiritual Influences on Health
    • Identify client emotional problems related to self-reported religious/spiritual beliefs (e.g., spiritual distress, conflict between recommended treatment and beliefs)
    • Recognize effect of client’s self-reported religious/spiritual beliefs on plan of care
    • Assist client to meet self-reported religious/spiritual needs (e.g., referral to pastoral care)
    • Assist in evaluation of client’s self-reported religious/spiritual needs related to necessary nursing interventions
    • Sensory/Perceptual Alterations
    • Identify needs of client with altered sensory perception (e.g., hallucinations, delirium)
    • Verify client ability to effectively communicate needs
    • Stress Management
    • Identify actual/potential stressors for client (e.g., fear, lack of information)
    • Implement measures to reduce environmental stressors (e.g., noise, temperature, pollution)
    • Monitor client effective use of stress management techniques
    • Substance Use and Other Disorders and Dependencies
    • Plan and provide care to client experiencing substance-related withdrawal or toxicity (e.g., nicotine, opioid, sedative)
    • Provide care and support for client with impulse-control disorders (e.g., gambling, sexual addiction, pornography)
    • Reinforce provided information on substance use diagnosis and treatment plan to client
    • Encourage client participation in support groups (e.g., Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous)
    • Monitor client response to treatment plan and contribute to revision of plan as needed
    • Support Systems
    • Determine client abilities to provide client support
    • Identify client support systems/resources
    • Identify family response to client illness (e.g., acute episodes, chronic disorder, terminal illness)
    • Therapeutic Communication
    • Assist client in communicating needs to health care staff
    • Develop and maintain therapeutic relationships with client
    • Respect client personal values and beliefs
    • Establish a trusting nurse-client relationship
    • Encourage client to appropriately use verbal and nonverbal communication
    • Monitor effectiveness of communications with client
    • Therapeutic Environment
    • Identify external factors that may interfere with client recovery (e.g., stressors, noise)
    • Participate in community meetings
    • Contribute to maintaining a safe and supportive environment for client
    • Monitor client response to environmental factors
  • Basic Care and Comfort
    • Provide site care for client with enteral tubes
    • Promote alternative/complementary therapy in providing client care (e.g., music therapy, pet therapy)
    • Provide for mobility needs (e.g., ambulation, range of motion, transfer, repositioning, use of adaptive equipment)
    • Provide feeding for client with enteral tubes
    • Monitor and provide for nutritional needs of client
    • Provide nonpharmacological measures for pain relief (e.g., imagery, massage, repositioning)
    • Assist with activities of daily living
    • Provide care to client with bowel or bladder (urinary) management protocol
    • Evaluate pain using standardized rating scales
    • Provide measures to promote sleep and rest
    • Use measures to maintain or improve client skin/tissue integrity
    • Provide postmortem care
    • Perform irrigation (e.g., urinary catheter, bladder, wound, ear, nose, eye)
    • Assist in the care and comfort for a client with a visual and/or hearing impairment
    • Monitor client intake/output
    • Provide care to an immobilized client based on need
    • Assistive Devices
    • Identify appropriate use of assistive devices (e.g., cane, walker, crutches)
    • Contribute to care of client using assistive device (e.g., feeding devices, telecommunication devices, touch pad, communication board)
    • Reinforce teaching for client using assistive device
    • Review correct use of assistive devices to client and staff members
    • Elimination
    • Identify client at risk for impaired elimination (e.g., medication, hydration status)
    • Monitor client bowel sounds
    • Provide skin care to client who is incontinent (e.g., wash frequently, barrier creams/ointments)
    • Mobility/Immobility
    • Identify signs and symptoms of venous insufficiency and intervene to promote venous return (e.g., elastic stockings, sequential compression device)
    • Check client for mobility, gait, strength, motor skills
    • Reinforce client teaching on methods to maintain mobility (e.g., active/passive range of motion [ROM], strengthening, isometric exercises)
    • Maintain correct client body alignment
    • Nonpharmacological Comfort Interventions
    • Identify client need for palliative/comfort care
    • Assist in planning comfort interventions for client with impaired comfort
    • Apply therapies for comfort and treatment of inflammation/swelling (e.g., apply heat and cold treatments, elevate limb)
    • Provide palliative/comfort care interventions to client
    • Respect client palliative care choices
    • Reinforce client teaching on stress management techniques (e.g., relaxation exercises, exercise, meditation)
    • Reinforce client teaching on palliative/comfort care
    • Monitor client nonverbal signs of pain/discomfort (e.g., grimacing, restlessness)
    • Monitor client response to nonpharmacological interventions
    • Monitor outcome of palliative care interventions
    • Nutrition and Oral Hydration
    • Identify client potential for aspiration (e.g., feeding tube, sedation, swallowing difficulties)
    • Check client feeding tube placement and patency
    • Monitor client ability to eat (e.g., chew, swallow)
    • Monitor impact of disease/illness on client nutritional status
    • Reinforce client teaching on special diets based on client diagnosis/nutritional needs and cultural considerations (e.g., high protein, kosher diet, calorie restriction)
    • Promote client independence in eating
    • Personal Hygiene
    • Determine client usual personal hygiene habits/routine
    • Reinforce teaching to client on required adaptations for performing activities of daily living (e.g., shower chair, handrails)
    • Postmortem Care
    • Provide comfort to family
    • Incorporate cultural practice in postmortem care
    • Prepare the client for viewing by the family
    • Ensure proper identification of client prior to transport to morgue/funeral home
    • Rest and Sleep
    • Identify client usual rest and sleep patterns (e.g., bedtime, sleep rituals)
    • Schedule client care activities to promote adequate rest and sleep
  • Pharmacological Therapies
    • Follow the rights of medication administration
    • Reconcile and maintain medication list or medication administration record (e.g., prescribed medications, herbal supplements, over-the-counter medications)
    • Monitor transfusion of blood product
    • Calculate and monitor intravenous flow rate
    • Administer medication by oral route
    • Administer medication by various gastrointestinal tubes
    • Administer a subcutaneous, intradermal or intramuscular medication
    • Administer medication by ear, eye, nose, inhalation, rectum, vagina or topical route
    • Count controlled substances and report discrepancies
    • Maintain pain control devices (e.g., epidural, patient-controlled analgesia, peripheral nerve catheter)
    • Administer intravenous piggyback (secondary) medications
    • Collect required data prior to medication administration (e.g., contraindications, current medications)
    • Evaluate client response to medication (e.g., adverse reactions, interactions, therapeutic effects, critical laboratory values)
    • Reinforce education to client regarding medications
    • Maintain medication safety practices (e.g., storage, checking for expiration dates, compatibility)
    • Perform calculations needed for medication administration
    • Adverse Effects/Contraindications/Side Effects/Interactions
    • Identify potential and actual incompatibilities of client medications
    • Identify a contraindication to the administration of a prescribed or over-the-counter medication to the client
    • Identify symptoms of an allergic reaction (e.g., to medication)
    • Implement procedures to counteract adverse effects of medications
    • Withhold medication dose if client experiences adverse effect to medication
    • Monitor and document client response to actions taken to counteract adverse effects of medications
    • Monitor client for actual and potential adverse effects of medications (e.g., prescribed, over-the-counter and/or herbal supplements)
    • Monitor anticipated interactions among client prescribed medications and fluids (e.g., oral, intravenous, subcutaneous, intramuscular, topical)
    • Monitor and document client side effects to medications
    • Monitor and document client response to management of medication side effects including prescribed, over-the-counter and herbal supplements
    • Reinforce client teaching on possible effects of medications (common side effects or adverse effects, when to notify primary health care provider)
    • Notify primary health care provider of actual/potential adverse effects of client medications
    • Dosage Calculations
    • Use clinical decision-making when calculating doses
    • Expected Actions/Outcomes
    • Identify client expected response to medication
    • Use resources to check on purposes and actions of pharmacological agents
    • Apply knowledge of pathophysiology when addressing client pharmacological agents
    • Monitor client use of medications over time (e.g., prescription, over-the-counter, home remedies)
    • Reinforce client teaching on actions and therapeutic effects of medications and pharmacological interactions
    • Medication Administration
    • Identify client need for p.r.n. medications
    • Mix client medication from two vials as necessary (e.g., insulin)
    • Assist in preparing client for insertion of a central venous access device
    • Dispose of client unused medications according to facility/agency policy
    • Reinforce client teaching on client self-administration of medications (e.g., insulin, subcutaneous insulin pump)
    • Pharmacological Pain Management
    • Identify client need for pain medication
    • Monitor and document client response to pharmacological interventions (e.g., pain rating scale, verbal reports)
  • Reduction of Risk Potential
    • Identify client risk and implement interventions
    • Check for urinary retention (e.g., bladder scan, ultrasound, palpation)
    • Collect specimen for diagnostic testing (e.g., blood, urine, stool, sputum)
    • Monitor continuous or intermittent suction of nasogastric (NG) tube
    • Monitor diagnostic or laboratory test results
    • Identify signs or symptoms of potential prenatal complication
    • Perform point-of-care testing (e.g., pregnancy test, troponin, urine dipstick)
    • Monitor and evaluate client vital signs (e.g., oxygen saturation, blood pressure)
    • Use precautions to prevent injury and/or complications associated with a procedure or diagnosis
    • Perform an electrocardiogram (EKG/ECG)
    • Assist with the performance of a diagnostic or invasive procedure
    • Perform venipuncture for blood draws
    • Apply and monitor proper use of compression stockings and/or sequential compression devices
    • Assist with care for client before and after surgical procedure
    • Insert, maintain and remove urinary catheter
    • Insert, maintain and remove nasogastric (NG) tube
    • Perform blood glucose monitoring
    • Maintain central venous catheter
    • Maintain and remove peripheral intravenous catheter
    • Perform focused data collection based on client condition (e.g., neurological checks, circulatory checks)
    • Monitor client responses to procedures and treatments
    • Reinforce client education about procedures, treatments, equipment
    • Changes/Abnormalities in Vital Signs
    • Compare vital signs to client baseline vital signs
    • Reinforce client teaching about normal and abnormal vital signs (e.g., hypertension, tachypnea, bradycardia, fever)
    • Diagnostic Tests
    • Perform diagnostic testing (e.g., blood glucose, oxygen saturation, testing for occult blood)
    • Reinforce client teaching about diagnostic test
    • Laboratory Values
    • Compare client laboratory values to normal laboratory values
    • Reinforce client teaching on purposes of laboratory tests
    • Notify primary health care provider about client laboratory test results
    • Potential for Alterations in Body Systems
    • Identify client with increased risk for insufficient blood circulation (e.g., immobilized limb, diabetes)
    • Recognize change in client neurologic status (level of consciousness, orientation, muscle strength)
    • Compare current client clinical data to baseline information
    • Monitor client output for changes from baseline (e.g., emesis, stool, urine)
    • Reinforce client teaching on methods to prevent complications associated with activity level/diagnosed illness/disease (e.g., foot care for client with diabetes mellitus)
    • Potential for Complications of Diagnostic Tests/Treatments/Procedures
    • Identify client response to diagnostic tests/treatments/procedures
    • Maintain client tube patency (e.g., chest tube, tracheostomy tube)
    • Provide care for client receiving electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
    • Provide appropriate follow-up after incident (e.g., fall, client elopement or medication error)
    • Reinforce teaching to prevent complications due to client diagnostic tests/treatments/procedures
    • Notify primary health care provider if client has signs of potential complications (e.g., fever, hypotension, limb pain, thrombus formation)
    • Suggest change in interventions based on client response to diagnostic tests/treatments/procedures
    • Potential for Complications from Surgical Procedures and Health Alterations
    • Identify client response to surgery or health alterations
    • Reinforce teaching to prevent complications due to surgery or health alterations (e.g., cough and deep breathing, elastic stockings)
    • Suggest change in interventions based on client response to surgery or health alterations
    • Therapeutic Procedures
    • Reinforce client teaching on treatments and procedures
  • Physiological Adaptation
    • Reinforce education to client regarding care and condition
    • Provide care for client drainage device (e.g., wound drain, chest tube)
    • Assist with client wound drainage device removal
    • Provide cooling/warming measures to restore normal body temperature
    • Perform wound care and/or dressing change
    • Respond and intervene to a client life-threatening situation (e.g., cardiopulmonary resuscitation)
    • Intervene to improve client respiratory status (e.g., breathing treatment, suctioning, repositioning)
    • Provide care for a client with a tracheostomy
    • Remove wound sutures or staples
    • Provide care to client on ventilator
    • Assist in the care of a client with a pacing device
    • Recognize and report basic abnormalities on a client cardiac monitor strip
    • Provide care to client with an ostomy (e.g., colostomy, ileostomy, urostomy)
    • Identify signs and symptoms related to acute or chronic illness
    • Recognize and report change in client condition
    • Provide care for a client with a fluid and electrolyte imbalance
    • Provide care for a client receiving peritoneal dialysis or hemodialysis
    • Alterations in Body Systems
    • Identify signs and symptoms of an infection (e.g., temperature changes, swelling, redness, mental confusion or foul-smelling urine)
    • Provide care to correct client alteration in body system
    • Provide care to client undergoing peritoneal dialysis
    • Provide care to client experiencing increased intracranial pressure
    • Provide care to client who has experienced a seizure
    • Provide care for client experiencing complications of pregnancy/labor and/or delivery (e.g., eclampsia, precipitous labor, hemorrhage)
    • Reinforce client teaching on ostomy care
    • Notify primary health care provider of a change in client status
    • Document client response to interventions for alteration in body systems (e.g., pacemaker, chest tube)
    • Basic Pathophysiology
    • Consider general principles of client disease process when providing care (e.g., injury and repair, immunity, cellular structure)
    • Apply knowledge of pathophysiology to monitoring client for alterations in body systems
    • Fluid and Electrolyte Imbalances
    • Identify signs and symptoms of client fluid and/or electrolyte imbalances
    • Monitor client response to interventions to correct fluid and/or electrolyte imbalance
    • Medical Emergencies
    • Provide emergency care for wound disruption (e.g., evisceration, dehiscence)
    • Notify primary health care provider about client unexpected response/emergency situation
    • Recommend change in emergency treatment based upon client response to interventions
    • Reinforce teaching of emergency intervention explanations to client
    • Review and document client response to emergency interventions (e.g., restoration of breathing, pulse)
    • Unexpected Response to Therapies
    • Identify and treat a client intravenous line infiltration
    • Intervene in response to client unexpected negative response to therapy (e.g., unexpected bleeding)
    • Document client unexpected response to therapy
    • Promote recovery from client unexpected negative response to therapy (e.g., urinary tract infection)

How to use these free practice questions

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These are independent study questions, not actual examination items. For examination requirements and official information, view National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN®) details.