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Fundamentals of Nursing · Nursing Fundamentals Practice Test

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Showing all 15 practice questions with expert explanatory rationales.

Question 1 of 15

Case excerpt

A patient develops sudden facial droop and unilateral weakness; the family gives a precise time the patient was last normal. This item is presented in the context of nursing fundamentals practice test.

Which intervention best addresses the immediate concern?

A. Encourage activity that may worsen the condition
B. Discontinue monitoring
C. Skip the required safety check
D. Give an unrelated medication
E. Activate the stroke response and communicate the last-known-well time.

Expert Explanatory Rationale

Correct Answer: E. Activate the stroke response and communicate the last-known-well time.

The last-known-well time is essential to time-sensitive stroke decisions.

Question 2 of 15

Case excerpt

A bedbound patient has nonblanchable redness over the sacrum. This item is presented in the context of nursing fundamentals practice test.

What should the nurse do next?

A. Assume the finding is expected
B. Proceed without verifying the order
C. Wait for the next appointment
D. Offload pressure and implement an individualized pressure-injury prevention plan.
E. Provide advice unrelated to the clinical problem

Expert Explanatory Rationale

Correct Answer: D. Offload pressure and implement an individualized pressure-injury prevention plan.

Nonblanchable redness may indicate a stage 1 pressure injury; pressure relief is essential.

Question 3 of 15

Case excerpt

A peripheral IV site is cool, swollen, pale, and painful. This item is presented in the context of nursing fundamentals practice test.

Which nursing action is the priority?

A. Continue the current plan without reassessment
B. Document the finding without intervening
C. Ask the patient to manage the problem independently
D. Stop the infusion and assess for infiltration.
E. Wait until the next routine round

Expert Explanatory Rationale

Correct Answer: D. Stop the infusion and assess for infiltration.

These findings are consistent with infiltration and require stopping the infusion.

Question 4 of 15

Case excerpt

A patient coughs repeatedly while drinking thin liquids after a stroke. This item is presented in the context of nursing fundamentals practice test.

What is the most appropriate nursing response?

A. Ignore the finding if the patient is alert
B. Delay escalation until symptoms worsen
C. Stop oral intake and follow the swallowing-safety plan.
D. Reassure the patient without completing an assessment
E. Perform an intervention outside the prescription

Expert Explanatory Rationale

Correct Answer: C. Stop oral intake and follow the swallowing-safety plan.

Coughing with swallowing may indicate aspiration and requires reassessment.

Question 5 of 15

Case excerpt

A urine culture is ordered for a patient with an indwelling urinary catheter. This item is presented in the context of nursing fundamentals practice test.

Which action should the nurse take first?

A. Repeat the same action without checking the patient's response
B. Postpone follow-up until the next shift
C. Collect the specimen aseptically from the disinfected sampling port.
D. Ask an untrained person to make the clinical decision
E. Change the treatment without an order

Expert Explanatory Rationale

Correct Answer: C. Collect the specimen aseptically from the disinfected sampling port.

Urine from the drainage bag may be stagnant or contaminated.

Question 6 of 15

Case excerpt

A patient taking an anticoagulant reports black stools and dizziness. This item is presented in the context of nursing fundamentals practice test.

Which intervention best addresses the immediate concern?

A. Give an unrelated medication
B. Discontinue monitoring
C. Skip the required safety check
D. Encourage activity that may worsen the condition
E. Assess promptly and notify the provider about possible bleeding.

Expert Explanatory Rationale

Correct Answer: E. Assess promptly and notify the provider about possible bleeding.

Melena and dizziness may indicate gastrointestinal hemorrhage.

Question 7 of 15

Case excerpt

A patient becomes lightheaded when standing after several days of bed rest. This item is presented in the context of nursing fundamentals practice test.

What should the nurse do next?

A. Assist the patient to sit or lie down and reassess.
B. Assume the finding is expected
C. Wait for the next appointment
D. Provide advice unrelated to the clinical problem
E. Proceed without verifying the order

Expert Explanatory Rationale

Correct Answer: A. Assist the patient to sit or lie down and reassess.

Orthostatic symptoms increase fall risk and require safe positioning.

Question 8 of 15

Case excerpt

A medication administration record conflicts with the patient's documented severe allergy. This item is presented in the context of nursing fundamentals practice test.

Which nursing action is the priority?

A. Hold the medication and clarify the order before administration.
B. Continue the current plan without reassessment
C. Wait until the next routine round
D. Document the finding without intervening
E. Ask the patient to manage the problem independently

Expert Explanatory Rationale

Correct Answer: A. Hold the medication and clarify the order before administration.

Potential allergy conflicts must be resolved before exposure.

Question 9 of 15

Case excerpt

A new colostomy stoma appears dusky and nearly black. This item is presented in the context of nursing fundamentals practice test.

What is the most appropriate nursing response?

A. Ignore the finding if the patient is alert
B. Reassure the patient without completing an assessment
C. Delay escalation until symptoms worsen
D. Report the color change promptly for urgent evaluation.
E. Perform an intervention outside the prescription

Expert Explanatory Rationale

Correct Answer: D. Report the color change promptly for urgent evaluation.

A healthy stoma is moist and pink to red; dusky or black tissue may indicate impaired perfusion.

Question 10 of 15

Case excerpt

A patient on contact precautions needs assistance with personal care. This item is presented in the context of nursing fundamentals practice test.

Which action should the nurse take first (Select all that apply)?

A. Assess the patient and relevant clinical findings
B. Follow the prescribed plan or facility protocol
C. Communicate the concern to the appropriate clinician
D. Ignore a new warning sign
E. Change a prescription independently

Expert Explanatory Rationale

Correct Answer: A. Assess the patient and relevant clinical findings; B. Follow the prescribed plan or facility protocol; C. Communicate the concern to the appropriate clinician

Correct PPE and hand hygiene reduce transmission.

Question 11 of 15

Case excerpt

A patient with diabetes is alert, shaky, and has a glucose of 58 mg/dL. This item is presented in the context of nursing fundamentals practice test.

Which intervention best addresses the immediate concern (Select all that apply)?

A. Ignore a new warning sign
B. Use appropriate safety precautions
C. Clarify an unclear order before proceeding
D. Change a prescription independently
E. Reassess the patient's response

Expert Explanatory Rationale

Correct Answer: B. Use appropriate safety precautions; C. Clarify an unclear order before proceeding; E. Reassess the patient's response

An alert patient who can swallow can usually receive oral rapid-acting carbohydrate.

Question 12 of 15

Case excerpt

A patient with a nasogastric tube has a changed external tube marking and new nausea. This item is presented in the context of nursing fundamentals practice test.

What should the nurse do next (Select all that apply)?

A. Monitor for complications
B. Ignore a new warning sign
C. Provide patient or caregiver teaching
D. Change a prescription independently
E. Use the correct equipment and technique

Expert Explanatory Rationale

Correct Answer: A. Monitor for complications; C. Provide patient or caregiver teaching; E. Use the correct equipment and technique

A changed marking may indicate displacement; blind advancement is unsafe.

Question 13 of 15

Case excerpt

A patient with oxygen prescribed by nasal cannula reports increased breathlessness. This item is presented in the context of nursing fundamentals practice test.

Which nursing action is the priority (Select all that apply)?

A. Change a prescription independently
B. Ignore a new warning sign
C. Follow the prescribed plan or facility protocol
D. Communicate the concern to the appropriate clinician
E. Assess the patient and relevant clinical findings

Expert Explanatory Rationale

Correct Answer: C. Follow the prescribed plan or facility protocol; D. Communicate the concern to the appropriate clinician; E. Assess the patient and relevant clinical findings

Oxygen is a medication and should be adjusted within prescribed parameters.

Question 14 of 15

Case excerpt

A patient receiving an opioid is difficult to arouse and has slow respirations. This item is presented in the context of nursing fundamentals practice test.

What is the most appropriate nursing response (Select all that apply)?

A. Ignore a new warning sign
B. Change a prescription independently
C. Use appropriate safety precautions
D. Clarify an unclear order before proceeding
E. Reassess the patient's response

Expert Explanatory Rationale

Correct Answer: C. Use appropriate safety precautions; D. Clarify an unclear order before proceeding; E. Reassess the patient's response

Opioid-related respiratory depression is a medical emergency.

Question 15 of 15

Case excerpt

A patient is prescribed 1,000 mL of IV fluid over 8 hours. This item is presented in the context of nursing fundamentals practice test.

Which action should the nurse take first?

Expert Explanatory Rationale

Correct Answer: 125

1,000 mL divided by 8 hours equals 125 mL/hr.

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