NCLEX Fundamentals Practice Questions

15 free NCLEX-RN fundamentals questions with answers and rationales — perfect for fundamentals of nursing nclex questions practice. Want them as an interactive timed quiz?

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1. A nurse is preparing to perform a bed bath for a patient who is immobile. Which of the following actions should the nurse take to ensure patient safety?
- A. Raise the bed to waist level. ✓
- B. Place the call bell within reach.
- C. Use hot water to promote circulation.
- D. Open the window to ensure adequate ventilation.
Answer: A. Raise the bed to waist level. — Raising the bed to waist level prevents the nurse from straining her back and ensures proper body mechanics during the procedure.
2. A nurse is caring for a patient with a history of falls. Which intervention is most important to prevent falls in this patient?
- A. Place a falls risk sign on the patient's door.
- B. Ensure the patient wears non-slip socks.
- C. Keep the bed in the lowest position. ✓
- D. Apply a bed alarm.
Answer: C. Keep the bed in the lowest position. — Keeping the bed in the lowest position reduces the risk of injury if the patient attempts to get out of bed and falls.
3. A patient is admitted with a suspected infection. Which type of precaution should the nurse implement first?
- A. Contact precautions
- B. Airborne precautions
- C. Standard precautions ✓
- D. Droplet precautions
Answer: C. Standard precautions — Standard precautions are the first line of defense against the spread of infection and should be used with all patients, regardless of suspected infection.
4. The nurse is assessing a patient’s radial pulse. Which action should the nurse take to ensure accuracy?
- A. Palpate the pulse for 15 seconds and multiply by 4.
- B. Palpate the pulse for 60 seconds. ✓
- C. Use the thumb to palpate the pulse.
- D. Palpate the pulse on the left wrist only.
Answer: B. Palpate the pulse for 60 seconds. — Palpating the pulse for a full 60 seconds provides the most accurate measure of the heart rate, especially if the pulse is irregular.
5. A nurse is documenting the intake and output for a patient. Which of the following should be documented as output?
- A. Intravenous fluids
- B. Oral fluids
- C. Urine ✓
- D. Enteral feedings
Answer: C. Urine — Urine is considered output and should be accurately documented to monitor fluid balance.
6. A nurse is providing oral hygiene to an unconscious patient. Which of the following is the BEST nursing action?
- A. Brush the patient's teeth with a hard-bristled toothbrush.
- B. Position the patient in a supine position.
- C. Use a padded tongue blade to hold the mouth open. ✓
- D. Use a large amount of water to rinse the mouth.
Answer: C. Use a padded tongue blade to hold the mouth open. — A padded tongue blade is used to gently hold the mouth open and protect the patient's teeth and gums during oral care.
7. A nurse is teaching a patient how to use a walker. Which instruction should the nurse include?
- A. Move the walker forward while keeping both feet on the ground.
- B. Advance the weaker leg first, then the stronger leg. ✓
- C. Use the walker only when climbing stairs.
- D. Keep the walker five feet ahead at all times.
Answer: B. Advance the weaker leg first, then the stronger leg. — The patient should advance the weaker leg first to ensure stability and support while using the walker.
8. A nurse is monitoring a postoperative patient. Which vital sign change should be reported to the physician immediately?
- A. Respiratory rate of 20 breaths per minute.
- B. Temperature of 99°F (37.2°C).
- C. Blood pressure of 88/50 mmHg. ✓
- D. Heart rate of 86 beats per minute.
Answer: C. Blood pressure of 88/50 mmHg. — A blood pressure of 88/50 mmHg is hypotensive and could indicate postoperative complications such as bleeding or shock.
9. When assessing the apical pulse of a patient, where should the nurse place the stethoscope?
- A. At the left midclavicular line, fourth intercostal space.
- B. At the left midclavicular line, fifth intercostal space. ✓
- C. At the right midclavicular line, fourth intercostal space.
- D. At the right midclavicular line, fifth intercostal space.
Answer: B. At the left midclavicular line, fifth intercostal space. — The apical pulse is best auscultated at the left midclavicular line in the fifth intercostal space, where the heart's apex is located.
10. A patient with limited mobility requires assistance with repositioning every 2 hours. Which complication does this intervention primarily aim to prevent?
- A. Urinary tract infection
- B. Deep vein thrombosis
- C. Pressure ulcers ✓
- D. Pneumonia
Answer: C. Pressure ulcers — Repositioning every 2 hours helps to prevent pressure ulcers by relieving pressure on the skin and promoting circulation.
11. A nurse is caring for a patient with a nasogastric tube. Which action is essential before administering medication through the tube?
- A. Flush the tube with 30 mL of water.
- B. Check the tube placement. ✓
- C. Clamp the tube for 30 minutes.
- D. Mix medication with tube feeding.
Answer: B. Check the tube placement. — Checking tube placement ensures that the tube is in the stomach and prevents complications such as aspiration or improper medication administration.
12. A nurse is using a gait belt to assist a patient in ambulating. What is the correct placement of the gait belt?
- A. Around the chest.
- B. Over the patient's clothing, around the waist. ✓
- C. Under the patient's arms, around the waist.
- D. Around the patient's hips.
Answer: B. Over the patient's clothing, around the waist. — The gait belt should be placed over the clothing around the waist to provide support without causing discomfort or restricting breathing.
13. A nurse is disposing of contaminated sharps. Which action demonstrates correct protocol?
- A. Recap the needle before disposal.
- B. Place sharps in a puncture-proof container. ✓
- C. Dispose of sharps in a regular trash bin.
- D. Leave sharps on the patient's bedside table.
Answer: B. Place sharps in a puncture-proof container. — Sharps should always be disposed of in a puncture-proof container to prevent injury and the spread of infection.
14. A nurse is assessing a patient's ability to perform activities of daily living (ADLs). Which tool is most appropriate for this assessment?
- A. Glasgow Coma Scale
- B. Braden Scale
- C. Barthel Index ✓
- D. Morse Fall Scale
Answer: C. Barthel Index — The Barthel Index is a tool used to measure a patient's ability to perform activities of daily living (ADLs) and assess their level of independence.
15. A nurse is caring for a patient with an indwelling urinary catheter. Which action should the nurse perform to reduce the risk of infection?
- A. Irrigate the catheter daily.
- B. Maintain the drainage bag above the bladder level.
- C. Clean the perineal area daily with soap and water. ✓
- D. Change the catheter every 48 hours.
Answer: C. Clean the perineal area daily with soap and water. — Cleaning the perineal area daily with soap and water helps prevent infection by reducing bacterial growth around the catheter site.

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