NCLEX-RN Practice Questions 2026 | Delegation,
Prioritization & Safety (With Rationales)
A registered nurse is planning the client assignments for the day. Which of the following is the
most appropriate assignment for the nursing assistant?
(a) A client requiring colostomy irrigation
(b) A client receiving continuous tube feedings
(c) A client who requires stool specimen collections
(d) A client who has difficulty swallowing food and fluids
Correct answer: (c) A client who requires stool specimen collections
Rationale: This question addresses content related to delegation in the subcategory
Management of Care in the Client Needs category of Safe and Effective Care Environment. Work
that is delegated to others must be done consistent with the individual's level of expertise and
licensure or lack of licensure. In this situation, the most appropriate assignment for the nursing
assistant is to care for the client who requires stool specimen collections. Colostomy irrigations
and tube feedings are not performed by unlicensed personnel. The client with difficulty
swallowing food and fluids is at risk for aspiration. Remember, the health care provider needs to
be competent and skilled to perform the assigned task or activity.
A 34-year-old woman who developed Stevens-Johnson syndrome while undergoing treatment
with carbamazepine (Tegretol) is being transferred in stable condition from the intensive care
unit to the medical unit. There are 4 beds available. The nurse knows the best choice of
roommates for this client is which of the following?
(a) A 40-year-old man with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
(b) A 28-year-old woman diagnosed with diarrhea.
(c) A 72-year-old man with fever of unknown origin.
(d) A 68-year-old woman with atrial fibrillation .
Correct answer: (d) A 68-year-old woman with atrial fibrillation.
Rationale: A client with Stevens-Johnson syndrome is likely to have severe skin integrity issues,
including blistering and skin shedding, which can place the client at high risk for infection. Atrial
fibrillation is not an infectious process. All other patients may be an infection risk for an
individual with altered skin integrity.
, A 72-year-old man who had a stroke is being transferred from a medical unit to a rehabilitation
centre. The nurse case manager is assisting in the process. The nurse knows that the goals of
case management include which of the following? Select all that apply.
(a) Improving the coordination of care
(b) Increasing referrals to local organizations
(c) Reducing the fragmentation of care
(d) Discharging clients quickly
Correct answer: (a) Improving the coordination of care; and (c) Reducing the fragmentation of
care
Rationale: Some of the primary goals of case management are to improve the coordination of
care and to reduce fragmentation of care. The other options are not goals of case management.
A pregnant woman at 15 weeks' gestation is scheduled for an amniocentesis. As the client is
being prepped for the procedure, it becomes clear to the nurse that the client doesn't fully
understand the risks and benefits associated with the procedure. Which of the following
describe the nurse's role in obtaining informed consent? Select all that apply.
(a) Explain the risks and benefits associated with the procedure.
(b) Describe alternatives to the procedure.
(c) Witness the client's signature on the consent form.
(d) Advocate for the client by ensuring she is making an informed decision.
Correct answer: (c) Witness the client's signature on the consent form; and
(d) Advocate for the client by ensuring she is making an informed decision.
Rationale: Some of the nurse's roles in the informed consent process are to witness the
signature on the consent form, and to advocate for the client by ensuring she has been provided
the necessary information to make an informed decision. It is the physician's duty to provide
information to the client-related risks and benefits, and to provide alternatives.
A well-known actor has been admitted to an ambulatory surgical unit. The nurse notices a staff
member who is not involved in the client's care reading his medical record. The nurse knows
she should FIRST do which of the following?
(a) Nothing. The staff member has a hospital ID badge and is authorized to read the medical
record.
(b) Inform the staff member that without a legitimate need for the information, staff should not
Prioritization & Safety (With Rationales)
A registered nurse is planning the client assignments for the day. Which of the following is the
most appropriate assignment for the nursing assistant?
(a) A client requiring colostomy irrigation
(b) A client receiving continuous tube feedings
(c) A client who requires stool specimen collections
(d) A client who has difficulty swallowing food and fluids
Correct answer: (c) A client who requires stool specimen collections
Rationale: This question addresses content related to delegation in the subcategory
Management of Care in the Client Needs category of Safe and Effective Care Environment. Work
that is delegated to others must be done consistent with the individual's level of expertise and
licensure or lack of licensure. In this situation, the most appropriate assignment for the nursing
assistant is to care for the client who requires stool specimen collections. Colostomy irrigations
and tube feedings are not performed by unlicensed personnel. The client with difficulty
swallowing food and fluids is at risk for aspiration. Remember, the health care provider needs to
be competent and skilled to perform the assigned task or activity.
A 34-year-old woman who developed Stevens-Johnson syndrome while undergoing treatment
with carbamazepine (Tegretol) is being transferred in stable condition from the intensive care
unit to the medical unit. There are 4 beds available. The nurse knows the best choice of
roommates for this client is which of the following?
(a) A 40-year-old man with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
(b) A 28-year-old woman diagnosed with diarrhea.
(c) A 72-year-old man with fever of unknown origin.
(d) A 68-year-old woman with atrial fibrillation .
Correct answer: (d) A 68-year-old woman with atrial fibrillation.
Rationale: A client with Stevens-Johnson syndrome is likely to have severe skin integrity issues,
including blistering and skin shedding, which can place the client at high risk for infection. Atrial
fibrillation is not an infectious process. All other patients may be an infection risk for an
individual with altered skin integrity.
, A 72-year-old man who had a stroke is being transferred from a medical unit to a rehabilitation
centre. The nurse case manager is assisting in the process. The nurse knows that the goals of
case management include which of the following? Select all that apply.
(a) Improving the coordination of care
(b) Increasing referrals to local organizations
(c) Reducing the fragmentation of care
(d) Discharging clients quickly
Correct answer: (a) Improving the coordination of care; and (c) Reducing the fragmentation of
care
Rationale: Some of the primary goals of case management are to improve the coordination of
care and to reduce fragmentation of care. The other options are not goals of case management.
A pregnant woman at 15 weeks' gestation is scheduled for an amniocentesis. As the client is
being prepped for the procedure, it becomes clear to the nurse that the client doesn't fully
understand the risks and benefits associated with the procedure. Which of the following
describe the nurse's role in obtaining informed consent? Select all that apply.
(a) Explain the risks and benefits associated with the procedure.
(b) Describe alternatives to the procedure.
(c) Witness the client's signature on the consent form.
(d) Advocate for the client by ensuring she is making an informed decision.
Correct answer: (c) Witness the client's signature on the consent form; and
(d) Advocate for the client by ensuring she is making an informed decision.
Rationale: Some of the nurse's roles in the informed consent process are to witness the
signature on the consent form, and to advocate for the client by ensuring she has been provided
the necessary information to make an informed decision. It is the physician's duty to provide
information to the client-related risks and benefits, and to provide alternatives.
A well-known actor has been admitted to an ambulatory surgical unit. The nurse notices a staff
member who is not involved in the client's care reading his medical record. The nurse knows
she should FIRST do which of the following?
(a) Nothing. The staff member has a hospital ID badge and is authorized to read the medical
record.
(b) Inform the staff member that without a legitimate need for the information, staff should not
