BASIC CLINICAL NURSING SKILLS EXAM PREP
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026 PREMIUM
STUDY COLLECTION
▶A patient presents to the ED stating he had been hit in the right eye with
a glass bottle two days ago. On assessment, the eye is reddened, tearing,
and there is an irregular pupil. Which ocular emergency is associated with
these assessment findings?
Retinal detachment
Hyphema
Foreign body
Iritis . Answer: Iritis
▶A patient presents to the ED with complaints of feeling guilty and sad. He
also has had decreased appetite and sleep disturbances for the past 3
weeks. What intervention is priority for this patient?
Performing a suicide risk assessment
Placing patient in a low stimulus area
Administering antidepressants or anxiolytics
Providing a discharge referral for support services . Answer: Performing a
suicide risk assessment
▶An ED patient is being prepared for surgical intervention for a large bowel
obstruction. The surgeon needs to obtain a signature for informed consent.
The patient is unable to sign the consent form because of having been
heavily sedated. Which advanced directive allows for a family member to
sign the consent form?
Durable power of attorney for finance
Living will
Do not resuscitate order
Durable power of attorney for healthcare . Answer: Durable power of
attorney for healthcare
▶A male patient arrives following a motor vehicle collision. Emergency
medical services report vital signs: HR 92 beats/min, RR 20 breaths/min,
BP 128/74 mm Hg, SpO2 96% with a nonrebreather at 15 L/min. They
state that the airbag malfunctioned and he hit the steering wheel. The
,nurse assesses the patient and finds bruising to the sternum, muffled heart
tones, and the following vital signs: HR 102 beats/min, RR 18 breaths/min,
BP 122/94 mm Hg, SpO2 92%. What pathophysiologic process does the
nurse recognize?
Low pulse pressure
Decrease in afterload
High pulse pressure
Cushing triad . Answer: Low pulse pressure
▶Which inherited bleeding disorder is the most common?
Von Willebrand
Classic hemophilia
Christmas disease
Rosenthal syndrome . Answer: Von Willebrand
▶Which complication is the most common risk for all puncture wounds?
Joint effusion
Osteomyelitis
Abscess
Hemorrhage . Answer: Abscess
▶79. A patient presents with vaginal bleeding and cramping. She tells the
emergency nurse, "I passed clots at home. I think I lost my baby." Pelvic
examination reveals that the cervical os is open. Which type of
spontaneous abortion most likely occurred?
Missed abortion
Septic abortion
Inevitable abortion
Threatened abortion . Answer: Inevitable abortion
▶The nurse practitioner ordered a procalcitonin to be drawn on a patient.
This will identify which condition?
Parathyroid disease
Hyperosmolar hyperglycemic syndrome (HHS)
Tuberculosis
Sepsis . Answer: Sepsis
▶A patient presents with a sore throat and difficulty swallowing.
Assessment reveals fever, muffled voice, and cervical lymphadenitis. What
is the highest priority?
, Airway protection
Pain management
Preparation for incision and drainage
Intravenous access for fluid resuscitation . Answer: Airway protection
▶A 42-year-old female patient presents to the emergency department with
complaints of having right upper quadrant cramping pain that radiates to
the right scapula and shoulder areas. She also complains of being "bloated
and passing gas." With her history, which gastrointestinal disorder is she at
risk for?
Cholecystitis
Hepatitis
Pancreatitis
Diverticulitis . Answer: Cholecystitis
▶A patient presents to the ED with chest pain. The nurse assesses the
pain and determines that rest relieves the pain. What does the nurse
determine this indicates?
Stable angina
Unstable angina
Non-ST elevation myocardial infarction
ST elevation myocardial infarction . Answer: Stable angina
▶A 32-year-old female patient is brought to the emergency department via
emergency medical services with a complaint of coughing for the past two
weeks. The patient is now complaining of severe epigastric pain and is
violently retching and vomiting blood. She has a history of alcohol abuse
and bulimia. Which type of gastrointestinal disorder is the most likely cause
of these symptoms?
Diverticulitis
Mallory-Weiss syndrome
Pancreatitis
Gastric ulcer . Answer: Mallory-Weiss syndrome
▶Which stage pressure ulcer includes partial thickness skin loss?
Stage 2
Stage 1
Stage 3
Stage 4 . Answer: Stage 2
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026 PREMIUM
STUDY COLLECTION
▶A patient presents to the ED stating he had been hit in the right eye with
a glass bottle two days ago. On assessment, the eye is reddened, tearing,
and there is an irregular pupil. Which ocular emergency is associated with
these assessment findings?
Retinal detachment
Hyphema
Foreign body
Iritis . Answer: Iritis
▶A patient presents to the ED with complaints of feeling guilty and sad. He
also has had decreased appetite and sleep disturbances for the past 3
weeks. What intervention is priority for this patient?
Performing a suicide risk assessment
Placing patient in a low stimulus area
Administering antidepressants or anxiolytics
Providing a discharge referral for support services . Answer: Performing a
suicide risk assessment
▶An ED patient is being prepared for surgical intervention for a large bowel
obstruction. The surgeon needs to obtain a signature for informed consent.
The patient is unable to sign the consent form because of having been
heavily sedated. Which advanced directive allows for a family member to
sign the consent form?
Durable power of attorney for finance
Living will
Do not resuscitate order
Durable power of attorney for healthcare . Answer: Durable power of
attorney for healthcare
▶A male patient arrives following a motor vehicle collision. Emergency
medical services report vital signs: HR 92 beats/min, RR 20 breaths/min,
BP 128/74 mm Hg, SpO2 96% with a nonrebreather at 15 L/min. They
state that the airbag malfunctioned and he hit the steering wheel. The
,nurse assesses the patient and finds bruising to the sternum, muffled heart
tones, and the following vital signs: HR 102 beats/min, RR 18 breaths/min,
BP 122/94 mm Hg, SpO2 92%. What pathophysiologic process does the
nurse recognize?
Low pulse pressure
Decrease in afterload
High pulse pressure
Cushing triad . Answer: Low pulse pressure
▶Which inherited bleeding disorder is the most common?
Von Willebrand
Classic hemophilia
Christmas disease
Rosenthal syndrome . Answer: Von Willebrand
▶Which complication is the most common risk for all puncture wounds?
Joint effusion
Osteomyelitis
Abscess
Hemorrhage . Answer: Abscess
▶79. A patient presents with vaginal bleeding and cramping. She tells the
emergency nurse, "I passed clots at home. I think I lost my baby." Pelvic
examination reveals that the cervical os is open. Which type of
spontaneous abortion most likely occurred?
Missed abortion
Septic abortion
Inevitable abortion
Threatened abortion . Answer: Inevitable abortion
▶The nurse practitioner ordered a procalcitonin to be drawn on a patient.
This will identify which condition?
Parathyroid disease
Hyperosmolar hyperglycemic syndrome (HHS)
Tuberculosis
Sepsis . Answer: Sepsis
▶A patient presents with a sore throat and difficulty swallowing.
Assessment reveals fever, muffled voice, and cervical lymphadenitis. What
is the highest priority?
, Airway protection
Pain management
Preparation for incision and drainage
Intravenous access for fluid resuscitation . Answer: Airway protection
▶A 42-year-old female patient presents to the emergency department with
complaints of having right upper quadrant cramping pain that radiates to
the right scapula and shoulder areas. She also complains of being "bloated
and passing gas." With her history, which gastrointestinal disorder is she at
risk for?
Cholecystitis
Hepatitis
Pancreatitis
Diverticulitis . Answer: Cholecystitis
▶A patient presents to the ED with chest pain. The nurse assesses the
pain and determines that rest relieves the pain. What does the nurse
determine this indicates?
Stable angina
Unstable angina
Non-ST elevation myocardial infarction
ST elevation myocardial infarction . Answer: Stable angina
▶A 32-year-old female patient is brought to the emergency department via
emergency medical services with a complaint of coughing for the past two
weeks. The patient is now complaining of severe epigastric pain and is
violently retching and vomiting blood. She has a history of alcohol abuse
and bulimia. Which type of gastrointestinal disorder is the most likely cause
of these symptoms?
Diverticulitis
Mallory-Weiss syndrome
Pancreatitis
Gastric ulcer . Answer: Mallory-Weiss syndrome
▶Which stage pressure ulcer includes partial thickness skin loss?
Stage 2
Stage 1
Stage 3
Stage 4 . Answer: Stage 2
