BASIC CLINICAL NURSING SKILLS EXAM SCRIPT
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS 2026 TRUSTED
PREPARATION FILE
▶A 37-year-old female walks into the ED holding her abdomen. She is
writhing in pain. Her history includes vaginal bleeding for the past 6 days.
She soaked 5 sanitary pads in 2 hours. What is the most likely cause of the
heavy bleeding?
Uterine fibroids
Mittelschmerz
Pelvic inflammatory disease
Bartholin cyst . Answer: Uterine fibroids
▶Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome is characterized by which clinical
manifestations?
Ataxia, mental confusion, and ophthalmoplegia
Delirium tremens, hyperthermia, and disorientation
Tachycardia, tremors, and tachypnea
Hypothermia, muscle rigidity, and bradycardia . Answer: Ataxia, mental
confusion, and ophthalmoplegia
▶A 35-year-old man presents with complaints of stomach pain that comes
and goes for the past two weeks. The nurse asks additional questions
about the nature of this pain and finds that it is relieved with antacids and
he feels better after eating. The patient mentions that he had some similar
pain about two years ago, but it stopped after about a month and he never
sought care for it. This is most likely which type of gastrointestinal disorder?
Cholecystitis
Pancreatitis
Duodenal ulcer
Stress ulcer . Answer: Duodenal ulcer
▶Which immunoglobulin is responsible for Type 1 allergic responses?
IgA
IgE
IgG
IgM . Answer: IgE
,▶A middle-aged male patient presents to the ED with complaint of fever.
He is awake, alert, and in no acute distress. On arrival, vital signs are BP
118/58 mm Hg, HR 112 beats/min, RR 20 breaths/min, SpO2 95%, T 38.8
C (101.9 F). His medical history includes human immunodeficiency virus
(HIV) and he is taking antiviral medications. Using a 5-level triage system,
this patient would be triaged as which acuity level?
Acuity Level 4 (non-urgent)
Acuity Level 2 (emergent)
Acuity Level 1 (life-threatening situation)
Acuity Level 3 (urgent) . Answer: Acuity Level 2 (emergent)
▶An 84-year-old male with a decreased level of consciousness presents to
the emergency department from a nursing home. The patient has a history
of hypertension, gout, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. He is
allergic to penicillin. Current medications include docusate, albuterol
inhaler, colchicine, and metoprolol. Vital signs on arrival are BP 78/48 mm
Hg, HR 60 beats/min, RR 28 breaths/min, T 35.3 C (95.6 F), and SpO2
92% without supplemental oxygen. Which type of shock do these clinical
manifestations represent?
Obstructive
Septic
Anaphylactic
Hypovolemic . Answer: Septic
▶A 56-year-old female presents to the emergency department with
complaints of abdominal pain for 5 days. The patient was involved in a
motor vehicle crash, but did not feel that she needed to come to the
emergency department. Upon examination, the patient has no active bowel
sounds and the abdomen is rigid. The patient has which gastrointestinal
emergency?
Peritonitis
Diverticulitis
Intestinal obstruction
Esophageal obstruction . Answer: Peritonitis
▶A patient, who was successfully defibrillated, now has an irregular rhythm
at 86 beats/min. The patient remains unresponsive, with absent central
pulses. These findings are associated with which condition?
Ruptured aortic aneurysm
, Pulseless electrical activity
Pericardial tamponade
Coarse ventricular fibrillation . Answer: Pulseless electrical activity
▶An adolescent playing basketball felt a pop in her heel after a jump shot,
and a sharp pain in her heel as she landed. She is unable to stand on the
ball of her foot. Which injury do these clinical manifestations most likely
represent?
Calcaneous fracture
Achilles tendon rupture
Ankle strain
Metatarsal fracture . Answer: Achilles tendon rupture
▶A patient arrives after getting a hand caught in a machine, peeling the
skin away and exposing underlying structures. What injury does this
represent?
Hematoma
Avulsion
Laceration
Abrasion . Answer: Avulsion
▶The nurse is providing discharge instructions to a patient with asthma.
Which of the following statements indicates understanding from the
patient?
I should avoid air conditioning if I begin having symptoms
I'm going to wash my bed linen once a week in hot water.
To get a baseline peak expiratory flow, I'll do it right before I use my
inhaler.
My son uses a spacer, but since I'm an adult and can coordinate the
inhaler, I don't need one. . Answer: I'm going to wash my bed linen once a
week in hot water.
▶Discharge instructions are given to a patient with a prescription for
phenazopyridine. Which statement by the patient indicates an
understanding of the medication's side effects?
My urine will have an orange discoloration.
I can continue to take it even if I develop a rash.
This medication does not have any side effects.
I may gain weight while taking this medication. . Answer: My urine will
have an orange discoloration.
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS 2026 TRUSTED
PREPARATION FILE
▶A 37-year-old female walks into the ED holding her abdomen. She is
writhing in pain. Her history includes vaginal bleeding for the past 6 days.
She soaked 5 sanitary pads in 2 hours. What is the most likely cause of the
heavy bleeding?
Uterine fibroids
Mittelschmerz
Pelvic inflammatory disease
Bartholin cyst . Answer: Uterine fibroids
▶Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome is characterized by which clinical
manifestations?
Ataxia, mental confusion, and ophthalmoplegia
Delirium tremens, hyperthermia, and disorientation
Tachycardia, tremors, and tachypnea
Hypothermia, muscle rigidity, and bradycardia . Answer: Ataxia, mental
confusion, and ophthalmoplegia
▶A 35-year-old man presents with complaints of stomach pain that comes
and goes for the past two weeks. The nurse asks additional questions
about the nature of this pain and finds that it is relieved with antacids and
he feels better after eating. The patient mentions that he had some similar
pain about two years ago, but it stopped after about a month and he never
sought care for it. This is most likely which type of gastrointestinal disorder?
Cholecystitis
Pancreatitis
Duodenal ulcer
Stress ulcer . Answer: Duodenal ulcer
▶Which immunoglobulin is responsible for Type 1 allergic responses?
IgA
IgE
IgG
IgM . Answer: IgE
,▶A middle-aged male patient presents to the ED with complaint of fever.
He is awake, alert, and in no acute distress. On arrival, vital signs are BP
118/58 mm Hg, HR 112 beats/min, RR 20 breaths/min, SpO2 95%, T 38.8
C (101.9 F). His medical history includes human immunodeficiency virus
(HIV) and he is taking antiviral medications. Using a 5-level triage system,
this patient would be triaged as which acuity level?
Acuity Level 4 (non-urgent)
Acuity Level 2 (emergent)
Acuity Level 1 (life-threatening situation)
Acuity Level 3 (urgent) . Answer: Acuity Level 2 (emergent)
▶An 84-year-old male with a decreased level of consciousness presents to
the emergency department from a nursing home. The patient has a history
of hypertension, gout, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. He is
allergic to penicillin. Current medications include docusate, albuterol
inhaler, colchicine, and metoprolol. Vital signs on arrival are BP 78/48 mm
Hg, HR 60 beats/min, RR 28 breaths/min, T 35.3 C (95.6 F), and SpO2
92% without supplemental oxygen. Which type of shock do these clinical
manifestations represent?
Obstructive
Septic
Anaphylactic
Hypovolemic . Answer: Septic
▶A 56-year-old female presents to the emergency department with
complaints of abdominal pain for 5 days. The patient was involved in a
motor vehicle crash, but did not feel that she needed to come to the
emergency department. Upon examination, the patient has no active bowel
sounds and the abdomen is rigid. The patient has which gastrointestinal
emergency?
Peritonitis
Diverticulitis
Intestinal obstruction
Esophageal obstruction . Answer: Peritonitis
▶A patient, who was successfully defibrillated, now has an irregular rhythm
at 86 beats/min. The patient remains unresponsive, with absent central
pulses. These findings are associated with which condition?
Ruptured aortic aneurysm
, Pulseless electrical activity
Pericardial tamponade
Coarse ventricular fibrillation . Answer: Pulseless electrical activity
▶An adolescent playing basketball felt a pop in her heel after a jump shot,
and a sharp pain in her heel as she landed. She is unable to stand on the
ball of her foot. Which injury do these clinical manifestations most likely
represent?
Calcaneous fracture
Achilles tendon rupture
Ankle strain
Metatarsal fracture . Answer: Achilles tendon rupture
▶A patient arrives after getting a hand caught in a machine, peeling the
skin away and exposing underlying structures. What injury does this
represent?
Hematoma
Avulsion
Laceration
Abrasion . Answer: Avulsion
▶The nurse is providing discharge instructions to a patient with asthma.
Which of the following statements indicates understanding from the
patient?
I should avoid air conditioning if I begin having symptoms
I'm going to wash my bed linen once a week in hot water.
To get a baseline peak expiratory flow, I'll do it right before I use my
inhaler.
My son uses a spacer, but since I'm an adult and can coordinate the
inhaler, I don't need one. . Answer: I'm going to wash my bed linen once a
week in hot water.
▶Discharge instructions are given to a patient with a prescription for
phenazopyridine. Which statement by the patient indicates an
understanding of the medication's side effects?
My urine will have an orange discoloration.
I can continue to take it even if I develop a rash.
This medication does not have any side effects.
I may gain weight while taking this medication. . Answer: My urine will
have an orange discoloration.
