[HAADRN] HAAD RN DOH Licensureination for
Registered Nurses Certification Exam Guide
Question 1. **Which step of the nursing process involves collecting subjective and objective
data about the patient?**
A) Planning
B) Assessment
C) Implementation
D) Evaluation
Answer: B
Explanation: Assessment is the first phase where nurses gather comprehensive data to identify
the patient’s health status.
Question 2. **A SMART goal for a postoperative patient who is at risk for atelectasis should be
which of the following?**
A) “Patient will improve.”
B) “Patient will ambulate as tolerated.”
C) “Patient will perform incentive spirometry 10 breaths every hour for the next 48 hours.”
D) “Patient will receive pain medication.”
Answer: C
Explanation: SMART goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time‑bound;
option C meets all criteria.
Question 3. **Which of the following is the most appropriate intervention to prevent falls in an
elderly patient with impaired gait?**
A) Encourage the patient to walk without assistance.
B) Keep the bed in the low position and place the call light within reach.
C) Provide a high‑back chair for sitting.
D) Use a standing frame.
, [HAADRN] HAAD RN DOH Licensureination for
Registered Nurses Certification Exam Guide
Answer: B
Explanation: Lowering the bed and ensuring the call light is reachable reduces the need for the
patient to get up unassisted, decreasing fall risk.
Question 4. **Standard precautions require which of the following actions for all patients?**
A) Wearing a N95 respirator for all procedures.
B) Hand hygiene before and after patient contact.
C) Isolation of all patients in a private room.
D) Using double gloves for every encounter.
Answer: B
Explanation: Hand hygiene is a core component of standard precautions for every patient
interaction.
Question 5. **When performing aseptic technique for a central line dressing change, the nurse
should first:**
A) Put on sterile gloves before washing hands.
B) Perform hand hygiene, then don sterile gloves.
C) Apply the dressing before cleaning the site.
D) Use alcohol swabs only.
Answer: B
Explanation: Hand hygiene precedes the donning of sterile gloves to maintain asepsis.
Question 6. **Which documentation element is legally required to be included in a patient’s
medical record?**
A) The nurse’s favorite color.
B) The patient’s signature on every entry.
C) Date, time, and signature of the person making the entry.
, [HAADRN] HAAD RN DOH Licensureination for
Registered Nurses Certification Exam Guide
D) The nurse’s personal phone number.
Answer: C
Explanation: Legal documentation must contain date, time, and the identifier (signature) of the
person documenting.
Question 7. **A patient with hypertension is prescribed lisinopril. Which adverse effect should
the nurse monitor for?**
A) Bradycardia
B) Persistent cough
C) Hyperglycemia
D) Insomnia
Answer: B
Explanation: ACE inhibitors like lisinopril commonly cause a dry, persistent cough due to
accumulation of bradykinin.
Question 8. **Which ECG finding is most indicative of an acute myocardial infarction?**
A) Peaked T waves
B) ST‑segment elevation in contiguous leads
C) Sinus tachycardia
D) First‑degree AV block
Answer: B
Explanation: ST‑segment elevation in contiguous leads is a hallmark of acute STEMI.
Question 9. **A patient with COPD is receiving nebulized albuterol. The nurse should assess for
which effect?**
A) Decreased respiratory rate
B) Tremor and tachycardia
, [HAADRN] HAAD RN DOH Licensureination for
Registered Nurses Certification Exam Guide
C) Bradycardia
D) Hyperglycemia
Answer: B
Explanation: Beta‑agonists like albuterol can cause peripheral tremor and tachycardia as side
effects.
Question 10. **Which of the following is the most appropriate nursing intervention for a patient
experiencing an asthma exacerbation?**
A) Encourage the patient to sleep.
B) Administer a high‑flow oxygen mask at 15 L/min.
C) Position the patient upright and assist with prescribed inhaled bronchodilators.
D) Restrict fluid intake.
Answer: C
Explanation: Upright positioning maximizes lung expansion, and timely bronchodilator
administration relieves bronchospasm.
Question 11. **A diabetic patient’s blood glucose reads 45 mg/dL. Which action should the
nurse take first?**
A) Administer regular insulin.
B) Offer the patient a glucose tablet or 15 g of rapid‑acting carbohydrate.
C) Call the physician for a new prescription.
D) Restrict the patient’s oral intake.
Answer: B
Explanation: Immediate treatment of hypoglycemia with rapid‑acting carbohydrate is the
priority.
Question 12. **Which symptom is most characteristic of hyperglycemia in a type 1 diabetic?**
Registered Nurses Certification Exam Guide
Question 1. **Which step of the nursing process involves collecting subjective and objective
data about the patient?**
A) Planning
B) Assessment
C) Implementation
D) Evaluation
Answer: B
Explanation: Assessment is the first phase where nurses gather comprehensive data to identify
the patient’s health status.
Question 2. **A SMART goal for a postoperative patient who is at risk for atelectasis should be
which of the following?**
A) “Patient will improve.”
B) “Patient will ambulate as tolerated.”
C) “Patient will perform incentive spirometry 10 breaths every hour for the next 48 hours.”
D) “Patient will receive pain medication.”
Answer: C
Explanation: SMART goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time‑bound;
option C meets all criteria.
Question 3. **Which of the following is the most appropriate intervention to prevent falls in an
elderly patient with impaired gait?**
A) Encourage the patient to walk without assistance.
B) Keep the bed in the low position and place the call light within reach.
C) Provide a high‑back chair for sitting.
D) Use a standing frame.
, [HAADRN] HAAD RN DOH Licensureination for
Registered Nurses Certification Exam Guide
Answer: B
Explanation: Lowering the bed and ensuring the call light is reachable reduces the need for the
patient to get up unassisted, decreasing fall risk.
Question 4. **Standard precautions require which of the following actions for all patients?**
A) Wearing a N95 respirator for all procedures.
B) Hand hygiene before and after patient contact.
C) Isolation of all patients in a private room.
D) Using double gloves for every encounter.
Answer: B
Explanation: Hand hygiene is a core component of standard precautions for every patient
interaction.
Question 5. **When performing aseptic technique for a central line dressing change, the nurse
should first:**
A) Put on sterile gloves before washing hands.
B) Perform hand hygiene, then don sterile gloves.
C) Apply the dressing before cleaning the site.
D) Use alcohol swabs only.
Answer: B
Explanation: Hand hygiene precedes the donning of sterile gloves to maintain asepsis.
Question 6. **Which documentation element is legally required to be included in a patient’s
medical record?**
A) The nurse’s favorite color.
B) The patient’s signature on every entry.
C) Date, time, and signature of the person making the entry.
, [HAADRN] HAAD RN DOH Licensureination for
Registered Nurses Certification Exam Guide
D) The nurse’s personal phone number.
Answer: C
Explanation: Legal documentation must contain date, time, and the identifier (signature) of the
person documenting.
Question 7. **A patient with hypertension is prescribed lisinopril. Which adverse effect should
the nurse monitor for?**
A) Bradycardia
B) Persistent cough
C) Hyperglycemia
D) Insomnia
Answer: B
Explanation: ACE inhibitors like lisinopril commonly cause a dry, persistent cough due to
accumulation of bradykinin.
Question 8. **Which ECG finding is most indicative of an acute myocardial infarction?**
A) Peaked T waves
B) ST‑segment elevation in contiguous leads
C) Sinus tachycardia
D) First‑degree AV block
Answer: B
Explanation: ST‑segment elevation in contiguous leads is a hallmark of acute STEMI.
Question 9. **A patient with COPD is receiving nebulized albuterol. The nurse should assess for
which effect?**
A) Decreased respiratory rate
B) Tremor and tachycardia
, [HAADRN] HAAD RN DOH Licensureination for
Registered Nurses Certification Exam Guide
C) Bradycardia
D) Hyperglycemia
Answer: B
Explanation: Beta‑agonists like albuterol can cause peripheral tremor and tachycardia as side
effects.
Question 10. **Which of the following is the most appropriate nursing intervention for a patient
experiencing an asthma exacerbation?**
A) Encourage the patient to sleep.
B) Administer a high‑flow oxygen mask at 15 L/min.
C) Position the patient upright and assist with prescribed inhaled bronchodilators.
D) Restrict fluid intake.
Answer: C
Explanation: Upright positioning maximizes lung expansion, and timely bronchodilator
administration relieves bronchospasm.
Question 11. **A diabetic patient’s blood glucose reads 45 mg/dL. Which action should the
nurse take first?**
A) Administer regular insulin.
B) Offer the patient a glucose tablet or 15 g of rapid‑acting carbohydrate.
C) Call the physician for a new prescription.
D) Restrict the patient’s oral intake.
Answer: B
Explanation: Immediate treatment of hypoglycemia with rapid‑acting carbohydrate is the
priority.
Question 12. **Which symptom is most characteristic of hyperglycemia in a type 1 diabetic?**
