BASIC CLINICAL NURSING SKILLS PRACTICE TEST
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS 2026 ACCURATE
REVISION TOOL
▶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.
▶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,
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS 2026 ACCURATE
REVISION TOOL
▶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.
▶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,
