Canadian National Institute of Health (CNIH) Entrance Exam
Questions and Correct Answers Latest
1: A patient's blood pressure is recorded as 120/80 mmHg. What does the "80" represent?
A. Systolic pressure
B. Diastolic pressure
C. Pulse pressure
D. Mean arterial pressure
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Diastolic pressure
Rationale: Blood pressure is recorded as systolic/diastolic. The diastolic pressure represents
arterial pressure during ventricular relaxation.
2: Which of the following is a core principle of cultural safety in Canadian healthcare?
A. Treating all patients exactly the same
B. Recognizing power imbalances and respecting patient autonomy
C. Assuming all patients share the same health beliefs
D. Prioritizing efficiency over patient preferences
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Recognizing power imbalances and respecting patient autonomy
Rationale: Cultural safety emphasizes recognizing power imbalances and providing care that
patients define as safe and respectful, particularly important in Canada's diverse and Indigenous
health contexts.
3: Convert 2.5 grams to milligrams.
A. 25 mg
B. 250 mg
C. 2,500 mg
D. 25,000 mg
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 2,500 mg
Rationale: 1 gram = 1,000 milligrams. Therefore, 2.5 g × 1,000 = 2,500 mg.
4: Which body system is primarily responsible for gas exchange?
A. Circulatory system
B. Respiratory system
,C. Digestive system
D. Nervous system
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Respiratory system
Rationale: The respiratory system (lungs, alveoli) facilitates oxygen intake and carbon dioxide
elimination. The circulatory system transports gases but does not perform the exchange.
5: A medication order reads: "Give 500 mg PO BID." What does "BID" mean?
A. Once daily
B. Twice daily
C. Three times daily
D. At bedtime
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Twice daily
Rationale: BID is a medical abbreviation from Latin "bis in die," meaning twice daily. PO means
"by mouth."
6: Which of the following is the FIRST step in the chain of infection?
A. Portal of entry
B. Infectious agent
C. Susceptible host
D. Mode of transmission
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Infectious agent
Rationale: The chain of infection begins with the infectious agent (pathogen), followed by
reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of entry, and susceptible host.
7: What is the normal adult resting heart rate range?
A. 40-60 bpm
B. 60-100 bpm
C. 100-120 bpm
D. 120-140 bpm
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 60-100 bpm
Rationale: The normal resting heart rate for adults is typically 60-100 beats per minute. Athletes
may have lower resting rates.
8: Which vitamin is essential for blood clotting?
,A. Vitamin A
B. Vitamin C
C. Vitamin D
D. Vitamin K
CORRECT ANSWER: D. Vitamin K
Rationale: Vitamin K is essential for the synthesis of clotting factors (II, VII, IX, X) in the liver.
9: A patient is prescribed 250 mg of a medication. The available tablets are 125 mg each. How
many tablets should be administered?
A. 1 tablet
B. 2 tablets
C. 3 tablets
D. 4 tablets
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 2 tablets
Rationale: 250 mg ÷ 125 mg/tablet = 2 tablets.
10: Which of the following is a sign of dehydration?
A. Increased skin turgor
B. Dry mucous membranes
C. Increased urine output
D. Bounding pulse
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Dry mucous membranes
Rationale: Dehydration presents with dry mucous membranes, decreased skin turgor, decreased
urine output, and tachycardia.
11: The primary function of red blood cells is to:
A. Fight infection
B. Transport oxygen
C. Clot blood
D. Produce antibodies
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Transport oxygen
Rationale: Red blood cells contain hemoglobin, which binds and transports oxygen from lungs to
tissues.
, 12: Which of the following is the correct hand hygiene technique according to Public Health
Agency of Canada (PHAC)?
A. Wash hands for 10 seconds with soap and water
B. Use alcohol-based hand rub for 5 seconds
C. Wash hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water, or use alcohol-based hand rub
D. Hand hygiene is only needed after patient contact
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Wash hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water, or use alcohol-
based hand rub
Rationale: PHAC recommends washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or
using alcohol-based hand rub (60-90% alcohol) when hands are not visibly soiled.
13: Which organ produces insulin?
A. Liver
B. Pancreas
C. Kidney
D. Spleen
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Pancreas
Rationale: The pancreas produces insulin (from beta cells in the islets of Langerhans) to regulate
blood glucose.
14: A patient has a temperature of 38.5°C. This is classified as:
A. Normal
B. Hypothermia
C. Fever (pyrexia)
D. Hyperthermia
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Fever (pyrexia)
Rationale: Normal body temperature is approximately 36.5-37.5°C. A temperature of 38.5°C
indicates fever.
15: Which of the following is a component of the "Five Rights" of medication administration?
A. Right documentation
B. Right room
C. Right physician
D. Right hospital
Questions and Correct Answers Latest
1: A patient's blood pressure is recorded as 120/80 mmHg. What does the "80" represent?
A. Systolic pressure
B. Diastolic pressure
C. Pulse pressure
D. Mean arterial pressure
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Diastolic pressure
Rationale: Blood pressure is recorded as systolic/diastolic. The diastolic pressure represents
arterial pressure during ventricular relaxation.
2: Which of the following is a core principle of cultural safety in Canadian healthcare?
A. Treating all patients exactly the same
B. Recognizing power imbalances and respecting patient autonomy
C. Assuming all patients share the same health beliefs
D. Prioritizing efficiency over patient preferences
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Recognizing power imbalances and respecting patient autonomy
Rationale: Cultural safety emphasizes recognizing power imbalances and providing care that
patients define as safe and respectful, particularly important in Canada's diverse and Indigenous
health contexts.
3: Convert 2.5 grams to milligrams.
A. 25 mg
B. 250 mg
C. 2,500 mg
D. 25,000 mg
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 2,500 mg
Rationale: 1 gram = 1,000 milligrams. Therefore, 2.5 g × 1,000 = 2,500 mg.
4: Which body system is primarily responsible for gas exchange?
A. Circulatory system
B. Respiratory system
,C. Digestive system
D. Nervous system
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Respiratory system
Rationale: The respiratory system (lungs, alveoli) facilitates oxygen intake and carbon dioxide
elimination. The circulatory system transports gases but does not perform the exchange.
5: A medication order reads: "Give 500 mg PO BID." What does "BID" mean?
A. Once daily
B. Twice daily
C. Three times daily
D. At bedtime
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Twice daily
Rationale: BID is a medical abbreviation from Latin "bis in die," meaning twice daily. PO means
"by mouth."
6: Which of the following is the FIRST step in the chain of infection?
A. Portal of entry
B. Infectious agent
C. Susceptible host
D. Mode of transmission
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Infectious agent
Rationale: The chain of infection begins with the infectious agent (pathogen), followed by
reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of entry, and susceptible host.
7: What is the normal adult resting heart rate range?
A. 40-60 bpm
B. 60-100 bpm
C. 100-120 bpm
D. 120-140 bpm
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 60-100 bpm
Rationale: The normal resting heart rate for adults is typically 60-100 beats per minute. Athletes
may have lower resting rates.
8: Which vitamin is essential for blood clotting?
,A. Vitamin A
B. Vitamin C
C. Vitamin D
D. Vitamin K
CORRECT ANSWER: D. Vitamin K
Rationale: Vitamin K is essential for the synthesis of clotting factors (II, VII, IX, X) in the liver.
9: A patient is prescribed 250 mg of a medication. The available tablets are 125 mg each. How
many tablets should be administered?
A. 1 tablet
B. 2 tablets
C. 3 tablets
D. 4 tablets
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 2 tablets
Rationale: 250 mg ÷ 125 mg/tablet = 2 tablets.
10: Which of the following is a sign of dehydration?
A. Increased skin turgor
B. Dry mucous membranes
C. Increased urine output
D. Bounding pulse
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Dry mucous membranes
Rationale: Dehydration presents with dry mucous membranes, decreased skin turgor, decreased
urine output, and tachycardia.
11: The primary function of red blood cells is to:
A. Fight infection
B. Transport oxygen
C. Clot blood
D. Produce antibodies
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Transport oxygen
Rationale: Red blood cells contain hemoglobin, which binds and transports oxygen from lungs to
tissues.
, 12: Which of the following is the correct hand hygiene technique according to Public Health
Agency of Canada (PHAC)?
A. Wash hands for 10 seconds with soap and water
B. Use alcohol-based hand rub for 5 seconds
C. Wash hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water, or use alcohol-based hand rub
D. Hand hygiene is only needed after patient contact
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Wash hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water, or use alcohol-
based hand rub
Rationale: PHAC recommends washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or
using alcohol-based hand rub (60-90% alcohol) when hands are not visibly soiled.
13: Which organ produces insulin?
A. Liver
B. Pancreas
C. Kidney
D. Spleen
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Pancreas
Rationale: The pancreas produces insulin (from beta cells in the islets of Langerhans) to regulate
blood glucose.
14: A patient has a temperature of 38.5°C. This is classified as:
A. Normal
B. Hypothermia
C. Fever (pyrexia)
D. Hyperthermia
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Fever (pyrexia)
Rationale: Normal body temperature is approximately 36.5-37.5°C. A temperature of 38.5°C
indicates fever.
15: Which of the following is a component of the "Five Rights" of medication administration?
A. Right documentation
B. Right room
C. Right physician
D. Right hospital
