1|Page
PN COMPREHENSIVE PREDICTOR PRACTICE
EXAM: 210+ NCLEX-PN STYLE QUESTIONS
WITH RATIONALES (2026-2027)
Table of Contents
| Section | Topic Area | Number of Questions |
|---------|------------|---------------------|
| 1 | Safe & Effective Care Environment (Management of Care, Safety,
Infection Control) | 30 |
| 2 | Health Promotion & Maintenance (Growth & Development,
Prevention, Ante/Intra/Postpartum, Newborn) | 25 |
| 3 | Psychosocial Integrity (Coping, Mental Health Disorders,
Therapeutic Communication) | 25 |
| 4 | Physiological Integrity – Medical-Surgical (Cardiac, Respiratory,
Endocrine, GI, Renal, Neuro) | 40 |
| 5 | Physiological Integrity – Pharmacology (Medication Administration,
Side Effects, Calculations) | 30 |
| 6 | Physiological Integrity – Maternity & Newborn (Labor & Delivery,
Postpartum, Complications) | 20 |
| 7 | Physiological Integrity – Pediatrics (Growth & Development,
Common Illnesses, Immunizations) | 20 |
,2|Page
| 8 | Physiological Integrity – Mental Health (Disorders, Therapies,
Crisis Intervention) | 20 |
| **Total** | | **210** |
---
# SECTION 1: Safe & Effective Care Environment (30 questions)
**1. A practical nurse (PN) is caring for a client who requires a sterile
dressing change. Which action demonstrates proper sterile technique?**
A) Opening the sterile package away from the body
B) Reaching over the sterile field to obtain supplies
C) Setting up the sterile field immediately after removing personal
protective equipment (PPE)
D) Placing the sterile drape with the moisture-proof side down
> **Correct Answer: A** – Opening the sterile package away from the
body prevents contamination. Reaching over the field (B) contaminates
it. The sterile field should be set up after PPE is applied (C). The
moisture-proof side should face up (D) to prevent fluid strike-through.
**2. A client with a urinary catheter develops a fever and cloudy urine.
Which action should the PN take first?**
A) Irrigate the catheter
,3|Page
B) Notify the charge nurse
C) Obtain a urine specimen
D) Increase the client’s fluid intake
> **Correct Answer: B** – Notify the charge nurse (or provider) first
because this indicates a possible catheter-associated urinary tract
infection (CAUTI). Assessment and orders are needed before irrigation
or specimen collection.
**3. A PN is preparing to administer an IM injection. Which site is
safest for a 2 mL injection in an adult?**
A) Dorsogluteal
B) Deltoid
C) Vastus lateralis
D) Ventrogluteal
> **Correct Answer: D** – The ventrogluteal site is preferred for adults
because it is free of major nerves and blood vessels and can
accommodate up to 3 mL. The dorsogluteal (A) risks sciatic nerve
injury. Deltoid (B) is for small volumes (≤1 mL). Vastus lateralis (C) is
acceptable but more commonly used in infants.
**4. A client is placed on contact precautions. Which personal protective
equipment (PPE) must the PN wear when entering the room?**
, 4|Page
A) Gown and gloves only
B) N95 respirator and gloves
C) Gown, gloves, and eye protection
D) Gown, gloves, and mask
> **Correct Answer: A** – Contact precautions require gown and
gloves. Eye protection (C) is for droplet or airborne precautions or
splash risk. Mask (D) is not required for contact precautions alone.
**5. A PN discovers a small fire in a client’s trash can. Which action
should the PN take first?**
A) Pull the fire alarm
B) Evacuate the client
C) Use the nearest fire extinguisher
D) Close the client’s door
> **Correct Answer: B** – RACE: Rescue (evacuate client), Alarm,
Contain, Extinguish. Evacuating the client is the first priority.
**6. A client is scheduled for surgery and has signed an informed
consent. Which statement indicates the client understands the
procedure?**
A) “I signed because my family told me to.”
B) “The doctor explained the risks and benefits to me.”
PN COMPREHENSIVE PREDICTOR PRACTICE
EXAM: 210+ NCLEX-PN STYLE QUESTIONS
WITH RATIONALES (2026-2027)
Table of Contents
| Section | Topic Area | Number of Questions |
|---------|------------|---------------------|
| 1 | Safe & Effective Care Environment (Management of Care, Safety,
Infection Control) | 30 |
| 2 | Health Promotion & Maintenance (Growth & Development,
Prevention, Ante/Intra/Postpartum, Newborn) | 25 |
| 3 | Psychosocial Integrity (Coping, Mental Health Disorders,
Therapeutic Communication) | 25 |
| 4 | Physiological Integrity – Medical-Surgical (Cardiac, Respiratory,
Endocrine, GI, Renal, Neuro) | 40 |
| 5 | Physiological Integrity – Pharmacology (Medication Administration,
Side Effects, Calculations) | 30 |
| 6 | Physiological Integrity – Maternity & Newborn (Labor & Delivery,
Postpartum, Complications) | 20 |
| 7 | Physiological Integrity – Pediatrics (Growth & Development,
Common Illnesses, Immunizations) | 20 |
,2|Page
| 8 | Physiological Integrity – Mental Health (Disorders, Therapies,
Crisis Intervention) | 20 |
| **Total** | | **210** |
---
# SECTION 1: Safe & Effective Care Environment (30 questions)
**1. A practical nurse (PN) is caring for a client who requires a sterile
dressing change. Which action demonstrates proper sterile technique?**
A) Opening the sterile package away from the body
B) Reaching over the sterile field to obtain supplies
C) Setting up the sterile field immediately after removing personal
protective equipment (PPE)
D) Placing the sterile drape with the moisture-proof side down
> **Correct Answer: A** – Opening the sterile package away from the
body prevents contamination. Reaching over the field (B) contaminates
it. The sterile field should be set up after PPE is applied (C). The
moisture-proof side should face up (D) to prevent fluid strike-through.
**2. A client with a urinary catheter develops a fever and cloudy urine.
Which action should the PN take first?**
A) Irrigate the catheter
,3|Page
B) Notify the charge nurse
C) Obtain a urine specimen
D) Increase the client’s fluid intake
> **Correct Answer: B** – Notify the charge nurse (or provider) first
because this indicates a possible catheter-associated urinary tract
infection (CAUTI). Assessment and orders are needed before irrigation
or specimen collection.
**3. A PN is preparing to administer an IM injection. Which site is
safest for a 2 mL injection in an adult?**
A) Dorsogluteal
B) Deltoid
C) Vastus lateralis
D) Ventrogluteal
> **Correct Answer: D** – The ventrogluteal site is preferred for adults
because it is free of major nerves and blood vessels and can
accommodate up to 3 mL. The dorsogluteal (A) risks sciatic nerve
injury. Deltoid (B) is for small volumes (≤1 mL). Vastus lateralis (C) is
acceptable but more commonly used in infants.
**4. A client is placed on contact precautions. Which personal protective
equipment (PPE) must the PN wear when entering the room?**
, 4|Page
A) Gown and gloves only
B) N95 respirator and gloves
C) Gown, gloves, and eye protection
D) Gown, gloves, and mask
> **Correct Answer: A** – Contact precautions require gown and
gloves. Eye protection (C) is for droplet or airborne precautions or
splash risk. Mask (D) is not required for contact precautions alone.
**5. A PN discovers a small fire in a client’s trash can. Which action
should the PN take first?**
A) Pull the fire alarm
B) Evacuate the client
C) Use the nearest fire extinguisher
D) Close the client’s door
> **Correct Answer: B** – RACE: Rescue (evacuate client), Alarm,
Contain, Extinguish. Evacuating the client is the first priority.
**6. A client is scheduled for surgery and has signed an informed
consent. Which statement indicates the client understands the
procedure?**
A) “I signed because my family told me to.”
B) “The doctor explained the risks and benefits to me.”
