NACE PN TO RN EXAM (2026) EXAM QUESTIONS & ANSWERS | LATEST ALREADY GRADED A+
UPDATE 2025|2026!!
Question 1
To evaluate a client's reason for seeking care, a nurse performs deep palpation during the
physical assessment. The nurse understands that the primary purpose of deep palpation is to
assess:
A) Skin temperature
B) Surface tenderness
C) Underlying organs and structures
D) Level of hydration
E) Skin turgor
Correct Answer: C) Underlying organs and structures
Rationale: Deep palpation involves indenting the skin approximately 1-1/2 to 2 inches. This
technique is used to evaluate the size, shape, and consistency of internal organs such as the
kidneys or spleen. Light palpation is used for assessing temperature, turgor, and surface
tenderness.
Question 2
A client is admitted to the emergency department with active gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding.
Which of the following nursing actions is the highest priority when developing the plan of care?
A) Assessing the client's dietary habits
B) Collecting a detailed medical history
C) Assessment of vital signs
D) Administration of an antiemetic
E) Teaching the client about ulcer prevention
Correct Answer: C) Assessment of vital signs
Rationale: In an acute bleeding episode, the nurse must first assess the client's
hemodynamic stability. Vital signs provide immediate data regarding the amount of blood
loss (tachycardia, hypotension) and establish a baseline to monitor the effectiveness of
treatment.
Question 3
When providing health education to an adolescent regarding normal physical development, the
nurse should include all the following instructions EXCEPT:
A) Explaining changes in secondary sex characteristics
B) Discussing the importance of adequate nutrition
C) Discussing the importance of avoiding social events to stay out of trouble
D) Educating on the importance of personal hygiene
E) Providing information on the normal sequence of growth spurts
Correct Answer: C) Discuss the importance of avoiding social events in order to stay out of
trouble.
Rationale: Socialization is a critical and normal component of adolescent development.
Encouraging a teenager to avoid social events would be counterproductive to their
, 2
developmental task of identity versus role confusion. Education should focus on safe social
interactions instead.
Question 4
A nurse is preparing a discharge plan for a 65-year-old client who will require home health
nursing. The nurse contacts the agency to provide specific details about the client's needs. This
action is defined as a:
A) Consultation
B) Transfer of power
C) Referral
D) Care coordination audit
E) Peer review
Correct Answer: C) A referral.
Rationale: A referral is the formal process of recommending or directing a client to another
healthcare provider or agency for specific services. The nurse provides the necessary
clinical information to ensure the continuity of care once the client is discharged.
Question 5
A nurse is reviewing a client's laboratory results. Which of the following values represents a
normal serum magnesium level?
A) 0.5 to 1.2 mEq/L
B) 1.6 to 2.4 mEq/L
C) 3.5 to 5.0 mEq/L
D) 8.5 to 10.5 mEq/L
E) 135 to 145 mEq/L
Correct Answer: B) 1.6 to 2.4 mEq/L
Rationale: The normal therapeutic range for serum magnesium is 1.6 to 2.4 mEq/L. Levels
outside of this range can lead to neuromuscular irritability or cardiac dysrhythmias.
Question 6
The school nurse is instructing a mother on how to perform a "tape test" to diagnose pinworms in
her kindergarten child. At what time should the nurse tell the mother to obtain the specimen?
A) Immediately after the child eats a meal
B) In the evening before the child goes to bed
C) In the morning, when the child awakens
D) After the child has had a bath
E) Mid-day after the child has been active
Correct Answer: C) in the morning, when the child awakens
Rationale: Pinworms emerge from the anus at night to lay eggs on the perianal skin. The
most accurate specimen is obtained first thing in the morning before the child bathes or
uses the toilet, which would wash away the eggs/parasites.
, 3
Question 7
A 20-year-old patient is intubated for respiratory failure. The patient is coughing and has copious
secretions in the lungs. What is the priority nursing action?
A) Administer an antibiotic
B) Change the patient’s position
C) Suction the lungs
D) Obtain an arterial blood gas
E) Perform chest physiotherapy
Correct Answer: C) Suction the lungs
Rationale: In any emergency or critical care situation, maintaining the airway (ABC) is the
first priority. Suctioning is necessary to clear the airway of secretions that are obstructing
ventilation.
Question 8
A high school student is suspected of substance abuse. After the nurse performs an assessment,
which of the following is considered the most desirable clinical outcome?
A) The student stops attending school
B) The student discusses the issue with friends
C) The student accepts a referral to a substance abuse counselor
D) The student promises to never use drugs again
E) The student starts a new exercise routine
Correct Answer: C) The student accepts a referral to a substance abuse counselor.
Rationale: While many outcomes are helpful, the professional goal is for the client to
acknowledge the problem and accept help from a specialist trained to manage addiction
and behavioral health.
Question 9
The nurse is diluting an intravenous dose of phenytoin (Dilantin). Which solution is the only
appropriate diluent for this medication to prevent precipitation?
A) 5% Dextrose in Water (D5W)
B) Lactated Ringer’s
C) Normal saline (0.9%)
D) 0.45% Sodium Chloride
E) Sterile Water
Correct Answer: C) Normal saline (0.9%) solution.
Rationale: Phenytoin is highly unstable and will precipitate (form crystals) if mixed with
any solution containing dextrose. It must be diluted only with Normal Saline and
administered through a filter.
Question 10
Which obstetric term is used to describe a woman who is currently pregnant, regardless of the
UPDATE 2025|2026!!
Question 1
To evaluate a client's reason for seeking care, a nurse performs deep palpation during the
physical assessment. The nurse understands that the primary purpose of deep palpation is to
assess:
A) Skin temperature
B) Surface tenderness
C) Underlying organs and structures
D) Level of hydration
E) Skin turgor
Correct Answer: C) Underlying organs and structures
Rationale: Deep palpation involves indenting the skin approximately 1-1/2 to 2 inches. This
technique is used to evaluate the size, shape, and consistency of internal organs such as the
kidneys or spleen. Light palpation is used for assessing temperature, turgor, and surface
tenderness.
Question 2
A client is admitted to the emergency department with active gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding.
Which of the following nursing actions is the highest priority when developing the plan of care?
A) Assessing the client's dietary habits
B) Collecting a detailed medical history
C) Assessment of vital signs
D) Administration of an antiemetic
E) Teaching the client about ulcer prevention
Correct Answer: C) Assessment of vital signs
Rationale: In an acute bleeding episode, the nurse must first assess the client's
hemodynamic stability. Vital signs provide immediate data regarding the amount of blood
loss (tachycardia, hypotension) and establish a baseline to monitor the effectiveness of
treatment.
Question 3
When providing health education to an adolescent regarding normal physical development, the
nurse should include all the following instructions EXCEPT:
A) Explaining changes in secondary sex characteristics
B) Discussing the importance of adequate nutrition
C) Discussing the importance of avoiding social events to stay out of trouble
D) Educating on the importance of personal hygiene
E) Providing information on the normal sequence of growth spurts
Correct Answer: C) Discuss the importance of avoiding social events in order to stay out of
trouble.
Rationale: Socialization is a critical and normal component of adolescent development.
Encouraging a teenager to avoid social events would be counterproductive to their
, 2
developmental task of identity versus role confusion. Education should focus on safe social
interactions instead.
Question 4
A nurse is preparing a discharge plan for a 65-year-old client who will require home health
nursing. The nurse contacts the agency to provide specific details about the client's needs. This
action is defined as a:
A) Consultation
B) Transfer of power
C) Referral
D) Care coordination audit
E) Peer review
Correct Answer: C) A referral.
Rationale: A referral is the formal process of recommending or directing a client to another
healthcare provider or agency for specific services. The nurse provides the necessary
clinical information to ensure the continuity of care once the client is discharged.
Question 5
A nurse is reviewing a client's laboratory results. Which of the following values represents a
normal serum magnesium level?
A) 0.5 to 1.2 mEq/L
B) 1.6 to 2.4 mEq/L
C) 3.5 to 5.0 mEq/L
D) 8.5 to 10.5 mEq/L
E) 135 to 145 mEq/L
Correct Answer: B) 1.6 to 2.4 mEq/L
Rationale: The normal therapeutic range for serum magnesium is 1.6 to 2.4 mEq/L. Levels
outside of this range can lead to neuromuscular irritability or cardiac dysrhythmias.
Question 6
The school nurse is instructing a mother on how to perform a "tape test" to diagnose pinworms in
her kindergarten child. At what time should the nurse tell the mother to obtain the specimen?
A) Immediately after the child eats a meal
B) In the evening before the child goes to bed
C) In the morning, when the child awakens
D) After the child has had a bath
E) Mid-day after the child has been active
Correct Answer: C) in the morning, when the child awakens
Rationale: Pinworms emerge from the anus at night to lay eggs on the perianal skin. The
most accurate specimen is obtained first thing in the morning before the child bathes or
uses the toilet, which would wash away the eggs/parasites.
, 3
Question 7
A 20-year-old patient is intubated for respiratory failure. The patient is coughing and has copious
secretions in the lungs. What is the priority nursing action?
A) Administer an antibiotic
B) Change the patient’s position
C) Suction the lungs
D) Obtain an arterial blood gas
E) Perform chest physiotherapy
Correct Answer: C) Suction the lungs
Rationale: In any emergency or critical care situation, maintaining the airway (ABC) is the
first priority. Suctioning is necessary to clear the airway of secretions that are obstructing
ventilation.
Question 8
A high school student is suspected of substance abuse. After the nurse performs an assessment,
which of the following is considered the most desirable clinical outcome?
A) The student stops attending school
B) The student discusses the issue with friends
C) The student accepts a referral to a substance abuse counselor
D) The student promises to never use drugs again
E) The student starts a new exercise routine
Correct Answer: C) The student accepts a referral to a substance abuse counselor.
Rationale: While many outcomes are helpful, the professional goal is for the client to
acknowledge the problem and accept help from a specialist trained to manage addiction
and behavioral health.
Question 9
The nurse is diluting an intravenous dose of phenytoin (Dilantin). Which solution is the only
appropriate diluent for this medication to prevent precipitation?
A) 5% Dextrose in Water (D5W)
B) Lactated Ringer’s
C) Normal saline (0.9%)
D) 0.45% Sodium Chloride
E) Sterile Water
Correct Answer: C) Normal saline (0.9%) solution.
Rationale: Phenytoin is highly unstable and will precipitate (form crystals) if mixed with
any solution containing dextrose. It must be diluted only with Normal Saline and
administered through a filter.
Question 10
Which obstetric term is used to describe a woman who is currently pregnant, regardless of the
