NACE Foundations of Nursing Exam 2026
Practice Questions and Verified Answers |
Complete Nursing Fundamentals Study
Guide
• This practice guide contains 200 verified multiple-choice questions covering
all core domains of the NACE Foundations of Nursing Exam 2026 — use it by
attempting each question before checking the answer and EXPERT
RATIONALE.
• For best results, study 20–25 questions per session, review every EXPERT
RATIONALE whether you answered correctly or not, and revisit missed
questions at the end of each study block.
NACE FOUNDATIONS OF NURSING EXAM 2026
200 Practice Questions with Verified Answers & EXPERT RATIONALE
SECTION 1: SAFETY & INFECTION CONTROL
Q1. A nurse is preparing to insert a urinary catheter. Which action best
reflects proper sterile technique?
A. Wearing clean gloves throughout the procedure
B. Placing the sterile field below waist level for comfort
C. Opening sterile packages by reaching over the sterile field
D. Donning sterile gloves after setting up the sterile field
E. Talking freely over the sterile field to communicate with the team
Correct Answer: D. Donning sterile gloves after setting up the sterile field
EXPERT RATIONALE: Sterile gloves are put on after the sterile field is established to
avoid contaminating the field. Reaching over the field, placing it below waist level,
or using clean gloves would break sterile technique.
,Q2. A client has been placed on contact precautions for C. difficile infection.
Which PPE should the nurse wear before entering the room?
A. N95 respirator and gloves
B. Gown and gloves
C. Surgical mask and gloves
D. Face shield and N95 respirator
E. Goggles and surgical mask only
Correct Answer: B. Gown and gloves EXPERT RATIONALE: Contact
precautions require gown and gloves before entering the room. C. difficile is
transmitted by contact, not airborne or droplet routes, so a respirator is not
required.
Q3. The nurse is performing hand hygiene. According to CDC guidelines, how
long should the nurse scrub with soap and water?
A. 5 seconds
B. 10 seconds
C. 20 seconds
D. 30 seconds
E. 60 seconds
Correct Answer: C. 20 seconds EXPERT RATIONALE: The CDC recommends
scrubbing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds to effectively remove
microorganisms, including C. difficile spores that alcohol-based sanitizers cannot
eliminate.
Q4. A nurse is caring for a client with active pulmonary tuberculosis. Which
type of isolation is most appropriate?
,A. Contact precautions
B. Droplet precautions
C. Protective/reverse isolation
D. Airborne precautions
E. Standard precautions only
Correct Answer: D. Airborne precautions EXPERT RATIONALE: Pulmonary TB
is transmitted by airborne droplet nuclei that remain suspended in the air. The
client requires a negative-pressure room, and the nurse must wear an N95
respirator.
Q5. A nurse finds a client on the floor next to the bed. After ensuring client
safety, what is the nurse's next priority action?
A. Complete the incident report and file it in the chart
B. Notify the client's family immediately
C. Reassess the client for injury
D. Reposition the client back into bed
E. Document the fall in the nurses' notes
Correct Answer: C. Reassess the client for injury EXPERT RATIONALE: After
ensuring immediate safety, the nurse must assess the client for injuries such as
fractures or head trauma. Incident reports and documentation follow after
assessment and stabilization.
Q6. Which of the following clients is at highest risk for a fall?
A. A 30-year-old post-operative client who is ambulatory
B. A 75-year-old client taking antihypertensives and diuretics with a history of
dizziness
, C. A 50-year-old client with a cast on the right arm
D. A 22-year-old client with a urinary tract infection
E. A 40-year-old client with controlled hypertension on no medications
Correct Answer: B. A 75-year-old client taking antihypertensives and
diuretics with a history of dizziness EXPERT RATIONALE: Advanced age,
polypharmacy (antihypertensives and diuretics that lower BP), and dizziness are
major fall risk factors. This combination places the client at the highest risk.
Q7. A nurse is about to administer a medication from a multi-dose vial. Which
action is most important?
A. Shake the vial vigorously before withdrawing medication
B. Use the same needle each time to reduce waste
C. Wipe the rubber stopper with an alcohol swab before each use
D. Store the vial at room temperature indefinitely
E. Label the vial only after the first use
Correct Answer: C. Wipe the rubber stopper with an alcohol swab before
each use EXPERT RATIONALE: Wiping the rubber stopper with alcohol before each
use prevents contamination of the vial contents. Multi-dose vials must be labeled
with the date opened and discarded per agency policy.
Q8. Which of the following is an example of a sentinel event?
A. A client who develops a mild rash after a new medication
B. A client who falls out of bed with no injury
C. A client who receives surgery on the wrong limb
D. A nurse who documents late after a medication administration
E. A client who refuses a scheduled treatment
Practice Questions and Verified Answers |
Complete Nursing Fundamentals Study
Guide
• This practice guide contains 200 verified multiple-choice questions covering
all core domains of the NACE Foundations of Nursing Exam 2026 — use it by
attempting each question before checking the answer and EXPERT
RATIONALE.
• For best results, study 20–25 questions per session, review every EXPERT
RATIONALE whether you answered correctly or not, and revisit missed
questions at the end of each study block.
NACE FOUNDATIONS OF NURSING EXAM 2026
200 Practice Questions with Verified Answers & EXPERT RATIONALE
SECTION 1: SAFETY & INFECTION CONTROL
Q1. A nurse is preparing to insert a urinary catheter. Which action best
reflects proper sterile technique?
A. Wearing clean gloves throughout the procedure
B. Placing the sterile field below waist level for comfort
C. Opening sterile packages by reaching over the sterile field
D. Donning sterile gloves after setting up the sterile field
E. Talking freely over the sterile field to communicate with the team
Correct Answer: D. Donning sterile gloves after setting up the sterile field
EXPERT RATIONALE: Sterile gloves are put on after the sterile field is established to
avoid contaminating the field. Reaching over the field, placing it below waist level,
or using clean gloves would break sterile technique.
,Q2. A client has been placed on contact precautions for C. difficile infection.
Which PPE should the nurse wear before entering the room?
A. N95 respirator and gloves
B. Gown and gloves
C. Surgical mask and gloves
D. Face shield and N95 respirator
E. Goggles and surgical mask only
Correct Answer: B. Gown and gloves EXPERT RATIONALE: Contact
precautions require gown and gloves before entering the room. C. difficile is
transmitted by contact, not airborne or droplet routes, so a respirator is not
required.
Q3. The nurse is performing hand hygiene. According to CDC guidelines, how
long should the nurse scrub with soap and water?
A. 5 seconds
B. 10 seconds
C. 20 seconds
D. 30 seconds
E. 60 seconds
Correct Answer: C. 20 seconds EXPERT RATIONALE: The CDC recommends
scrubbing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds to effectively remove
microorganisms, including C. difficile spores that alcohol-based sanitizers cannot
eliminate.
Q4. A nurse is caring for a client with active pulmonary tuberculosis. Which
type of isolation is most appropriate?
,A. Contact precautions
B. Droplet precautions
C. Protective/reverse isolation
D. Airborne precautions
E. Standard precautions only
Correct Answer: D. Airborne precautions EXPERT RATIONALE: Pulmonary TB
is transmitted by airborne droplet nuclei that remain suspended in the air. The
client requires a negative-pressure room, and the nurse must wear an N95
respirator.
Q5. A nurse finds a client on the floor next to the bed. After ensuring client
safety, what is the nurse's next priority action?
A. Complete the incident report and file it in the chart
B. Notify the client's family immediately
C. Reassess the client for injury
D. Reposition the client back into bed
E. Document the fall in the nurses' notes
Correct Answer: C. Reassess the client for injury EXPERT RATIONALE: After
ensuring immediate safety, the nurse must assess the client for injuries such as
fractures or head trauma. Incident reports and documentation follow after
assessment and stabilization.
Q6. Which of the following clients is at highest risk for a fall?
A. A 30-year-old post-operative client who is ambulatory
B. A 75-year-old client taking antihypertensives and diuretics with a history of
dizziness
, C. A 50-year-old client with a cast on the right arm
D. A 22-year-old client with a urinary tract infection
E. A 40-year-old client with controlled hypertension on no medications
Correct Answer: B. A 75-year-old client taking antihypertensives and
diuretics with a history of dizziness EXPERT RATIONALE: Advanced age,
polypharmacy (antihypertensives and diuretics that lower BP), and dizziness are
major fall risk factors. This combination places the client at the highest risk.
Q7. A nurse is about to administer a medication from a multi-dose vial. Which
action is most important?
A. Shake the vial vigorously before withdrawing medication
B. Use the same needle each time to reduce waste
C. Wipe the rubber stopper with an alcohol swab before each use
D. Store the vial at room temperature indefinitely
E. Label the vial only after the first use
Correct Answer: C. Wipe the rubber stopper with an alcohol swab before
each use EXPERT RATIONALE: Wiping the rubber stopper with alcohol before each
use prevents contamination of the vial contents. Multi-dose vials must be labeled
with the date opened and discarded per agency policy.
Q8. Which of the following is an example of a sentinel event?
A. A client who develops a mild rash after a new medication
B. A client who falls out of bed with no injury
C. A client who receives surgery on the wrong limb
D. A nurse who documents late after a medication administration
E. A client who refuses a scheduled treatment
