KAPLAN DIAGNOSTIC COMPLETE
EXAM 200 VERIFIED QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS WITH DETAILED
RATIONALES NCLEX-RN Preparation |
Guaranteed A+ | All Major Content
Areas
1. A client is admitted to the emergency department with
deep partial-thickness burns of the arms and chest sustained
in a house fire. The client is very restless and anxious. Which
action should the nurse take FIRST?
A. Start an IV line for fluid resuscitation
B. Apply silver sulfadiazine cream to the burns
C. Listen to breath sounds (Correct Answer)
D. Obtain a carboxyhemoglobin level
Rationale: In a burn patient, restlessness and anxiety are often
early signs of hypoxia or airway compromise due to smoke
inhalation. The priority action is to assess the airway and
breathing (the "A" and "B" of the ABCs) before any other
intervention.
*Source: KAPLAN MEDSURG COMPREHENSIVE FINAL EXAM
2026***
,2. The clinic nurse cares for a client diagnosed with irritable
bowel syndrome. It is MOST important for the nurse to
include which of the following statements to the client?
A. "It would be helpful to increase your intake of whole
grains, raw fruits, and vegetables." (Correct Answer)
B. "You should avoid all dairy products permanently."
C. "You should take a laxative every morning."
D. "You should restrict all fluid intake."
Rationale: A high-fiber diet helps regulate bowel function in IBS.
Whole grains, raw fruits, and vegetables provide the necessary
fiber to manage both constipation and diarrhea symptoms
associated with IBS.
*Source: KAPLAN MEDSURG COMPREHENSIVE FINAL EXAM
2026***
3. A patient is admitted with a diagnosis of acute myocardial
infarction. Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Measure the patient’s blood pressure.
B. Administer oxygen via nasal cannula. (Correct Answer)
C. Obtain a 12-lead ECG.
D. Auscultate the patient’s lung sounds.
Rationale: Following the ABCs (Airway, Breathing, Circulation),
providing oxygen takes priority to improve myocardial tissue
perfusion immediately.
*Source: KAPLAN DIAGNOSTIC MASTERY 2024***
4. A client is eight hours postoperative after a transurethral
resection of the prostate (TURP). Which of these
observations, if noted by a nurse, indicates a complication?
A. Pink-tinged urine output of 40 mL/hour
,B. BP 92/60 mm Hg, pulse rate 118/minute (Correct Answer)
C. Reports of mild bladder discomfort
D. Continuous bladder irrigation infusing at 100 mL/hour
Rationale: Hypotension with tachycardia indicates possible
hemorrhagic shock following TURP. Postoperative bleeding is a
significant complication that requires immediate intervention.
*Source: KAPLAN MEDSURG COMPREHENSIVE FINAL EXAM
2026***
5. The nurse identifies which patient is at the highest risk for
developing skin breakdown?
A. An ambulatory patient with type 2 diabetes.
B. A confused patient who is incontinent of urine. (Correct
Answer)
C. A patient with a fractured arm in a sling.
D. A patient receiving physical therapy after a stroke.
Rationale: Moisture from incontinence combined with the
inability to shift weight (implied by confusion) creates the highest
risk for skin maceration and pressure ulcers.
*Source: KAPLAN DIAGNOSTIC MASTERY 2024***
Management of Care & Safety
6. A nurse is caring for a client with a new tracheostomy.
Which action is most important to prevent complications?
A. Suction the tracheostomy every hour.
B. Keep the tracheostomy ties loose to prevent pressure.
, C. Maintain the inner cannula cleanliness (Correct Answer)
D. Use sterile technique for all tracheostomy care.
Rationale: Maintaining a clean inner cannula is essential to
prevent mucus plugging and airway obstruction. While sterile
technique is important for initial insertion and suctioning, the
priority is ensuring patency.
*Source: Kaplan Diagnostic Exam A 2026***
7. A charge nurse is making client assignments for a medical-
surgical unit. Which client should be assigned to the most
experienced registered nurse (RN)?
A. A 45-year-old with type 2 diabetes mellitus requiring a dressing
change for a foot ulcer.
B. A 60-year-old admitted for observation after a transient
ischemic attack (TIA), now stable.
C. A 55-year-old 2 days post-colostomy surgery who is learning to
irrigate the colostomy.
D. A 70-year-old with new-onset atrial fibrillation, started on
an IV heparin drip 2 hours ago. (Correct Answer)
Rationale: Client assignments should be based on acuity and staff
competency. The client on a heparin drip is unstable, requires
frequent monitoring (aPTT levels), and has a high risk for
complications (bleeding).
*Source: KAPLAN DIAGNOSTIC COMPLETE EXAM 500 VERIFIED
QUESTIONS***
8. A nurse is caring for a client who has a diagnosis of
Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) infection. Which action by the
nursing assistant requires the nurse to intervene immediately?
A. The assistant removes the isolation gown before leaving the
EXAM 200 VERIFIED QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS WITH DETAILED
RATIONALES NCLEX-RN Preparation |
Guaranteed A+ | All Major Content
Areas
1. A client is admitted to the emergency department with
deep partial-thickness burns of the arms and chest sustained
in a house fire. The client is very restless and anxious. Which
action should the nurse take FIRST?
A. Start an IV line for fluid resuscitation
B. Apply silver sulfadiazine cream to the burns
C. Listen to breath sounds (Correct Answer)
D. Obtain a carboxyhemoglobin level
Rationale: In a burn patient, restlessness and anxiety are often
early signs of hypoxia or airway compromise due to smoke
inhalation. The priority action is to assess the airway and
breathing (the "A" and "B" of the ABCs) before any other
intervention.
*Source: KAPLAN MEDSURG COMPREHENSIVE FINAL EXAM
2026***
,2. The clinic nurse cares for a client diagnosed with irritable
bowel syndrome. It is MOST important for the nurse to
include which of the following statements to the client?
A. "It would be helpful to increase your intake of whole
grains, raw fruits, and vegetables." (Correct Answer)
B. "You should avoid all dairy products permanently."
C. "You should take a laxative every morning."
D. "You should restrict all fluid intake."
Rationale: A high-fiber diet helps regulate bowel function in IBS.
Whole grains, raw fruits, and vegetables provide the necessary
fiber to manage both constipation and diarrhea symptoms
associated with IBS.
*Source: KAPLAN MEDSURG COMPREHENSIVE FINAL EXAM
2026***
3. A patient is admitted with a diagnosis of acute myocardial
infarction. Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Measure the patient’s blood pressure.
B. Administer oxygen via nasal cannula. (Correct Answer)
C. Obtain a 12-lead ECG.
D. Auscultate the patient’s lung sounds.
Rationale: Following the ABCs (Airway, Breathing, Circulation),
providing oxygen takes priority to improve myocardial tissue
perfusion immediately.
*Source: KAPLAN DIAGNOSTIC MASTERY 2024***
4. A client is eight hours postoperative after a transurethral
resection of the prostate (TURP). Which of these
observations, if noted by a nurse, indicates a complication?
A. Pink-tinged urine output of 40 mL/hour
,B. BP 92/60 mm Hg, pulse rate 118/minute (Correct Answer)
C. Reports of mild bladder discomfort
D. Continuous bladder irrigation infusing at 100 mL/hour
Rationale: Hypotension with tachycardia indicates possible
hemorrhagic shock following TURP. Postoperative bleeding is a
significant complication that requires immediate intervention.
*Source: KAPLAN MEDSURG COMPREHENSIVE FINAL EXAM
2026***
5. The nurse identifies which patient is at the highest risk for
developing skin breakdown?
A. An ambulatory patient with type 2 diabetes.
B. A confused patient who is incontinent of urine. (Correct
Answer)
C. A patient with a fractured arm in a sling.
D. A patient receiving physical therapy after a stroke.
Rationale: Moisture from incontinence combined with the
inability to shift weight (implied by confusion) creates the highest
risk for skin maceration and pressure ulcers.
*Source: KAPLAN DIAGNOSTIC MASTERY 2024***
Management of Care & Safety
6. A nurse is caring for a client with a new tracheostomy.
Which action is most important to prevent complications?
A. Suction the tracheostomy every hour.
B. Keep the tracheostomy ties loose to prevent pressure.
, C. Maintain the inner cannula cleanliness (Correct Answer)
D. Use sterile technique for all tracheostomy care.
Rationale: Maintaining a clean inner cannula is essential to
prevent mucus plugging and airway obstruction. While sterile
technique is important for initial insertion and suctioning, the
priority is ensuring patency.
*Source: Kaplan Diagnostic Exam A 2026***
7. A charge nurse is making client assignments for a medical-
surgical unit. Which client should be assigned to the most
experienced registered nurse (RN)?
A. A 45-year-old with type 2 diabetes mellitus requiring a dressing
change for a foot ulcer.
B. A 60-year-old admitted for observation after a transient
ischemic attack (TIA), now stable.
C. A 55-year-old 2 days post-colostomy surgery who is learning to
irrigate the colostomy.
D. A 70-year-old with new-onset atrial fibrillation, started on
an IV heparin drip 2 hours ago. (Correct Answer)
Rationale: Client assignments should be based on acuity and staff
competency. The client on a heparin drip is unstable, requires
frequent monitoring (aPTT levels), and has a high risk for
complications (bleeding).
*Source: KAPLAN DIAGNOSTIC COMPLETE EXAM 500 VERIFIED
QUESTIONS***
8. A nurse is caring for a client who has a diagnosis of
Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) infection. Which action by the
nursing assistant requires the nurse to intervene immediately?
A. The assistant removes the isolation gown before leaving the
