Nursing-Health Sciences
CEA Prep Full Practice
Exam, NCLEX-RN/PN
Readiness Programs,
2026/2027
The nurse observes that a male client has removed the covering from an ice park
applied to his knee. What action should the nurse take first?
A. Observe the appearance of the skin under the ice pack.
B. Instruct the client regarding the need for the covering.
C. Reapply the covering after filling with fresh ice.
D. Ask the client how long the ice was applied to the skin. - <<<<CORRECT
ANSWERS>>>Observe the appearance of the skin under the ice pack (The first action
taken by the nurse should be to assess the skin for any possible thermal injury. If no
injury to the skin has occurred, the nurse can take the other actions.)
The nurse mixes 50 mg of Nipride in 250 mL of D5W and plans to administer the
solution at a rate of 5 mcg/kg/min to a client weighting 182 lbs. Using a drip factor of 60
gtt/mL, how many drops per minute should the client receive? - <<<<CORRECT
ANSWERS>>>124 gtt/min
The healthcare provider prescribes an IV infusion of 1000 ml of Ringer's Lactate w/ 30
units of Pitocin to run in over 4 hours for a client who has just delivered a 10 pound
infant by cesarean section. The tubing has been changed to a 20 gtt/ml administration
set. The nurse plans to set the flow rate at how many gtt/min? - <<<<CORRECT
ANSWERS>>>83 gtt/min
Which assessment data provides the most accurate determination of proper placement
of a nasogastric tube? - <<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>Examining a chest x-ray
obtained after the tubing was inserted
Three days following a surgery, a male client observes his colostomy for the first time.
He becomes quite upset and tells the nurse that it is much bigger than he expected.
What is the best response by the nurse?
A. Reassure the client that he will become accustomed to the stoma appearance in
time.
B. Instruct the client that the stoma will become much smaller when the initial swelling
diminishes.
,C. Offer to contact a member of the local ostomy support group to help him with his
concerns.
D. Encourage the client to handle the stoma equipment to gain confidence with the
procedure. - <<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>B. Instruct the client that the stoma will
become smaller when the initial swelling diminishes (Postoperative swelling causes
enlargement of the stoma. The nurse can teach the client that the stoma will become
smaller when swelling is diminished (B). This will help reduce the client's anxiety and
promote acceptance of the colostomy. (A) does not provide helpful teaching or support.
(C) is a useful action, and may be taken after the nurse provides pertinent teaching. The
client is not yet demonstrating readiness to learn colostomy care. (D)
A female client with a nasogastric tube attached to low suction states that she is
nauseated. The nurse assesses that there has been no drainage through the
nasogastric tube in the last two hours. What action should the nurse take first?
A. Irrigate the nasogastric tube with sterile normal saline.
B. Reposition the client on her side.
C. Advance the nasogastric tube an additional five centimeters.
D. Administer an intravenous antiemetic prescribed for PRN use. - <<<<CORRECT
ANSWERS>>>B. Reposition the client on her side. (The immediate priority is to
determine if the tube is functioning correctly, which would then relieve the client's
nausea. The least invasive intervention (B) should be attempted first, followed by (A and
C), unless either of these interventions is contraindicated. If these measures are
unsuccessful, the client may require an antiemetic (D))
A hospitalized male client is receiving nasogastric tube feedings via a small-bore tube
and a continuous pump infusion. He reports that he had a bad bout of severe coughing
a few minutes ago, but feels fine now. What action is best for the nurse to take?
A. Record the coughing incident. No further action is required at this time.
B. Stop the feeding, explain to the family why it is being stopped, and notify the HCP.
C. After clearing the tube with 30 ml of air, check the pH of fluid withdrawn from the
tube.
D. Inject 30 ml of air into the tube while auscultating the epigastrium for gurgling. -
<<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>C. After clearing the tube with 30 ml of air, check the
pH of fluid withdrawn from the tube.
A male client tells the nurse that he does not know where he is or what year it is. What
data should the nurse document that is most accurate?
A. demonstrates loss of remote memory
B. exhibits expressive dysphasia
C. has a diminished attention span
D. is disoriented to place and time - <<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>D. is disoriented to
place and time (The client is exhibiting disorientation (D). (A) refers to memory of the
distant past. The client is able to express himself without difficulty (B), and does not
demonstrate diminished attention span. (C).
,A client with chronic kidney disease (CKD) selects a scrambled egg for his breakfast.
What action should the nurse take?
A. Commend the client for selecting a high biologic value protein.
B. Remind the client that protein in the diet should be avoided.
C. Suggest that the client also select orange juice, to promote absorption.
D. Encourage the client to attend classes on dietary management of CKD. -
<<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>A. Commend the client for selecting a high biologic
value protein. (Foods such as eggs and milk (A) are high biologic proteins which are
allowed because they are complete proteins and supply the essential amino acids that
are necessary for growth and cell repair. Orange juice is rich in potassium and should
not be encouraged. The client has made a good diet choice so (D) is not necessary.)
When assisting an 82 year old client to ambulate, it is important for the nurse to realize
that the center of gravity for an elderly person is the-- - <<<<CORRECT
ANSWERS>>>Upper torso (The center of gravity for adults is the hips. However, as the
person grows older, a stooped posture is common because of the changes from
osteoporosis and normal bone degeneration, and the knees, hips, and elbows flex. This
stooped posture results in the upper torso becoming the center of gravity for older
persons.)
In developing a plan of care for a client with dementia, the nurse should remember that
confusion in the elderly
A. is to be expected, and progresses with age
B. often follows relocation to new surroundings
C. is a result of irreversible brain pathology
D. can be prevented with adequate sleep - <<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>B. often
follows relocation to new surroundings (Relocation (B) often results in confusion among
elderly clients-- moving is stressful for anyone. (A) is stereotypical judgement. Stress in
the elderly often manifests itself as confusion, so (C) is wrong. Adequate sleep is not a
prevention (D) for confusion.)
A postoperative client will need to perform daily dressing changes after discharge.
Which outcome statement best demonstrates the client's readiness to manage his
wound care after discharge? The client
A. asks relevant questions regarding the dressing change
B. states he will be able to complete the wound care regimen
C. demonstrates the wound care procedure correctly
D. has all the necessary supplies for wound care - <<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>C.
demonstrates the wound care procedure correctly
(A return demonstration of a procedure (C) provides an objective assessment of the
client's ability to perform a task, while (A and B) are subjective measures. (D) is
important, but is less of a priority than the the nurse's assessment of the client's ability
to complete wound care.)
, A client who is 5 '5" tall and weighs 200 pounds is scheduled for surgery the next day.
What question is most important for the nurse to include during the preoperative
assessment?
A. What is your daily calorie consumption?
B. What vitamin and mineral supplements do you take?"
C. "Do you feel that you are overweight?"
D. "Will a clear liquid diet be okay after surgery?" - <<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>B.
"What vitamin and mineral supplements do you take?"
(Vitamin and mineral supplements (B) may impact medications used during the
operative period. (A and C) are appropriate questions for long-term dietary counseling.
The nature of the surgery and anesthesia will determine the need for a clear liquid diet
(D), rather than the client's preference.)
During the initial morning assessment, a male client denies dysuria but reports that his
urine appears dark amber. Which intervention should the nurse implement?
A. Provide additional coffee on the client's breakfast tray.
B. Exchange the client's grape juice for cranberry juice.
C. Bring the client additional fruit at mid-morning.
D. Encourage additional oral intake of juices and water. - <<<<CORRECT
ANSWERS>>>D. Encourage additional oral intake of juices and water.
Which intervention is most important for the nurse to implement for a male client who is
experiencing urinary retention?
A. Apply a condom catheter
B. Apply a skin protectant
C. Encourage increased fluid intake
D. Assess for bladder distention - <<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>D. Assess the
bladder for distention (Urinary retention is the inability to void all urine collected in the
bladder, which leads to uncomfortable bladder distention (D). (A and B) are useful
actions to protect the skin of a client with urinary incontinence. (C) may worsen the
bladder distention.)
A client with acute hemorrhagic anemia is to receive four units of packed RBCs as
rapidly as possible. Which intervention is most important for the nurse to implement?
A. Obtain the pre-transfusion hemoglobin level.
B. Prime the tubing and prepare a blood pump set-up
C. Monitor vital signs q 15 min for the first hour.
D. Ensure the accuracy of the blood type match. - <<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>D.
Ensure the accuracy of the blood type match.
(ALL interventions should be implemented prior to administering blood, but (D) has the
highest priority. Any time blood is administered the nurse should ensure the accuracy of
the blood type match in order to prevent a possible hemolytic reaction.)
A male client being discharged with a prescription for the bronchodilator theophylline
tells the nurse that he understands he is to take three doses of the medication each
day. Since, at the time of discharge, time-released capsules are not available, which
CEA Prep Full Practice
Exam, NCLEX-RN/PN
Readiness Programs,
2026/2027
The nurse observes that a male client has removed the covering from an ice park
applied to his knee. What action should the nurse take first?
A. Observe the appearance of the skin under the ice pack.
B. Instruct the client regarding the need for the covering.
C. Reapply the covering after filling with fresh ice.
D. Ask the client how long the ice was applied to the skin. - <<<<CORRECT
ANSWERS>>>Observe the appearance of the skin under the ice pack (The first action
taken by the nurse should be to assess the skin for any possible thermal injury. If no
injury to the skin has occurred, the nurse can take the other actions.)
The nurse mixes 50 mg of Nipride in 250 mL of D5W and plans to administer the
solution at a rate of 5 mcg/kg/min to a client weighting 182 lbs. Using a drip factor of 60
gtt/mL, how many drops per minute should the client receive? - <<<<CORRECT
ANSWERS>>>124 gtt/min
The healthcare provider prescribes an IV infusion of 1000 ml of Ringer's Lactate w/ 30
units of Pitocin to run in over 4 hours for a client who has just delivered a 10 pound
infant by cesarean section. The tubing has been changed to a 20 gtt/ml administration
set. The nurse plans to set the flow rate at how many gtt/min? - <<<<CORRECT
ANSWERS>>>83 gtt/min
Which assessment data provides the most accurate determination of proper placement
of a nasogastric tube? - <<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>Examining a chest x-ray
obtained after the tubing was inserted
Three days following a surgery, a male client observes his colostomy for the first time.
He becomes quite upset and tells the nurse that it is much bigger than he expected.
What is the best response by the nurse?
A. Reassure the client that he will become accustomed to the stoma appearance in
time.
B. Instruct the client that the stoma will become much smaller when the initial swelling
diminishes.
,C. Offer to contact a member of the local ostomy support group to help him with his
concerns.
D. Encourage the client to handle the stoma equipment to gain confidence with the
procedure. - <<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>B. Instruct the client that the stoma will
become smaller when the initial swelling diminishes (Postoperative swelling causes
enlargement of the stoma. The nurse can teach the client that the stoma will become
smaller when swelling is diminished (B). This will help reduce the client's anxiety and
promote acceptance of the colostomy. (A) does not provide helpful teaching or support.
(C) is a useful action, and may be taken after the nurse provides pertinent teaching. The
client is not yet demonstrating readiness to learn colostomy care. (D)
A female client with a nasogastric tube attached to low suction states that she is
nauseated. The nurse assesses that there has been no drainage through the
nasogastric tube in the last two hours. What action should the nurse take first?
A. Irrigate the nasogastric tube with sterile normal saline.
B. Reposition the client on her side.
C. Advance the nasogastric tube an additional five centimeters.
D. Administer an intravenous antiemetic prescribed for PRN use. - <<<<CORRECT
ANSWERS>>>B. Reposition the client on her side. (The immediate priority is to
determine if the tube is functioning correctly, which would then relieve the client's
nausea. The least invasive intervention (B) should be attempted first, followed by (A and
C), unless either of these interventions is contraindicated. If these measures are
unsuccessful, the client may require an antiemetic (D))
A hospitalized male client is receiving nasogastric tube feedings via a small-bore tube
and a continuous pump infusion. He reports that he had a bad bout of severe coughing
a few minutes ago, but feels fine now. What action is best for the nurse to take?
A. Record the coughing incident. No further action is required at this time.
B. Stop the feeding, explain to the family why it is being stopped, and notify the HCP.
C. After clearing the tube with 30 ml of air, check the pH of fluid withdrawn from the
tube.
D. Inject 30 ml of air into the tube while auscultating the epigastrium for gurgling. -
<<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>C. After clearing the tube with 30 ml of air, check the
pH of fluid withdrawn from the tube.
A male client tells the nurse that he does not know where he is or what year it is. What
data should the nurse document that is most accurate?
A. demonstrates loss of remote memory
B. exhibits expressive dysphasia
C. has a diminished attention span
D. is disoriented to place and time - <<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>D. is disoriented to
place and time (The client is exhibiting disorientation (D). (A) refers to memory of the
distant past. The client is able to express himself without difficulty (B), and does not
demonstrate diminished attention span. (C).
,A client with chronic kidney disease (CKD) selects a scrambled egg for his breakfast.
What action should the nurse take?
A. Commend the client for selecting a high biologic value protein.
B. Remind the client that protein in the diet should be avoided.
C. Suggest that the client also select orange juice, to promote absorption.
D. Encourage the client to attend classes on dietary management of CKD. -
<<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>A. Commend the client for selecting a high biologic
value protein. (Foods such as eggs and milk (A) are high biologic proteins which are
allowed because they are complete proteins and supply the essential amino acids that
are necessary for growth and cell repair. Orange juice is rich in potassium and should
not be encouraged. The client has made a good diet choice so (D) is not necessary.)
When assisting an 82 year old client to ambulate, it is important for the nurse to realize
that the center of gravity for an elderly person is the-- - <<<<CORRECT
ANSWERS>>>Upper torso (The center of gravity for adults is the hips. However, as the
person grows older, a stooped posture is common because of the changes from
osteoporosis and normal bone degeneration, and the knees, hips, and elbows flex. This
stooped posture results in the upper torso becoming the center of gravity for older
persons.)
In developing a plan of care for a client with dementia, the nurse should remember that
confusion in the elderly
A. is to be expected, and progresses with age
B. often follows relocation to new surroundings
C. is a result of irreversible brain pathology
D. can be prevented with adequate sleep - <<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>B. often
follows relocation to new surroundings (Relocation (B) often results in confusion among
elderly clients-- moving is stressful for anyone. (A) is stereotypical judgement. Stress in
the elderly often manifests itself as confusion, so (C) is wrong. Adequate sleep is not a
prevention (D) for confusion.)
A postoperative client will need to perform daily dressing changes after discharge.
Which outcome statement best demonstrates the client's readiness to manage his
wound care after discharge? The client
A. asks relevant questions regarding the dressing change
B. states he will be able to complete the wound care regimen
C. demonstrates the wound care procedure correctly
D. has all the necessary supplies for wound care - <<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>C.
demonstrates the wound care procedure correctly
(A return demonstration of a procedure (C) provides an objective assessment of the
client's ability to perform a task, while (A and B) are subjective measures. (D) is
important, but is less of a priority than the the nurse's assessment of the client's ability
to complete wound care.)
, A client who is 5 '5" tall and weighs 200 pounds is scheduled for surgery the next day.
What question is most important for the nurse to include during the preoperative
assessment?
A. What is your daily calorie consumption?
B. What vitamin and mineral supplements do you take?"
C. "Do you feel that you are overweight?"
D. "Will a clear liquid diet be okay after surgery?" - <<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>B.
"What vitamin and mineral supplements do you take?"
(Vitamin and mineral supplements (B) may impact medications used during the
operative period. (A and C) are appropriate questions for long-term dietary counseling.
The nature of the surgery and anesthesia will determine the need for a clear liquid diet
(D), rather than the client's preference.)
During the initial morning assessment, a male client denies dysuria but reports that his
urine appears dark amber. Which intervention should the nurse implement?
A. Provide additional coffee on the client's breakfast tray.
B. Exchange the client's grape juice for cranberry juice.
C. Bring the client additional fruit at mid-morning.
D. Encourage additional oral intake of juices and water. - <<<<CORRECT
ANSWERS>>>D. Encourage additional oral intake of juices and water.
Which intervention is most important for the nurse to implement for a male client who is
experiencing urinary retention?
A. Apply a condom catheter
B. Apply a skin protectant
C. Encourage increased fluid intake
D. Assess for bladder distention - <<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>D. Assess the
bladder for distention (Urinary retention is the inability to void all urine collected in the
bladder, which leads to uncomfortable bladder distention (D). (A and B) are useful
actions to protect the skin of a client with urinary incontinence. (C) may worsen the
bladder distention.)
A client with acute hemorrhagic anemia is to receive four units of packed RBCs as
rapidly as possible. Which intervention is most important for the nurse to implement?
A. Obtain the pre-transfusion hemoglobin level.
B. Prime the tubing and prepare a blood pump set-up
C. Monitor vital signs q 15 min for the first hour.
D. Ensure the accuracy of the blood type match. - <<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>D.
Ensure the accuracy of the blood type match.
(ALL interventions should be implemented prior to administering blood, but (D) has the
highest priority. Any time blood is administered the nurse should ensure the accuracy of
the blood type match in order to prevent a possible hemolytic reaction.)
A male client being discharged with a prescription for the bronchodilator theophylline
tells the nurse that he understands he is to take three doses of the medication each
day. Since, at the time of discharge, time-released capsules are not available, which
