KAPLAN RN EXIT EXAM QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES|
ALREADY GRADED A+,,,,,2026
This document contains frequently tested questions from the Kaplan RN
Exit Exam, covering essential nursing content areas including
pharmacology, medical-surgical nursing, prioritization, delegation, and
client education. Each question includes the correct ,,,ANSWER,,, and a
detailed rationale to reinforce clinical judgment.
PHARMACOLOGY (Questions 1-40)
Q1: A nurse is administering digoxin to a client with heart failure.
Which finding requires withholding the medication and notifying the
provider?
A) Apical pulse 62 beats/min
B) Serum potassium level 3.2 mEq/L
C) Client reports nausea and blurred vision
D) Client has a dry cough
Correct ,,,ANSWER,,,: B (most critical) OR C (toxicity signs present).
The question asks which finding requires withholding.
Rationale: Hypokalemia (potassium <3.5 mEq/L) increases the risk of
digoxin toxicity by enhancing the drug's effect on cardiac cells,
potentially leading to life-threatening arrhythmias. Nausea and blurred
,vision are signs of already present digoxin toxicity. Both findings would
warrant withholding the medication and notifying the provider. Dry cough
is not associated with digoxin .
Standard of care: Withhold digoxin for apical pulse <60 bpm in adults,
signs of toxicity (nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, yellow-green halos,
bradycardia, arrhythmias), or hypokalemia .
Q2: A nurse is administering furosemide (Lasix) to a client with
pulmonary edema. Which laboratory value should the nurse monitor
most closely?
A) Serum sodium
B) Serum potassium
C) Serum calcium
D) Serum glucose
Correct ,,,ANSWER,,,: B
Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that causes significant
potassium loss. Hypokalemia can lead to cardiac arrhythmias, especially
in clients also taking digoxin. Potassium levels should be monitored
frequently and replaced as needed .
Q3: A nurse is administering heparin to a client with a pulmonary
embolism. Which laboratory test is used to monitor heparin therapy?
,A) aPTT (activated partial thromboplastin time)
B) INR (international normalized ratio)
C) PT (prothrombin time)
D) Platelet count
Correct ,,,ANSWER,,,: A
Rationale: Heparin therapy is monitored by aPTT, with a therapeutic goal
of 1.5-2.5 times the control value (approximately 45-75 seconds).
INR/PT monitors warfarin (Coumadin). Platelet count monitors for
heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) .
Q4: A client taking warfarin (Coumadin) has an INR of 4.0. Which
action should the nurse take?
A) Administer the next scheduled dose as ordered
B) Hold the next dose and notify the provider
C) Administer vitamin K intramuscularly
D) Increase the dose to lower the INR
Correct ,,,ANSWER,,,: B
Rationale: Therapeutic INR for most indications is 2.0-3.0. An INR of 4.0
indicates excessive anticoagulation and increased bleeding risk. The
nurse should hold the next dose and notify the provider for further
instruction. Vitamin K may be ordered as an antidote, but should not be
administered without a provider order .
, Q5: A client prescribed warfarin asks about dietary restrictions.
Which response is correct?
A) "Avoid all foods containing vitamin K."
B) "Maintain a consistent intake of vitamin K-rich foods."
C) "Increase your intake of green leafy vegetables."
D) "Vitamin K has no effect on warfarin."
Correct ,,,ANSWER,,,: B
Rationale: Warfarin works by antagonizing vitamin K. The client should
maintain a consistent intake of vitamin K-rich foods (green leafy
vegetables) from week to week to keep the INR stable. Sudden increases
or decreases in vitamin K intake can alter anticoagulation levels .
Q6: A nurse is administering enoxaparin (Lovenox) subcutaneously.
Which technique is correct?
A) Administer IM into the deltoid muscle
B) Administer subcutaneously into the abdomen; do not expel air bubble
from prefilled syringe
C) Massage the site after injection
D) Aspirate before injecting
Correct ,,,ANSWER,,,: B
Rationale: Enoxaparin is administered subcutaneously into the
abdomen. The air bubble in the prefilled syringe should not be expelled—
it ensures the full dose is delivered and prevents leakage. Do not aspirate
(risk of hematoma) and do not massage the site (increases bruising risk) .
CORRECT ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES|
ALREADY GRADED A+,,,,,2026
This document contains frequently tested questions from the Kaplan RN
Exit Exam, covering essential nursing content areas including
pharmacology, medical-surgical nursing, prioritization, delegation, and
client education. Each question includes the correct ,,,ANSWER,,, and a
detailed rationale to reinforce clinical judgment.
PHARMACOLOGY (Questions 1-40)
Q1: A nurse is administering digoxin to a client with heart failure.
Which finding requires withholding the medication and notifying the
provider?
A) Apical pulse 62 beats/min
B) Serum potassium level 3.2 mEq/L
C) Client reports nausea and blurred vision
D) Client has a dry cough
Correct ,,,ANSWER,,,: B (most critical) OR C (toxicity signs present).
The question asks which finding requires withholding.
Rationale: Hypokalemia (potassium <3.5 mEq/L) increases the risk of
digoxin toxicity by enhancing the drug's effect on cardiac cells,
potentially leading to life-threatening arrhythmias. Nausea and blurred
,vision are signs of already present digoxin toxicity. Both findings would
warrant withholding the medication and notifying the provider. Dry cough
is not associated with digoxin .
Standard of care: Withhold digoxin for apical pulse <60 bpm in adults,
signs of toxicity (nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, yellow-green halos,
bradycardia, arrhythmias), or hypokalemia .
Q2: A nurse is administering furosemide (Lasix) to a client with
pulmonary edema. Which laboratory value should the nurse monitor
most closely?
A) Serum sodium
B) Serum potassium
C) Serum calcium
D) Serum glucose
Correct ,,,ANSWER,,,: B
Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that causes significant
potassium loss. Hypokalemia can lead to cardiac arrhythmias, especially
in clients also taking digoxin. Potassium levels should be monitored
frequently and replaced as needed .
Q3: A nurse is administering heparin to a client with a pulmonary
embolism. Which laboratory test is used to monitor heparin therapy?
,A) aPTT (activated partial thromboplastin time)
B) INR (international normalized ratio)
C) PT (prothrombin time)
D) Platelet count
Correct ,,,ANSWER,,,: A
Rationale: Heparin therapy is monitored by aPTT, with a therapeutic goal
of 1.5-2.5 times the control value (approximately 45-75 seconds).
INR/PT monitors warfarin (Coumadin). Platelet count monitors for
heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) .
Q4: A client taking warfarin (Coumadin) has an INR of 4.0. Which
action should the nurse take?
A) Administer the next scheduled dose as ordered
B) Hold the next dose and notify the provider
C) Administer vitamin K intramuscularly
D) Increase the dose to lower the INR
Correct ,,,ANSWER,,,: B
Rationale: Therapeutic INR for most indications is 2.0-3.0. An INR of 4.0
indicates excessive anticoagulation and increased bleeding risk. The
nurse should hold the next dose and notify the provider for further
instruction. Vitamin K may be ordered as an antidote, but should not be
administered without a provider order .
, Q5: A client prescribed warfarin asks about dietary restrictions.
Which response is correct?
A) "Avoid all foods containing vitamin K."
B) "Maintain a consistent intake of vitamin K-rich foods."
C) "Increase your intake of green leafy vegetables."
D) "Vitamin K has no effect on warfarin."
Correct ,,,ANSWER,,,: B
Rationale: Warfarin works by antagonizing vitamin K. The client should
maintain a consistent intake of vitamin K-rich foods (green leafy
vegetables) from week to week to keep the INR stable. Sudden increases
or decreases in vitamin K intake can alter anticoagulation levels .
Q6: A nurse is administering enoxaparin (Lovenox) subcutaneously.
Which technique is correct?
A) Administer IM into the deltoid muscle
B) Administer subcutaneously into the abdomen; do not expel air bubble
from prefilled syringe
C) Massage the site after injection
D) Aspirate before injecting
Correct ,,,ANSWER,,,: B
Rationale: Enoxaparin is administered subcutaneously into the
abdomen. The air bubble in the prefilled syringe should not be expelled—
it ensures the full dose is delivered and prevents leakage. Do not aspirate
(risk of hematoma) and do not massage the site (increases bruising risk) .
