CALIFORNIA NCLEX-RN PRACTICE EXAM 2026 – QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
| VERIFIED AND WELL DETAILED ANSWERS | PLUS RATIONALES |
GUARANTEED PASS | LATEST EXAM UPDATE
CORE DOMAINS*
• Medical-Surgical Nursing*
• Pharmacology and Medication Administration*
• Maternal and Newborn Nursing*
• Pediatric Nursing*
• Mental Health Nursing*
• Leadership and Management*
• Infection Control and Safety*
• Ethics and Legal Responsibilities*
• Critical Care and Emergency Nursing*
• Health Assessment and Patient Education*
, INTRODUCTION*
This assessment is designed to evaluate the knowle
SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1–100
1. A nurse is caring for a client with heart failure who reports shortness of
breath while lying flat. Which term best describes this symptom?
A. Dyspnea
B. Orthopnea
C. Tachypnea
D. Bradypnea
🟢✔️ B. Orthopnea
🔴 Explanation: Orthopnea refers to difficulty breathing when lying flat and is
commonly associated with heart failure.
2. A nurse is preparing to administer insulin glargine. Which statement is
correct regarding this medication?
A. It peaks within 1 hour
B. It can be mixed with regular insulin
C. It provides long-acting basal coverage
D. It should be administered intravenously
🟢✔️ C. It provides long-acting basal coverage
🔴 Explanation: Insulin glargine is a long-acting insulin used to provide steady
basal glucose control.
3. A client with COPD is prescribed oxygen therapy. Which action is most
appropriate?
,A. Administer oxygen at 10 L/min routinely
B. Maintain oxygen saturation between 88% and 92%
C. Discontinue oxygen if saturation reaches 90%
D. Use a nonrebreather mask continuously
🟢✔️ B. Maintain oxygen saturation between 88% and 92%
🔴 Explanation: Clients with COPD often require controlled oxygen therapy to
avoid suppressing respiratory drive.
4. A nurse is assessing a postoperative client for deep vein thrombosis.
Which finding requires immediate attention?
A. Mild bruising at the incision
B. Bilateral pedal pulses
C. Calf pain with swelling
D. Decreased appetite
🟢✔️ C. Calf pain with swelling
🔴 Explanation: Calf pain and swelling are classic signs of deep vein
thrombosis and require prompt intervention.
5. Which electrolyte imbalance is commonly associated with cardiac
dysrhythmias?
A. Hypercalcemia
B. Hypernatremia
C. Hypokalemia
D. Hypermagnesemia
🟢✔️ C. Hypokalemia
🔴 Explanation: Low potassium levels can significantly affect cardiac
conduction and cause dysrhythmias.
, 6. A nurse is teaching a client about warfarin therapy. Which food should the
client consume consistently?
A. Spinach
B. Grapefruit
C. Bananas
D. Cheese
🟢✔️ A. Spinach
🔴 Explanation: Foods high in vitamin K, such as spinach, should be consumed
consistently to maintain stable warfarin effects.
7. A nurse enters a client's room and finds the client unresponsive. What is
the nurse’s priority action?
A. Call the provider
B. Check for a pulse
C. Obtain vital signs
D. Raise the head of the bed
🟢✔️ B. Check for a pulse
🔴 Explanation: Determining pulse presence is the priority to assess for cardiac
arrest and initiate CPR if needed.
8. A nurse is caring for a client with a potassium level of 6.2 mEq/L. Which
ECG change is expected?
A. Flattened T waves
B. ST depression
C. Peaked T waves
D. Prolonged QT interval
🟢✔️ C. Peaked T waves
| VERIFIED AND WELL DETAILED ANSWERS | PLUS RATIONALES |
GUARANTEED PASS | LATEST EXAM UPDATE
CORE DOMAINS*
• Medical-Surgical Nursing*
• Pharmacology and Medication Administration*
• Maternal and Newborn Nursing*
• Pediatric Nursing*
• Mental Health Nursing*
• Leadership and Management*
• Infection Control and Safety*
• Ethics and Legal Responsibilities*
• Critical Care and Emergency Nursing*
• Health Assessment and Patient Education*
, INTRODUCTION*
This assessment is designed to evaluate the knowle
SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1–100
1. A nurse is caring for a client with heart failure who reports shortness of
breath while lying flat. Which term best describes this symptom?
A. Dyspnea
B. Orthopnea
C. Tachypnea
D. Bradypnea
🟢✔️ B. Orthopnea
🔴 Explanation: Orthopnea refers to difficulty breathing when lying flat and is
commonly associated with heart failure.
2. A nurse is preparing to administer insulin glargine. Which statement is
correct regarding this medication?
A. It peaks within 1 hour
B. It can be mixed with regular insulin
C. It provides long-acting basal coverage
D. It should be administered intravenously
🟢✔️ C. It provides long-acting basal coverage
🔴 Explanation: Insulin glargine is a long-acting insulin used to provide steady
basal glucose control.
3. A client with COPD is prescribed oxygen therapy. Which action is most
appropriate?
,A. Administer oxygen at 10 L/min routinely
B. Maintain oxygen saturation between 88% and 92%
C. Discontinue oxygen if saturation reaches 90%
D. Use a nonrebreather mask continuously
🟢✔️ B. Maintain oxygen saturation between 88% and 92%
🔴 Explanation: Clients with COPD often require controlled oxygen therapy to
avoid suppressing respiratory drive.
4. A nurse is assessing a postoperative client for deep vein thrombosis.
Which finding requires immediate attention?
A. Mild bruising at the incision
B. Bilateral pedal pulses
C. Calf pain with swelling
D. Decreased appetite
🟢✔️ C. Calf pain with swelling
🔴 Explanation: Calf pain and swelling are classic signs of deep vein
thrombosis and require prompt intervention.
5. Which electrolyte imbalance is commonly associated with cardiac
dysrhythmias?
A. Hypercalcemia
B. Hypernatremia
C. Hypokalemia
D. Hypermagnesemia
🟢✔️ C. Hypokalemia
🔴 Explanation: Low potassium levels can significantly affect cardiac
conduction and cause dysrhythmias.
, 6. A nurse is teaching a client about warfarin therapy. Which food should the
client consume consistently?
A. Spinach
B. Grapefruit
C. Bananas
D. Cheese
🟢✔️ A. Spinach
🔴 Explanation: Foods high in vitamin K, such as spinach, should be consumed
consistently to maintain stable warfarin effects.
7. A nurse enters a client's room and finds the client unresponsive. What is
the nurse’s priority action?
A. Call the provider
B. Check for a pulse
C. Obtain vital signs
D. Raise the head of the bed
🟢✔️ B. Check for a pulse
🔴 Explanation: Determining pulse presence is the priority to assess for cardiac
arrest and initiate CPR if needed.
8. A nurse is caring for a client with a potassium level of 6.2 mEq/L. Which
ECG change is expected?
A. Flattened T waves
B. ST depression
C. Peaked T waves
D. Prolonged QT interval
🟢✔️ C. Peaked T waves
