AND EXACT EXAM QUESTIONS & ANSWERS NCLEX
100% VERIFIED UPDATED LATEST 2026 NCLEX
EXAM Q&A
A client asks why a diagnostic test has been ordered and the nurse replies, "I'm unsure
but will find out for you." When the nurse later returns and provides an explanation, the
nurse is acting under which principle?
,1. Nonmaleficence
2. Veracity
3. Beneficence
4. Fidelity
Answer: 4
Rationale: Fidelity means being faithful to agreements and promises. This nurse is
acting on the client's behalf to obtain needed information and report it back to the client.
Nonmaleficence is the duty to do no harm. Veracity refers to telling the truth for
example, not lying to a client about a serious prognosis. Beneficence means doing
good, such as by implementing actions (e.g. keeping a salt shaker out of sight) that
benefit a client (heart condition requiring sodium-restricted diet).
Cognitive Level: Understanding
Client Need: Management of Care
Integrated Process: Nursing Process: Implementation
Content Area: Fundamentals
Strategy: Use the process of elimination. The correct answer is the one that matches
the description in the stem; that is, the nurse made a promise to a client and kept it,
which constitutes fidelity.
An individual has a seizure while walking down the street. During the seizure, a nurse
from a physician's office is noticed driving past without stopping to assist. The individual
sues the nurse for negligence but fails to win a judgement for which reason?
1. The nurse had no duty to the individual.
2. The nurse did what most nurses would do in the same circumstance.
3. The nurse did not cause the client's injuries.
4. The nurse was off-duty at the time.
Answer: 1
Rationale: To be guilty of negligence, the nurse must have a relationship with the client
that involves a duty to provide care. The relationship is usually a component of
employment. The nurse did not necessarily do what others would do in this situation.
Although the nurse did not cause the client's injuries, it does not prevent the nurse from
assisting in this situation. Although the nurse was off-duty, the nurse could have
assisted if motivated to do so.
, Cognitive Level: Understanding
Client Need: Management of Care
Integrated Process: Nursing Process: Implementation
Content Area: Fundamentals
Strategy: Use the process of elimination and nursing knowledge. The correct answer is
the one that recognizes that the nurse was not in the role of employee at the time of the
incident, removing the requirement of acting on the client's behalf.
An adult female ambulatory care client receiving an oral anticoagulant is given aspirin
for a headache while visiting a neighbor, who is a nurse. The client subsequently has a
bleeding episode because of a drug interaction. The legal nurse consultant interprets
that which necessary elements of malpractice are missing from this case? Select all that
apply.
1. Breech of duty
2. Duty owed
3. Injury experienced
4. Causation between nurse's action and injury
5. Intent to cause harm or injury
Answer: 2, 5
Rationale: There was no nurse-client relationship because the nurse was acting as a
neighbor and not in an employment capacity. Thus, there can be no duty owed. Intent is
not a necessary element of malpractice, because malpractice can occur because of
unintended actions as well. There was no breach of duty because there was no official
nurse-client relationship, which accompanies an employment situation. There was injury
experiences because of this event. The bleeding was caused by the interaction of the
aspirin with the anticoagulant.
Cognitive Level: Analyzing
Client Need: Management of Care
Integrated Process: Nursing Process: Evaluation
Content Area: Fundamentals
Strategy: Use the process of elimination. The wording of the question indicates more
than one option is correct, and the focus is on necessary elements that must be
present. First eliminate the intent to cause harm or injury, since this is not necessary to