PN 2002 Final Exam Newest 2026
Questions with Verified Answers &
Rationales
SECTION 1: FUNDAMENTAL NURSING & SAFETY (Questions 1-35)
Infection Control & PPE
Question 1
The single most effective way to prevent the spread of infection in a healthcare setting is:
A. Wearing gloves for all patient contact
B. Hand hygiene (handwashing or alcohol-based hand rub)
C. Wearing a mask during all patient interactions
D. Isolating all patients with communicable diseases
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hand hygiene is the single most effective measure to prevent healthcare-associated
infections. Gloves reduce transmission but are not a substitute for hand hygiene.
Question 2
A patient is on contact precautions for MRSA. Which personal protective equipment (PPE) must
the nurse wear when entering the room?
A. Mask and eye protection
B. Gown and gloves
C. N95 respirator
D. Gown, gloves, and mask
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Contact precautions require gown and gloves. Mask and eye protection are for
droplet/airborne precautions. N95 respirator is for airborne precautions (TB, measles).
Question 3
A patient has a new diagnosis of Clostridioides difficile (C. diff). Which type of precautions
should be initiated?
A. Standard precautions only
B. Droplet precautions
,C. Contact precautions
D. Airborne precautions
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: C. diff requires contact precautions (gown and gloves) because it is spread by
contact with contaminated surfaces and spores. Handwashing with soap and water is required
(alcohol does not kill spores).
Question 4
A patient with tuberculosis requires airborne precautions. Which type of mask should the nurse
wear?
A. Surgical mask
B. N95 respirator or PAPR
C. No mask needed if patient is in a negative pressure room
D. Face shield
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: TB requires an N95 respirator or PAPR because the organism is transmitted via
airborne droplet nuclei that remain suspended in the air.
Question 5
A patient is on strict isolation. The nurse removes PPE after leaving the room. What is the
correct order of removal?
A. Gloves, gown, mask, eye protection
B. Gown, gloves, mask, eye protection
C. Mask, eye protection, gown, gloves
D. Gloves, eye protection, gown, mask
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Gloves are most contaminated and removed first, then gown, then mask/eye
protection. Perform hand hygiene after each removal step.
Question 6
A nurse is caring for a patient with influenza. Which type of precautions should be
implemented?
A. Contact precautions
B. Droplet precautions
C. Airborne precautions
D. Standard precautions only
Correct Answer: B
,Rationale: Influenza requires droplet precautions because it is spread through respiratory
droplets produced by coughing and sneezing.
Question 7
Which infection requires airborne precautions?
A. Influenza
B. MRSA
C. Measles (rubeola)
D. C. diff
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Measles requires airborne precautions. Influenza requires droplet precautions.
MRSA and C. diff require contact precautions.
Vital Signs & Assessment
Question 8
A nurse is assessing a patient's vital signs. Which finding requires immediate intervention?
A. Temperature 37.2°C (99.0°F)
B. Respiratory rate 24 breaths/min
C. Heart rate 52 beats/min in a symptomatic patient
D. Blood pressure 118/76 mm Hg
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A heart rate of 52 bpm (bradycardia) in a symptomatic patient (dizziness,
hypotension, weakness) requires immediate intervention. The other findings are within normal
limits.
Question 9
A nurse is caring for a patient with a fever of 39.5°C (103.1°F). Which intervention should the
nurse implement first?
A. Administer antipyretic medication
B. Remove excess blankets and clothing
C. Apply a cooling blanket
D. Notify the healthcare provider
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The first intervention is to remove blankets and clothing to promote heat loss.
Antipyretics may be given after assessment. Cooling blanket is for severe hyperthermia.
Question 10
When measuring blood pressure, the nurse notes that the patient's arm is at heart level. This is
important because:
, A. It prevents the patient from moving
B. It ensures accurate reading (arm below heart gives falsely high reading; above heart gives
falsely low)
C. It makes the patient more comfortable
D. It is required by hospital policy
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: For accurate BP measurement, the arm should be at heart level. Arm below heart
gives falsely high pressure; arm above heart gives falsely low pressure.
Question 11
Which blood pressure reading in an adult would be classified as Stage 1 hypertension?
A. 118/76 mm Hg
B. 128/82 mm Hg
C. 136/88 mm Hg
D. 150/95 mm Hg
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Consistent BP reading >130 systolic and/or >80 diastolic indicates hypertension.
Stage 1 hypertension is 130-139/80-89 (ACC/AHA 2017 guidelines).
Question 12
Normal adult respiratory rate range is:
A. 8-12 breaths per minute
B. 12-20 breaths per minute
C. 20-28 breaths per minute
D. 28-36 breaths per minute
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Normal adult respiratory rate is 12-20 breaths per minute. Rates below 12 or above
20 may indicate respiratory compromise.
Question 13
Normal adult heart rate range is:
A. 40-60 beats per minute
B. 60-100 beats per minute
C. 80-120 beats per minute
D. 100-140 beats per minute
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Normal adult heart rate is 60-100 beats per minute. Rates below 60 (bradycardia) or
above 100 (tachycardia) may require investigation.
Questions with Verified Answers &
Rationales
SECTION 1: FUNDAMENTAL NURSING & SAFETY (Questions 1-35)
Infection Control & PPE
Question 1
The single most effective way to prevent the spread of infection in a healthcare setting is:
A. Wearing gloves for all patient contact
B. Hand hygiene (handwashing or alcohol-based hand rub)
C. Wearing a mask during all patient interactions
D. Isolating all patients with communicable diseases
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hand hygiene is the single most effective measure to prevent healthcare-associated
infections. Gloves reduce transmission but are not a substitute for hand hygiene.
Question 2
A patient is on contact precautions for MRSA. Which personal protective equipment (PPE) must
the nurse wear when entering the room?
A. Mask and eye protection
B. Gown and gloves
C. N95 respirator
D. Gown, gloves, and mask
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Contact precautions require gown and gloves. Mask and eye protection are for
droplet/airborne precautions. N95 respirator is for airborne precautions (TB, measles).
Question 3
A patient has a new diagnosis of Clostridioides difficile (C. diff). Which type of precautions
should be initiated?
A. Standard precautions only
B. Droplet precautions
,C. Contact precautions
D. Airborne precautions
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: C. diff requires contact precautions (gown and gloves) because it is spread by
contact with contaminated surfaces and spores. Handwashing with soap and water is required
(alcohol does not kill spores).
Question 4
A patient with tuberculosis requires airborne precautions. Which type of mask should the nurse
wear?
A. Surgical mask
B. N95 respirator or PAPR
C. No mask needed if patient is in a negative pressure room
D. Face shield
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: TB requires an N95 respirator or PAPR because the organism is transmitted via
airborne droplet nuclei that remain suspended in the air.
Question 5
A patient is on strict isolation. The nurse removes PPE after leaving the room. What is the
correct order of removal?
A. Gloves, gown, mask, eye protection
B. Gown, gloves, mask, eye protection
C. Mask, eye protection, gown, gloves
D. Gloves, eye protection, gown, mask
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Gloves are most contaminated and removed first, then gown, then mask/eye
protection. Perform hand hygiene after each removal step.
Question 6
A nurse is caring for a patient with influenza. Which type of precautions should be
implemented?
A. Contact precautions
B. Droplet precautions
C. Airborne precautions
D. Standard precautions only
Correct Answer: B
,Rationale: Influenza requires droplet precautions because it is spread through respiratory
droplets produced by coughing and sneezing.
Question 7
Which infection requires airborne precautions?
A. Influenza
B. MRSA
C. Measles (rubeola)
D. C. diff
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Measles requires airborne precautions. Influenza requires droplet precautions.
MRSA and C. diff require contact precautions.
Vital Signs & Assessment
Question 8
A nurse is assessing a patient's vital signs. Which finding requires immediate intervention?
A. Temperature 37.2°C (99.0°F)
B. Respiratory rate 24 breaths/min
C. Heart rate 52 beats/min in a symptomatic patient
D. Blood pressure 118/76 mm Hg
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A heart rate of 52 bpm (bradycardia) in a symptomatic patient (dizziness,
hypotension, weakness) requires immediate intervention. The other findings are within normal
limits.
Question 9
A nurse is caring for a patient with a fever of 39.5°C (103.1°F). Which intervention should the
nurse implement first?
A. Administer antipyretic medication
B. Remove excess blankets and clothing
C. Apply a cooling blanket
D. Notify the healthcare provider
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The first intervention is to remove blankets and clothing to promote heat loss.
Antipyretics may be given after assessment. Cooling blanket is for severe hyperthermia.
Question 10
When measuring blood pressure, the nurse notes that the patient's arm is at heart level. This is
important because:
, A. It prevents the patient from moving
B. It ensures accurate reading (arm below heart gives falsely high reading; above heart gives
falsely low)
C. It makes the patient more comfortable
D. It is required by hospital policy
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: For accurate BP measurement, the arm should be at heart level. Arm below heart
gives falsely high pressure; arm above heart gives falsely low pressure.
Question 11
Which blood pressure reading in an adult would be classified as Stage 1 hypertension?
A. 118/76 mm Hg
B. 128/82 mm Hg
C. 136/88 mm Hg
D. 150/95 mm Hg
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Consistent BP reading >130 systolic and/or >80 diastolic indicates hypertension.
Stage 1 hypertension is 130-139/80-89 (ACC/AHA 2017 guidelines).
Question 12
Normal adult respiratory rate range is:
A. 8-12 breaths per minute
B. 12-20 breaths per minute
C. 20-28 breaths per minute
D. 28-36 breaths per minute
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Normal adult respiratory rate is 12-20 breaths per minute. Rates below 12 or above
20 may indicate respiratory compromise.
Question 13
Normal adult heart rate range is:
A. 40-60 beats per minute
B. 60-100 beats per minute
C. 80-120 beats per minute
D. 100-140 beats per minute
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Normal adult heart rate is 60-100 beats per minute. Rates below 60 (bradycardia) or
above 100 (tachycardia) may require investigation.
