CJE BENCHMARK EXAM 1 – PATIENT CARE
FUNDAMENTALS PRACTICE QUESTIONS
COMPLETE WITH 100% CORRECT
ANSWERS
1. A patient is prescribed 500 mL of 0.9% normal saline to infuse over 4 hours. The
IV tubing delivers 15 gtt/mL. What is the required flow rate in gtt/min?
A. 21 gtt/min
B. 31 gtt/min
C. 15 gtt/min
D. 42 gtt/min
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Formula: (Volume in mL × drop factor) ÷ time in minutes = (500 × 15) ÷
(4 × 60) = 7500 ÷ 240 = 31.25 → 31 gtt/min.
2. A nurse finds a patient on the floor. After ensuring safety, what is the priority
action?
A. Call the physician
B. Assess the patient for injury
C. Complete an incident report
D. Help the patient back to bed
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Assessment for injury (e.g., head trauma, fracture) is the immediate
priority before moving the patient or notifying others.
,3. Which finding in a postoperative patient requires immediate notification of the
healthcare provider?
A. Temperature 99.1°F (37.3°C)
B. Heart rate 88 bpm
C. Serous wound drainage
D. Oxygen saturation 88% on room air
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: SpO₂ <90% indicates hypoxemia, a potentially life-threatening condition
requiring rapid intervention.
4. To prevent skin breakdown in an immobile patient, how often should
repositioning occur?
A. Every 4 hours
B. Every 2 hours
C. Every 6 hours
D. Once per shift
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Turning every 2 hours relieves pressure on bony prominences,
maintaining capillary perfusion and preventing pressure injuries.
5. A patient with a new colostomy reports that the stool is very loose. What is the
most appropriate response?
A. “That’s normal for a descending colostomy.”
B. “You should avoid all fiber for a week.”
C. “Let’s review your diet and medication list.”
D. “Increase your fluid intake to 4 L per day.”
,Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Loose output may result from diet, infection, or medications;
assessment is needed before recommending specific changes.
6. Which nursing intervention is most effective for reducing fall risk in an elderly
patient with confusion?
A. Apply wrist restraints at night
B. Keep bed rails fully raised
C. Use a bed alarm and low bed height
D. Sedate the patient before sleep
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Bed alarms alert staff to movement; low beds reduce injury risk.
Restraints and sedation increase complications and are not first-line.
7. A patient refuses a prescribed antibiotic injection. What should the nurse do?
A. Administer it anyway for the patient’s own good
B. Ask a family member to persuade the patient
C. Document the refusal and notify the provider
D. Hide the medication in food
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Competent patients have the right to refuse treatment. The nurse must
respect autonomy, document, and inform the provider.
8. Which lab value indicates a normal finding for an adult patient?
A. Potassium 2.9 mEq/L
B. Sodium 138 mEq/L
C. Hemoglobin 10 g/dL
D. White blood count 18,000/mm³
, Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Normal sodium range is 135–145 mEq/L. Options A (hypokalemia), C
(anemia), and D (leukocytosis) are abnormal.
9. A patient on strict intake and output has 8 oz of soup. How many mL should the
nurse record?
A. 120 mL
B. 240 mL
C. 360 mL
D. 480 mL
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: 1 oz = 30 mL; 8 × 30 = 240 mL.
10. Which patient is at highest risk for developing a deep vein thrombosis (DVT)?
A. Postoperative hip replacement on day 2
B. Young athlete with a sprained ankle
C. Patient with pneumonia on oral antibiotics
D. Elderly patient with a urinary tract infection
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Surgery, immobility, and hip/pelvic procedures are major DVT risk
factors (Virchow’s triad: stasis, hypercoagulability, vessel injury).
11. When performing hand hygiene with alcohol-based hand rub, how long should
the nurse rub hands until dry?
A. 5 seconds
B. 10 seconds
C. 20 seconds
D. 60 seconds
FUNDAMENTALS PRACTICE QUESTIONS
COMPLETE WITH 100% CORRECT
ANSWERS
1. A patient is prescribed 500 mL of 0.9% normal saline to infuse over 4 hours. The
IV tubing delivers 15 gtt/mL. What is the required flow rate in gtt/min?
A. 21 gtt/min
B. 31 gtt/min
C. 15 gtt/min
D. 42 gtt/min
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Formula: (Volume in mL × drop factor) ÷ time in minutes = (500 × 15) ÷
(4 × 60) = 7500 ÷ 240 = 31.25 → 31 gtt/min.
2. A nurse finds a patient on the floor. After ensuring safety, what is the priority
action?
A. Call the physician
B. Assess the patient for injury
C. Complete an incident report
D. Help the patient back to bed
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Assessment for injury (e.g., head trauma, fracture) is the immediate
priority before moving the patient or notifying others.
,3. Which finding in a postoperative patient requires immediate notification of the
healthcare provider?
A. Temperature 99.1°F (37.3°C)
B. Heart rate 88 bpm
C. Serous wound drainage
D. Oxygen saturation 88% on room air
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: SpO₂ <90% indicates hypoxemia, a potentially life-threatening condition
requiring rapid intervention.
4. To prevent skin breakdown in an immobile patient, how often should
repositioning occur?
A. Every 4 hours
B. Every 2 hours
C. Every 6 hours
D. Once per shift
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Turning every 2 hours relieves pressure on bony prominences,
maintaining capillary perfusion and preventing pressure injuries.
5. A patient with a new colostomy reports that the stool is very loose. What is the
most appropriate response?
A. “That’s normal for a descending colostomy.”
B. “You should avoid all fiber for a week.”
C. “Let’s review your diet and medication list.”
D. “Increase your fluid intake to 4 L per day.”
,Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Loose output may result from diet, infection, or medications;
assessment is needed before recommending specific changes.
6. Which nursing intervention is most effective for reducing fall risk in an elderly
patient with confusion?
A. Apply wrist restraints at night
B. Keep bed rails fully raised
C. Use a bed alarm and low bed height
D. Sedate the patient before sleep
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Bed alarms alert staff to movement; low beds reduce injury risk.
Restraints and sedation increase complications and are not first-line.
7. A patient refuses a prescribed antibiotic injection. What should the nurse do?
A. Administer it anyway for the patient’s own good
B. Ask a family member to persuade the patient
C. Document the refusal and notify the provider
D. Hide the medication in food
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Competent patients have the right to refuse treatment. The nurse must
respect autonomy, document, and inform the provider.
8. Which lab value indicates a normal finding for an adult patient?
A. Potassium 2.9 mEq/L
B. Sodium 138 mEq/L
C. Hemoglobin 10 g/dL
D. White blood count 18,000/mm³
, Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Normal sodium range is 135–145 mEq/L. Options A (hypokalemia), C
(anemia), and D (leukocytosis) are abnormal.
9. A patient on strict intake and output has 8 oz of soup. How many mL should the
nurse record?
A. 120 mL
B. 240 mL
C. 360 mL
D. 480 mL
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: 1 oz = 30 mL; 8 × 30 = 240 mL.
10. Which patient is at highest risk for developing a deep vein thrombosis (DVT)?
A. Postoperative hip replacement on day 2
B. Young athlete with a sprained ankle
C. Patient with pneumonia on oral antibiotics
D. Elderly patient with a urinary tract infection
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Surgery, immobility, and hip/pelvic procedures are major DVT risk
factors (Virchow’s triad: stasis, hypercoagulability, vessel injury).
11. When performing hand hygiene with alcohol-based hand rub, how long should
the nurse rub hands until dry?
A. 5 seconds
B. 10 seconds
C. 20 seconds
D. 60 seconds
