CJE BENCHMARK EXAM #1 Questions and
Answers 2026 | Comprehensive Review with
Detailed Rationales | Grade A+
• What would the nurse expect to find in the care of an 80-year-old client who is
experiencing a complication after a right knee repl
acement? The patient is post-op day 1.
1
Dry cough
2
Acute confusion
3
Increased temperature
4
Purulent drainage from incision -✓✓Acute confusion
Dry cough - Vague sign
Acute confusion - Correct - sign of infection in an older adult
Increased temperature - Older adult may not exhibit normal signs of infection
Purulent drainage from incision - Older adult may not exhibit normal signs of infection
• Which of these clients should the nurse consider at greatest risk for developing type 2
diabetes mellitus?
1
48-year-old African-American male who is obese and father and mother have type 2
DM.
2
50-year-old male hemoglobin A1C of 5.5% during a routine physical examination.
3
A 30-year-old female who delivered a 9-pound baby.
4
A 62-year-old male with an elevated triglyceride level. -✓✓48-year-old African-
American male who is obese and father and mother have type 2 DM.
• The nurse is caring for a client with tuberculosis who is receiving isoniazid and
rifampin for tuberculosis. Which adverse effect should the nurse be most concerned
with?
1
Blurred vision.
2
Yellowish sclera.
,3
Nausea and vomiting.
4
Decreased urine output. -✓✓Yellowish sclera.
Possible side effect related to liver damage
• The nurse is caring for a client who has been admitted to the psychiatric in-client unit
with schizophrenia. While talking with the nurse alone, the client suddenly stops
midsentence, turns to stare at the wall and states, "I told you I can't do that!" What is an
appropriate response by the nurse?
1
"I will talk to you later when you can pay attention."
2
"I will leave the room if you continue to not pay attention"
3
"Is your mother talking to you again? I wish she would leave you alone."
4
"It appears you are hearing voices again. Tell me what you are hearing." -✓✓"It
appears you are hearing voices again. Tell me what you are hearing."
• The nurse is participating in the discharge plans for a client with hypertension. Which
statement by the client would cause concern?
1
"I am at risk for stroke or heart attack if my blood pressure is not controlled."
2
"I know that my blood pressure is high when my nose starts bleeding."
3
"I will take my blood pressure two times a day for at least 7 days."
4
"I will ask my spouse to start walking with me in the mornings." -✓✓"I know that my
blood pressure is high when my nose starts bleeding."
Correct - Hypertension is usually asymptomatic. A nose bleed can occur with high blood
pressure, but it can occur for many other reasons as well. It is quite common that the
client's blood pressure is high and the client experiences no symptoms. It is important to
help clients understand that they cannot rely on one particular symptom to tell if their
pressure is elevated. It would be very dangerous for clients to think their blood pressure
is only high if they have a nose bleed.
• The nurse is reviewing the client's lab values who has respiratory alkalosis. Which
results should the nurse expect? Select all that apply
1
,pH 7.50.
2
pH 7.30.
3
Carbon dioxide (CO2 ) 50.
4
CO2 28.
5
Oxygen saturation 85%.
6
Bicarbonate 25. -✓✓pH 7.50.
CO2 28.
pH 7.50. Correct - pH level is elevated with respiratory alkalosis
pH 7.30. A low pH can indicate respiratory acidosis
carbon dioxide (CO2 ) 50. A high CO2 can indicate respiratory acidosis
CO2 28. Correct - In respiratory alkalosis, the client is blowing off too much CO2 which
leads to a low level.
Oxygen saturation 85%. Oxygen levels are usually normal in respiratory alkalosis.
Bicarbonate 25. Bicarbonate levels are usually normal in respiratory alkalosis
• A nurse is teaching a group of middle-aged men about stroke prevention. Which
statement by a client requires further teaching?
1
"I will start an exercise program to lose weight."
2
"I have to stop my daily trip to the donut shop for breakfast".
3
"I will decrease my consumption of beer to only one per day."
4
"I will continue smoking but decrease the number of cigarettes." -✓✓"I will continue
smoking but decrease the number of cigarettes."
Correct - Smoking cessation can lower the risk for stroke
• The nurse is participating in the emergency management of a client with sinus
bradycardia who reports the "room is spinning, chest pain, which is 8 out of 10, and
shortness of breath. In what order should these steps be conducted?
Establish intravenous access
Obtain baseline CBC and electrolytes
Administer atropine
External pacing if needed -✓✓Establish intravenous access
Administer atropine
, External pacing if needed
Obtain baseline CBC and electrolytes
• The nurse is assessing the surgical incision of a client after the bandage was removed
by the health care provider on post-op day 1. The incision is well-approximated with
slight swelling under the staples, and dark crusting on the incision line. What should the
nurse do next?
1
Report crusting on the incision line to surgeon.
2
Document findings and continue to monitor.
3
Call surgeon and request antibiotics.
4
Report swelling to the surgeon. -✓✓Document findings and continue to monitor.
Document findings and continue to monitor. Correct - No further action is required
because these are expected findings.
• The nurse is conducting a poison prevention class for parents of toddlers. Which
statement by a parent indicates correct understanding of the teaching? Select all that
apply
1
"I will place a lock on the cabinet where my medications are stored."
2
"I know my child is safe because I keep my cleaning supplies in an upstairs closet."
3
"I cannot assume my child is protected by the child-resistant lids on cleaning supplies."
4
"My child will not touch any cleaning supplies under my sink because of the fear of
punishment."
5
"I put my medicines in the top shelf of the medicine cabinet where my child can't reach
them." -✓✓"I will place a lock on the cabinet where my medications are stored."
"I cannot assume my child is protected by the child-resistant lids on cleaning supplies."
• The nurse is caring for a client with dehydration who is receiving a bolus of 0.9 normal
saline intravenously. Assessment finding includes a urine output of 40 ml over a two-
hour period. What is the nurse's priority action?
1
Notify the health care provider.
2
Reassess client in an hour.
Answers 2026 | Comprehensive Review with
Detailed Rationales | Grade A+
• What would the nurse expect to find in the care of an 80-year-old client who is
experiencing a complication after a right knee repl
acement? The patient is post-op day 1.
1
Dry cough
2
Acute confusion
3
Increased temperature
4
Purulent drainage from incision -✓✓Acute confusion
Dry cough - Vague sign
Acute confusion - Correct - sign of infection in an older adult
Increased temperature - Older adult may not exhibit normal signs of infection
Purulent drainage from incision - Older adult may not exhibit normal signs of infection
• Which of these clients should the nurse consider at greatest risk for developing type 2
diabetes mellitus?
1
48-year-old African-American male who is obese and father and mother have type 2
DM.
2
50-year-old male hemoglobin A1C of 5.5% during a routine physical examination.
3
A 30-year-old female who delivered a 9-pound baby.
4
A 62-year-old male with an elevated triglyceride level. -✓✓48-year-old African-
American male who is obese and father and mother have type 2 DM.
• The nurse is caring for a client with tuberculosis who is receiving isoniazid and
rifampin for tuberculosis. Which adverse effect should the nurse be most concerned
with?
1
Blurred vision.
2
Yellowish sclera.
,3
Nausea and vomiting.
4
Decreased urine output. -✓✓Yellowish sclera.
Possible side effect related to liver damage
• The nurse is caring for a client who has been admitted to the psychiatric in-client unit
with schizophrenia. While talking with the nurse alone, the client suddenly stops
midsentence, turns to stare at the wall and states, "I told you I can't do that!" What is an
appropriate response by the nurse?
1
"I will talk to you later when you can pay attention."
2
"I will leave the room if you continue to not pay attention"
3
"Is your mother talking to you again? I wish she would leave you alone."
4
"It appears you are hearing voices again. Tell me what you are hearing." -✓✓"It
appears you are hearing voices again. Tell me what you are hearing."
• The nurse is participating in the discharge plans for a client with hypertension. Which
statement by the client would cause concern?
1
"I am at risk for stroke or heart attack if my blood pressure is not controlled."
2
"I know that my blood pressure is high when my nose starts bleeding."
3
"I will take my blood pressure two times a day for at least 7 days."
4
"I will ask my spouse to start walking with me in the mornings." -✓✓"I know that my
blood pressure is high when my nose starts bleeding."
Correct - Hypertension is usually asymptomatic. A nose bleed can occur with high blood
pressure, but it can occur for many other reasons as well. It is quite common that the
client's blood pressure is high and the client experiences no symptoms. It is important to
help clients understand that they cannot rely on one particular symptom to tell if their
pressure is elevated. It would be very dangerous for clients to think their blood pressure
is only high if they have a nose bleed.
• The nurse is reviewing the client's lab values who has respiratory alkalosis. Which
results should the nurse expect? Select all that apply
1
,pH 7.50.
2
pH 7.30.
3
Carbon dioxide (CO2 ) 50.
4
CO2 28.
5
Oxygen saturation 85%.
6
Bicarbonate 25. -✓✓pH 7.50.
CO2 28.
pH 7.50. Correct - pH level is elevated with respiratory alkalosis
pH 7.30. A low pH can indicate respiratory acidosis
carbon dioxide (CO2 ) 50. A high CO2 can indicate respiratory acidosis
CO2 28. Correct - In respiratory alkalosis, the client is blowing off too much CO2 which
leads to a low level.
Oxygen saturation 85%. Oxygen levels are usually normal in respiratory alkalosis.
Bicarbonate 25. Bicarbonate levels are usually normal in respiratory alkalosis
• A nurse is teaching a group of middle-aged men about stroke prevention. Which
statement by a client requires further teaching?
1
"I will start an exercise program to lose weight."
2
"I have to stop my daily trip to the donut shop for breakfast".
3
"I will decrease my consumption of beer to only one per day."
4
"I will continue smoking but decrease the number of cigarettes." -✓✓"I will continue
smoking but decrease the number of cigarettes."
Correct - Smoking cessation can lower the risk for stroke
• The nurse is participating in the emergency management of a client with sinus
bradycardia who reports the "room is spinning, chest pain, which is 8 out of 10, and
shortness of breath. In what order should these steps be conducted?
Establish intravenous access
Obtain baseline CBC and electrolytes
Administer atropine
External pacing if needed -✓✓Establish intravenous access
Administer atropine
, External pacing if needed
Obtain baseline CBC and electrolytes
• The nurse is assessing the surgical incision of a client after the bandage was removed
by the health care provider on post-op day 1. The incision is well-approximated with
slight swelling under the staples, and dark crusting on the incision line. What should the
nurse do next?
1
Report crusting on the incision line to surgeon.
2
Document findings and continue to monitor.
3
Call surgeon and request antibiotics.
4
Report swelling to the surgeon. -✓✓Document findings and continue to monitor.
Document findings and continue to monitor. Correct - No further action is required
because these are expected findings.
• The nurse is conducting a poison prevention class for parents of toddlers. Which
statement by a parent indicates correct understanding of the teaching? Select all that
apply
1
"I will place a lock on the cabinet where my medications are stored."
2
"I know my child is safe because I keep my cleaning supplies in an upstairs closet."
3
"I cannot assume my child is protected by the child-resistant lids on cleaning supplies."
4
"My child will not touch any cleaning supplies under my sink because of the fear of
punishment."
5
"I put my medicines in the top shelf of the medicine cabinet where my child can't reach
them." -✓✓"I will place a lock on the cabinet where my medications are stored."
"I cannot assume my child is protected by the child-resistant lids on cleaning supplies."
• The nurse is caring for a client with dehydration who is receiving a bolus of 0.9 normal
saline intravenously. Assessment finding includes a urine output of 40 ml over a two-
hour period. What is the nurse's priority action?
1
Notify the health care provider.
2
Reassess client in an hour.
