Comprehensive NCLEX-RN Clinical
Skills Test Bank: 2025 Prep Guide
Vital Skills: Patient Assessment, Wound Care, Medication Administration, Vital Signs, IV
Therapy & More!
1. A nurse is taking the vital signs of a patient. Which of the following is the most appropriate
action when measuring the blood pressure of a patient with obesity?
a) Use a regular-sized blood pressure cuff
b) Use a large adult-sized blood pressure cuff
c) Place the cuff on the patient’s lower arm
d) Take the blood pressure on both arms and average the results
Answer: b) Use a large adult-sized blood pressure cuff
2. A nurse is preparing to assess the heart sounds of a patient. Which of the following should
the nurse do to best auscultate the heart sounds?
a) Ask the patient to sit upright and breathe deeply
b) Instruct the patient to lie flat with the head of the bed elevated 45 degrees
c) Instruct the patient to lie on their left side
d) Have the patient sit upright and lean forward
Answer: c) Instruct the patient to lie on their left side
3. A nurse is performing a focused respiratory assessment on a patient. Which of the following
findings would indicate an abnormality?
a) Bilateral clear lung sounds
b) Respiratory rate of 18 breaths per minute
c) Adventitious sounds of wheezing and crackles
d) Respiratory rate of 16 breaths per minute
Answer: c) Adventitious sounds of wheezing and crackles
4. A nurse is preparing to apply a dressing to a patient’s surgical wound. The nurse should first:
a) Cleanse the wound with sterile saline solution
b) Remove the old dressing and examine the wound for any drainage
c) Measure the length and width of the wound
d) Apply a fresh dressing without removing the old one
Skills Test Bank: 2025 Prep Guide
Vital Skills: Patient Assessment, Wound Care, Medication Administration, Vital Signs, IV
Therapy & More!
1. A nurse is taking the vital signs of a patient. Which of the following is the most appropriate
action when measuring the blood pressure of a patient with obesity?
a) Use a regular-sized blood pressure cuff
b) Use a large adult-sized blood pressure cuff
c) Place the cuff on the patient’s lower arm
d) Take the blood pressure on both arms and average the results
Answer: b) Use a large adult-sized blood pressure cuff
2. A nurse is preparing to assess the heart sounds of a patient. Which of the following should
the nurse do to best auscultate the heart sounds?
a) Ask the patient to sit upright and breathe deeply
b) Instruct the patient to lie flat with the head of the bed elevated 45 degrees
c) Instruct the patient to lie on their left side
d) Have the patient sit upright and lean forward
Answer: c) Instruct the patient to lie on their left side
3. A nurse is performing a focused respiratory assessment on a patient. Which of the following
findings would indicate an abnormality?
a) Bilateral clear lung sounds
b) Respiratory rate of 18 breaths per minute
c) Adventitious sounds of wheezing and crackles
d) Respiratory rate of 16 breaths per minute
Answer: c) Adventitious sounds of wheezing and crackles
4. A nurse is preparing to apply a dressing to a patient’s surgical wound. The nurse should first:
a) Cleanse the wound with sterile saline solution
b) Remove the old dressing and examine the wound for any drainage
c) Measure the length and width of the wound
d) Apply a fresh dressing without removing the old one
