All Free International Nursing Practice MCQs with Answers

Every International Nursing Practice question in the bank, across all chapters, each with the correct answer and a written explanation. Free and unlimited, with no account needed.

350 questions · page 1 of 18

Hard
  • A. Activate emergency assistance and remain with the patient
  • B. Offer oral fluids and reassess the breathing later
  • C. Document the findings before notifying the provider
  • D. Place the patient flat and obtain a routine history

Explanation: Stridor and difficulty speaking suggest an acute upper-airway threat. The nurse should activate emergency assistance, stay with the…

Correct answer: Activate emergency assistance and remain with the patient
Easy
  • A. A patient requesting help to choose a meal
  • B. A patient with new confusion and a respiratory rate of 30
  • C. A patient waiting for routine discharge instructions
  • D. A patient reporting expected pain after physiotherapy

Explanation: New confusion with marked tachypnoea may indicate hypoxia, sepsis, or another acute deterioration.

Correct answer: A patient with new confusion and a respiratory rate of 30
  • A. Assessing a new report of chest pain
  • B. Teaching the patient how to use an inhaler
  • C. Measuring and recording urine output from a catheter
  • D. Deciding whether a wound is becoming infected

Explanation: Measuring and recording urine output for a stable patient is a routine, predictable task that can be delegated with clear instructions.

Correct answer: Measuring and recording urine output from a catheter
Easy
  • A. Assess airway and breathing while calling for urgent help
  • B. Allow the patient to sleep because pain treatment is expected
  • C. Offer the next prescribed dose to prevent pain returning
  • D. Complete the medication record before reassessing the patient

Explanation: A respiratory rate of 8 and reduced responsiveness indicate possible opioid-induced respiratory depression.

Correct answer: Assess airway and breathing while calling for urgent help
  • A. Perform an immediate focused assessment and escalate the deterioration
  • B. Reassure the patient that these changes are common after surgery
  • C. Offer oral fluids and review the condition during the next round
  • D. Give the prescribed analgesic before assessing the vital signs

Explanation: Restlessness, pallor, tachycardia, tachypnoea, and reduced urine output form a concerning pattern of possible shock or serious…

Correct answer: Perform an immediate focused assessment and escalate the deterioration
Fairly easy
  • A. Give the patient water to assess swallowing
  • B. Activate the urgent stroke response pathway
  • C. Ask the patient to rest and reassess later
  • D. Administer the prescribed oral analgesic

Explanation: Sudden focal neurological changes suggest an acute stroke and require immediate activation of the stroke response pathway.

Correct answer: Activate the urgent stroke response pathway
Hard
  • A. Slow the transfusion and observe the patient
  • B. Stop the transfusion and maintain venous access
  • C. Obtain a urine specimen for laboratory testing
  • D. Give the prescribed antipyretic medication

Explanation: The symptoms may indicate an acute transfusion reaction, so the transfusion must be stopped immediately.

Correct answer: Stop the transfusion and maintain venous access
  • A. Offer a fast-acting source of carbohydrate
  • B. Administer the patient's scheduled insulin
  • C. Ask the patient to walk to improve circulation
  • D. Wait for the patient to become more alert

Explanation: An awake patient who can swallow safely should receive a fast-acting carbohydrate to correct hypoglycaemia.

Correct answer: Offer a fast-acting source of carbohydrate
  • A. Encourage the patient to walk to the bathroom
  • B. Place the patient in a suitable position and call for urgent help
  • C. Offer oral fluids and reassess the pain
  • D. Document the findings before contacting the prescriber

Explanation: The sudden symptoms suggest a potentially life-threatening pulmonary embolism or other acute respiratory problem.

Correct answer: Place the patient in a suitable position and call for urgent help
Easy
  • A. Complete the routine evening hygiene care
  • B. Escalate immediately for urgent clinical assessment
  • C. Ask the family to remain quietly at the bedside
  • D. Recheck the blood pressure after the next meal

Explanation: New confusion, hypotension, mottled skin, and tachypnoea indicate possible shock and severe deterioration.

Correct answer: Escalate immediately for urgent clinical assessment
Hard
  • A. Assist the patient to stand without support
  • B. Assess the blood pressure and pulse lying and standing
  • C. Tell the patient to stop the medication immediately
  • D. Encourage the patient to walk until the dizziness settles

Explanation: The symptoms may reflect postural hypotension, so the nurse should assess lying and standing vital signs while preventing a fall.

Correct answer: Assess the blood pressure and pulse lying and standing
  • A. Elevate the limb and review it during the next round
  • B. Assess circulation, sensation, and movement and escalate urgently
  • C. Apply a warm pack over the cast for comfort
  • D. Encourage active toe exercises against resistance

Explanation: Pain that is worsening with pallor, coolness, and impaired movement may indicate neurovascular compromise.

Correct answer: Assess circulation, sensation, and movement and escalate urgently
Fairly easy
  • A. Ask the patient to rest and repeat the test tomorrow
  • B. Assess the patient promptly and activate urgent clinical review
  • C. Offer a potassium-rich meal when tolerated
  • D. Remove the cardiac monitor to reduce anxiety

Explanation: Severe potassium loss can cause life-threatening dysrhythmias, especially when palpitations and an irregular rhythm are present.

Correct answer: Assess the patient promptly and activate urgent clinical review
  • A. Place the patient flat and leave the room briefly
  • B. Assess airway and breathing while calling for urgent help
  • C. Give an oral antiemetic with a sip of water
  • D. Allow the patient to sleep without further observations

Explanation: Increasing drowsiness and repeated vomiting may indicate worsening intracranial pressure and loss of airway protection.

Correct answer: Assess airway and breathing while calling for urgent help
Fairly easy
  • A. Help the patient back into bed immediately
  • B. Assess responsiveness and possible injury before moving the patient
  • C. Ask the patient to walk to check for weakness
  • D. Complete the incident form before examining the patient

Explanation: After an unwitnessed fall, the nurse first assesses responsiveness, airway, breathing, and possible injury before moving the patient.

Correct answer: Assess responsiveness and possible injury before moving the patient
Easy
  • A. Stop the antibiotic infusion and call for emergency help
  • B. Slow the infusion and reassess the skin in 10 minutes
  • C. Document the reaction and ask the prescriber to review it
  • D. Offer oral fluids and place the patient in a sitting position

Explanation: Stopping the suspected antibiotic removes the trigger while emergency help is summoned.

Correct answer: Stop the antibiotic infusion and call for emergency help
Fairly easy
  • A. Check the airway and call for emergency assistance
  • B. Give glucose gel inside the patient’s cheek
  • C. Offer fruit juice through a drinking straw
  • D. Leave the patient briefly to obtain a glucose meter

Explanation: An unresponsive patient requires an immediate airway and breathing assessment, with emergency assistance activated.

Correct answer: Check the airway and call for emergency assistance
  • A. Place the end of the tube in sterile water
  • B. Clamp the chest tube close to the patient
  • C. Remove the chest tube and apply a dry dressing
  • D. Reconnect the tubing after washing it with tap water

Explanation: Placing the disconnected tube end in sterile water creates a temporary water seal and helps prevent air from entering the pleural space.

Correct answer: Place the end of the tube in sterile water
Fairly easy
  • A. Assess the patient immediately for an acute change
  • B. Ask the worker to help the patient walk to the bathroom
  • C. Tell the worker to record the finding after the next round
  • D. Ask the worker to offer water and reassess the patient later

Explanation: Sudden unsteadiness and slurred speech may indicate an acute neurological event.

Correct answer: Assess the patient immediately for an acute change
Hard
  • A. Assess the bladder and perform a bladder scan
  • B. Encourage the patient to drink several glasses of water
  • C. Insert another catheter without assessing the cause
  • D. Notify the prescriber before performing any assessment

Explanation: Painful inability to void after catheter removal suggests urinary retention.

Correct answer: Assess the bladder and perform a bladder scan