Free Clinical Judgement and Prioritisation MCQs with Answers
50 Clinical Judgement and Prioritisation MCQs from International Nursing Practice, each with the correct answer and a written explanation of why it is correct. Free and unlimited, with no account needed.
Clinical judgement links assessment findings, nursing knowledge and patient responses to a safe decision. Coverage includes ABCDE assessment, recognising actual or potential instability, prioritising airway, breathing and circulation, using urgency and risk rather than routine order, reassessing after intervention, and distinguishing a nursing priority from a medical diagnosis or a task that can wait.
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50 questions · page 3 of 3
- A. Assess the airway and place the patient on cardiac monitoring
- B. Encourage the patient to walk to reduce muscle stiffness
- C. Give oral calcium without checking the prescription
- D. Document the symptoms and reassess after the next meal
Explanation: These findings suggest acute hypocalcaemia, which can progress to laryngospasm and cardiac dysrhythmias.
Correct answer: Assess the airway and place the patient on cardiac monitoring- A. Keep the patient nil by mouth and request urgent medical review
- B. Offer a meal to determine whether the pain is related to hunger
- C. Apply a warm pack and reassess the abdomen in one hour
- D. Administer an oral laxative to relieve possible constipation
Explanation: Severe pain, rigidity, and tachycardia after an invasive procedure may indicate perforation and peritonitis.
Correct answer: Keep the patient nil by mouth and request urgent medical review- A. Stop the epidural infusion and assess the patient urgently
- B. Ask the patient to stand so the weakness can be measured
- C. Give an additional analgesic and reassess the strength later
- D. Place the patient in a chair to prevent prolonged bed rest
Explanation: Rapidly increasing motor and sensory block may indicate excessive neuraxial spread or another neurological complication.
Correct answer: Stop the epidural infusion and assess the patient urgently- A. Assess airway and breathing while calling for urgent clinical support
- B. Remove the oxygen because drowsiness may indicate carbon dioxide retention
- C. Ask the patient to rest and repeat the oxygen saturation in 30 minutes
- D. Give a sedative to reduce anxiety and slow the respiratory rate
Explanation: New drowsiness with severe hypoxaemia and abnormal breathing indicates possible acute respiratory failure.
Correct answer: Assess airway and breathing while calling for urgent clinical support- A. Assess the patient promptly and notify the surgical team
- B. Apply a warm compress directly over the stoma
- C. Insert a cotton swab into the stoma to check its depth
- D. Wait until the next scheduled dressing change to reassess it
Explanation: A dusky, cool stoma with absent output may indicate impaired blood supply or obstruction.
Correct answer: Assess the patient promptly and notify the surgical team- A. Place the patient in a private room and initiate droplet precautions
- B. Give oral fluids and reduce the lighting in the room
- C. Obtain routine blood cultures before taking precautions
- D. Encourage walking to assess the patient's balance
Explanation: The findings suggest possible meningitis, so preventing respiratory transmission is an immediate priority while urgent assessment and…
Correct answer: Place the patient in a private room and initiate droplet precautions- A. Check the patient's capillary glucose and assess the patient
- B. Document the error after completing the medication round
- C. Give a carbohydrate snack without checking the glucose
- D. Wait for symptoms before informing the prescriber
Explanation: The nurse first assesses the patient's current condition and checks the glucose level because rapid-acting insulin can cause sudden…
Correct answer: Check the patient's capillary glucose and assess the patient- A. Inspect the tubing for kinks and check the suction connection
- B. Flush the tube forcefully with a large volume of water
- C. Increase the suction pressure without checking the equipment
- D. Remove the tube immediately and offer oral fluids
Explanation: The nurse first checks whether a simple equipment problem is preventing drainage, such as kinked tubing or a disconnected suction source.
Correct answer: Inspect the tubing for kinks and check the suction connection- A. Notify the provider or vascular team urgently
- B. Elevate the leg above the level of the heart
- C. Apply a heated pad to improve blood flow
- D. Encourage walking to stimulate circulation
Explanation: Sudden pain, pallor, coolness, and an absent pulse indicate possible acute limb ischaemia, which requires immediate escalation.
Correct answer: Notify the provider or vascular team urgently- A. Notify the ophthalmologist urgently and keep the patient at rest
- B. Reassure the patient that blurred vision is expected after surgery
- C. Apply an eye pad and arrange routine follow-up the next day
- D. Encourage oral fluids and reassess the symptoms after one hour
Explanation: Severe eye pain, nausea, and coloured halos may indicate a sight-threatening rise in intraocular pressure or another acute complication.
Correct answer: Notify the ophthalmologist urgently and keep the patient at rest