The NMC Code and Professional Accountability MCQs

Question 1

In the UK, a nurse is asked to perform a procedure they have never been trained to do. A senior colleague is not available to supervise. What should the nurse do?

Accepted Answer

Explain the limitation and seek appropriate support

Answer

Perform the procedure carefully using the written guide

Answer

Ask another nurse to watch while proceeding

Answer

Delay the procedure without informing the clinical team

Question 2

In the UK, a nurse notices that a colleague has left a medication trolley unlocked in a public corridor. No medicines are missing. What should the nurse do first?

Accepted Answer

Lock the trolley and report the safety concern

Answer

Leave it because no medicine is missing

Answer

Wait for the colleague to return and explain

Answer

Move the trolley to the staff room without reporting it

Question 3

In the UK, a nurse enters an electronic patient record using another nurse's login because the other nurse offers to save time. What should the nurse do?

Accepted Answer

Refuse and access the record using personal credentials

Answer

Use the login only for routine documentation

Answer

Accept the login if the other nurse remains nearby

Answer

Document under the other nurse's name and explain later

Question 4

In the UK, a nurse realises that a patient was almost given the wrong strength of medicine, but the error is identified before administration. What should the nurse do?

Accepted Answer

Report the near miss through the local incident process

Answer

Correct the medicine and keep the near miss private

Answer

Tell the patient only if harm later develops

Answer

Record that the prescribed medicine was administered safely

Question 5

In the UK, a nurse is caring for more patients than can be safely monitored during a shift. What is the most appropriate action?

Accepted Answer

Escalate the staffing risk promptly to the nurse in charge

Answer

Complete the routine work and mention the concern later

Answer

Ask patients to report their own clinical deterioration

Answer

Leave the ward to find additional staff without informing anyone

Question 6

In the UK, a nurse receives a formal complaint from a patient about the nurse's communication. What should the nurse do?

Accepted Answer

Listen respectfully, record the concern and follow the process

Answer

Defend every action before hearing the patient's concerns

Answer

Ask the patient to withdraw the complaint before discussion

Answer

Discuss the complaint with other patients for advice

Question 7

In the UK, a nurse is asked to provide a reference for a former colleague whose clinical work the nurse has not observed. What should the nurse do?

Accepted Answer

Decline to give an opinion about unobserved clinical work

Answer

Provide a favourable reference based on the colleague's request

Answer

Copy a reference used for another healthcare professional

Answer

State that the colleague is competent because they are registered

Question 8

In the UK, a nurse has a personal financial interest in a company that supplies equipment to the ward. The nurse is asked to recommend equipment for purchase. What should the nurse do?

Accepted Answer

Disclose the interest and avoid influencing the decision

Answer

Recommend the company's equipment if it appears suitable

Answer

Ask a colleague to approve the purchase informally

Answer

Keep the interest private because no payment was received

Question 9

In the UK, a nurse sees a colleague speaking aggressively to an anxious patient. The colleague stops when another staff member approaches. What should the nurse do?

Accepted Answer

Challenge the behaviour appropriately and raise the concern

Answer

Ignore the exchange because it has already ended

Answer

Tell the patient to complain if they remain upset

Answer

Discuss the colleague's behaviour with staff after the shift

Question 10

In the UK, a nurse is asked to supervise a student carrying out a procedure that the nurse cannot safely assess because the nurse lacks competence in that procedure. What should the nurse do?

Accepted Answer

Explain the limitation and arrange supervision by a competent nurse

Answer

Supervise it because the student has practised previously

Answer

Allow the student to proceed and sign the assessment later

Answer

Ask the student to confirm that the procedure was performed correctly

Question 11

Which set lists the four themes of the NMC Code?

Accepted Answer

Prioritise people, practise effectively, preserve safety, promote professionalism and trust

Answer

Assess patients, administer medicines, document care, complete handover

Answer

Respect privacy, follow policies, manage time, supervise colleagues

Answer

Obtain consent, reduce costs, meet targets, report incidents

Question 12

In the UK, a patient has limited English and needs to make an important decision about care. The patient's adult child offers to interpret. What should the nurse do?

Accepted Answer

Use an approved professional interpreter for the discussion

Answer

Ask the adult child to interpret because they know the patient

Answer

Speak slowly and use written English without an interpreter

Answer

Delay the discussion until the patient can communicate unaided

Question 13

In the UK, a nurse is asked to give a factual account during an investigation into a patient's complaint. What action best demonstrates professional accountability?

Accepted Answer

Provide an honest account based on the nurse's own knowledge

Answer

Agree with the senior nurse's account to protect the team

Answer

Discuss the complaint widely so other staff can give opinions

Answer

Avoid responding until the complaint is formally withdrawn

Question 14

In the UK, a nurse realises that a paper clinical record contains an incorrect observation time. What should the nurse do?

Accepted Answer

Correct it according to local policy, preserving the original entry

Answer

Erase the time completely and write the new time over it

Answer

Ask a colleague to rewrite the entry in their handwriting

Answer

Leave it unchanged because the observation itself was accurate

Question 15

In the UK, a nurse is asked to provide care that conflicts with the nurse's personal beliefs. The patient needs timely treatment and another nurse is available. What should the nurse do?

Accepted Answer

Explain the concern to the manager and arrange safe alternative care

Answer

Tell the patient that the treatment is morally wrong and refuse discussion

Answer

Delay the treatment until the nurse changes personal beliefs

Answer

Ask the patient's relatives to decide whether treatment should continue

Question 16

In the UK, a nurse finds that a patient's current care plan does not reflect a new mobility risk identified during assessment. What should the nurse do?

Accepted Answer

Update the plan or arrange its update and communicate the risk

Answer

Continue the existing plan until the next scheduled review

Answer

Record the risk only in a personal notebook for later use

Answer

Wait for the patient to fall before requesting a change

Question 17

In the UK, a nurse hears a colleague make a discriminatory remark about a patient's disability. What is the most appropriate action?

Accepted Answer

Challenge the remark appropriately and report the concern if needed

Answer

Ignore it because the patient did not appear to hear the remark

Answer

Repeat the remark privately to check whether other staff agree

Answer

Wait until the end of the year before raising it in appraisal

Question 18

In the UK, a nurse accidentally enters information in the wrong patient's electronic record. What should the nurse do first?

Accepted Answer

Report the error and follow the approved correction process

Answer

Delete the entire record so the entry cannot be seen

Answer

Leave the entry because the information is clinically accurate

Answer

Use another nurse's login to correct the record more quickly

Question 19

In the UK, a nurse is invited to promote a medical product online using the nurse's professional title. The nurse has not independently evaluated the product. What should the nurse do?

Accepted Answer

Decline the promotion because it could mislead the public

Answer

Accept it if the company provides a written product description

Answer

Accept it but state that the promotion is outside nursing work

Answer

Ask a colleague to post the endorsement using the nurse's name

Question 20

In the UK, a nurse notices that a colleague repeatedly fails to attend required clinical supervision. No patient harm has occurred. What should the nurse do?

Accepted Answer

Raise the concern through the appropriate management process

Answer

Ignore it because supervision is the colleague's private matter

Answer

Post a warning about the colleague on a staff social media group

Answer

Wait for evidence of patient harm before taking any action

Free The NMC Code and Professional Accountability MCQs with Answers