Nursing students preparing for their licensing exam know the stress. They study hard, review materials, and still wonder if they’re ready.
The NCLEX feels like a mountain to climb, and doubt creeps in. Practicing with the right questions can make all the difference. It builds confidence, sharpens skills, and shows exactly what to expect on test day.
This blog shares must-try NCLEX practice questions that help students succeed.
These aren’t random questions. They’re carefully selected to cover key topics and test-taking strategies. By working through them, students will feel more prepared and less anxious.
They’ll walk into that exam room knowing they’ve done the work and they’re ready to pass.
A Quick Overview of The NCLEX Exam
The NCLEX exam tests if nursing graduates are ready to practice safely. It’s a computer-based test that adapts to each person’s skill level.
Answer a question correctly? The next one gets harder. Miss one? The computer adjusts and gives an easier question.
The exam covers four main categories. Safe and Effective Care Environment makes up a big chunk. It tests management and safety protocols.
Health Promotion and Maintenance focuses on growth, development, and disease prevention. Psychosocial Integrity deals with mental health and coping mechanisms.
And Physiological Integrity covers basic care, medication, and the body’s functions.
Students can face anywhere from 75 to 145 questions. The test ends when the computer determines competency.
Time limit? Six hours maximum. That’s plenty of time to carefully think through each question.
Must-Try NCLEX Practice Questions
These practice NCLEX questions cover the core areas tested on the NCLEX exam. Working through them helps students identify knowledge gaps and build confidence.
Safe and Effective Care Environment
1. Which Action Should The Nurse Take First When A Fire Alarm Sounds On The Unit?
Answer. Remove patients from immediate danger. The RACE acronym applies. Rescue, Alarm, Contain, Extinguish. Patient safety is always the top priority.
2. A Nurse Receives Orders for Four Patients. Which Patient Should Be Assessed First?
Answer. The patient has chest pain radiating to the left arm. This suggests a cardiac emergency requiring immediate attention. Life-threatening conditions come before stable patients.
3. What is The Correct Procedure for Verifying Patient Identity Before Medication Administration?
Answer. Check two patient identifiers. Name and date of birth. Room numbers should never be used. This prevents medication errors.
4. A Patient is Placed On Airborne Precautions. What Personal Protective Equipment Must The Nurse Wear?
Answer. An N95 respirator mask. Regular surgical masks don’t filter small airborne particles effectively. Proper protection prevents disease transmission.
5. Which Task Can the Registered Nurse Delegate to Unlicensed Assistive Personnel?
Answer. Taking vital signs on a stable patient. UAPs handle basic care tasks. Assessment, medications, and education require RN licensure.
6. A Patient Threatens to Harm A Specific Person. What is the Nurse’s Legal Responsibility?
Answer. Notify the intended victim and authorities. Duty to warn overrides confidentiality when there’s a credible threat to safety.
7. What is The Proper Sequence for Donning Personal Protective Equipment?
Answer. Gown, mask, goggles, then gloves. This order prevents contamination. Gloves go on last because they cover gown cuffs.
8. A Nurse Witnesses a Colleague Taking Narcotics from The Medication Cart. What Should the Nurse Do?
Answer. Report the incident to the nurse manager immediately. Documentation and proper reporting protect patients and maintain professional standards.
9. Which Principle Guides The Nurse When Obtaining Informed Consent?
Answer. The physician must explain the procedure, risks, and alternatives. Nurses can witness the signature but cannot obtain consent themselves.
10. A Patient Refuses A Prescribed Medication. What is The Nurse’s Best Response?
Answer. Ask why the patient is refusing and document the refusal. Patients have the right to refuse treatment. Understanding their concerns helps address issues.
11. What Action Demonstrates Proper Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Settings?
Answer. Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water or use an alcohol-based sanitizer. Hand hygiene is the single most effective way to prevent the spread of infection.
12. A Nurse Discovers a Medication Error. What Should Be Done First?
Answer. Assess the patient for adverse effects. Patient safety comes first. Then notify the physician and complete an incident report.
13. Which Patient Information Can Be Shared without Violating HIPAA?
Answer. Information necessary for treatment among healthcare team members. HIPAA allows sharing for treatment, payment, and operations purposes only.
14. What is the Correct Method for Disposing Of Contaminated Needles?
Answer. Place immediately into a puncture-resistant sharps container without recapping. Recapping causes most needlestick injuries.
15. A Patient’s Family Requests Full Medical Information. What Should the Nurse Do?
Answer. Verify the patient has authorized information sharing with this family member. Patient consent is required before disclosing medical information.
16. Which Action Prevents Patient Falls in The Hospital Setting?
Answer. Keep the bed in the lowest position with the call light within reach. Environmental modifications reduce fall risk significantly.
17. What is the Priority When A Patient’s IV Pump Alarm Sounds?
Answer. Check the patient and IV site first, then troubleshoot the equipment. Continually assess the patient before addressing equipment issues.
Health Promotion and Physiological Integrity
18. A Pregnant Woman Asks About Safe Exercise During Pregnancy. What Should the Nurse Recommend?
Answer. Moderate exercise, such as walking or swimming, for 30 minutes most days. Avoid contact sports and activities with fall risk. Exercise benefits both mother and baby.
19. What is the Recommended Immunization Schedule for A 2-Month-Old Infant?
Answer. DTaP, IPV, Hib, PCV13, and Rotavirus vaccines. Following the CDC schedule protects infants from serious diseases during vulnerable periods.
20. A Patient with Diabetes Asks About Foot Care. What Should the Nurse Teach?
Answer. Inspect feet daily, wear proper footwear, and never walk barefoot. Diabetes reduces sensation, making injury detection difficult. Prevention is key.
21. What Dietary Advice Should Be Given to A Patient with Hypertension?
Answer. Limit sodium intake to less than 2,300 mg daily and increase potassium-rich foods. The DASH diet effectively lowers blood pressure.
22. A Mother Asks When to Introduce Solid Foods to Her Infant. What Should the Nurse Say?
Answer. Around 6 months,n the baby can sit with support and shows interest in food. Start with iron-fortified cereal and pureed vegetables.
23. What is the Correct Technique for Performing Breast Self-Examination?
Answer. Examine breasts monthly, one week after menstruation ends, using circular motions from outside to center. Early detection improves outcomes.
24. A Patient Asks About Preventing Osteoporosis. What Should the Nurse Recommend?
Answer. Consume adequate calcium and vitamin D, perform weight-bearing exercise, and avoid smoking. Bone health requires lifelong attention.
25. What Teaching Should a Nurse Provide About Infant Safe Sleep Practices?
Answer. Place babies on their backs to sleep on a firm surface without loose bedding. Room-sharing without bed-sharing reduces SIDS risk.
26. A Patient with COPD Asks About Breathing Exercises. What Should the Nurse Teach?
Answer. Pursed-lip breathing. Inhale through the nose, exhale slowly through pursed lips. This prevents airway collapse and improves gas exchange.
27. What are the Warning Signs of Stroke that Require Immediate Medical Attention?
Answer. Face drooping, arm weakness, and speech difficulty. Use the FAST acronym. Time is critical to the effectiveness of stroke treatment.
28. A Postoperative Patient Reports Pain Level 7 Out Of 10. What Should the Nurse Do First?
Answer. Administer prescribed pain medication and reassess in 30 minutes. Adequate pain control promotes healing and prevents complications.
29. What is the Correct Procedure for Administering an Intramuscular Injection?
Answer. Use a 90-degree angle, aspirate if indicated, and inject slowly. Proper technique reduces pain and ensures medication absorption.
30. A Patient Receiving Blood Transfusion Develops Hives and Itching. What Should the Nurse Do?
Answer. Stop the transfusion immediately and keep the IV line open with saline. This indicates an allergic reaction requiring prompt intervention.
31. What are The Signs Of Hypoglycemia that A Diabetic Patient Should Monitor?
Answer. Shakiness, sweating, confusion, and rapid heartbeat. Treating quickly with 15 grams of fast-acting carbohydrates prevents serious complications.
32. A Patient on Warfarin Asks About Dietary Restrictions. What Should the Nurse Explain?
Answer. Maintain consistent vitamin K intake from green leafy vegetables. Sudden changes affect medication effectiveness and clotting times.
33. What Position Should A Patient Be Placed in for Nasogastric Tube Insertion?
Answer. High Fowler’s position with neck slightly flexed. This facilitates tube passage and reduces the risk of aspiration during insertion.
34. A Patient Complains Of Chest Pain. What Assessment Should the Nurse Perform First?
Answer. Check vital signs and assess pain characteristics using the PQRST method. Provocation, Quality, Region, Severity, Time. This guides appropriate intervention.
35. What is The Correct Method for Measuring Urine Output from an Indwelling Catheter?
Answer. Empty the drainage bag into a graduated container and measure at eye level. Accurate measurement monitors kidney function and fluid balance.
36. A Patient with Heart Failure Shows Signs of Fluid Overload. What Should the Nurse Expect to Find?
Answer. Crackles in lungs, edema in extremities, and weight gain. Fluid accumulates when the heart cannot pump effectively.
37. What Teaching Should Be Provided About Proper Inhaler Technique?
Answer. Shake the inhaler, exhale fully, press the canister while inhaling slowly, and hold your breath for 10 seconds. Proper technique ensures medication reaches the lungs.
38. A Patient Post-Appendectomy Develops a Fever. What Should the Nurse Suspect?
Answer. Possible infection at the surgical site or elsewhere. Fever after surgery often indicates complications requiring assessment and possible treatment.
39. What is The Priority Nursing Action for A Patient Having A Seizure?
Answer. Protect from injury by moving nearby objects and positioning yourself on the side. Never restrain or put anything in the mouth.
40. A Patient On Bed Rest Needs Prevention Of Pressure Ulcers. What Should the Nurse Do?
Answer. Reposition every 2 hours and use pressure-relieving devices. Frequent position changes maintain circulation and skin integrity.
41. What Lab Value Indicates a Patient May Need a Blood Transfusion?
Answer. Hemoglobin below 7 g/dL with symptoms of anemia. Transfusions restore oxygen-carrying capacity when levels drop dangerously low.
42. A Patient Taking Digoxin Shows Signs of Toxicity. What Should the Nurse Assess?
Answer. Visual changes, nausea, and irregular heartbeat. Digoxin has a narrow therapeutic range, making toxicity common.
43. What is the Correct Technique for Suctioning A Tracheostomy?
Answer. Apply suction only while withdrawing the catheter, limited to 10-15 seconds, and use sterile technique. This prevents hypoxia and infection.
44. A Patient with Pneumonia Has Difficulty Breathing. What Position Helps Most?
Answer. High Fowler’s or semi-Fowler’s position. Upright positioning allows maximum lung expansion and easier breathing.
Psychosocial Integrity
45. A Patient Diagnosed with Terminal Cancer States, “Why Me?” What Response Shows Therapeutic Communication?
Answer. “This must be very difficult for you.” Acknowledge feelings without offering false hope or minimizing their experience.
46. What is the Priority Intervention for a Patient Expressing Suicidal Thoughts?
Answer. Ensure safety by removing harmful objects and providing constant observation. Safety is the immediate concern before addressing underlying issues.
47. A Patient with Schizophrenia Reports Hearing Voices. What is the Best Nursing Response?
Answer. “I don’t hear voices, but I understand they seem real to you.” Acknowledge their experience without reinforcing the hallucination.
48. What Behavior Indicates a Patient May Be Experiencing Alcohol Withdrawal?
Answer. Tremors, increased heart rate, sweating, and anxiety within 6-24 hours after last drink. Severe withdrawal can be life-threatening.
49. A Patient Refuses to Leave Their Room Due to Anxiety. What Should the Nurse Do?
Answer. Spend time with the patient in their room and gradually encourage small steps outside. Forcing participation increases anxiety.
50. What is the Therapeutic Response to a Patient Who Says, “Nobody Cares About Me”?
Answer. “You’re feeling alone right now. Tell me more about that.” Reflect feelings and encourage expression without dismissing their emotions.
51. A Patient With Depression Shows No Interest In Activities. What Intervention is Most Appropriate?
Answer. Encourage participation in a straightforward activity and stay with them. Small successes build momentum toward recovery and engagement.
Click here to download the questions in PDF form for easier access.
Wrapping It Up
Preparing for the NCLEX doesn’t have to feel daunting. Working through these practice questions builds the knowledge and confidence needed for exam day.
Each question reviewed brings you closer to becoming a licensed nurse.
Start practicing today. Set aside time each day to work through different question types.
Review the answers carefully and understand why each option is right or wrong. This active learning sticks better than passive reading.
Success on the NCLEX opens doors to a rewarding nursing career. These NCLEX practice questions are tools to help get there.
Use them well, stay consistent, and trust the preparation process. The nursing profession is waiting.
