A post-operative adult has a urine output of 15 mL/hour for the last two hours through a catheter. The nurse's first action is to:

Check the catheter and tubing for kinks or blockage

Increase the IV rate on her own

Record it and recheck at the end of the shift

During admission of a patient to the ward, the nurse's first action is to:

Greet the patient and check identity

Collect all urine and blood samples

The oral route for temperature measurement is unsuitable for:

A post-operative adult who is alert

Basic nursing procedures, vital signs and patient care

65 Staff nurse recruitment practice questions on Basic nursing procedures, vital signs and patient care, part of Fundamentals of Nursing. The first 25 are below; the first 5 with answers and explanations (tap Show answer after you have chosen), the rest in Learn with a free account.

Question 1 · Medium
For a stool sample for occult blood, the patient should avoid for about three days before the test:
1. ARice and white bread
2. BClear fruit juice
3. CPlain drinking water
4. DRed meat and aspirin
Show answerHide answer
Answer: D · Red meat and aspirin
Red meat, some vegetables and drugs such as aspirin and iron can give false results in guaiac occult blood tests. The patient follows the diet advice for the test used. Rice, bread and water do not interfere.
- A: Rice and bread do not affect the test.
- B: Clear juice does not cause false results.
- C: Water does not interfere.
Question 2 · Easy
A healthy adult at rest has a heart rate in the range of:
1. A120-160 beats per minute
2. B100-140 beats per minute
3. C60-100 beats per minute
4. D40-60 beats per minute
Show answerHide answer
Answer: C · 60-100 beats per minute
A healthy adult at rest has a pulse of 60 to 100 beats per minute. A rate below 60 is bradycardia and above 100 is tachycardia. Athletes may normally run below 60. Rates of 120-160 are normal for a newborn, not an adult.
- A: 120-160 is the newborn range.
- B: Above 100 is tachycardia in an adult.
- D: 40-60 is bradycardia in most adults.
Question 3 · Hard
A post-operative adult has a urine output of 15 mL/hour for the last two hours through a catheter. The nurse's first action is to:
1. ACheck the catheter and tubing for kinks or blockage
2. BIncrease the IV rate on her own
3. CRecord it and recheck at the end of the shift
4. DRemove the catheter
Show answerHide answer
Answer: A · Check the catheter and tubing for kinks or blockage
Output below 0.5 mL/kg/hour needs action, but the first step is to rule out a mechanical cause such as a kinked or blocked tube. If the system is patent, the nurse assesses the patient and informs the doctor. Changing IV rates needs an order. Waiting till shift end delays care.
- B: IV changes need a prescription.
- C: Waiting delays treatment of possible kidney injury.
- D: Removing the catheter loses accurate monitoring.
Question 4 · Medium
During admission of a patient to the ward, the nurse's first action is to:
1. AExplain the discharge plan
2. BGreet the patient and check identity
3. CGive the prescribed drugs
4. DCollect all urine and blood samples
Show answerHide answer
Answer: B · Greet the patient and check identity
Admission begins with a warm welcome and confirming identity with two identifiers and the identity band. This reduces anxiety and prevents errors. Then the patient is oriented to the ward, vital signs are taken and an assessment done. Drugs and samples follow orders.
- A: Discharge planning starts soon, not first.
- C: Drugs need identity checks and orders first.
- D: Samples are collected later as ordered.
Question 5 · Medium
The oral route for temperature measurement is unsuitable for:
1. AAn ambulant adult with fever
2. BA patient on oral antibiotics
3. CA post-operative adult who is alert
4. DAn unconscious patient
Show answerHide answer
Answer: D · An unconscious patient
Oral thermometers are avoided in unconscious, confused or seizure-prone patients, young children, and after oral surgery, because of biting and injury. Axillary or tympanic routes are used instead. Alert adults can safely hold the thermometer. Oral drugs do not bar the route.
- A: Fever is not a reason to avoid oral readings.
- B: Oral antibiotics do not affect the route.
- C: An alert post-operative adult can use the oral route.
Question 6 · Hard
Half a litre of Ringer's lactate is to run in 4 hours through a set delivering 20 drops/mL. The drip rate is about:
1. A125 drops per minute
2. B31 drops per minute
3. C42 drops per minute
4. D21 drops per minute
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 7 · Medium
Soon after a patient dies, the first thing the nurse should do in care of the body is to:
1. APlace the body flat with a pillow under the head
2. BRemove all lines at once before informing anyone
3. CTie the jaw with a bandage only after a day
4. DLeave the body as it is until shifted
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 8 · Medium
A foot board is placed in the bed of a patient on long bed rest mainly to prevent:
1. AFoot drop
2. BSwelling of the ankles
3. CPressure on the heels
4. DExternal rotation of the hip
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 9 · Hard
While a catheter is being passed in a male patient, resistance is felt at the prostate. The nurse should:
1. AInflate the balloon at that point
2. BPush firmly past the obstruction
3. CPause, have him breathe deeply
4. DChange to a larger catheter now
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 10 · Hard
Over 24 hours a catheterised patient drained 1,450 mL of urine. The bladder was irrigated with 600 mL of saline, all of which drained into the same bag. The true urine output is:
1. A600 mL
2. B2,050 mL
3. C1,450 mL
4. D850 mL
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 11 · Medium
A patient wants to leave hospital against medical advice. The nurse's best action is to:
1. AHide the patient's clothes
2. BInform the doctor and have the patient sign a LAMA form
3. CLock the ward door
4. DLet the patient go without informing anyone
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 12 · Hard
A patient scores 11 on the Braden scale. The nurse interprets this as:
1. ALow risk needing no plan
2. BNo risk of pressure injury
3. CHigh risk of pressure injury
4. DNormal score for an adult
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 13 · Hard
During an enema the patient becomes pale and sweaty and his pulse falls from 84 to 50 per minute. The nurse should first:
1. AStop the enema and check vital signs
2. BRaise the can to finish faster
3. CContinue slowly to finish the solution
4. DGive a second enema
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 14 · Medium
Soiled linen removed from a patient's bed should be:
1. ARolled inward and placed in the linen bag
2. BPlaced on the floor beside the bed
3. CHeld against the nurse's uniform
4. DShaken to remove debris
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 15 · Easy
In the Trendelenburg position, the patient lies supine with the:
1. AHead raised to 45 degrees
2. BKnees flexed onto the chest
3. CHead lower than the feet
4. DLegs in stirrups
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 16 · Easy
The pulse most commonly used for routine adult pulse counting is the:
1. ARadial pulse
2. BFemoral pulse
3. CPopliteal pulse
4. DDorsalis pedis pulse
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 17 · Medium
While counting respirations, the nurse keeps the fingers on the pulse after counting it. The reason is to:
1. AWarm the patient's wrist
2. BCheck the pulse rhythm a second time
3. CFeel the respiratory rate through the artery
4. DKeep the patient unaware that breathing is being counted
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 18 · Medium
Massaging reddened skin over a bony prominence is avoided because it:
1. ADries the skin far too much
2. BRaises the body temperature
3. CDamages the underlying capillaries
4. DMakes the patient sweat a lot
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 19 · Easy
The noisy breathing caused by secretions in the throat of a dying patient is called:
1. AStridor
2. BWheeze
3. CDeath rattle
4. DKussmaul breathing
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 20 · Medium
Raising the head of the bed above 30 degrees for long periods increases pressure injury risk at the sacrum mainly through:
1. AShearing force
2. BExcess moisture
3. CReduced appetite
4. DDirect cooling
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 21 · Hard
An adult weighs 81 kg and is 1.8 m tall. The body mass index is:
1. A30 kg/m2
2. B25 kg/m2
3. C22 kg/m2
4. D45 kg/m2
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 22 · Easy
The balloon of a standard adult Foley catheter is usually inflated with:
1. ATap water
2. BSterile water
3. CAir
4. DNormal saline
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 23 · Medium
While giving a bed bath, the correct order of washing is:
1. ABack, perineum, face, arms, chest, legs
2. BFace, arms, chest, abdomen, legs, back, perineum
3. CPerineum, legs, back, arms, chest, face
4. DLegs, abdomen, face, perineum, arms, back
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 24 · Medium
A patient's apical rate is 96 and radial rate 78 per minute, counted together by two nurses. This indicates a:
1. ABradycardia
2. BNormal sinus rhythm
3. CPulse pressure of 18
4. DPulse deficit of 18
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 25 · Medium
When inserting a urinary catheter in a female patient, the nurse cleans the labia with a swab:
1. AOnly after the catheter is in
2. BFrom back to front
3. CIn a circle around the urethra with one swab
4. DFrom front to back, one swab per stroke
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account

40 more Basic nursing procedures, vital signs and patient care questions

Answer them one by one, keep your score and see your weak topics in Learn. Signed-out visitors try 25 per exam; sign in with Google to see them all.

Study Fundamentals of Nursing

Basic nursing procedures, vital signs and patient care

For a stool sample for occult blood, the patient should avoid for about three days before the test:

A healthy adult at rest has a heart rate in the range of:

A post-operative adult has a urine output of 15 mL/hour for the last two hours through a catheter. The nurse's first action is to:

During admission of a patient to the ward, the nurse's first action is to:

The oral route for temperature measurement is unsuitable for:

Half a litre of Ringer's lactate is to run in 4 hours through a set delivering 20 drops/mL. The drip rate is about:

Soon after a patient dies, the first thing the nurse should do in care of the body is to:

A foot board is placed in the bed of a patient on long bed rest mainly to prevent:

While a catheter is being passed in a male patient, resistance is felt at the prostate. The nurse should:

Over 24 hours a catheterised patient drained 1,450 mL of urine. The bladder was irrigated with 600 mL of saline, all of which drained into the same bag. The true urine output is:

A patient wants to leave hospital against medical advice. The nurse's best action is to:

A patient scores 11 on the Braden scale. The nurse interprets this as:

During an enema the patient becomes pale and sweaty and his pulse falls from 84 to 50 per minute. The nurse should first:

Soiled linen removed from a patient's bed should be:

In the Trendelenburg position, the patient lies supine with the:

The pulse most commonly used for routine adult pulse counting is the:

While counting respirations, the nurse keeps the fingers on the pulse after counting it. The reason is to:

Massaging reddened skin over a bony prominence is avoided because it:

The noisy breathing caused by secretions in the throat of a dying patient is called:

Raising the head of the bed above 30 degrees for long periods increases pressure injury risk at the sacrum mainly through:

An adult weighs 81 kg and is 1.8 m tall. The body mass index is:

The balloon of a standard adult Foley catheter is usually inflated with:

While giving a bed bath, the correct order of washing is:

A patient's apical rate is 96 and radial rate 78 per minute, counted together by two nurses. This indicates a:

When inserting a urinary catheter in a female patient, the nurse cleans the labia with a swab: