Assistant Nurse Prometric exam questions with answers

1. Question 1Communication, ethics and professional conductmedium

   An alert patient refuses his morning bed bath. What should you do?

   1. ARespect his choice, offer a later time, report it
   2. BGive the bath anyway, as it is part of the routine
   3. CTell him that the doctor insists he must have it
   4. DSkip the bath and do not mention it to anyone
   Show answer and explanation▾

   Answer: A. Respect his choice, offer a later time, report it

   A patient with capacity has the right to refuse care; the assistant should respect this, explore the reason, offer alternatives and report and document the refusal. Forcing care is assault.

2. Question 2Basic life support and emergencieshard

   A patient with diabetes is sweaty and shaky. His capillary glucose is 3.2 mmol/L and he can swallow safely. After alerting the nurse, what is the appropriate first treatment?

   1. AA large meal now, with no further glucose check
   2. BHis usual dose of insulin to prevent a later rise
   3. CNothing by mouth until the doctor has arrived
   4. D15 to 20 g fast-acting sugar, recheck in 15 minutes
   Show answer and explanation▾

   Answer: D. 15 to 20 g fast-acting sugar, recheck in 15 minutes

   A conscious patient able to swallow is given 15 to 20 g of quick-acting carbohydrate such as glucose tablets or juice, with glucose rechecked after 10 to 15 minutes. Insulin would lower the glucose further.

3. Question 3Fundamentals of nursing care and daily livingmedium

   A patient with heart failure becomes short of breath while lying in bed. Which position is best while you call the nurse?

   1. AFlat supine with legs raised
   2. BTrendelenburg with the head down
   3. CProne with arms by the side
   4. DHigh Fowler's, sitting upright
   Show answer and explanation▾

   Answer: D. High Fowler's, sitting upright

   Sitting upright lets the diaphragm move down and reduces venous return to the lungs, which eases breathing. Raising the legs or tipping the head down increases breathlessness in heart failure.

4. Question 4Fundamentals of nursing care and daily livingmedium

   A patient has been prescribed anti-embolism stockings after surgery. What should the assistant nurse check daily?

   1. AThat the stockings are rolled down at the top
   2. BThat the stockings stay on during washing
   3. CThe skin under the stockings for marks or redness
   4. DThat the toes are fully covered and tight
   Show answer and explanation▾

   Answer: C. The skin under the stockings for marks or redness

   Stockings must be removed daily to inspect the skin and check for pressure marks, and they should not be rolled down because this creates a tourniquet effect. Any skin damage should be reported.

5. Question 5Nutrition, hydration and eliminationeasy

   Where should the drainage bag of an indwelling urinary catheter be kept?

   1. AAbove the level of the bladder, on the rail
   2. BBelow the level of the bladder, off the floor
   3. COn the floor beside the bed, below the bladder
   4. DOn the patient's abdomen, held by tape
   Show answer and explanation▾

   Answer: B. Below the level of the bladder, off the floor

   Keeping the bag below bladder level and off the floor allows drainage and prevents backflow of urine, which reduces infection risk. A bag above the bladder or on the floor increases infection risk.

6. Question 6Infection prevention and controlmedium

   A patient has diarrhoea caused by Clostridioides difficile. After providing care, how should you clean your hands?

   1. AUse alcohol hand rub only
   2. BWipe hands with a dry paper towel
   3. CWash with soap and water
   4. DWear gloves so hand hygiene is not needed
   Show answer and explanation▾

   Answer: C. Wash with soap and water

   C. difficile forms spores that are not killed by alcohol, so hands must be washed with soap and water to remove them mechanically. Gloves reduce contamination but do not replace hand hygiene.

7. Question 7Specimen collection and medication supporthard

   A 24-hour urine collection is to start at 08:00. What is the correct procedure?

   1. AKeep the 08:00 void and stop at 20:00 the same day
   2. BCollect only the morning urine on two days
   3. CDiscard the 08:00 void, then collect all urine until 08:00 next day
   4. DCollect every void except the one at night
   Show answer and explanation▾

   Answer: C. Discard the 08:00 void, then collect all urine until 08:00 next day

   At the start time the bladder is emptied and that urine discarded, then all urine is collected for 24 hours including the final void at the end time. Missing any void invalidates the test.

8. Question 8Vital signs and clinical observationeasy

   What is the normal resting pulse rate range for a healthy adult?

   1. A40 to 60 beats per minute
   2. B60 to 100 beats per minute
   3. C100 to 140 beats per minute
   4. D20 to 40 beats per minute
   Show answer and explanation▾

   Answer: B. 60 to 100 beats per minute

   A normal resting adult pulse is about 60 to 100 beats per minute. Rates above 100 are tachycardia and below 60 are bradycardia, which should be reported if new or unusual for the patient.

9. Question 9Nutrition, hydration and eliminationmedium

   A patient has passed three entirely liquid stools with no solid pieces since morning. How should this be recorded and handled?

   1. AType 1 on the Bristol chart, no action
   2. BType 4 on the Bristol chart, normal stool
   3. CType 7 on the Bristol chart, report and isolate as advised
   4. DType 3 on the Bristol chart, give a laxative
   Show answer and explanation▾

   Answer: C. Type 7 on the Bristol chart, report and isolate as advised

   Entirely liquid stool is type 7, which indicates diarrhoea and should be reported promptly, as the patient may need isolation and a specimen. Type 4 is a normal smooth, soft stool.

10. Question 10Patient safety: falls, pressure injuries and safe handlingmedium

    While washing a bedbound patient, you see a red area over the sacrum that stays red when pressed lightly. The skin is intact. What does this suggest?

    1. AA stage 2 pressure injury
    2. BNormal skin colour
    3. CA healed pressure injury
    4. DA stage 1 pressure injury
    Show answer and explanation▾

    Answer: D. A stage 1 pressure injury

    Non-blanchable redness of intact skin is a stage (category) 1 pressure injury, and it should be reported and the patient repositioned off the area. Stage 2 involves partial-thickness skin loss such as a blister or shallow open wound.

11. Question 11Specimen collection and medication supportmedium

    A patient asks you, the assistant nurse, to give him his prescribed pain tablets from the trolley because the nurse is busy. What should you do?

    1. ATell the registered nurse that he needs pain relief
    2. BGive the tablets as written on the chart
    3. CGive half the dose to be safe
    4. DAsk another patient's relative to help
    Show answer and explanation▾

    Answer: A. Tell the registered nurse that he needs pain relief

    Giving medicines outside your role and without delegation is unsafe; the correct action is to inform the registered nurse promptly so the patient's pain is managed. Acting outside scope puts the patient at risk.

12. Question 12Vital signs and clinical observationmedium

    What is the best way to count a patient's respiratory rate?

    1. AAsk the patient to breathe normally while you count
    2. BCount for a full minute while appearing to check the pulse
    3. CCount for 10 seconds and multiply by six
    4. DCount only when the patient is talking
    Show answer and explanation▾

    Answer: B. Count for a full minute while appearing to check the pulse

    Patients change their breathing when they know it is being watched, so respirations are counted discreetly, often while still holding the wrist, for a full 60 seconds. Short counts multiplied up are inaccurate, especially with irregular breathing.

13. Question 13Vital signs and clinical observationmedium

    You measure blood pressure on a large adult arm using a standard cuff that is too small. What is the likely effect?

    1. AThe reading will be falsely low
    2. BThe reading will be accurate
    3. CThe reading will be falsely high
    4. DOnly the pulse rate will be affected
    Show answer and explanation▾

    Answer: C. The reading will be falsely high

    A cuff that is too small needs more pressure to compress the artery and gives a falsely high reading. A cuff that is too large tends to give a falsely low reading.

14. Question 14Vital signs and clinical observationmedium

    A patient has just finished a hot cup of tea. When should you take an oral temperature?

    1. AWait at least 15 minutes before measuring
    2. BMeasure it immediately
    3. CWait 2 minutes before measuring
    4. DMeasure it under the arm instead, at once
    Show answer and explanation▾

    Answer: A. Wait at least 15 minutes before measuring

    Hot or cold drinks and smoking alter mouth temperature, so oral measurement should be delayed for about 15 to 30 minutes. Measuring immediately gives a falsely high result.

15. Question 15Vital signs and clinical observationmedium

    During routine observations, a post-operative patient has a respiratory rate of 26 breaths per minute, oxygen saturation of 91% and is newly confused. What should you do?

    1. ARecheck the observations in 4 hours
    2. BRecord them and continue the round
    3. CReport to the registered nurse immediately
    4. DGive the patient a glass of water
    Show answer and explanation▾

    Answer: C. Report to the registered nurse immediately

    A raised respiratory rate, low oxygen saturation and new confusion are signs of deterioration that score highly on early warning systems and need immediate escalation. Delaying until the next round can allow serious illness to progress.

Last reviewed September 2026. Questions are original and written to the published exam blueprint; they are not taken from any real paper.