Free Registered Nurse (RN) mock test

Registered Nurse (RN) sample questions with answers

10 more original exam-style Registered Nurse (RN) questions, worked in full. They are not real or recalled exam questions, and none of them is in the mock above or on the bank page, so sit the mock first if you have not.

1. Question 1 · Pediatric Nursing

   A neonate is diagnosed with a ductal-dependent congenital heart lesion. Which medication is used to maintain patency of the ductus arteriosus until surgery?

   1. AProstaglandin E1 (alprostadil)
   2. BIndomethacin
   3. CFurosemide
   4. DDigoxin
   Show answer and explanation

   Correct answer: A. Prostaglandin E1 (alprostadil)

   Prostaglandin E1 keeps the ductus arteriosus open, preserving systemic or pulmonary blood flow in ductal-dependent lesions until surgical correction. Indomethacin closes the ductus and is used for patent ductus arteriosus, while furosemide and digoxin manage heart failure but do not maintain ductal patency.

   Reference: Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, 21st ed. (2020); American Heart Association guidelines

2. Question 2 · Adult Surgical & Perioperative Nursing

   When should discharge planning ideally begin for a patient undergoing major elective surgery, and why?

   1. AOn the day of discharge, once the surgeon confirms recovery
   2. BAt or before admission (preoperatively), to coordinate resources and education early
   3. COnly if complications arise during the hospital stay
   4. DAfter the patient requests information about going home
   Show answer and explanation

   Correct answer: B. At or before admission (preoperatively), to coordinate resources and education early

   Effective discharge planning is a continuous process that should begin at or before admission, allowing early assessment of the patient's home support, education needs, equipment, and follow-up so transitions are safe and readmissions are reduced. Waiting until the day of discharge, until complications occur, or until the patient asks leaves inadequate time to arrange resources and reinforce teaching.

   Reference: Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO) Transitions in Care Best Practice Guideline; Brunner & Suddarth's, 14th ed.

3. Question 3 · Fundamentals of Nursing & Basic Care

   A postoperative patient reports moderate incisional pain and asks about non-pharmacologic strategies to complement the analgesics. Which intervention is an appropriate evidence-based non-pharmacologic measure?

   1. AApplying a heating pad directly over the fresh surgical incision
   2. BWithholding all movement and keeping the patient immobile
   3. CEncouraging the patient to ignore the pain until it becomes severe
   4. DGuided imagery and relaxation breathing techniques
   Show answer and explanation

   Correct answer: D. Guided imagery and relaxation breathing techniques

   Guided imagery and relaxation breathing are recognized non-pharmacologic techniques that reduce the perception of pain and anxiety and complement analgesia. Direct heat on a fresh incision is contraindicated, prolonged immobility increases complications, and allowing pain to escalate before treating it worsens pain control.

   Reference: Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO) Best Practice Guideline: Assessment and Management of Pain (2013)

4. Question 4 · Critical Care & Emergency Nursing

   A patient in cardiogenic shock following a large anterior myocardial infarction has a blood pressure of 78/50 mmHg, cool extremities, and crackles throughout both lung fields. Which intervention is contraindicated?

   1. AAdministering an inotrope such as dobutamine
   2. BProviding supplemental oxygen and continuous cardiac monitoring
   3. CGiving a rapid 2-liter normal saline fluid bolus
   4. DPreparing the patient for possible revascularization
   Show answer and explanation

   Correct answer: C. Giving a rapid 2-liter normal saline fluid bolus

   In cardiogenic shock with pulmonary edema, the failing heart cannot handle additional preload, so a large fluid bolus would worsen pulmonary congestion and is contraindicated. Inotropic support, urgent revascularization, oxygen, and monitoring are all appropriate components of management.

   Reference: American Heart Association / American College of Cardiology STEMI Guidelines, 2013 (updated)

5. Question 5 · Mental Health & Psychiatric Nursing

   Which patient presents with the highest immediate risk for completed suicide?

   1. AA 22-year-old woman with vague thoughts that life is hard but no plan or intent
   2. BA 68-year-old widowed man who lives alone, misuses alcohol, and has a specific plan and a firearm at home
   3. CA 35-year-old man who reports past suicidal thoughts that resolved with therapy
   4. DA 45-year-old woman with mild depression and a strong social support network
   Show answer and explanation

   Correct answer: B. A 68-year-old widowed man who lives alone, misuses alcohol, and has a specific plan and a firearm at home

   Higher risk is associated with older age, male sex, social isolation, widowhood, alcohol misuse, and having a specific plan with access to a highly lethal means such as a firearm, all of which converge in this patient. The others have protective factors (support, resolved ideation, treated depression) or lack a plan, intent, and lethal means.

   Reference: SAD PERSONS scale; Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale; WHO suicide risk factors

6. Question 6 · Maternal, Newborn & Women's Health Nursing

   A woman with one previous low transverse cesarean section is planning a trial of labor after cesarean (TOLAC). During labor she develops sudden severe abdominal pain, loss of fetal station, and fetal bradycardia. Which complication should the nurse suspect?

   1. AUterine rupture
   2. BPlacenta previa
   3. CAmniotic fluid embolism
   4. DUmbilical cord prolapse
   Show answer and explanation

   Correct answer: A. Uterine rupture

   Sudden severe abdominal pain, loss of fetal station (the presenting part recedes), and fetal bradycardia during TOLAC are classic signs of uterine rupture at the prior scar, a life-threatening emergency requiring immediate cesarean delivery. Placenta previa causes painless bleeding, amniotic fluid embolism causes sudden cardiorespiratory collapse and coagulopathy, and cord prolapse presents with a palpable or visible cord.

   Reference: ACOG Practice Bulletin No. 205: Vaginal Birth After Cesarean Delivery (2019)

7. Question 7 · Adult Medical Nursing

   A patient with untreated hyperthyroidism develops a temperature of 40°C, heart rate of 150 beats per minute, agitation, and delirium after a recent infection. The nurse recognizes thyroid storm. Which prescribed medication directly blocks the peripheral effects of excess thyroid hormone on the heart?

   1. APropranolol
   2. BLevothyroxine
   3. CFurosemide
   4. DRegular insulin
   Show answer and explanation

   Correct answer: A. Propranolol

   Propranolol, a beta-blocker, controls the adrenergic manifestations of thyroid storm such as tachycardia and also reduces peripheral conversion of T4 to T3 at high doses. Levothyroxine would worsen the crisis, while furosemide and insulin do not address thyroid hormone effects.

   Reference: American Thyroid Association Guidelines for Hyperthyroidism (2016)

8. Question 8 · Leadership, Management, Quality, Safety & Professional Practice

   A quality team wants to proactively analyze a newly designed chemotherapy-ordering process to anticipate and mitigate potential failure points before implementation. Which tool is most appropriate?

   1. ARoot cause analysis (RCA)
   2. BFailure mode and effects analysis (FMEA)
   3. CIncident report review
   4. DSentinel event disclosure
   Show answer and explanation

   Correct answer: B. Failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA)

   FMEA is a prospective, proactive method that systematically identifies potential failure modes, their effects, and priorities for mitigation before harm occurs, ideal for a high-risk new process. RCA and incident review are retrospective and used after events. Sentinel event disclosure is a communication process, not a risk-analysis method.

   Reference: IHI Failure Modes and Effects Analysis Tool; The Joint Commission proactive risk assessment requirement

9. Question 9 · Community & Public Health Nursing

   During an investigation of a suspected foodborne outbreak at a wedding, the nurse epidemiologist wants to determine which specific food item is most strongly associated with illness. Which is the MOST appropriate epidemiologic study design to use?

   1. ARandomized controlled trial
   2. BRetrospective cohort study of the wedding attendees
   3. CEcological study
   4. DCase report series
   Show answer and explanation

   Correct answer: B. Retrospective cohort study of the wedding attendees

   In a closed, well-defined population such as wedding attendees, a retrospective cohort study comparing attack rates among those who ate versus did not eat each food is the standard method to identify the vehicle. A randomized controlled trial is unethical and impractical for an outbreak, an ecological study looks at group-level not individual exposures, and a case report series cannot compare exposed and unexposed groups.

   Reference: CDC Steps of an Outbreak Investigation; Principles of Epidemiology in Public Health Practice, 3rd ed. (2012)

10. Question 10 · Health Assessment & Physical Examination

    A nurse is assessing a woman at 34 weeks' gestation who becomes dizzy, pale, and hypotensive when lying flat on her back. The nurse's priority action is to:

    1. AElevate both of the patient's legs
    2. BPlace the patient in Trendelenburg position
    3. CAdminister oxygen and continue the supine assessment
    4. DTurn the patient onto her left side
    Show answer and explanation

    Correct answer: D. Turn the patient onto her left side

    These are signs of supine hypotensive (aortocaval compression) syndrome, in which the gravid uterus compresses the inferior vena cava, reducing venous return and cardiac output. Turning the patient to the left lateral position relieves compression and restores circulation. Leg elevation or Trendelenburg does not relieve caval compression, and continuing supine worsens the problem.

    Reference: Lowdermilk et al., Maternity & Women's Health Care, 12th ed. (2020)