NCLEX-style Prioritization & Delegation: practice problems and exam questions

Clinical judgement practice of the kind that appears on nursing licensing exams such as the NCLEX: which patient to see first, ABC and Maslow, stable versus unstable, delegation to assistive personnel and LPN/LVNs, triage, infection control, safety and the lab values behind priority decisions.

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Topics in this course

  1. Prioritization & delegationkey terms and facts · applying the concepts · cases and analysismultiple choice
  2. Infection control & patient safetykey terms and facts · applying the concepts · cases and analysismultiple choice
  3. Lab values & electrolyteskey terms and facts · applying the concepts · cases and analysismultiple choice
  4. Clinical nursingkey terms and facts · applying the concepts · cases and analysismultiple choice
  5. Med-surg: cardiovascular & respiratorykey terms and facts · applying the concepts · cases and analysismultiple choice
  6. Med-surg: neuro, endocrine & renalkey terms and facts · applying the concepts · cases and analysismultiple choice
  7. Med-surg: GI, perioperative & oncologykey terms and facts · applying the concepts · cases and analysismultiple choice

Exam tips for NCLEX-style Prioritization & Delegation

  • When every option is correct, the question is about order: choose what prevents harm soonest.
  • Compare each finding with the patient’s baseline; expected findings are rarely the answer.
  • Assessment, initial teaching and evaluation stay with the RN; delegate only stable, predictable tasks.

Example questions

Prioritization & delegationEasy

In the Emergency Severity Index (ESI), what does level 1 mean?

  1. AIs the least urgent patient
  2. BNeeds two or more resources
  3. CNeeds an immediate life-saving intervention
  4. DIs stable enough to be seen in a fast-track area
Show hints
  1. ESI runs from 1 to 5.
  2. Two wrong answers are now crossed out. One of the remaining two is right.
Show the answer and explanation

Why this is the answer

ESI level 1 is for patients who need immediate life-saving care, such as a patient in cardiac arrest or with a blocked airway. Level 5 is the least urgent. Counting resources is used for levels 3 to 5.

Answer

C · Needs an immediate life-saving intervention
Infection control & patient safetyMedium

Before a blood transfusion is started, which check is required?

  1. AThe patient signs the blood bag label to confirm their name before it is hung
  2. BOne nurse checks the blood product against the order at the nurses’ station
  3. CThe nurse checks only that the bag number matches the order
  4. DThe patient’s identity is checked against the blood product and its paperwork at the bedside
Show hints
  1. Most serious reactions come from giving blood to the wrong person.
  2. Two wrong answers are now crossed out. One of the remaining two is right.
Show the answer and explanation

Why this is the answer

Wrong-patient transfusion can cause a fatal ABO reaction, so the final check is always done at the bedside, with positive patient identification against the product label, compatibility tag and order. Many US hospitals require two qualified people for this check, while UK guidance allows one trained person if positive identification is used. Local policy decides who checks.

Answer

D · The patient’s identity is checked against the blood product and its paperwork at the bedside

How practising works

  • “Practise this course” mixes problems from all its topics, like a real exam.
  • Every problem has new values, so you learn the method instead of an answer.
  • Stuck? Open a small hint first, and the full explanation only when you need it.
  • Mock exams are timed and have no hints, and you get your score and a full review at the end.

Related courses

NCLEX-style practice questions (RN)NCLEX-PN-style practice questions (LPN/LVN)Medical-Surgical NursingNursing Fundamentals and Clinical PracticeLab Values for NursesInfection Control and Patient SafetyRespiratory Care and Oxygen TherapyECG Interpretation
Practise this course for freePractise this courseTake a mock exam5 free problems every day. No card needed.