Nursing Fundamentals and Clinical Practice: practice problems and exam questions

Multiple-choice questions on fundamentals of nursing care, patient safety, assessment and clinical practice, with an explanation for every answer.

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Cram pack (PDF)Formula sheets, method steps and practice problems with full solutions, ready to print.

Topics in this course

  1. Nursing fundamentalskey terms and facts · applying the concepts · cases and analysismultiple choice
  2. Clinical nursingkey terms and facts · applying the concepts · cases and analysismultiple choice
  3. Arterial blood gas interpretationacid–base classification · compensation and expected values · mixed disorders and gas exchangecalculations
  4. Clinical assessment scoresGCS, APGAR, MAP and BMI · Braden, Morse, NEWS2 and shock index · risk categories and interpretationcalculations
  5. Enteral & parenteral nutrition calculationstube feeding: rates, energy and protein · needs, ideal body weight and free water · parenteral nutrition and obesity rulescalculations
  6. ECG rhythm strip interpretationrate and intervals · QT and rhythm recognition · heart blocks and ventricular rhythmscalculations
  7. Prioritization & delegationkey terms and facts · applying the concepts · cases and analysismultiple choice
  8. Infection control & patient safetykey terms and facts · applying the concepts · cases and analysismultiple choice
  9. Lab values & electrolyteskey terms and facts · applying the concepts · cases and analysismultiple choice

Exam tips for Nursing Fundamentals and Clinical Practice

  • Prioritise airway, breathing and circulation.
  • Patient safety comes first: look for the option that prevents harm.
  • Assess before you act, unless the situation is an emergency.

Worked examples

Nursing fundamentalsEasy

What does "polyuria" mean?

  1. APassing urine painfully or with a burning feeling
  2. BPassing large amounts of urine
  3. CPassing urine at night
  4. DPassing no urine at all
Show hints
  1. "Poly" means many or much.
  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

Polyuria is an abnormally large urine volume, seen for example in uncontrolled diabetes. Dysuria is painful urination, nocturia is passing urine at night and anuria is no urine.

Answer

B · Passing large amounts of urine
Clinical nursingMedium

What should a patient starting oral iron tablets be told?

  1. ATheir stools may turn dark or black
  2. BThey must take the tablets with strong tea
  3. CThe tablets will cause weight loss
  4. DTheir urine will turn bright green
Show hints
  1. Unabsorbed iron passes through the bowel.
  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

Oral iron commonly darkens the stool and can cause constipation or stomach upset. Tea and antacids reduce absorption, while vitamin C may increase it.

Answer

A · Their stools may turn dark or black

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.

Calculators for this course

Glasgow Coma Scale calculator (GCS and GCS-P)APGAR score calculatorBraden scale calculator (pressure injury risk)Morse fall scale calculator (fall risk)NEWS2 score calculator (National Early Warning Score 2)Mean arterial pressure calculator (MAP)QTc calculator (Bazett, Fridericia and Framingham)ECG heart rate calculator (300, 1500 and 6-second methods)BMI calculator (body mass index for adults)Ideal body weight calculator (Devine) and adjusted body weightTube feeding calculator (enteral rate, calories, protein, free water)Anion gap calculator (albumin-corrected, delta ratio)

Related courses

NCLEX-style practice questions (RN)NCLEX-PN-style practice questions (LPN/LVN)Medical-Surgical NursingNCLEX-style Prioritization & DelegationLab Values for NursesHealth AssessmentInfection Control and Patient SafetyRespiratory Care and Oxygen Therapy
Practise this course for freePractise this courseTake a mock exam5 free problems every day. No card needed.