Prioritization & delegation worksheet with answers

Which blood pressure in an adult suggests hypotension?

1. A82/48 mmHg
2. B126/82 mmHg
3. C118/76 mmHg
4. D110/70 mmHg

What does “scope of practice” mean?

1. AThe activities a nurse is educated, competent and legally allowed to do
2. BThe highest number of patients a nurse may care for during a single shift
3. CThe hospital areas where a nurse is allowed to work
4. DThe salary range that applies to each nursing role

When a priority question offers both an assessment and an action, which is usually correct first when the situation is not an emergency?

1. AAssessing the patient to collect more information
2. BAsking a nursing assistant to go and check the patient
3. CDocumenting the concern in the chart
4. DCalling the provider before seeing the patient

A patient with schizophrenia says voices are telling him to hurt his roommate. What is the priority?

1. AAsk the roommate to stay in the room with him and help calm him down
2. BTell him the voices are not real and leave him alone
3. CIgnore the comment, because voices are part of his illness
4. DKeep everyone safe and tell the team, as the risk of harm is high

A swimmer is found unresponsive after diving into shallow water. Which method should the nurse use to open the airway?

1. ATurning the head to the side to drain water
2. BHead-tilt, chin-lift with full neck extension
3. CJaw thrust, keeping the head and neck in line
4. DRaising the chin while bending the neck forward

When making patient assignments, what should the charge nurse consider first?

1. ALetting staff choose the patients they prefer
2. BMatching each patient’s needs to staff competence
3. CGiving the newest staff the most complex patients
4. DGiving each nurse patients in rooms next to each other

A patient with a severe asthma attack had a PaCO₂ of 32 mmHg (4.3 kPa) on arrival. An hour later it is 46 mmHg (6.1 kPa), and the patient seems tired. What does this suggest?

1. AThe patient is hyperventilating even more than before and needs calming
2. BThe asthma is improving, because the PaCO₂ is now near normal
3. CRespiratory muscle fatigue with possible impending respiratory failure
4. DA laboratory error that should be ignored

A provider asks a nurse to perform a procedure that is outside the nurse’s scope of practice. What should the nurse do?

1. AAsk a nursing assistant to do it instead
2. BDecline, explain why and suggest who can safely do it
3. CDo it, because the provider gave the instruction
4. DDo it just this once and promise the provider not to do it again