Welcome to our free Basic Nursing Skills practice tests. Our 20 practice tests cover everything you need to know to pass your exam.
Each practice test includes detailed answer explanations to help you understand the correct answers.
Prepare for the Basic Nursing Skills exam with our free practice test modules. Each quiz covers key topics to help you pass on your first try.
Try these questions from our free Basic Nursing Skills practice tests. The correct answer and an explanation follow each question.
The most important nursing action to prevent healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) is:
Answer: B. Proper hand hygiene
Hand hygiene is the single most effective intervention for preventing the spread of infections in healthcare settings.
What is the priority nursing action when caring for a patient with an indwelling urinary catheter to prevent infection?
Answer: C. Maintain a closed drainage system
Maintaining a closed, sterile drainage system is the most important intervention to prevent catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs).
A patient's oral temperature reading is 102.6°F. What should the CNA do first?
Answer: B. Retake the temperature to confirm the reading
A significantly elevated temperature like 102.6°F is an abnormal finding that requires verification. Retaking the temperature ensures accuracy and rules out equipment malfunction or improper technique before reporting to the nurse or initiating interventions. This prevents unnecessary alarm or interventions based on a potentially false reading.
A patient is receiving oxygen therapy via nasal cannula. The CNA notices the patient's lips and nail beds appear blue. What should be done first?
Answer: B. Check that the nasal cannula is properly positioned and notify the nurse
Blue lips and nail beds (cyanosis) indicate hypoxemia, meaning the patient is not receiving enough oxygen. The CNA's first action should be to ensure the oxygen delivery device (nasal cannula) is correctly positioned and functioning. After checking the equipment, the nurse must be notified immediately as this is a critical change in the patient's condition requiring prompt assessment and intervention.