CPNRE Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield CPNRE facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. A client's INR result is 4.8 and they are prescribed warfarin. What should the practical nurse do? → Hold the warfarin dose and notify the physician with the INR result
2. A client is diagnosed with C. difficile (CDI). Which type of precautions are required? → Contact precautions with soap and water hand washing
3. A client with COPD has ABG: pH 7.32, PaCO2 58 mmHg, HCO3 28 mEq/L. How should this be interpreted? → Respiratory acidosis with metabolic compensation
4. A client is asked to name the Prime Minister of Canada and the current season. Which cognitive domain is being tested? → Orientation
5. A child with Type 1 diabetes presents with shakiness, diaphoresis, and confusion. The nurse's first action should be: → Give 15 grams of fast-acting carbohydrate (e.g., juice)
6. A client is on Airborne Precautions for suspected active tuberculosis. Which PPE does the practical nurse require to enter the room? → N95 respirator mask, gown, and gloves
7. An older adult client has a sacral pressure injury that appears as a shallow open wound with a red-pink wound bed. How is this classified? → Stage 2
8. When performing a 12-lead ECG, which electrode placement is correct for lead V4? → Fifth intercostal space at the midclavicular line
9. Which of the following is considered subjective data in a client's health assessment? → The client states, "I feel nauseous."
10. How often should peripheral IV sites be assessed for phlebitis, infiltration, and infection per Canadian standards? → At each shift start and with each IV medication administration
11. When performing a developmental assessment on a 12-month-old, which milestone would the nurse expect to find? → Pulling to stand and saying 1–2 words
12. A practical nurse is teaching a group of community members about primary prevention. Which activity BEST represents primary prevention? → Administering influenza vaccines to healthy adults
13. Which measure is most effective in preventing pressure injuries in a bedridden elderly client? → Repositioning at least every 2 hours with pressure-relieving surfaces
14. A practical nurse recognizes a client as a famous Canadian public figure and sees their diagnosis in the chart. Which action is appropriate? → Review the chart only to the extent necessary for care and maintain confidentiality
15. A client is prescribed metoprolol (Lopressor) 50 mg oral twice daily. The heart rate is 48 bpm before administration. What should the practical nurse do? → Hold the medication, document the heart rate, and notify the physician
16. When providing oral hygiene to an unconscious client, which action has the highest priority? → Position in lateral position with head turned to the side
17. A client has a chest tube connected to water seal drainage. The water in the water seal chamber stops oscillating (tidaling). What does this indicate? → Either the lung has re-expanded or the tube is kinked/blocked, assess further
18. A client post-abdominal surgery reports sudden severe abdominal pain with board-like rigidity. What is the priority nursing action? → Position in semi-Fowlers and notify the physician immediately
19. After receiving a telephone order, repeating it back and receiving confirmation, what is the next required step? → Document immediately and have the physician co-sign within the required timeframe
20. Which client situation is appropriate for delegating urinary catheter care to an unregulated care provider (UCP)? → A clinically stable client with a long-term catheter and clear urine output
21. Which behavior by a practical nurse demonstrates a failure of interprofessional communication? → Using professional jargon with a client's family when explaining care
22. A heart failure client being discharged home states: 'I can add extra salt to my food to maintain energy levels.' What does this indicate? → Need for further teaching: extra salt is contraindicated in heart failure
23. A Personal Support Worker reports that a resident seems more confused than usual. What is the appropriate nursing response? → Perform a nursing assessment immediately to evaluate the reported change
24. When completing a pain assessment on a non-verbal elderly client with dementia, which tool is most appropriate? → PAINAD (Pain Assessment in Advanced Dementia) scale
25. A nurse is assessing a 2-year-old child. Which vital sign range is within normal limits for this age group? → Heart rate 80–130 bpm, RR 20–30 breaths/min
26. A practical nurse is preparing to perform nasopharyngeal suctioning on a client. Which action is essential to prevent hypoxia during the procedure? → Pre-oxygenating the client before suctioning, if indicated.
27. A client has been ordered a glycerin suppository. Which action should be taken before insertion? → Warm to body temperature and lubricate with water-soluble lubricant
28. When preparing to administer a prefilled subcutaneous enoxaparin (Lovenox) syringe, which action is correct? → Do not expel the air bubble; inject as is from the prefilled syringe
29. A dying client's family asks why their loved one is not eating. The most appropriate nursing response is: → Explain that decreased appetite is a normal part of the dying process
30. A postoperative extremity is pale, cold, and the client reports numbness and tingling. What does this indicate? → Compromised arterial circulation requiring emergency assessment