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 nurse is caring for a neonate with suspected hypoglycemia. Which finding would MOST support this diagnosis? → Jitteriness and poor feeding
2. A client with chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage 4 has a serum potassium of 6.2 mEq/L. Which dietary instruction is the priority? → Avoid high-potassium foods such as bananas and potatoes
3. A nurse is working with a client from a different cultural background. Which action best demonstrates cultural sensitivity within the therapeutic relationship? → Ask the client about their cultural values and preferences related to care.
4. 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
5. A practical nurse is assessing deep tendon reflexes and documents a '4+' response. What does this indicate? → Hyperreflexia with clonus
6. Parents of a child with a newly placed gastrostomy tube (G-tube) ask what to do if the tube falls out at home. What is the CORRECT nurse teaching? → Cover the stoma with a clean cloth and come to the hospital within 4-6 hours
7. A client is diagnosed with C. difficile (CDI). Which type of precautions are required? → Contact precautions with soap and water hand washing
8. 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
9. A 3-week-old presents with projectile vomiting after every feeding, visible gastric waves, and an olive-shaped mass in the epigastrium. The nurse suspects: → Pyloric stenosis
10. A client is asked to name the Prime Minister of Canada and the current season. Which cognitive domain is being tested? → Orientation
11. While assessing a client's respiratory status, the practical nurse hears a high-pitched, musical sound on expiration. This finding is best described as: → Wheezing
12. A nurse is caring for a client who has been on bed rest for five days. The client reports calf pain and swelling. Which action should the nurse take first? → Immobilize the limb, discontinue ambulation, and notify the physician immediately
13. Which of the following pre-operative findings should the PN report to the surgeon before the scheduled procedure? → Serum potassium of 2.9 mEq/L
14. 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)
15. 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
16. 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
17. A client with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is experiencing a flashback. What is the nurse's priority intervention? → Use a calm voice to orient the client to the present environment
18. When performing a 12-lead ECG, which electrode placement is correct for lead V4? → Fifth intercostal space at the midclavicular line
19. Which of the following is considered subjective data in a client's health assessment? → The client states, "I feel nauseous."
20. A school nurse notices that many students skip breakfast and have poor concentration by mid-morning. The MOST upstream intervention would be to: → Advocate for a universal school breakfast program funded by the school board
21. 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
22. 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
23. 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
24. Which measure is most effective in preventing pressure injuries in a bedridden elderly client? → Repositioning at least every 2 hours with pressure-relieving surfaces
25. A palliative client on high-dose morphine develops myoclonus. This symptom most likely indicates: → Opioid-induced neurotoxicity potentially requiring opioid rotation
26. A client is placed on protective (neutropenic) isolation. The PRIMARY purpose of this precaution is to: → Protect a highly immunocompromised client from exogenous pathogens
27. A practical nurse notes that a client's trachea is deviated to the left. Which condition should the nurse suspect? → Right-sided tension pneumothorax
28. 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
29. An older adult residing in a long-term care facility refuses a bath for the third consecutive day. The nurse's best response is to: → Explore the reason for refusal and offer alternative hygiene options
30. A practical nurse draws up insulin glargine and discovers the solution appears cloudy with visible particles. What should the nurse do? → Discard the vial and obtain a new one before administering