NMBI Cheat Sheet 2026

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

1. Which medication must never be stopped abruptly without medical guidance? → Long-term corticosteroids (e.g., prednisolone)
2. What is the most serious side effect to monitor for when a patient is receiving IV vancomycin? → Nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity
3. What is the primary purpose of the nursing process? → To provide a systematic, individualised framework for patient care
4. A patient presents with muscle weakness, cardiac arrhythmias, and a serum potassium of 2.9 mmol/L. Which condition does this describe? → Hypokalaemia
5. What is the maximum dose of paracetamol for an adult in a 24-hour period? → 4g (4,000mg)
6. Which clinical sign is MOST indicative of moderate dehydration in an adult patient? → Decreased skin turgor
7. What is the normal oral temperature range for an adult? → 36.1°C – 37.2°C
8. What does the acronym 'NEWS2' stand for in clinical practice? → National Early Warning Score 2
9. Which condition describes excessive fluid accumulation in the interstitial spaces of tissues? → Oedema
10. Which type of intravenous fluid is considered ISOTONIC and is most commonly used for fluid replacement in dehydrated patients? → 0.9% Sodium Chloride (Normal Saline)
11. The Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) is used in Irish healthcare to screen for which condition? → Malnutrition risk
12. Which route of medication administration has the fastest onset of action? → Intravenous (IV)
13. Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) is typically administered via which access route? → Central venous catheter
14. Which organism is associated with healthcare-associated infections (HCAI) and is resistant to most antibiotics? → MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)
15. What is the correct order of the nursing process? → Assess, Diagnose, Plan, Implement, Evaluate
16. What does the 'A' in the AVPU assessment stand for? → Alert
17. What does a urinalysis result of '++' for protein (proteinuria) potentially indicate? → Kidney disease or damage
18. A patient who has been starved for an extended period begins re-feeding. What dangerous metabolic complication must nurses monitor for? → Refeeding syndrome
19. When performing a nutritional assessment, which tool specifically incorporates unplanned weight loss, BMI, and acute disease effect? → MUST (Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool)
20. How often must a nurse renew their registration with the NMBI? → Annually
21. Which type of nutritional support delivers nutrients directly into the bloodstream, bypassing the gastrointestinal tract? → Total parenteral nutrition
22. A patient's SpO2 reading is 88% on room air. What does this indicate? → Significant hypoxaemia requiring urgent assessment and likely oxygen therapy
23. Before administering any blood product, what must a nurse complete? → Two-nurse identity check at the bedside against the prescription and blood bag label
24. What does 'stat' mean on a medication chart? → Give immediately, as a one-off dose
25. What is the MUST tool used to assess? → Nutritional risk / malnutrition risk
26. What is the significance of a 'sharps injury' for a healthcare worker? → Risk of transmission of bloodborne viruses such as HIV, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C
27. What is the purpose of 'aseptic non-touch technique' (ANTT)? → To prevent microbial contamination of susceptible sites during clinical procedures
28. What does 'PRN' mean on a medication chart? → As required / when necessary
29. A nurse discovers a medication error after administering the drug. What is the first action? → Assess the patient immediately, inform the medical team, and complete an incident report
30. When performing a head-to-toe assessment, what is assessed first? → Airway and breathing