RN Study Guide 2026
Everything you need to pass the RN exam in one place: the exam format, every topic to study, real practice questions with explanations, flashcards, and full-length practice tests. Free, no sign-up needed.
📋 RN Exam Format at a Glance
📚 RN Topics to Study (45)
✍️ Sample RN Questions & Answers
1. A nurse is using the SBAR communication tool to hand off a patient to the oncoming nurse. Which component of SBAR describes the patient's current vital signs and assessment data?
The Assessment component of SBAR includes the nurse's clinical interpretation of the patient's condition, including current vital signs, lab values, and relevant findings.
2. A non-immune nurse must care for a patient with active varicella (chickenpox). Which combination of PPE is required?
Varicella requires both airborne precautions (N95 respirator) and contact precautions (gown and gloves) because it spreads via airborne droplet nuclei and direct contact with lesions.
3. A patient's healthcare professional issues a Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR) order following a discussion with the patient's family. When preparing treatment for this patient, what does the nurse comprehend?
A Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR) order means that in the event of cardiac or respiratory arrest, no resuscitative measures will be initiated. However, it does not mean that all medical care ceases. The nurse will continue to provide comfort care, manage symptoms, administer medications, and offer all other treatments aimed at improving the patient's quality of life, consistent with the patient's wishes and the established plan of care.
4. A nurse is caring for a client with a chest tube following a pneumothorax. The water-seal chamber shows continuous bubbling. What does this finding indicate?
Continuous bubbling in the water-seal chamber indicates an ongoing air leak, either from the lung itself or from a break in the closed drainage system.
5. A nurse is teaching a client newly prescribed warfarin (Coumadin). Which statement by the client indicates a need for further teaching?
NSAIDs like ibuprofen increase bleeding risk when combined with warfarin and should be avoided; acetaminophen is the safer analgesic choice.
6. A nurse is performing a neurological assessment on a patient with a head injury. Which finding indicates a deteriorating neurological status?
A declining GCS score indicates worsening neurological function and requires immediate provider notification.
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📖 RN Guides & Articles
- How to Become a Neonatal Registered Nurse: NICU RN Career Guide
- Registered Nurse Positions in CT: Pay, Top Employers and How to Land One
- Registered Nurse Job Duties: A Complete Guide to RN Responsibilities
- Remote Registered Nurse Jobs: How to Become a Work-From-Home RN
- What Is a Travel Registered Nurse? Career, Pay & Contracts Explained
- What Is the Difference Between Practical Nurse and Registered Nurse? LPN vs RN Compared
- Registered Nurse Practice Act: RN Scope of Practice Explained
- Registered Nurse Job Description: Duties, Skills, & Daily Responsibilities