RPN Study Guide 2026

Everything you need to pass the RPN 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.

📋 RPN Exam Format at a Glance

170
Questions
240 min
Time Limit
62%
Passing Score

📚 RPN Topics to Study (15)

✍️ Sample RPN Questions & Answers

1. A nurse is performing a suicide risk assessment. Which factor represents the HIGHEST risk for a completed suicide attempt?
A specific plan with access to a lethal method

The presence of a specific, detailed plan combined with access to a lethal means significantly elevates the risk for a completed suicide and requires immediate intervention.

2. When a patient appears to have suffered a head injury, what should be done first?
Check for responsiveness.

The patient's state of consciousness and responsiveness must be evaluated as the first priority.

3. What is the first course of action for a patient who has overdosed on opioids?
Administer naloxone

Naloxone, a drug that counteracts the effects of opioids, is the first line of treatment for an overdose of opioids.

4. A client with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) spends 3 hours each morning performing handwashing rituals. Which therapeutic approach is evidence-based first-line treatment?
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)

Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is the gold-standard cognitive-behavioral therapy for OCD, involving gradual exposure to feared stimuli while preventing the compulsive ritual.

5. An RPN makes an error while documenting a client's vital signs on a paper chart. Which action is the correct procedure for correcting this mistake?
Draw a single line through the incorrect entry, write 'error' or 'mistaken entry' above it with the nurse's initials, and then record the correct information.

The professional and legal standard for correcting an error in a paper health record is to ensure the original entry remains legible. A single line is drawn through the error, it is labeled as an error with the nurse's initials, and the correct information is added. This maintains the integrity and transparency of the legal document.

6. The RPN's role in supporting self-management for a client with a chronic illness, such as arthritis, primarily involves which of the following activities?
Collaborating with the client to set realistic goals and provide health teaching.

Self-management support empowers the client to take an active role in their health. The nurse's role is to act as a partner, collaborating with the client to set achievable goals, providing education on their condition, and helping them develop problem-solving skills to manage their illness effectively.

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Your RPN Study Path
1. Learn with Flashcards → 2. Drill Practice Tests → 3. Take the Full Exam Simulation