NLN NACE Practice Questions (2026) — Free Sample Questions with Answers

Answer: B

Stage 2 pressure injury: Stage 2 is partial-thickness skin loss with exposed dermis (a shallow pink wound or intact blister); fat is not visible.

Stage 3 pressure injury: Correct. Stage 3 is full-thickness skin loss in which fat may be visible, without exposed fascia, muscle, tendon, ligament, cartilage or bone.

Stage 4 pressure injury: Stage 4 requires full-thickness skin and tissue loss with exposed or directly palpable fascia, muscle, tendon, ligament, cartilage or bone.

Unstageable pressure injury: Unstageable means slough or eschar hides the wound base; here the entire wound bed is visible.

Stage by the deepest visible tissue: 1 intact red skin that does not blanch; 2 exposed dermis; 3 visible fat; 4 bone, tendon or muscle; unstageable when the base is hidden.

Answer: B

Give a protein snack now, because the glucose is rising: A snack containing protein follows once glucose is back above 70 mg/dL; 64 mg/dL is still low.

Give another 15 g of fast-acting carbohydrate and recheck in 15 minutes: Correct. Under the 'rule of 15', if glucose stays below 70 mg/dL after 15 minutes, repeat 15 g of fast-acting carbohydrate and recheck.

Give glucagon by injection, because the juice did not work: Glucagon is for a client who cannot safely swallow or is unconscious; this client can still take oral carbohydrate.

Recheck the blood glucose in 1 hour to allow the juice to absorb: Waiting an hour leaves the client hypoglycemic; recheck at 15-minute intervals until the level is above 70 mg/dL.

Rule of 15: 15 g fast-acting carbohydrate → recheck in 15 minutes → repeat if still below 70 mg/dL → then a snack or meal.

Answer: D

On the client's right side, facing the foot of the bed: Placing the chair on the weak side makes the client pivot toward and bear weight on the affected leg, which increases fall risk.

Directly behind the client so that the client can sit straight back down: The client cannot see or reach a chair behind them; this setup is unsafe.

Across the room until the client is standing and balanced: A chair far away means the client has to walk or be carried; it should be close, at an angle and locked.

On the client's left side, angled toward the bed, brakes locked: Correct. Placing the locked chair on the unaffected (strong) side lets the client bear weight and pivot on the stronger leg.

Transfers: chair on the strong side, angled to the bed, brakes locked; use a gait belt and do not lift under the arms.

Answer: A

Wash the hands with soap and running water: Correct. C. difficile spores resist alcohol, so soap, water and friction are needed to physically remove them from the hands.

Use an alcohol-based hand rub, which is enough: Alcohol does not kill C. difficile spores, so a hand rub alone is not adequate after this client's care.

Skip hand hygiene, because gloves were worn: Gloves can have tiny defects and hands are contaminated when gloves come off; hand hygiene is always needed.

Wipe the gloves with a disinfectant and reuse them: Gloves are single-use and must never be disinfected and reused between clients.

For C. difficile (and norovirus), use contact precautions and wash hands with soap and water; alcohol rubs do not kill the spores.

Answer: B

Offer thin liquids through a straw to make swallowing easier: Thin liquids and straws increase the risk of aspiration in dysphagia; liquids should be thickened as ordered and straws avoided unless allowed.

Seat the client upright at 90 degrees during and after meals: Correct. Sitting fully upright during and after meals uses gravity to reduce the risk of aspiration.

Feed quickly so the client does not tire before the meal is finished: Rushing increases the risk of choking; small bites, a slow pace and checking that each bite is swallowed are needed.

Have the client lie flat to rest right after eating the meal: Lying flat after eating encourages reflux and aspiration.

Dysphagia precautions: upright 90°, thickened liquids as ordered, small bites, chin tuck, slow pace, upright 30 minutes after meals, suction available.

Answer: C

A client one day after hip surgery whose scheduled pain medication is due, with pain rated 4 out of 10: This client needs timely pain care, but stable, moderate pain is not as urgent as a possible airway or breathing problem.

A client with type 2 diabetes asking when breakfast will arrive, whose glucose is 132 mg/dL: This glucose level is acceptable, and the request is routine.

A client 2 hours after abdominal surgery who is restless, with SpO2 86% and respiratory rate 30: Correct. Low oxygen saturation, a fast respiratory rate and restlessness suggest acute respiratory compromise, a priority airway and breathing problem.

A client being discharged today who has questions about the follow-up appointment: Discharge questions matter but can safely wait until unstable clients have been seen.

Prioritize by airway, breathing and circulation, then acute or unstable problems before stable, routine or teaching needs.