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Quizzes > Health & Medicine

Nursing Clinical Competency Quiz: Check Your Core Skills

Quick, free nursing competency test. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Brooke HanlonUpdated Aug 23, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
Questions: 20
Learning OutcomesStudy Material
Colorful paper art depicting elements related to a Nursing Clinical Competency Quiz.

This nursing clinical competency quiz helps you check key skills in patient care, safety, and clinical judgment with 15 multiple-choice questions. Build confidence and fill small gaps, then keep practicing with the nursing fundamentals quiz, the patient care skills quiz, and the therapeutic communication quiz.

What is the normal resting adult heart rate range?
60 - 100 beats per minute
50 - 70 beats per minute
100 - 120 beats per minute
80 - 120 beats per minute
The normal adult resting heart rate is between 60 and 100 beats per minute. Rates outside this range may indicate bradycardia or tachycardia requiring further assessment.
According to WHO guidelines, how long should healthcare workers perform hand hygiene with alcohol-based rub?
5 seconds
40 seconds
15 seconds
20 seconds
WHO recommends a duration of at least 20 seconds for effective hand hygiene with alcohol-based hand rub. Shorter durations may not adequately remove pathogens.
In SBAR communication, what does the "A" represent?
Action
Assessment
Analysis
Advice
In SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation) the "A" stands for Assessment, which includes the nurse's evaluation of the patient's condition. This provides critical clinical findings.
When documenting patient allergies in the medical record, which section should they be placed?
Vital signs
Social history
Allergies section
Medication history
Patient allergies should be documented in the designated Allergies section of the record to ensure they are prominently flagged. This prevents administration of contraindicated medications.
Which intervention is most effective for preventing patient falls?
Using bed rails for all patients
Dimming lights at night
Hourly rounding with risk assessment
Applying physical restraints
Hourly rounding with specific fall-risk assessments reduces falls by proactively addressing patient needs. This evidence-based approach is preferred over restraints or passive measures.
A patient's serum potassium level is 2.8 mEq/L. What is the priority nursing action?
Administer IV furosemide
Initiate potassium replacement as ordered
Document and continue routine monitoring
Encourage high-potassium foods at next meal
A potassium level of 2.8 mEq/L indicates hypokalemia that can cause cardiac arrhythmias. Prompt potassium replacement per orders is the priority intervention.
Clostridioides difficile infection requires which type of isolation precautions?
Standard precautions only
Contact precautions
Droplet precautions
Airborne precautions
C. difficile spores are transmitted via contact with contaminated surfaces and hands. Contact precautions, including gown and glove use, prevent its spread.
Which early sign indicates the onset of hypovolemia?
Jugular venous distension
Increased urine output
Tachycardia
Bradycardia
Tachycardia is an early compensatory response to decreased circulating volume in hypovolemia. Bradycardia and JVD would not be early signs.
Which intervention is evidence-based for reducing pressure ulcer development in at-risk patients?
Placing pillows under knees
Repositioning every four hours
Elevating head of bed to 45 degrees
Use of pressure-redistribution support surfaces
Pressure-redistribution mattresses and cushions are supported by research to reduce pressure ulcer risk. Repositioning alone every four hours is less effective than combined strategies.
What safety protocol reduces medication administration errors?
Barcode medication administration
Skipping patient identification for efficiency
Single-check verification
Administering medications while multitasking
Barcode medication administration links the patient's ID band to the medication, significantly reducing errors. Single-checks and distractions increase risk.
A patient has a blood glucose of 250 mg/dL and is symptomatic. Which nursing intervention is appropriate?
Encourage orange juice
Encourage physical activity
Call the physician without action
Administer insulin per sliding-scale order
Symptomatic hyperglycemia at 250 mg/dL requires insulin administration as ordered to lower blood glucose. Juice or exercise would raise glucose further or be contraindicated.
Which strategy is best when facilitating a family meeting about patient care?
Listen actively and allow structured questions
Use medical jargon to appear knowledgeable
Limit discussion to five minutes
Address only the primary family member
Active listening and structured questioning promote clarity and trust in family meetings. Using jargon or ignoring family input hinders communication.
An arterial blood gas shows pH 7.30, PaCO2 50 mmHg, HCO3 - 24 mEq/L. What is the acid - base imbalance?
Metabolic acidosis
Respiratory acidosis
Compensated metabolic alkalosis
Respiratory alkalosis
A low pH with elevated PaCO2 indicates respiratory acidosis due to hypoventilation. Bicarbonate is normal, so there is no metabolic compensation yet.
Where should used needles be disposed to ensure safety?
Red biohazard bag
Regular trash bin
Recycling bin
Puncture-resistant sharps container
Puncture-resistant sharps containers prevent needlestick injuries and are the mandated disposal method. Biohazard bags are for contaminated supplies, not sharps.
A post-op patient becomes hypotensive and tachycardic. What assessment is the priority?
Inspect the surgical site for bleeding
Evaluate neurological status
Assess pain level
Check lung sounds for crackles
Sudden hypotension and tachycardia post-operatively most likely indicate bleeding. Inspecting the surgical site is the priority assessment.
According to sepsis management guidelines, what initial fluid resuscitation dose is recommended for septic shock?
50 mL/kg over 6 hours
30 mL/kg within the first 3 hours
5 mL/kg in the first hour
10 mL/kg over 24 hours
Current guidelines recommend initial crystalloid fluids at 30 mL/kg within the first three hours for septic shock to restore perfusion. Lower volumes are insufficient.
A patient's hemoglobin is within normal limits, but they have hypotension, tachycardia, and elevated lactate. Labs and clinical signs conflict. What is the most likely cause?
Septic shock
Anemia
Hypovolemia only
Hypertension
Elevated lactate with hypotension and tachycardia despite normal hemoglobin suggests tissue hypoperfusion from sepsis rather than blood loss or anemia. Labs may normalize, but perfusion is impaired.
Which documentation entry best reflects a patient reporting intermittent chest pain?
Patient states chest pain is severe.
Patient reports intermittent substernal chest pain rated 7/10, worsens with exertion and relieved by rest.
Chest pain noted intermittently.
Patient reports chest pain relieved by rest.
The correct entry uses direct patient quotes, location, intensity rating, precipitating and relieving factors. This meets documentation standards for clarity and completeness.
In response to a cluster of MRSA cases on a unit, which combined measures best control the outbreak?
Enhanced contact precautions and environmental cleaning
Standard precautions and hand hygiene only
Cohorting patients and staff without additional cleaning
Universal gloving only
Enhanced contact precautions (gown, gloves, dedicated equipment) plus rigorous environmental cleaning are critical for controlling MRSA outbreaks. Cohorting without cleaning is insufficient.
When delivering bad news to a patient, which approach aligns with best practice?
Provide information abruptly to avoid distress
Focus solely on medical facts without emotion
Delay discussion until the patient asks questions
Follow the SPIKES protocol, including empathy and support
The SPIKES protocol guides structured, empathetic communication of bad news, balancing information delivery with emotional support. Abrupt or purely factual approaches can harm patient trust.
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Learning Outcomes

  1. Analyse patient data to determine appropriate nursing interventions.
  2. Evaluate safety protocols and infection control measures in clinical settings.
  3. Identify critical signs and symptoms for clinical decision-making.
  4. Demonstrate effective communication with patients and healthcare teams.
  5. Apply evidence-based practice to enhance patient care outcomes.
  6. Master accurate documentation standards for patient records.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Master the Nursing Process - Understanding the five key steps - Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation - lets you approach patient care like a seasoned detective, piece by piece. This systematic method keeps you organized and ensures nothing slips through the cracks.
  2. Embrace Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) - Blend the latest research, your clinical know-how, and what patients prefer to craft care plans that really work. EBP keeps you on the cutting edge and boosts patient outcomes while making you the ultimate healthcare hero.
  3. Develop Strong Communication Skills - From clear head-to-toe reports to heartfelt chats with patients, great communication builds trust and teamwork. Sharpen listening, speaking, and nonverbal skills to connect with colleagues and comfort patients.
  4. Understand Ethical Principles in Nursing - Autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice aren't just fancy words - they're your moral compass when making tough calls. Mastering these principles keeps your practice fair, compassionate, and patient-focused.
  5. Recognize Critical Signs and Symptoms - Spotting sneaky changes in vitals or behavior can turn a "might be nothing" into life-saving action. Train your eyes and ears to catch subtle clues before they become major problems.
  6. Implement Safety Protocols and Infection Control - Think of hand hygiene, PPE, and sterile technique as your personal superhero gear against germs. Following strict protocols shields patients and teammates from harmful infections.
  7. Enhance Clinical Judgment and Critical Thinking - Analyze lab reports, synthesize data, and anticipate complications to make swift, smart decisions on the floor. Building these brain-muscles transforms you into a confident problem-solver.
  8. Practice Accurate Documentation - Charting every detail - from meds and interventions to patient reactions - creates a precise roadmap for your team and a legal safety net for you. Tight, clear notes mean seamless care handoffs and peace of mind.
  9. Foster Interprofessional Collaboration - Team up with doctors, therapists, techs, and others to deliver holistic care that covers all bases. Great teamwork sparks creativity and drives better patient results.
  10. Commit to Continuous Learning - Nursing evolves at warp speed, so feed your curiosity with workshops, journals, and e-courses to stay sharp. Lifelong learning isn't just a buzzword - it's your ticket to growth and top-tier patient care.
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