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Quizzes > Health & Medicine

Reduction of Risk Potential: NCLEX Practice Quiz

Quick, free NCLEX risk reduction quiz. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Alteram PartemUpdated Aug 26, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art cutout style stethoscope heart checklist icons on dark blue background representing NCLEX risk reduction quiz

This Reduction of Risk Potential quiz helps you spot risks, set priorities, and choose safe nursing actions for the NCLEX. For more practice, check the fall prevention quiz for nurses, build rapid response skills with the emergency nursing quiz, and review fundamentals with nursing assessment questions.

Easy
Which intervention best reduces the risk of patient falls due to orthostatic hypotension?
Have the client sit at the bedside for 2 minutes before standing
Apply compression stockings only when standing
Administer prescribed diuretic before ambulation
Encourage increased fluid intake before standing
Allowing the patient to sit at the bedside for 2 minutes before standing helps stabilize blood pressure and reduces orthostatic hypotension. This intervention gives time for vascular reflexes to adjust. Rapid position changes are a major contributor to hypotensive falls.
Which is a standard precaution to reduce the risk of transmission of bloodborne pathogens?
Restrict visitors from all patient rooms
Place a surgical mask on every patient with droplet infection
Use a sterile gown for all patient contact
Wear gloves when anticipating contact with blood
Standard precautions mandate wearing gloves whenever contact with blood or body fluids is anticipated to prevent transmission. This protects both healthcare workers and patients. Other PPE is used based on the type of exposure.
What repositioning schedule reduces the risk for pressure ulcer development in an immobilized patient?
Once per hour
Once per shift
Every 4 hours
Every 2 hours
Clinical guidelines recommend repositioning immobilized patients at least every 2 hours to relieve pressure and maintain skin integrity. Less frequent turning increases the risk of pressure ulcers. Hourly turning may be unnecessary and disrupt sleep.
What is the primary purpose of medication reconciliation at hospital admission?
Prevent medication errors
Increase patient satisfaction
Reduce the number of lab draws
Streamline pharmacy workflow
Medication reconciliation ensures that an accurate list of the patient's medications is maintained across transitions in care, preventing omissions, duplications, and dosing errors. It is a key safety practice to reduce adverse drug events. Other benefits are secondary.
To reduce the risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia, the nurse should elevate the head of the bed to:
0 degrees (flat)
75 degrees
10 - 15 degrees
30 - 45 degrees
Elevating the head of the bed to 30 - 45 degrees helps prevent aspiration and ventilator-associated pneumonia by using gravity to reduce gastric reflux. Flat positioning increases pneumonia risk. Excessive elevation may cause sliding and skin shear.
Which is the most effective strategy for reducing medication administration errors?
Using tall man lettering for medication labels
Opening all medications at the bedside
Verifying patient identity using two identifiers
Maintaining a high-alert medication list only
Using two patient identifiers (e.g., name and date of birth) before medication administration directly reduces the risk of errors by ensuring the correct patient receives the correct drug. Other strategies may help but are secondary.
Which measure reduces the risk of latex allergy reactions in an operating room setting?
Use powdered latex gloves only for high-risk cases
Restrict use of antiseptics containing latex
Provide non-latex gloves for all staff
Wear two layers of powdered latex gloves
Providing non-latex gloves eliminates exposure to latex proteins and prevents allergic reactions. Powdered latex gloves increase airborne allergen. Restricting antiseptics is unrelated to latex.
Medium
When is a sterile field considered contaminated?
When a sterile item is dropped and picked up intact
When the nurse turns their back to it
When the sterile wrap is opened away from the field
When the nurse stands one foot away
Turning one's back on a sterile field exposes it to air currents and breaches the nurse's visual control, contaminating the field. Awareness of field boundaries is essential.
Which early sign is most indicative of sepsis in a hospitalized patient?
Increased heart rate
Bradycardia
Increased urinary output
Hypothermia
Tachycardia is one of the earliest manifestations of sepsis due to systemic inflammatory response. Hypothermia may occur later in severe cases. Reduced urine output is a later sign.
To reduce the risk of diabetic foot ulcers, the nurse should instruct the patient to:
Soak feet in warm water daily
Inspect and wash feet daily
Wear shoes that fit tightly
Use a heating pad on their feet
Daily inspection and hygiene allow early detection of cuts or sores, which prevents progression to ulcers. Soaking can macerate skin and tight shoes or heating pads increase injury risk.
Which radiation safety principle most effectively reduces staff exposure?
Limiting patient time near staff
Standing directly in line of the beam
Wearing a lead apron during treatment
Maximizing distance from the radiation source
Increasing distance from the radiation source reduces exposure exponentially based on the inverse square law. Time and shielding are also important but distance has the greatest impact.
Which intervention best reduces the risk of deep vein thrombosis in a post-operative patient?
Limiting intravenous fluid intake
Applying tight compression socks
Keeping legs elevated continuously
Encouraging early ambulation
Early ambulation promotes venous return, reducing stasis and DVT risk after surgery. Compression devices and hydration also help but ambulation is most effective.
To reduce the risk of aspiration in a client with dysphagia after stroke, the nurse should:
Offer thickened liquids for swallowing
Provide thin water at mealtimes
Feed the client in a supine position
Encourage large bites of soft food
Thickened liquids move more slowly, giving the client better control during swallowing and reducing aspiration risk. Thin liquids and supine feeding increase risk.
Which statement best reflects appropriate use of wrist restraints?
Tie restraints tightly to the side rails
Remove restraints every 4 hours without assessment
Apply restraints to both arms for all confused patients
Apply restraints only after all other alternative interventions have failed
Restraints should be a last resort after trying less restrictive measures. They require frequent assessment and must be secured safely. Tie to a movable part of the bed, not side rails.
Hard
An IV infusion line has visible air bubbles. To reduce the risk of an air embolism, the nurse should:
Prime the tubing to eliminate all air bubbles
Flush the line with saline after infusion
Keep the IV cocked off when not in use
Adjust the infusion flow rate
Priming IV tubing removes air bubbles before connection to the patient, preventing air embolism. Adjusting flow or flushing after infusion does not remove bubbles in the main line.
Which strategy is most effective in reducing errors when administering high-alert medications like insulin?
Independent double-check by two nurses
Document after administration without a second check
Administer without verification to save time
Rely on verbal orders alone
An independent double-check by two licensed nurses ensures correct dose and patient, reducing high-alert medication errors. Verbal orders and single-check processes have higher risk.
Which antiseptic is preferred for skin preparation to reduce central line - associated bloodstream infections?
Chlorhexidine gluconate
70% isopropyl alcohol
Povidone-iodine
Hydrogen peroxide
Chlorhexidine gluconate provides persistent antimicrobial activity and is recommended for central line site antisepsis to reduce infection risk. Alcohol and iodine are less effective alone.
A sedated ICU patient on mechanical ventilation is at high risk for ventilator-associated complications. Which action reduces this risk?
Keep the patient completely immobile
Implement a daily sedation interruption
Increase sedation continuously each day
Omit routine pain assessments
Daily sedation interruption (sedation holiday) allows assessment of readiness to wean and reduces ventilator days and complications. Continuous deep sedation and immobility increase risk.
In the event of a suspected inhalational anthrax exposure, what is the nurse's priority risk reduction intervention?
Schedule a chest X-ray for later
Institute standard precautions
Begin droplet isolation
Administer prophylactic ciprofloxacin
Prophylactic antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin are recommended immediately after inhalational anthrax exposure to prevent disease progression. Standard precautions alone are insufficient.
Which laboratory finding most strongly indicates risk for disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) in a septic patient?
Increased platelet count
Decreased prothrombin time
Elevated D-dimer level
Decreased fibrin degradation products
Elevated D-dimer indicates increased fibrinolysis and is a sensitive marker for DIC in sepsis. Platelet count is low in DIC and fibrin degradation products are elevated.
During a code blue, to reduce the risk of brain injury from hypoxia, chest compressions should be performed at a depth of:
1 inch (2.5 cm)
At least 2 inches (5 cm)
0.5 inches (1.25 cm)
3 inches (7.5 cm)
American Heart Association guidelines recommend compressions at least 2 inches deep to ensure adequate cardiac output and cerebral perfusion. Shallower compressions are ineffective.
Expert
Which instruction most reduces the risk of latex cross-reactivity in a patient with known banana allergy?
Use powdered latex gloves rather than non-powdered
Encourage consumption of bananas to build tolerance
Apply a banana-scented lotion to the hands
Avoid foods cross-reactive with latex, including bananas and avocados
Patients with banana allergy may cross-react with latex due to similar proteins. Avoiding cross-reactive foods reduces risk. Powdered latex increases airborne allergens.
A patient with osteoporosis is being discharged. Which exercise recommendation most effectively reduces fall risk and supports bone density?
Swim daily to avoid impact on bones
Perform weight-bearing exercises like walking or light jogging
Practice seated yoga stretches only
Cycle indoors for low-impact aerobic activity
Weight-bearing exercises stimulate bone formation and improve balance, reducing fall and fracture risk. Non - weight-bearing activities like swimming and cycling have less impact on bone density.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Analyze Clinical Scenarios -

    Break down patient data and assess variables contributing to risk potential in nursing contexts.

  2. Apply Risk Reduction Strategies -

    Implement prioritized interventions that minimize patient harm and promote safety.

  3. Identify Common Risk Factors -

    Recognize physiological and environmental factors that elevate the reduction of risk potential.

  4. Evaluate Evidence-Based Interventions -

    Select and justify appropriate nursing measures drawn from best practices to reduce risk potential.

  5. Interpret NCLEX Risk Potential Questions -

    Decode question wording to pinpoint key elements and focus on reduction of risk potential NCLEX questions.

  6. Strengthen Exam Preparedness -

    Build confidence and refine clinical judgment for tackling reduction of risk potential in nursing on exam day.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Structured Risk Assessment -

    Employ a validated nursing tool like the Hendrich II Fall Risk Model or the Braden Scale to systematically identify patient vulnerabilities such as neuromuscular deficits or skin integrity issues. Incorporate lab data, vital signs, and history in an "ABCDE" approach (Airway - Breathing - Circulation - Disability - Exposure) to ensure no risk factor is overlooked (source: Johns Hopkins University). Periodic reassessment is critical to the reduction of risk potential in nursing care and catching evolving risks early.

  2. Evidence-Based Protocols -

    Adhere to CDC and WHO guidelines - for instance, surgical site infection prevention bundles - to standardize nursing interventions and reduce variability-related errors (source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Use checklists like the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist to ensure every critical step, from antibiotic timing to equipment checks, is completed reliably. Consistent application of these protocols can cut complications by up to 50%, significantly contributing to reduction of risk potential in nursing practice.

  3. Effective Communication & Handoff -

    Utilize SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation) or I-PASS the BATON (Introduction, Patient, Assessment, Situation, Safety Concerns, Background, Actions, Timing, Ownership, Next) to ensure clear, concise transitions of care (source: Society of Hospital Medicine). Structured handoffs reduce misunderstandings and near-miss events by standardizing key information transfer. Mastering these tools enhances reduction of risk potential by minimizing communication breakdowns.

  4. Patient Education & Engagement -

    Implement the Teach-Back Method to confirm patient understanding of disease management and safety instructions (source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality). Create personalized discharge plans that cover medication schedules, activity restrictions, and warning signs using simple mnemonics like "STOP" (Signs, Treatment, Observe, Plan). Engaged patients are 30% less likely to experience post-discharge complications, making education essential to reducing risk potential.

  5. Continuous Monitoring & Quality Improvement -

    Monitor patients with Early Warning Scoring Systems (e.g., MEWS - Modified Early Warning Score) to detect physiological changes before they escalate (source: Royal College of Physicians). Combine real-time data from electronic health records with regular audits to identify trends and refine protocols iteratively. Practicing reduction of risk potential NCLEX questions through targeted risk potential quizzes reinforces these quality-improvement strategies while supporting continuous risk reduction.

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