Basic Nursing Skills Practice Test
Updated for October 2026Welcome to our free Basic Nursing Skills practice tests. Our 20 practice tests cover everything you need to know to pass your exam.
Each practice test includes detailed answer explanations to help you understand the correct answers.
Basic Nursing Skills Practice Test Questions
Prepare for the Basic Nursing Skills exam with our free practice test modules. Each quiz covers key topics to help you pass on your first try.
Basic Nursing Skills 1
Basic Nursing Skills Exam Questions covering 1. Master Basic Nursing Skills Test concepts for certification prep.
Basic Nursing Skills 2
Free Basic Nursing Skills Practice Test featuring 2. Improve your Basic Nursing Skills Exam score with mock test prep.
Basic Nursing Skills Medication Administra...
Basic Nursing Skills Mock Exam on Medication Administration. Basic Nursing Skills Study Guide questions to pass on your first try.
Basic Nursing Skills Nutrition & Fluid Bal...
Basic Nursing Skills Test Prep for Nutrition & Fluid Balance. Practice Basic Nursing Skills Quiz questions and boost your score.
Basic Nursing Skills Patient Mobility & Po...
Basic Nursing Skills Questions and Answers on Patient Mobility & Positioning. Free Basic Nursing Skills practice for exam readiness.
Basic Nursing Skills Patient Safety & Infe...
Basic Nursing Skills Mock Test covering Patient Safety & Infection Control. Online Basic Nursing Skills Test practice with instant feedback.
Basic Nursing Skills Urinary & Bowel Elimi...
Free Basic Nursing Skills Quiz on Urinary & Bowel Elimination. Basic Nursing Skills Exam prep questions with detailed explanations.
Sample Basic Nursing Skills Practice Questions
Try these questions from our free Basic Nursing Skills practice tests. The correct answer and an explanation follow each question.
The most important nursing action to prevent healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) is:
- A. Wearing gloves for all patient contact
- B. Proper hand hygiene
- C. Using sterile technique for all procedures
- D. Administering prophylactic antibiotics
Answer: B. Proper hand hygiene
Hand hygiene is the single most effective intervention for preventing the spread of infections in healthcare settings.
What is the priority nursing action when caring for a patient with an indwelling urinary catheter to prevent infection?
- A. Irrigate the catheter every shift
- B. Keep the drainage bag above bladder level
- C. Maintain a closed drainage system
- D. Change the catheter every 24 hours
Answer: C. Maintain a closed drainage system
Maintaining a closed, sterile drainage system is the most important intervention to prevent catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs).
A patient's oral temperature reading is 102.6°F. What should the CNA do first?
- A. Immediately give the patient a cold drink
- B. Retake the temperature to confirm the reading
- C. Apply cooling blankets without reporting
- D. Document the temperature and continue with other tasks
Answer: B. Retake the temperature to confirm the reading
A significantly elevated temperature like 102.6°F is an abnormal finding that requires verification. Retaking the temperature ensures accuracy and rules out equipment malfunction or improper technique before reporting to the nurse or initiating interventions. This prevents unnecessary alarm or interventions based on a potentially false reading.
A patient is receiving oxygen therapy via nasal cannula. The CNA notices the patient's lips and nail beds appear blue. What should be done first?
- A. Increase the oxygen flow rate immediately
- B. Check that the nasal cannula is properly positioned and notify the nurse
- C. Have the patient take deep breaths and cough
- D. Document the observation and continue monitoring
Answer: B. Check that the nasal cannula is properly positioned and notify the nurse
Blue lips and nail beds (cyanosis) indicate hypoxemia, meaning the patient is not receiving enough oxygen. The CNA's first action should be to ensure the oxygen delivery device (nasal cannula) is correctly positioned and functioning. After checking the equipment, the nurse must be notified immediately as this is a critical change in the patient's condition requiring prompt assessment and intervention.
Basic Nursing Skills Questions and Answers
About the Author
Registered Nurse & Healthcare Educator
Johns Hopkins University School of NursingDr. Sarah Mitchell is a board-certified registered nurse with over 15 years of clinical and academic experience. She completed her PhD in Nursing Science at Johns Hopkins University and has taught NCLEX preparation and clinical skills courses for nursing students across the United States. Her research focuses on evidence-based exam preparation strategies for healthcare certification candidates.