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Nursing Practice Questions

NCLEX Prioritization Practice Questions Practice Questions

NCLEX-RN Prioritization, Delegation, and Triage — Work through free NCLEX prioritization practice questions built around ABCs, safety, unstable versus stable clients, delegation, and triage. These NCLEX priority questions come with full rationales, so nursing prioritization questions start to feel less like guessing and more like a repeatable method.

85-150
Total Questions
Up to 5 hours
Time Limit
Pass/Fail
Passing Score
$200
Registration Fee

Free Sample Questions

Here are 5 free sample questions from our full bank of 660+ NCLEX Prioritization Practice Questionspractice questions. Try them out below — click "Show Answer" to reveal the correct response and explanation.

1

The nurse is assigned four clients on a medical-surgical unit. Which client should the nurse assess first?

AA client two days after a hip replacement who reports pain of 6 out of 10
BA client with type 2 diabetes whose morning blood glucose is 210 mg/dL
CA client with heart failure who has 2+ pitting edema in both ankles
DA client who developed lip swelling and noisy breathing 20 minutes after the first dose of an IV antibiotic
2

Four clients are waiting for the nurse's attention. Which client is the highest priority?

AA client with a temperature of 99.8 F on the first day after abdominal surgery
BA client with COPD whose respiratory rate has climbed from 18 to 30 and who is newly confused
CA client with chronic kidney disease who is scheduled for dialysis this afternoon
DA client with pneumonia who is asking for a scheduled pain medication
3

The charge nurse is delegating tasks to a licensed practical nurse and an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP). Which task is appropriate to delegate to the UAP?

AObtaining and recording vital signs for a stable client who is one day post hernia repair
BAssessing the stoma of a client with a new colostomy
CTeaching a newly diagnosed client how to self-inject insulin
DEvaluating the client's response to an IV pain medication
4

During a mass casualty incident, the triage nurse is using the START system. Which victim should be tagged as immediate (red) and treated first?

AA client with minor lacerations who is walking around the scene
BA client with no respirations even after the airway has been repositioned
CA client who is breathing at a rate of 34 breaths per minute
DA client with a closed forearm fracture who is alert and talking
5

Ten minutes into a blood transfusion, the client reports chills and low back pain, and the nurse finds a blood pressure of 84/50. What should the nurse do first?

ANotify the health care provider
BStop the transfusion and infuse normal saline through new tubing
CSend the blood bag and tubing to the blood bank
DDocument the reaction in the client's chart

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About the NCLEX Prioritization Practice Questions

Format & Structure

Total Questions
85-150
Time Limit
Up to 5 hours
Format
Computerized adaptive testing (CAT)

Scoring & Cost

Passing Score
Pass/Fail
Registration Fee
$200

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are NCLEX prioritization questions?

NCLEX prioritization questions ask you to decide which client, finding, or action needs attention first. They usually include phrases like 'first,' 'priority,' or 'most important.' Several answer choices are often correct nursing actions, but only one is the most urgent.

How do I answer NCLEX priority questions?

Start with a framework. Airway, breathing, and circulation come before almost everything else, and Maslow's hierarchy and the nursing process (assess before you intervene) help break ties. Also ask whether the client is stable or unstable, since an acute change from baseline usually beats a chronic or expected problem.

What is the difference between a stable and an unstable client?

An unstable client has a new, sudden, or worsening change, like falling blood pressure, new confusion, or labored breathing. A stable client has expected, chronic, or predictable findings. On the NCLEX, the unstable client generally gets seen first.

Which tasks can an RN delegate on the NCLEX?

RNs can delegate routine, predictable tasks to LPN/LVNs and unlicensed assistive personnel, such as vital signs, hygiene, and ambulation for stable clients. Assessment, teaching, evaluation, and care planning stay with the RN. LPN/LVNs can handle stable clients with predictable outcomes, but not initial assessments or IV pushes in many settings.

How many nursing prioritization questions are on the NCLEX-RN?

The NCLEX-RN doesn't label questions as prioritization, so there isn't a fixed number. Prioritization and delegation sit inside the Management of Care and other client needs categories, and many questions across the exam test this skill. You'll see it all through the 85 to 150 questions you're given.

How does triage work on the NCLEX?

Triage questions ask you to rank clients by urgency, often using a color system like emergent (red), urgent (yellow), and non-urgent (green). In disaster settings, the goal is the greatest good for the greatest number, so clients who can survive with quick care come first. Expect questions on START triage and emergency department scenarios.

Is the ABC rule always the right answer?

Not always. ABCs are a strong starting point, but an unstable client with a new change, or a safety threat like a wrong-blood transfusion, can outrank a stable airway issue. Read the whole scenario before you apply a rule, and pick the answer that protects the client from the most immediate harm.

How can I get better at nursing prioritization questions?

Practice a lot of them and always read the rationales, even for questions you got right. Write down the reason for each answer, such as airway, unstable change, or delegation limits, so the pattern sticks. A focused 2-3 week review block of prioritization practice works well for many test takers.

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