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DHA Fundamentals of Nursing & Patient Safety Practice Questions
Fundamentals questions test the everyday safe practice every registered nurse is expected to get right: accurate assessment, safe moving and handling, preventing falls and pressure injuries, and clear documentation. Below are 5 free sample questions for the DHA Registered Nurse exam, each with the answer and a rationale.
What this topic covers
- Vital signs and normal adult ranges
- Falls, restraints and pressure-injury prevention
- Enteral feeding and NG tube placement checks
- Blood transfusion safety
- Perioperative care and informed consent
- Pain assessment and end-of-life care
The full bank has 151 fundamentals of nursing & patient safety questions, part of 1,500 questions across 16 nursing topics.
Free DHA fundamentals of nursing & patient safety questions
1. What is a key reason for encouraging early mobilisation after surgery?
- A. It reduces the risk of venous thromboembolism
- B. It speeds up the absorption of anaesthetic drugs
- C. It removes the need for pain relief
- D. It increases the risk of wound dehiscence
Show answer and rationale
Early mobilisation improves venous return and reduces the risk of deep vein thrombosis, and also helps prevent chest complications, muscle weakness and ileus. It does not replace analgesia; good pain control makes mobilising possible.
Reference: Lewis Medical-Surgical Nursing – postoperative care
2. A nurse measures a patient's blood pressure using a cuff that is too small for the patient's arm. What effect will this most likely have on the reading?
- A. It will be falsely high
- B. It will be falsely low
- C. It will be accurate but take longer
- D. It will affect only the diastolic value
Show answer and rationale
A cuff that is too narrow or too short needs more pressure to compress the artery, giving a falsely high reading. A cuff that is too large tends to give a falsely low reading.
Reference: Potter & Perry Fundamentals of Nursing – blood pressure measurement
3. A nurse is giving oral care to an unconscious patient. How should the patient be positioned?
- A. Supine and flat
- B. On the side with the head turned, and suction ready
- C. In high Fowler's position with the head tilted back
- D. Prone with the face down
Show answer and rationale
A side-lying position lets fluid drain out of the mouth, and suction ready nearby reduces the risk of aspiration. Only small amounts of fluid should be used.
Reference: Potter & Perry Fundamentals of Nursing – oral hygiene
4. Which foot-care instruction should the nurse give a patient with diabetes?
- A. Wash the feet daily, dry carefully between the toes and inspect them every day
- B. Soak the feet in hot water for 30 minutes each day
- C. Apply lotion between the toes to prevent dryness
- D. Walk barefoot at home to toughen the skin
Show answer and rationale
Daily washing, careful drying between the toes and daily inspection help catch injuries early in patients with reduced sensation. Soaking and hot water risk maceration and burns, lotion between the toes promotes fungal infection, and going barefoot risks injury.
Reference: Lewis Medical-Surgical Nursing – diabetic foot care
5. When are serious acute transfusion reactions most likely to appear, making close observation essential?
- A. Only after the transfusion has finished
- B. After the transfusion has been running for 3 hours
- C. The day after the transfusion
- D. During the first 15 minutes of the transfusion
Show answer and rationale
Severe reactions such as acute haemolytic reactions and anaphylaxis usually start early, so baseline observations are taken before starting, the nurse stays close for the first 15 minutes and observations are repeated then. Monitoring continues throughout and after the transfusion.
Reference: Lewis Medical-Surgical Nursing – blood transfusion
Study tip
Many fundamentals questions ask for the safest first action. When two answers look right, choose the one that protects the patient from immediate harm.
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