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DHA Fundamentals & Patient Safety Nursing Practice Questions

What this topic covers

Vital signs, assessment, hygiene, mobility and positioning, documentation, fall and pressure-injury prevention, and safe patient handling.

Free DHA fundamentals & patient safety nursing questions

1. A nurse is giving oral care to an unconscious patient. How should the patient be positioned?
  1. Supine and flat
  2. On the side with the head turned, and suction ready
  3. In high Fowler's position with the head tilted back
  4. Prone with the face down
Show answer and rationale

Answer: B. On the side with the head turned, and suction ready

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

2. Before starting a feed, the nurse tests aspirate from a patient's nasogastric tube. Which result supports gastric placement?
  1. pH 7.5
  2. pH 4.0
  3. pH 6.5
  4. pH 8.0
Show answer and rationale

Answer: B. pH 4.0

Gastric contents are acidic, and a pH of 5.5 or below is generally accepted as confirming gastric placement. Higher values may mean the tube is in the lungs or intestine, and the position must be checked by X-ray before use.

Reference: Standard enteral feeding guidance – NG tube pH testing

3. How should the nurse collect a urine specimen for culture from a patient with an indwelling catheter?
  1. Pour urine from the drainage bag into a sterile container
  2. Disconnect the catheter from the tubing and collect the urine
  3. From the sampling port using aseptic technique
  4. Cut the drainage tubing to collect fresh urine
Show answer and rationale

Answer: C. From the sampling port using aseptic technique

The sampling port lets the nurse take a fresh sample without breaking the closed system. Urine in the bag has been standing and is not suitable for culture, and disconnecting the system raises infection risk.

Reference: CDC Guideline for Prevention of Catheter-Associated UTI

4. Which change in sleep pattern is expected with normal ageing?
  1. More time in deep sleep
  2. Fewer awakenings during the night
  3. A need for much more sleep than younger adults
  4. Less deep sleep and more frequent night-time awakenings
Show answer and rationale

Answer: D. Less deep sleep and more frequent night-time awakenings

Older adults typically spend less time in deep (stage N3) sleep and wake more often during the night. Their total sleep need does not rise sharply.

Reference: Potter & Perry Fundamentals of Nursing – sleep across the lifespan

5. A patient says a glass of alcohol at bedtime helps them sleep. Which response by the nurse is most accurate?
  1. Alcohol may help you fall asleep, but it disturbs sleep later in the night
  2. Alcohol improves the overall quality of sleep
  3. Alcohol is a safe long-term treatment for insomnia
  4. Alcohol has no effect on sleep
Show answer and rationale

Answer: A. Alcohol may help you fall asleep, but it disturbs sleep later in the night

Alcohol may shorten the time taken to fall asleep, but it suppresses REM sleep and causes waking later in the night, so sleep quality is worse overall.

Reference: Potter & Perry Fundamentals of Nursing – sleep

Questions are written with AI assistance. About 10% (150+) have been reviewed by a licensed nurse so far, and more are reviewed every month. Practice questions are for study only and may contain mistakes; verify with official study guides from your destination country. Report a question

Study tip

When a question asks what to do first, assess before you act, unless the patient is in immediate danger.

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