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SNLE 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 Saudi Nursing Licensure Exam (SNLE), 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 SNLE fundamentals of nursing & patient safety questions
1. A nurse makes an error while writing a paper nursing note. What is the correct way to correct it?
- A. Cover the error with correction fluid and write the correct entry on top
- B. Draw a single line through the error, write 'error' with initials and date, then write the correct entry
- C. Scribble over the error completely so that it cannot be misread later
- D. Remove the page from the record and rewrite the whole note neatly
Show answer and rationale
The original entry must stay readable, so a single line through it with the nurse's initials and date keeps the record honest. Obscuring or removing entries can look like tampering with a legal record.
Reference: Potter & Perry Fundamentals of Nursing – documentation
2. A patient with dysphagia after a stroke is about to eat. Which action best reduces the risk of aspiration?
- A. Give thin liquids to help food go down
- B. Feed the patient lying flat to reduce effort
- C. Encourage the patient to talk while eating
- D. Sit the patient fully upright and follow the swallow assessment advice on food and fluid consistency
Show answer and rationale
An upright position and the correct texture as recommended by the swallow assessment (often thickened fluids and soft food) reduce aspiration. Thin liquids, lying flat and talking while eating all increase aspiration risk.
Reference: Lewis Medical-Surgical Nursing – stroke and dysphagia
3. A patient sprained an ankle 2 hours ago and reports throbbing pain and swelling. Which non-drug measure is most appropriate at this stage?
- A. Keep the ankle hanging down below heart level
- B. Massage the ankle firmly to reduce swelling
- C. Apply a wrapped cold pack for short periods
- D. Apply a hot water bottle to the ankle
Show answer and rationale
In the first 24–48 hours after an acute soft-tissue injury, cold causes vasoconstriction and reduces swelling and pain. Heat in the acute phase increases blood flow and swelling, and a dependent position worsens oedema.
Reference: Potter & Perry Fundamentals of Nursing – heat and cold therapy
4. A nurse finds a patient lying on the floor beside the bed. What should the nurse do first?
- A. Lift the patient back into bed with a colleague
- B. Complete an incident report
- C. Stay with the patient, call for help and assess for injury before moving
- D. Phone the patient's family
Show answer and rationale
The patient must be assessed first (airway, breathing, circulation, consciousness, head injury and fractures) before being moved, because moving them could worsen an injury. Reporting and informing the family come later.
Reference: Potter & Perry Fundamentals of Nursing – falls prevention
5. A patient taking omeprazole has a newly inserted nasogastric tube. The aspirate has a pH of 7.0. What should the nurse do?
- A. Start the feed, because omeprazole explains the high pH
- B. Flush the tube with water and start the feed
- C. Do not use the tube; report the result and arrange X-ray confirmation
- D. Confirm position by injecting air and listening
Show answer and rationale
A pH above 5.5 does not confirm gastric placement, even if acid-suppressing drugs may be the cause. Nothing should go down the tube until its position is confirmed by X-ray, and air auscultation is unreliable.
Reference: Standard enteral feeding guidance – NG tube pH testing
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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