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Prioritisation & Triage MCQs for Nursing Exams

213 questions with explanations · 26 free to practise now.

Prioritisation & Triage questions for NORCET, RRB, ESIC, CHO and state nursing officer exams, split into 1 topics. Open a topic to read sample questions with answers, or start free practice. Every question comes with a simple-English explanation.

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Prioritisation & Triage topics

General 213

Sample Prioritisation & Triage questions

Q1. A nurse must choose between tasks. Which is first?

  1. Updating the whiteboard
  2. Restocking supplies
  3. Completing documentation
  4. Giving a time-critical antibiotic to a patient with sepsis
Show answer and explanation

Answer: D. Giving a time-critical antibiotic to a patient with sepsis

Timely antibiotics in sepsis improve survival.

Q2. The nurse is interviewing a patient who was treated several months ago for breast cancer. The patient reports taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for back pain. Which patient comment is cause for greatest concern?

  1. "The NSAIDs are really not relieving the back pain."
  2. "The NSAIDs are upsetting my stomach in the morning."
  3. "The NSAID tablets are too large, and they are hard to swallow."
  4. "I gained weight because I eat a lot before taking NSAIDs."
Show answer and explanation

Answer: A. "The NSAIDs are really not relieving the back pain."

Primary cancers (lung, prostate, breast, and colon) may metastasize to the spine. In spinal cord compression, back pain is a common early symptom. Later symptoms include weakness, loss of sensation, urinary retention or incontinence, and constipation. Focus: Prioritization; Test Taking Tip: Reports of pain in distal areas, worsening pain, or difficulty controlling pain can signal metastasis or reoccurrence, which is always a concern for cancer patients. Pain should be reported to the doctor for evaluation.

Q3. A female patient is admitted with a diagnosis of primary hypofunction of the adrenal glands. Which nursing assessment finding supports this diagnosis? O:

  1. Patchy areas of pigment loss over the face
  2. Decreased muscle strength
  3. Scalp alopecia
  4. Greatly increased urine output
Show answer and explanation

Answer: A. Patchy areas of pigment loss over the face

Vitiligo, or patchy areas of pigment loss with increased pigmentation at the edges, is seen with primary hypofunction of the adrenal glands and is caused by autoimmune destruction of melanocytes in the skin. The other findings are signs of pituitary hypofunction. Focus: Prioritization.

Q4. The charge nurse on a medical unit is making rounds after the shift report. Which patient should the charge nurse assess first?

  1. The elderly patient diagnosed with COPD who expectorated rusty-colored sputum during the night
  2. The adolescent male patient who uses anabolic steroids to increase his muscle size for football
  3. The patient whose blood glucose reading averages 140 mg/dL since being placed on steroids
  4. The female patient who refuses to remove her gown because of the striae from taking steroids
Show answer and explanation

Answer: A. The elderly patient diagnosed with COPD who expectorated rusty-colored sputum during the night

Patients diagnosed with COPD are placed on long-term steroids because of the inflammation in their lungs. This can mask infection. Frequently the only sign of an infection in these patients is a change in the character of the sputum or a rusty color. The charge nurse should see this patient first. Content-Medical; Category of Health Alteration-Endocrine; Integrated Process-Planning; Patient Needs-Safe Effective Care Environment, Management of Care; Cognitive Level-Synthesis.

Q5. Which patient should the nurse see first?

  1. A patient 1 day after thyroidectomy reporting tingling around the mouth
  2. A patient with pneumonia and a temperature of 37.8 C
  3. A patient with COPD with SpO2 of 90%
  4. A patient 3 days after knee replacement with pain 4/10
Show answer and explanation

Answer: A. A patient 1 day after thyroidectomy reporting tingling around the mouth

Perioral tingling suggests hypocalcemia, which can progress to tetany and laryngospasm.

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More subjects

Fundamentals & AssessmentMedical-Surgical NursingPharmacologyFluids, Labs & EmergencyMaternity & NewbornChild Health (Paediatrics)Mental HealthCommunity & Geriatric CareNutritionNORCET Previous YearsMixed Review

Frequently asked questions

Are the Prioritisation & Triage questions free?

A set of 26 questions is free to practise after you enter your name and mobile number (no OTP). The full set of 213 questions is in NurseRank Premium.

Is Prioritisation & Triage asked in NORCET and other nursing officer exams?

Nursing exams test the core nursing subjects, so this subject is useful for NORCET, RRB, ESIC, CHO and state exams. Check your exam's official syllabus for exact weightage.

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