NCLEX SATA practice questions

Select-all-that-apply questions are scored with partial credit on the Next Generation NCLEX: each correct choice earns a point and each wrong choice costs one. Treat every option as a true/false statement about the client in the stem.

1. Question 1

   A 15-year-old client on an adolescent psychiatric unit has a history of cutting the forearms when upset. Which interventions should the nurse include in the plan of care? Select all that apply.

   Select all that apply.

   • A.Help the client identify feelings and situations that come before cutting
   • B.Teach other ways to manage strong emotions, such as journaling, exercise or calling a support person
   • C.Rely on a signed no-self-harm contract as the main safety measure
   • D.Provide wound care in a calm, matter-of-fact way
   • E.Show strong shock at the wounds so the client sees how serious they are
   • F.Check the client's room and belongings for sharp objects per unit policy
   Show answer and explanation

   Answer: A, B, D, F

   Care for non-suicidal self-injury focuses on safety, finding triggers, teaching new coping skills and providing calm, nonjudgmental care for injuries. Contracts and strong emotional reactions do not help.

   • A. Knowing triggers lets the client plan to use other coping skills before the urge peaks.
   • B. Learning safer coping skills replaces self-harm as a way to relieve distress.
   • C. Contracts do not prevent self-harm and can give staff false reassurance.
   • D. Compassionate, nonjudgmental wound care meets physical needs and maintains safety and trust.
   • E. Strong reactions can increase shame or reinforce the behavior.
   • F. Reducing access to tools for self-harm is part of a safe environment.

   Key concept: Self-harm can serve different functions, such as relieving overwhelming emotion. Assess each client's triggers and needs, replace self-harm with safer coping, keep the environment safe, and always assess for suicidal thoughts.

   Tip: Self-harm care: find the trigger, swap the tool, stay calm.

2. Question 2

   A nurse needs to discuss a new cancer diagnosis follow-up plan with a client in a semi-private room. Which actions protect the client's privacy? Select all that apply.

   Select all that apply.

   • A.Ask the client whether they would prefer to talk in a private room
   • B.Speak in a quiet voice and close the curtain
   • C.Ask the client whether visitors present should stay or step out
   • D.Ask the roommate to help explain the information
   • E.Leave the printed care plan on the over-bed table after the talk
   Show answer and explanation

   Answer: A, B, C

   In shared rooms, nurses take reasonable steps to limit what others hear. The best option is a private space. Otherwise, the nurse closes the curtain, speaks quietly, and lets the client decide who is present.

   • A. Correct. Moving to a private space is the best way to protect sensitive conversations.
   • B. Correct. These steps reduce the chance of being overheard when moving is not possible.
   • C. Correct. The client decides who may hear their health information.
   • D. Involving the roommate shares private information with someone not involved in care.
   • E. Printed information left in the open can be read by others.

   Key concept: Take reasonable safeguards to protect verbal and written information in shared spaces.

   Tip: Private room if possible; quiet voice, curtain and client's choice if not.

3. Question 3

   The nurse is applying knee-length anti-embolism stockings to a client after abdominal surgery. Which actions are correct? Select all that apply.

   Select all that apply.

   • A.Measure the client's legs to select the correct size
   • B.Apply the stockings while the legs are elevated, such as before the client gets out of bed
   • C.Smooth out all wrinkles in the stockings
   • D.Roll the top of the stocking down if it is too long
   • E.Remove the stockings at least once a day to check the skin
   • F.Leave the stockings on for 1 week without removing them
   Show answer and explanation

   Answer: A, B, C, E

   Anti-embolism stockings apply graded pressure to help prevent venous thromboembolism. They must be the correct size, applied smoothly before the legs swell, never rolled or folded, and removed daily for skin care and assessment.

   • A. Stockings that are too tight can cut off circulation, and loose stockings do not work.
   • B. Applying them before the legs swell lets them fit properly and work best.
   • C. Wrinkles create pressure points that can damage the skin and limit blood flow.
   • D. A rolled top acts like a tight band and blocks venous return.
   • E. Daily removal allows the nurse to inspect the skin, clean it and check circulation.
   • F. Skin problems under the stocking would go unnoticed.

   Key concept: Anti-embolism stockings: measured, smooth, never rolled, removed daily for skin checks.

   Tip: No wrinkles, no rolls, daily peek.

4. Question 4

   A 66-year-old client is scheduled for an elective hip replacement tomorrow. The client does not take anticoagulants. Which preoperative lab results should the nurse report to the surgeon? Select all that apply.

   Select all that apply.

   • A.Potassium 3.0 mEq/L
   • B.Hemoglobin 13.8 g/dL
   • C.Platelet count 62,000/mm³
   • D.Fasting glucose 96 mg/dL
   • E.INR 2.6
   • F.Sodium 140 mEq/L
   Show answer and explanation

   Answer: A, C, E

   Before surgery, the nurse reviews labs for problems that raise anesthesia or bleeding risk. Low potassium increases dysrhythmia risk. A low platelet count and an unexplained high INR increase bleeding risk. The surgeon may delay surgery or correct these values first.

   • A. Correct. Low potassium (normal 3.5–5.0 mEq/L) increases the risk of dysrhythmias during anesthesia.
   • B. This is within normal limits.
   • C. Correct. Low platelets (normal 150,000–400,000/mm³) raise the risk of bleeding during and after surgery.
   • D. This is within normal limits.
   • E. Correct. A client not on anticoagulants should have an INR near 1.0. A value of 2.6 means slow clotting and high bleeding risk.
   • F. This is within normal limits (135–145 mEq/L).

   Key concept: Pre-op labs focus on electrolytes, blood counts, coagulation and glucose.

   Tip: Before the knife: check the K, the clotting and the count.

5. Question 5

   A client was nearly given hydroxyzine instead of the prescribed hydralazine. Which strategies help prevent look-alike, sound-alike medication errors? Select all that apply.

   Select all that apply.

   • A.Scan the barcode of the drug and the client's wristband before giving it
   • B.Read the label carefully when removing it, preparing it and at the bedside
   • C.Store look-alike drugs right next to each other so they are easy to compare
   • D.Rely on the color and shape of the package to identify the drug
   • E.Use tall man lettering on labels, such as hydrOXYzine and hydrALAZINE
   • F.Include the indication on the prescription, such as 'for high blood pressure'
   Show answer and explanation

   Answer: A, B, E, F

   Look-alike, sound-alike drug names are a common cause of errors. Safety strategies include tall man lettering, separating storage, adding the indication to orders, barcode scanning, reading labels at each step and asking the client about the purpose of each medicine.

   • A. Correct. Barcode scanning catches a wrong drug before it reaches the client.
   • B. Correct. Checking the label several times catches selection errors.
   • C. Storing them together increases the risk of picking the wrong one. They should be separated.
   • D. Packages often look alike and change between suppliers. The label must be read.
   • E. Correct. Capital letters highlight the parts of the names that differ.
   • F. Correct. The purpose helps the nurse and pharmacist catch a mismatch.

   Key concept: Prevent name-confusion errors with tall man lettering, separate storage, indications, barcode scanning and repeated label checks.

   Tip: Names can lie; read every letter.