Safety and Emergency Care Practice Questions
20 free Safety and Emergency Care practice questions for the NCLEX Exam. Tap an option to answer — you get instant feedback, the correct answer, and a detailed explanation for every question.
A patient’s IV tubing becomes disconnected and blood is visible in the line. What should the nurse do first?
- A Document the event in the chart and wait for the next shift to report it
- B Clamp the tubing, apply a clean dressing to the site, and notify the provider
- C Immediately call a code blue and begin chest compressions on the patient
- D Plan to change the IV site sometime within the next 24 hours and continue
Correct answer: Clamp the tubing, apply a clean dressing to the site, and notify the provider
This is a safety/emergency situation – blood visible in the IV line indicates risk of infection/bleeding; the nurse should take immediate corrective action, secure the site, and notify provider.
During a fire in the hospital ward, what is the correct sequence of actions according to the RACE acronym?
- A Rescue → Alarm → Contain → Extinguish
- B Alarm → Contain → Rescue → Extinguish
- C Contain → Rescue → Alarm → Extinguish
- D Rescue → Extinguish → Alarm → Contain
Correct answer: Rescue → Alarm → Contain → Extinguish
The RACE acronym for fire safety is Rescue (move anyone in immediate danger), Alarm (activate the fire alarm and call for help), Contain (close doors and windows to limit the fire), then Extinguish the fire if it is safe to do so.
A nurse finds a patient lying on the floor beside his bed, apparently having fallen. Which action has the highest priority?
- A Help the patient back into bed right away to make them more comfortable
- B Assess for injury, pain, level of consciousness, vital signs
- C Offer to call the patient’s family to come to the room for support
- D Document the fall event in the chart before leaving the room
Correct answer: Assess for injury, pain, level of consciousness, vital signs
After a fall, first assess for injury, neurological status, vital signs (safety/emergency priority) before further actions or documentation.
A new graduate nurse is preparing to handle a patient with suspected myocardial infarction (MI) in the ED. Which action is correct?
- A Wait for physician to order all interventions before monitoring vital signs
- B Initiate high-flow oxygen, attach cardiac monitor, prepare for ECG
- C Ask the family to go find the physician
- D Administer pain medication without verifying allergies
Correct answer: Initiate high-flow oxygen, attach cardiac monitor, prepare for ECG
In a suspected MI emergency, the nurse should initiate immediate monitoring/interventions (oxygen, ECG) while waiting for orders. Time is critical.
A patient has a tracheostomy and suddenly cannot speak, appears anxious, and has increased respiratory effort. What is the nurse’s priority action?
- A Increase the sedative infusion to calm the anxious patient
- B Suction the tracheostomy and assess the tube for patency
- C Offer a communication board so the patient can express needs
- D Call the speech therapist to evaluate the patient's voice
Correct answer: Suction the tracheostomy and assess the tube for patency
Difficulty speaking with respiratory distress in a tracheostomy patient suggests airway obstruction. Priority is ensuring patency (suction/assess) – safety/emergency.
A patient receiving chemotherapy has a temperature of 38.5 °C (101.3 °F) and chills. What should the nurse do first?
- A Administer an antipyretic and continue with routine nursing care
- B Notify the provider immediately, as neutropenic infection is possible
- C Start broad-spectrum antibiotics without notifying the provider first
- D Document the finding and reassess at the next scheduled assessment
Correct answer: Notify the provider immediately, as neutropenic infection is possible
In immunocompromised patients, fever may signal serious infection; urgent action required. Safety/emergency risk for sepsis.
A nurse is preparing to transport a patient via wheelchair who has just been started on IV heparin and has a lower-extremity DVT. Which safety precaution is most appropriate?
- A Transport the patient quickly and without staff assistance to save time
- B Lock the brakes, place feet on the foot rests and have staff assist
- C Allow the patient to self-propel the wheelchair without any supervision
- D Skip the foot rests and have the patient hold the IV pole during transport
Correct answer: Lock the brakes, place feet on the foot rests and have staff assist
Safe transport includes locking brakes, using foot rests, ensuring assistance to reduce fall or bleeding risk.
In a chemical spill in a patient room, what is the nurse's first step?
- A Clean the spill immediately using whatever towels are available
- B Move the patient out of the area to a safe zone away from the spill
- C Continue providing care as usual while the substance remains on the floor
- D Leave the room and wait for housekeeping to manage the spill
Correct answer: Move the patient out of the area to a safe zone away from the spill
Immediate safety action: remove patient to safe area only then signal for spill management. Safety first.
A pediatric patient in the burns unit has smoke inhalation and airway compromise signs (hoarseness, singed nasal hairs). What should the nurse do next?
- A Wait until overt respiratory distress develops before acting
- B Prepare for early intubation and monitor the airway closely
- C Apply only topical burn care and defer airway assessment for now
- D Arrange early discharge once the visible burns are dressed
Correct answer: Prepare for early intubation and monitor the airway closely
In smoke inhalation, airway compromise may progress rapidly; early intubation is critical – an emergency safety priority.
During a seizure, what should the nurse do to ensure patient safety?
- A Insert a padded tongue blade into the patient's mouth to protect the tongue
- B Firmly restrain the patient's limbs to stop the convulsive movements
- C Lower the patient to the floor or bed, turn on side, and protect the head
- D Leave the patient alone in the room to recover from the seizure
Correct answer: Lower the patient to the floor or bed, turn on side, and protect the head
Lowering patient, protecting head, turning on side, loosening clothing are correct safety interventions. Avoid tongue blades/forceful restraints.
A patient on a ventilator alarm sounds “high pressure”. What is the immediate action by the nurse?
- A Turn off the ventilator and ventilate the patient manually with a bag
- B Check for kinks, secretions, biting on the tube, or other obstruction
- C Silence the alarm and continue care until the alarm sounds again
- D Lower the ventilator pressure settings without first assessing the cause
Correct answer: Check for kinks, secretions, biting on the tube, or other obstruction
High pressure alarm indicates possible obstruction or secretions; immediate check required – safety/emergency priority.
A nurse is about to administer a blood transfusion and notices the patient’s ID does not match the bag. The nurse should:
- A Proceed with transfusion and chart the discrepancy after
- B Stop, confirm patient identity, contact blood bank – do not proceed
- C Change patient ID bracelet instead of checking with blood bank
- D Ask the patient if they recognize the blood bag
Correct answer: Stop, confirm patient identity, contact blood bank – do not proceed
Wrong blood transfusion is a major safety risk. Stop and confirm identity before proceeding.
A patient with an allergy to latex is scheduled for a procedure. Which safety measure must the nurse ensure?
- A Use standard non-sterile gloves only and proceed with the procedure
- B Ensure all equipment and supplies are latex-free and mark the chart allergy
- C Disregard the allergy because the risk of latex exposure is minimal
- D Use latex products only when a latex-free alternative is unavailable
Correct answer: Ensure all equipment and supplies are latex-free and mark the chart allergy
Patient safety: latex allergy requires full avoidance of latex and appropriate charting/supplies.
In a mass casualty incident, the triage nurse tags a patient with black (“expectant”). What condition does this tag represent?
- A Minor injury, can wait
- B Immediate life‐threatening but salvageable
- C Dead or likely to die despite care
- D Requires delayed care
Correct answer: Dead or likely to die despite care
In triage colour codes: black = deceased or expectant (unlikely to survive); safety and emergency systems knowledge.
A restrained patient begins to thrash and remove restraints despite quiet instructions. What is the nurse’s responsibility?
- A Continue the restraints indefinitely until the patient stops thrashing
- B Release the restraints, supervise and assess the cause of agitation
- C Ignore the behavior and wait for the patient to calm down on their own
- D Increase the sedation dosage without first consulting the provider
Correct answer: Release the restraints, supervise and assess the cause of agitation
Safety/emergency: Restraints must be monitored, reassessed, released when possible, agitation cause assessed to prevent harm.
A fire extinguisher is missing from a unit. What should the nurse do?
- A Assume that someone else on the unit will replace it later
- B Report it to management immediately and ensure it is replaced
- C Borrow a fire extinguisher from another unit without reporting it
- D Note it for the next shift and continue with routine duties
Correct answer: Report it to management immediately and ensure it is replaced
Environmental safety: missing fire extinguisher is serious hazard; nurse should report and ensure safety readiness.
A patient with a swallowing disorder eats dinner unsupervised and begins to choke. What immediate action should the nurse take?
- A Encourage the patient to keep coughing and observe without intervening
- B Perform abdominal thrusts (Heimlich) as needed and call for help
- C Wait for the respiratory therapist to arrive and clear the airway
- D Remove the remaining food and resume the meal once coughing settles
Correct answer: Perform abdominal thrusts (Heimlich) as needed and call for help
Choking is a life‐threat emergency; nurse should intervene immediately with appropriate manoeuvre and call for help.
A patient is scheduled for contrast CT scan and has known kidney impairment. Which safety precaution should the nurse ensure before administration?
- A Administer the contrast without first reviewing recent renal labs
- B Check renal function, hydrate the patient, and monitor for reaction
- C Assume the nephrotoxic risk is minimal and proceed with the scan
- D Begin monitoring for a reaction only after the contrast is given
Correct answer: Check renal function, hydrate the patient, and monitor for reaction
Safety: Contrast media in renal impairment requires pre‐hydration, lab check, monitoring to prevent nephropathy.
A nurse sees a coworker collapse in the hallway. What is the nurse’s first action?
- A Continue with documentation and check on the coworker afterward
- B Check responsiveness and call for help or activate the emergency response
- C Wait about five minutes to see whether the coworker recovers alone
- D Ask the coworker to walk to the office so they can sit and rest
Correct answer: Check responsiveness and call for help or activate the emergency response
Safety/emergency: collapse indicates possible cardiac/arrest event – immediate response, check, and call for help.
A patient who is at risk for falls has a low bed and bed alarm. The alarm sounds and patient is trying to rise without assistance. What should the nurse do?
- A Turn off the bed alarm to stop the noise from disturbing the patient
- B Assess the patient, assist them back into bed, and review the fall plan
- C Disregard the alarm because the bed alarm is a frequent nuisance
- D Move the patient out to the hallway where staff can watch them
Correct answer: Assess the patient, assist them back into bed, and review the fall plan
Fall risk prevention: respond swiftly to alarm, assist patient, review plan, maintain safe environment.