Charge Nurse Past Paper 2024 PDF

1.  Neither the attending doctor nor the duty nurses _____ informed about the patient’s cardiac arrest immediately.

• Answer: B) were

• Explanation: In “neither…nor” structures, the verb agrees with the subject closest to it (“duty nurses” is plural).

2. The surgical team operated _____ the emergency patient for over four hours.

• Answer: A) on

• Explanation: The verb “operate” takes the preposition “on” when referring to a medical procedure performed on a subject.

3. Choose the correctly structured sentence:

• Answer: B) No sooner did the nurse give the injection than the patient relaxed.

• Explanation: “No sooner” requires subject-auxiliary inversion (did + base verb) and pairs strictly with “than.”

4. Choose the antonym of “LETHARGIC”:

• Answer: B) Energetic

• Explanation: Lethargic means sleepy, sluggish, or lacking energy; energetic is its direct opposite.

5. The Charge Nurse has been supervising this ward _____ six years.

• Answer: B) for

• Explanation: “For” denotes a duration or period of time, whereas “since” denotes a specific starting point.

6. If the nurse had checked the allergy chart, the adverse reaction _____.

• Answer: B) could have been avoided

• Explanation: Third conditional clause (If + past perfect) requires would/could have + past participle in the main clause.

7. Choose the correct passive form: “The staff nurse is monitoring the vital signs.”

• Answer: B) The vital signs are being monitored by the staff nurse.

• Explanation: Present continuous active (is monitoring) transforms to are being monitored in the passive voice.

8. Synonym of “EXACERBATE”:

• Answer: A) Worsen

• Explanation: To exacerbate a symptom or disease means to make it worse or more severe.

9. The patient is suffering _____ severe post-operative nausea.

• Answer: B) from

• Explanation: The standard verb-preposition pair for illnesses or physical symptoms is “suffering from.”

10. The phrase “Burn the candle at both ends” means:

• Answer: B) To work excessively hard without rest

• Explanation: Common idiom describing someone exhausting their health or energy by working late and rising early.

11. Either of the two treatment plans _____ acceptable to the ethics committee.

• Answer: B) is

• Explanation: “Either” when used as a distributive pronoun is grammatically singular and requires a singular verb.

12. The surgeon demanded that every instrument _____ sterilized before the procedure.

• Answer: B) be

• Explanation: Subjunctive verbs following expressions of demand or mandate use the base form of the verb (be).

13. Choose the correctly spelled medical term:

• Answer: A) Hemorrhage

• Explanation: “Hemorrhage” is the standard medical spelling for severe or rapid bleeding.

14. The doctor said to the nurse, “Check the patient’s blood pressure immediately.” (Indirect Speech):

• Answer: B) The doctor ordered the nurse to check the patient’s blood pressure immediately.

• Explanation: Direct commands shift to reporting verbs like ordered/instructed followed by to + base verb.

15. Synonym of “MALIGNANT”:

• Answer: B) Cancerous / Harmful

• Explanation: Malignant refers to a condition or tumor that is invasive, destructive, or cancerous.

16. She is far superior _____ her peers in clinical assessment skills.

• Answer: B) to

• Explanation: Comparative adjectives derived from Latin (superior, inferior, senior, junior) are followed by “to.”

17. Select the sentence with correct capitalization and punctuation:

• Answer: A) The WHO declared the virus outbreak a global emergency.

• Explanation: Acronyms like WHO are fully capitalized, and no extraneous commas disrupt the predicate.

18. Choose the antonym of “PALLIATIVE”:

• Answer: B) Curative

• Explanation: Palliative care focuses on symptom relief without curing the underlying condition; curative treatments aim for a complete cure.

19. The charge nurse refrained _____ making comments before the audit report was published.

• Answer: B) from

• Explanation: The verb “refrain” takes the preposition “from” followed by a gerund (from making).

20. Scarcely had the floor nurse sat down _____ the code blue alarm sounded.

• Answer: B) when

• Explanation: Negative adverbs like “Scarcely” or “Hardly” correlate with “when.”

PART-II: Professional Section (80 Marks)

1. Basic Medical Sciences (Q21–Q35)

21. Which cranial nerve carries sensory impulses for hearing and balance?

• Answer: B) CN VIII (Vestibulocochlear)

• Explanation: CN VIII transmits auditory and equilibrium sensory information from the inner ear to the brain.

22. An arterial blood gas (ABG) result showing pH 7.28 and PaCO2​ 52 mmHg indicates:

• Answer: B) Respiratory Acidosis

• Explanation: A pH below 7.35 with elevated PaCO2​ above 45 mmHg signifies respiratory acidosis caused by hypercapnia.

23. Which cellular organelle contains digestive enzymes responsible for breaking down cellular debris?

• Answer: C) Lysosome

• Explanation: Lysosomes act as the waste disposal and recycling center of eukaryotic cells using hydrolytic enzymes.

24. The blood vessel that carries deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle to the lungs is the:

• Answer: C) Pulmonary artery

• Explanation: Pulmonary arteries are unique because they carry deoxygenated blood away from the heart to the pulmonary circuit.

25. Reabsorption of water in the distal convoluted tubule and collecting duct is regulated by:

• Answer: B) Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH)

• Explanation: ADH (Vasopressin), released by the posterior pituitary, increases aquaporin channels to promote renal water retention.

26. Glucagon is synthesized and secreted by which pancreatic islet cells?

• Answer: B) Alpha cells

• Explanation: Alpha cells release glucagon to elevate blood glucose levels via glycogenolysis during fasting states.

27. The primary intracellular cation responsible for maintaining resting membrane potential in human cells is:

• Answer: B) Potassium (K+)

• Explanation: Potassium is the dominant intracellular cation, whereas sodium is the main extracellular cation.

28. Blood group AB positive individuals are considered Universal Recipients because their plasma lacks:

• Answer: B) Both anti-A and anti-B antibodies

• Explanation: Lacking anti-A and anti-B circulating antibodies prevents them from lysing incoming transfused red blood cells.

29. Hydrochloric acid ($HCl$) in the stomach is secreted by which gastric mucosa cells?

• Answer: B) Parietal cells

• Explanation: Parietal cells produce $HCl$ to lower gastric pH and synthesize Intrinsic Factor.

30. The primary site of drug excretion from the human body is the:

• Answer: B) Kidneys

• Explanation: While the liver metabolizes drugs, the renal system filters and excretes water-soluble metabolites via urine.

31. The specific antidote for an overdose of Acetaminophen (Paracetamol) is:

• Answer: B) N-Acetylcysteine (NAC)

• Explanation: NAC replenishes hepatic glutathione stores to neutralize toxic NAPQI metabolites generated by acetaminophen toxicity.

32. Immunity acquired through administration of a tetanus toxoid vaccine is classified as:

• Answer: B) Artificial Active Immunity

• Explanation: Vaccines stimulate the host’s immune system to produce memory cells without suffering the active infection.

33. The longest and strongest bone in the human skeleton is the:

• Answer: B) Femur

• Explanation: The femur is the thigh bone that supports body weight and facilitates locomotion.

34. Peripheral chemoreceptors located in the carotid and aortic bodies primary respond to marked drops in:

• Answer: B) Arterial Oxygen (PaO2​)

• Explanation: While central chemoreceptors respond to PaCO2​/H+, peripheral chemoreceptors sense significant hypoxia (PaO2​<60 mmHg).

35. A body movement that decreases the angle between two articulating bones is called:

• Answer: B) Flexion

• Explanation: Flexion bends a joint to decrease the angle between body segments (e.g., bending the elbow).

2. General Nursing (Q36–Q55)

36. A patient with severe burns requires immediate fluid resuscitation. In the initial nursing assessment, priority is given to:

• Answer: B) Airway patency and breathing stability

• Explanation: Airway and breathing always take clinical precedence over circulatory resuscitation (ABC priority framework).

37. Reassessing a patient’s pain rating 30 minutes after administering an intravenous analgesic occurs during which Nursing Process stage?

• Answer: D) Evaluation

• Explanation: Evaluation determines the patient’s response to nursing interventions and whether target outcomes were achieved.

38. Which patient position is recommended to improve oxygenation in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)?

• Answer: B) Prone position

• Explanation: Proning recruits posterior alveoli, reduces dorsal atelectasis, and optimizes ventilation-perfusion matching.

39. When performing adult CPR, the recommended depth of chest compressions is at least:

• Answer: B) 2 inches (5 cm) up to 2.4 inches (6 cm)

• Explanation: AHA guidelines specify a compression depth of 2 to 2.4 inches to ensure adequate cardiac output during CPR.

40. Before starting an enteral tube feeding, the most definitive bedside test to verify tube placement is:

• Answer: A) Aspirating gastric contents and testing pH

• Explanation: Bedside pH testing ($pH<5.5$) is the most reliable non-radiological verification method (X-ray remains the gold standard initial confirmation).

41. The preferred site for intramuscular injections in infants under 12 months of age is the:

• Answer: B) Vastus Lateralis muscle

• Explanation: The anterolateral thigh (vastus lateralis) is the most developed muscle mass in infants and lacks major neural structures.

42. Which infection control precaution requires the nurse to wear a mask when working within 3 feet of a patient with Influenza?

• Answer: B) Droplet Precautions

• Explanation: Respiratory droplets ($>5\mu \text{m}$) travel short distances (within 3–6 feet); surgical masks are required.

43. A client receiving intravenous potassium chloride ($KCl$) piggyback must never receive the drug via:

• Answer: B) IV push / direct rapid injection

• Explanation: Direct IV push of potassium chloride causes instant cardiac arrest and fatal arrhythmias; it must always be diluted and infused slowly.

44. If a patient develops chills, fever, and low back pain during a blood transfusion, the nurse’s immediate action is to:

• Answer: B) Stop the transfusion immediately and keep the line open with normal saline

• Explanation: Stopping the infusion halts further antigen delivery in a suspected acute hemolytic reaction.

45. Trendelenburg position involves placing the patient on their back with the:

• Answer: B) Foot of the bed elevated higher than the head

• Explanation: Trendelenburg lowers the head below the feet; historically used to manage acute hypotension or promote venous return.

46. Laboratory monitoring for a patient on oral Warfarin (Coumadin) therapy relies on:

• Answer: B) Prothrombin Time (PT) and International Normalized Ratio (INR)

• Explanation: Warfarin inhibits vitamin K-dependent factors; INR standardizes PT measurements to guide dosing.

47. Sterilization of heat-sensitive surgical equipment is best accomplished using:

• Answer: B) Ethylene Oxide (EtO) gas or Hydrogen Peroxide Plasma

• Explanation: Chemical gas/plasma sterilization processes heat- and moisture-sensitive instruments without thermal degradation.

48. The pulse deficit is calculated as the difference between the:

• Answer: B) Apical pulse rate and radial pulse rate

• Explanation: A deficit occurs when cardiac contractions (apical) fail to transmit a peripheral pulse wave (radial), common in atrial fibrillation.

49. An intravenous solution of 0.45% Normal Saline is classified as:

• Answer: B) Hypotonic

• Explanation: 0.45% $NaCl$ has an osmolality lower than plasma (~154 mOsm/L), shifting fluid from intravascular space into body cells.

50. Protective (Reverse) Isolation precautions are implemented for patients with:

• Answer: B) Severe Granulocytopenia / Neutropenia

• Explanation: Reverse isolation protects immunocompromised clients (e.g., bone marrow transplant or post-chemotherapy patients) from environmental pathogens.

51. What is the standard cuff inflation pressure range for an endotracheal tube in an adult to prevent tracheal necrosis?

• Answer: B) 20 – 30 cm H2​O (15–22 mmHg)

• Explanation: Cuff pressure within 20–30 cm H2​O prevents micro-aspiration without compromising mucosal perfusion.

52. The Morse Fall Scale is a clinical assessment tool designed to evaluate a patient’s:

• Answer: B) Risk for falling during hospitalization

• Explanation: Evaluates fall history, secondary diagnoses, ambulatory aids, IV therapy, gait, and mental status.

53. Administering excessive doses of loop diuretics places a patient at greatest risk for which cardiac arrhythmia driver?

• Answer: B) Hypokalemia

• Explanation: Potassium depletion destabilizes cardiac cell membrane potentials, predisposing to dangerous ventricular arrhythmias.

54. Oliguria in an adult is clinically defined as urine output less than:

• Answer: B) 400 to 500 mL / 24 hours

• Explanation: Output $<400\text{–}500$ mL/day (or $<0.5$ mL/kg/hr) indicates insufficient solute excretion and potential renal compromise.

55. During which phase of the nurse-patient relationship does the nurse review medical records and plan the initial meeting environment?

• Answer: A) Pre-interaction phase

• Explanation: Occurs before direct contact with the patient, involving data collection and self-exploration of biases.

3. Ward Administration (Q56–Q70)

56. Standardized clinical communication using the SBAR tool stands for:

• Answer: B) Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation

• Explanation: SBAR is a structured framework for passing critical patient status details between healthcare team members.

57. If a count discrepancy of controlled narcotics occurs during shift change, the immediate responsibility of both nurses is to:

• Answer: B) Report the discrepancy to the nurse manager/charge nurse immediately before leaving the floor

• Explanation: Discrepancies must be investigated instantly; neither outgoing nor incoming nurse should leave until resolved.

58. In the hospital fire safety acronym “PASS” regarding fire extinguisher use, “A” stands for:

• Answer: B) Aim nozzle at the base of the fire

• Explanation: PASS = Pull pin, Aim at base, Squeeze handle, Sweep side to side.

59. In hospital material management, “VED Analysis” classifies inventory according to its:

• Answer: B) Criticality to patient care (Vital, Essential, Desirable)

• Explanation: VED ensures life-saving (“Vital”) medications are never permitted to run out in hospital inventory.

60. Primary Nursing as a care delivery model is characterized by:

• Answer: B) One registered nurse assuming 24-hour accountability for planning care from admission to discharge

• Explanation: Primary nursing provides continuity by keeping one lead nurse responsible for overall care design.

61. A Charge Nurse delegates a bed bath for a stable patient to an auxiliary staff member. Which right of delegation is observed?

• Answer: A) Right Task, Circumstance, Person, Direction/Communication, and Supervision/Evaluation

• Explanation: These represent the Five Rights of Nursing Delegation.

62. Cytotoxic chemotherapy drug waste and expired medications should be disposed of in containers color-coded:

• Answer: C) Blue / Cytotoxic labeled containers

• Explanation: Cytotoxic and hazardous chemical wastes require special handling, distinct labeling, and specialized incineration.

63. To minimize needle-stick hazards in ward administration, staff should strictly avoid:

• Answer: B) Recapping used needles using a two-handed technique

• Explanation: Two-handed recapping is a leading cause of accidental needle-stick injuries among healthcare workers.

64. A leadership style where the manager provides minimal guidance, allowing nurses full freedom to make ward decisions, is:

• Answer: C) Laissez-faire

• Explanation: Laissez-faire leadership is hands-off and relies entirely on team self-direction.

65. Root Cause Analysis (RCA) in hospital clinical quality management is performed to:

• Answer: B) Analyze underlying systemic factors that allowed a sentinel event to occur

• Explanation: RCA explores systemic gaps rather than personal error to prevent repeat adverse occurrences.

66. Stock replenishment based on the “FIFO” principle ensures that:

• Answer: A) First In, First Out (older stock with earlier expiration dates is used first)

• Explanation: FIFO prevents supply wastage by ensuring items acquired earlier are consumed before newer arrivals.

67. A detailed document outlining specific step-by-step instructions for clinical skills in a ward is called a:

• Answer: B) Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)

• Explanation: SOPs standardize clinical and administrative practices to maintain quality control across shifts.

68. When two staff nurses resolve a scheduling conflict by working together to create a new shift plan satisfying both, they use:

• Answer: B) Collaboration

• Explanation: Collaboration is a win-win approach where both parties work jointly toward an optimal solution.

69. The principle of management that dictates each employee should receive orders from and report to only one direct supervisor is:

• Answer: B) Unity of Command

• Explanation: Henri Fayol’s Unity of Command prevents conflicting instructions and organizational confusion.

70. Audit of nursing records performed while the patient is currently admitted to the unit is called a:

• Answer: B) Concurrent Audit

• Explanation: Concurrent audits evaluate clinical documentation and care quality in real time during ongoing active treatment.

4. Hospitality of the Patients (Q71–Q80)

71. Applying hospitality concepts to inpatient nursing primary enhances:

• Answer: B) Patient perception of care, trust, and psychological safety

• Explanation: Patient-centered hospitality reduces clinical anxiety and increases overall satisfaction.

72. Expressing empathy to an anxious patient differs from sympathy in that empathy involves:

• Answer: B) Understanding and sharing the patient’s emotional perspective while remaining objective

• Explanation: Empathy understands the patient’s internal frame of reference without losing professional boundaries.

73. Ensuring a patient is covered with a bath blanket and bedside curtains are closed during a dressing change maintains:

• Answer: B) Patient modesty and physical privacy

• Explanation: Safeguards dignity and respects personal space during vulnerable clinical exposures.

74. AIDET is a hospital communication framework designed to improve patient interactions. “A” stands for:

• Answer: B) Acknowledge

• Explanation: AIDET = Acknowledge, Introduce, Duration, Explanation, Thank you.

75. What simple environmental adjustment by the night charge nurse promotes natural sleep rhythms for ward patients?

• Answer: B) Dimming hallway lights and consolidating night-time vitals checks

• Explanation: Minimizes nocturnal interruptions, reducing sleep fragmentation and delirium risks.

76. A non-verbal behavior by a nurse that conveys warmth and open communication is:

• Answer: B) Uncrossed arms, leaning slightly forward, and maintaining comfortable eye contact

• Explanation: Open body posture signals attentiveness, patience, and active engagement.

77. When a patient’s visitor demands immediate attention in an aggressive tone, the nurse’s priority response should be:

• Answer: B) Maintain a calm demeanor, lower voice tone, and validate their concern

• Explanation: De-escalation strategies require emotional control, non-confrontational body language, and active listening.

78. Accommodating a patient’s dietary preferences based on religious or cultural beliefs is an example of:

• Answer: B) Culturally competent nursing care

• Explanation: Respects patient values and integrates cultural choices into safe, effective care delivery.

79. The primary goal of post-discharge follow-up phone calls in hospitality-focused healthcare is to:

• Answer: B) Clarify care instructions, confirm recovery progress, and evaluate satisfaction

• Explanation: Follow-up calls bridge transitions of care, reducing preventable readmissions and reinforcing trust.

80. Creating a warm, clean, quiet, and welcoming physical environment in a hospital ward reflects:

• Answer: A) Maslow’s physiological safety needs and Nightingale’s environmental principles

• Explanation: Florence Nightingale demonstrated that light, air, noise control, and cleanliness directly lower mortality rates.

5. Care vs. Cure for Health Management (Q81–Q90)

6. In modern health management, the core distinction between “Cure” and “Care” is that “Cure” is focused on:

• Answer: B) Elimination of disease pathogens and restorative biological interventions

• Explanation: “Cure” aims to eradicate pathology, whereas “Care” addresses the human experience of living with illness.

82. Palliative nursing care focuses primarily on:

• Answer: B) Symptom relief, suffering reduction, and quality of life enhancement

• Explanation: Palliative care prioritizes comfort and dignity for patients with life-limiting conditions.

83. According to Dorothea Orem’s Self-Care Deficit Theory, the primary goal of nursing care is to:

• Answer: B) Help the patient meet their self-care demands independently

• Explanation: Orem posits that nursing intervention is required when a patient experiences an inability to meet self-care requisites.

84. Respecting an adult patient’s informed refusal of a surgical procedure honors the ethical principle of:

• Answer: B) Autonomy

• Explanation: Autonomy protects a competent individual’s legal and moral right to make independent decisions about their medical care.

85. Holistic health care recognizes that a disease in one physiological system affects:

• Answer: B) The whole person—including physical, emotional, social, and spiritual dimensions

• Explanation: Holistic care views individuals as integrated beings where physical, mental, and social health are interconnected.

86. Self-management support for hypertension focuses on lifestyle modifications, medication adherence, and home BP monitoring. This exemplifies:

• Answer: B) Long-term health management care

• Explanation: Chronic conditions require continuous management and patient empowerment rather than acute curative remedies.

87. The ethical obligation for nurses to act in ways that actively benefit the patient is termed:

• Answer: B) Beneficence

• Explanation: Beneficence means taking positive actions to help others and promote patient well-being.

88. Secondary health prevention strategies target:

• Answer: B) Early disease screening, diagnosis, and prompt treatment

• Explanation: Secondary prevention detects health problems early to stop progression (e.g., mammograms, BP screening).

89. The concept of “Presence” in compassionate nursing practice involves:

• Answer: B) Being intentionally present with a patient, offering undivided attention and genuine connection

• Explanation: Therapeutic presence provides emotional containment and reassures patients through attentive engagement.

90. Integrating holistic “Care” alongside clinical “Cure” modalities results in:

• Answer: B) Reduced patient anxiety, improved treatment compliance, and better clinical recovery outcomes

• Explanation: Combining medical interventions with holistic caring optimizes both biological and psychological healing.

6. Developing Training & Instructional Materials for Nursing Courses (Q91–Q100)

7. In the ADDIE instructional model, developing lesson plans, learning activities, and media content occurs during the:

• Answer: B) Design & Development phases

• Explanation: Systematically structuring learning objectives and creating educational resources occur during Design and Development.

92. In writing educational behavioral goals, the “M” in the SMART criteria stands for:

• Answer: B) Measurable

• Explanation: Objectives must be measurable to objectively determine whether learning was successfully achieved.

93. Bloom’s Taxonomy level that requires a nursing student to break down information into parts to explore relationships is:

• Answer: C) Analyzing

• Explanation: Analysis involves differentiating, organizing, and examining components to understand structural relationships.

94. What instructional method best develops clinical decision-making and critical thinking in nursing students?

• Answer: B) Case-based scenario discussions and clinical debriefing

• Explanation: Case studies require students to analyze complex clinical data, prioritize actions, and evaluate outcomes.

95. Summative evaluation in a clinical nursing course is conducted to:

• Answer: B) Assess overall learning achievement at the end of an instructional period to assign grades

• Explanation: Summative assessments (e.g., final exams) evaluate cumulative skill and knowledge mastery.

96. A major pedagogical benefit of debriefing after a clinical simulation scenario is that it:

• Answer: B) Facilitates reflective learning, self-analysis, and clinical reasoning consolidation

• Explanation: Structured debriefing helps learners process emotional responses and understand the rationale behind their actions.

97. An instructional rubric evaluates student clinical performance by:

• Answer: B) Setting clear, standardized criteria across specified performance levels

• Explanation: Rubrics reduce grading bias and clarify expectations by defining specific performance standards.

98. Malcolm Knowles’ Adult Learning Theory asserts that adult learners are primarily motivated by:

• Answer: B) Internal motivators, practical relevance, and immediate applicability to their work

• Explanation: Adults are self-directed and learn best when they understand the immediate clinical value of the material.

99. When creating health educational brochures for diverse patient groups, instructional materials should:

• Answer: B) Include clear visual aids, bullet points, and plain, accessible language

• Explanation: Enhances health literacy, comprehension, and retention across varied patient populations.

100. Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) evaluate nursing students using:

• Answer: B) Multiple standardized skill stations with specific checklists and time limits

• Explanation: OSCE provides a standardized, objective method to assess psychomotor skills and clinical communication.