Registered Nurse IQN Theoretical Examination - Sample Questions - Part A: Medication Safety

Sep 30, 2026

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Sample questions for the registered nurse IQN theoretical examination cover medication safety and core nursing knowledge. Part A tests practical calculations and safe dosage decisions using drug concentrations, unit conversions, infusion rates, and related administration scenarios. Part B assesses understanding of professional roles, pre-surgery fasting rationale, asthma treatment intent, shock risk after myocardial infarction, bipolar hypomania symptoms, and appropriate nurse responsibilities when prescriptions are missing or patients express concerns.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages5

Reading Time13 min

AccessFree to download

Part A: Medication safety

Medication calculations and administration decisions

Part B: Nursing knowledge

Professional roles and patient care reasoning

Sample questions for the registered nurse IQN theoretical examination Part A: Medication safety Q1 . A patient has been prescribed morphine 8mg 2-3 hourly PRN for pain. Unit stock of morphine is 10mg/1mL. How much morphine should be drawn up for the patient? A. 0.08mL B. 0.25mL C. 0.75mL D. 0.80mL Q2 . A child weighs 22.4kg, and the prescription is for 24mg/kg of body weight. The medication comes at the strength of 50mg/mL. How many mL (to one decimal place) of the medication should the child receive? A. 7.5mL B. 8.5mL C. 9.8mL D. 10.8mL Q3 . Ondansetron 2mg has been prescribed for a child who weighs 13.6kg. The safe dosage of this medication is 0. 15mg/kg. Is 2mg a safe dose? A. No, a safe dose would be 0 .3mg B. No, a safe dose would be 0 .6mg C. No, a safe dose would be 1.02mg D. Yes, 2mg is a safe dose Q4 . A patient is prescribed 250mg of antibiotics in 200mL of intravenous fluid over 30 minutes. The correct rate in mL per hour to set the infusion device is A. 100mL per hour B. 200mL per hour C. 400mL per hour D. 500mL per hour Q5 . How many mg is 5000mcg? A. 0.5mg B. 5mg C. 50mg D. 500mg Q6 . A patient is prescribed 125mg of medication. The ampule contains 400mg/4mL. How many mL will you administer? A. 0.8mL B. 1mL C. 1.25mL D. 1.5mL Q7 . A patient is prescribed 1g of paracetamol. The available tablets contain 500mg each. How many tablets will you administer? A. 1 tablet B. 1.5 tablets C. 2 tablets D. 2.5 tablets Q8 . A patient’s intravenous normal saline infusion of 1000mL is to be completed in 8 hours’ time. The drop factor of the giving set is 15 drops per mL. How many drops per minute are required to finish the infusion on time? A. 11 drops per minute B. 15 drops per minute C. 31 drops per minute D. 35 drops per minute Part B: Nursing knowledge Q1 . The role of the Nursing Council of New Zealand is to A. protect the unregulated and regulated health workforce. B. regulate doctors to protect public safety. C. regulate nursing to protect public safety. D. protect the nursing workforce. Q2. A mother asks you why her child needs to be weighed before a scheduled surgery. What is your best response? A. "Surgery is not carried out on children above the ideal body weight." B. "We need to compare your child’s weight before and after the procedure." C. "Medication doses for children are often based on weight to ensure safety." D. "It is routine for all paediatric admissions." Q3. Prior to surgery a patient is to have nothing to eat or drink. This is necessary to A. assist in the proper absorption of the anaesthetic. B. prevent nausea and vomiting immediately after surgery. C. avoid the danger of inhaling the stomach contents (aspiration) . D. avoid incontinence during surgery. Q4. A patient with asthma arrives at the emergency department/emergency room and is visibly distressed, coughing and with audible wheeze. Why are they prescribed salbutamol (beta-adrenergic agonist)? A. To dilate the airways. B. To reduce secondary infections. C. To decrease postnasal drip. D. To reduce airway inflammation. Q5. A patient has had a myocardial infarction involving a large section of the heart muscle. You assess them at risk for A. hypovolaemic shock. B. cardiogenic shock. C. metabolic shock. D. neurogenic shock. Q6. What may a patient experience in a hypomanic phase of a bipolar mood disorder? A. Hallucinations, fatigue, anhedonia. B. Social withdrawal, decreased self-esteem, obsessive thoughts. C. Elevated mood, reduced need for sleep, irritability. D. Increased activity, increased need for sleep, pressured speech. Q7. Furosemide (a diuretic) has been prescribed for a patient with congestive heart failure. The prescriber has not signed the medication chart. You should A. Double check the medication with a senior registered nurse. [B.](B. contact)[ contact](B. contact) the prescriber t

FAQs

How do the questions in Part A assess medication safety?

They require safe dosing and administration decisions using prescribed amounts, available medication strengths, unit conversions, and infusion rate calculations.

What nursing knowledge topics are covered in Part B?

It includes the role of the Nursing Council of New Zealand, best responses to patient questions, rationale for pre-surgery fasting, reasons for asthma medications, and recognition of clinical risk.

If the prescriber has not signed the medication chart, what should the nurse do according to the sample questions?

The sample item indicates the nurse should contact the prescriber to sign the prescription rather than proceed without appropriate authorisation.

Sep 30, 2026

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