Management of Care — NCLEX-RN Practice
The largest single category on the NCLEX-RN test plan (18% of the exam). Covers delegation, prioritization of care, care coordination, ethical and legal responsibilities, informed consent, and advocacy for the client.
Practice Management of Care with PassMate AI →Key Points to Know
What you must know about Management of Care
This is the single largest category on the NCLEX-RN test plan — roughly 18% of scored items.
Delegation questions test whether a task is within another team member’s scope, not just whether it "needs doing."
Prioritization items usually use ABC (airway, breathing, circulation) or Maslow’s hierarchy to rank which client to see first.
Informed consent questions test who can obtain consent (only the provider performing the procedure) and what makes consent valid.
Advocacy means representing the client’s wishes, not the nurse’s own judgment of what is best.
NCLEX Exam Tips
How this category appears on the NCLEX-RN exam
When a delegation question asks "which task can be assigned," check scope of practice for the specific team member named, not a general assumption.
For prioritization questions, unstable-but-treatable usually outranks stable-but-serious.
Watch for "select all that apply" (SATA) framing on ethics and legal items — more than one option is often correct.
Practice Questions
Test yourself — 10 questions
Practice questions written to the NCSBN NCLEX-RN test plan. The NCSBN does not publish real exam items, so no provider has genuine NCLEX past questions. Every question here comes with a full written rationale.
A nurse is assigned to care for a 65-year-old client who was admitted with heart failure. The client is on a fluid restriction of 1500 mL per day. The client reports feeling thirsty and requests additional fluids. What is the best action for the nurse to take in this situation?
Rationale
Explaining the importance of the fluid restriction helps the client understand the rationale for the restriction, which can improve adherence. Providing ice chips or additional water would violate the fluid restriction. Increasing the fluid allowance without consulting the healthcare provider is not appropriate.
A nurse is organizing care for a group of clients. One of the clients, an 80-year-old with pneumonia, is due for a scheduled antibiotic dose. Another client is experiencing chest pain. What priority action should the nurse take?
Rationale
The priority is to assess the client experiencing chest pain, as this could indicate a life-threatening condition such as a myocardial infarction. Administering antibiotics can be done afterward. Nursing assistants cannot administer medications, and notifying the physician should be done after an assessment.
A nurse is reviewing the assignment for the upcoming shift. One of the clients is a 50-year-old male who requires frequent monitoring due to a recent stroke. Which staff member should the nurse assign to this client?
Rationale
An experienced RN should be assigned to a client requiring frequent monitoring due to a recent stroke, as they have the necessary skills and critical thinking ability. An LPN or NA would not have the same level of expertise, and a newly graduated RN may lack experience.
During a shift change report, the outgoing nurse mentions that one of the clients, a 45-year-old female with diabetes, has had consistently high blood glucose levels despite receiving insulin. What should the incoming nurse prioritize during the initial assessment?
Rationale
Measuring the client's blood glucose level immediately provides current data to inform any necessary adjustments in care. Reviewing the insulin regimen or dietary intake can occur after obtaining the current blood glucose level. Consulting the dietitian is not an immediate priority.
A registered nurse is assigned to a medical-surgical unit with a full patient load. One of the patients is scheduled for surgery in two hours and requires pre-operative antibiotics. The nurse is also monitoring a patient with unstable vital signs. How should the nurse prioritize care?
Rationale
The nurse should prioritize assessing the patient with unstable vital signs, as this addresses a potential life-threatening situation. Administering pre-operative antibiotics is important but not as urgent as stabilizing a patient's condition. Delegating antibiotics to an LPN might be appropriate, but only after ensuring the unstable patient is stable. Contacting the surgeon is unnecessary if the antibiotics can be administered on time after addressing the unstable patient.
A nurse manager is conducting a performance review for a new graduate nurse. Which feedback should be prioritized to ensure safe patient care?
Rationale
Increasing knowledge of medication side effects directly impacts patient safety and should be prioritized. While time management, communication, and continuing education are important, knowledge of medication safety is critical to preventing patient harm.
A charge nurse is assigning patient care assignments for the upcoming shift. Which factor should be prioritized to ensure optimal patient outcomes?
Rationale
Patient acuity levels should be prioritized to ensure that patients with the most critical needs receive appropriate care. While experience and discharge plans are important, they are secondary to the immediate needs dictated by acuity. Nurse preference should not be a priority.
A nurse is leading a team meeting to address a recent increase in medication errors on the unit. What is the most effective action the nurse should take to improve safety?
Rationale
Conducting a root cause analysis helps identify underlying issues contributing to medication errors, allowing for targeted interventions. A zero-tolerance policy may discourage error reporting. Increasing audits and additional training are beneficial but should be based on findings from the analysis.
A nurse is coordinating the care of a patient with multiple specialists involved. What is the most important action the nurse should take to ensure continuity of care?
Rationale
Convening an interdisciplinary care conference brings all specialists together to align on a coordinated plan of care, which is the most effective way to ensure continuity of care. Regular meetings and documentation support this goal, and communicating with the patient about their care plan remains an essential nursing responsibility throughout.
A nurse is caring for a patient who is scheduled for discharge today. The patient has newly prescribed medications. What should the nurse do to ensure safe medication administration at home?
Rationale
Teaching the patient about each medication's purpose and side effects ensures they are informed and can recognize side effects, enhancing safe administration. Providing a list and using organizers are helpful, but understanding the medications is crucial. Following labels is important, but comprehensive education provides deeper understanding.
Want unlimited practice on Management of Care? Practice with PassMate →
Related NCLEX topics to study
Master Management of Care with AI
Ask PassMate unlimited questions about this category. Instant explanations, available 24/7.
Start Free Trial →Also preparing for NMCN? Explore NMCN prep →