NCLEX Prioritization & Delegation Practice Questions (ABC, Maslow, SBAR)
Practice NCLEX prioritization and delegation questions using ABC, Maslow's hierarchy, and delegation-to-scope frameworks, with rationales for each decision.
Prioritization and delegation questions are consistently among the hardest for students because there's often no single 'wrong' answer — only a most correct one. The key is applying a consistent framework (Airway-Breathing-Circulation, Maslow, then stable vs. unstable) every single time.
Practice questions
1. The nurse is assigned four clients. Which client should be assessed first?
- A. Client 2 days post-op requesting pain medication
- B. Client with a new onset of stridor and anxiety
- C. Client due for a scheduled dressing change
- D. Client requesting discharge teaching
Show answer & rationale
Correct answer: B
Stridor indicates upper airway obstruction — a life-threatening airway emergency that takes priority over pain, wound care, or teaching under the ABC framework.
2. Which task can the RN safely delegate to an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP)?
- A. Assessing a new admission
- B. Reinforcing teaching already provided by the RN
- C. Ambulating a stable client post-op day 2
- D. Administering an oral medication
Show answer & rationale
Correct answer: C
UAPs can perform tasks that are routine, do not require nursing judgment, and have a predictable outcome, such as ambulating a stable client. Assessment, teaching, and medication administration require licensed nursing judgment.
3. The charge nurse is making assignments. Which client is most appropriate to assign to a newly licensed RN?
- A. Client with a new tracheostomy requiring suctioning teaching
- B. Client 3 days post-op with a stable, uncomplicated recovery
- C. Client in active labor with variable decelerations
- D. Client with a suspected pulmonary embolism
Show answer & rationale
Correct answer: B
Newly licensed RNs should be assigned stable, predictable clients. The other three clients require advanced assessment skills and rapid clinical judgment best suited to an experienced nurse.
4. Using SBAR to notify the provider of a change in condition, what should the nurse state under 'Recommendation'?
- A. The client's current vital signs
- B. The nurse's suggested action, such as ordering a STAT chest X-ray
- C. The client's admitting diagnosis
- D. A summary of the client's medical history
Show answer & rationale
Correct answer: B
The 'R' in SBAR stands for Recommendation — the nurse states what they think needs to happen next, which improves communication clarity and speed of response.
5. Four clients call the nurse's station at the same time. Which client should the nurse see first?
- A. Client reporting new-onset chest pain
- B. Client requesting a warm blanket
- C. Client asking about their diet order
- D. Client whose IV pump is beeping 'occlusion'
Show answer & rationale
Correct answer: A
New chest pain could indicate a life-threatening cardiac event and takes priority over comfort requests, informational questions, or equipment alarms that are not immediately life-threatening.
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Work through the full NCLEX-RN question bank with detailed rationales for every answer.
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Frequently asked questions
What framework should I use for every prioritization question?
Apply ABC (Airway, Breathing, Circulation) first, then Maslow's hierarchy, then assess stable vs. unstable. If a question still has two plausible answers after that, ask 'which client could die first if I don't act?'
What's the rule of thumb for delegation to a UAP?
UAPs can do tasks that are routine, don't require assessment or teaching, and have predictable, low-risk outcomes — think vital signs on stable clients, ambulation, hygiene, and I&O, not medications or new assessments.