Prometric Exam Questions for Assistant Nurses 2026: 15 Practice MCQs with Answers and Rationale for the ARN5061 Paper

The assistant nurse paper (ARN5061, also used for nurse technician titles) is a practical, ward-level exam: observations, basic care, infection control, giving medicines safely and acting correctly in an emergency. It is usually 100 to 150 single-best-answer questions in 2 to 3 hours, with a pass mark lower than the registered nurse paper, typically around 45 to 50% depending on the authority.

The fifteen questions below follow that blueprint. Allow about 70 seconds each and read every rationale. The paper rewards candidates who know the normal ranges, the order of actions and the limits of the assistant role.

For who sits this paper, the blueprint and a plan, read the assistant nurse preparation guide. For timed papers use the Assistant Nurse bank.

Vital signs and basic care

Question 1

An adult patient's observations are: pulse 112/min, respiratory rate 24/min, blood pressure 118/76 mmHg, temperature 38.6 °C. Which finding is outside the normal adult range and must be reported first?

1. Blood pressure
2. Pulse and respiratory rate together with the fever
3. Nothing; all are normal
4. Only the blood pressure

Answer: B. Normal adult pulse is 60 to 100, respiratory rate 12 to 20 and temperature below 37.5 °C. A raised pulse and respiratory rate with fever can be early sepsis and must be reported to the registered nurse immediately. The blood pressure is normal.

Question 2

When measuring blood pressure manually, the cuff bladder should cover approximately what proportion of the upper arm circumference?

1. About 20%
2. About 40%
3. About 80%
4. About 100%

Answer: C. The bladder should encircle about 80% of the arm. A cuff that is too small gives a falsely high reading; one that is too large gives a falsely low reading.

Question 3

A bed-bound patient must be repositioned to prevent pressure injuries at least every:

1. 30 minutes
2. 2 hours
3. 6 hours
4. Once per shift

Answer: B. Two-hourly repositioning is the standard, more often for high-risk patients, with skin checks at each turn and attention to heels, sacrum and elbows. Document each turn on the chart.

Question 4

The correct order for performing a bed bath is:

1. Perineal area first, then face
2. Face first, then arms and chest, legs, back, and the perineal area last
3. Back first
4. Any order, as long as it is quick

Answer: B. Wash from the cleanest to the least clean area, face first and perineal area last, changing water and gloves as needed, keeping the patient covered and warm.

Infection control

Question 5

Which is the single most effective way to prevent the spread of infection in hospital?

1. Wearing a mask at all times
2. Hand hygiene at the five moments
3. Giving every patient antibiotics
4. Closing the ward windows

Answer: B. Hand hygiene before touching a patient, before a clean procedure, after body fluid exposure, after touching a patient and after touching the patient's surroundings prevents more infections than any other single measure.

Question 6

Used needles and sharps must be placed in:

1. The general waste bin
2. A puncture-resistant sharps container, immediately after use, without recapping
3. A plastic bag
4. The clinical waste bag after recapping

Answer: B. Never recap a used needle. Place it in a sharps container at the point of use and seal the container when it is three-quarters full. Report any needle-stick injury immediately.

Question 7

A patient is on contact precautions for MRSA. Before entering the room you should put on:

1. A gown and gloves
2. A surgical mask only
3. Nothing extra; hand hygiene is enough
4. An N95 respirator

Answer: A. Contact precautions require a gown and gloves for contact with the patient or the environment, removed before leaving the room, followed by hand hygiene. An N95 respirator is for airborne precautions such as tuberculosis.

Medication administration and calculations

Question 8

Before giving any medicine, the assistant nurse checks the "rights" of medication administration. Which of these is one of them?

1. Right colour of tablet
2. Right patient, confirmed with two identifiers
3. Right shift
4. Right ward

Answer: B. The rights include right patient (two identifiers such as name and date of birth or hospital number), right drug, right dose, right route, right time and right documentation. Only give medicines within your authorised scope and under the registered nurse's supervision where required.

Question 9

A doctor prescribes paracetamol 500 mg. The tablets available are 250 mg. How many tablets are given?

1. 1
2. 2
3. 4
4. Half a tablet

Answer: B. 500 mg divided by 250 mg per tablet is 2 tablets. Always recheck the calculation and the maximum daily dose.

Question 10

An oral syrup contains 125 mg in 5 mL. A child is prescribed 250 mg. The volume to give is:

1. 5 mL
2. 10 mL
3. 2.5 mL
4. 20 mL

Answer: B. 125 mg per 5 mL is 25 mg per mL; 250 mg divided by 25 mg per mL is 10 mL. Use an oral syringe, not a household spoon.

Patient safety and emergencies

Question 11

You find a patient on the floor beside the bed. The first action is to:

1. Lift the patient back into bed at once
2. Check responsiveness and breathing, call for help, and do not move the patient until injury is excluded
3. Leave to find the doctor
4. Give the patient a drink

Answer: B. Assess airway, breathing and circulation, call for help, keep the patient still until the registered nurse or doctor has assessed for injury, then complete an incident report. Falls are a key quality indicator in Gulf hospitals.

Question 12

An adult collapses, is unresponsive and not breathing normally. After calling for help, you should:

1. Wait for the doctor
2. Start chest compressions at 100 to 120 per minute, 5 to 6 cm deep
3. Give a glass of water
4. Place the patient in the recovery position

Answer: B. Start CPR immediately and send for the defibrillator. Compressions are 100 to 120 per minute at 5 to 6 cm, with full recoil and minimal interruption. The recovery position is for an unresponsive patient who is breathing.

Question 13

A patient is choking, cannot speak or cough, and is still conscious. You should give:

1. Up to five back blows, then up to five abdominal thrusts, repeated
2. Water to drink
3. Chest compressions straight away
4. Nothing; wait for it to pass

Answer: A. Severe airway obstruction in a conscious adult is treated with back blows and abdominal thrusts alternately. If the patient becomes unconscious, start CPR.

Documentation and ethics

Question 14

You make a mistake while writing in a patient's paper chart. The correct way to correct it is to:

1. Use correction fluid
2. Draw a single line through the error, write "error", initial and date it, then write the correct entry
3. Tear out the page
4. Scribble it out completely

Answer: B. Records are legal documents. A single line keeps the original readable; the correction is signed and dated. Never erase or obliterate an entry.

Question 15

A patient's relative asks you for the patient's diagnosis. You should:

1. Tell them, because they are family
2. Explain that you cannot share patient information and refer them to the registered nurse or doctor, with the patient's consent
3. Show them the chart
4. Post it in the family WhatsApp group

Answer: B. Confidentiality applies to everyone, including family. Information is shared only with the patient's consent and by the appropriate member of the team.

How to use these questions

• Learn the normal ranges. Vital signs, urine output and blood glucose values are pure recall and appear in every paper.
• Know the order of actions. "What do you do first" is the most common stem.
• Know your scope. Several questions test when to call the registered nurse rather than act alone.
• Practise under time in the Assistant Nurse bank, and follow the error-log method.

Diploma and GNM routes are explained in GNM and diploma nurses in the Gulf. When you hold eligibility, join the nurse talent pool.

Frequently asked questions

How many questions are in the assistant nurse Prometric exam?

Usually 100 to 150 in 2 to 3 hours. Your eligibility notice states the exact format.

What is the pass mark for the assistant nurse exam?

Typically around 45 to 50% depending on the authority, lower than the registered nurse paper.

Is the assistant nurse exam the same as the registered nurse exam?

No. ARN5061 is a separate, more practical paper. Registered nurses sit RNT0312.

Which topics come up most?

Vital signs and basic care, infection control, medication safety and calculations, patient safety and first aid.

Are these real exam questions?

No. They are original practice questions written to the published blueprint. Real exam content is confidential.