Introduction
Preparing for the Oman Prometric Nursing Exam is more than just studying information. The candidates are required to have a strong understanding of clinical judgment and quick thinking in critical situations as well as excellent prioritization skills. The exams will typically ask questions about how well you can recognize life-threatening situations and your ability to apply the ABCs (Airway, Breathing, and Circulation) to make an appropriate nursing decision under pressure.
The questions in this blog have been chosen based on the most important topics related to the Oman Prometric Nursing Exam, which include: Emergency Care, Pharmacology, Obstetrics, Pediatrics, Neurological Assessment, and Delegation of Care. Every question is accompanied by an explanation for the answer so that you can understand why that answer is correct and not just what the correct answer is. This will help you to study and prepare for the exam more effectively.
1. A nurse is assigned to four patients. Which patient should the nurse assess first?
A. A patient with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) with an $SpO_{2}$ of 89%.
B. A patient who underwent a thyroidectomy 6 hours ago and has a hoarse voice.
C. A patient with a chest tube that has 50 mL of drainage in the last hour.
D. A patient with Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) complaining of sudden shortness of breath and tingling.
Answer: D. (Rationale: This suggests Pulmonary Embolism, a life-threatening emergency. While B is concerning for nerve damage, D is an immediate airway/circulation crisis.)
2. A patient with a head injury has a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score that has dropped from 12 to 9. What is the priority nursing action?
A. Increase the IV fluid rate.
B. Notify the physician immediately.
C. Assess the pupillary response.
D. Position the patient in Trendelenburg.
Answer: B. (Rationale: A drop of 2 or more points in GCS is a neurosurgical emergency.)
3. Which of the following is the earliest sign of increased intracranial pressure (ICP)?
A. Cushing’s Triad.
B. Widening pulse pressure.
C. Change in Level of Consciousness (LOC).
D. Decerebrate posturing.
Answer: C. (Rationale: Subtle changes in orientation or restlessness occur long before physical "triads" appear.)
4. A patient is receiving a blood transfusion and develops chills, low back pain, and hypotension. What is the nurse's first action?
A. Slow the infusion rate.
B. Notify the blood bank.
C. Stop the infusion and disconnect the tubing.
D. Administer ordered antihistamines.
Answer: C. (Rationale: These are signs of a Hemolytic Reaction. You must stop the blood and disconnect at the hub to prevent any remaining blood in the line from entering the patient.)
5. In a patient with Acute Pancreatitis, which lab value is the most specific indicator of the disease?
A. Elevated Serum Amylase.
B. Elevated Serum Lipase.
C. Elevated White Blood Cell count.
D. Decreased Serum Calcium.
Answer: B. (Rationale: Lipase stays elevated longer and is more specific to the pancreas than amylase.)
6. A nurse is caring for a patient with a chest tube. She notices continuous bubbling in the water seal chamber. What does this indicate?
A. The system is functioning normally.
B. There is an air leak in the system.
C. The lung has fully re-expanded.
D. The suction pressure is too high.
Answer: B. (Rationale: Intermittent bubbling is normal in a pneumothorax; continuous bubbling indicates a leak.)
7. A patient presents with a potassium level of $6.5\text{ mEq/L}$. Which ECG change is the nurse most likely to see?
A. U-waves.
B. Inverted T-waves.
C. Tall peaked T-waves.
D. Prolonged ST segment.
Answer: C. (Rationale: Hyperkalemia causes tall peaked T-waves. U-waves are seen in hypokalemia.)
8. A 32-week pregnant woman presents with painless, bright red vaginal bleeding. What is the priority nursing contraindication?
A. Assessing fetal heart tones.
B. Performing a vaginal examination.
C. Starting an IV line.
D. Administering Oxygen.
Answer: B. (Rationale: Painless bleeding suggests Placenta Previa. A vaginal exam can cause fatal haemorrhage.)
9. A newborn has a heart rate of 88 bpm and gasping respirations. What is the immediate next step?
A. Provide tactile stimulation.
B. Administer Epinephrine.
C. Start Positive Pressure Ventilation (PPV).
D. Start chest compressions.
Answer: C. (Rationale: In neonatal resuscitation, if the HR is $<100$, PPV is the priority.)
10. A child is admitted with suspected Epiglottitis. Which action should the nurse avoid?
A. Putting the child in an upright position.
B. Visualizing the throat with a tongue depressor.
C. Giving humidified oxygen.
D. Keeping the child calm.
Answer: B. (Rationale: This can cause a total airway spasm and immediate respiratory arrest.)
11. A patient is prescribed Digoxin. Before administering, the nurse notes the heart rate is 52 bpm. What should the nurse do?
A. Administer the dose and document.
B. Wait 1 hour and recheck.
C. Withhold the dose and notify the physician.
D. Administer the dose and check blood pressure.
Answer: C. (Rationale: Digoxin should be held if HR is $<60$ in adults.)
12. What is the antidote for Magnesium Sulfate toxicity in a pre-eclamptic patient?
A. Naloxone.
B. Protamine Sulfate.
C. Calcium Gluconate.
D. Vitamin K.
Answer: C.
13. A patient is on Heparin therapy. Which lab value must the nurse monitor?
A. PT/INR.
B. aPTT.
C. Platelet count only.
D. Haemoglobin.
Answer: B. (Rationale: aPTT is for Heparin; PT/INR is for Warfarin.)
14. A nurse discovers a medication error was made. What is the first thing the nurse should do?
A. Complete an incident report.
B. Notify the nurse manager.
C. Assess the patient’s condition.
D. Call the pharmacy to verify the dose.
Answer: C. (Rationale: Patient safety is always the first priority before documentation or notification.)
15. Which task can a Registered Nurse (RN) safely delegate to an Unlicensed Assistive Personnel (UAP)?
A. Feeding a patient with dysphagia.
B. Assessing a new admission’s skin integrity.
C. Measuring output from a urinary catheter.
D. Educating a patient on insulin administration.
Answer: C. (Rationale: UAPs can perform routine tasks (Standard of Care), but cannot Assess, Teach, or Evaluate (EAT).)
Conclusion
To pass the Oman Prometric Exam, you need to have a genuine understanding of nursing care by approaching it with the nurse's perspective on real-world situations. The Prometric Exam will use questions similar to these to determine your level of competency. Therefore, you should take time during practice sessions to practice looking for key words, identifying potential early warning signs, and knowing how to prioritize nursing actions that support safety for patients. Practicing frequently using rationale-based questions like those shown above will help build confidence and certainty that you can be successful on the exam day. Review core concepts often, rely on your professional nursing judgement, and remember that the Prometric Exam is ultimately about providing safe care.
