Practice Exam

The questions presented in the Practice Exam are typical of those you will see on the CPNRE. They represent common health situations found in environments where entry-level practical nurses would work in a generalist role. As with the actual exam, the questions on the Practice Exam have been developed and reviewed by practical nurses and educators of practical nurses who represent a variety of nursing programs, different clinical backgrounds and different regions of the country. Furthermore, the Practice Exam has been designed according to the specifications and guidelines outlined in the Canadian Practical Nurse Registration Examination Blueprint (2012-2016), the document used to construct the actual exam. Hence, although the Practice Exam is not identical to the actual exam that you will write, both exams contain questions that measure the specific competencies expected of practical nurses beginning to practise.

One of the most important features of the CPNRE Prep Guide is that, for each question on the Practice Exam, rationales are provided to explain why the options are correct or incorrect. These rationales emphasize nursing concepts and principles that are essential for entry-level practical nurses. For example, although the client assessment questions on the CPNRE Prep Guide Practice Exam are different from those on the actual examination, the general principles and concepts being tested are the same because the questions are developed from the same set of competencies. Thus, by using the Practice Exam to review and reinforce the principles of client assessment, you will be better prepared to answer these types of questions on the CPNRE.

Each question on the CPNRE Prep Guide Practice Exam is supported by two references. Most of these references have been published within the last five years. The purpose of the references is twofold: (1) to indicate that the correct answer within each question has authoritative support from at least two experts in the field; and (2) to provide you with a source for further reading and review. Every attempt has been made to use references that are up-to-date, accessible and accepted within the nursing community. If you are unable to locate the specific references cited in the Bibliography, there are many other equally valid nursing texts that provide support for the questions in the Practice Exam.

It is important to note that, although your score on the Practice Exam can give you some indication of how prepared you are for the actual exam, the CPNRE Prep Guide is only one aid to promoting your success. The CPNRE Prep Guide should be used to supplement and consolidate the knowledge and skills taught in your educational program.