Saudi Prometric Exam for Nurses (SNLE): Top MCQs
Saudi Prometric Exam for Nurses (SNLE): Top MCQs (2025)
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 has catalyzed an unprecedented expansion and modernization of its healthcare sector, creating a high demand for skilled nurses from around the world. To ensure that patient care meets the highest international standards, the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS) mandates that all aspiring nurses pass the Saudi Nurse Licensing Exam (SNLE). This Prometric-administered exam is the crucial benchmark that validates a nurse’s clinical knowledge, critical thinking skills, and readiness to practice safely and effectively.
The SNLE is not a simple test of textbook knowledge. It is a sophisticated, case-based examination composed entirely of Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs) designed to simulate the fast-paced, high-stakes environment of a modern hospital. The questions will challenge your ability to prioritize patient care, apply the nursing process, make sound clinical judgments, and ensure patient safety at all times. The single most effective method to prepare for this type of exam is to immerse yourself in high-quality, exam-style MCQs that mirror the content and complexity of the real test.
This ultimate 2025 guide is your definitive resource for SNLE success, built around a core of top, high-yield MCQs with detailed answers and rationales. We will deconstruct the exam’s pattern, break down the high-yield syllabus topics, and provide a robust 10-point FAQ section to demystify the entire process from registration to results. This is your strategic playbook for mastering the SNLE and launching a rewarding nursing career in Saudi Arabia.
Key Takeaways for the SNLE
- Prioritization is Everything: The ability to identify the most critical patient or action is the most frequently tested skill. Master frameworks like ABCs and Maslow’s Hierarchy.
- Patient Safety is the Golden Thread: Every question is a safety check. From medication rights to infection control, always choose the safest option.
- Master Nursing Fundamentals: A rock-solid understanding of the nursing process (ADPIE), ethics, and legal principles is non-negotiable.
- Pharmacology Calculations Must Be Perfect: You must be 100% accurate in dosage calculations. This is a high-stakes area with no room for error.
- Active Learning is Key: The most effective study strategy is to solve thousands of MCQs, not just passively read books.
Deconstructing the SNLE: Exam Pattern and Syllabus
A successful study plan is built on a clear understanding of the exam’s structure. The SNLE follows a standardized Prometric format, which is a critical part of your Saudi Prometric exam application and preparation process.
Core Exam Framework
- Administrator: Prometric, on behalf of the SCFHS.
- Format: Computer-Based Test (CBT) with 100% MCQs.
- Structure: 150 MCQs for Nurse Technicians and 300 MCQs (in two 3-hour sections) for Nurse Specialists.
- Duration: 3 hours for Technicians; 6 hours total for Specialists.
- Scoring: The exam is scored out of 800, with a passing score of 500. There is no negative marking.
High-Yield SNLE Syllabus Breakdown
The SNLE is a comprehensive exam, but certain domains carry more weight than others. A strategic plan focuses on these key areas.
| Nursing Domain | Approximate Weighting & High-Yield Topics |
|---|---|
| Nursing Fundamentals | ~20-25%: The nursing process (ADPIE), ethics and legal issues (consent, confidentiality, malpractice), documentation, therapeutic communication, vital signs, fluid and electrolyte balance, and IV therapy complications. |
| Medical-Surgical Nursing | ~30-40%: This is the largest section. Management of patients with cardiovascular, respiratory, endocrine (especially Diabetes), neurological, and GI disorders. Pre-operative and post-operative care is a major focus. |
| Maternal & Child Health | ~15-20%: Antenatal, intrapartum, and postpartum care (recognizing complications like hemorrhage). Newborn assessment (Apgar). Pediatric growth and development, common childhood illnesses, and pediatric medication safety. |
| Patient Safety & Infection Control | ~10-15%: The “10 Rights” of medication administration, fall prevention, standard and transmission-based precautions (contact, droplet, airborne), and sterile technique. This is a theme throughout the exam. |
| Leadership & Management | ~5-10%: Prioritization of care, delegation of tasks to assistive personnel, conflict resolution, and inter-professional communication (e.g., SBAR). |
Top SNLE MCQs: Free Questions, Answers & Rationales
This collection of MCQs is designed to simulate the clinical reasoning required for the SNLE. Engage with each question as a mini-case study, and meticulously review the rationales. For a complete preparation experience, a comprehensive bank of Saudi Prometric exam questions for nurses is your most powerful tool.
Question 1: Prioritization of Care
A nurse on a medical-surgical unit has just received the morning report. Which of the following patients should the nurse assess FIRST?
- A patient with type 2 diabetes requesting breakfast, with a morning blood glucose of 140 mg/dL.
- A patient scheduled for a colonoscopy in 2 hours who needs to complete their bowel prep.
- A patient with pneumonia who has a new onset of confusion and an oxygen saturation of 88% on 2L of oxygen.
- A patient who is 1 day post-operative from a cholecystectomy, complaining of 5/10 incisional pain.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: This is a classic Airway, Breathing, Circulation (ABC) prioritization question. The patient with pneumonia is exhibiting signs of acute hypoxia and altered mental status (confusion), which indicates a critical change in their condition. An oxygen saturation of 88% is dangerously low and requires immediate intervention to improve oxygenation and prevent further deterioration. This patient is the most unstable and represents a life-threatening situation.
Why other options are incorrect:
A: This patient is stable. A blood glucose of 140 mg/dL before a meal is acceptable, and their request is routine.
B: This is a time-sensitive task but is not a life-threatening priority over an unstable patient.
D: Incisional pain of 5/10 is an expected finding post-operatively. While it needs to be managed, it does not take priority over a patient with acute respiratory compromise.
Question 2: Pharmacology & Patient Safety
A nurse is preparing to administer a scheduled dose of digoxin to a patient with heart failure. Which assessment finding would prompt the nurse to withhold the medication and notify the physician?
- Blood pressure of 130/80 mmHg
- Apical heart rate of 52 beats/min
- Respiratory rate of 18 breaths/min
- Serum potassium level of 4.2 mEq/L
Correct Answer: B (Apical heart rate of 52 beats/min)
Rationale: Digoxin is a cardiac glycoside that has a negative chronotropic effect, meaning it slows down the heart rate. A common sign of digoxin toxicity is bradycardia. A key nursing safety intervention before administering digoxin is to check the apical pulse for a full minute. If the heart rate is less than 60 beats/min in an adult, the medication should be withheld, and the physician notified, as administering it could cause severe bradycardia or heart block.
Why other options are incorrect:
A & C: These vital signs are within normal limits and are not contraindications to giving digoxin.
D: A potassium level of 4.2 mEq/L is normal. Hypokalemia (low potassium) increases the risk of digoxin toxicity, but this patient’s level is therapeutic.
Question 3: Infection Control
A nurse is caring for a patient diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). What type of isolation precautions should the nurse implement?
- Contact Precautions
- Droplet Precautions
- Airborne Precautions
- Standard Precautions
Correct Answer: C (Airborne Precautions)
Rationale: Pulmonary tuberculosis is transmitted via airborne droplet nuclei, which are very small particles that can remain suspended in the air for long periods and travel long distances. Therefore, Airborne Precautions are required to prevent transmission. This includes placing the patient in a private, negative-pressure room; keeping the door closed; and requiring all healthcare workers to wear a fit-tested N95 respirator mask when entering the room.
Why other options are incorrect:
A: Contact Precautions are for organisms spread by direct contact, like MRSA or C. difficile.
B: Droplet Precautions are for organisms spread by larger droplets that travel short distances, like influenza or bacterial meningitis.
D: Standard Precautions are used for all patients, but they are not sufficient to prevent the transmission of airborne diseases like TB.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for the SNLE
The SCFHS uses a scaled scoring system for the SNLE. The exam is scored out of 800, and the official passing score is 500. This standardized score ensures that the passing standard is consistent across different versions of the exam.
Candidates are typically allowed four attempts to pass the SNLE. It is crucial to check the most current regulations on the SCFHS website regarding the waiting period between attempts and any requirements after multiple failures.
Both exams test core nursing competencies, but their format can differ. The SNLE uses standard MCQs. The NCLEX is a Computer Adaptive Test (CAT), where the difficulty of questions changes based on your answers. The core content (fundamentals, med-surg, safety) is highly similar. For information on international nursing standards, you can refer to bodies like the International Council of Nurses (ICN).
The Nurse Technician exam (150 questions) is for diploma-level nurses and focuses on fundamental and direct patient care skills. The Nurse Specialist exam (300 questions) is for bachelor’s degree-level nurses and includes more complex clinical scenarios, leadership, management, and community health concepts.
Yes, Primary Source Verification (PSV) by DataFlow is a mandatory step. It is an independent verification of your nursing degree, license, and experience. A positive DataFlow report is required before the SCFHS will issue your final Saudi SCFHS license and classification.
The single most effective method is to use a high-quality question bank specifically designed for the Saudi Prometric exam for nurses. Solving thousands of questions and meticulously studying the rationales is the key to mastering the content and the exam format.
For most international nurses, a focused study period of 3 to 4 months is recommended. This allows enough time to cover all major syllabus areas and complete a comprehensive QBank without burnout.
No, the exam exclusively uses generic (non-proprietary) names for all medications. You must be proficient with the generic names of common drug classes.
Do not panic. Use critical thinking and the process of elimination. Rule out the options that are clearly unsafe or incorrect based on your core nursing principles. Often, you can narrow it down to two choices and make an educated guess. Since there is no penalty for wrong answers, never leave a question blank.
The only way is to take full-length, 300-question mock exams under strict, timed conditions. This is essential for building the mental stamina and focus required to maintain a high level of performance throughout the entire test.
Conclusion: Your Gateway to a Nursing Career in Saudi Arabia
The Saudi Nurse Licensing Exam is a comprehensive and challenging test designed to uphold the excellent standard of nursing care in the Kingdom. It is a hurdle that rewards diligent, strategic, and active preparation. By understanding the exam’s structure, focusing on high-yield clinical topics, and committing to a rigorous practice schedule with top-tier MCQs, you can build the skills and confidence necessary to excel. Passing the SNLE is your definitive step toward a professionally and personally rewarding nursing career in Saudi Arabia.
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