100+ Free SANC Foreign Nurse Exam Practice Questions
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Sample SANC Foreign Nurse Exam Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to test your SANC Foreign Nurse Exam exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1A registered nurse on a medical ward assesses a patient admitted with severe diarrhoea for 3 days. The patient has a dry tongue, sunken eyes, reduced skin turgor and a postural drop in blood pressure. Which nursing diagnosis is the highest priority?
2A patient with type 2 diabetes mellitus is found unconscious. The nurse measures a capillary blood glucose of 2.1 mmol/L. According to South African emergency management, what is the most appropriate immediate intervention for this unconscious, hypoglycaemic patient?
3When measuring blood pressure with a manual sphygmomanometer, using a cuff that is too small (too narrow) for the patient's arm will most likely cause the reading to be:
4A patient newly diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis is started on the standard South African first-line regimen. Which combination of drugs forms the intensive phase of treatment for drug-susceptible TB?
5A nurse is caring for a patient who has just returned from theatre after abdominal surgery. The patient is drowsy and lying supine. To maintain a patent airway in this immediate post-anaesthetic period, the nurse should:
6A patient is admitted with acute left ventricular failure and pulmonary oedema. The patient is severely dyspnoeic, has pink frothy sputum and crackles to the mid-zones. Which nursing position will most help relieve the breathlessness?
7Which of the following is the single most effective measure for preventing healthcare-associated infection in a nursing ward?
8A patient with chronic kidney disease has a serum potassium of 6.8 mmol/L and peaked T waves on the ECG. Which finding represents the greatest immediate danger requiring urgent intervention?
9A patient with a long leg plaster cast complains of severe, increasing pain not relieved by analgesia, with numbness and pallor of the toes. The nurse should suspect:
10A nurse is preparing to administer an intramuscular injection into the ventrogluteal site. The main advantage of the ventrogluteal site over the dorsogluteal site is that it:
About the SANC Foreign Nurse Exam Exam
The SANC Admission Examination for Foreign Applicants is the examination foreign-qualified nurses must pass to register as a General Nurse in South Africa. Foreign candidates write the same qualifying examination as South African graduates, covering general nursing, midwifery, community health, mental health and South African nursing law and ethics. SANC, the statutory body under the Nursing Act 33 of 2005, administers the examination and applicants apply individually rather than through a nursing education institution.
Assessment
Written examination mirroring the South African general-nurse qualifying examination, organised into papers covering Integrated General Nursing Science and Ethos & Professional Practice (including ward administration), drawing on the R171/R425 curriculum.
Time Limit
Set per paper in the SANC examination timetable; written papers typically run about 2-3 hours each. No single fixed duration is published.
Passing Score
50% per paper, in line with the standard SANC and South African nurse-education pass mark.
Exam Fee
A prescribed non-refundable application fee applies for foreign-applicant examinations; SANC does not publish a single fixed figure online. Confirm the current fee directly with SANC (012 420 1000). (South African Nursing Council (SANC) — NOTE: id prefix 'hpcsa' is a misnomer; nursing is regulated by SANC, not HPCSA)
SANC Foreign Nurse Exam Exam Content Outline
General Nursing Science
Adult medical-surgical nursing, assessment and vital signs, fluid, electrolyte and acid-base balance, cardiac, respiratory, renal and neurological care, surgical and emergency nursing, infection control, wound care and drug calculations.
Ethos and Professional Practice
Nursing Act 33 of 2005, SANC scope of practice and registration, code of ethics, ethical principles, informed consent, confidentiality, negligence and duty of care, patients' rights, Batho Pele and ward management.
Midwifery Science
Antenatal care (BANC Plus), labour monitoring and the partogram, obstetric emergencies, active management of the third stage, newborn assessment and resuscitation, PMTCT and breastfeeding.
Community Health Nursing Science
Primary health care principles, district health system and referral, levels of prevention, immunisation, IMCI, growth monitoring, epidemiology, TB/HIV and non-communicable disease programmes and health promotion.
Mental Health Nursing Science
Psychiatric assessment, suicide-risk and crisis management, schizophrenia, mood and anxiety disorders, substance use, the Mental Health Care Act 17 of 2002 and therapeutic communication.
Pharmacology and Applied Sciences
Drug actions and classes, safe medication administration and the rights of administration, dosage calculation, controlled substances and key drug safety, side-effect and toxicity considerations.
How to Pass the SANC Foreign Nurse Exam Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: 50% per paper, in line with the standard SANC and South African nurse-education pass mark.
- Assessment: Written examination mirroring the South African general-nurse qualifying examination, organised into papers covering Integrated General Nursing Science and Ethos & Professional Practice (including ward administration), drawing on the R171/R425 curriculum.
- Time limit: Set per paper in the SANC examination timetable; written papers typically run about 2-3 hours each. No single fixed duration is published.
- Exam fee: A prescribed non-refundable application fee applies for foreign-applicant examinations; SANC does not publish a single fixed figure online. Confirm the current fee directly with SANC (012 420 1000).
Keys to Passing
- Work through all 100 available questions
- Review every answer and explanation
- Track weak areas and revisit them
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
SANC Foreign Nurse Exam Study Tips from Top Performers
Frequently Asked Questions
Who administers the SANC admission examination for foreign applicants?
The South African Nursing Council (SANC), the statutory body that regulates nursing under the Nursing Act 33 of 2005, administers the examination. Foreign applicants apply individually to SANC rather than through a nursing education institution. Despite this exam ID's 'hpcsa' prefix, nursing is regulated by SANC, not the HPCSA.
Is the foreign-applicant examination different from the exam South African nurses write?
No. SANC circulars confirm that foreign candidates (and South Africans with foreign qualifications) write the same qualifying examination as South African nurses. For the General Nurse category it covers the R171/R425 curriculum, including general nursing, midwifery, community health, mental health and professional practice.
What is the pass mark and how is the exam structured?
The standard pass mark is 50% per paper, consistent with SANC and South African nurse-education requirements. The examination is set in papers, notably Integrated General Nursing Science and Ethos & Professional Practice (including ward administration), rather than a single published number of multiple-choice items.
How much does the examination cost?
SANC charges a prescribed non-refundable application fee for foreign-applicant examinations, but it does not publish a single fixed figure online and fees are updated periodically. Confirm the current amount directly with SANC on 012 420 1000 or via www.sanc.co.za before applying.