100+ Free SANC Enrolled Nurse Exam Practice Questions

Pass your SANC Examination for Enrolled Nurse / Staff Nurse (Regulations R.2175 / R.171) exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.

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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: SANC Enrolled Nurse Exam Exam

100

Practice Questions

Adapted study bank

3 Hours

Exam Duration

SANC official exam standard

60%

Passing Score

SANC official pass mark

R650 ZAR

Exam Fee

SANC gazetted fee schedule

5 Domains

Blueprint Coverage

SANC R.2175 / R.171 outline

Act 33 of 2005

Governing Legislation

SA Nursing Act

The SANC Enrolled Nurse exam is a 3-hour summative written paper requiring a 60% pass mark. It tests five core domains: Med-Surg Nursing (30%), Pharmacology (25%), Mother & Child Care (20%), Mental & Community Health (15%), and SANC Ethos & SA Legislation (10%). This practice bank offers 100 multiple-choice questions with detailed clinical rationales. Note: These MCQs are an English-language study adaptation designed to support self-assessment for official SANC examinations.

Sample SANC Enrolled Nurse Exam Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your SANC Enrolled Nurse Exam exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1An Enrolled Nurse is collecting a sputum specimen from a patient suspected of having pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). Which instruction is most appropriate to ensure an accurate laboratory specimen?

A.Collect the specimen first thing in the morning after deep coughing from the lungs

B.Collect saliva immediately after the patient eats breakfast

C.Rinse the mouth with antiseptic mouthwash before expectorating into the container

D.Collect a single swallow of throat clearings into a sterile cup

Explanation: Early morning sputum specimens contain the highest concentration of mycobacteria accumulated overnight. The patient should inhale deeply and cough from deep within the lungs rather than providing saliva.

2A nurse is assessing a postoperative patient and suspects hypovolemic shock. Which set of vital signs is most characteristic of early hypovolemic shock?

A.Increased heart rate and decreased blood pressure

B.Decreased heart rate and elevated blood pressure

C.Decreased respiratory rate and bounding pulse

D.Normal heart rate and severe hypertension

Explanation: In hypovolemic shock, reduced circulating blood volume causes hypotension. The sympathetic nervous system compensates by increasing the heart rate (tachycardia) to maintain cardiac output.

3A patient with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus reports feeling shaky, sweaty, and lightheaded. A capillary blood glucose test reads 3.2 mmol/L. What is the immediate nursing intervention?

A.Administer 15-20 grams of fast-acting oral carbohydrate, such as fruit juice or sugar water

B.Administer 10 units of rapid-acting insulin subcutaneously

C.Encourage the patient to lie down and retest in 2 hours

D.Provide a high-fat, high-protein meal immediately

Explanation: A blood glucose level below 4.0 mmol/L indicates hypoglycemia. The immediate treatment (Rule of 15) is giving 15-20g of fast-acting carbohydrate orally to rapidly raise blood glucose.

4While inspecting an abdominal surgical wound on post-op day 3, the Enrolled Nurse notes wound dehiscence with protruding loops of intestine. What action should the nurse take immediately?

A.Cover the exposed abdominal contents with a sterile dressing saturated with warm normal saline

B.Attempt to gently push the protruding bowel back into the abdominal cavity

C.Apply a tight abdominal binder to compress the surgical incision

D.Leave the patient unattended to search the ward for the surgical doctor

Explanation: Wound evisceration is a surgical emergency. The nurse must cover the exposed tissue with sterile saline-soaked dressings to keep it moist and prevent tissue necrosis while calling for emergency surgical help.

5A patient with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) has a serum potassium level of 6.2 mmol/L. Which clinical complication is the patient at greatest risk of developing?

A.Cardiac dysrhythmias and cardiac arrest

B.Severe pulmonary embolism

C.Acute hypocalcemic tetany

D.Ischemic cerebral stroke

Explanation: Hyperkalemia (potassium > 5.0 mmol/L, especially > 6.0 mmol/L) impairs cardiac conduction, leading to life-threatening ventricular dysrhythmias and potential cardiac arrest.

6A patient with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is receiving low-flow oxygen therapy via nasal cannula. Why is oxygen therapy kept at low flow rates (1-2 L/min) for COPD patients?

A.High concentrations of oxygen can depress the patient's hypoxic respiratory drive

B.Low flow oxygen prevents the development of metabolic alkalosis

C.High flow oxygen causes immediate destruction of bronchial cilia

D.COPD patients are prone to nitrogen narcosis at normal oxygen levels

Explanation: Patients with chronic hypercapnia (retained CO2) rely on hypoxemia (low PaO2) as their primary stimulus to breathe. High oxygen concentrations abolish this hypoxic drive, causing hypoventilation and dangerous CO2 retention.

7An immunocompromised patient living with HIV presents with severe non-productive cough, exertional dyspnea, fever, and a CD4 count of 120 cells/mm³. Which opportunistic infection is most likely?

A.Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP)

B.Streptococcal pharyngitis

C.Acute appendicitis

D.Staphylococcal impetigo

Explanation: Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) is a major AIDS-defining opportunistic fungal infection that characteristically occurs when CD4 cell counts fall below 200 cells/mm³.

8A nurse is caring for a patient on bed rest who reports sudden unilateral calf pain, tenderness, and warmth. Which intervention is CONTRAINDICATED?

A.Vigorously massaging the affected calf muscle

B.Elevating the affected leg on a pillow

C.Notifying the Professional Nurse immediately

D.Maintaining the patient on bed rest

Explanation: Massaging a leg suspected of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is strictly contraindicated because it can dislodge the thrombus, sending an embolus into pulmonary circulation and causing a pulmonary embolism.

9A patient arrives at the emergency unit presenting with sudden right-sided facial drooping, right arm weakness, and slurred speech. What assessment tool should the nurse recognize as standard for rapid stroke identification?

A.FAST protocol (Face, Arms, Speech, Time)

B.Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) motor score only

C.APGAR assessment chart

D.Norton pressure ulcer risk scale

Explanation: The FAST protocol (Facial drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, Time to call emergency services) is the standard rapid assessment tool used to identify acute stroke symptoms.

10According to World Health Organization (WHO) and SANC infection control standards, in which situation is washing hands with soap and water mandatory over alcohol-based hand rub?

A.When hands are visibly soiled with blood or bodily fluids

B.Before touching a patient with intact skin

C.After taking blood pressure with a clean cuff

D.When moving from a dirty to a clean site on the same patient when hands appear clean

Explanation: Soap and water with mechanical friction is mandatory whenever hands are visibly dirty, soiled with blood or body fluids, or after caring for patients with spore-forming organisms like Clostridioides difficile.

About the SANC Enrolled Nurse Exam Exam

The SANC Enrolled Nurse / Staff Nurse Examination is the official national assessment governed by the South African Nursing Council under the Nursing Act (Act No. 33 of 2005) and relevant training regulations (R.2175 / R.171). It verifies theoretical knowledge, clinical reasoning, medication safety, maternal-child health competency, community health understanding, and adherence to SANC legal and ethical standards.

Questions

100 scored questions

Time Limit

3 hours (180 minutes)

Passing Score

60% aggregate overall

Exam Fee

R650 ZAR (South African Nursing Council (SANC))

SANC Enrolled Nurse Exam Exam Content Outline

30%

General Medical-Surgical Nursing & Pathophysiology

Clinical assessment and nursing care of major body systems (cardiovascular, respiratory, GI, renal, endocrine, neurological), infection prevention, surgical pre- and post-operative care, vital signs interpretation, oxygen therapy, wound management, and South African priority conditions including Tuberculosis (TB) and HIV/AIDS.

25%

Pharmacology & Medication Administration

Principles of drug administration, dosage and flow rate calculations, 7 rights of medication safety, South African drug classification (Medicines and Related Substances Act 101 of 1965), Schedule 5/6 controlled drug double-check requirements, anti-tuberculosis therapy (RHZE), antiretroviral therapy (ART), and monitoring adverse drug reactions.

20%

Nursing Care of Mother & Child

Antenatal care, assistance during normal labor and delivery, active management of the third stage of labor (AMTSL), post-partum hemorrhage (PPH) recognition, essential newborn care, exclusive breastfeeding (EBF), EPI-SA immunization schedule (BCG, Hexavalent, Rotavirus, PCV, Measles), and Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI).

15%

Mental Health Nursing & Community Health

Mental Health Care Act (Act 17 of 2002) user classifications (voluntary, assisted, involuntary), therapeutic nursing communication, psychiatric observation, Primary Health Care (PHC) re-engineering, household assessment, outbreak prevention, and health promotion.

10%

SANC Ethos, Professional Practice & SA Health Legislation

SANC Scope of Practice regulations (R.2598 / R.2175), South African Nursing Act (Act 33 of 2005), Patients' Rights Charter, POPIA healthcare implications, professional ethics (autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice), delegation boundaries, and duty of care.

How to Pass the SANC Enrolled Nurse Exam Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: 60% aggregate overall
Exam length: 100 questions
Time limit: 3 hours (180 minutes)
Exam fee: R650 ZAR

Keys to Passing

Complete 500+ practice questions
Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
Focus on highest-weighted sections
Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

SANC Enrolled Nurse Exam Study Tips from Top Performers

1Focus heavily on Medical-Surgical Nursing (30%) and Pharmacology (25%), as together they make up over half the exam weight.

2Memorize the South African EPI-SA childhood vaccination schedule from birth to 12 years (BCG, Hexavalent, Rotavirus, PCV, Measles).

3Master drug dosage calculations, drip rate formulas (drops/min = volume in mL × drop factor / time in mins), and 7 rights of medication safety.

4Review first-line anti-TB medications (Rifampicin, Isoniazid, Pyrazinamide, Ethambutol) and their key side effects such as orange-red body fluids and peripheral neuropathy.

5Understand the Mental Health Care Act 17 of 2002 classifications: Voluntary, Assisted, and Involuntary mental health care users.

6Review the SANC Scope of Practice (R.2598) to clearly differentiate tasks an Enrolled Nurse can perform independently versus tasks requiring Professional Nurse supervision.

7Familiarize yourself with the Patients' Rights Charter and ethical principles (beneficence, non-maleficence, autonomy, justice).

8Practice timed 3-hour mock sessions to build stamina and clinical reasoning under timed conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the format and duration of the SANC Enrolled Nurse examination?

The official SANC summative examination is a 3-hour (180-minute) written paper administered through accredited Nursing Education Institutions (NEIs) in South Africa. Candidates are evaluated on theoretical knowledge, short clinical scenarios, and problem-solving questions.

Are these practice questions an official SANC examination paper?

No. Local multiple-choice questions (MCQs) in this practice bank are an English-language study adaptation designed to help candidates review clinical concepts and self-assess knowledge in preparation for the official SANC assessment.

What is the passing score for the SANC Enrolled Nurse exam?

The South African Nursing Council requires an overall aggregate passing mark of 60% for candidate success in Council examinations.

How much is the SANC examination fee?

The examination fee is approximately R650 ZAR per attempt, as published in the annual SANC fee schedule in the South African Government Gazette. Fees are payable via accredited NEIs or directly to SANC with the candidate's SANC reference number.

What key South African health guidelines are tested?

The exam heavily emphasizes South African National Department of Health (NDOH) clinical guidelines, including Tuberculosis (TB) DOTS protocols, Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) and PMTCT guidelines, the Expanded Programme on Immunisation in South Africa (EPI-SA), IMCI pediatric guidelines, and the Mental Health Care Act 17 of 2002.

What is the scope of practice for an Enrolled Nurse in South Africa?

Under SANC Regulation R.2598 and R.2175, an Enrolled Nurse (or Staff Nurse) provides nursing care under the direct or indirect supervision of a Registered Nurse (Professional Nurse) or medical practitioner. Enrolled Nurses execute basic and intermediate clinical tasks, monitor patient status, administer prescribed medications within competency, and must promptly report changes in patient condition.