199 Short Nursing Riddles for Quick Brain Boosts

Nurses work long, demanding shifts and still manage to keep their sense of humor alive. Short nursing riddles are a fun way to take a quick mental break, test your medical knowledge, and share a laugh with your coworkers. Whether you are a nursing student, a seasoned RN, or just someone who loves brain teasers, this list has something for you.

1. Funny Nursing Riddles to Lighten the Mood

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Humor is one of the best tools nurses have. These riddles are light, playful, and perfect for a quick chuckle between rounds.

1. I take your blood but I’m not a vampire. What am I? A phlebotomist.
2. I’m always running but never tired. What am I? An IV drip.
3. Nurses wear me but I’m not a uniform. I cover faces but have no eyes. What am I? A surgical mask.
4. I have hands but can’t hold anything. Nurses check me constantly. What am I? A clock.
5. I’m full of needles but not a pincushion. What am I? A sharps container.
6. I can be high or low, and nurses always want me just right. What am I? Blood pressure.
7. I go up and down all day but never leave the same spot. What am I? A hospital bed.
8. I get taken every morning but I’m not medicine. What am I? Vitals.
9. You push me around all day, but I never complain. What am I? A wheelchair.
10. I hold fluids but I’m not a cup. What am I? A catheter bag.
11. I beep when something is wrong but I’m not a smoke alarm. What am I? A patient monitor.
12. Nurses read me often, but I have no pages. What am I? A patient chart.
13. I’m bright and round and nurses use me to see inside. What am I? A penlight.
14. I wrap around your arm and squeeze tight. What am I? A blood pressure cuff.
15. I’m used to listen but have no ears. What am I? A stethoscope.
16. I travel through veins but I’m not blood. What am I? IV fluids.
17. You can find me in every hospital room, but I’m not furniture. What am I? An oxygen outlet.
18. I count beats without a drum. What am I? A pulse oximeter.
19. I’m thin and sharp and save lives. What am I? A needle.
20. I’m a bag that hangs above you, giving life drop by drop. What am I? An IV bag.
21. I have five fingers but I’m not a hand. Nurses wear me every day. What am I? A glove.
22. Nurses carry me in their pockets but never spend me. What am I? A pen.
23. I’m small, white, and swallowed daily. What am I? A pill.
24. I keep things sterile but I’m not a cleaner. What am I? Alcohol wipes.
25. I’m not a camera, but I take pictures of your insides. What am I? An X-ray machine.
26. I keep you warm in a cold hospital room. What am I? A heated blanket.
27. I make people sleep but I’m not a lullaby. What am I? Anesthesia.
28. I help you breathe but have no lungs. What am I? A ventilator.
29. I am red and travel in circles all day. What am I? A red blood cell.
30. I help nurses find veins but I’m not a map. What am I? A vein finder.

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2. Nursing Riddles About Medical Tools and Equipment

These riddles focus on the gear nurses use every single day. Try them on your colleagues and see who gets them right.

31. I have two earpieces and a round end. Nurses use me to hear hearts. What am I? A stethoscope.
32. I hold medications but look like a small drawer system. What am I? A Pyxis machine.
33. I track your heart’s rhythm on a screen. What am I? An EKG monitor.
34. I’m a long tube that goes through the nose to the stomach. What am I? An NG tube.
35. I’m a small device clipped to your finger. What am I? A pulse oximeter.
36. I’m made of rubber and stretch over hands. What am I? Latex gloves.
37. I keep urine flowing out of the body. What am I? A Foley catheter.
38. I flash light into eyes to check reactions. What am I? A penlight.
39. I’m placed under the tongue or in the ear to check one number. What am I? A thermometer.
40. I’m a rigid frame nurses use to steady injections. What am I? A needle cap.
41. I’m a long stick with a soft tip for collecting samples. What am I? A swab.
42. I’m clear, sticky, and hold dressings in place. What am I? Medical tape.
43. I absorb wounds but I’m not a towel. What am I? Gauze.
44. I connect patients to oxygen without covering the full face. What am I? A nasal cannula.
45. I’m placed under patients who cannot get up. What am I? A bedpan.
46. I measure how much a patient breathes out. What am I? A spirometer.
47. I hold IV lines from twisting or bending. What am I? An IV stabilizer.
48. Nurses use me to measure small amounts of liquid medicine. What am I? A syringe.
49. I pump medication steadily without human hands. What am I? An infusion pump.
50. I help patients walk without falling. What am I? A walker.
51. I slide under the arm or around the neck for support. What am I? A sling.
52. I’m a soft collar worn around the neck after injury. What am I? A cervical collar.
53. Nurses press me on wounds to stop bleeding. What am I? Gauze or a pressure bandage.
54. I alert the nurse station when a patient needs help. What am I? A call bell.
55. I rotate to help prevent bedsores. What am I? A hospital bed position function.
56. I store medications safely and track every dose removed. What am I? An automated dispensing cabinet.
57. I sit outside every room and nurses use me before touching patients. What am I? Hand sanitizer.
58. I measure the amount of sugar in blood with just one drop. What am I? A glucometer.
59. I tell nurses how much urine a patient made in a set time. What am I? A urometer.
60. I stick to skin and deliver medicine slowly over hours or days. What am I? A transdermal patch.

3. Brain Teaser Nursing Riddles for Students

These are a little trickier. Perfect for nursing students who want to sharpen their thinking and learn while having fun.

61. The more you use me, the less I hurt. What am I? Practice with injections.
62. I am always the same temperature but I can make things colder or warmer. What am I? Normal saline.
63. I have more bones than a human but no body. What am I? A medical anatomy model.
64. I have a rhythm but I’m not music. What am I? A heartbeat.
65. I can be silent and still kill. What am I? Internal bleeding.
66. I travel from left to right and back again forever. What am I? Blood circulation.
67. I go up when you are sick and down when you recover. What am I? A fever.
68. I am not food but I feed the body. What am I? Total parenteral nutrition (TPN).
69. I work without rest and never ask for a break. What am I? The heart.
70. The smaller I am, the more dangerous I can be. What am I? A microorganism.
71. I am invisible but nurses test for me constantly. What am I? Bacteria in a culture.
72. I have levels, and nurses always want them in range. What am I? Blood glucose.
73. I grow in the body but no one plants me. What am I? A tumor.
74. I am worn by nurses but belong to the patient. What am I? A patient wristband ID.
75. I open and close thousands of times a day without resting. What am I? A heart valve.
76. I am read but never written by the patient. What am I? A diagnosis.
77. I clean surfaces but I’m not soap. What am I? Disinfectant.
78. I start as a question and end as a plan. What am I? A nursing assessment.
79. I can be short or long, and nurses document me after every visit. What am I? A nursing note.
80. I am the last line of defense before a medication reaches a patient. What am I? Nurse verification.
81. I fight invaders in the body without weapons. What am I? White blood cells.
82. I’m pressed to skin to stop bleeding after a draw. What am I? A cotton ball.
83. I can be given by mouth, by needle, or through the skin. What am I? Medication.
84. I am always moving inside you unless something is very wrong. What am I? Blood.
85. I help determine what is wrong before treatment begins. What am I? A diagnosis or lab results.
86. I can tell a nurse if a patient is dehydrated just by looking. What am I? Skin turgor.
87. I run out of time every 24 hours and nurses must replace me. What am I? IV tubing.
88. The more I drop, the more urgent the situation. What am I? Blood pressure.
89. I am counted every single shift and must match perfectly. What am I? Controlled substance count.
90. I tell you what happened before you arrived to care for someone. What am I? A medical history.

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4. Riddles About the Nursing Profession and Daily Life

These riddles are all about the life of a nurse. Share them with coworkers or use them in nursing school orientation to get people smiling.

91. I work 12 hours and still smile. What am I? A nurse.
92. I give care but need care too. What am I? A nurse.
93. My feet hurt but I keep moving. What am I? A nurse on shift.
94. I wear scrubs but I’m not a cleaner. What am I? A nurse.
95. I hold a coffee in one hand and a chart in the other. What am I? A nurse at 3 a.m.
96. I know your name before you know mine. What am I? Your assigned nurse.
97. I run toward emergencies instead of away. What am I? A nurse.
98. I am trusted with secrets but bound by privacy laws. What am I? A healthcare provider.
99. I never clock out in my mind even when I’m home. What am I? A dedicated nurse.
100. I have a code for every emergency but I speak in calm voices. What am I? A charge nurse.
101. I am called when things go wrong, even in the middle of the night. What am I? An on-call nurse.
102. I document everything but no one asks to read my diary. What am I? A nursing chart.
103. I care for strangers like family. What am I? A nurse.
104. I work holidays so others don’t have to. What am I? A hospital nurse.
105. I change roles every 12 hours but wear the same scrubs. What am I? A shift nurse.
106. I pass medications but I am not a pharmacist. What am I? A registered nurse.
107. I check your labs before your doctor does. What am I? A floor nurse.
108. I give bad news with a gentle voice. What am I? A compassionate nurse.
109. I am on my feet all day but never exercise. What am I? A nurse at work.
110. I know what every number on that monitor means. What am I? An ICU nurse.
111. I answer lights before I eat my lunch. What am I? A busy nurse.
112. I am a teacher, a caregiver, and an advocate all at once. What am I? A nurse.
113. I write but not with a pen in most hospitals today. What am I? An electronic charting nurse.
114. I am respected but often overlooked. What am I? A bedside nurse.
115. I carry the weight of others’ pain without showing it. What am I? A nurse.

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5. Short and Quick Nursing Riddles for Brain Boosts

Need a fast break? These are super short nursing riddles perfect for a quick challenge between tasks.

116. I breathe for you when you can’t. What am I? A ventilator.
117. I help you walk again. What am I? Physical therapy.
118. Round and red and keeps you alive. What am I? A red blood cell.
119. I drain but I’m not a sink. What am I? A surgical drain.
120. I inflate around your arm. What am I? A blood pressure cuff.
121. I stick but I’m not glue. What am I? A bandage.
122. I beep and nurses run. What am I? A code alarm.
123. I slide under the tongue and wait. What am I? A thermometer.
124. I go in clear and come out yellow. What am I? IV fluids through a patient.
125. I am small but I give life. What am I? A blood transfusion.
126. I spin fast to separate. What am I? A centrifuge.
127. I read without words. What am I? A vital sign monitor.
128. I start with P and check how fast blood clots. What am I? A PT/INR test.
129. I protect the nurse’s hands. What am I? Gloves.
130. I am a number nurses never want to see at zero. What am I? Oxygen saturation.
131. I go in sharp and come out dull. What am I? A used needle.
132. I am emptied every shift and never complained. What am I? A catheter bag.
133. I cover a cut and keep it clean. What am I? A dressing.
134. I am drawn from the arm but I’m not a picture. What am I? Blood for lab work.
135. I chart but I’m not an explorer. What am I? A nurse documenting care.
136. I flush a line but I’m not water. What am I? Normal saline.
137. I am bright white and nurses wear me over their scrubs. What am I? A lab coat.
138. I float above the bed and move by a pump. What am I? An IV bag.
139. I am labeled before I leave the lab. What am I? A blood specimen.
140. I hold the vein open for fluids. What am I? An IV catheter.
141. I run every hour to check on you. What am I? A nursing assessment.
142. I am soft and placed under sore spots. What am I? A pressure-relieving cushion.
143. I translate your heartbeats into a paper strip. What am I? An EKG.
144. I make sure medicine is given at the right time. What am I? A medication schedule.
145. I connect nurse to doctor with a single message. What am I? A SBAR report.
146. I am given before a procedure to calm nerves. What am I? A pre-op medication.
147. I tell nurses what happened before they arrived. What am I? A shift handoff report.
148. I hold everything a nurse needs while moving through the unit. What am I? A medication cart.
149. I am placed over the mouth and nose for breathing support. What am I? A non-rebreather mask.
150. I go between the legs of a patient who cannot get up. What am I? A bedpan.
151. I am silent until someone presses my button. What am I? A nurse call system.
152. I test how well kidneys work with just a little blood. What am I? A BMP or BUN test.
153. I keep your heart steady with a tiny electrical pulse. What am I? A pacemaker.
154. I measure your fluid intake and what comes out. What am I? An I and O record.
155. I dry quickly and protect surfaces. What am I? A disposable drape.
156. I hold the vein still while a needle is inserted. What am I? A tourniquet.
157. I carry nutrients when you cannot eat by mouth. What am I? A feeding tube.
158. I move side to side to prevent pressure ulcers. What am I? A repositioning schedule.
159. I come in a small vial and get drawn up before injection. What am I? Injectable medication.
160. I record everything but remember nothing on my own. What am I? An EHR system.
161. I am checked after every surgery to make sure you are safe. What am I? Post-op vitals.
162. I am a number nurses write after weighing a patient daily. What am I? Body weight.
163. I sit between the patient and the nurse and translate symptoms into data. What am I? A nursing assessment.
164. I arrive at the bedside before the doctor does. What am I? A nurse.
165. I go in one arm and out the other. What am I? IV access.
166. I tell nurses whether a wound is healing or getting worse. What am I? A wound assessment.
167. I am a goal that nurses set for each patient. What am I? A nursing outcome.
168. I run day and night without stopping in any hospital. What am I? The nursing unit.
169. I am always counted at the start and end of every surgery. What am I? Surgical instruments and sponges.
170. I protect a wound and keep it moist for healing. What am I? A wound dressing.
171. I am placed on the chest and transmit heart activity wirelessly. What am I? A telemetry monitor.
172. I am a number that tells nurses how much pain a patient feels. What am I? A pain scale score.
173. I sit behind the nurses’ station and holds all the information. What am I? A computer terminal.
174. I am taken before medications to prevent reactions. What am I? An allergy check.
175. I prevent clots in patients who stay in bed for days. What am I? Sequential compression devices.
176. I keep insulin cold until it is needed. What am I? A medication refrigerator.
177. I am the difference between giving the right dose and the wrong one. What am I? A medication calculation.
178. I protect the patient when no one else is watching. What am I? Bed rails and call bells.
179. I am checked before every blood transfusion begins. What am I? Patient identity and blood type.
180. I bring the team together to talk about one patient. What am I? Rounds.
181. I travel fast in emergencies and carries everything needed. What am I? A crash cart.
182. I am filled with tubes and needles and keeps things sterile. What am I? A procedure tray.
183. I am always present but never seen at a patient’s bedside. What am I? A nursing care plan.
184. I am learned in school but mastered on the floor. What am I? Clinical nursing skills.
185. I am given to calm a patient before a painful procedure. What am I? Conscious sedation.
186. I walk alongside you and holds your weight when you are weak. What am I? A physical therapist or assistive device.
187. I slide over a hand and protects both patient and nurse. What am I? A sterile glove.
188. I track your breathing without you knowing. What am I? A respiratory monitor.
189. I do not cure, but I help you feel better while your body heals. What am I? Palliative care.
190. I stay with patients who cannot be left alone. What am I? A sitter or 1 to 1 nurse.
191. I separate clean from dirty in every hospital room. What am I? Proper waste disposal.
192. I am given through the skin with a tiny click. What am I? An auto-injector.
193. I am the nurse’s most used organ at work. What am I? The brain.
194. I tell the patient what to expect before they go home. What am I? Discharge teaching.
195. I am printed and handed to every patient leaving the hospital. What am I? Discharge instructions.
196. I am the first thing a nurse does when entering a room. What am I? Wash hands.
197. I tell the story of a patient’s entire hospital stay. What am I? A medical record.
198. I keep patients safe at night when the lights are low. What am I? A night shift nurse.
199. I wear out shoes, skip lunches, and still shows up tomorrow. What am I? A nurse.

Conclusion

These short nursing riddles are a great way to take a mental break, laugh with your team, and appreciate all that nurses do every day. If you enjoyed these, head over to RiddlesParade.com to explore even more fun riddles and brain teasers for every topic and age group.