Hondros HESI PN Exit Exam – Actual Exam
Style (2026/2027) Practical Nursing | Questions
with Verified Answers | 100% Correct | Pass
Guaranteed Grade A – Latest Update
Q01 A practical nurse is caring for a client who has a new colostomy. Which client statement
indicates a need for further teaching? Answer: "I will avoid eating broccoli and cabbage
because they cause gas." Rationale: Clients with colostomies can eat a normal balanced diet.
While broccoli and cabbage may cause more gas, they are nutritious and should not be
completely avoided.
Q02 The practical nurse is preparing to administer a blood transfusion. Which step is required
before starting the infusion? Answer: Two nurses verify the client’s identity and blood
compatibility Rationale: Blood transfusion safety requires two-person verification of the
client’s identity and the blood product to prevent giving the wrong blood, which can cause a life-
threatening hemolytic reaction.
Q03 A practical nurse is caring for a client with type 2 diabetes who is experiencing
hypoglycemia (blood glucose 52 mg/dL). Which action should the nurse take first? Answer:
Give 15 grams of fast-acting carbohydrate Rationale: For a conscious client with
hypoglycemia, the immediate action is to give 15 grams of fast-acting carbohydrate (juice,
glucose tablets) to quickly raise blood sugar.
Q04 The practical nurse is delegating care to unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP). Which task
is appropriate to delegate? Answer: Obtaining vital signs on a stable client Rationale: UAP
can obtain vital signs on stable clients. Tasks requiring assessment, teaching, judgment, or
medication administration cannot be delegated to UAP.
Q05 A practical nurse is caring for a client with heart failure who is taking furosemide. Which
laboratory value should the nurse monitor most closely? Answer: Serum potassium Rationale:
Furosemide is a loop diuretic that causes significant potassium loss (hypokalemia). Low
potassium can lead to life-threatening arrhythmias, especially in clients with heart failure.
,Q06 The practical nurse is teaching a client who has a new prescription for lisinopril. Which
client statement indicates understanding? Answer: "I will avoid using salt substitutes."
Rationale: Salt substitutes contain potassium. Lisinopril (an ACE inhibitor) can cause potassium
retention (hyperkalemia). Avoiding potassium-containing salt substitutes prevents dangerous
electrolyte imbalances.
Q07 A practical nurse is caring for a client receiving total parenteral nutrition (TPN). Which
laboratory value should the nurse monitor closely? Answer: Blood glucose Rationale: TPN
contains high amounts of dextrose (sugar), so high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) is very common.
The nurse must check glucose often (usually every 4–6 hours at first) to prevent complications.
Q08 The practical nurse is assessing a client’s surgical incision on postoperative day 3. Which
finding is most indicative of infection? Answer: Redness, warmth, swelling, and purulent
drainage Rationale: These are the classic signs of wound infection: redness (erythema), warmth
(increased blood flow), swelling (edema), and pus (purulent drainage) indicate bacterial invasion.
Q09 A practical nurse is caring for a client with a nasogastric tube who reports nausea. What
should the nurse do first? Answer: Check tube placement and patency Rationale: Nausea is
often caused by a displaced, kinked, or blocked NG tube, which leads to stomach distention.
Checking placement (aspirate stomach contents, check pH) and flushing the tube is the first and
most important step.
Q10 The practical nurse is preparing to administer insulin lispro to a client with type 1 diabetes.
The nurse should administer the insulin Answer: Within 15 minutes before the meal
Rationale: Lispro is rapid-acting insulin (onset 10–15 minutes, peak 1–2 hours, duration 3–5
hours). It must be given right before or within 15 minutes of eating to match the rise in blood
sugar after meals.
Q11 A practical nurse is caring for a client with a new tracheostomy. Which finding requires
immediate intervention? Answer: Sudden bright red bleeding from the stoma Rationale:
Sudden bright red bleeding from a tracheostomy is a medical emergency indicating possible
tracheoinnominate artery fistula. Immediate surgical consultation is required.
, Q12 The practical nurse is caring for a client receiving continuous bladder irrigation after TURP.
The nurse notes the drainage is bright red with clots. The nurse should first Answer: Increase
the irrigation flow rate Rationale: Bright red drainage with clots indicates active bleeding.
Increasing irrigation flow rate helps flush the clots and prevent catheter obstruction. If bleeding
persists, notify the surgeon.
Q13 The practical nurse is assessing a client with suspected pulmonary embolism. Which finding
is most specific? Answer: Sudden onset of pleuritic chest pain and dyspnea Rationale:
Sudden pleuritic (sharp, worse with inspiration) chest pain and dyspnea are the most
characteristic and common symptoms of pulmonary embolism.
Q14 A practical nurse is caring for a client with a history of asthma who is receiving albuterol
nebulizer treatments. Which finding indicates a therapeutic response? Answer: Wheezing is no
longer audible on auscultation Rationale: When wheezing disappears (silent chest), it means
the airways are opening up and bronchodilation is working. Persistent or worsening wheezing
indicates ongoing obstruction.
Q15 The practical nurse is caring for a client who has a new colostomy. Which client statement
indicates a need for further teaching? Answer: "I will avoid eating broccoli and cabbage
because they cause gas." Rationale: Clients with colostomies can eat a normal balanced diet.
While broccoli and cabbage may cause more gas, they are nutritious and should not be
completely avoided.
Q16 The practical nurse is caring for a client receiving total parenteral nutrition (TPN). Which
laboratory value should the nurse monitor closely? Answer: Blood glucose Rationale: TPN
contains high amounts of dextrose (sugar), so high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) is very common.
The nurse must check glucose often (usually every 4–6 hours at first) to prevent complications.
Q17 The practical nurse is preparing to change a sterile dressing on a client’s surgical wound.
Which action is correct? Answer: Don sterile gloves after removing the old dressing
Rationale: Sterile technique requires putting on sterile gloves after removing the contaminated
old dressing to prevent introducing germs to the wound.
Style (2026/2027) Practical Nursing | Questions
with Verified Answers | 100% Correct | Pass
Guaranteed Grade A – Latest Update
Q01 A practical nurse is caring for a client who has a new colostomy. Which client statement
indicates a need for further teaching? Answer: "I will avoid eating broccoli and cabbage
because they cause gas." Rationale: Clients with colostomies can eat a normal balanced diet.
While broccoli and cabbage may cause more gas, they are nutritious and should not be
completely avoided.
Q02 The practical nurse is preparing to administer a blood transfusion. Which step is required
before starting the infusion? Answer: Two nurses verify the client’s identity and blood
compatibility Rationale: Blood transfusion safety requires two-person verification of the
client’s identity and the blood product to prevent giving the wrong blood, which can cause a life-
threatening hemolytic reaction.
Q03 A practical nurse is caring for a client with type 2 diabetes who is experiencing
hypoglycemia (blood glucose 52 mg/dL). Which action should the nurse take first? Answer:
Give 15 grams of fast-acting carbohydrate Rationale: For a conscious client with
hypoglycemia, the immediate action is to give 15 grams of fast-acting carbohydrate (juice,
glucose tablets) to quickly raise blood sugar.
Q04 The practical nurse is delegating care to unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP). Which task
is appropriate to delegate? Answer: Obtaining vital signs on a stable client Rationale: UAP
can obtain vital signs on stable clients. Tasks requiring assessment, teaching, judgment, or
medication administration cannot be delegated to UAP.
Q05 A practical nurse is caring for a client with heart failure who is taking furosemide. Which
laboratory value should the nurse monitor most closely? Answer: Serum potassium Rationale:
Furosemide is a loop diuretic that causes significant potassium loss (hypokalemia). Low
potassium can lead to life-threatening arrhythmias, especially in clients with heart failure.
,Q06 The practical nurse is teaching a client who has a new prescription for lisinopril. Which
client statement indicates understanding? Answer: "I will avoid using salt substitutes."
Rationale: Salt substitutes contain potassium. Lisinopril (an ACE inhibitor) can cause potassium
retention (hyperkalemia). Avoiding potassium-containing salt substitutes prevents dangerous
electrolyte imbalances.
Q07 A practical nurse is caring for a client receiving total parenteral nutrition (TPN). Which
laboratory value should the nurse monitor closely? Answer: Blood glucose Rationale: TPN
contains high amounts of dextrose (sugar), so high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) is very common.
The nurse must check glucose often (usually every 4–6 hours at first) to prevent complications.
Q08 The practical nurse is assessing a client’s surgical incision on postoperative day 3. Which
finding is most indicative of infection? Answer: Redness, warmth, swelling, and purulent
drainage Rationale: These are the classic signs of wound infection: redness (erythema), warmth
(increased blood flow), swelling (edema), and pus (purulent drainage) indicate bacterial invasion.
Q09 A practical nurse is caring for a client with a nasogastric tube who reports nausea. What
should the nurse do first? Answer: Check tube placement and patency Rationale: Nausea is
often caused by a displaced, kinked, or blocked NG tube, which leads to stomach distention.
Checking placement (aspirate stomach contents, check pH) and flushing the tube is the first and
most important step.
Q10 The practical nurse is preparing to administer insulin lispro to a client with type 1 diabetes.
The nurse should administer the insulin Answer: Within 15 minutes before the meal
Rationale: Lispro is rapid-acting insulin (onset 10–15 minutes, peak 1–2 hours, duration 3–5
hours). It must be given right before or within 15 minutes of eating to match the rise in blood
sugar after meals.
Q11 A practical nurse is caring for a client with a new tracheostomy. Which finding requires
immediate intervention? Answer: Sudden bright red bleeding from the stoma Rationale:
Sudden bright red bleeding from a tracheostomy is a medical emergency indicating possible
tracheoinnominate artery fistula. Immediate surgical consultation is required.
, Q12 The practical nurse is caring for a client receiving continuous bladder irrigation after TURP.
The nurse notes the drainage is bright red with clots. The nurse should first Answer: Increase
the irrigation flow rate Rationale: Bright red drainage with clots indicates active bleeding.
Increasing irrigation flow rate helps flush the clots and prevent catheter obstruction. If bleeding
persists, notify the surgeon.
Q13 The practical nurse is assessing a client with suspected pulmonary embolism. Which finding
is most specific? Answer: Sudden onset of pleuritic chest pain and dyspnea Rationale:
Sudden pleuritic (sharp, worse with inspiration) chest pain and dyspnea are the most
characteristic and common symptoms of pulmonary embolism.
Q14 A practical nurse is caring for a client with a history of asthma who is receiving albuterol
nebulizer treatments. Which finding indicates a therapeutic response? Answer: Wheezing is no
longer audible on auscultation Rationale: When wheezing disappears (silent chest), it means
the airways are opening up and bronchodilation is working. Persistent or worsening wheezing
indicates ongoing obstruction.
Q15 The practical nurse is caring for a client who has a new colostomy. Which client statement
indicates a need for further teaching? Answer: "I will avoid eating broccoli and cabbage
because they cause gas." Rationale: Clients with colostomies can eat a normal balanced diet.
While broccoli and cabbage may cause more gas, they are nutritious and should not be
completely avoided.
Q16 The practical nurse is caring for a client receiving total parenteral nutrition (TPN). Which
laboratory value should the nurse monitor closely? Answer: Blood glucose Rationale: TPN
contains high amounts of dextrose (sugar), so high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) is very common.
The nurse must check glucose often (usually every 4–6 hours at first) to prevent complications.
Q17 The practical nurse is preparing to change a sterile dressing on a client’s surgical wound.
Which action is correct? Answer: Don sterile gloves after removing the old dressing
Rationale: Sterile technique requires putting on sterile gloves after removing the contaminated
old dressing to prevent introducing germs to the wound.
