HESI RN Exit Exam 2026 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADE
A+.
Enalapril maleate (Vasotec) is prescribed for a hospitalized client. Which
assessment does the nurse perform as a priority before administering the
medication?
A) Checking the client's blood pressure
B) checking the client's peripheral pulses
C) checking the most recent potassium level
D) checking the client's intake and output record for the last 24 hours - ANSWER:
A) Checking the client's blood pressure
Rationale--enalapril maleate is an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor
used to treat hypertension. One common side effect is postural hypotension.
Therefore the nurse would check the client's blood pressure immediately before
administering each dose.
A client is scheduled to undergo an upper gastrointestinal (GI) series, and the nurse
provides instructions to the client about the test. Which statement by the client
indicates a need for further instruction?
A) "The test will take about 30 minutes"
B) "I need to fast for 8 hours before the test"
C) "I need to drink citrate of magnesia the night before the test and give myself a
Fleet enema on the morning of the test."
D) "I need to take a laxative after the test is completed, because the liquid that I'll
have to drink for the test can be constipating." - ANSWER: C) "I need to drink
citrate of magnesia the night before the test and give myself a Fleet enema on the
morning of the test."
Rationale
An upper GI series involves visualization of the esophagus, duodenum, and upper
jejunum by means of the use of a contrast medium. It involves swallowing a
contrast
medium (usually barium), which is administered in a flavored milkshake. Films are
taken
at intervals during the test, which takes about 30 minutes. No special preparation is
necessary before a GI series, except that NPO status must be maintained for 8
hours
before the test. After an upper GI series, the client is prescribed a laxative to hasten
elimination of the barium. Barium that remains in the colon may become hard and
difficult to expel, leading to fecal impaction.
A nurse on the evening shift checks a physician's prescriptions and notes that the
dose of a prescribed medication is higher than the normal dose. The nurse calls the
, physician's answering service and is told that the physician if off for the night and
will be available the next morning. The nurse should:
A) call the nursing supervisor
B) Ask the answering service to contact the on-call physician
C) Withhold the medication until the physician can be reached in the morning
D) Administer the medication but consult the physician when he becomes available
- ANSWER: B) Ask the answering service to contact the on-call physician
An emergency department (ED) nurse is monitoring a client with suspected acute
myocardial infarction (MI) who is awaiting transfer to the coronary intensive care
unit.
The nurse notes the sudden onset of premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) on
the
monitor, checks the client's carotid pulse, and determines that the PVCs are not
resulting in perfusion. The appropriate action by the nurse is:
A. Documenting the findings
B. Asking the ED physician to check the client
C. Continuing to monitor the client's cardiac status
D. Informing the client that PVCs are expected after an MI - ANSWER: B. Asking
the ED physician to check the client
NPO status is imposed 8 hours before the procedure on a client scheduled to
undergo
electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) at 1 p.m. On the morning of the procedure, the
nurse
checks the client's record and notes that the client routinely takes an oral
antihypertensive medication each morning. The nurse should:
A. Administer the antihypertensive with a small sip of water
B. Withhold the antihypertensive and administer it at bedtime
C. Administer the medication by way of the intravenous (IV) route
D. Hold the antihypertensive and resume its administration on the day after the ECT
- ANSWER: Administer the antihypertensive with a small sip of water
A client who recently underwent coronary artery bypass graft surgery comes to the
physician's office for a follow-up visit. On assessment, the client tells the nurse that
he is
feeling depressed. Which response by the nurse is therapeutic?
A. "Tell me more about what you're feeling."
B. "That's a normal response after this type of surgery."
C. "It will take time, but, I promise you, you will get over this depression."
D. "Every client who has this surgery feels the same way for about a month." -
ANSWER: A. "Tell me more about what you're feeling."
Which information is most concerning to the nurse when caring for an older
client with bilateral cataracts?
A. States having difficulty with color perception
B. Presents with opacity of the lens upon assessment
A+.
Enalapril maleate (Vasotec) is prescribed for a hospitalized client. Which
assessment does the nurse perform as a priority before administering the
medication?
A) Checking the client's blood pressure
B) checking the client's peripheral pulses
C) checking the most recent potassium level
D) checking the client's intake and output record for the last 24 hours - ANSWER:
A) Checking the client's blood pressure
Rationale--enalapril maleate is an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor
used to treat hypertension. One common side effect is postural hypotension.
Therefore the nurse would check the client's blood pressure immediately before
administering each dose.
A client is scheduled to undergo an upper gastrointestinal (GI) series, and the nurse
provides instructions to the client about the test. Which statement by the client
indicates a need for further instruction?
A) "The test will take about 30 minutes"
B) "I need to fast for 8 hours before the test"
C) "I need to drink citrate of magnesia the night before the test and give myself a
Fleet enema on the morning of the test."
D) "I need to take a laxative after the test is completed, because the liquid that I'll
have to drink for the test can be constipating." - ANSWER: C) "I need to drink
citrate of magnesia the night before the test and give myself a Fleet enema on the
morning of the test."
Rationale
An upper GI series involves visualization of the esophagus, duodenum, and upper
jejunum by means of the use of a contrast medium. It involves swallowing a
contrast
medium (usually barium), which is administered in a flavored milkshake. Films are
taken
at intervals during the test, which takes about 30 minutes. No special preparation is
necessary before a GI series, except that NPO status must be maintained for 8
hours
before the test. After an upper GI series, the client is prescribed a laxative to hasten
elimination of the barium. Barium that remains in the colon may become hard and
difficult to expel, leading to fecal impaction.
A nurse on the evening shift checks a physician's prescriptions and notes that the
dose of a prescribed medication is higher than the normal dose. The nurse calls the
, physician's answering service and is told that the physician if off for the night and
will be available the next morning. The nurse should:
A) call the nursing supervisor
B) Ask the answering service to contact the on-call physician
C) Withhold the medication until the physician can be reached in the morning
D) Administer the medication but consult the physician when he becomes available
- ANSWER: B) Ask the answering service to contact the on-call physician
An emergency department (ED) nurse is monitoring a client with suspected acute
myocardial infarction (MI) who is awaiting transfer to the coronary intensive care
unit.
The nurse notes the sudden onset of premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) on
the
monitor, checks the client's carotid pulse, and determines that the PVCs are not
resulting in perfusion. The appropriate action by the nurse is:
A. Documenting the findings
B. Asking the ED physician to check the client
C. Continuing to monitor the client's cardiac status
D. Informing the client that PVCs are expected after an MI - ANSWER: B. Asking
the ED physician to check the client
NPO status is imposed 8 hours before the procedure on a client scheduled to
undergo
electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) at 1 p.m. On the morning of the procedure, the
nurse
checks the client's record and notes that the client routinely takes an oral
antihypertensive medication each morning. The nurse should:
A. Administer the antihypertensive with a small sip of water
B. Withhold the antihypertensive and administer it at bedtime
C. Administer the medication by way of the intravenous (IV) route
D. Hold the antihypertensive and resume its administration on the day after the ECT
- ANSWER: Administer the antihypertensive with a small sip of water
A client who recently underwent coronary artery bypass graft surgery comes to the
physician's office for a follow-up visit. On assessment, the client tells the nurse that
he is
feeling depressed. Which response by the nurse is therapeutic?
A. "Tell me more about what you're feeling."
B. "That's a normal response after this type of surgery."
C. "It will take time, but, I promise you, you will get over this depression."
D. "Every client who has this surgery feels the same way for about a month." -
ANSWER: A. "Tell me more about what you're feeling."
Which information is most concerning to the nurse when caring for an older
client with bilateral cataracts?
A. States having difficulty with color perception
B. Presents with opacity of the lens upon assessment
