HESI RN EXIT EXAM QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT ANSWERS 2026
1. In planning care for a 6 month-old infant, what must the nurse provide to assist
in the development of trust?
A) Food
B) Warmth
C) Security
D) Comfort: C) Security
2. A nurse has just received a medication order which is not legible. Which
statement best reflects assertive communication?
A) "I cannot give this medication as it is written. I have no idea of what you mean."
B) "Would you please clarify what you have written so I am sure I am reading it
correctly?"
C) "I am having difficulty reading your handwriting. It would save me time if you
would be more careful."
D) "Please print in the future so I do not have to spend extra time attempting to read
your writing.": B) "Would you please clarify what you have written so I am sure
I am reading it
correctly?"
3. What is the most important consideration when teaching parents how to reduce
risks in the home?
,A) Age and knowledge level of the parents
B) Proximity to emergency services
C) Number of children in the home
D) Age of children in the home: D) Age of children in the home
4. A 35 year-old client with sickle cell crisis is talking on the telephone but stops as
the nurse enters the room to request something for pain. The nurse should
A) Administer a placebo
B) Encourage increased fluid intake
C) Administer the prescribed analgesia
D) Recommend relaxation exercises for pain control: C) Administer the pre-
scribed analgesia
5. While caring for a toddler with croup, which initial sign of croup requires the
nurse's immediate attention?
A) Respiratory rate of 42
B) Lethargy for the past hour
C) Apical pulse of 54
D) Coughing up copious secretions: A) Respiratory rate of 42
,6. A client is admitted with low T3 and T4 levels and an elevated TSH level. On
initial assessment, the nurse would anticipate which of the following assessment
findings?
A) Lethargy
B) Heat intolerance
C) Diarrhea
D) Skin eruptions: A) Lethargy
7. The emergency room nurse admits a child who experienced a seizure at school.
The father comments that this is the first occurrence, and denies any family history of
epilepsy. What is the best response by the nurse?
A) "Do not worry. Epilepsy can be treated with medications."
B) "The seizure may or may not mean your child has epilepsy."
C) "Since this was the first convulsion, it may not happen again."
D) "Long term treatment will prevent future seizures.": B) "The seizure may or may
not mean your child has epilepsy."
8. Alcohol and drug abuse impairs judgment and increases risk taking behav- ior.
What nursing diagnosis best applies?
A) Risk for injury
B) Risk for knowledge deficit
C) Altered thought process
, D) Disturbance in self-esteem: A) Risk for injury
9. Which these findings would the nurse more closely associate with anemia in a 10
month-old infant?
A) Hemoglobin level of 12 g/dI
B) Pale mucosa of the eyelids and lips
C) Hypoactivity
D) A heart rate between 140 to 160: B) Pale mucosa of the eyelids and lips
10. The nurse is caring for a client in hypertensive crisis in an intensive care unit. The
priority assessment in the first hour of care is
A) Heart rate
B) Pedal pulses
C) Lung sounds
D) Pupil responses: D) Pupil responses
11. Which of these clients who are all in the terminal stage of cancer is least
appropriate to suggest the use of patient controlled analgesia (PCA) with a pump?
A) A young adult with a history of Down's syndrome
B) A teenager who reads at a 4th grade level
C) An elderly client with numerous arthritic nodules on the hands
1. In planning care for a 6 month-old infant, what must the nurse provide to assist
in the development of trust?
A) Food
B) Warmth
C) Security
D) Comfort: C) Security
2. A nurse has just received a medication order which is not legible. Which
statement best reflects assertive communication?
A) "I cannot give this medication as it is written. I have no idea of what you mean."
B) "Would you please clarify what you have written so I am sure I am reading it
correctly?"
C) "I am having difficulty reading your handwriting. It would save me time if you
would be more careful."
D) "Please print in the future so I do not have to spend extra time attempting to read
your writing.": B) "Would you please clarify what you have written so I am sure
I am reading it
correctly?"
3. What is the most important consideration when teaching parents how to reduce
risks in the home?
,A) Age and knowledge level of the parents
B) Proximity to emergency services
C) Number of children in the home
D) Age of children in the home: D) Age of children in the home
4. A 35 year-old client with sickle cell crisis is talking on the telephone but stops as
the nurse enters the room to request something for pain. The nurse should
A) Administer a placebo
B) Encourage increased fluid intake
C) Administer the prescribed analgesia
D) Recommend relaxation exercises for pain control: C) Administer the pre-
scribed analgesia
5. While caring for a toddler with croup, which initial sign of croup requires the
nurse's immediate attention?
A) Respiratory rate of 42
B) Lethargy for the past hour
C) Apical pulse of 54
D) Coughing up copious secretions: A) Respiratory rate of 42
,6. A client is admitted with low T3 and T4 levels and an elevated TSH level. On
initial assessment, the nurse would anticipate which of the following assessment
findings?
A) Lethargy
B) Heat intolerance
C) Diarrhea
D) Skin eruptions: A) Lethargy
7. The emergency room nurse admits a child who experienced a seizure at school.
The father comments that this is the first occurrence, and denies any family history of
epilepsy. What is the best response by the nurse?
A) "Do not worry. Epilepsy can be treated with medications."
B) "The seizure may or may not mean your child has epilepsy."
C) "Since this was the first convulsion, it may not happen again."
D) "Long term treatment will prevent future seizures.": B) "The seizure may or may
not mean your child has epilepsy."
8. Alcohol and drug abuse impairs judgment and increases risk taking behav- ior.
What nursing diagnosis best applies?
A) Risk for injury
B) Risk for knowledge deficit
C) Altered thought process
, D) Disturbance in self-esteem: A) Risk for injury
9. Which these findings would the nurse more closely associate with anemia in a 10
month-old infant?
A) Hemoglobin level of 12 g/dI
B) Pale mucosa of the eyelids and lips
C) Hypoactivity
D) A heart rate between 140 to 160: B) Pale mucosa of the eyelids and lips
10. The nurse is caring for a client in hypertensive crisis in an intensive care unit. The
priority assessment in the first hour of care is
A) Heart rate
B) Pedal pulses
C) Lung sounds
D) Pupil responses: D) Pupil responses
11. Which of these clients who are all in the terminal stage of cancer is least
appropriate to suggest the use of patient controlled analgesia (PCA) with a pump?
A) A young adult with a history of Down's syndrome
B) A teenager who reads at a 4th grade level
C) An elderly client with numerous arthritic nodules on the hands
