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HESI PN FUNDAMENTALS PROCTORED EXAM
(9 LATEST VERSION)
SECTION 1: PATIENT SAFETY & FALL PREVENTION
Question 1:
A practical nurse (PN) is caring for a patient who has a history of falls. Which
observation would require the PN to intervene immediately?
A. The patient's bed is in the low position with the brakes locked.
B. The patient is wearing non-skid slippers while ambulating.
C. The patient's call light is placed on the bedside table within reach.
D. The patient's bedside table is positioned between the bed and the window.
✔✔ Correct Answer✔✔ D
Rationale: The bedside table should be placed so the patient can easily reach
essential items from the bed. Positioning it between the bed and the window
creates a tripping hazard and obstructs the path. Options A, B, and C are all
appropriate safety measures that help prevent falls .
Question 2:
A client is at risk for falls. What should the practical nurse (PN) implement?
A. Remove all safety devices
B. Use a fall risk assessment tool
C. Restrict all ambulation
D. Ignore the risk
✔✔ Correct Answer✔✔ B
,2
Rationale: Fall risk assessment tools identify and mitigate specific risks to prevent
client falls. Removing safety devices or restricting ambulation increases risk rather
than reducing it .
Question 3:
A client is using a walker. What should the PN teach?
A. Hold the walker with one hand
B. Move the walker and step together
C. Lean backward while walking
D. Avoid weight-bearing
✔✔ Correct Answer✔✔ B
Rationale: Proper walker use involves moving the walker forward first, then
stepping into it with the weak leg, followed by the strong leg. This ensures
stability and prevents falls .
SECTION 2: INFECTION CONTROL & MEDICAL ASEPSIS
Question 4:
The nurse identifies a potential for infection in a client with partial-thickness and
full-thickness burns. What intervention has the highest priority in decreasing the
client's risk of infection?
A. Administration of plasma expanders
B. Use of careful handwashing technique
C. Application of a topical antibacterial cream
D. Limiting visitors to the client with burns
✔✔ Correct Answer✔✔ B
Rationale: Careful handwashing is the single most effective intervention for
preventing infection transmission to all clients. While plasma expanders reverse
hypovolemia, and topical antibacterials and visitor limitations may help, hand
hygiene is the proven primary preventive measure .
,3
Question 5:
A client is undergoing chemotherapy treatment and has a decreased neutrophil
count. The client is under protective (reverse, or neutropenic) precautions. While
the nurse is caring for the client, the client hands her cell phone to the nurse and
says, "This is my pastor, can you explain to him about this isolation stuff?" Which
comments are most appropriate for the nurse to make? (Select all that apply.)
A. "Her white blood cells are dangerously low right now."
B. "She would probably enjoy visits from your preschool choir."
C. "If her white blood cells drop any further, she will be on isolation a long time."
D. "I think she would benefit from members of the congregation phoning her."
E. "She can communicate with others via email or texting."
F. "Could you send her flowers from your congregation?"
✔✔ Correct Answer✔✔ D and E
Rationale: A client under protective precautions due to low neutrophil count can
communicate via phone, email, or texting. The client cannot have visits from
children or have flowers or plants in the room due to infection risk. Discussing the
client's white blood cell count violates privacy rights .
Question 6:
The nurse is donning sterile gloves for a dressing change. Which action indicates a
break in sterile technique?
A. Touching the outer surface of the glove with the other gloved hand
B. Holding the glove above waist level during application
C. Adding a second pair of gloves after initial donning
D. Dropping a glove on the floor and retrieving it
✔✔ Correct Answer✔✔ D
Rationale: Sterile fields and gloves are contaminated by contact with unsterile
surfaces. Retrieving a glove from the floor violates aseptic principles and risks
surgical site infection .
, 4
SECTION 3: WOUND CARE & POST-OPERATIVE COMPLICATIONS
Question 7:
A practical nurse (PN) is caring for a patient who is 2 days post-operative
following abdominal surgery. The PN observes that the patient's surgical incision
has started to separate at one end, with a small amount of clear, pink-tinged fluid
draining. What is the PN's priority action?
A. Document the finding and continue to monitor.
B. Place a sterile gauze over the area and notify the registered nurse (RN) or
healthcare provider.
C. Apply an abdominal binder to provide support to the incision.
D. Irrigate the wound with normal saline as ordered.
✔✔ Correct Answer✔✔ B
Rationale: Wound dehiscence (separation of wound edges) is a serious
complication. The priority is to protect the wound and prevent further damage by
covering it with a sterile, moistened gauze and immediately reporting to the
supervising RN or provider. Applying a binder could put pressure on the wound;
irrigation requires a specific order and is not the immediate priority .
Question 8:
The practical nurse (PN) is performing nasotracheal suctioning. After the client's
trachea is suctioned for 10 seconds, large amounts of thick yellow secretions
return. What action should the PN implement next?
A. Encourage the client to cough to help loosen secretions.
B. Advise the client to increase intake of oral fluids.
C. Rotate the suction catheter to obtain any remaining secretions.
D. Reoxygenate the client before attempting to suction again.
✔✔ Correct Answer✔✔ D
HESI PN FUNDAMENTALS PROCTORED EXAM
(9 LATEST VERSION)
SECTION 1: PATIENT SAFETY & FALL PREVENTION
Question 1:
A practical nurse (PN) is caring for a patient who has a history of falls. Which
observation would require the PN to intervene immediately?
A. The patient's bed is in the low position with the brakes locked.
B. The patient is wearing non-skid slippers while ambulating.
C. The patient's call light is placed on the bedside table within reach.
D. The patient's bedside table is positioned between the bed and the window.
✔✔ Correct Answer✔✔ D
Rationale: The bedside table should be placed so the patient can easily reach
essential items from the bed. Positioning it between the bed and the window
creates a tripping hazard and obstructs the path. Options A, B, and C are all
appropriate safety measures that help prevent falls .
Question 2:
A client is at risk for falls. What should the practical nurse (PN) implement?
A. Remove all safety devices
B. Use a fall risk assessment tool
C. Restrict all ambulation
D. Ignore the risk
✔✔ Correct Answer✔✔ B
,2
Rationale: Fall risk assessment tools identify and mitigate specific risks to prevent
client falls. Removing safety devices or restricting ambulation increases risk rather
than reducing it .
Question 3:
A client is using a walker. What should the PN teach?
A. Hold the walker with one hand
B. Move the walker and step together
C. Lean backward while walking
D. Avoid weight-bearing
✔✔ Correct Answer✔✔ B
Rationale: Proper walker use involves moving the walker forward first, then
stepping into it with the weak leg, followed by the strong leg. This ensures
stability and prevents falls .
SECTION 2: INFECTION CONTROL & MEDICAL ASEPSIS
Question 4:
The nurse identifies a potential for infection in a client with partial-thickness and
full-thickness burns. What intervention has the highest priority in decreasing the
client's risk of infection?
A. Administration of plasma expanders
B. Use of careful handwashing technique
C. Application of a topical antibacterial cream
D. Limiting visitors to the client with burns
✔✔ Correct Answer✔✔ B
Rationale: Careful handwashing is the single most effective intervention for
preventing infection transmission to all clients. While plasma expanders reverse
hypovolemia, and topical antibacterials and visitor limitations may help, hand
hygiene is the proven primary preventive measure .
,3
Question 5:
A client is undergoing chemotherapy treatment and has a decreased neutrophil
count. The client is under protective (reverse, or neutropenic) precautions. While
the nurse is caring for the client, the client hands her cell phone to the nurse and
says, "This is my pastor, can you explain to him about this isolation stuff?" Which
comments are most appropriate for the nurse to make? (Select all that apply.)
A. "Her white blood cells are dangerously low right now."
B. "She would probably enjoy visits from your preschool choir."
C. "If her white blood cells drop any further, she will be on isolation a long time."
D. "I think she would benefit from members of the congregation phoning her."
E. "She can communicate with others via email or texting."
F. "Could you send her flowers from your congregation?"
✔✔ Correct Answer✔✔ D and E
Rationale: A client under protective precautions due to low neutrophil count can
communicate via phone, email, or texting. The client cannot have visits from
children or have flowers or plants in the room due to infection risk. Discussing the
client's white blood cell count violates privacy rights .
Question 6:
The nurse is donning sterile gloves for a dressing change. Which action indicates a
break in sterile technique?
A. Touching the outer surface of the glove with the other gloved hand
B. Holding the glove above waist level during application
C. Adding a second pair of gloves after initial donning
D. Dropping a glove on the floor and retrieving it
✔✔ Correct Answer✔✔ D
Rationale: Sterile fields and gloves are contaminated by contact with unsterile
surfaces. Retrieving a glove from the floor violates aseptic principles and risks
surgical site infection .
, 4
SECTION 3: WOUND CARE & POST-OPERATIVE COMPLICATIONS
Question 7:
A practical nurse (PN) is caring for a patient who is 2 days post-operative
following abdominal surgery. The PN observes that the patient's surgical incision
has started to separate at one end, with a small amount of clear, pink-tinged fluid
draining. What is the PN's priority action?
A. Document the finding and continue to monitor.
B. Place a sterile gauze over the area and notify the registered nurse (RN) or
healthcare provider.
C. Apply an abdominal binder to provide support to the incision.
D. Irrigate the wound with normal saline as ordered.
✔✔ Correct Answer✔✔ B
Rationale: Wound dehiscence (separation of wound edges) is a serious
complication. The priority is to protect the wound and prevent further damage by
covering it with a sterile, moistened gauze and immediately reporting to the
supervising RN or provider. Applying a binder could put pressure on the wound;
irrigation requires a specific order and is not the immediate priority .
Question 8:
The practical nurse (PN) is performing nasotracheal suctioning. After the client's
trachea is suctioned for 10 seconds, large amounts of thick yellow secretions
return. What action should the PN implement next?
A. Encourage the client to cough to help loosen secretions.
B. Advise the client to increase intake of oral fluids.
C. Rotate the suction catheter to obtain any remaining secretions.
D. Reoxygenate the client before attempting to suction again.
✔✔ Correct Answer✔✔ D
